Hate to admit it, but there are real causes of optimism for 2019

I agree with pretty much everything here. A lot of the national media seems to have forgotten about the Vikings, but this is still one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. And has been for the last 4 years. Last year was the outlier, not 2017. If they stay healthy, the Vikings will prove that this year. Agree about Chicago. 1st in turnovers and 3rd in games lost to injury last year. They're a very good team, but luck has a way of running out. 

Recently saw an article by 200-year-old Gil Brandt about the 10 most talented rosters in the NFL. The Vikings were not among them. #10 was the Colts. I'd love anyone outside of New Jersey to look at the following two depth charts and make a legit argument that the Colts are more talented than the Vikings. 

https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/IND

https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/MIN

oh we are going to be good... ive been preparing myself all offseason for the heart wrenching ending that is sure to come.

I agree with this assessment. I believe it will only be a 2 team race for the division.  Maybe the Rogers factor can keep the Pack in it but I think it will be one on one with the Bears. Last year everything went against us like you said and for them. If all things are equal drama wise. I think we're better. The schedule being another thing that went against us. This years is spread out more then last year. Them east coast - west coast back to backs last year were just wrong. I think the Lions are in for a disaster. I don't feel much love from the players for that fat Grizzly Adams. I could see a tank coming. I don't see much from them.

they will probably be good as long as they’re under the radar. Hopefully the national talking heads forget about them till february.

Real optimism, causing Vikings fans heartache since 1971. 

We're always SB contenders this time of year, but I'm really guarded after the floppy/sloppy football of last season.  I'll believe we're a playoff team when I see it.  I think the Bears are #1 until we prove we're better.  I see a very average Viking team (8-8 or 9-7) taking 2nd in the North.

Hope I'm wrong, and I know I was very wrong last season when I thought they'd be 11-5 or better.

The potential is there for this team to be very good this year. I want to believe, but two questions that remain for me are; will the defense continue to regress? And can Cousins carry the team if the opponents shut down the run?

@"jargomcfargo" said: The potential is there for this team to be very good this year. I want to believe, but two questions that remain for me are; will the defense continue to regress? And can Cousins carry the team if the opponents shut down the run?

I think the defense will bounce back and that added balance and going to an offense that is tailored to Cousins will help him a lot. 

The question that remains for me is how will Cousins play in big moments, when the game is on the line?

I see an 11 win team and a division title. What sucks is that no matter how well we do, the playoffs are a series of big games full of big moments that, historically, Cousins has not performed well in. 

I'm trying to minimize my attention on the Vikings for a couple months here, but I'm awfully guarded.
Re the OP: Didn't items 1 (great offensive potential) and 2 (defense should be great) also apply one year ago? I know Kubiak has an excellent track record, but it's yet another annual system change that inevitably takes time for adjustment - and Zimmer is impatient with offensive struggles. On defense, who could have predicted the problems, both on and off the field? No one did, and they are generally still unexplained, so how do you know they are gone? This defensive unit has talent, yes, but they come out flat a few games every year, so how do you solve that?
Someone said 2017 was not the outlier, but that's based only on hope. Zimmer has 3 of 5seasons winning 8 games or less, so he's still a weak bet to do better.

to Zim’s credit two out of the 3 seasons where he didnt have more than 8 wins he had arguably the worst OL in football.  

A mid NFL quality OL wins 1-2 more games each yeah, giving multiple winning seasons and a 5 straight years in the playoffs

regarding the defense of 17 to 18 and why 19 will be different. two major reasons:
richardson
humility

Richardson was a dangerous guy at UT. dangerous in that he could rush the passer but also give up the run game. Our Run D last year was the worst in my mind than any of the Zim era.  a return to a stout middle should improve the run D and the defense overall

Humility, good players bounce back after a bad year. One that their heads might have been a little bigger than needed.  Players like Griff, joseph, Kendricks, Rhodes and Barr were humbled last year with poor play.  because of this I would expect a return to the mean, with youngsters excelling and providing impact plays (Harris, Alexander, Weatherly, Kearse). Throw in the stable top play of Hunter, Smith, and Waynes you have the high probability of a top 8 defense. 

With what this offense can bring with Kubiak, Cousins, Cook, a very good TE pairing, and the best duo of WRs, you have the makings with a little bit of luck of a bounceback 11-12 win year and one more run

@"Jor-El" said: I'm trying to minimize my attention on the Vikings for a couple months here, but I'm awfully guarded. Re the OP: Didn't items 1 (great offensive potential) and 2 (defense should be great) also apply one year ago? I know Kubiak has an excellent track record, but it's yet another annual system change that inevitably takes time for adjustment - and Zimmer is impatient with offensive struggles. On defense, who could have predicted the problems, both on and off the field? No one did, and they are generally still unexplained, so how do you know they are gone? This defensive unit has talent, yes, but they come out flat a few games every year, so how do you solve that? Someone said 2017 was not the outlier, but that's based only on hope. Zimmer has 3 of 5seasons winning 8 games or less, so he's still a weak bet to do better.

Losing Sparano right before training camp was a big contributor to the offensive offense.
As for the defense sputtering in the late games: that's a mystery.

@"jargomcfargo" said: The potential is there for this team to be very good this year. I want to believe, but two questions that remain for me are; will the defense continue to regress? And can Cousins carry the team if the opponents shut down the run?

Lol, these are like the exact opposite things from what I'm worried about.  I think it's pretty much a given that the defense will continue to be a top 5 defense.  It was probably inevitable that we would regress from being a top 1-2 defense, because defense is hard, but we'll definitely be in the mix.

Regarding the offense, I need to see the rest of the offense step up around Cousins.  Can we run the ball at all.  Can they carry the team if Cousins is in a funk because it's a late game?  Cousins carried the offense last year, and that's how far we should depend on him to be able to carry them.  Can we block long enough to execute on routes at all different levels?

@"Skodin" said: to Zim’s credit two out of the 3 seasons where he didnt have more than 8 wins he had arguably the worst OL in football.  

How is having a terrible unit on his team "to Zim's credit"?? That's like saying the years my GPA sucked I should be credited because I flunked math...it's not an alibi. Coach the entire team, Zimmer.
We very well may see a bounce-back year, because that has been the pattern. I'll enjoy the season if so, but I'm not really thrilled if we have players and coaches who need some losses to remind them they have to actually play hard to succeed in the NFL.

being in the playoffs or playoff hunt with one of the worst OL groups in football protecting the most important position of all sports is giving credit. 

Zim can’t make Remmers man up, he isn’t the OL coach (he did get his man who then died), nor is he the GM, so sorry but there are 3 parties responsible for bad OL play before the head coach.  His team’s were competing or winning despite this.  

Ask yourself this, if the Vikings OL was say averaging 5th best in overall performance for the last 5 years (something you see out of NE, Dallas, and GB with all varying reasons of success i might add), how many more wins do we have?  How much farther do we get into the playoffs?  what would it feel like to have made the playoffs the last 4 straight years?  No franchise in the stacked NFC has done that.  

I believe we get it right this year with this blocking scheme, with Reiff having a solid year, with Elf and Collins healthy, with Bradburry manning the middle, and ONeil looking to improve on a high quality rookie season.  I would say this will be the best OL performance of the Zimmer tenure teamed with a top 5 defense, and best set of weapons talent wise we have since 09, and 3rd best over the last 21 years.

With a good start, 5-1 out of the gate (splitting the NFC road games, winning 3 at home and beating NY) plus a little luck, this is a real threat to not only go deep in 2019 but get to the Super Bowl.

I'll wait until we are at least 8-3

Hell it's summer---time to get my purple drank on.

This may be why I consistently over bid the line for the season on my annual bet with my buddy.