Helluva game Kirk Cousins

@"StickyBun" said: I expected Kirk to take the team down the field for a game winning FG at the end. Expected it. Can't even remember that last time I felt that way. So irritating to see Joseph miss that FG the EXACT same way he missed the previous one: just wide right. 

@"SFVikingFan" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Fans that bitch about Cousins don't know football. Its that simple.

The problem is Mike Zimmer. 

Guess I don't know football then...

I do know this:

Zimmer's record before Cousins, with the likes of Cassel, Bridgewater (including 13 games as a rookie), Bradford, Keenum:
39-25

Record with Kirk Cousins:
28-24-1

Kirk's overall record in the NFL: 53-54-1

Yes, I know that Cousins puts up big stats, but I'm not convinced that Zimmer is the main problem here.

So who here saw that play in the first half, ball inside the 20 on 3rd down and he threw a slant to KJ inside the 10.  Good pass right?

JJ was running the same pattern on the same side just deeper, was WIDE OPEN in the end zone by 5 yards and KC threw the checkdown pattern to KJ.

On paper, stats, whatever that throw for a completion looks good.  Look at the tape, dude blew an easy TD.  That was after missing wide open JJ on an overthrow.

He is good, just not elite.  We want to win SB he needs to hit those easy TDs.  Good teams won't be as forgiving or drop 30 passes a game.

And had Zimmer just kicked the EP to go up 13-7 instead of running for a 2 pt conversion, we don't even go to OT.

Again a victory that feels like a loss IMO

@"mblack" said:

@"StickyBun" said: I expected Kirk to take the team down the field for a game winning FG at the end. Expected it. Can't even remember that last time I felt that way. So irritating to see Joseph miss that FG the EXACT same way he missed the previous one: just wide right. 

the two he missed were both from the right hash. is there something to be said about that or just coincidence?

@"SFVikeFan" said: So who here saw that play in the first half, ball inside the 20 on 3rd down and he threw a slant to KJ inside the 10.  Good pass right?

JJ was running the same pattern on the same side just deeper, was WIDE OPEN in the end zone by 5 yards and KC threw the checkdown pattern to KJ.

On paper, stats, whatever that throw for a completion looks good.  Look at the tape, dude blew an easy TD.  That was after missing wide open JJ on an overthrow.

He is good, just not elite.  We want to win SB he needs to hit those easy TDs.  Good teams won't be as forgiving or drop 30 passes a game.

And had Zimmer just kicked the EP to go up 13-7 instead of running for a 2 pt conversion, we don't even go to OT.

Again a victory that feels like a loss IMO

@"SFVikeFan" said: So who here saw that play in the first half, ball inside the 20 on 3rd down and he threw a slant to KJ inside the 10.  Good pass right?

JJ was running the same pattern on the same side just deeper, was WIDE OPEN in the end zone by 5 yards and KC threw the checkdown pattern to KJ.

On paper, stats, whatever that throw for a completion looks good.  Look at the tape, dude blew an easy TD.  That was after missing wide open JJ on an overthrow.

He is good, just not elite.  We want to win SB he needs to hit those easy TDs.  Good teams won't be as forgiving or drop 30 passes a game.

And had Zimmer just kicked the EP to go up 13-7 instead of running for a 2 pt conversion, we don't even go to OT.

Again a victory that feels like a loss IMO

I don't think this team is elite. I don't think Cousins is elite. But IMO, he's certainly good enough to win playoffs games and get the team into a Superbowl because lesser QBs have done it. He's very accurate and he's playing with confidence. His arm strength is underrated. He's gotten the team into winning situations and they haven't won....not his fault. But yeah, I agree with how some of these wins feel like something lesser than, Maybe not losses, but frustrating wins I guess is how I'd put it. 

@"AGRforever" said:

@"prairieghost" said: What is my favorite KJ Osborn moment? This one, and damn I know there’s gonna be more to come B)

I think most of us wrote this guy off, especially when they picked up Westbrook. KJ is, by far, the best suprise of the season to this point. I’m really happy for him.

Na, Udoh, Woods, Griffin have all been suprises. KJ is great but Udoh is the prize of the season. 

@"SFVikingFan" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Fans that bitch about Cousins don't know football. Its that simple.

The problem is Mike Zimmer. 

Guess I don't know football then...

I do know this:

Zimmer's record before Cousins, with the likes of Cassel, Bridgewater (including 13 games as a rookie), Bradford, Keenum:
39-25

Record with Kirk Cousins:
28-24-1

Kirk's overall record in the NFL: 53-54-1

Yes, I know that Cousins puts up big stats, but I'm not convinced that Zimmer is the main problem here.

@"Zanary" said:

@"SFVikingFan" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Fans that bitch about Cousins don't know football. Its that simple.

The problem is Mike Zimmer. 

Guess I don't know football then...

I do know this:

Zimmer's record before Cousins, with the likes of Cassel, Bridgewater (including 13 games as a rookie), Bradford, Keenum:
39-25

Record with Kirk Cousins:
28-24-1

Kirk's overall record in the NFL: 53-54-1

Yes, I know that Cousins puts up big stats, but I'm not convinced that Zimmer is the main problem here.

Then, live with being wrong.

Cousins actually gets knocked for his production due to his record, but we've seen from our own team that he's repeatedly gottten the Vikings into scoring situations and had other elements (RB "fumbles, countless missed kicks, etc) fail.  Hell, our defensive failures alone have been a blight on his career numbers...

...but, none more than Zimmer.  Coach Z did have some very good records with previous QBs, but he also had his best o-line protecting Keenum, and Teddy is the prototypical dink-and-dunk game manager that Zimmer knows how to use.  Also, and let's face it...Teddy was Z's first drafted QB, and he's rarely been complimentary about any of his signal callers since.

What's kinda hilarious is that the anti-Cousins froth used to be that he couldn't produce late in games...which wasn't accurate, but his teams failed to get Ws.  Fine, that's certainly been addressed during his time here...and now, it's "why can't he produce before the last 5 minutes" or whatever.

He's hit early and late, but he's also dealt with a very old-school coach who seems determined to come out of halftime with two quarters' worth of clock control pre-ordained.  We need Klint to show the ambition and the 'nads to get Zimmer to be less predictable...which will help Cousins and the whole offense.

KC and Hunter are the 2 best players on the Vikings...

If he keeps playing like this? Expect a KC extension here. 

We are locked into Kirk for another year after this.  I would love to see that final contract year with a new young offensive minded HC.  Some of our potential targets are going to be gone with the Raiders job and maybe one or two other teams that fire their HC during the season.  Some of the names being floated by our fellow Longshippers are the guy we are going face next game - Kellen Moore.  Another name is the guy we just faced in Joe Brady at Carolina.  I am not locked in on anyone yet but just like they say in business if you are going to complain then you have to offer a solution.  Right now I want/wanted Zimmer gone (complaint) but not sure who should be our next HC - other then offensive background (solution) :)

I am somewhat stuck because I am still torn on Spelly being the one to pick his 2nd HC.  I lean yes, but I will let the Wilf's decide because I am a good delegator.  

@"VikingOracle" said:

@"Mattyman" said: You like that?

https://twitter.com/i/status/1449839578580455426

I have to give Cousins huge kudos for the TD pass.  Watching it again and you see how wide open Thielen was on an underneath route but Cousin showed real balls and went for it all with his 3rd receiver.  Frankly, I am so much more impressed and stunned watching this clip again.

BTW, Diggs has a better helmet throw than KJ but KJ is still young.

@"SFVikingFan" said: My problem with Cousins is that he only plays this way at the very end of games.  I'm happy they won, but it's hard to get too excited about another late game collapse where the offense and defense both let the opponent back into the game.

I am so confused.

@"minny65" said:
We are locked into Kirk for another year after this.  I would love to see that final contract year with a new young offensive minded HC.  Some of our potential targets are going to be gone with the Raiders job and maybe one or two other teams that fire their HC during the season.  Some of the names being floated by our fellow Longshippers are the guy we are going face next game - Kellen Moore.  Another name is the guy we just faced in Joe Brady at Carolina.  I am not locked in on anyone yet but just like they say in business if you are going to complain then you have to offer a solution.  Right now I want/wanted Zimmer gone (complaint) but not sure who should be our next HC - other then offensive background (solution) :)

I am somewhat stuck because I am still torn on Spelly being the one to pick his 2nd HC.  I lean yes, but I will let the Wilf's decide because I am a good delegator.  

Brian Daboll

Coaching career[edit]College[edit]Daboll was hired as a restricted earnings coach by The College of William & Mary in 1997 before moving to Michigan State University as a graduate assistant from 1998 to 1999.
National Football League[edit]Daboll began his NFL coaching career with the New England Patriots as a defensive coaching assistant in 2000 before being promoted to wide receivers coach for the Patriots in 2002. After the 2006 season, he left the Patriots to serve as the Jets' quarterbacks coach.
In 2009, Daboll joined Eric Mangini's staff in Cleveland as offensive coordinator. Under Daboll the Browns had the NFL's 32nd ranked offense in 2009 and the 29th ranked offense in 2010. Daboll was named Offensive Coordinator of the Miami Dolphins under Tony Sparano in 2011, with his Dolphins improving from 30th in the league to 20th in overall offense. On February 6, 2012 the Kansas City Chiefs announced the hiring of Daboll as offensive coordinator, replacing the retired Bill Muir. Daboll had previously worked with Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel, general manager Scott Pioli and quarterback Matt Cassel in the New England Patriots organization. On January 14, 2013, the New England Patriots announced that he would be brought back in a coaching capacity for the remainder of the Patriots 2012–13 season. On February 5, 2017, Daboll was part of the Patriots coaching staff that won Super Bowl LI. In the game, the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34–28 in overtime.
Return to college football[edit]Daboll returned to college football in 2017 as offensive coordinator for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, starting February 20, 2017. He helped Alabama reach the 2018 National Championship Game, where the Tide defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime.
Return to the NFL[edit]On January 14, 2018, Daboll was named as the new offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills

@"greediron" said:

@"SFVikingFan" said: My problem with Cousins is that he only plays this way at the very end of games.  I'm happy they won, but it's hard to get too excited about another late game collapse where the offense and defense both let the opponent back into the game.

I thought the complaint was that he wasn't clutch.

I am so confused.

Only three QBs in NFL history have surpassed 30,000 passing yards and 200 touchdowns in their first 115 games played:

- Kirk Cousins
- Peyton Manning
- Dan Marino pic.twitter.com/OZM88SP3eT

— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) October 18, 2021

@"MaroonBells" said:

Watch it from the end zone. Even more impressive. It's this kind of accuracy people take for granted now with Cousins. 

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Dink and dunk = sink and sunk.

Out offensive play calling is horrendus. Way too predictable. How many times have we seen 3rd and 5 and we throw a 3 yard pass and don't convert? Constant frustration from me with us constantly throwing the ball short of the sticks and failing. Then, when in two minute drill, our offense is so explosive. Turn Kirk loose for a game and see what happens. Zimmer likes to have control. He can't ever step on the neck of an opponent. Last coach we had that did was Denny Green.......I miss that wide open type offesne.

@"JoDakota" said: Dink and dunk = sink and sunk.

Out offensive play calling is horrendus. Way too predictable. How many times have we seen 3rd and 5 and we throw a 3 yard pass and don't convert? Constant frustration from me with us constantly throwing the ball short of the sticks and failing. Then, when in two minute drill, our offense is so explosive. Turn Kirk loose for a game and see what happens. Zimmer likes to have control. He can't ever step on the neck of an opponent. Last coach we had that did was Denny Green.......I miss that wide open type offesne.

1. Throw more on 1st down
2. Run more on 2nd down
3. After a turnover in their side of the field, throw it in the end zone. First play. 
4. After a big chunk run, throw it deep. First play. Don't let them catch their breath. 
5. Identify momentum and use it
6. Go for a blocked kick every now and again. We always call the return. Always. 
7. Ladies....

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JoDakota" said: Dink and dunk = sink and sunk.

Out offensive play calling is horrendus. Way too predictable. How many times have we seen 3rd and 5 and we throw a 3 yard pass and don't convert? Constant frustration from me with us constantly throwing the ball short of the sticks and failing. Then, when in two minute drill, our offense is so explosive. Turn Kirk loose for a game and see what happens. Zimmer likes to have control. He can't ever step on the neck of an opponent. Last coach we had that did was Denny Green.......I miss that wide open type offesne.

Pretty hard to argue with nearly 600 yards of offense against one of the NFL's best defenses in their house. But yeah, I have an assortment of gripes. 

1. Throw more on 1st down
2. Run more on 2nd down
3. After a turnover in their side of the field, throw it in the end zone. First play. 
4. After a big chunk run, throw it deep. First play. Don't let them catch their breath. 
5. Identify momentum and use it
6. Go for a blocked kick every now and again. We always call the return. Always. 
7. Ladies....