2021 Vikings Season Thread

[wabene]

Have to say that while normally I frown on calling for people to be fired, which is far too prevalent on the internet, I think Zimmer's time has come. He has had his chance. I was optimistic when he was hired, but he hasn't lived up to what I had hoped for. The Vikings have been talented, but maybe underachieved some during his tenure. So there is the rub. Does Spielman go too? Are some of his undersized and unsuccessful interior o-line picks on him or was he selecting based on his coaches desires? Zimmer seems unwilling to play young players. Would a different coaching staff develope Slick Rick's picks better? Tough call.

[Vanimal46]

  On 12/30/2021 at 12:32 AM, wabene said:

Have to say that while normally I frown on calling for people to be fired, which is far too prevalent on the internet, I think Zimmer's time has come. He has had his chance. I was optimistic when he was hired, but he hasn't lived up to what I had hoped for. The Vikings have been talented, but maybe underachieved some during his tenure. So there is the rub. Does Spielman go too? Are some of his undersized and unsuccessful interior o-line picks on him or was he selecting based on his coaches desires? Zimmer seems unwilling to play young players. Would a different coaching staff develope Slick Rick's picks better? Tough call.

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Yeah, it’s not like Zimmer’s tenure was an utter failure. As time passes on, he’ll still be remembered as a top coach in Vikings history. The team has unfortunately become stale, and it’s time for a different voice. 

I think the organization will be better off with a clean break of both Zimmer and Spielman to be honest. Maybe Spielman can adapt to a new coach, but why not get a fresh pair of eyes on the roster? 

Out of the 3 pillars on this team, Spielman, Zimmer, and Kirk I would tolerate Spielman staying in his role. And that’s not because I think we will find a better QB than Kirk in 2022. He’s just not an ideal QB to have on a rebuilding roster. 

[cHawk]

  On 12/30/2021 at 12:32 AM, wabene said:

Have to say that while normally I frown on calling for people to be fired, which is far too prevalent on the internet, I think Zimmer's time has come. He has had his chance. I was optimistic when he was hired, but he hasn't lived up to what I had hoped for. The Vikings have been talented, but maybe underachieved some during his tenure. So there is the rub. Does Spielman go too? Are some of his undersized and unsuccessful interior o-line picks on him or was he selecting based on his coaches desires? Zimmer seems unwilling to play young players. Would a different coaching staff develope Slick Rick's picks better? Tough call.

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I agree with this. 2017 was Zimmer’s chance and they underachieved. It doesn’t seem possible that a team as talented as the Vikings that year get beaten so badly in the NFC Championship Game, but it happened. I think Zimmer had a lot to do with that.

[Musk21]

Cousins placed on COVID list.  Out for Sunday's game versus Green Bay. ?

[wabene]

  On 12/31/2021 at 4:23 PM, Musk21 said:

Cousins placed on COVID list.  Out for Sunday's game versus Green Bay. ?

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Hilarious, you can't make this ****e up, lol. Of course I hope KC is alright. It does not matter, however, that he is not playing. In fact this is the perfect opportunity to get 2 starts for Mond! I would watch those games with much more enthusiasm! Not sure they will actually do that and probably will just play Sloter. Makes sense for the sinking ship that is Zimmer, I guess. SMH.

[Vanimal46]

  On 12/31/2021 at 4:38 PM, wabene said:

Hilarious, you can't make this ****e up, lol. Of course I hope KC is alright. It does not matter, however, that he is not playing. In fact this is the perfect opportunity to get 2 starts for Mond! I would watch those games with much more enthusiasm! Not sure they will actually do that and probably will just play Sloter. Makes sense for the sinking ship that is Zimmer, I guess. SMH.

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Sloter’s had like 2 practices with the team. It’s going to be the Kellen Mond show. Talk about tossing him in the deep end and seeing if he swims…

The pundits say that it will be too cold to pass a lot, so let’s hope Dalvin is ready to run the ball 40 times 

[Vanimal46]

I do feel bad for Zimmer having to deal with this. 

[wabene]

  On 12/31/2021 at 4:42 PM, Vanimal46 said:

Sloter’s had like 2 practices with the team. It’s going to be the Kellen Mond show. Talk about tossing him in the deep end and seeing if he swims…

The pundits say that it will be too cold to pass a lot, so let’s hope Dalvin is ready to run the ball 40 times 

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I hope your right about Mond playing. The cold weather is not ideal for the Southerner, but maybe we can watch him the following week in better conditions.

[TheLeviathan]

  On 12/31/2021 at 4:48 PM, Vanimal46 said:

I do feel bad for Zimmer having to deal with this. 

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I want to move on from Zimmer but I still hold him in high regard.  In the end, the guys he chose to go all-in with didn't have the same devotion.

[Vanimal46]

Whelp, never mind. Mannion is back. I just threw up in my mouth. 

 

[Danchat]

Weird how they signed Sloter to the 53 man roster a couple days back (not the practice squad), which almost foretold Cousins (or Mond) getting the virus... Can't wait to watch the Vikings hand the ball off to Cook 40 times while Mannion uncorks some awful throws. Vegas' line for the game is now GB -13. 

[gunnarthor]

What a cruddy decision by Cousins. Completely preventable. 

Now, with our luck,  Cook gets injured because he'll get tackled every play. 

[Mike Sixel]

  On 12/31/2021 at 5:24 PM, gunnarthor said:

What a cruddy decision by Cousins. Completely preventable. 

Now, with our luck,  Cook gets injured because he'll get tackled every play. 

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Behind the line, most likely. 

[wabene]

Cousins made a decision that pretty much guaranteed he'd be out with COVID at some point. At this point, however it doesn't matter, the team is going nowhere. There are 3 things I do want between now and training camp; a new coach, Cousins traded and to watch Mond play as much as possible. I'll bet the first 2 happen, but Zimmer is going to try for any win he can get and in his mind that means don't play a young guy. That is a reason I'm ready to move on. I respect Zimmer but he is too conservative.

[RpR]

I will be cheering for the Vikings first time this year, I hope Mannion does very well; putting a rookie in to start would have   been asinine at best.

[wabene]

  On 12/31/2021 at 5:54 PM, RpR said:

I will be cheering for the Vikings first time this year, I hope Mannion does very well; putting a rookie in to start would have   been asinine at best.

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I think Mond started 4 years at a D1 school. It ok.

[Mike Sixel]

  On 12/31/2021 at 5:54 PM, RpR said:

I will be cheering for the Vikings first time this year, I hope Mannion does very well; putting a rookie in to start would have   been asinine at best.

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Other teams start rookies. We know Mannion is bad. They have almost no chance to win this game, see what Mond can do. Hell, I'd bench JJ and Cook (though with the WR issues, that isn't happening).

All y'all on the blow it up and start over, or keep Kirk and fix the D, plan?

[Musk21]

  On 12/31/2021 at 5:47 PM, wabene said:

Cousins made a decision that pretty much guaranteed he'd be out with COVID at some point. At this point, however it doesn't matter, the team is going nowhere. There are 3 things I do want between now and training camp; a new coach, Cousins traded and to watch Mond play as much as possible. I'll bet the first 2 happen, but Zimmer is going to try for any win he can get and in his mind that means don't play a young guy. That is a reason I'm ready to move on. I respect Zimmer but he is too conservative.

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Zimmer is trying to save his job. I don't fault him for not wanting to develop Mond if he feels Mannion gives the team the best chance to win.

[RpR]

  On 12/31/2021 at 5:56 PM, wabene said:

I think Mond started 4 years at a D1 school. It ok.

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Schools are NOT pro-level football, period; with what happened to Joe Webb against Green Bay, having to start without taking snap all season, hopefully taught Zimmer a lesson.

Nothing can do more to destroy a players career than to be thrown to the wolves and made a fool of.

[wabene]

  On 12/31/2021 at 6:08 PM, Musk21 said:

Zimmer is trying to save his job. I don't fault him for not wanting to develop Mond if he feels Mannion gives the team the best chance to win.

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Agreed except this is where Zimmer has it wrong. Mannion has no wheels and a pea shooter whereas the kid has a good arm and wheels. The ability to run might help in these conditions.

[RpR]

Just think if Mannion has his career game, Vikings win big; what will Zimmer do next week?

[gunnarthor]

I've enjoyed the Zimmer era and will remember it quite fondly after the Frazier and Childress years but it's time to move on. I don't blame him for not starting a rookie QB on the road on a nationally televised game against the best team in the NFC. Mond would be destroyed. We'll get plenty of Zimmer-ball, rush upon rush, hoping our defense can somehow limit the Packers offense. Gads, this game will suck where we probably lose 20-3 and everyone thinks "had Cousins played ...".

[stringer bell]

  On 12/31/2021 at 6:12 PM, RpR said:

Schools are NOT pro-level football, period; with what happened to Joe Webb against Green Bay, having to start without taking snap all season, hopefully taught Zimmer a lesson.

Nothing can do more to destroy a players career than to be thrown to the wolves and made a fool of.

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I think the better example is Book, who played at Notre Dame, trying to come in and play against Miami on Monday. No QB besides Cousins is ready to face a division champ on the road, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings kept it close on Sunday. Green Bay has won a bunch of close games. I’ve thought they were due to lose one (to Minnesota) before this news. Maybe they still will, but the road just got much tougher. 

[Danchat]

  On 12/31/2021 at 6:12 PM, RpR said:

Schools are NOT pro-level football, period; with what happened to Joe Webb against Green Bay, having to start without taking snap all season, hopefully taught Zimmer a lesson.

Nothing can do more to destroy a players career than to be thrown to the wolves and made a fool of.

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The comparison between Mond and Webb is tenuous at best - Webb was a 3rd year QB who had 2 starts under his belt to that point. He also got every snap with the 2nd team in practice every week, compared to Mond, who gets to play for the scout team only when needed. Webb was also more of an athlete and not much of a QB prospect, while Mond is a decent prospect who played at a high profile Div I school. Webb was 4 years older than Mond is right now. 

What's worst about that playoff game vs the Packers was that OC Musgrave knew that Webb was going to have to play, yet he drew up a plan to make Webb a pocket passer, despite his obvious strengths as a scrambling QB. Simply baffling.

[Vanimal46]

  On 12/31/2021 at 6:40 PM, RpR said:

Just think if Mannion has his career game, Vikings win big; what will Zimmer do next week?

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Define career game. Mannion throwing or rushing for a single TD is a career game for him. 

[TheLeviathan]

This entire situation highlights one of my biggest complaints with Zimmer: young players getting no opportunity to make an impact. They aren't even trusted in practice much less games. Meanwhile we see other coaches around the leave like in Dallas and even Green Bay where young players often get an opportunity.

The NFL is a young man's game yet we seem to waste two years of that year in and year out.

[RpR]

  On 12/31/2021 at 11:19 PM, Vanimal46 said:

Define career game. Mannion throwing or rushing for a single TD is a career game for him. 

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Joe Webb:

On December 28, 2010, Webb made his first career start, against the Philadelphia Eagles. Scoring one rushing touchdown and throwing for 195 yards, he was 17-of-26 with no interceptions. Initially projected to lose by two touchdowns, the Vikings pulled off an upset win, 24–14.

The talking sports heads on TV are now showing concern that Cousins has started all the games so back-up quarterback is going in cold.

[Mike Sixel]

How has Wyatt Davis still not played? Or Surrat? And now Mond. 

[nicksaviking]

  On 12/31/2021 at 6:12 PM, RpR said:

Schools are NOT pro-level football, period; with what happened to Joe Webb against Green Bay, having to start without taking snap all season, hopefully taught Zimmer a lesson.

Nothing can do more to destroy a players career than to be thrown to the wolves and made a fool of.

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Hard to know if the Vikings need to draft another QB in May if they don’t give Mond an audition.

[RpR]

  On 1/1/2022 at 9:26 PM, nicksaviking said:

Hard to know if the Vikings need to draft another QB in May if they don’t give Mond an audition.

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;True but this is not the time or game to do it.