Not sure I can get behind Stefanski as OC....

Yeah I am actually leaning towards not keeping him this morning, which is a first for me.  But in two of the three games he was the OC, our offense was abysmal and didnt even get a first down until well into the second quarter.

It would be a dream to pair a young, truly innovative OC with Zimmer’s acumen on defense, and I know that’s obviously what the team tried to do this year, but a Nagy/McVay type of innovator would be ideal and would be a great replacement for when Zimmer decides to hang it up.

Get some players on the O-line and watch how good an OC will suddenly get. 

We need innovative minds that have some sort of proven track record. No learning on the job, too much of the window has been pissed away. 

@"StickyBun" said: Get some players on the O-line and watch how good an OC will suddenly get. 

This is the truth.  The Vikings problems on offense were directly tied to how weak we were up the middle.  Remmers and Compton are not starting caliber OGs in this league.  Add in that Elflein looked weak coming off ankle and shoulder surgeries and the middle of our line was as soft as a wet paper bag.
At least Elflein looked like he came on stronger as the year progressed...  I would expect him to look much more like he did his rookie year with an injury free offseason.  If the Vikings can shore up their OG spots in the draft/free agency, the offense should be in a much better spot.

I'm Ok with keeping him.  Fix the OLine, and then let's see how the OCs (whoever that will be) will do.

If anyone thinks that Nagy and/or McVay would change the Viking offense into something great using the OLine we currently have, I would argue "no effing way".

While I wasn't a big fan of Flip, Stefanski also proved the biggest problem on offense was blocking.  If the QB doesn't have time, or there's no consistent push for a running game, the offense will sputter along like we did this year.

I yall want someone with a track record we’re going to get some has been. So we either go with some up and comer or we got to the scrap heap

@"Wetlander" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Get some players on the O-line and watch how good an OC will suddenly get. 

This is the truth.  The Vikings problems on offense were directly tied to how weak we were up the middle.  Remmers and Compton are not starting caliber OGs in this league.  Add in that Elflein looked weak coming off ankle and shoulder surgeries and the middle of our line was as soft as a wet paper bag.
At least Elflein looked like he came on stronger as the year progressed...  I would expect him to look much more like he did his rookie year with an injury free offseason.  If the Vikings can shore up their OG spots in the draft/free agency, the offense should be in a much better spot.

The Bears were throwing quick outs to backup WRs before the pass rush could get there. Minnesota has far better WRs and a far more accurate QB and yet they weren't able to do the same thing. No extra lineman, no screens, no wrinkles or tendency breakers,.no back shoulder fades. Absolutely predictable.

If he gets another chance you'd better find 5 future HOF Linemen I the offseason or you're going to get the same results.

@"FSUVike" said:

If he gets another chance you'd better find 5 future HOF Linemen I the offseason or you're going to get the same results.

LMAO, c'mon now. For whatever reason ,you insist on not putting the blame for this on the offensive line and seem intent on dying on that hill. This statement is testament to that stubbornness. Hilarious.  =)  For all your accolades to the juggernaut Bears offense, Trubisky threw for 163 yards and 0 TDs. The Vikings couldn't do a damn thing because their O-Line is complete shit and the Bear's offensive line is stout and handled the Vikings' interior D.

Some of you guys are looking for the Jesus O-coordinator and there aren't any if they don't have players. IMO.

@"FSUVike" said: The Bears were throwing quick outs to backup WRs before the pass rush could get there. Minnesota has far better WRs and a far more accurate QB and yet they weren't able to do the same thing. No extra lineman, no screens, no wrinkles or tendency breakers,.no back shoulder fades. Absolutely predictable.

If he gets another chance you'd better find 5 future HOF Linemen I the offseason or you're going to get the same results.

Agree. I've seen it a thousand times. A good OC finds ways to mitigate a weak offensive line. It doesn't always work, but it allows you to move the ball, keeps you in the game. And if you have a good defense, you might even win. It's as if the plays were called with no clue our OL was overmatched. 

How do you mitigate a weak offensive line when the QB can't take advantage of the good opportunities he actually does receive? How much pressure prevented him from making a throw vs. how much hesitation throwing the football did it take for him to get hurried/sacked?

Once the offensive line holds up for 16 games, how does Cousins respond to a Playoff caliber pass rush?

I can't believe how bad Cousins melted down on the sidelines yesterday.

@"BlackMagic7" said: How do you mitigate a weak offensive line when the QB can't take advantage of the good opportunities he actually does receive? How much pressure prevented him from making a throw vs. how much hesitation throwing the football did it take for him to get sacked?

Once the offensive line holds up for 16 games, how does Cousins respond to a Playoff caliber pass rush?

Ask Rodgers, the quarterback messiah how it feels to face an actual playoff caliber pass rush and his offensive line has trouble stopping it?   Hell, the Lions put him out of the game with an apparent concussion.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"FSUVike" said:

If he gets another chance you'd better find 5 future HOF Linemen I the offseason or you're going to get the same results.

LMAO, c'mon now. For whatever reason ,you insist on not putting the blame for this on the offensive line and seem intent on dying on that hill. This statement is testament to that stubbornness. Hilarious.  =)  For all your accolades to the juggernaut Bears offense, Trubisky threw for 163 yards and 0 TDs. The Vikings couldn't do a damn thing because their O-Line is complete shit and the Bear's offensive line is stout and handled the Vikings' interior D.

Some of you guys are looking for the Jesus O-coordinator and there aren't any if they don't have players. IMO.

Well, Stefanski is being interviewed for HC position by Cleveland.  So there’s that.

@"FSUVike" said: The Bears were throwing quick outs to backup WRs before the pass rush could get there. Minnesota has far better WRs and a far more accurate QB and yet they weren't able to do the same thing. No extra lineman, no screens, no wrinkles or tendency breakers,.no back shoulder fades. Absolutely predictable.

Exactly, and to others who have mentioned the line, I think improving the offensive line is a given as I’ve been shouting that ever since Zimmer arrived.  But the question in this thread is regarding Stafanski.  And I don’t see the adjustments from week to week to attack the defense that we are playing or to try to cover up our deficiencies.

I stick with stefanski.  He is one of those up and comers that some are fawning about,  we talk about the old coaches not hacking it in today's nfl,  well if we go shopping for an experienced play caller that's what we'd end up with....pass.  we blocked stefanski for a reason and that was if flipper moved on for one reason or another,  so unless he gets a HC gig I think we really need to give him a full off season to build his vision for am offense to really gauge his worth....if he works out he likely becomes Zimmers in house replacement. 

Stefanski has the benefit of being young, innovative and familiar with the team. I think that the stability with having him as the OC would help. The big focus should be on improving the OL. Improve the OL and hopefully the offense and quarterback can improve.

@"Purplewhizz" said: Well, Stefanski is being interviewed for HC position by Cleveland.  So there’s that.

Wow, really?  Is Flipper there too? ;) 

@"Vikergirl" said: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1079789361368043521?s=19

Does this seem crazy to anyone else besides me?  Good luck to him, but I'm not even sure Zim was going to remove the "interim" from his OC promotion.  If he can get HC opportunities, it might make it way easier for Zimmer to demote him and/or bring in a new more experienced OC.