Just follow the Chiefs model right?
Somewhat thought provoking...
It’s hard not to notice that the Minnesota Vikings enter are sitting in a similar spot to the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2016 season, when they decided to draft Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City went 12-4 with a run-first mentality, strong defense and conservative quarterback play. They ranked 13th in points for, seventh in points against while throwing the seventh fewest passes and turning the ball over the eighth fewest times. Quarterback Alex Smith threw for just 3,502 yards but was the 12th ranked QB by Pro Football Focus, 10th by ESPN’s QBR and had the sixth best completion percentage.
The Chiefs won their division and earned a first-round bye but were beaten by Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers 18-16 in a game in which Smith nearly brought KC back but failed on a 2-point conversion and ultimately threw for an underwhelming 172 yards on 34 throws.
Kansas City decided that Smith, who went 41-20 up until that point with a 92.2 rating with 76 touchdowns to just 28 interceptions, was not their answer long term. At the time, Smith still had two years remaining on a four-year extension that he signed in 2014 but the Chiefs knew he would be seeking another — much more lucrative — extension in the near future. So they Mahomes, watched Smith lead the NFL in QB rating in a solid 10-6 season in 2017 that ended the same way it always ended and passed the torch to the former Texas Tech star.
The ’19 Vikings ranked eighth in points for, fifth in points against and threw the third fewest passes. They saw Cousins rank among the top QBs in the NFL by PFF and quarterback rating and finished the season the way it always ends — with a frustrating playoff loss in which the offense disappears and the quarterback totals 126 yards passing.
It’s impossible to ignore the comparisons. Both the ’16 Chiefs and ’19 Vikings were very strong teams who didn’t quite have the juice to reach the Super Bowl. It wasn’t just the quarterback’s fault but the combination of a large cap hit (Smith’s made up 11.5% of the cap in ’16, Cousins 15.4% in ’19) and a lack of risk taking and/or exceptional athletic play from the QB position made it too tough a challenge to overcome a difficult opponent come playoff time.
During Smith’s time in KC he played five years on excellent squads and won one playoff game. Cousins won his first postseason game against New Orleans in five years as a starter — mostly on very talented teams.
So the answer must be for the Vikings to spend their draft capital to move up to take a quarterback, right? The Chiefs dealt their ’17 first and third round picks and an ’18 pick to move up to No. 10 overall. The Vikings could pull a similar move for one of the top QB prospects in this year’s draft. Maybe that’s Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert. It’s hard to know until Tagovailoa’s medical reports on his surgically-repaired hip come back.
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2020/02/is-it-fair-to-compare-the-vikings-qb-situation-to-the-chiefs-with-alex-smith/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
With one year left on Cousins’s contract, they could let him play it out the way Smith did in 2018 and give the rookie the much-needed time to acclimate to the NFL and then turn the franchise over to the young — and cheap — QB in 2021.
In theory, drafting a quarterback is always a good idea because there will never be another position as valuable in football as long as we all live. And we have seen the Seahawks, Eagles and Chiefs all win Super Bowls recently with QBs on rookie contracts with stacked rosters full of free agents like, say, Sammy Watkins and Tyrann Mathieu.
The formula checks out. The situation checks all the boxes. But the problem is: Quarterbacks go bust all the time and finding the next Mahomes takes hitting the lottery on a once-in-a-generation player who has the arm of Brett Favre, the coolness of Tom Brady and the leadership of Teddy Bridgewater.
If we look at the last four drafts before 2019 — because it isn’t fair to judge the ’19 class yet — none of the big four QBs in 2018 have become stars (it was the fifth Lamar Jackson who won MVP), the ’17 class has two superstars but the first QB taken was Mitch Trubisky and the ’16 class features two very good quarterbacks in Jared Goff and Carson Wentz but Paxton Lynch was the third QB off the board. Both of the ’15 class’s franchise-changing guys, who went No. 1 and No. 2 overall, are busts.
It isn’t as easy as following “the Chiefs’ model.”
It isn’t easy to find a quarterback in the draft who can rank sixth in quarterback rating (min. 1,000 passes) since 2015, just ahead of Matt Ryan and behind Tom Brady. Or a QB who only ranked behind Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson in regular season PFF grade.
And it isn’t always the easiest call when the organization is putting pressure on the head coach and front office to win while veteran stars are in their primes.
There are other ways to be considered...
@"purplefaithful" said: With one year left on Cousins’s contract, they could let him play it out the way Smith did in 2018 and give the rookie the much-needed time to acclimate to the NFL and then turn the franchise over to the young — and cheap — QB in 2021. In theory, drafting a quarterback is always a good idea because there will never be another position as valuable in football as long as we all live. And we have seen the Seahawks, Eagles and Chiefs all win Super Bowls recently with QBs on rookie contracts with stacked rosters full of free agents like, say, Sammy Watkins and Tyrann Mathieu. The formula checks out. The situation checks all the boxes. But the problem is: Quarterbacks go bust all the time and finding the next Mahomes takes hitting the lottery on a once-in-a-generation player who has the arm of Brett Favre, the coolness of Tom Brady and the leadership of Teddy Bridgewater. If we look at the last four drafts before 2019 — because it isn’t fair to judge the ’19 class yet — none of the big four QBs in 2018 have become stars (it was the fifth Lamar Jackson who won MVP), the ’17 class has two superstars but the first QB taken was Mitch Trubisky and the ’16 class features two very good quarterbacks in Jared Goff and Carson Wentz but Paxton Lynch was the third QB off the board. Both of the ’15 class’s franchise-changing guys, who went No. 1 and No. 2 overall, are busts. It isn’t as easy as following “the Chiefs’ model.” It isn’t easy to find a quarterback in the draft who can rank sixth in quarterback rating (min. 1,000 passes) since 2015, just ahead of Matt Ryan and behind Tom Brady. Or a QB who only ranked behind Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson in regular season PFF grade. And it isn’t always the easiest call when the organization is putting pressure on the head coach and front office to win while veteran stars are in their primes. There are other ways to be considered...
I almost posted something similar to this last week. I even had a clever little title: "This Year's Model." Then work got in the way and I never finished it. Basically, it said that the worst thing the Vikings could do right now is try to follow the Chiefs model.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"purplefaithful" said: With one year left on Cousins’s contract, they could let him play it out the way Smith did in 2018 and give the rookie the much-needed time to acclimate to the NFL and then turn the franchise over to the young — and cheap — QB in 2021. In theory, drafting a quarterback is always a good idea because there will never be another position as valuable in football as long as we all live. And we have seen the Seahawks, Eagles and Chiefs all win Super Bowls recently with QBs on rookie contracts with stacked rosters full of free agents like, say, Sammy Watkins and Tyrann Mathieu. The formula checks out. The situation checks all the boxes. But the problem is: Quarterbacks go bust all the time and finding the next Mahomes takes hitting the lottery on a once-in-a-generation player who has the arm of Brett Favre, the coolness of Tom Brady and the leadership of Teddy Bridgewater. If we look at the last four drafts before 2019 — because it isn’t fair to judge the ’19 class yet — none of the big four QBs in 2018 have become stars (it was the fifth Lamar Jackson who won MVP), the ’17 class has two superstars but the first QB taken was Mitch Trubisky and the ’16 class features two very good quarterbacks in Jared Goff and Carson Wentz but Paxton Lynch was the third QB off the board. Both of the ’15 class’s franchise-changing guys, who went No. 1 and No. 2 overall, are busts. It isn’t as easy as following “the Chiefs’ model.” It isn’t easy to find a quarterback in the draft who can rank sixth in quarterback rating (min. 1,000 passes) since 2015, just ahead of Matt Ryan and behind Tom Brady. Or a QB who only ranked behind Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson in regular season PFF grade. And it isn’t always the easiest call when the organization is putting pressure on the head coach and front office to win while veteran stars are in their primes. There are other ways to be considered...
I almost posted something similar to this last week. I even had a clever little title: "This Year's Model." Then work got in the way and I never finished it. Basically, it said that the worst thing the Vikings could do right now is try to follow the Chiefs model.
I know you did and I thought about that while reading this take too...For me personally? I kinda lean into that pov and what Guru said too...Be very deliberate if you're going to draft a qb.
In other words - be convicted about who and when.
Question is 3 fold
- Will there be someone there this year whom they're convicted about?
- Do we trust RS's instincts when/if there are convicted? Not that we have a choice or say in it
- Do we have the draft capital if it takes that?
Cousins won his first postseason game against New Orleans in five years as a starter — mostly on very talented teams.-
in 2018, between the Oline and choice of Offensive Coordinator the Viking were drawing dead. 0% chance they'd go to a win the Superbowl.
@"Mattyman" said: Cousins won his first postseason game against New Orleans in five years as a starter — mostly on very talented teams.-in 2018, between the Oline and choice of Offensive Coordinator the Viking were drawing dead. 0% chance they'd go to a win the Superbowl.
Yeah, that quote right there had me really questioning the whole piece.
I do say you will never find the next mahomes, or whoever if they dont draft a QB though. They need to get a young QB into the system and soon. Cousins is not the future of the position for this team.
You miss all the shots you don't take.
If they don't like anyone in this year's draft then they should be trading players or picks to get ammo in next year's draft. Rick is a good GM. Extend his deal so he feels empowered to make trades like this, if need be.
We're a lot closer to a 49ers type team than Chiefs...
Follow the Chiefs model...just find the next generational QB. Right. This organization couldn't find the next Dan Orlovsky, let alone the next Patrick Mahomes!
@"BarrNone55" said: We're a lot closer to a 49ers type team than Chiefs...Exactly. The Chiefs model is this: Get lucky on a QB in the draft. Great! When do we start? No, the Vikings are already the 49ers with a few tweaks.
Well we are certainly more than a QB from being the chiefs since we couldn't beat them with their stud QB on the sidelines.
It's easy to look at the playoff win and say how close this team is, but that is forgetting the dismal losses that this team had as well. Honestly I think we have a decent team with a couple ready good pieces, bit we are certainly not a quick or cheap fix IMO. It's going to take some serious draft day luck and a few other things to get this team to where the niners are.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"BarrNone55" said: We're a lot closer to a 49ers type team than Chiefs... Exactly. The Chiefs model is this: Get lucky on a QB in the draft. Great! When do we start? No, the Vikings are already the 49ers with a few tweaks.We'll see how the Chefs handle Mahomes' first "$200 million break-the-bank" contract and what positions they sacrifice. A small market team from Kansas City should have no problem with that, right?
@"Ralphie" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"BarrNone55" said: We're a lot closer to a 49ers type team than Chiefs... Exactly. The Chiefs model is this: Get lucky on a QB in the draft. Great! When do we start? No, the Vikings are already the 49ers with a few tweaks.We'll see how the Chefs handle Mahomes' first "$200 million break-the-bank" contract and what positions they sacrifice. A small market team from Kansas City should have no problem with that, right?
What does their small market have to do with anything? The league has a salary cap and over time all teams are using their salary cap.
The only teams that won a SB with a mediocre QB on a rookie contract was the Eagles, but you could also include Flacco and Eli Manning before the rookie wage scale. The Seahawks and Chiefs won having elite QBs on rookie contracts which is huge. You can throw in Eli Manning and maybe Peyton Manning as non-elite QBs on veteran contracts winning the SB. The list of mediocre QBs making but not winning the SB expands on that list.
I think the evidence is pretty clear in that Elite QBs are much more likely to win the SB than mediocre QBs. That said Elite QBs aren't readily available many years. I think if you ever have the chance of drafting a potential elite QB, like a Rodgers, Wilson, or Lamar Jackson with later draft picks you should 100% do it. The payoff for hitting on the QB is immense and is worth all the costs. That said I don't think we're very far from being in the conversation as one of the few teams that could get lucky with a mediocre QB. I think regardless of who our QB is, we'll need to upgrade our OLine. Bad OLines and young/mediocre QBs is not a plan that is likely to succeed. I think we need an OLine upgrade a DT upgrade and some luck fixing our CBs.
@"medaille" said:with this said, I think instead of letting a mediocre or slightly above average veteran QB contract cripple the ability to improve other positions, we should focus our cap on improving the entire roster and make those positions pay more commensurate with their abilities and use veteran QBs that are willing to play at a wage more inline with what they bring to the team, in the mean time we need to be continually drafting early to mid round QBs until we hit on one and then keep drafting mid round QBs to try and keep that pipeline full. IMO we should be focusing our early draft picks on players that hit the cap hardest once they come off their rookie deals (ie QBs, OTs,WR, 3TDT, LB, DE) so that we dont end up having to overpay for a mediocre veteran in the future.The only teams that won a SB with a mediocre QB on a rookie contract was the Eagles, but you could also include Flacco and Eli Manning before the rookie wage scale. The Seahawks and Chiefs won having elite QBs on rookie contracts which is huge. You can throw in Eli Manning and maybe Peyton Manning as non-elite QBs on veteran contracts winning the SB. The list of mediocre QBs making but not winning the SB expands on that list. I think the evidence is pretty clear in that Elite QBs are much more likely to win the SB than mediocre QBs. That said Elite QBs aren't readily available many years. I think if you ever have the chance of drafting a potential elite QB, like a Rodgers, Wilson, or Lamar Jackson with later draft picks you should 100% do it. The payoff for hitting on the QB is immense and is worth all the costs. That said I don't think we're very far from being in the conversation as one of the few teams that could get lucky with a mediocre QB. I think regardless of who our QB is, we'll need to upgrade our OLine. Bad OLines and young/mediocre QBs is not a plan that is likely to succeed. I think we need an OLine upgrade a DT upgrade and some luck fixing our CBs.
@"medaille" said:@"Ralphie" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"BarrNone55" said: We're a lot closer to a 49ers type team than Chiefs... Exactly. The Chiefs model is this: Get lucky on a QB in the draft. Great! When do we start? No, the Vikings are already the 49ers with a few tweaks.We'll see how the Chefs handle Mahomes' first "$200 million break-the-bank" contract and what positions they sacrifice.
A small market team from Kansas City should have no problem with that, right?
What does their small market have to do with anything? The league has a salary cap and over time all teams are using their salary cap.You are correct sir. I sit corrected! ;)
@"JimmyinSD" said: Well we are certainly more than a QB from being the chiefs since we couldn't beat them with their stud QB on the sidelines.It's easy to look at the playoff win and say how close this team is, but that is forgetting the dismal losses that this team had as well. Honestly I think we have a decent team with a couple ready good pieces, bit we are certainly not a quick or cheap fix IMO. It's going to take some serious draft day luck and a few other things to get this team to where the niners are.
The Chiefs loss was Coaching. Plain and simple. Refused to do anything pre-snap to confuse a journeyman Backup QB who was out of football the previous season. Refuse to double Hill and Kelce. Refuse to give Elf help against Jones.
Bad Coaching. We saw it against Chicago and in both Green Bay games as well. And the 9ers. But we also saw good Coaching too. Mike's plan to shut down Zeke. The gameplan to shut down a red hot New Orleans Offense. Rebounding after the 3 quick scores in the 1st Packers game.
Where we didn't see much of was in-game adjustments by Barely Legal OC #2. Really, only Shumer has shown any ability to switch things up when the gameplan isn't working. Norv was all '7 Step Drop or Die'. Barely Legal OC #1 didn't appear to have a consistent plan ever.
Gary Kubiak is NOT D-Floppo or Stefanski. He's a proven commodity. That's turned no-name O-Linemen and RBs into winners. That's handled having 2 Stud Receivers. And gotten big production out of QBs that nobody else could.
Even if Mike continues to call the Defense I think you will see more adjustments as he is tasked with doing more with less instead of just trotting out his All Star Lineup and playing vanilla all day. And he's got new voices in his ear in the form of Dre and Baby Zimmer.
This Roster has holes. Just like the 9ers and Chiefs are facing. But let's not forget that the freaking backups nearly beat a Bears team that had found something late last season and played it's Starters the entire game. A .500 team needed a last second FG to beat Minnesota's backups.
Left Guards are not hard to find. Especially with great Coaches in Kubiak and Dennison helping the search. Zone Cornerbacks are apparently readily available at the nearest convenience store. It would be hard to get worse 3T play and yet the Defense was still Top 5.
I know you disagree and that's your prerogative. I just don't see this insurmountable hill and lack of talent you do. And I need to see what Cousins can do with the right Coaching in place. If he chokes under optimal conditions then it's time to think about moving up to get a QB. This Draft doesn't have it and I don't believe in forcing the issue unless someone falls in their lap.
@"FSUVike" said:@"JimmyinSD" said: Well we are certainly more than a QB from being the chiefs since we couldn't beat them with their stud QB on the sidelines.It's easy to look at the playoff win and say how close this team is, but that is forgetting the dismal losses that this team had as well. Honestly I think we have a decent team with a couple ready good pieces, bit we are certainly not a quick or cheap fix IMO. It's going to take some serious draft day luck and a few other things to get this team to where the niners are.
The Chiefs loss was Coaching. Plain and simple. Refused to do anything pre-snap to confuse a journeyman Backup QB who was out of football the previous season. Refuse to double Hill and Kelce. Refuse to give Elf help against Jones.Bad Coaching. We saw it against Chicago and in both Green Bay games as well. And the 9ers. But we also saw good Coaching too. Mike's plan to shut down Zeke. The gameplan to shut down a red hot New Orleans Offense. Rebounding after the 3 quick scores in the 1st Packers game.
Where we didn't see much of was in-game adjustments by Barely Legal OC #2. Really, only Shumer has shown any ability to switch things up when the gameplan isn't working. Norv was all '7 Step Drop or Die'. Barely Legal OC #1 didn't appear to have a consistent plan ever.
Gary Kubiak is NOT D-Floppo or Stefanski. He's a proven commodity. That's turned no-name O-Linemen and RBs into winners. That's handled having 2 Stud Receivers. And gotten big production out of QBs that nobody else could.
Even if Mike continues to call the Defense I think you will see more adjustments as he is tasked with doing more with less instead of just trotting out his All Star Lineup and playing vanilla all day. And he's got new voices in his ear in the form of Dre and Baby Zimmer.
This Roster has holes. Just like the 9ers and Chiefs are facing. But let's not forget that the freaking backups nearly beat a Bears team that had found something late last season and played it's Starters the entire game. A .500 team needed a last second FG to beat Minnesota's backups.
Left Guards are not hard to find. Especially with great Coaches in Kubiak and Dennison helping the search. Zone Cornerbacks are apparently readily available at the nearest convenience store. It would be hard to get worse 3T play and yet the Defense was still Top 5.
I know you disagree and that's your prerogative. I just don't see this insurmountable hill and lack of talent you do. And I need to see what Cousins can do with the right Coaching in place. If he chokes under optimal conditions then it's time to think about moving up to get a QB. This Draft doesn't have it and I don't believe in forcing the issue unless someone falls in their lap.
but then they cant extend Cousins to create cap space this year as many are calling for or what would be the point in taking a gift QB if one were to fall into their lap, or at least drop far enough to where they are able to move up and grab one.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"FSUVike" said:@"JimmyinSD" said: Well we are certainly more than a QB from being the chiefs since we couldn't beat them with their stud QB on the sidelines.It's easy to look at the playoff win and say how close this team is, but that is forgetting the dismal losses that this team had as well. Honestly I think we have a decent team with a couple ready good pieces, bit we are certainly not a quick or cheap fix IMO. It's going to take some serious draft day luck and a few other things to get this team to where the niners are.
The Chiefs loss was Coaching. Plain and simple. Refused to do anything pre-snap to confuse a journeyman Backup QB who was out of football the previous season. Refuse to double Hill and Kelce. Refuse to give Elf help against Jones.Bad Coaching. We saw it against Chicago and in both Green Bay games as well. And the 9ers. But we also saw good Coaching too. Mike's plan to shut down Zeke. The gameplan to shut down a red hot New Orleans Offense. Rebounding after the 3 quick scores in the 1st Packers game.
Where we didn't see much of was in-game adjustments by Barely Legal OC #2. Really, only Shumer has shown any ability to switch things up when the gameplan isn't working. Norv was all '7 Step Drop or Die'. Barely Legal OC #1 didn't appear to have a consistent plan ever.
Gary Kubiak is NOT D-Floppo or Stefanski. He's a proven commodity. That's turned no-name O-Linemen and RBs into winners. That's handled having 2 Stud Receivers. And gotten big production out of QBs that nobody else could.
Even if Mike continues to call the Defense I think you will see more adjustments as he is tasked with doing more with less instead of just trotting out his All Star Lineup and playing vanilla all day. And he's got new voices in his ear in the form of Dre and Baby Zimmer.
This Roster has holes. Just like the 9ers and Chiefs are facing. But let's not forget that the freaking backups nearly beat a Bears team that had found something late last season and played it's Starters the entire game. A .500 team needed a last second FG to beat Minnesota's backups.
Left Guards are not hard to find. Especially with great Coaches in Kubiak and Dennison helping the search. Zone Cornerbacks are apparently readily available at the nearest convenience store. It would be hard to get worse 3T play and yet the Defense was still Top 5.
I know you disagree and that's your prerogative. I just don't see this insurmountable hill and lack of talent you do. And I need to see what Cousins can do with the right Coaching in place. If he chokes under optimal conditions then it's time to think about moving up to get a QB. This Draft doesn't have it and I don't believe in forcing the issue unless someone falls in their lap.
but then they cant extend Cousins to create cap space this year as many are calling for or what would be the point in taking a gift QB if one were to fall into their lap, or at least drop far enough to where they are able to move up and grab one.
I'm not calling for extending Cousins. 1 Tier 2 OG or a 3rd or 2nd Round Draft Pick fills the most glaring hole. 1 Tier 2 CB and/or a 1st or 2nd Round Draft Pick addresses another need. I believe the 3T can be fixed with a 2nd Round selection of Elliott or Madubuike.That can all be accomplished without extending Cousins.
As for the QB, if they truly believe in say Jordan Love and he slides to 20 then go up and get him. I don't see it with him and highly doubt he falls that far but go for it. Might have to lean more on Tier 2 or Tier 3 Free Agents instead of high round Rookies but they should still field a better supporting cast so they can make a truly informed decision on Cousins.
If we can't follow the Chiefs model (betting the farm to try to get an elite QB)... maybe we can follow the 49ers model: have our dream QB be a bust, lose alot of games for a few years, and then use all those high draft picks to do a quick makeover and become a contender again.
I just wonder how many fans would be willing to suck for half a decade, just for the chance of starting over with a bunch of young, cheap, highly-drafted players.
@"FSUVike" said:@"JimmyinSD" said: Well we are certainly more than a QB from being the chiefs since we couldn't beat them with their stud QB on the sidelines.It's easy to look at the playoff win and say how close this team is, but that is forgetting the dismal losses that this team had as well. Honestly I think we have a decent team with a couple ready good pieces, bit we are certainly not a quick or cheap fix IMO. It's going to take some serious draft day luck and a few other things to get this team to where the niners are.
The Chiefs loss was Coaching. Plain and simple. Refused to do anything pre-snap to confuse a journeyman Backup QB who was out of football the previous season. Refuse to double Hill and Kelce. Refuse to give Elf help against Jones.Bad Coaching. We saw it against Chicago and in both Green Bay games as well. And the 9ers. But we also saw good Coaching too. Mike's plan to shut down Zeke. The gameplan to shut down a red hot New Orleans Offense. Rebounding after the 3 quick scores in the 1st Packers game.
Where we didn't see much of was in-game adjustments by Barely Legal OC #2. Really, only Shumer has shown any ability to switch things up when the gameplan isn't working. Norv was all '7 Step Drop or Die'. Barely Legal OC #1 didn't appear to have a consistent plan ever.
Gary Kubiak is NOT D-Floppo or Stefanski. He's a proven commodity. That's turned no-name O-Linemen and RBs into winners. That's handled having 2 Stud Receivers. And gotten big production out of QBs that nobody else could.
Even if Mike continues to call the Defense I think you will see more adjustments as he is tasked with doing more with less instead of just trotting out his All Star Lineup and playing vanilla all day. And he's got new voices in his ear in the form of Dre and Baby Zimmer.
This Roster has holes. Just like the 9ers and Chiefs are facing. But let's not forget that the freaking backups nearly beat a Bears team that had found something late last season and played it's Starters the entire game. A .500 team needed a last second FG to beat Minnesota's backups.
Left Guards are not hard to find. Especially with great Coaches in Kubiak and Dennison helping the search. Zone Cornerbacks are apparently readily available at the nearest convenience store. It would be hard to get worse 3T play and yet the Defense was still Top 5.
I know you disagree and that's your prerogative. I just don't see this insurmountable hill and lack of talent you do. And I need to see what Cousins can do with the right Coaching in place. If he chokes under optimal conditions then it's time to think about moving up to get a QB. This Draft doesn't have it and I don't believe in forcing the issue unless someone falls in their lap.
Agree with pretty much everything. I keep coming back to this idea that I really believe in: there are about 1600 players in the NFL. About 200 of those players are elite. But there isn't much difference between, say, player 300 and player 800. It's why a team like the Vikings, playing 2nd and 3rd string players can almost beat a Bears team playing its starters.In the divisional game, the biggest difference between the 49ers and the Vikings was that we had a debilitating weakness at left guard, and to a lesser degree, center. Both of those positions will likely be much improved in '20. I would also argue that not many teams would trade the Vikings three inside guys for the three inside guys the 49ers had playing in that game. The 2nd biggest difference is that Robert Saleh played a wide nine that eliminated our outside zone, rolls outs, play action and the screen game (the core of our offense), and Stefanski didn't have an answer to that, despite seeing the Packers do the exact same thing. Twice. Another year in the offense and he likely would have. With the weakness on the inside OL, drop backs were out. Film showed Diggs, in particular, wide open or coming open, on several plays. We just couldn't get the ball to him. The 3rd was our inability to stop the run. I haven't verified this myself, but I've heard that a lot of this was due to Eric Wilson having poor gap discipline. Would Gedeon have made a difference? Maybe.
This is a game of inches that expand into yards over time, and increments that expand into points. So without those problems the game is probably a lot closer. Even with them, It was 17 to 10 with 19 minutes left in the game. Problem is....we will now have other problems to solve beyond those issues: Who plays corner? Definitely a concern, but the Chiefs starting corners were a 3rd round pick on his 2nd team and a 4th round pick on his 3rd team. 49ers corners were crap outside of Sherman, who most thought was done two years ago. Vikings are going to look back at these years and wonder WTF happened. You're telling me that you had two 1st round corners, a 1st round safety and PFF's #1 ranked safety, two of the NFL's best edge rushers and your problem was...PASS defense? So, yeah, this falls on the coaches. And that will need to improve greatly, because now the Vikings will have to do it like most of the rest of NFL: with mid-tier guys executing sound game plans.
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