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Dana Turner -> RE: General Vikes Talk (1/20/2020 1:06:53 AM)
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OK, so where are we as a team and is that window still slightly open. Well first, I think we have to look at what it will take to get us HFA in the playoffs, because I think that is where you have the best shot with Cousins as your guy. So, finishing at the #1 or #2 seed, what will it take.
1.) One to two more pieces for the offensive line. I believe Bradbury is the kind of guy that will take the advice of the people around him and put on the extra 20 pounds of muscle and be in a much better position to compete next year. You couple that with getting him a nasty LG next to him, a guy that can take over the offensive line with fire and attitude. I feel that Kline and O'Neil play fine next to each other and a stronger, smarter Bradbury only makes that side that much better. I am not sure if finding that LG I spoke of earlier, will be enough for Reiff, he played OK, but I think we have seen his best, so if we can get a guy that will be better than him, we should. I don't think you replace him just to replace him, he wasn't that big of a liability.
2.) Coaching needs to understand how to get the most out of Cousins. Sounds simple, but hear me out. Cousins had his best year as a pro, that means something. The scheme is the correct one for him. Problem is, the offensive line needs to play at very good level against every team or Cousins turns in to "bad Kirt". What we need to do is scheme the alternate offense for Kirt that takes advantage of what the defense is giving him when they go all out to stop the run and work him through that. In the all 22, when our offensive line was getting schooled this year, I still saw openings that didn't get used by Kirt, we need to better understand this and be working with him on the sideline. I believe he is one of those guys that needs to be more involved on the sideline, someone needs to be working with him when it's not going well, or he has too much time to be thinking, "oh shit, here it goes again". Fixing the offensive line will be a big help, but you also have to fix the thoughts that create "bad Kirt".
3.) Improve our push up the middle. Not sure if they found that answer in the first game of the playoffs, that was nice to see on passing downs, but that line-up won't hold against the run. We need a new space eater up front, maybe a young big man coming off his rookie deal like Linval was when we got him, but we need a big, young, strong man to take Linvals spot as Linval simply is a shell of his former self. A former self, I might add, that I loved watching and appreciate all he did for the Vikings. I like the small sample sizes I saw from Watts, I believe he will be a good one, JJ is OK in spurts, but you can't pay the big money to LJ or Stephen. Stephen is due over 7 million, not sure that works.
4.) This could be a surprising Junior class declaring for the draft, lots of talk about a lot of guys coming out. If that's the case, our #25 pick should land us a real solid CB prospect. Rhodes, Waynes can go. We need to sign Mac and draft a CB right out the gate. Pay Harris, restructure Smith so that he will be a Viking for the rest of his carrier. Say thank you to Griffin if he's not willing to take a pay cut, and why should he? I am real proud of what he did this year, but as Zimmer said, "it's a young mans game". Rudolph should also be let go, it's just time to move on. (He can go to New England for a couple years)
5.) Possible trade bait. Diggs, Barr or Cook. Not sure I'd like any of them to go, but I'd entertain offers/possibilities for the right players. I love Cook, but if the offensive line can improve as much next year as they did this year, Mattison and Boone and a draft pick could be just about as productive. I'm not saying get rid of Cook, only saying that if a top flight O-line guy was part of a deal, I'd look at it. I'd rather see Diggs go, but we are pretty fat at RB right now, could be an interesting prospect.
Some very hard choices are going to have to be made if this team is going to be competitive next year (competitive enough to get home field). We wee a 10-6 team with the 9th easiest schedule the Vikings have every had. It won't be so easy next year and we need to be much better to compete. It's either this, or tank for a couple of 4-12 seasons to start a rebuild project. Nobody wants that, well.... [:)]
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