Vikings off-season plan

[freshinthehouse]

Sure, there's two weeks left, but this team isn't sniffing the playoffs. But with a little work, they could be in the thick of it next year. Here's what I'd like to see them do.

 

Sign either Mike Wallace or Dwayne Bowe. Both are young, both are the big play WR we need. I'm not picky.

 

Sign Andy Levitre, OG from Buffalo. Our line is having a good year. An upgrade at LG could make it a great line in 2013.

 

Trade/cut Ponder. See ya, dude.

 

Trade/sign Mike Vick. Time for Randall Cunningham 2.0. Dude has struggled lately, but that O-line in Philly is laughable. And Vick can still throw a good deep ball, and that is what this team needs. If Vick can't be picked up, Alex Smith would be Plan B.

 

With the 1st round pick, choose the best DT or MLB available. This draft should have some high-end quality at those spots.

 

With 2nd pick, grab a QB project.

 

 

Someone that has a working knowledge of the cap situation let me know how stupid this plan is.

[glanzer]

They current occupy the 6 seed! How can you say they aren't sniffing the playoffs?

[DaveW]

Yeah, I'm not sure how they aren't "sniffing the playoffs" as well. They have a really tough game this weekend no doubt, but with the way Adrian and the defense are playing? I wouldn't rule anything out.

 

Vick...would be interesting. I question his durability though, and he is getting older. I'd prefer they get a guy like Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith or Matt Flynn personally. Then take a QB in round 2 or 3 (they would prob have to give up a 3rd rounder for Smith or Cousins).

 

Landry Jones would be a QB I would take a look at if he falls.

[biggentleben]

Interesting to me is that quarterback value is down tremendous in this draft. It would be interesting if a prospect like Matt Barkley or Geno Smith fell all the way to the Vikings. Say what you want about Ponder, but it'd be hard not to consider at that point.

[diehardtwinsfan]

They are already sniffing the playoffs, and while I suspect they won't get in, I'm not sure your assessment is correct... To answer your thoughts, I'd personally target Alex Smith, who I think can be had cheaply since the niners pretty much screwed themselves on this one. He doesn't make mistakes and can make decent throws... Agreed on Wallace as well.

 

I'm a bit concerned on the QB project since it seems as though we can never develop one... I'd really like to know why Joe Webb hasn't been given a shot at all during Ponder's ineffective games...

[DaveW]

In regards to Webb I have to think the coaches have seen and know that he has no real future as an NFL starting QB? Sort of like the same reason why the jets named Mclroy the starter next week instead of Tebow.

 

I like Webb a lot, but even I question his legitimacy as a starting QB in this league. Clearly we should have drafted Russel Wilson or Kirk Cousins this year as a backup....sigh

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm not sure I'd compare Webb to what is going on in NY... I'm pretty sure that NY situation is cutting off the nose to spite the face or something along those lines. I feel sorry for Tebow. He may not be the world's best QB, but what he does well is improvise when plays break down in ways they should not... I don't understand why the team would trade for him and then very intentionally give him no time. Rex Ryan is signing his own termination papers...

[DaveW]

I'm not sure I'd compare Webb to what is going on in NY... I'm pretty sure that NY situation is cutting off the nose to spite the face or something along those lines. I feel sorry for Tebow. He may not be the world's best QB, but what he does well is improvise when plays break down in ways they should not... I don't understand why the team would trade for him and then very intentionally give him no time. Rex Ryan is signing his own termination papers...

Honestly, I don't think Ryan ever wanted him to begin with, it literally put him and his starting QB in a terrible situation throughout the entire year, maybe this is his last "**** you" to the brass.

[Kobs]

I'd imagine they were planning on using him as a short yardage specialist, not as a backup quarterback. The media basically makes that plan unbearable and likely impossible, since no quarterback good enough to make it so unbelievable to gin up a quarterback controversy needs help in those situations.

 

ESPN & friends are foaming at the mouth at the prospect of Tebow playing again. It is shameful, but totally expected.

[DaveW]

I'd imagine they were planning on using him as a short yardage specialist, not as a backup quarterback. The media basically makes that plan unbearable and likely impossible, since no quarterback good enough to make it so unbelievable to gin up a quarterback controversy needs help in those situations.

 

ESPN & friends are foaming at the mouth at the prospect of Tebow playing again. It is shameful, but totally expected.

Yeah, that is probably true.

 

Maybe they just already "know" what they have in Tebow and want to give Mcelroy a couple games to "see what he's got" before they go all out and over pay for some QB heading into next year. I'm sorta excited as now Mcelroy makes 3 current NFL starting players who I went to high school with. (Scott Chandler and Garrett Hartley being the other two)

[twins4121]

Houston recently beat Jacksonville and Detroit in OT in consecutive weeks.... If those bottom feeder teams can give these guys a run we have a shot at beating them and taking another step toward this years playoffs. Then week 17 adrian puts up another 210 against Green Bay, our D locks up the fudge pack and boom, we're in.... Not sniffing the playoffs?

 

... Interesting take on this offseason though, i would definitely love to see some of it go down, especially the Wide Receiver scenario and Vick.

[freshinthehouse]

Yeah, I should've said make some noise in the playoffs. But besides one possible fluke win, does anyone see anything positive happening for the Vikes if they make it in?

 

And on the free agent front, Darnell Dockett would be a good fit for us. He's not fitting in with AZ and their 3-4 scheme. Dude would make a great pair with KW in a 4-3.

[Badsmerf]

It's possible they could make some noise. The defense has been excellent. If they get anything out of Ponder they could give teams a run for it. Obviously this is assuming they show up, and that isn't a given. But this team is playing well right now and possibly peaking. I want to see them win and cheer for a winning team, so make it happen.

[Mike Sixel]

They won 3 games last year, and their qb is awful. That must mean the team is pretty good.

 

sign a legit WR

Glenn Dorsey, who does not fit in KC's defense should be cheap.

 

draft the best OG, DT, LB, CB, S in round 1.

draft the best OG available in round 2, unless you did in round 1.

[TheLeviathan]

I think the team's priorities should be LB-DT-WR-CB in order for the draft. I think the o-line is just fine unless they lose Loadholt.

[DaveW]

Yeah, I should've said make some noise in the playoffs. But besides one possible fluke win, does anyone see anything positive happening for the Vikes if they make it in?

 

And on the free agent front, Darnell Dockett would be a good fit for us. He's not fitting in with AZ and their 3-4 scheme. Dude would make a great pair with KW in a 4-3.

 

Most years I would agree that the Vikes couldn't make any noise but this year? The NFC is wide open.

 

Atlanta is a solid team but not unbeatable.

We already beat the 49ers at San Fran, and I'm not exactly sold on Kaepernick being that huge of an upgrade over Smith.

Seattle is dangerous as ****....at home. On the road anything can happen, but honestly, I see Seattle as the best overall current team in the NFC as crazy as that sounds.

Green Bay: Well to make the playoffs we will have to beat them, and we actually completely outplayed them in Green Bay. If Ponder doesn't **** all over himself we can beat them in Minn or GB.

Washington: Scary team no doubt, but we should have been up 21-0 in the first QTR instead of 9-0. Plus good chance the only time we'd have to play them would be in NFC championship game anyways.

Giants/Cowboys/Bears: Extremely Beatable

 

If we snag a wild card we either would have to play @Was/NYG/Dal or @SF/SEA or @GB

 

Other then @SEA I honestly think we would have a solid shot. And in the 2nd round it should be noted that Matt Ryan has yet to win a playoff game.

 

The NFL playoffs this year regardless of who gets in should be pretty damn entertaining, all the teams have their "issues" including Pats, Texans and Broncos from the AFC.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Alex Smith is the only QB they should target. Everybody else is too unpredictable. Get Smith, draft a project QB (not Barkley), and go. You don't know how much longer AP will hold up...

[luke829]

Sure, there's two weeks left, but this team isn't sniffing the playoffs. But with a little work, they could be in the thick of it next year. Here's what I'd like to see them do.

 

Sign either Mike Wallace or Dwayne Bowe. Both are young, both are the big play WR we need. I'm not picky.

 

Sign Andy Levitre, OG from Buffalo. Our line is having a good year. An upgrade at LG could make it a great line in 2013.

 

Trade/cut Ponder. See ya, dude.

Trade/sign Mike Vick. Time for Randall Cunningham 2.0. Dude has struggled lately, but that O-line in Philly is laughable. And Vick can still throw a good deep ball, and that is what this team needs. If Vick can't be picked up, Alex Smith would be Plan B.

 

With the 1st round pick, choose the best DT or MLB available. This draft should have some high-end quality at those spots.

 

With 2nd pick, grab a QB project.

 

 

Someone that has a working knowledge of the cap situation let me know how stupid this plan is.

 

But he just got hitched today to a smokin' hot wife, that should help matters some-what (wait a minute)

[DaveW]

Alex Smith is the only QB they should target. Everybody else is too unpredictable. Get Smith, draft a project QB (not Barkley), and go. You don't know how much longer AP will hold up...

 

AP is a FREAK of nature, there is no reason not to think he won't put up another 3-4 years of elite running with another 2-3 (decent to running) afterwords. The guys I am worried about aging soon is the D Line.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

AP is a FREAK of nature, there is no reason not to think he won't put up another 3-4 years of elite running with another 2-3 (decent to running) afterwords. The guys I am worried about aging soon is the D Line.

 

Agree about the D-Line. The only concern about backs is that when they go, they go quick. AP is a violent, attacking back. I would put him in a higher risk category.

[TheLeviathan]

Let's just agree that if you want to draft and develop a back...aim 4th and 5th round....not lumbering 2nd rounders.

[Reginald Maudling's Shin]

Good to know I'm not alone in still hating that pick.

[Thor]

Basically we are in the 3 year plan mode. Fight for the playoffs this year, go deep in the playoffs next year and win the Super Bowl the year after. The trouble is we still have too many needs to not hit on at least 4 picks and hopefully 5. It isn't that hard when you have 2 picks in the first 22 but when you get to where your first pick is 14-18 it becomes a matter of scouting. QB isn't fixable in this draft if they are thinking of winning the Super Bowl in 2 years. WR is a tricky position to fix draft wise or FA wise. O Line and Defensive front 7 could be fixable later in the draft. I also think more help in the secondary. That takes a big program and most everybody knows the guys who can play before the draft. I would be looking defense for the first pick, either an impact LB or a top d-back. I would also be looking at NDSU vs Sam Houston for a player I could steal in the 6th round.