DERP! That was a Festival of Pain.

[LabGeek]

Growing pains... JJM is going to grow and learn, I have no doubt... But man, that is a frustrating 7 of 8 quarters.

And a muffed punt to put a cherry on this turd cake... ?

[StickierBuns]

Brutal. Injuries piling up and that's going to be a problem. JJ's growing pains and him being under so much pressure isn't a great combo. Defense getting gashed, having 3-4 starters out and then more injuries is a bad recipe.

[JimmyinSD]

Needing JJM to find some touch on a few of those intermediate amd deep throws to let hos play makers make plays, a big arm is nice, but every QB at this level can throw a fastball, touch is what separates the good from the great, noticed a little of the chiefs game that mahomes isn't throwing with as much touch as he's shown in the past as well and they are struggling as a result.

Lots of other issues as well, this was just one that stuck out to me.

[MaroonBells]

Other than JJ, the player that disappointed me most was Ivan Pace Jr. He has to be one of the best penetrating linebackers in the game. Problem is, he can't make the tackle when he gets there. Over and over I saw him behind the line of scrimmage only to whiff on the ball carrier. I think when Cashman gets healthy, it should be him at Eric Wilson at ILB. 

Losing Darrisaw and then Kelly had a big impact. But KOC has to be able to adjust to those realities. We saw the same thing against the Rams in the playoffs last year. In basketball, when your shooters are not hitting the 3-pointers, you attack the rim and play high-percentage basketball. KOC knows more about offense than I ever will, but he doesn't seem to have a high-percentage package he can pivot to when not getting the kind of protection required to run his full offense. The high-percentage game can also help a struggling QB establish some level of comfort and confidence. 

On to the Bengals, and we won't win that one either if we play like we did last night.

[pattersaur]

Other than JJ, the player that disappointed me most was Ivan Pace Jr. He has to be one of the best penetrating linebackers in the game. Problem is, he can't make the tackle when he gets there. Over and over I saw him behind the line of scrimmage only to whiff on the ball carrier. I think when Cashman gets healthy, it should be him at Eric Wilson at ILB. 

Losing Darrisaw and then Kelly had a big impact. But KOC has to be able to adjust to those realities. We saw the same thing against the Rams in the playoffs last year. In basketball, when your shooters are not hitting the 3-pointers, you attack the rim and play high-percentage basketball. KOC knows more about offense than I ever will, but he doesn't seem to have a high-percentage package he can pivot to when not getting the kind of protection required to run his full offense. The high-percentage game can also help a struggling QB establish some level of comfort and confidence. 

On to the Bengals, and we won't win that one either if we play like we did last night.

I'm not one of these ALL-22 football heads that can dig into the Xs and Os, but I am with you-- Pace stood out to me last night as especially bad. Bijan Robinson was brushing him off all night like he was a 165 lb nickel corner.

To your second paragraph, I also agree. We tried one slip screen to Jones that he dropped and then never went back to it. Offense was devoid of rhythm the whole game and that falls on everyone but first and foremost our head coach.

[MaroonBells]

This....

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Followed by this...

[pattersaur]

This....

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Followed by this...

I haven't lost any faith in McCarthy. Doing so would be kind of silly, of course he's not a finished product in Game 2.

The guy I'm out on right now is TJ Hockenson. Brutal start to the season. Very few opportunities going his way for some reason (seems like a big TE would be a new QB's best friend...) and when he does get balls he's either dropping them, fumbling them, or trying to drop and fumble them.

I knew Nailor being bad was gonna drive me crazy while 3 is suspended (it has), but I didn't know TJH was going to be a ghost too.

Through 2 games has Jordan Mason been our best player on offense? ... LOL

[purplefaithful]

Probably nothing new I can add to this mornings hangover;

D played well enough for us to win -- iffen we could score some points

Bijan is going to make a lot of D's look silly, he's a great back
- We dont have anyone of that caliber, most teams dont

I know as much about Penix this morning as I did going into the game last night

The injures are PILING-UP no doubt, but losing Kelly is catastrophic - too much on JJM's plate

The OL isnt playing well overall - maybe CD in there would have helped the last few games.

If you cant run or pass? You'll be drafting top 10 next year

I know we gotta live through growing pains, but JJM has looked over-matched for 7 of the last 8 quarters (not just part of a game).
- Is he the greenest of the 6 drafted that year???

Nights like last night can make you question every decision your team has made lol!

I agree with whomever posted our two best lb's maybe Cashman and Wilson. Pace did us no favors last night, and he never does when Cashman is out.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

The Vikings won't win another game until they get their O-line fixed. This game belongs in the how to ruin a QB thread! The line sucked and the coach didn't do much to ameliorate the problem. Oh, and how about this, throw the damn ball to Jefferson.

[purplefaithful]

The Vikings won't win another game until they get their O-line fixed. This game belongs in the how to ruin a QB thread! The line sucked and the coach didn't do much to ameliorate the problem. Oh, and how about this, throw the damn ball to Jefferson.

Pretty much starts up front on offense for sure...It's hard for me to tell if JJM is holding on to the ball too long & too often? Or the pass pro just sucks.

Maybe its both

But a good running game would help a lot. 

I think its time they just start Mason now too. Let Jones be the change of pace, line out wide guy. Mason can pickup a blitz as well as Jones too.