O'Connell said it on the season ending presser....

[StickierBuns]

We will be a more physical team. We will improve the interior of the lines. Allen is a fiery captain on D and two ass kickers got added to the offensive line. That mentality is needed, it'll bring the fire out in the other guys. Its also necessary because the NFCN is a damn good division. All of this helps McCarthy tremendously and expect Aaron Jones to look amazing. This is what can happen when done properly on a rookie QBs salary. Washington is trying to do the same with Daniels. New England too. Major kudos to the Viking's organization.

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Chase Daniel
@ChaseDaniel
·
38m
Vikings making moves…this wouldn’t have happened with the Sam Darnold contract.

-Will Fries: 5 years, $88M
-Jonathan Allen: 3 years, $60M
-Ryan Kelly: 2 years, $18M
-Javon Hargrave incoming too

Trenches is where games are won.

[purplefaithful]

S hit, we've been preaching this is how you attempt to win in January for the last 15+ years...

What astounds me is that it took till the end of last year for them to go public with the fact they arent there.

I dont know what flipped the switch to be honest? Its not like last season ended any different than the past 12+

[bigbone62]

S hit, we've been preaching this is how you attempt to win in January for the last 15+ years...

What astounds me is that it took till the end of last year for them to go public with the fact they arent there.

I dont know what flipped the switch to be honest?  Its not like last season ended any different than the past 12+

I don't think anything changed or that KOC/KAM didn't know where the weaknesses were. Not addressing something doesn't mean you don't realize you have a problem. They could have tried to band-aid the problem early in their tenure with third rate players. Which likely results in slightly improved results but essentially pushing the problem down the road. Or you can wait and do it right when you have the cap space and roster flexibility. 

Go back and look at the roster and cap situation the current regime inherited. There was no quick fix until the cap issue from the prior regime was course corrected. This has been the epitome of a competitive rebuild.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

They continue with the plan they made when they let Cousins walk. All the talk about keeping Darnold and Dimes was just that; talk.
Building a team around a rookie QB should allow them to actually get to the playoffs and win some games. May not happen next year with a young QB, but it could. They have made an effort to become more physical and strengthen both lines.
I like the direction they are heading and say, it's about time!

[JustInTime]

I’ve got to think our run percentage goes up fairly significantly from (IIRC) 43%.

[purplefaithful]

All good points...

You can run this story back to Zimsu era and Bridgewater....

Mike was about D first and that got taken away with a big QB contract in KC. But you wouldn't be able to tell how he was feeling at the time lol! 

[medaille]

I’ve got to think our run percentage goes up fairly significantly from (IIRC) 43%.

LOL, I don’t think I’d bet too much on that.  KOC just loves the explosive passing game.

[MAD GAINZ]

LOL, I don’t think I’d bet too much on that.  KOC just loves the explosive passing game.

You're right, I think we'll always pass more than we run.  It's just the way KOC likes to play and it's hard to argue with the results.  

I do think upgrading the interior of our OL will help our running game be more efficient.  That's all we need.  If you can run between the tackles and get short yardage when you need it, it opens everything up.  Outside runs, passing game, etc.

[StickierBuns]

You're right, I think we'll always pass more than we run.  It's just the way KOC likes to play and it's hard to argue with the results.  

I do think upgrading the interior of our OL will help our running game be more efficient.  That's all we need.  If you can run between the tackles and get short yardage when you need it, it opens everything up.  Outside runs, passing game, etc.

Well said. I think any RB that Minnesota drafts will have a little size to him to complement Jones, not a huge guy necessarily but someone with some physicality in his game. Enforcing your will situationally is all it takes for success, you don't need to beat somebody up every single play. But when I need 3 yards for a first down to seal the game and you can't stop me? Priceless.