All Things 2020 Minnesota Vikings In-Season Thread

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Ogee Oglethorpe said:
I think it's great for Cook, and I think he runs even stronger this year because of it, but I'd be shocked if there's a scenario where the Vikings don't regret this at some point. I hope I'm wrong!!

SKOL!
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100% correct. They probably should have regretted it the second after it was processed by the league.
 

The Vikings are complete garbage on defense. Today was an embarrassment. I'd be surprised if the Vikings win more than 3 games playing like that.
 

It looked like the Packers had more players on the field, than the Vikings, on both offense and defense. We got out-coached, and our QB is not good.
 

BleedGopher said:
Sid: Vikings' Kirk Cousins motivated after Packers left him feeling ill

Since Kirk Cousins arrived here in 2018, he has statistically been a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers, who he will go up against Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium as the Vikings open their 60th season.

Cousins has posted a 103.0 passer rating compared with Rodgers’ 96.5. He has thrown 56 touchdowns compared with Rodgers’ 51 and has completed 69.7% of his passes compared with Rodgers’ 62.2%.

But where it matters most, Rodgers has gotten the better of Cousins and the Vikings — going 2-1-1 against the Purple since 2018, including two dominant victories in 2019.

“I mean, I think it’s motivating. They did a great job. They beat us twice last year,” Cousins said. “When you remember how sick you felt after those games, you don’t want to let that happen again for a third time. It’s certainly some level of motivation there. But in pro football nobody wants to feel that way, and the motivation is pretty high every week regardless of the past games.”

www.startribune.com

Vikings' Kirk Cousins motivated after Packers left him feeling ill

Aaron Rodgers has gotten the better of Kirk Cousins and the Vikings — going 2-1-1 against the Purple since 2018, including two dominant victories in 2019.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Skol Vikes!!
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Bleed, I appreciate the stats you posted, but not one person on earth would rather have Cousins than Rodgers as their QB.
 

Hope they lose a couple more so I don't have to waste anymore time watching them this year.
 


Seems like Mattison played as well as Cook?

Couldn't we have used that money to buy some better defense??
 

I also still think Elflein is a bust. Don't think he'll finish the year as the starter, one way or another. We'll see of course.
 

No OL - no team.

lather, rinse, repeat.

Unfortunately, I think it will require Spielman and Zimmer to leave before the Vikings actually make improving the OL a priority.

I'm at the point now where I 'sort of' watch the games. I was more upset Sunday when the Loons lost.
 

The CB play awful, but it was not surprising. A group of rookies/young players with no real off-season and no pre-season has to face Aaron Rogers in week 1. They will get better, the questions is how much better and how fast. Zim's status as a defensive genius is on the line.
 



howeda7 said:
The CB play awful, but it was not surprising. A group of rookies/young players with no real off-season and no pre-season has to face Aaron Rogers in week 1. They will get better, the questions is how much better and how fast. Zim's status as a defensive genius is on the line.
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I actually thought the D-line play and blitzing performance was worse. Rodgers had ALL DAY to throw. The DL had almost zero pressure all game. Then, the times that Zim did blitz, it was picked up by the Packers, leaving the suspect corners on an island. Add in the 2 or 3 offsides that lead to free plays, and it's a bit surprising Rodgers didn't have an even bigger day.

The repeated signing of the core players and occasional trade has kept the team relevant. I'm done with Spielman and although I'm still OK with Zim, I'm not going to lose any sleep if he were to get canned. Regardless, with Cousins as the QB and the crap OL that Rick has trotted out there for way too many years, I'm ready for this team to bottom out and rebuild.

#tankfortrevor
#flopforfields
 

forever a gopher said:
I actually thought the D-line play and blitzing performance was worse. Rodgers had ALL DAY to throw. The DL had almost zero pressure all game. Then, the times that Zim did blitz, it was picked up by the Packers, leaving the suspect corners on an island. Add in the 2 or 3 offsides that lead to free plays, and it's a bit surprising Rodgers didn't have an even bigger day.

The repeated signing of the core players and occasional trade has kept the team relevant. I'm done with Spielman and although I'm still OK with Zim, I'm not going to lose any sleep if he were to get canned. Regardless, with Cousins as the QB and the crap OL that Rick has trotted out there for way too many years, I'm ready for this team to bottom out and rebuild.

#tankfortrevor
#flopforfields
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The pass rush was bad too, but with Hunter out and the new guy only playing half time it wasn't surprising either. Tanking won't work. This team will win 5-6 games at a minimum.
 

howeda7 said:
The pass rush was bad too, but with Hunter out and the new guy only playing half time it wasn't surprising either. Tanking won't work. This team will win 5-6 games at a minimum.
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Unfortunately, yes. Worst case scenario, I think this is an 8-8 team. They'll just keep on swimming in mediocrity until the QB and OL are fixed.

That said, as a fan (and I say this about pretty much every team), if you don't have a realistic shot at winning a title, just tank and hope that helps. As a veteran team, going 8-8 and missing the playoffs doesn't help you at all. Likewise, going 9-7, squeaking into the playoffs and getting bounced in the first game doesn't help either.
 

forever a gopher said:
Unfortunately, yes. Worst case scenario, I think this is an 8-8 team. They'll just keep on swimming in mediocrity until the QB and OL are fixed.

That said, as a fan (and I say this about pretty much every team), if you don't have a realistic shot at winning a title, just tank and hope that helps. As a veteran team, going 8-8 and missing the playoffs doesn't help you at all. Likewise, going 9-7, squeaking into the playoffs and getting bounced in the first game doesn't help either.
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I'm not at that point yet. The NFC doesn't have a lock team and I didn't think the O line or the offense in general were that bad yesterday. I have a lot of faith in Kubiak. But Zim has some serious magic to work on D. If it all blows up, a new GM and Kubiak as coach would be OK with me.
 



forever a gopher said:
Unfortunately, yes. Worst case scenario, I think this is an 8-8 team. They'll just keep on swimming in mediocrity until the QB and OL are fixed.

That said, as a fan (and I say this about pretty much every team), if you don't have a realistic shot at winning a title, just tank and hope that helps. As a veteran team, going 8-8 and missing the playoffs doesn't help you at all. Likewise, going 9-7, squeaking into the playoffs and getting bounced in the first game doesn't help either.
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I"m not so sure about how they'll fare this year. You could make a case that they won't be favored again until Week 6 at home against Atlanta and the rest of the schedule, if you looked at it through non-purple lenses, is a pretty tough schedule.

And it goes without saying that if anything happened to Cousins, regardless of his shortcomings, the season would go south quickly. At this point nothing would surprise me
 

forever a gopher said:
I actually thought the D-line play and blitzing performance was worse. Rodgers had ALL DAY to throw. The DL had almost zero pressure all game. Then, the times that Zim did blitz, it was picked up by the Packers, leaving the suspect corners on an island. Add in the 2 or 3 offsides that lead to free plays, and it's a bit surprising Rodgers didn't have an even bigger day.

The repeated signing of the core players and occasional trade has kept the team relevant. I'm done with Spielman and although I'm still OK with Zim, I'm not going to lose any sleep if he were to get canned. Regardless, with Cousins as the QB and the crap OL that Rick has trotted out there for way too many years, I'm ready for this team to bottom out and rebuild.

#tankfortrevor
#flopforfields
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Obviously cherry picking here, but there was one play I watched Yarbrough at the right DE (closest to the TV camera), and he got off so slow that by the time Rodgers threw the ball, their OT didn't even have to touch him. It was pathetic.
 

Gardner Minshew would be a big upgrade over Cousins, and he was a 6th round pick. I love the Vikings, but Cousins always seems like he is playing scared. Tank for Trevor.
 

LakevilleBro said:
Gardner Minshew would be a big upgrade over Cousins, and he was a 6th round pick. I love the Vikings, but Cousins always seems like he is playing scared. Tank for Trevor.
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No he wouldn't. A marginal one at best. They have no chance of getting the 1st pick. They probably should draft a QB next year, but it won't be him.
 


forever a gopher said:
Unfortunately, yes. Worst case scenario, I think this is an 8-8 team. They'll just keep on swimming in mediocrity until the QB and OL are fixed.

That said, as a fan (and I say this about pretty much every team), if you don't have a realistic shot at winning a title, just tank and hope that helps. As a veteran team, going 8-8 and missing the playoffs doesn't help you at all. Likewise, going 9-7, squeaking into the playoffs and getting bounced in the first game doesn't help either.
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Here's the thing with the Vikings-they have been swimming in mediocrity since the late '70s and they never bottom out. Your post piqued my curiosity and allowed me to do my favorite activity-divert my attention from work. I went back to 1980 and tallied up the Vikings historical record over the last 40 years, along with their division rivals (including the Buccaneers, for old times' sake).

I broke it down into three categories-1) seasons where they finished 3 games + over .500 (so 11-5 or better); between 2 games over .500 and 2 games under .500 (10-6 to 6-10 range); and 3 games + under .500 (5-11 or less). It got a bit tricky with the strike seasons, but I gave it my best shot:
Vikings
# seasons 3+ games over .500: 7
# seasons in middle range: 30
# seasons 3+ games under: 3

Packers
# seasons over: 12
# seasons middle: 22
# seasons under: 6
2/3 Super Bowls

Bears
# seasons over: 11
# seasons middle: 19
# seasons under: 10
1/2 Super Bowls

Lions
# seasons over: 2
# seasons middle: 22
# seasons under: 16

Bucs
# seasons over: 3
# seasons middle: 19
# seasons under: 18
1/1 Super Bowl

So, at least we're not the Lions. But we haven't hit the heights of the Bears or Packers or even the Bucs (interesting question-which franchise as a fan would you want over the last 40 years?), and we've basted in mediocrity-they've made the playoffs exactly half the seasons in this period, and have 12 wins over those 20 appearances, with 1987 the only season with multiple wins (2).

And, to top it off-we've had great talent, Hall of Fame talent! 7 HOF's in their prime from that time period (Carter, Moss, McDaniel, Zimmerman, Doleman, Randle, and Steve Hutchinson) with Adrian Peterson and perhaps Matt Birk in the wings. The Packers, by comparison? 3 (Favre, Reggie White, James Lofton) with Aaron Rodgers in the wings, but I can't think of another. The Bears? 6 (Payton, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Singletary, Jimbo Covert, and Brian Urlacher) with no one in the wings that comes to mind.

So, in my mind, the Vikings will figure out a way to win at least 6 games this season, find themselves squarely in the middle of the draft, and country miles away from Lawrence or Fields. Not that tanking in football does you any good-check out the Lions or Browns, as examples. But this is the franchise's destiny, until it isn't.

(And yes, they broke something inside of me back in '98)
 

howeda7 said:
No he wouldn't. A marginal one at best. They have no chance of getting the 1st pick. They probably should draft a QB next year, but it won't be him.
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We would be so much better with Gardner Minshew as our QB. Mnshew salary is $495,000 and Cousins is $27,500 MILLION. Cousin's record vs winning teams was 5-26 the last time I checked, probably worse now. Even Adam Thielen was frustrated by Cousin's last year and he showed it on the field. And he is 8 years younger.

Profile photo, opens profile page on Twitter in a new tab
Tad Dickman
@TDickman89
QB @GardnerMinshew5 completed 26 of 44 passes for 374 yards & two TDs for a passer rating of 101.9. Minshew is now the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 200 passing yards with a passer rating of at least 95.0 in each of his first five career games. @Jaguars
4:04 PM · Oct 6, 2019 from Charlotte, NC
 

LakevilleBro said:
We would be so much better with Gardner Minshew as our QB. Mnshew salary is $495,000 and Cousins is $27,500 MILLION. Cousin's record vs winning teams was 5-26 the last time I checked, probably worse now. Even Adam Thielen was frustrated by Cousin's last year and he showed it on the field. And he is 8 years younger.

Profile photo, opens profile page on Twitter in a new tab
Tad Dickman
@TDickman89
QB @GardnerMinshew5 completed 26 of 44 passes for 374 yards & two TDs for a passer rating of 101.9. Minshew is now the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 200 passing yards with a passer rating of at least 95.0 in each of his first five career games. @Jaguars
4:04 PM · Oct 6, 2019 from Charlotte, NC
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Agreed taking salary into account. But purely on the field, he's probably no better than Cousins.
 

https://www.startribune.com/vikings...ve-further-juggling-offensive-line/572446982/

Vikings put Pat Elflein on injured reserve, further juggling offensive line

After entering the year with two new starters on the offensive line, the Vikings will head into Week 2 with another change.
Right guard Pat Elflein, who hadn’t been on the team’s injury report before Thursday, was placed on injured reserve after missing Thursday’s practice with what is reportedly a thumb injury. The Vikings would have had to list Elflein’s specific injury on their Thursday injury report; the fact they placed him on injured reserve before they issued their injury report meant they did not have to publicly disclose the injury, much like when they placed Danielle Hunter on IR last week before they would have had to disclose the neck injury that coach Mike Zimmer would only describe as a “tweak” during Hunter’s three-week absence in training camp.


Awww man ..... that is just tooooo bad .... I guess they'll have to put someone in who will hopefully be a competent guard.
 

What a complete wipe-out after being pretty good as a rookie.
 

per Shooter:

Not everyone is convinced that Hunter’s absence from the field is due entirely to a neck injury. Should the Vikings get off to a poor start, say 0-3, and decide it’s time to rebuild, some people wonder whether the team would dare put Hunter up for bids for a trade, seeking draft picks, rather than pay for a new contract.

Trading Hunter, 25, who had 14½ sacks each of the previous two seasons, would require at least two No. 1 draft picks and a second-round pick. If it were to come to that, Miami and Denver would seem likely prospects.

www.twincities.com

Charley Walters: MLB wants the Saints to be a Twins’ affiliate

The St. Paul Saints could be closer to becoming the Triple-A franchise of the Minnesota Twins. Major League Baseball’s working agreement with Minor League Baseball expires on Sept. 30. People who k…
www.twincities.com www.twincities.com

Skol Vikes!!
 



LakevilleBro said:
Cousin is really bad and his salary is way of out whack, for his skill level.
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We’re paying tons of money for our QB to hand the ball off on 3rd and 9.

The whole team is bad. Completely mismanaged. Lots of money locked up in average players.
 

First round picks since 2015
Trae Waynes (11)
Laquon Treadwell (23)
Mike Hughes (30)
Garrett Bradbury (18)
Justin Jefferson (22)
Jeff Gladney (31)

Second round picks since 2015:
Eric Kendricks (41)
Mackenzie Alexander (54)
Dalvin Cook (41)
Brian O’Neill (62)
Irv Smith (50)
Ezra Cleveland (58)

Spielman had a good run of picks prior to 2015, but since has been between below average and terrible. Waynes was turning into competent by the time he left, but he was also 11th overall. Bradburys rookie season had him ranked 30th among centers on PFF.
 

Cousins was pretty good last season, and QBs get paid a ton of money all over the league. I don't really have a problem with his salary.

The Colts are paying Jacoby Brissett 28 million, and Rivers 25 million this season, and they are still better than the Vikings. That's the problem. This team is bad and has money tied up in the wrong places.
 


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