0-16 baby

[nicksaviking]

I think Kirk Cousins would surely help Dallas make a playoff run. Unrelated, I loathe Dallas.

 

There isn't a player on the team outside of Justin Jefferson I wouldn't be willing to move for reasonable compensation.

[gunnarthor]

 

I think Kirk Cousins would surely help Dallas make a playoff run. Unrelated, I loathe Dallas.

 

There isn't a player on the team outside of Justin Jefferson I wouldn't be willing to move for reasonable compensation.

I know this is a joke but that actually makes some sense, Cousins isn't this bad and he has some knowledge of the NFC East. But his contract makes him untradeable for us, right? Like, we'd have a 20m cap penalty? 

[Vanimal46]

 

Uhh, what? That would be heart breaking.

[Mike Sixel]

Bad to trade for however you spell his name in the first place....but right move to trade him now.

 

I would be bummed if they deal Hunter! He's young enough to be around for a long time.

[nicksaviking]

 

I know this is a joke but that actually makes some sense, Cousins isn't this bad and he has some knowledge of the NFC East. But his contract makes him untradeable for us, right? Like, we'd have a 20m cap penalty? 

 

There would be a cap hit, but I want to draft a QB next year anyway so it makes no difference to me if the Vikings cap hit comes with Cousins on the bench or on another team.

[nicksaviking]

 

Bad to trade for however you spell his name in the first place....but right move to trade him now.

 

I would be bummed if they deal Hunter! He's young enough to be around for a long time.

 

Sucks about Hunter. He is the type of player I'd like to have around for a long time, but if the team is going to be rebuilding during the next year or so, his excellent play in his prime years will be for naught.

 

Hopefully he does still have his prime years ahead of him. A neck injury is a bit scary, I hope this is a fix it and forget it kind of thing and not something that could impact his health long term.

[Danchat]

I used to be on the Spielman bandwagon, but the past couple offseasons have really turned me off. Too many bad extensions, topped off with the inexcusable Cousins extension. A backwards philosophy going into the offseason trying to "rebuild on the fly", making win-now moves (Ngakoue trade, Harris tagged, Pierce and extensions), while also retooling the roster (Diggs traded, 15 draft picks made). Not good enough to compete, but chained too heavily financially the next couple years when the prospects will be developed. 

 

I, at the very least, expected Cousins to beat up on bad defenses, but he can't even do that now. He's suddenly become Jamies Winston, handing turnovers away (plus the highest depth of target QB too). There are some legitimate reasons why Zimmer's defense has been bad, but it shouldn't be this bad. There are rookie DBs who are playing well in the NFL, but ours have no idea what they're doing. Freaking Xaiver Rhodes is having a resurgence because the Colts understand how to actually use him. Hughes looks like a total bust - does Zimmer actually know how to develop CBs? He got the 11th overall pick with Trae Waynes, and he topped out as a league average CB, took him until 3 year to be a starter. It took Mack Alexander until his 3rd year too. 

 

I don't see a future with the Vikings winning a Super Bowl with this threesome in charge, but unfortunately they've all been extended. 

[nicksaviking]

My vote, in order, of whom is most important to be removed from the team:

Spielman

Zimmer

Cousins

 

My guess, in order, of whom is most likely to be removed from the team:

Cousins

Zimmer

Spielman

 

The team can rebuild for a year or so while Cousins does nothing but eat cap space on the bench. I also think the team can win with Zimmer if there was a GM in place who made it crystal clear that he is in charge of the defense and gets little to no input on the makeup of the offense (good luck with that though). I think there is next to no chance the team wins it all with Spielman as GM. He's good at finding skill position players, but that's about it. He has no clue about the QB or OL and expecting a Super Bowl in this era without an excellent QB and an adequate OL is asking for a miracle.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Kirk Cousins, having given up on ever being featured on a Wheaties box...

 

 

(note: this Twitter account is not mine; but I sincerely hope this guy reads Twins Daily )

 

(also note: I don’t imagine this is something Cousins comes up with on his own)

[ashbury]

Kirk Cousins, having given up on ever being featured on a Wheaties box...

Some genius Hy-Vee marketing VP isn't getting a year-end bonus this time.

 

[gunnarthor]

Looks like the refs are going to allow unconditional holding again today. Gads, I hate the Packers.

[Vanimal46]

I’ll take 2 wins and potentially lose out on Trevor Lawrence to beat the Packers... Finish it out, Cook.

[Vanimal46]

I will never, ever complain when one of our season’s victories is against Green Bay. We won’t derail their inevitable playoff spot. However, for one week we caught them sleep walking and Dalvin Cook carried the team to a win. Skol!

[TheLeviathan]

The young pass rush was not good, but the young secondary played well.  

 

It won't get mentioned as much as it should, but the offensive line was really, really good today.

[Danchat]

Well that was a surprising win. Shockingly poor play from the Packers, I guess they looked ahead to the 49ers game on Thursday and coasted defensively. Cook is a stud, no doubt, but I can't remember the last time a run defense looked that bad. Our O-line trounced them, which is something I thought wasn't possible. I can never be mad when beating the Packers (I'm looking forward to hearing from Packers ventline/fan radio lines), but this does make our draft position worse, and we get the Bears, Lions, and Cowboys upcoming. We might end up 6-10, which is not ideal. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Well that was a surprising win. Shockingly poor play from the Packers, I guess they looked ahead to the 49ers game on Thursday and coasted defensively. Cook is a stud, no doubt, but I can't remember the last time a run defense looked that bad. Our O-line trounced them, which is something I thought wasn't possible. I can never be mad when beating the Packers (I'm looking forward to hearing from Packers ventline/fan radio lines), but this does make our draft position worse, and we get the Bears, Lions, and Cowboys upcoming. We might end up 6-10, which is not ideal.

 

We might end up at 6-10, but if those are the next three opponents, we might see 5-5 on our way there.

[Danchat]

 

We might end up at 6-10, but if those are the next three opponents, we might see 5-5 on our way there.

I wouldn't pick us to beat a very good Bears defense at Soldier Field, and we're pretty even with the Lions. Cowboys are a disaster and a half, though.

[gunnarthor]

 

I don't want us to tank. This team could quite realistically have been 4-3 right now instead of 2-5. I'm enjoying watching the young secondary improve and watching Cook. I don't need them to win a super bowl to enjoy this, I just don't want to watch horrible sports.

[Mike Sixel]

that was shocking! In the moment, I'd rather have wins. But, 6-7 wins is terrible for draft position, and tricks a bad team into thinking they are "this close" to being good, when they really aren't.

[nicksaviking]

 

I don't want us to tank. This team could quite realistically have been 4-3 right now instead of 2-5. I'm enjoying watching the young secondary improve and watching Cook. I don't need them to win a super bowl to enjoy this, I just don't want to watch horrible sports.

 

I get it, but I just don't get any more enjoyment from the team if they win 8 games or if they win 4 games.

 

Actually, typing that up makes me realize the opposite is actually true for me. Looking back, when the team is maddeningly mediocre and it's clear the best they'll do in the playoffs is go one and done, I typically watch the games and I'm angry. Angry at the poor play, angry at the play calling, angry at the QB, angry at the officials. I get some relief after the game if they win, but I'm fuming all week after they lose.

 

The years where the team is so hopeless you start thinking about draft picks in October, those seasons (like this one) the games are fun to watch, because I still get excited about the big plays, but maybe it's Schadenfreude, but it's also kind of funny to watch the slapstick comedy of errors that continually pile up.

 

I'd rather be 2-14 than 7-9. Not even because of the draft pick, or because it's more likely to demand an organizational shake up, but largely because being able to just casually watch the team play every week is kind of a nice change. That mindset might be unique with me I realize. 

[Dodecahedron]

If you consider the history of the franchise, Cousins is the most perfect Vikings quarterback ever. He fits exactly with what other "Good" quarterbacks have done with this franchise. Good stats, no clutch ability.

 

I was happy when the Vikings gave him a long and expensive contract because everything about him being a Vikings quarterback is just so perfect. I knew I didn't have to stress about anything; any team led by Cousins is going to implode. This leaves me to sit back and enjoy Vikings games stress-free. If they lose, it's as the gods willed it. And lose is what they will do; even a 15-1 season won't produce a super bowl win with Cousins at the helm. With Cousins, the Vikings are "business as usual" -- we can look at basically any past Vikings season and know what's going to happen when Cousins is under center. It's great. Thank you, Vikings, for making this so easy for us fans. We have no chance of getting sucked in to the mirage and having our hearts broken again in the playoffs -- we can already predict it with precision certainty. Again, THANK YOU. Finding the quintessential Vikings quarterback and overpaying him with a long contract is absolute perfection. It's beautiful.

 

Now, we are talking about who we should get rid of after this bad year. Zimmer, Spielman, Cousins? Cousins won't go anywhere, but the Vikes should be aggressive about signing a good-to-great #2 and let that work itself out naturally. Cousins will be gone before we know it (albeit at the end of his contract), and that has to be planned for.

 

Zimmer should not go unless he demanded Cousins get that large contract extension. Zimmer is many things, but dumb isn't one of them, so I doubt that's the case. And anyway, who would the Vikings find who is any better? This leaves Spielman. And sure, he should go. He had a nice run but his era hasn't exactly been scandal-free or elite. It's time for a reset there.

[nicksaviking]

Reports were that Zimmer wanted nothing to do with Cousins and a big time contract for the QB, it was Spielman's decision.

[TheLeviathan]

You can take enjoyment from watching the building blocks of the future develop.  Gladney looks like a player.  Wonnum does too.  I like what I have seen from Dantzler and Hand too.  

 

Cleveland has some stuff to clean up, but his blocking on the move is phenomenal.  Bradbury is progressing.  Jefferson is a stud.

 

The problem remains Kirk Cousins, but this team probably isn't as far off as some think, they just have a nightmare situation with their cap to get much better.

[nicksaviking]

 

You can take enjoyment from watching the building blocks of the future develop.  Gladney looks like a player.  Wonnum does too.  I like what I have seen from Dantzler and Hand too.  

 

Cleveland has some stuff to clean up, but his blocking on the move is phenomenal.  Bradbury is progressing.  Jefferson is a stud.

 

The problem remains Kirk Cousins, but this team probably isn't as far off as some think, they just have a nightmare situation with their cap to get much better.

 

The cap situation sucks, but it shouldn't be an issue because this team really has no business signing big money free agents next year and outside of Eric Wilson and Anthony Harris, I don't think there's anyone this team needs to worry about re-signing, and with the current situation, I think you just shrug your shoulders and wish Harris good luck.

[Mike Sixel]

 

You can take enjoyment from watching the building blocks of the future develop.  Gladney looks like a player.  Wonnum does too.  I like what I have seen from Dantzler and Hand too.  

 

Cleveland has some stuff to clean up, but his blocking on the move is phenomenal.  Bradbury is progressing.  Jefferson is a stud.

 

The problem remains Kirk Cousins, but this team probably isn't as far off as some think, they just have a nightmare situation with their cap to get much better.

 

they've had 3 good years in the last six, before this. They are 2-5....you really think they aren't far off? From what, being good every other year again? The "problem" isn't one player, no way. 

[nicksaviking]

they've had 3 good years in the last six, before this. They are 2-5....you really think they aren't far off? From what, being good every other year again? The "problem" isn't one player, no way.

 

Too many key players are approaching or over 30. There were plenty of people suggesting the window closed last year. I agree, they are far off in my opinion. It could be a quick turn around perhaps, but they need lots of personnel turnover.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Too many key players are approaching or over 30. There were plenty of people suggesting the window closed last year. I agree, they are far off in my opinion. It could be a quick turn around perhaps, but they need lots of personnel turnover.

 

And to be right about that turnover.....they've pretty much been wrong on OL forever under Spielman.....and TE.....and QB.

 

[Dodecahedron]

 

The problem remains Kirk Cousins, but this team probably isn't as far off as some think, they just have a nightmare situation with their cap to get much better.

 

Depends on what you mean by "far off" I suppose. This team can turn it around quickly to be a bubble playoff team that either just misses or is eliminated after a round or two. After all, this is how they have been for a decade and the division is constantly in flux; even if they're not very good, in many years they will have a chance to make the playoffs and even get ten wins.

 

If by "far off" you mean a visit to the conference championship or superbowl, yes they are very far off.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Depends on what you mean by "far off" I suppose. This team can turn it around quickly to be a bubble playoff team that either just misses or is eliminated after a round or two. After all, this is how they have been for a decade and the division is constantly in flux; even if they're not very good, in many years they will have a chance to make the playoffs and even get ten wins.

 

If by "far off" you mean a visit to the conference championship or superbowl, yes they are very far off.

 

I'm honestly not sure that's true.  This is a weird year, but there is talent here and things are showing improvement.

 

I'm just going to point out that the offensive line has looked really, really good again today.  It might be they've found a group that can work together.  The young defense is making major strides too.

 

My concern is that they A) gave up a high second round pick for a rental and the team doesn't look to have much flexibility to add talent.  So maybe they are further than I think, but the young talent is progressing really well.

[Vanimal46]

I don’t see a loss on the remaining schedule... 11-5 BaBy!

 

Dalvin’s last 2 weeks have been absurd! 6 TD, 479 total yards.