Sloter expects other NFL options (if Vikings keep 2 qb's)
If quarterback Kyle Sloter doesn’t make the Vikings’ 53-man roster, he believes he’s done enough to be picked up by another NFL team.
“Yeah, I would hope so,’’ Sloter said Tuesday. “I feel like I’m a young guy who’s put his best foot forward in the games, and I’m hopefully just going to show that I can get better and better.’’
Head coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday he doesn’t know if the Vikings will keep two or three quarterbacks when the roster is set Saturday. Locks to make it are starter Kirk Cousins and backup Sean Mannion. Along with Sloter, the third-stringer, Minnesota also has undrafted rookie Jake Browning.
“It all depends on other positions really,’’ Zimmer said. “Where we’re at with the 53, if we’re going to keep three or keep two.’’
Sloter, 25, has been on Minnesota’s active roster the past two seasons but has not appeared in a regular-season game. He’s not approaching Thursday’s preseason finale at Buffalo as if he has a roster spot assured.
“The mindset that I carry is that I always have to make the roster, and I don’t ever want to get complacent,’’ Sloter said. “My mindset is that I’m fighting for a spot and it’s served me well in the past and I’m just going to assume that I’m not safe.’’
Sloter leads all NFL quarterbacks in the preseason with more than two attempts with a passer rating of 146.9. Sloter has completed 23 of 27 passes (85.2 percent) for 280 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, although he has gone mostly against third stringers.
Zimmer has been critical at times of Sloter. He said last month he must do better in practice and he said after an Aug. 18 preseason game against Seattle that “there’s a lot of things that he has to get better at if he wants to be the backup quarterback.’’
Asked last week about Zimmer’s comments regarding the Seahawks game, Sloter said he would “let my play do the talking’’ in last Saturday’s game Arizona. He then completed 6 of 7 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown with a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in a 20-9 win. He led the Vikings to two fourth-quarter touchdowns after they trailed 9-7.
“I think that’s the way players need to approach it,’’ Sloter said of his comments last week. “We’re not really in a position to argue. We’ve just got to come out here and show our best on the field.’’
Cousins won’t play Thursday. Zimmer wouldn’t say whether Mannion will start or also will sit out. Sloter said he doesn’t know who will start, saying quarterbacks likely won’t find out until Wednesday.
https://www.twincities.com/2019/08/27/if-vikings-keep-just-two-quarterbacks-kyle-sloter-expects-to-have-other-nfl-options/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
@"HappyViking" said:Maybe for once Sloter will be as crappy as he practices.I sure as hell hope not. Chad Beebe dropped one pass and the house of cards came crashing down.
@"FSUVike" said:@"HappyViking" said:@"FSUVike" said:@"BrickVike" said: The thing that bugs me about the “mentor” role for Manion is that they have a QB coach. Wouldnt it be part of his duties to sit with QB on sidelines and help with that stuff. Then Sloter gets in that conversation to learn? How many teams currently carry a true Developmental QB as their #2?Why is Hoyer backing up Tom Brady?
Why didn't Favre lift a finger to help Rodgers?
The truth is obvious for those that actually want to hear it.
Tom Brady did backup Drew Bledsoe
Kramer was Tark's backup.
Steve Young backed up Montana
Rodgers was #2 to Favre
Mahomes backed up Alex SmithI don't think it's unusual to have a developing young QB be the #2. Especially if he's better than all the other QBs, exept the starter.
Bill.Bellicheat has a journeyman backing up Brady instead of the next JG.
Yes, he does. As he should. But which QB took reps with the 2's last week? Not the journeyman, the rookie.
No matter how you slice it.
If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
From my perspective, it seems meaningless anyway, simply because Cousins was a mistake.
I hope I'm wrong, but I have very little optimism for this upcoming season.
It won't matter what Zimmer thinks, if we have another .500 season!
@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
you have your reason why its not on KC for much of the offensive failures from last season... you say he needed to step up, well there was no stepping up behind that line last year. Even the best QBs in the game look like shit when their OL and play calling is as horrendous as ours was for much of last season.
@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
No doubt KC had some games where I would have liked to have seen more...:But he wouldn't be the first thing I'd point to as a problem with the offense.Losing Cook, JDF as an OC and that shit-show of an OL were by far the bigger of the problems to solve.
Call me naive, but I really believe KC's best seasons are still ahead of him - and that means All Pro type years.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
you have your reason why its not on KC for much of the offensive failures from last season... you say he needed to step up, well there was no stepping up behind that line last year. Even the best QBs in the game look like shit when their OL and play calling is as horrendous as ours was for much of last season.
I know the line sucked and is still a question mark. Yet there were still missed opportunities last year. 2019 is big for this itieration of the Vikings. This whole SLoter situation pisses me off. Not pounding the table for him to start but a potential gamer is so hard to come by and in all my years of Viking watching have not seen a backup look like him with the arm and athletic ability. Mannion is so incredibly just average at best and can be picked up off the scrap heap at anytime.
@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
Don't forget the Nationally televised Seattle night game. It was embarrassing to watch KC fumble and stumble into that loss.I want to like KC, but he's just not getting it done when he faces adversity. When the going gets tough against winning teams, he's usually on the losing end.
I hope this year is different, but I think at this point of his career, this is just who he is.
@"kmillard" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
you have your reason why its not on KC for much of the offensive failures from last season... you say he needed to step up, well there was no stepping up behind that line last year. Even the best QBs in the game look like shit when their OL and play calling is as horrendous as ours was for much of last season.
I know the line sucked and is still a question mark. Yet there were still missed opportunities last year. 2019 is big for this itieration of the Vikings. This whole SLoter situation pisses me off. Not pounding the table for him to start but a potential gamer is so hard to come by and in all my years of Viking watching have not seen a backup look like him with the arm and athletic ability. Mannion is so incredibly just average at best and can be picked up off the scrap heap at anytime.
I agree on Sloter, but Mannion would be snapped up pretty quickly if we were to cut him loose IMO. His knowledge alone of both the Rams and Vikings offenses would make him valuable to any potential NFC playoff contender IMO, or another NFCN team that faces us twice a year.
@"HappyViking" said:@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
Don't forget the Nationally televised Seattle night game. It was embarrassing to watch KC fumble and stumble into that loss.I want to like KC, but he's just not getting it done when he faces adversity. When the going gets tough against winning teams, he's usually on the losing end.
I hope this year is different, but I think at this point of his career, this is just who he is.
Agreed, Cousins is inconsistent. Good stats, not a winner. He was check down charlie the second half of the season. It is right to blame the offensive line and hope that is the only problem. We shall see.Preseason is mostly meaningless, but the third game is often an indicator of good the first string can be. If so, it is an indicator of ongoing inconsistency and the offense looks a bit like last year.
As for Sloter, I think the Vikings would like to keep him and continue his development, but we will find out Saturday. As a fan I would like to see him get some snaps against better competition, but so be it!
Just to be clear, I don't give two shits about Mannion any more than I did Simien.
I am simply pointing out that more teams carry journeymen QBs as backups than developmental guys. It's a fact.
So either those teams now (and historically) are run by morons OR there's more to the equation than how good you look in preseason games.
I'm using logic here. As a fan it's in my best interests for Sloter to progress to the #2 spot or at the very least get looks against the 2nd Stringers.
But that pesky logic thing keeps coming up where I realize that I am only seeing a single data point (preseason performance) in a much larger equation. An equation where I clearly don't know all the variables. And I refuse to make judgements when I realize that I'm not privy to the whole picture.
@"FSUVike" said: Just to be clear, I don't give two shits about Mannion any more than I did Simien.I am simply pointing out that more teams carry journeymen QBs as backups than developmental guys. It's a fact.
So either those teams now (and historically) are run by morons OR there's more to the equation than how good you look in preseason games.
I'm using logic here. As a fan it's in my best interests for Sloter to progress to the #2 spot or at the very least get looks against the 2nd Stringers.
But that pesky logic thing keeps coming up where I realize that I am only seeing a single data point (preseason performance) in a much larger equation. An equation where I clearly don't know all the variables. And I refuse to make judgements when I realize that I'm not privy to the whole picture.
Quit making sense...
The challenge, for the Vikings, is squaring Sloter’s success as a freewheeling quarterback during preseason games with what they’ve seen on the practice field. He finished the preseason practice slate with another two-interception day Tuesday, and has been spotty enough that coach Mike Zimmer sought to quell the Sloter hype with a fairly specific dissection of his practice performance earlier this month.
“He’s got to get a lot better in a lot of the other parts of being a quarterback: making the right checks, getting people in the right formation, making sure the motion is there, not missing the time clock when it’s eight yards in front of you,” Zimmer said on Aug. 20, two days after Sloter went 11-for-13 for 116 yards and a TD in the Vikings’ second preseason game. “There’s a lot of things that he has to get better at if he wants to be the backup quarterback.”
The Vikings have kept at least three quarterbacks under team control every year since Rick Spielman became the general manager in 2012, so Sloter’s first challenge is to beat out Browning, who got $140,000 guaranteed to sign with the Vikings this spring. New Vikings QB coach Klint Kubiak was an offensive assistant in Denver when the team waived Sloter before the 2017 season, and Stefanski spent 2018 as Sloter’s QB coach. The Vikings knew plenty about Sloter when they made the investment in Browning, and they’ll first have to determine whether they want to keep one or both QBs in their system.
It’s seemed all preseason as if Mannion — the only Vikings quarterback behind Kirk Cousins who’s played in a regular-season game — would be Cousins’ primary backup. Zimmer wouldn’t divulge who will start for the Vikings on Thursday night, but No. 2 quarterback Trevor Siemian started last year’s fourth preseason game, and it’d seem like a good bet Mannion will play first in Buffalo.
Even if that happens, though, Sloter should get enough playing time to try and deliver one more rousing preseason performance. The question will be whether the shiniest part of his résumé is the one the Vikings value most.
“Every time he’s come in the game, he does well,” Zimmer said. “He makes plays, gets the team going. I think he’s done a good job all preseason.”
http://www.startribune.com/another-strong-preseason-for-vikings-qb-kyle-sloter-means-just-what-exactly/558617232/
@"jargomcfargo" said:@"HappyViking" said:@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
Don't forget the Nationally televised Seattle night game. It was embarrassing to watch KC fumble and stumble into that loss.I want to like KC, but he's just not getting it done when he faces adversity. When the going gets tough against winning teams, he's usually on the losing end.
I hope this year is different, but I think at this point of his career, this is just who he is.
Agreed, Cousins is inconsistent. Good stats, not a winner. He was check down charlie the second half of the season. It is right to blame the offensive line and hope that is the only problem. We shall see.Preseason is mostly meaningless, but the third game is often an indicator of good the first string can be. If so, it is an indicator of ongoing inconsistency and the offense looks a bit like last year.
As for Sloter, I think the Vikings would like to keep him and continue his development, but we will find out Saturday. As a fan I would like to see him get some snaps against better competition, but so be it!
but being on the losing end against good teams isnt always on him. the D did him no favors in LA last year and KC kept the team in that game as well as leading drives to give Carlson opportunities to miss field goals in green bay.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"jargomcfargo" said:@"HappyViking" said:@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
Don't forget the Nationally televised Seattle night game. It was embarrassing to watch KC fumble and stumble into that loss.I want to like KC, but he's just not getting it done when he faces adversity. When the going gets tough against winning teams, he's usually on the losing end.
I hope this year is different, but I think at this point of his career, this is just who he is.
Agreed, Cousins is inconsistent. Good stats, not a winner. He was check down charlie the second half of the season. It is right to blame the offensive line and hope that is the only problem. We shall see.Preseason is mostly meaningless, but the third game is often an indicator of good the first string can be. If so, it is an indicator of ongoing inconsistency and the offense looks a bit like last year.
As for Sloter, I think the Vikings would like to keep him and continue his development, but we will find out Saturday. As a fan I would like to see him get some snaps against better competition, but so be it!
but being on the losing end against good teams isnt always on him. the D did him no favors in LA last year and KC kept the team in that game as well as leading drives to give Carlson opportunities to miss field goals in green bay.
I agree it's not always on KC, but it's hard to continue to ignore the stats. Is it mostly bad luck, or other players fault for losses?
Kirk Cousins Career Stats:
Record in Primetime Games: 6-13
Record on Monday & Thursday Night: 1-12
Record vs. Winning Teams: 5-25
Record vs. Winning Teams in 2018: 1-6
Career Road Record: 13-23-2
Post-season Record: 0-1
@"HappyViking" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"jargomcfargo" said:@"HappyViking" said:@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
Don't forget the Nationally televised Seattle night game. It was embarrassing to watch KC fumble and stumble into that loss.I want to like KC, but he's just not getting it done when he faces adversity. When the going gets tough against winning teams, he's usually on the losing end.
I hope this year is different, but I think at this point of his career, this is just who he is.
Agreed, Cousins is inconsistent. Good stats, not a winner. He was check down charlie the second half of the season. It is right to blame the offensive line and hope that is the only problem. We shall see.Preseason is mostly meaningless, but the third game is often an indicator of good the first string can be. If so, it is an indicator of ongoing inconsistency and the offense looks a bit like last year.
As for Sloter, I think the Vikings would like to keep him and continue his development, but we will find out Saturday. As a fan I would like to see him get some snaps against better competition, but so be it!
but being on the losing end against good teams isnt always on him. the D did him no favors in LA last year and KC kept the team in that game as well as leading drives to give Carlson opportunities to miss field goals in green bay.
I agree it's not always on KC, but it's hard to continue to ignore the stats. Is it mostly bad luck, or other players fault for losses?
Kirk Cousins Career Stats:
Record in Primetime Games: 6-13
Record on Monday & Thursday Night: 1-12
Record vs. Winning Teams: 5-25
Record vs. Winning Teams in 2018: 1-6
Career Road Record: 13-23-2
Post-season Record: 0-1
That's a lot of potentially damning statistics...If viewed in a vacuum.As a fan, I have to look back at the teams and surround (in the greatest team game there is) to try and reach a conclusion
does it mean KC isn't good enough to lift an average to below average surround? Maybe
I still have a gut feeling that there is enough talent in the guy to be really good with this surround. We'll see.
I hope for Vikings fans sake his best seasons are ahead of him.
@"HappyViking" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"jargomcfargo" said:@"HappyViking" said:@"kmillard" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"kmillard" said:@"MarkSP18" said:No matter how you slice it.If Mannion or Sloter have to play in a real game then we are in more trouble than a little bit!
I wouldn't be so sure just yet... Kirk needs to step up his game, thats all I will say.
Cousins wasn't the issue: 30 TDs - 10 INTs - 4300 yds and completed over 70% of his passes.
I saw issues in a few games last year, NO, NE, Buffalo, both Bears games. He needs to step up and win a few of these types of games when maybe everything is not perfect to convince me.
Don't forget the Nationally televised Seattle night game. It was embarrassing to watch KC fumble and stumble into that loss.I want to like KC, but he's just not getting it done when he faces adversity. When the going gets tough against winning teams, he's usually on the losing end.
I hope this year is different, but I think at this point of his career, this is just who he is.
Agreed, Cousins is inconsistent. Good stats, not a winner. He was check down charlie the second half of the season. It is right to blame the offensive line and hope that is the only problem. We shall see.Preseason is mostly meaningless, but the third game is often an indicator of good the first string can be. If so, it is an indicator of ongoing inconsistency and the offense looks a bit like last year.
As for Sloter, I think the Vikings would like to keep him and continue his development, but we will find out Saturday. As a fan I would like to see him get some snaps against better competition, but so be it!
but being on the losing end against good teams isnt always on him. the D did him no favors in LA last year and KC kept the team in that game as well as leading drives to give Carlson opportunities to miss field goals in green bay.
I agree it's not always on KC, but it's hard to continue to ignore the stats. Is it mostly bad luck, or other players fault for losses?
Kirk Cousins Career Stats:
Record in Primetime Games: 6-13
Record on Monday & Thursday Night: 1-12
Record vs. Winning Teams: 5-25
Record vs. Winning Teams in 2018: 1-6
Career Road Record: 13-23-2
Post-season Record: 0-1
he was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dismal DC team. Without seeing his stats in those games its really hard to put the blame on him. its like saying because Ponder, TJack, and a few other former Vikings QB busts ended up with superbowl rings that they were quality QBs, stats and accolades just dont tell a complete story.
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