IMO, Cousins is earning his extension here...

Cousins lost one game this season and that was to Green Bay.
At Chicago the entire team shit the bed so he gets some of the blame but certainly not the lions share.
At Seattle and at KC Kirk was the reason we were in the game to start with.  We could use a developmental QB but Kirk is here to stay till he retires.  He's 31 now so presumably we have a QB for the next decade or so. 

This team would be in the drivers seat if the defense was even just average.  BUT it should be a heck of a lot better then average.  We've got stars on D at all 3 levels and big contracts to go with them.  This is a Zimmer run team and he is supposed to be a Defensive genius.  WTF happened? 

It's time to clean house on D like Seattle did a few years back.  At this point the only ones I really want to hang onto are Harris, Kendricks and Hunter.  After that I'm open to all the changes anyone wants to make. 

Agreed. Earlier, I wasn't sure at all. Now its obvious. He's dialed in. Vikings should still draft a QB somewhere in rounds 2-4, but Cousins is playing well enough to get this team where it wants to go at the QB position. 

Off season directives: Get some more O-line talent, clear some cap space on under-producing defensive players and garner another solid Draft and the team should be highly competitive again next season. 

What I liked was the fight I am seeing in him and his follow up with his teammates. It felt like he took charge. He was fired up. I liked that.

He's playing better now than at any point of his career, and is the best Viking QB since Favre for sure.  I sure do wish he would've done more on that final drive, but oh well, that's not what he's known for.
I hope he realizes the entire team needs to improve and doesn't send the Vikes into cap hell.  If he gets a new deal at 30-35 mill per, I'm not sure how the entire team will improve other than through the draft.

The offense looks good.  We just need to find a head coach who can build a good defense, and probably that means a lot of high paid guys on that side of the ball.  

Oh, wait....  :#

@"comet52" said: The offense looks good.  We just need to find a head coach who can build a good defense, and probably that means a lot of high paid guys on that side of the ball.  

Oh, wait....  :#

I guess SF and Baltimore are closest to it with the rules today...

no point in giving KC 30+ a year if we arent going to keep building that OL with good draft picks,  and Zimmers D doesnt seem to be able to be manned with mid/late round finds... so what gives?  IMO we need to be ready to move on from Zimmer if he cant find a way to scheme with average NFL talent.  Other teams dont break the bank with their defenses and seem to be able to field teams that can get off the field when they need to.  This D is over priced and under performing and IMO that falls back on the guy who picks the players and designs the system.  If they arent going to fix the D so it is more affordable and effective,  then save the money on KC and rebuild across the board.

@"JimmyinSD" said: This D is over priced and under performing and IMO that falls back on the guy who picks the players and designs the system.  If they arent going to fix the D so it is more affordable and effective,  then save the money on KC and rebuild across the board.

How do you think AT, Diggs and Cook would feel with a total re-build and boot the Capt'n too???

@"JimmyinSD" said: no point in giving KC 30+ a year if we arent going to keep building that OL with good draft picks,  and Zimmers D doesnt seem to be able to be manned with mid/late round finds... so what gives?  IMO we need to be ready to move on from Zimmer if he cant find a way to scheme with average NFL talent.  Other teams dont break the bank with their defenses and seem to be able to field teams that can get off the field when they need to.  This D is over priced and under performing and IMO that falls back on the guy who picks the players and designs the system.  If they arent going to fix the D so it is more affordable and effective,  then save the money on KC and rebuild across the board.

Maybe the cupboard is bare with talent to make those adjustments or Zim gambled things would "right" themselves.  Either way, the Lions, Bears and Pukers certainly took note.

Replace Joseph with Atkins, Griffen with a first round pick, Rhodes with a 2nd round pick.  

Grab a mid priced vet CB and NT

Keep Jayron, Harris, Mac,

Develop Hughes, Hill for the outside 

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said: This D is over priced and under performing and IMO that falls back on the guy who picks the players and designs the system.  If they arent going to fix the D so it is more affordable and effective,  then save the money on KC and rebuild across the board.

I agree the D is under-performing...

How do you think AT, Diggs and Cook would feel with a total re-build and boot the Capt'n too???

I don't think you need a total rebuild, they have a lot of pieces already.  Hunter, Weatherly, Odenigbo, Jaleel Johnson on the line.  Kendricks and Wilson and probably Barr at LB.  Keep Mac, Hughes, Hill, Harris and Kearse.  Obviously you need to fill in some pieces but I don't believe they are that far away. 

Add a starting DT, another good DE and CB along with a starting caliber Safety. 

I've obviously not completely thought this out but I don't think they need a complete gutting and rebuild.

@"1VikesFan" said: I don't think you need a total rebuild, they have a lot of pieces already.  Hunter, Weatherly, Odenigbo, Jaleel Johnson on the line.  Kendricks and Wilson and probably Barr at LB.  Keep Mac, Hughes, Hill, Harris and Kearse.  Obviously you need to fill in some pieces but I don't believe they are that far away. 

Add a starting DT, another good DE and CB along with a starting caliber Safety. 

I've obviously not completely thought this out but I don't think they need a complete gutting and rebuild.

as far as who to keep on D,  I agree with most of those guys,  but I dont think we should be looking at keeping Mac and Hughes.  Hughes is good in coverage,  but his lack of size makes him vulnerable to bigger receivers and we have seen him get taken advantage of by those bigger guys several times this year.  I think we need to stick with the long and lean types for our outside coverage guys.   As far as DTs,  better be looking for 2 of them,   we need a better run stuffer,  and certainly are still looking for that 3T guy to get in the QBs face more consistently.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"1VikesFan" said: I don't think you need a total rebuild, they have a lot of pieces already.  Hunter, Weatherly, Odenigbo, Jaleel Johnson on the line.  Kendricks and Wilson and probably Barr at LB.  Keep Mac, Hughes, Hill, Harris and Kearse.  Obviously you need to fill in some pieces but I don't believe they are that far away. 

Add a starting DT, another good DE and CB along with a starting caliber Safety. 

I've obviously not completely thought this out but I don't think they need a complete gutting and rebuild.

if they arent going to change the D,  I dont think we can afford the type of players that are needed to make Zimmers D work,  and still keep the rest of the team stocked with talent.

as far as who to keep on D,  I agree with most of those guys,  but I dont think we should be looking at keeping Mac and Hughes.  Hughes is good in coverage,  but his lack of size makes him vulnerable to bigger receivers and we have seen him get taken advantage of by those bigger guys several times this year.  I think we need to stick with the long and lean types for our outside coverage guys.   As far as DTs,  better be looking for 2 of them,   we need a better run stuffer,  and certainly are still looking for that 3T guy to get in the QBs face more consistently.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said: This D is over priced and under performing and IMO that falls back on the guy who picks the players and designs the system.  If they arent going to fix the D so it is more affordable and effective,  then save the money on KC and rebuild across the board.

I agree the D is under-performing...

How do you think AT, Diggs and Cook would feel with a total re-build and boot the Capt'n too???

I honestly dont care.   Cook is showing once again that he is uber talented,  but is injury prone ( this collar bone thing will likely linger for a week or two)  besides with a 30+ QB, and 2 recievers that are 10+... how much will they have for Cook anyway?

after Diggs antics earlier this year... and now he is dropping balls that need to be caught?

Like I said,  if KC wants 30+ a year that wont leave much room and if we arent going to keep using a top 3 round pick on OL every year... well we know what that will look like so lets not waste any more time and start the rebuild now.  I dont want another decade of drafting 10-25th... if we need to suffer a couple years of suck to assemble some quality across the board then start now.  I am sick of this teeter totter where one side of the ball is awesome at the expense of the other side.

I am sick of a team that fails to show up when they have a chance to make a statement...honestly,  what has this team put their stamp on this year?  they beat a 6-6 cowboy team that might MIGHT win their division by default.... other than that our team is always .... So Close... I am fucking sick of So Close. 

Its time the Vikings swing hard for the fences and if that means they have to strike out a time or two so be it,  but enough of the playing it safe to finish 2nd in the division or go 1 and done in the play offs.   

IMO if teams come calling for Stephanski... keep him and let Zimmer go.  We have had 7 years of holding our breath and waiting on the edge of our seats for that one final piece... well that final damn piece is a moving goal post.

this is all over the place,  but honestly I dont know how many more losses I can take like last night,  or how many more years I can take like this year.

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said: This D is over priced and under performing and IMO that falls back on the guy who picks the players and designs the system.  If they arent going to fix the D so it is more affordable and effective,  then save the money on KC and rebuild across the board.

I agree the D is under-performing...

How do you think AT, Diggs and Cook would feel with a total re-build and boot the Capt'n too???

I honestly dont care.   Cook is showing once again that he is uber talented,  but is injury prone ( this collar bone thing will likely linger for a week or two)  besides with a 30+ QB, and 2 recievers that are 10+... how much will they have for Cook anyway?

after Diggs antics earlier this year... and now he is dropping balls that need to be caught?

Like I said,  if KC wants 30+ a year that wont leave much room and if we arent going to keep using a top 3 round pick on OL every year... well we know what that will look like so lets not waste any more time and start the rebuild now.  I dont want another decade of drafting 10-25th... if we need to suffer a couple years of suck to assemble some quality across the board then start now.  I am sick of this teeter totter where one side of the ball is awesome at the expense of the other side.

I am sick of a team that fails to show up when they have a chance to make a statement...honestly,  what has this team put their stamp on this year?  they beat a 6-6 cowboy team that might MIGHT win their division by default.... other than that our team is always .... So Close... I am fucking sick of So Close. 

Its time the Vikings swing hard for the fences and if that means they have to strike out a time or two so be it,  but enough of the playing it safe to finish 2nd in the division or go 1 and done in the play offs.   

IMO if teams come calling for Stephanski... keep him and let Zimmer go.  We have had 7 years of holding our breath and waiting on the edge of our seats for that one final piece... well that final damn piece is a moving goal post.

this is all over the place,  but honestly I dont know how many more losses I can take like last night,  or how many more years I can take like this year.

For most of the season, I’ve been on the bandwagon that we strongly
need to bring in a young guy to compete with Kirk.  The Seattle game has left me feeling more
hopeful that Kirk might be the guy long term. 
There’s been enough consistency with Good Kirk, through big games, come
from behind games, primetime games that I’m starting to think that maybe he’s
turned the corner.  I’m now starting to
think that DT/OL in the first and second would be a solid look in the draft.  We really need DT help.  I think Josephs days of being a solo
gamewrecker are probably over, but he could be a valuable part of an interior
duo next to a young stud.  I like our
offense, but I think we really need to continue building that OLine.  I think we’re really good at the Outside Zone,
Bootleg, Play Action part of our scheme, but I still think defenses will be
able to sufficiently hinder us with schemes, and force us into a more traditional
passing offense and I think an OLine that can consistently pass block from a
non-moving pocket would take us to the next level, and we have a sizeable
dropoff every time a starter gets injured, so depth would be solid.  Beyond that, I think we can clearly see our lack
of investment of draft capital in the defense showing up.  Hughes will look better next year, another
year removed from his ACL injury.  I don’t
know what’s going on with the rest of the CBs, but we need to figure that
out.  They can’t be both expensive and a liability,
when we’re this close to the cap.

@"medaille" said: For most of the season, I’ve been on the bandwagon that we strongly need to bring in a young guy to compete with Kirk.  The Seattle game has left me feeling more hopeful that Kirk might be the guy long term.  There’s been enough consistency with Good Kirk, through big games, come from behind games, primetime games that I’m starting to think that maybe he’s turned the corner.  I’m now starting to think that DT/OL in the first and second would be a solid look in the draft.  We really need DT help.  I think Josephs days of being a solo gamewrecker are probably over, but he could be a valuable part of an interior duo next to a young stud.  I like our offense, but I think we really need to continue building that OLine.  I think we’re really good at the Outside Zone, Bootleg, Play Action part of our scheme, but I still think defenses will be able to sufficiently hinder us with schemes, and force us into a more traditional passing offense and I think an OLine that can consistently pass block from a non-moving pocket would take us to the next level, and we have a sizeable dropoff every time a starter gets injured, so depth would be solid.  Beyond that, I think we can clearly see our lack of investment of draft capital in the defense showing up.  Hughes will look better next year, another year removed from his ACL injury.  I don’t know what’s going on with the rest of the CBs, but we need to figure that out.  They can’t be both expensive and a liability, when we’re this close to the cap.

Like you, I tend to think that if we could just continue to build this line into one that would allow us to mix in more traditional drop backs to go with our rollouts and play action, then Cousins would be even better. 

OL, DT, CB in the draft. Then maybe a dev QB. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"medaille" said: For most of the season, I’ve been on the bandwagon that we strongly need to bring in a young guy to compete with Kirk.  The Seattle game has left me feeling more hopeful that Kirk might be the guy long term.  There’s been enough consistency with Good Kirk, through big games, come from behind games, primetime games that I’m starting to think that maybe he’s turned the corner.  I’m now starting to think that DT/OL in the first and second would be a solid look in the draft.  We really need DT help.  I think Josephs days of being a solo gamewrecker are probably over, but he could be a valuable part of an interior duo next to a young stud.  I like our offense, but I think we really need to continue building that OLine.  I think we’re really good at the Outside Zone, Bootleg, Play Action part of our scheme, but I still think defenses will be able to sufficiently hinder us with schemes, and force us into a more traditional passing offense and I think an OLine that can consistently pass block from a non-moving pocket would take us to the next level, and we have a sizeable dropoff every time a starter gets injured, so depth would be solid.  Beyond that, I think we can clearly see our lack of investment of draft capital in the defense showing up.  Hughes will look better next year, another year removed from his ACL injury.  I don’t know what’s going on with the rest of the CBs, but we need to figure that out.  They can’t be both expensive and a liability, when we’re this close to the cap.

Agree. Considering there are probably over a dozen teams who desperately need QBs this offseason, it seems silly that a team with an MVP candidate who leads the league in passer rating, would consider itself one of those teams. 

Like you, I tend to think that if we could just continue to build this line into one that would allow us to mix in more traditional drop backs to go with our rollouts and play action, then Cousins would be even better. 

OL, DT, CB in the draft. Then maybe a dev QB.