All Things 2023 Minnesota Vikings In-Season Thread

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Gopher_In_NYC said:
Per The Athletic’s best writer for the Vegass tilt-

Who will start at quarterback in Week 14 (and why)? — Dan B.

We should get the answer early in the week. My prediction is that Josh Dobbs will be starting against the Las Vegas Raiders for multiple reasons.

First, another starting opportunity would give Dobbs more time to get on time. Another week to learn the intricacies of how his drop in the pocket ties to the receivers’ routes. Another week to sync up with how receivers come out of their breaks. Another week to master the load at the line of scrimmage.

Second, the Vikings already have proof of what Dobbs can do for them, whereas backup Nick Mullens and rookie Jaren Hallremain question marks. Mullens recently returned from a serious lower-back injury. Hall, meanwhile, has finished one career NFL drive. Dobbs has turned the ball over nine times in his four games as a Viking, but his overall efficiency in non-turnover drives ranks in the top half of the NFL.

Third, Minnesota values running efficiency. Justin Jefferson’s reintegration into the offense will help the Vikings’ rushing attack. Before the receiver strained his hamstring, Minnesota ranked second in the NFL in rushing success rate. Early-down rushing prowess is one thing. But Dobbs adds to what’s possible on third down and in the red zone with designer play calls and scrambles.

Moving forward with Dobbs would essentially be a bet on variance. Dobbs’ lows over the last two weeks have been low, but the highs in the two weeks prior were wildly impressive. The odds of competing with the NFC elites are long whoever starts at quarterback. Rolling with an option that gives you the best puncher’s chance against those teams is likely the route they’ll take.
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I read this too and I have to say I was surprised. Alec Lewis is really sharp, a fantastic beat writer for the Vikings. But I really disagree with him here. My thoughts on Dobbs are noted; hard not to cheer for the guy but I need more than that. He just hasn't been very good and been loose with the football. It's not his fault, by most accounts I've seen, this Vikings offense is just not something you can expect a guy to pick up in 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks.

Hall and Mullens have both been deep in this offense since the summer, at a minimum. Unless you're going to change the offense to accommodate Dobbs, I think the experiment should be over.
 

forever a gopher said:
Similar to the Bears situation - Love needs to have enough games like last night to make the Pack think he is "legit" and have them sign him to a big contract. He looked good last night, but from what I've seen of him, he was playing out of his mind in that game and far exceeded the mean. Honestly, the best case scenario as a rival fan is for him to fall into the "good but not great" category where they hold on to him for years, precluding you from trying to acquire an elite QB.
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As it stands today, I have to say I would feel better about Love than I would about Fields. Wooofff. Fields is an unmitigated grease fire as an NFL QB
 


Go 2-0 the next two weeks.

Then we’ll see. Will be a fun ending to the season
 



Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
I read this too and I have to say I was surprised. Alec Lewis is really sharp, a fantastic beat writer for the Vikings. But I really disagree with him here. My thoughts on Dobbs are noted; hard not to cheer for the guy but I need more than that. He just hasn't been very good and been loose with the football. It's not his fault, by most accounts I've seen, this Vikings offense is just not something you can expect a guy to pick up in 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks.

Hall and Mullens have both been deep in this offense since the summer, at a minimum. Unless you're going to change the offense to accommodate Dobbs, I think the experiment should be over.
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I’ll be surprised if he starts Dobbs; everyone would understand the move to Hall and if he 💩 the bed it wouldn’t be as big a deal if Dobbs starts again and has another horrible game. While that shouldn’t matter to KOC, we’re all human and he’s been the golden child thus far.
 

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
As it stands today, I have to say I would feel better about Love than I would about Fields. Wooofff. Fields is an unmitigated grease fire as an NFL QB
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Looks like they might have hit on Love too now - that would be unreal three in a row 😳
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
I’ll be surprised if he starts Dobbs; everyone would understand the move to Hall and if he 💩 the bed it wouldn’t be as big a deal if Dobbs starts again and has another horrible game. While that shouldn’t matter to KOC, we’re all human and he’s been the golden child thus far.
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Word is, for whatever reason, they're announcing Sunday's starter tomorrow.

The smoke I've seen lately, and it's just speculation by people who think they know, is that it will once again be Dobbs. I don't really care I guess, I actually DO trust the staff to make the right call as they have all the evidence; I would just hope that the leash is pretty short on Sunday if it IS indeed Dobbs again.
 




Two of the picks were pop ups, not at all his fault.

Another was a freak thing of a DL just happening to be at the perfect place at the perfect time.

Sometimes when it rains it pours.

Had a beautiful drive to take the lead late.


Defense inexplicably goes into wussy mode on the last drive to let them win the game. I will assume commanded/dictated by KOC, unless evidence surfaces otherwise. Flores seems like a go down swinging kinda guy.


Think it should be Dobbs for one more week, but much quicker hook if needed, during the game.
 

They should just go no huddle if they're starting Dobbs. He seems like maybe he gets in his own head. His best moments have been in the Atlanta game where they had to go no huddle so KOC could tell him the routes and during late/2-minute drives.
 


Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
Ugghhh

Vikings to start Dobbs on Sunday. Probably enough to beat the Raiders horrendous defense but not what I was hoping for
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What % of the crowd will be Vikings fans? I expect it to be similar to a game in Phoenix. Like 40%.
 



howeda7 said:
What % of the crowd will be Vikings fans? I expect it to be similar to a game in Phoenix. Like 40%.
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I have a bunch of friends coming out from MSP for the game; the flights between LAS and MSP throughout the weekend are absolutely nuts for airfare. Probably a lot of people coming, no doubt.

It's always going to be like this for a destination city like Vegas; VGK fans were pissed off the first season that a lot of regular season games were 20-25% visiting fans. Good grief, don't just accept that, embrace it!! They're bringing their hard-earned cash, spending money in our city, filling the arena. That's why I never worried about whether or not Vegas had enough local fans to support a pro sports franchise; we don't have to. There will always be enough visiting fans.
 


Correct decision. Dobbs should get the start. Quicker hook — in game hook — as needed.
 

MplsGopher said:
Defense inexplicably goes into wussy mode on the last drive to let them win the game. I will assume commanded/dictated by KOC, unless evidence surfaces otherwise. Flores seems like a go down swinging kinda guy.
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Feels like the perfect mix for the Vikings Defense would to have Flores be the Coordinator for the first 56 minutes of the game and then have kept Donatell to come in to mop up.

For as bad as they were in 2022, when it was winning time they made the plays quite often.
 
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Looking at the Packers schedule ahead, it seems like it's going to be really hard for them to avoid a Playoff Berth.

@ NYG
TB
@ Car
@ Min
Chi

Yikes.
 

Ope3 said:
Looking at the Packers schedule ahead, it seems like it's going to be really hard for them to avoid a Playoff Berth.

@ NYG
TB
@ Car
@ Min
Chi

Yikes.
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You're betting against Tommy DeVito?
 


The fact nfl teams don’t have bodyguards or handlers for their most important players and personal astonishes me.
 

Gone are the days when the local police down there just drove Vikings employees home. There's a "drinking" joke in there too.

www.espn.com

Vikings OC charged with DWI, travels with team

Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was arrested Friday night and charged with misdemeanor operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, according to Hennepin County jail records.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 

Iceland12 said:
Gone are the days when the local police down there just drove Vikings employees home. There's a "drinking" joke in there too.

www.espn.com

Vikings OC charged with DWI, travels with team

Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was arrested Friday night and charged with misdemeanor operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, according to Hennepin County jail records.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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Free limo rides home from anywhere? Nah...let's get behind the wheel and endanger other people's loved ones.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Free limo rides home from anywhere? Nah...let's get behind the wheel and endanger other people's loved ones.
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He's lucky he didn't get shot. Drunk/impaired driving a very, VERY sensitive issue right now in Las Vegas considering we just lost two Nevada State Patrol officers about 10 days ago; two officers helping a motorist, whacked by a drunk driver, killing both officers. I had a friend that was literally on the scene when it happened, and his having difficulty dealing with what he saw. Unfortunately he felt compelled to send me one of the pictures he took, which didn't do me any good. The memorials were held just Thursday I believe.

We continue to be a society that isn't very serious about impaired driving; We're really good at getting all lathered up about other things, things much less impactful, but not this. I wonder when we wake up and take it more seriously?
 

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
He's lucky he didn't get shot. Drunk/impaired driving a very, VERY sensitive issue right now in Las Vegas considering we just lost two Nevada State Patrol officers about 10 days ago; two officers helping a motorist, whacked by a drunk driver, killing both officers. I had a friend that was literally on the scene when it happened, and his having difficulty dealing with what he saw. Unfortunately he felt compelled to send me one of the pictures he took, which didn't do me any good. The memorials were held just Thursday I believe.

We continue to be a society that isn't very serious about impaired driving; We're really good at getting all lathered up about other things, things much less impactful, but not this. I wonder when we wake up and take it more seriously?
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Think it happened in Mn
 






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