quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: GopherFan34

When the vikes recovered the Darnold fumble, that's when you go for the endzone on 1st down. Instead they got no points.

We are not murder hornets, swooping in to bite the heads off our enemies (with Ride of the Valkeries in the background).

Ours is a game of attrition.

We are a tiny noiseless spider, spinning a little web as we go … watchfull … patient … waiting for a nice plump fly to make a mistake … hoping … oh shit that breeze just blew our f*cking web to smithereens. So we begin again … spinning our little web …

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ORIGINAL: DavidAOlson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricky J

Ben Goessling
@GoesslingStrib 1h
Before today, Kirk Cousins had attempted 30 passes with the #Vikings tied or trailing by eight points or less in the final two minutes. No other NFL QB had attempted more than 15.

He was 4/5 for 30 yards on the Vikings’ 2-min drive today. In OT, he was 5/5 for 50 yards and a TD.

- can we get Brad to comment on this one?

I'd prefer Brad commented on the CB crew. With Peterson down, the Vikings need a miracle. And nobody delivers like Brad (Thielen and now Cousins).

quote:

ORIGINAL: Viking Rich

Zimmer Ball claims another victim: Patrick Peterson.

Because Zimmer hijacks this team's MOJO at the most inopportune times and refuses to put away opponents, Zimmer's team's have to ALWAYS play hard and forced to play starters up to the last second.

While Green Bay can rest players down the stretch, Minnesota's starters are fighting like Hell to eek out a win...Every week.

This leads to injuries, especially to your core players, ala, Patrick Peterson. If Zimmer would allow this team to put away opponents, this could leave several Vikings players fresher at the end of games, and give some bench players some playing time.

No way Pat Pete should be on IR right now. The last two weeks have contributed to Thielen and PP sustaining unnecessary hits/injuries at the end of games. This falls squarely on the shoulders of Mike Zimmer.

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ORIGINAL: Viking Rich

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ORIGINAL: David Levine

How bad were Darnold and his butterfinger WRs?

Bashaud Breeland, the former Clemson Tiger, earned a grade of 89.9 on PFF’s first review, allowing zero yards and zero receptions on eight targets. He also intercepted Darnold’s pass and forced another incompletion.

I am crossing my fingers that Breeland is quietly rounding into shape and becoming more acclimated to Zimmer's defense. I am not complaining about his last couple of games. I know he was coming off an injury/surgery, and Zimmer did not play the starters during the pre-season.

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ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

Mike Zimmer, the gruff, surly Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings, has a perception problem. Specifically, fans, members of the media and, one would assume, members of his football team’s top brass, are beginning to perceive him as a Coach who can talk the talk but is no longer able to walk the walk. Is his tough-guy persona a ruse? Is it some kind of long-ago conceived, elaborate bluff?

Since his arrival with the Vikings in 2014, Coach Zim has been trading heavily on his reputation as a defensive mastermind, and by extension a rough-and-tumble, chop-busting, ass-kicking, man’s man. But in 2021 the cracks in the armor are starting to show. It’s getting hard to tell if Mike Zimmer is the baddest cat in the room or just a Fraidy Cat.

https://purpleptsd.com/mike-zimmer-needs-to-step-on-the-gas/

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ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: DavidAOlson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricky J

Ben Goessling
@GoesslingStrib 1h
Before today, Kirk Cousins had attempted 30 passes with the #Vikings tied or trailing by eight points or less in the final two minutes. No other NFL QB had attempted more than 15.

He was 4/5 for 30 yards on the Vikings’ 2-min drive today. In OT, he was 5/5 for 50 yards and a TD.

- can we get Brad to comment on this one?

I'd prefer Brad commented on the CB crew. With Peterson down, the Vikings need a miracle. And nobody delivers like Brad (Thielen and now Cousins).

😄

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

So We are 3-3. 2 of those losses were crushing and very close. Two of those wins were what I would call exceedingly frustrating to watch, depsite winning I felt emotionally destroyed almost as if we lost. both of those we were manhandling the other team. Carolina was doing nothing on offense. Nor did the Lions. But our team hosed it up late allowed the opponent to tie or even take a lead.

Some common themes in these tough losses and frustrating wins.
Failure to put the other team away when we had the chance.
Kicking failures have cost us in the two close losses.
Late mistakes in close games giving our opponents opportunity to come back.
Anemic, unimaginative, playing to too safe playcalling.
Making decisions that have no chance of success.

This team has way too much talent IMHO to be this average.

Coaching is a big reason we are failing. Playcalling sucks and we can't find a kicker to save our lives.

I see us rolling to a 9-8 record at best with our current production. and no playoffs.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Viking Rich

Zimmer Ball claims another victim: Patrick Peterson.

Because Zimmer hijacks this team's MOJO at the most inopportune times and refuses to put away opponents, Zimmer's team's have to ALWAYS play hard and forced to play starters up to the last second.

While Green Bay can rest players down the stretch, Minnesota's starters are fighting like Hell to eek out a win...Every week.

This leads to injuries, especially to your core players, ala, Patrick Peterson. If Zimmer would allow this team to put away opponents, this could leave several Vikings players fresher at the end of games, and give some bench players some playing time.

No way Pat Pete should be on IR right now. The last two weeks have contributed to Thielen and PP sustaining unnecessary hits/injuries at the end of games. This falls squarely on the shoulders of Mike Zimmer.

Zimmer deserves alot of angst but this is quite the reach.

Do you have a list of the GB players that rested at the end of the CHI or Cincy game?

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ORIGINAL: jbusse

Chase McLaughlin, on our practice squad for 2 months last season, now 9/9 on field goals (3/3 on 50+ yards) and 15/15 on extra points. Another one that got away.

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ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse
Chase McLaughlin, on our practice squad for 2 months last season, now 9/9 on field goals (3/3 on 50+ yards) and 15/15 on extra points. Another one that got away.

Zim would've ruined him. It's what he does.

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ORIGINAL: marty

I still wouldn't trust Carlson for a game winner in a playoff game, despite his regular season success.

I am not sure if Zimmer ruins kickers, or if he doesn't convey confidence, or whatever it is winning HCs convey to their kickers.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Chase McLaughlin, on our practice squad for 2 months last season, now 9/9 on field goals (3/3 on 50+ yards) and 15/15 on extra points. Another one that got away.

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ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

I still wouldn't trust Carlson for a game winner in a playoff game, despite his regular season success.

I am not sure if Zimmer ruins kickers, or if he doesn't convey confidence, or whatever it is winning HCs convey to their kickers.

Blair Walsh was all pro. Dan Bailey was the most accurate kicker in history. Carlson missed three of four FGs for us in the TWO GAMES we kept him (he was one of only two drafted kickers that year - the other was Jason Sanders). Since we cut him he's missed 12 total out of 92. That's 87% including being 7 of 11 from 50+.

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ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Chase McLaughlin, on our practice squad for 2 months last season, now 9/9 on field goals (3/3 on 50+ yards) and 15/15 on extra points. Another one that got away.

So basically we bring in then destroy good kickers from around the league, but equalize things by being a kicking farm team for the league.

Strange considering we rely so much on FGs.

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ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Chase McLaughlin, on our practice squad for 2 months last season, now 9/9 on field goals (3/3 on 50+ yards) and 15/15 on extra points. Another one that got away.

So basically we bring in then destroy good kickers from around the league, but equalize things by being a kicking farm team for the league.

Strange considering we rely so much on FGs.

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ORIGINAL: jbusse

Nice angle of the winning Cousins to Osborn TD:

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1449843542851928067

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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

I still wouldn't trust Carlson for a game winner in a playoff game, despite his regular season success.

I am not sure if Zimmer ruins kickers, or if he doesn't convey confidence, or whatever it is winning HCs convey to their kickers.

Blair Walsh was all pro. Dan Bailey was the most accurate kicker in history. Carlson missed three of four FGs for us in the TWO GAMES we kept him (he was one of only two drafted kickers that year - the other was Jason Sanders). Since we cut him he's missed 12 total out of 92. That's 87% including being 7 of 11 from 50+.

Based on post game comments about Joseph, Zimmer seems committed to being more positive or at least, giving a longer leash to the kicker this year.

An acknowledgement probably of his past meddling.

Of course, its a catch-22 right? Drop the axe too soon and you might be rejecting a Carlson ... hang on too long and your Walsh has more opportunities to not get it right.

I think Spielman and Zimmer have tried different things but, at this point, I'm not sure they can get out of their own way ... even when they just stand and watch and do nothing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricky J

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

I still wouldn't trust Carlson for a game winner in a playoff game, despite his regular season success.

I am not sure if Zimmer ruins kickers, or if he doesn't convey confidence, or whatever it is winning HCs convey to their kickers.

Blair Walsh was all pro. Dan Bailey was the most accurate kicker in history. Carlson missed three of four FGs for us in the TWO GAMES we kept him (he was one of only two drafted kickers that year - the other was Jason Sanders). Since we cut him he's missed 12 total out of 92. That's 87% including being 7 of 11 from 50+.

Based on post game comments about Joseph, Zimmer seems committed to being more positive or at least, giving a longer leash to the kicker this year.

An acknowledgement probably of his past meddling.

Of course, its a catch-22 right? Drop the axe too soon and you might be rejecting a Carlson ... hang on too long and your Walsh has more opportunities to not get it right.

I think Spielman and Zimmer have tried different things but, at this point, I'm not sure they can get out of their own way ... even when they just stand and watch and do nothing.

I've noticed that even prior to this last hiccup as well.

This one didn't cost them the game, though, so maybe it made swallowing the pill a little easier.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricky J

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

I still wouldn't trust Carlson for a game winner in a playoff game, despite his regular season success.

I am not sure if Zimmer ruins kickers, or if he doesn't convey confidence, or whatever it is winning HCs convey to their kickers.

Blair Walsh was all pro. Dan Bailey was the most accurate kicker in history. Carlson missed three of four FGs for us in the TWO GAMES we kept him (he was one of only two drafted kickers that year - the other was Jason Sanders). Since we cut him he's missed 12 total out of 92. That's 87% including being 7 of 11 from 50+.

Based on post game comments about Joseph, Zimmer seems committed to being more positive or at least, giving a longer leash to the kicker this year.

An acknowledgement probably of his past meddling.

Of course, its a catch-22 right? Drop the axe too soon and you might be rejecting a Carlson ... hang on too long and your Walsh has more opportunities to not get it right.

I think Spielman and Zimmer have tried different things but, at this point, I'm not sure they can get out of their own way ... even when they just stand and watch and do nothing.

I've noticed that even prior to this last hiccup as well.

This one didn't cost them the game, though, so maybe it made swallowing the pill a little easier.

We just can't expect our kickers to be 100%. When Green Bay played Cincinnati Mason Crosby missed THREE field goals - and Green Bay still won. The offenses job isn't over once we're in field goal range and the kick should never be taken for granted. This isn't a knock on Cousins (who has been mostly excellent this season) but more a knock on the coaches and fans - driving the team into field goal range DOES NOT constitute a game-winning drive. It's only a game-winning-drive if the kicker makes it. If you don't want to take an 80% chance on a win then scheme for a TD. Blaming your kicker for losses is a coward's way out.