2021 Vikings Season Thread

[TheLeviathan]

I'd be curious to read that.  I agree that the Zimmer version of that is detrimental, but I think there are other teams that make it clear that a lack of balance is a problem too.  The Bills and Chiefs are floundering, in part, because no one fears their running game.  The Eagles were floundering until they put more balance into their offense.

[Mike Sixel]

  On 12/7/2021 at 11:52 PM, TheLeviathan said:

I'd be curious to read that.  I agree that the Zimmer version of that is detrimental, but I think there are other teams that make it clear that a lack of balance is a problem too.  The Bills and Chiefs are floundering, in part, because no one fears their running game.  The Eagles were floundering until they put more balance into their offense.

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I really don't follow the game as closely as I did.... But I too would be interested in an intense analysis of the strategy of play calling.

[RpR]

 

What happened to the day of a quarterback saying this play is BS, and he calls another?

[LVTwinsfan]

So we got the team that tied Detroit against the team that lost to Detroit 

[LVTwinsfan]

  On 12/8/2021 at 8:10 PM, RpR said:

 

What happened to the day of a quarterback saying this paly is BS, and he calls another?

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Brett Favre retired years ago

[TheLeviathan]

The inconsistency with this team is my number one reason why I think firing Zimmer and keeping Spielman is a defensible position.  It's evident how talented this team is when it isn't being coached into losses.

Helluva start.....but my god, giving up 17 yards on 3rd and 19 has to be the kind of thing I'll miss the least about Zimmer's coaching.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't think Pittsburgh is very good at this football thing.....

[Vanimal46]

Pittsburgh’s defense is atrocious. You could drive an 18 wheeler through the gaps in their defense. Also, Big Ben’s gotta be thinking whether it’s worth it after getting his clock rung several times tonight. 

[LVTwinsfan]

  On 12/10/2021 at 2:42 AM, Mike Sixel said:

I don't think Pittsburgh is very good at this football thing.....

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You meant to say Minnesota right?

[TheLeviathan]

This is hilarious

[Mike Sixel]

  On 12/10/2021 at 4:01 AM, LVTwinsfan said:

You meant to say Minnesota right?

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Apparently. They just aren't good.

[Mike Sixel]

Fire Zimmer should still be trending. That was awful. 

[Danchat]

That was... wow, I don't know what the heck I just watched. Pittsburgh quit in the first half, then actually tried and nearly exposed our horrific coaching/play/whatever the heck we did. Nearly blew the biggest lead in NFL history on primetime TV. 

I'll tell you what, this team is certainly entertaining! Something crazy is going to happen every week. 

[Vanimal46]

Every week with this team… This isn’t healthy. In no way, shape, or form should this game ended so close. 

[Mike Sixel]

I can't wait for people to blame Cousins when the offense scored this much.....

[Vanimal46]

  On 12/10/2021 at 4:51 AM, Mike Sixel said:

I can't wait for people to blame Cousins when the offense scored this much.....

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He actually had a bad game today… It was the Dalvin Cook show all night. 

[Mike Sixel]

  On 12/10/2021 at 4:52 AM, Vanimal46 said:

He actually had a bad game today… It was the Dalvin Cook show all night. 

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Still not his fault. Seriously. They scored 36.....

[Danchat]

  On 12/10/2021 at 4:59 AM, Mike Sixel said:

Still not his fault. Seriously. They scored 36.....

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Right, the defense was horrific in the second half and the culprit for this disaster, but they're still paying Kirk the same per year as Rodgers and Wilson just for him to week in and out "not be the problem". He also seems to have his worst games in primetime matchups, for whatever reason.

[Vanimal46]

  On 12/10/2021 at 4:59 AM, Mike Sixel said:

Still not his fault. Seriously. They scored 36.....

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I don’t understand what your argument is. Dalvin Cook carried the offense. Kirk had a bad game. I guess you can say it’s not his fault? He didn’t do much to contribute to this dirty feeling win. 

[Vanimal46]

I will say his receivers didn’t help out either. Jefferson should have had 3 TDs in the first half alone and dropped 2 of them. Kirk also threw some wobbly ducks and took a back seat while we scored 29 in the first half. 

[Mike Sixel]

He wasn't good, but blaming him is like blaming Buxton going o for 4 when Thorpe gives up seven runs.....

We also have no idea how differently they would have played on o of Pittsburgh had stopped Cook. 

[Mike Sixel]

  On 12/10/2021 at 5:08 AM, Vanimal46 said:

I will say his receivers didn’t help out either. Jefferson should have had 3 TDs in the first half alone and dropped 2 of them. Kirk also threw some wobbly ducks and took a back seat while we scored 29 in the first half. 

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He should have audibled out of the run? I have no idea what you are arguing. They scored 29 points.....I guess they could have had forty.... But this isn't in the QB. It's on the defense.

[Vanimal46]

  On 12/10/2021 at 5:14 AM, Mike Sixel said:

He should have audibled out of the run? I have no idea what you are arguing. They scored 29 points.....I guess they could have had forty.... But this isn't in the QB. It's on the defense.

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We’re talking over each other here. You first brought up “can’t wait for people to blame Kirk for this game” when he had a bad game. That’s my argument. He had a bad game. Most of the time he’s been good. This is a strange time for you to bring up Kirk. He didn’t do much. He completed 3 passes in the 2nd half. 

[cHawk]

  On 12/10/2021 at 4:51 AM, Mike Sixel said:

I can't wait for people to blame Cousins when the offense scored this much.....

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Cousins threw two picks that Pittsburgh scored 15 off of. One of which was absolutely dreadful.

[TheLeviathan]

Cousins will get too much crap....but that second pick was awful and the team was putting the game away.  You can't make that throw.

[cHawk]

  On 12/10/2021 at 5:22 AM, TheLeviathan said:

Cousins will get too much crap....but that second pick was awful and the team was putting the game away.  You can't make that throw.

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The 1st one was bad too.

[gil4]

  On 12/10/2021 at 5:05 AM, Vanimal46 said:

He didn’t do much to contribute to this dirty feeling win. 

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His two INTs that set up TDs helped contribute to the dirty feeling part.  

 

[Danchat]

 

It's more for offseason talk, but... the Vikings are currently have about -$10M in cap space for 2022. It's a funny situation compared to the Twins, who seem to go into every offseason with something like $70M in contracts while the Vikings already have $218M locked down.

[TheLeviathan]

  On 12/16/2021 at 3:41 AM, Danchat said:

 

It's more for offseason talk, but... the Vikings are currently have about -$10M in cap space for 2022. It's a funny situation compared to the Twins, who seem to go into every offseason with something like $70M in contracts while the Vikings already have $218M locked down.

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The Twins can't count past 5 digits unless decimals are involved.

In all seriousness the Vikings should be able to trim that down fairly easily and tweak this team.  Anthony Barr gone and a few restructures and they're at least able to do some things to add.

[Vanimal46]

  On 12/17/2021 at 3:17 AM, TheLeviathan said:

The Twins can't count past 5 digits unless decimals are involved.

In all seriousness the Vikings should be able to trim that down fairly easily and tweak this team.  Anthony Barr gone and a few restructures and they're at least able to do some things to add.

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Yeah being $10 million in the red is not insurmountable. IIRC the Eagles were around $80 million over the cap heading into the 2021 season. The Saints are going to be $70 million over the cap next year and still dedicating cap space for Drew Brees’ deferred money. 

Instead of continuing to restructure and kick future guaranteed money down the road, I’d rather take a step back next year. Make some difficult decisions with veterans (Pierce, Tomlinson, Theilen, Kendricks) to either cut them or trade them while they’re still quite valuable. I also know a quick way to free up $35 million… But the new coach should make that decision whether they want Kirk or look for a new QB.