2020 off-season thread

[Vanimal46]

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.

Last year he dominated Alabama in the National Championship as a 19 year old. LSU is a great football team, and it took Lawrence 30 games to feel adversity for the first time. He’ll be back in this spot again next season, and I bet we see a repeat of his freshman year instead of this performance.

[stringer bell]

It sure looks like more of the same from the Vikings, despite losing both the OC and DC. Zimmer commented that they lost a close Wild Card game, and reached the divisional and championship rounds in the three years that they made the playoffs. What he didn't highlight was the total beatings his team has absorbed in the last two playoff seasons. 

 

IMHO, the two scintillating wins over New Orleans are negated by non-competitive losses to Philadelphia and San Francisco. The franchise has a long way to go to compete for a championship and the current cast of characters is an extreme long shot to get there.

[Bomba2026]

Vikings kinda remind me of another team in MN...stick with losers because that will work.....A sports show was talking about how MN will extend Cousins contract! I don't even want him back next year! He beat terrible teams, as did the Twins. He cant run and he doesn't seem to have that killer instinct necessary to win. Rogers is 36? And he can run to get yards or to throw and Cousins can't or won't. We might as well put in a robot and program it to throw on of the standard 4 plays we use....I'm glad Stefanski is gone. Hire Brett Favre as OL or QB coach.

[Vanimal46]

There’s going to be a ton of suggestions made this offseason to save/find cap space. Including extending Cousins to push guaranteed money into future years.

 

I think the first question that needs to be asked is if the Vikings are closer to a Super Bowl with minor tweaks or starting the rebuild?

 

It’s my belief this is the peak we’ll see from this core of players. I don’t think Zimmer and Spielman see it that way...

[Badsmerf]

I think this is the peak as well. Cousins isn't the problem. He'd excel in the NO system like Breese has. If he has time, he can make amazing throws. He isn't slow either. A better coach might be Randall Cunningham. Get him to use his legs more, move more fluidly in the pocket.

 

My problem, is the system is not taking advantage of the talent it has. Zimmer is forcing this archaic offense with no risk, and the offense is suffering because of it. Is rather give the keys to new management with the hope of a Packers esque rien around. If it doesn't work, let them tear it down and build it however they want. Nice thing with the NFL is teams can rebound quickly.

[Musk21]

The OL was horrible on pass protection. I don't know which linemen specifically were the problems, but when Cousins has time, he does quite well.

[Mike Sixel]

 

The OL was horrible on pass protection. I don't know which linemen specifically were the problems, but when Cousins has time, he does quite well.

 

The left OG and the rookie center, mostly. 

[howeda7]

Cut Reilly Reif, Rhodes, Joseph, and Harrison Smith (I know he's still good, but they need to start being a year too early instead of a year too late. I'd try to trade him first) Let Waynes and Griffin leave as FA's.

 

Re-sign Anthony Harris and Alexander. Spend savings from above cuts on O-line. Draft Jalen Hurts in 1st round as the next QB. He should be there at 25. Re-build the defense with the rest of the draft.

[Badsmerf]

I don't want any part of Hurts. Who is the last Ohio State QB to have success in the NFL? Not that the past is everything, but that school wins because of the immense talent it has year in and year out.

 

I thought all those guy were already cut.... I was about to be amazed.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I was in favor of blowing it up after the first Bears loss and after watching the season unfold, that was the right choice. It won't happen that way of course. I think Rick shoudl stay and Zimmer should go, but that won't happen either. 

 

I would draft a QB for 2021. The cap will be tight. They can let some guys go and use 2021 as a development year for some of the 2nd string that has shown promise. With a worse record, cap space, higher picks, and a QB with a year of learning the offense under his belt, I think you can make a big FA run and run at the SB... It won't happen though. 

[Badsmerf]

I was in favor of blowing it up after the first Bears loss and after watching the season unfold, that was the right choice. It won't happen that way of course. I think Rick shoudl stay and Zimmer should go, but that won't happen either.

 

I would draft a QB for 2021. The cap will be tight. They can let some guys go and use 2021 as a development year for some of the 2nd string that has shown promise. With a worse record, cap space, higher picks, and a QB with a year of learning the offense under his belt, I think you can make a big FA run and run at the SB... It won't happen though.

I'm not sure I agree with anything you just did there lol.

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm not sure I agree with anything you just did there lol.

And I agree with all of it except keeping Spielman.

 

Right now this team is in the absolute worst spot you can be- mediocre.

[Vanimal46]

And I agree with all of it except keeping Spielman.

 

Right now this team is in the absolute worst spot you can be- mediocre.

Yep... The talent floor is too high to lose 10+ games without several season ending injuries to key players. I’m getting flashbacks of “unfinished business” 2010 thinking about next year... I’ve accepted this core won’t get over the hump and would rather see them bail a year early vs a year late.

[Badsmerf]

I'm fine with a full rebuild. I'm even fine with grabbing a high quality QB. My doubts aren't with this core, it is with the ability of Spellman to plug holes and Zimmer to beat good teams.

[Mr. Brooks]

Xavier Rhodes, pro bowl cornerback.

And the NFL wonders why they can't get anyone to take this game seriously.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Xavier Rhodes, pro bowl cornerback.
And the NFL wonders why they can't get anyone to take this game seriously.

 

this is from the onion?

[Mr. Brooks]

this is from the onion?

Even the Onion wouldn't dare make this up Mike.

[Mike Sixel]

Well, they can't whine about consistency.... As the OC is a familiar face

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I'm fine with a full rebuild. I'm even fine with grabbing a high quality QB. My doubts aren't with this core, it is with the ability of Spellman to plug holes and Zimmer to beat good teams.

Spielman has shown he can find talent... especially late in the draft. That's a very hard skill to find...

 

Personally, I'd fire Zimmer just to be clear... I think the bigger problem is that Zimmer has peaked.. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

this is from the onion?

 

unfortunately no... the real question is how many CBs had to say no before they asked Rhodes.

[Mr. Brooks]

Spielman has shown he can find talent... especially late in the draft. That's a very hard skill to find...

 

Personally, I'd fire Zimmer just to be clear... I think the bigger problem is that Zimmer has peaked..

Every GM in the league can find talent. Every team in the league has talented players, and every GM has found talented players late in the draft.

 

I too think Zimmer is the bigger problem between the two.

But, it's not Zimmer's fault that the offensive line is terrible, the cornerbacks are terrible, and the interior defensive line is porous.

 

When I watched the 49ers game, yes I saw one coaching staff out coach the other. But, I also saw a pretty steep talent advantage as well.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Every GM in the league can find talent. Every team in the league has talented players, and every GM has found talented players late in the draft.

I too think Zimmer is the bigger problem between the two.
But, it's not Zimmer's fault that the offensive line is terrible, the cornerbacks are terrible, and the interior defensive line is porous.

When I watched the 49ers game, yes I saw one coaching staff out coach the other. But, I also saw a pretty steep talent advantage as well.

 

In fairness, the CBs were all injured.......

 

Outside the OL and QBs, I think Spielman has done a good, not great, job at drafting. Of course, those are two pretty big issues for this team......

[Mr. Brooks]

In fairness, the CBs were all injured.......

 

Outside the OL and QBs, I think Spielman has done a good, not great, job at drafting. Of course, those are two pretty big issues for this team......

Even when healthy they aren't good. None of the Vikings CB's ranked higher that #45 per PFF.

[Vanimal46]

The coaching hires have been safe, internal picks.

 

OC - Gary Kubiak

DC - Andre Patterson & Adam Zimmer*

 

*But really, it’s still Mike Zimmer.

 

Continuity can be good, I’m just bored with the old school, anti-analytics folks running this football team.

[Mike Sixel]

 

The coaching hires have been safe, internal picks.

OC - Gary Kubiak
DC - Andre Patterson & Adam Zimmer*

*But really, it’s still Mike Zimmer.

Continuity can be good, I’m just bored with the old school, anti-analytics folks running this football team.

 

On the plus side, there are no coaching excuses they can use this year. It's not totally new systems, they picked these guys, they've been here, etc. 

[gunnarthor]

I honestly think Zimmer, Spielman and Cousins deserve one last year. I'm sure the Vikings won't be favorites to win the Central or get a first round bye but they most definitely could. If Theilan wasn't hurt for half the season, I'm not sure we lose to KC and Seattle. And we most certainly should have won on the road in GB. Now all teams deal with injuries so it's not a completely fair complaint but ...

 

And talent wise, we could see Hunter take a step forward still and I'm confounded on how the team is mis-using Barr. But they still have enough talent in their prime years to make one last go around Cousins. I'm not sure I'd bet on them but right now, other than SF, I'm not sure I think the Vikings are really much worse than any other NFC team.

[Mr. Brooks]

I honestly think Zimmer, Spielman and Cousins deserve one last year. I'm sure the Vikings won't be favorites to win the Central or get a first round bye but they most definitely could. If Theilan wasn't hurt for half the season, I'm not sure we lose to KC and Seattle. And we most certainly should have won on the road in GB. Now all teams deal with injuries so it's not a completely fair complaint but ...

 

And talent wise, we could see Hunter take a step forward still and I'm confounded on how the team is mis-using Barr. But they still have enough talent in their prime years to make one last go around Cousins. I'm not sure I'd bet on them but right now, other than SF, I'm not sure I think the Vikings are really much worse than any other NFC team.

The scoreboard would say they are clearly worse than GB, since they swept us.

 

But, regardless of talent, I just don't trust that Zimmer is a good enough coach to win a title.

[stringer bell]

 

I honestly think Zimmer, Spielman and Cousins deserve one last year. I'm sure the Vikings won't be favorites to win the Central or get a first round bye but they most definitely could. If Theilan wasn't hurt for half the season, I'm not sure we lose to KC and Seattle. And we most certainly should have won on the road in GB. Now all teams deal with injuries so it's not a completely fair complaint but ...

 

And talent wise, we could see Hunter take a step forward still and I'm confounded on how the team is mis-using Barr. But they still have enough talent in their prime years to make one last go around Cousins. I'm not sure I'd bet on them but right now, other than SF, I'm not sure I think the Vikings are really much worse than any other NFC team.

It wasn't a magical season for the purple. They lost close games at KC and GB, but they weren't unusually unlucky either. They had two games where a team needed to score on first and goal to win the game and didn't. They faced KC without all-world QB Mahomes. Like most every other team, their season could go either way by one play in 4-6 games.

 

They were pounded in two of their last three meaningful games by GB and SF. To me that negates the nice win at New Orleans. Green Bay overperformed this year. I don't know if they can repeat their high-wire act again. Chicago underperformed and still lacks a top-tier QB. I think 2020 regular season will come down to health as it usually does, but I don't think the Vikings are in the top tier of NFL teams going into the season.

[Badsmerf]

They were also beaten handily by Seattle at the end of the year.

 

The roster is ok. Zimmer is ok. Unfortunately, ok doesn't win super bowls. If the oline is fixed in the off-season, I could easily see Cousins having a big year, and the team in the same position. I'm waiting for Zimmer to stop micro managing the offense. I'm waiting for him to stop punting so much (one thing I love about pj fleck), take some risks, use the analytical tools.

 

Maybe next year will be the year? They certainly are better than the Bears and Lions, I think Rogers takes another step bank and they could win the North. Better than the niners/seahawks/eagles/cowboys? We'll see I guess.

[Vanimal46]

 

Reading between the lines with these coaching staff hires... They’re hiring as many people as possible who would be cool with leaving after 1 year if this ship goes down.