2020 off-season thread

[Badsmerf]

Now that they year is over, it is time for the off-season thread. Since the other thread is already a bunch of pages long, it is better to start a new one.

 

Will Spellman be fired? Zimmer? How will the oline be improved? I say blow it up. This team is going nowhere.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't believe for 1 minute Zimmer can take this team all the way. Maybe if it was 1974......

[gunnarthor]

They'll give Zimmer and Cousins one more year together. I think they are pretty crunched by the salary cap so they'll probably lose Rhodes and Waynes and Alexander from the secondary. And the defense is getting older.

 

I think they need to

1) address the OL

2) Probably need to make the DL better - they were run over pretty good today

3) fix secondary

 

They also need to re-scheme the defense a bit to use Barr better.

[Mike Sixel]

 

They'll give Zimmer and Cousins one more year together. I think they are pretty crunched by the salary cap so they'll probably lose Rhodes and Waynes and Alexander from the secondary. And the defense is getting older.

 

I think they need to

1) address the OL

2) Probably need to make the DL better - they were run over pretty good today

3) fix secondary

 

They also need to re-scheme the defense a bit to use Barr better.

 

Maybe don't lead the league in running on 2nd and 10.......

 

Until they move into this century on offense, nothing else matters. Other than cutting Eiflein before he gets on the plane, of course.....

[Danchat]

Spielman & Zimmer aren't going anywhere. They are under contract for only one more year, so they will likely require an extension... I think 2020 will be a nice final test for the two of them. There won't be a lot of cap room and most of their players will still be under contract. A lot of the money and players will be gone in 2021, so it would make sense to make 2020 a "last hurrah" and reboot things in 2021 if necessary.

 

For the current offseason, I would address the trenches. The O-line and D-line need to improve if we want to win more in the playoffs.

[gunnarthor]

 

Maybe don't lead the league in running on 2nd and 10.......

 

Until they move into this century on offense, nothing else matters. Other than cutting Eiflein before he gets on the plane, of course.....

I figure the assistant coaches are smart enough and Speilman knows the chair is getting hot that they should be able to open up the offense a bit. But, even with all our faults, we were 8th in scoring this year. There's a lot of room for improvement but they have a few tools on the offensive side of the ball.

 

The play calling wasn't always good - as you note - but they have good enough skill players. They need a coach who can use them correctly. And they need to fix that line.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm not interested in 10-6 and being dominated in the playoffs again. What's going to change with the sane team?

[stringer bell]

Well, I expect that the offensive line needs reinforcements and the entire defense is aging, so there is a lot of change needed. The last three years have featured two playoff teams which won a game and then lost decisively on the road in their second game, where they looked totally outclassed. I'm not sure how far away they are, but today they looked a long ways away.

 

With Cousins under contract for another year, I don't think the club will "blow it up" this offseason.

[Mike Sixel]

Oh. I don't expect any big changes. And then nine or ten wins. And either missing the playoffs or being dominated again. It's what Zimmer does.

[Badsmerf]

Oh. I don't expect any big changes. And then nine or ten wins. And either missing the playoffs or being dominated again. It's what Zimmer does.

Agreed. If it were me, what is the difference? Why waste another year on this disaster? Blow it up now, get in on a great QB class in 2021, and roll with a new regime. By the time Spellman fixes the o line, Cousins will be on crutches.

 

You expect a new coach to take over after a disappointing 2020, go 5-11 in 2021, and maybe compete in 2022? I don't see it. The best chance this team has is to get a guy like Trevor Laurence. Cut or fire sale everyone outside of a few key pieces, and next year is whatever.

 

It doesn't matter what they do this off-season, this roster will not be elite. There are elite guys, but too much money wrapped up in guys like Barr, Griffen, Rhodes, Rudolph. Need a reboot.

[Vanimal46]

I see a team like the Tennessee Titans who took on the personality of their coach. They are playing mean, physical, passionate football.

 

I see a team like the Vikings who took on the personality of Zimmer. Ultra conservative, afraid of getting burned by a big play, and ready to make an excuse why they lost.

 

First things first, gotta figure out if Spielman/Zimmer are here as lame ducks in 2020 or if they’re going to lock in mediocrity.

[Mike Sixel]

I see a team like the Tennessee Titans who took on the personality of their coach. They are playing mean, physical, passionate football.

 

I see a team like the Vikings who took on the personality of Zimmer. Ultra conservative, afraid of getting burned by a big play, and ready to make an excuse why they lost.

 

First things first, gotta figure out if Spielman/Zimmer are here as lame ducks in 2020 or if they’re going to lock in mediocrity.

This.

[Musk21]

1st order of business will be hiring a new Offensive coordinator as the Browns just announced that Stefanski will be their new head coach. Wonder if Shurmur returns here?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dumb questions: could they, will they, or should they extend Cousins next year, and could they do that in order to lessen next year’s cap hit? Would the Patriots be interested in trading for him?

[Mike Sixel]

There's your built in excuse, another new OC.

[Badsmerf]

Great news Stefanski is gone. There were times I thought the scheme was great, but far too many questionable games.

 

In the long run, I don't think it matters. Zimmer will try to control the mix and risk taking. Those gutless punts are far too common, and I have no doubt that mentality trickles into the rest of his game. He's Not a cold blooded leader, and the team follows suit.

 

Maybe a new GM/coach can put together a competent off-season and compete next year. I'll be more optimistic with change. Hopefully Wilf has seen enough. If the Cowboys situation has shown anything, lame duck coaches don't win.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28469819/sources-browns-plan-hire-vikings-oc-kevin-stefanski-head-coach

 

Looks like Stephanski will be looking for a new job this time next year...

[gunnarthor]

I think Kubiak will be the OC/assistant HC next year. I'm not sure that's an upgrade or not. I'm also not sure how much of the blame goes to the scheme/coaching and how much to the O-line. The first loss to both the Packer and Bears and the playoff loss to San Francisco were, IMHO, due to our o-line being exposed and destroyed by a better defensive front. While maybe some better play calling and scheming fixes that a bit, there's only so much you can do if you can't run and you don't give your QB time to pass.

 

I'm also not sure if the Vikings zone-blocking scheme is helpful or not or if it fits with our personnel. But the line should be the top priority. Just not sure how to fix it.

 

As for Zimmer, I'm not as hard on him as others. He's certainly better than Childress, Tice and Frasier. He's a good defensive coach but he really needs to be less conservative. I'm not sure he can change at this point. But he has a nearly .600 winning percent and only one losing season in six years. They aren't going to fire him.

[Badsmerf]

Did you think Spellman and Zimmer can deliver a championship? If yes, is it the good record against losing teams? What other evidence do we have? If no, why keep them?

 

I wasn't on board with parting ways last year, but changed my mind over the season.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

LOL, 21-3 Green Bay at half.

 

Imagine if the Duluth Eskimos were the class of the NFL, the Milwaukee Badgers were the excuse-making runner-ups year after year, and no one knew where Green Bay was.

 

Imagine John Facenda describing the “frozen tundra of northern Minnesota, the winds of Lake Superior whipping off the lake and through the masks of the opponents, reduced to mere mortals here in this wasteland, frozen with cold, frozen with fear.”... *

 

Instead, we will have PA tomorrow morning at 9 AM telling us how impossible it is to win in the playoffs as a six seed against a number one seed on the road in the playoffs after such an “emotional” game on a short week on the road against a one seed as a six seed after a short week etc etc and so on and so on......

 

At least PJ Fleck showed up this year.

 

I would so rather be a fan of Wisconsin teams, however I would still rather live in Minnesota.. I will have to think about this.

 

/rant

 

 

 

 

* I made that up. Not bad, eh?

 

** anyone else out enjoying a drink tonight hit me up lol

[Mike Sixel]

Seattle completely changed their offense at the half, and is playing with urgency. The Vikings would never do that under this coach. Ever. They would have kicked a short field goal on forth down too....

[gunnarthor]

 

Did you think Spellman and Zimmer can deliver a championship? If yes, is it the good record against losing teams? What other evidence do we have? If no, why keep them?

I wasn't on board with parting ways last year, but changed my mind over the season.

I dunno. I think they could, sure. Did you think Mike Vrabel and Tannehill would get to the AFC championship game? Did you think Mike Nagy was the next great coach? I sure never thought Doug Pederson or Gary Kubiak would be super bowl winning coaches.

 

Weird stuff happens all the time. The Vikings aren't going to be the favorites next year but they have some talent. I disagree with some of the pessimism here. I think most of our problems are talent level, particularly the offensive line, not coaching. But there could be ways those are connected.

 

But at the end of the day, Cousins, Zimmer and Speilman are going to be connected. They know that. I'd be very surprised if they didn't make some big changes to win it all next year. We'll see.

[Badsmerf]

I dunno. I think they could, sure. Did you think Mike Vrabel and Tannehill would get to the AFC championship game? Did you think Mike Nagy was the next great coach? I sure never thought Doug Pederson or Gary Kubiak would be super bowl winning coaches.

 

Weird stuff happens all the time. The Vikings aren't going to be the favorites next year but they have some talent. I disagree with some of the pessimism here. I think most of our problems are talent level, particularly the offensive line, not coaching. But there could be ways those are connected.

 

But at the end of the day, Cousins, Zimmer and Speilman are going to be connected. They know that. I'd be very surprised if they didn't make some big changes to win it all next year. We'll see.

That isn't really evidence. I know football can be crazy. At this point, are you betting against Tennessee next week? I wouldn't. That doesn't mean coming in as the 6 seed is the path to a title.

 

I'm still asking why you would allow another year? How do Zimmer and Spellman perform knowing they are lame ducks? We have seen time and time again how that plays out. Childress was a lame duck, fired after a bad start. All the while, Spellman was in charge of drafting and the roster.

 

We could be the lions or bears, and always suck. I don't think that is what our fans or ownership expects.

[gunnarthor]

 

That isn't really evidence. I know football can be crazy. At this point, are you betting against Tennessee next week? I wouldn't. That doesn't mean coming in as the 6 seed is the path to a title.

I'm still asking why you would allow another year? How do Zimmer and Spellman perform knowing they are lame ducks? We have seen time and time again how that plays out. Childress was a lame duck, fired after a bad start. All the while, Spellman was in charge of drafting and the roster.

We could be the lions or bears, and always suck. I don't think that is what our fans or ownership expects.

I don't think we'll be the Lions and a few years ago everyone wanted Nagy. Coaches with .600 winning percentages don't fall out of trees. This is a veteran team that needs to retool and take another shot before it's core gets too old. I don't think it makes sense to fire Zimmer. He's a good coach, esp on defense. As I said, the biggest problem is easily the offensive line. I don't really blame him for that. I do wish the offense was more aggressive but, at the same time, we were still 8th in scoring (and 5th in defensive scoring).

 

To me it feels like this is a team that needs some tweaks, not a team that should be blown up.

[Mike Sixel]

So, Edwards is out as DC, and they are going a new direction at DB coach also......and a new OC and probably more changes on that side of coaching.

 

I wonder what they want different on defense?

[Mr. Brooks]

So, Edwards is out as DC, and they are going a new direction at DB coach also......and a new OC and probably more changes on that side of coaching.

 

I wonder what they want different on defense?

Pure speculation, but I'm thinking maybe Edwards wanted more input and Zimmer said, "thanks, but no thanks."

[Mr. Brooks]

So, Edwards is out as DC, and they are going a new direction at DB coach also......and a new OC and probably more changes on that side of coaching.

 

I wonder what they want different on defense?

And as long as Zimmer is picking the OC, it's not going to be any of the changes many of us want to see, I'm afraid.

[Vanimal46]

And as long as Zimmer is picking the OC, it's not going to be any of the changes many of us want to see, I'm afraid.

Not much is going to change at all if rumors of hiring Klint Kubiak as OC and Adam Zimmer as DC become reality...

[Badsmerf]

Not much is going to change at all if rumors of hiring Klint Kubiak as OC and Adam Zimmer as DC become reality...

Country club 2.0!

[Badsmerf]

I change my mind on Lawrence. I want no part in a guy that plays this bad when the spotlight is on. That said, the Vikes will move mountains to get him.