All Things 2021 Minnesota Vikings In-Season Thread


this little contract thing might be an issue. I thought they basically paid Smith this summer to ensure he got the vaccine, but no such luck.
He becomes a possible cut in the 2024 or 2025 season based on the contract. Until then the dead cap hit would probably be too high to justify releasing him so he will likely be playing here for the next two seasons unless someone trades for him and we are willing to take on most of the cap hit that season for a better pick.
 

Smith's unwillingness to get vaccinated and the offense's inability to function without a script or a sense of panic led to the Vikings losing 34-31 in overtime to the Baltimore Ravens.
What I do find strange is this. Smith is worried about a little shot that will actually protect him and others in the long run according to studies. Meanwhile he plays a sport that is loaded with concussions. If he was really concerned about his health, he shouldn't be playing the game of football.
 


Without Hunter, they look as they did last season in which he was out. Porous.
100%. Losing Hunter was a back-breaker, even with Griffen playing well. I know we'll hear lots of various stupid COVID takes but at the end of the day, this team is snake-bitten this year for whatever reason. Sure doesn't feel like a 3-5 team.

Doubled up on TOP, which is outrageous for a team that likes to control the clock like the Vikings. Beginning to think Kubiak is in a little over his head. That was a game that could have been had. Hard to believe they are still essentially in the Wild Card chase.
 

He becomes a possible cut in the 2024 or 2025 season based on the contract. Until then the dead cap hit would probably be too high to justify releasing him so he will likely be playing here for the next two seasons unless someone trades for him and we are willing to take on most of the cap hit that season for a better pick.
Yes that is true. What was talked about was smiths replacement playing today. Based on smiths contract that is over 2 if not 3 years away. By that time Byram will be in free agency at the end of 2025 and 27 years old. The only way he replaces Smith is if Smith is traded.
 


Yes that is true. What was talked about was smiths replacement playing today. Based on smiths contract that is over 2 if not 3 years away. By that time Byram will be in free agency at the end of 2025 and 27 years old. The only way he replaces Smith is if Smith is traded.
Agreed, maybe if he continues to play decent he could take Woods’ spot next year.
 


Agreed, maybe if he continues to play decent he could take Woods’ spot next year.
Maybe I would hope they resign woods for next year. I would love to see if Byram could play nickel back as he has good ball skills something all the vikings corners are missing.
 

per Shama:

The Vikings, 3-5 after yesterday’s loss to the Ravens, are a long shot to make the playoffs and have missed the postseason in two of the last three seasons. The Vikings, although playing with effort, are a flawed team whose faults include not being able to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes and not finishing off games with a victory.

Embattled head coach Mike Zimmer probably not only needs to lead the Vikings to the playoffs but also win a couple of games to save his job. GM Rick Spielman, also the target of a highly critical fan base, has even a longer tenure in his position than Zimmer who he hired before the 2014 season.

The Wilf family could decide in January it’s time for new leadership on and off the field. Part of Mark and Zygi Wilf’s thinking might be prompted after reviewing a roster with several aging players among Minnesota’s impact performers.

uarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Everson Griffen are both 33, safety Harrison Smith 32, cornerback Patrick Peterson and wide receiver Adam Thielen are 31, linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks and defensive tackle Michael Pierce are all 29.

There are longevity questions also about two of the team’s best performers, defensive end Danielle Hunter, 27, and running back Dalvin Cook, 26. Injuries have sidelined Hunter in both 2020 and 2021. Cook missed most of his rookie season in 2017 and injuries, including this season, have forced him out of the lineup numerous times in the last five years. NFL running backs have among the shortest of careers in the NFL.

None of this is to suggest the Vikings have to implode their roster next offseason. But except for 22-year-old wide receiver Justin Jefferson the Vikings don’t have any young stars on the roster, and whoever is managing the personnel will need to make decisions about aging players who have been major contributors in the past. In 2022 the club certainly could begin to transition its roster with aggressiveness while retaining the most valued players including Cook and probably Hunter.

The Wilfs might do a postseason audit, including review of the player roster and salary cap, and decide a new regime gets the opportunity to rebuild the Vikings during the next couple of years. The Wilfs are fans, too, and they have to be frustrated with mediocrity.


Skol Vikes!!
 



When talking about Danielle Hunter, can anyone name one impact defensive player that Spielman has drafted since Hunter? This is Hunter's seventh year. Name one impact defensive player since then.
 

When talking about Danielle Hunter, can anyone name one impact defensive player that Spielman has drafted since Hunter? This is Hunter's seventh year. Name one impact defensive player since then.

Yeah, hasn't gone well. Maybe Cam Bynum has a chance? Looked good and had a 90.4 pff score yesterday. Enjoyed listening to his interview today, seems like will be an easy guy to cheer for.
 
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When talking about Danielle Hunter, can anyone name one impact defensive player that Spielman has drafted since Hunter? This is Hunter's seventh year. Name one impact defensive player since then.
They draft CBs who can't play.
 

Hunter was a 3rd rounder in 2015, with Kendricks the 2nd rounder and Waynes the 1st.

2016 -
1 - Treadwell (bust, but not defense)
2 - Mack Alexander (an OK nickel corner)

2017 -
2 - Cook
3 - Elflein (bust, as Remington winner in college, how can you predict that won't work out??)

2018 -
1 - Hughes (how can you predict he would keep getting hurt??)
2 - O'Neill (great RT)

2019 -
1 - Bradbury (another bust, again Remington winner in college, how???)
2 - Irv Jr
3 - Mattison

2020 -
1 - Jefferson
1 - Gladney (would be starting Corner this season, how can you predict he punches his gf???)
2 - Cleveland
3 - Dantzler (starting Corner, may not be a star, but will he be much worse than Waynes?)

2021 -
1 - Darrisaw
3 - Mond
3 - Surratt (looks good but has not cracked lineup yet as rookie)
3 - PJII (looks good but has not cracked lineup yet as rookie)
 




Hunter was a 3rd rounder in 2015, with Kendricks the 2nd rounder and Waynes the 1st.

2016 -
1 - Treadwell (bust, but not defense)
2 - Mack Alexander (an OK nickel corner)

2017 -
2 - Cook
3 - Elflein (bust, as Remington winner in college, how can you predict that won't work out??)

2018 -
1 - Hughes (how can you predict he would keep getting hurt??)
2 - O'Neill (great RT)

2019 -
1 - Bradbury (another bust, again Remington winner in college, how???)
2 - Irv Jr
3 - Mattison

2020 -
1 - Jefferson
1 - Gladney (would be starting Corner this season, how can you predict he punches his gf???)
2 - Cleveland
3 - Dantzler (starting Corner, may not be a star, but will he be much worse than Waynes?)

2021 -
1 - Darrisaw
3 - Mond
3 - Surratt (looks good but has not cracked lineup yet as rookie)
3 - PJII (looks good but has not cracked lineup yet as rookie)
All fine and good. But if Zim's gone, I want Spielman gone too. He can't identify a QB and that's crippling.
 


All fine and good. But if Zim's gone, I want Spielman gone too. He can't identify a QB and that's crippling.
Sure, that is fine for me. Bring in a new pair of equal partners. Like Cleveland did. And no, the GM doesn't hire the head coach (not that you said that).
 

Sure, that is fine for me. Bring in a new pair of equal partners. Like Cleveland did. And no, the GM doesn't hire the head coach (not that you said that).
Why wouldn't the GM hire the coach? You want Zigi Wilf picking the coach? Get ready for 85 year-old Bill Parcells then...
 

Why wouldn't the GM hire the coach? You want Zigi Wilf picking the coach? Get ready for 85 year-old Bill Parcells then...
Huh?

Right back at you -- you want Zigi Wilf picking the GM?

Like I said, separate and equal. GM controls the roster, the HC does football. They coordinate on what's needed (ie for the draft).

Like Cleveland did it.
 

Huh?

Right back at you -- you want Zigi Wilf picking the GM?

Like I said, separate and equal. GM controls the roster, the HC does football. They coordinate on what's needed (ie for the draft).

Like Cleveland did it.
They have to coordinate, but we already tried the "triangle of Authority" with Brad Childress, Fran Foley and Spielman long ago. No thanks.
 

They have to coordinate, but we already tried the "triangle of Authority" with Brad Childress, Fran Foley and Spielman long ago. No thanks.
No.

Berry + Stefanski.

That's what I want.
 



Hunter was a 3rd rounder in 2015, with Kendricks the 2nd rounder and Waynes the 1st.

2016 -
1 - Treadwell (bust, but not defense)
2 - Mack Alexander (an OK nickel corner)

2017 -
2 - Cook
3 - Elflein (bust, as Remington winner in college, how can you predict that won't work out??)

2018 -
1 - Hughes (how can you predict he would keep getting hurt??)
2 - O'Neill (great RT)

2019 -
1 - Bradbury (another bust, again Remington winner in college, how???)
2 - Irv Jr
3 - Mattison

2020 -
1 - Jefferson
1 - Gladney (would be starting Corner this season, how can you predict he punches his gf???)
2 - Cleveland
3 - Dantzler (starting Corner, may not be a star, but will he be much worse than Waynes?)

2021 -
1 - Darrisaw
3 - Mond
3 - Surratt (looks good but has not cracked lineup yet as rookie)
3 - PJII (looks good but has not cracked lineup yet as rookie)
Not one impact defensive player has been drafted since Hunter. That's almost unbelievable.
 










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