The case for Kyler Murray

While I'm not a huge KOC fan, the man can design an offense. It's probably his best skill after podium chatter. 😗

He's told Kyler he could be a long term solution here. He's clearly incorporating concepts that play to his strengths, like he did with Darnold. The noise about how it won't work strikes me as just noise.

One reason I've been positive about this is Kyler's career averages. Just stay healthy and this is a playoff team. Can he stay healthy? That's the biggest question. But if he does, what do those averages look like in a situation that is miles ahead of anything he had in Arizona in every way?

Another is that both Kyler and KOC are highly motivated this year. As someone put it, these two need each other bad right now. Mark Wilf didn't mince words a few weeks back (I know, rare for Mark) when he said winning is good but the expectations are higher now. There's a new Sheriff Teasley in town and I think Deputy Barney O'Connell needs a playoff win or two to keep his badge.

Meantime for Kyler, how he performs this year is going to heavily impact his future earnings and opportunities. He needs and I'm sure wants to be at his best.

So I've been optimistic since the day he was signed. It's also an even numbered year which is when Kevin wins 13+ games, historically. 😀

And frankly I'll stay optimistic about the 2026 Vikings until they give me a reason not to. There is no shortage of doom and gloom, towel soaking fans telling us it's hopeless. Fuck 'em if they don't get the joke. 😁

CFIAvike wrote:

I just feel all evidence to Kyler’s character and demeanor suggest that he thinks a lot of himself for a #1 overall pick that’s produced very little in the way of success.

2 ProBowls and Rookie of the Year is very little? He was in a trash org with mostly trash players around him and a crap OL.

How can you not see the difference between AZ and our org? And the OL and weapons we have?

Just get on the bandwagon and be happy were not starting JJM this year.

JustInTime wrote:

Only player ever to be drafted in the top ten in two sports.
One of two QBs, the other being Josh Allen, to average 230 yards passing and 40 yards rushing per game (minimum of 50 starts)
Hand timed 4.38 at Oklahoma
Excellent arm
Fits in subcompact cars

Good humor JIT! Also small enough always ride in the middle seat if the team flies planes with economy sized seating...

supafreak84 wrote:

I'm with you cheering for whomever plays quarterback, however, that doesn't mean we are wrong about our concerns with Murray. An entire season to play out stll and as has been mentioned a million times, Murray has played what, six games or less in each of the last two seasons? If McCarthy sticks on the roster...he'll inevitably get a shot at some point, and when it happens, and he plays well. I can't wait to hear the media falling all over themselves to credit OConnell. They will be fighting each other to see who can heap on the most praise.

… And I validated those concerns about Murray by also posting ones of my own.

Former #Cardinals GM Steve Keim the one who drafted Kyler Murray, on K1’s fit in Minnesota:

“I think this guy is one of the more gifted guys at that position in the NFL… I think Kevin O’Connell has the ability to put him in position to succeed. I think Kyler Murray’s best… pic.twitter.com/OkaiInDwVB

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 14, 2026

IDVikingfan wrote:

Good humor JIT! Also small enough always ride in the middle seat if the team flies planes with economy sized seating...

Or fit in the overhead bin.

StickierBuns wrote:

Damned if you do or damned if you don't. I'm a Viking's fan. Ultimately, the name on the back of the jersey doesn't mean anything without wins. I guess the alternative is too just piss and moan all year about JJ not being QB1 and stink the board up? That's not me. I don't view this as losing or winning, its always been my opinion, although strongly worded sometimes, about JJ. 🙄

I guess pissing and moaning is a strategy for some.  I don’t think that’s me but I find I’m pretty allergic to the Kyler Murray hype for a couple reasons.  The biggest is that so much of the hype feels exactly like last year.  We were in our super bowl window.  Darnold played great and JJM was better.  All he had to do was drive the car.  In KOC we trust.  The car didn’t work.  The Oline crumbled.  We never called run plays.  JJM was near the top of the league in depth of target and was inaccurate.  Hockenson was both chipping and the outlet receiver, but couldn’t get to his spot on time.  The receivers routinely dropped balls that hit them in the hands.  Nothing about last year suggested that the car was playing to his strengths and weaknesses until the season was already lost. 

I think KOC lowkey has an intern feeding media personalities puff pieces for him and the Vikings.  It’s over-inflated and it sets off my spidey-senses.  It’s just too sweet and I don’t think the media or half our fans really learned anything since last year, except one bad player ruined everything.

The second thing is that I don’t think I have ever felt intimidated by Kyler Murray as a QB that we would have to face.

I’m optimistic about this upcoming season.  It will be a fun season for sure.  The drama will be high.  I just prefer to be cautiously optimistic instead of unbridled optimism.

Jason brings it home with this article.

medaille wrote:

I guess pissing and moaning is a strategy for some.  I don’t think that’s me but I find I’m pretty allergic to the Kyler Murray hype for a couple reasons.  The biggest is that so much of the hype feels exactly like last year.  We were in our super bowl window.  Darnold played great and JJM was better.  All he had to do was drive the car.  In KOC we trust.  The car didn’t work.  The Oline crumbled.  We never called run plays.  JJM was near the top of the league in depth of target and was inaccurate.  Hockenson was both chipping and the outlet receiver, but couldn’t get to his spot on time.  The receivers routinely dropped balls that hit them in the hands.  Nothing about last year suggested that the car was playing to his strengths and weaknesses until the season was already lost. 
I think KOC lowkey has an intern feeding media personalities puff pieces for him and the Vikings.  It’s over-inflated and it sets off my spidey-senses.  It’s just too sweet and I don’t think the media or half our fans really learned anything since last year, except one bad player ruined everything.
The second thing is that I don’t think I have ever felt intimidated by Kyler Murray as a QB that we would have to face.
I’m optimistic about this upcoming season.  It will be a fun season for sure.  The drama will be high.  I just prefer to be cautiously optimistic instead of unbridled optimism.

He didnt do too bad against BFlo with a Cardinal cast:

Kyler Murray has a passer rating of 94.3 with 986 yards, 7 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 3 games versus the Vikings in his career.

Dropped 400 on us in 2021. Kinda impressive, no?

JR44 wrote:

One of the things that made Darnold successful here was his ability to go off script, call audibles and make in play adjustments.
Every play does not go as plan, defenses consistently break up the intended play and you do have to improvise, it is part of the game and the best QBs in the league are the best for having that ability. So I am guessing you would not want Allen or Mahomes as your QB as well.

Bingo,

Darnold audibled plenty during his tenure here. These guys who are passers first, but can go off-script? Drive D's crazy...Allen, Mahomes, Lamar (K1) are the types where that is one of their superpowers.

Only player ever to be drafted in the top ten in two sports.

One of two QBs, the other being Josh Allen, to average 230 yards passing and 40 yards rushing per game (minimum of 50 starts)

Hand timed 4.38 at Oklahoma

Excellent arm

Fits in subcompact cars

We already know he has the tangibles

purplefaithful wrote:

Bingo,
Darnold audibled plenty during his tenure here. These guys who are passers first, but can go off-script? Drive D's crazy...Allen, Mahomes, Lamar (K1) are the types where that is one of their superpowers.

I think Kyler's ability to keep a drive going to convert a 3rd down with his legs could be a solid plus for the Vikings. We will need that at times. I am excited that Kyler brings another positive for KOC. I hope KOC allows Kyler to do some of that if needed.

JR44 wrote:

One of the things that made Darnold successful here was his ability to go off script, call audibles and make in play adjustments.
Every play does not go as plan, defenses consistently break up the intended play and you do have to improvise, it is part of the game and the best QBs in the league are the best for having that ability. So I am guessing you would not want Allen or Mahomes as your QB as well.

Man, I don’t know if we watched different games but I remember Sam calling an audible maybe 3 times that whole season.

Like I’m not debating that we weren’t successful, but it seemed like it was 99.9% KOC’s play calls and Sam just doing what he was told

Even Sam said he doesn’t change things often:

“You know, there's not a lot of times I'm going to tell him to take a play out, but when I do feel uncomfortable with a play, I'll definitely let him know," Darnold said. "But yeah, that doesn't happen very often."

SurfnRide wrote:

2 ProBowls and Rookie of the Year is very little? He was in a trash org with mostly trash players around him and a crap OL.

How can you not see the difference between AZ and our org? And the OL and weapons we have?
Just get on the bandwagon and be happy were not starting JJM this year.

I’m not getting on anyone’s bandwagon ever again without proof they’re not ass. I’m not saying I won’t be happy with Kyler’s success. But I’ve never liked him and he’ll have to prove with his play that he’s worth rooting for.

I thought Sam was a fucking joke when we signed him and he eventually won me over. Only to let me down, like usual, with those last two games he diarrhea shit all over the field.

Again, this thread was just meant to post about why K1 might or could be successful this year. I mean, outside of JIT and MB, I don't see a ton of 'unbridled enthusiasm' about his potential this year on the board. I do see some cautiously optimistic and I see some as doubtful. Its all a wait-and-see, prove it on the field type attitude.....its not our first time at the rodeo. Obvious questions on what kind of offense KOC plans on running with Murray. Will a run game be prominent? How will the O-line play? What about the D? Can the team be healthier than last year?

However fans need to protect their feelings and emotional investment in the team from being disappointed again and again is fine. If some need to focus on the possible negatives to hedge themselves, you do you. But saying there isn't reason for optimism is flat out wrong. Inaccurate. Some fans don't like KOC or the Wilfs, etc. so nothing will ever be good enough sans a Superbowl victory. Ok. We all fan in differing ways I suppose.

Bottom line: there's a preseason game today. Viking's football is here again. From Pollyannas to curmudgeons, we've got it all here. ✌️ Misery loves company.

As I’ve been saying since my own “Case for Kyler” thread back before we even signed him, this is an addition most Viking fans haven’t completely thought through. Because if they had, they’d be a lot more excited than they are. 

Google how Justin Jefferson plays against zone. Google how a running QB forces defenses to play zone more than they want to. Google how an effective outside zone running scheme pairs with a runner of Murray’s caliber. Yes, it does have to be effective but I like how they brought in Frank Smith to do just that.

Teams with this much offensive talent rarely have a QB of this caliber, and vice versa. We’ll only get it for a year—a contract year for Murray (as well as Addison, Mason). After that, Murray either leaves or we pay him big money and will have to make sacrifices elsewhere on the roster. But for one year at least, Jefferson, Addison, Jennings, Hockenson, Darrisaw, O’Neill—this Ferrari of an offense—gets to be driven by Ken Miles. And the results promise to be ridiculous. 

JustInTime wrote:

https://twitter.com/santanamosque/status/2088397183716360381

To be short is one thing, but to be short and also have the stride length of a Corgi is just funny to watch.