OpEd: 2019 Pivotal for Vikings

[purplefaithful]

The Vikings open training camp this week without the Super Bowl-or-bust hype train that steamed into town last season.
The folks who set online betting odds have mostly put the Vikings outside the top 10 teams favored to reach the Super Bowl. Mike Zimmer must be in hog heaven. This is how he likes it — under the radar, overlooked, whatever cliché you prefer.
Not buying it. Expectations shouldn’t be lowered. The Vikings’ roster construction still screams “win now.” Their core group that has grown, matured and signed mega-contracts together won’t be together forever.
So if not now, then when?
Maybe national prognostications aren’t touting the Vikings as obvious contenders, but an underlying sense of urgency is evident within the organization. That feeling comes from optics.
Look at the roster, especially the veteran core that has been the focal point of a blueprint conceived by Zimmer and General Manager Rick Spielman.
Kirk Cousins turns 31 in August and enters a contract year after this season. Everson Griffen accepted a pay cut in order to stay with the team. Kyle Rudolph renegotiated his contract to extend his tenure at least one more season.
Linval Joseph turns 31 in October, Riley Reiff turns 31 in December. Harrison Smith is 30.
Financially, can the Vikings afford both starting cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes after this season? Can salary-cap magician Rob Brzezinski continue to pull rabbits out of his hat to keep the high-priced core together?
Both Zimmer and Spielman had options picked up on their respective contracts this offseason, extending them through the 2020 season, but that doesn’t guarantee ironclad job security.
This feels like a pivotal season in many regards...
http://www.startribune.com/forget-the-be...512997442/

[Guest]

Everyone in the NFL feels pressure to perform, so to suggest the Vikings feel added pressure is being overly dramatic. Urgency is probably a more accurate description, knowing prime years of individual careers and a window to accomplish something special together aren’t without end.
Zimmer didn’t just promote Kevin Stefanski to offensive coordinator and call it a day. He and the organization made an aggressive move in hiring former Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak to serve as an offensive adviser/strategist/savant/safety net. That’s a sign of urgency.

[Guest]

Urgency? 

Sure, it's there for every team. You don't think there's urgency in Lamblow with the clock ticking on their elite QB?

I chose to take a positive view on changes the Vikings made.

Some important elements were broken, have the kahuna's and smarts to fix it. I would have been a hell of a lot more critical if they didn't make the coaching, strategy and personnel changes they did make this off-season. 

[Guest]

Its pivotal because the signing of Cousins was done to take this team to the next level. The roster is always evolving for any team, new blood is always important. These stories that name players ages and 30-31 years old is the highest loses credibility, that isn't old. 

This season is huge because if they miss the playoffs again this year, the Cousins signing was a mistake. And it'll be a mistake because they shit the bed with the offensive line and didn't have it developed for that kind of QB signing. But, I think what the story is saying is mainly saying is there's a lot on the line for the coaching staff/GM. That may be true. 

[Guest]

@StickyBun said:
Its pivotal because the signing of Cousins was done to take this team to the next level. The roster is always evolving for any team, new blood is always important. These stories that name players ages and 30-31 years old is the highest loses credibility, that isn't old. 

This season is huge because if they miss the playoffs again this year, the Cousins signing was a mistake. And it'll be a mistake because they shit the bed with the offensive line and didn't have it developed for that kind of QB signing. But, I think what the story is saying is mainly saying is there's a lot on the line for the coaching staff/GM. That may be true. 

I think that's absolutely the case...Hindsight is 20/20 and Sparano's passing had a huge impact. On paper 2019 looks like the better chance to get to 2017 than 18. If you believe personnel, scheme and coaching is improved.

I am very hopeful about the Kubiak crew here and additions like Bradbury having a halo effect across many positions. 

[Guest]

@purplefaithful said:
Urgency? 

Sure, it's there for every team. You don't think there's urgency in Lamblow with the clock ticking on their elite QB?

I chose to take a positive view on changes the Vikings made.

Some important elements were broken, have the kahuna's and smarts to fix it. I would have been a hell of a lot more critical if they didn't make the coaching, strategy and personnel changes they did make this off-season. 

Zimmer is a kahuna, Zimmer has cajonas

cajonas - Urban Dictionary

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cajonas

nut sack, specifically nuts , balls. have cajonas mother fucker · #balls#nutsack#nuts#penisballers#bolas. by skillz3000 May 16, 2010. Get the mug. Get a cajonas ...

ka·hu·na

/kəˈho͞onə/

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noun

1. (in Hawaii) a wise man or shaman.

   • INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICANan important person; the person in charge."one big kahuna runs the whole show"
   • INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN(in surfing) a very large wave.

[Guest]

@Hidalgo said:

@purplefaithful said:
Urgency? 

Sure, it's there for every team. You don't think there's urgency in Lamblow with the clock ticking on their elite QB?

I chose to take a positive view on changes the Vikings made.

Some important elements were broken, have the kahuna's and smarts to fix it.

Zimmer is a kahuna, Zimmer has cajonas

cajonas - Urban Dictionary

nut sack, specifically nuts , balls. have cajonas mother fucker · #balls#nutsack#nuts#penisballers#bolas. by skillz3000 May 16, 2010. Get the mug. Get a cajonas ...

ka·hu·na

/kəˈho͞onə/

  

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