quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arlowe84

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: joejitsu

It sounds like O’Neill’s calf injury is worse than evpected. That’s not what I wanted to hear.

Calf injuries are not something to mess with. They should shut him down.

The way he was carted off, I was assuming a tear, so not sure what "worse than expected" means

Calf muscle leads to the achilles. You don't mess with that.

I've torn a calf muscle before. Hurts like hell. No chance of playing for a couple of weeks, perhaps even a month, if that is what happened.

If he's out season over. No chance of winning wild card weekend.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arlowe84

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: joejitsu

It sounds like O’Neill’s calf injury is worse than evpected. That’s not what I wanted to hear.

Calf injuries are not something to mess with. They should shut him down.

The way he was carted off, I was assuming a tear, so not sure what "worse than expected" means

Calf muscle leads to the achilles. You don't mess with that.

I've torn a calf muscle before. Hurts like hell. No chance of playing for a couple of weeks, perhaps even a month, if that is what happened.

If he's out season over. No chance of winning wild card weekend.

This team is still 1-2 linemen short of being a good offensive line. They have no depth whatsoever. And that goes for a lot of positions.

It partially comes from paying the quarterback three times as much as he is worth.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Daniel Lee Young

KAM needs to sit KOC and Donatello down and let them know that the defense is inexcusable and it changes immediately.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

Without a tremendous amount of luck in free agency and instant impact from a limited draft class this offseason, I don't understand how the defense can be good next year regardless of who the DC is.

They can cut Harrison Smith, Kendricks, Hicks, and several others to gain cap, but the $30 million figure I've read here isn't very much. It's like the minimum you need to stay afloat, and we have to sign Hockensen.

So they will have to strike gold on the couple of mid-tier and several low to mid-tier types they sign. That is fool's gold.

And any draftees will have to be able to contribute right away or by default they are no help. Ugh, based on 2022 that is a sickening thought.

Then you potentially have a new defensive scheme. No DT to provide a rush inside, scraps at DE. Za Smith with no position.

Who would even want to be the DC of that mess?

Just what expectations do people have even if we managed to somehow get a top flight DC??

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

Last offseason many predicted a roundabout .500 season. Some also said (and I totally agree) that without Kwesi making the tough decisions, we will only be good enough to string together several seasons of mediocrity thereby assuring mediocre draft slots.

Due to a crazy range of uncanny things "unlikely to be earned" next year lol, we ended up with a far better record but IMO are essentially a team that plays like it is only "still in the hunt" for the last playoff spot.

We will be going into the offseason perhaps 32nd (last) in terms of combined cap and draft assets.

So related to expectations for the defense, just what do people expect for next year as a whole? Another playoff run?

Barring an improbable SB run - or even with a SB run - I say this chapter of the Vikings needs to be blown up.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ronhextall

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

Without a tremendous amount of luck in free agency and instant impact from a limited draft class this offseason, I don't understand how the defense can be good next year regardless of who the DC is.

They can cut Harrison Smith, Kendricks, Hicks, and several others to gain cap, but the $30 million figure I've read here isn't very much. It's like the minimum you need to stay afloat, and we have to sign Hockensen.

So they will have to strike gold on the couple of mid-tier and several low to mid-tier types they sign. That is fool's gold.

And any draftees will have to be able to contribute right away or by default they are no help. Ugh, based on 2022 that is a sickening thought.

Then you potentially have a new defensive scheme. No DT to provide a rush inside, scraps at DE. Za Smith with no position.

Who would even want to be the DC of that mess?

Just what expectations do people have even if we managed to somehow get a top flight DC??

I would trade/sign FA for the best DB possible. Hope a new DC can generate a pass rush.

Frankly, I think spending big money on Linebackers and Safeties is a waste of money. You need a pass rush and shutdown corners the rest just doesn't matter.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

Just a simple change back to a 4-3, and a more aggressive scheme that blitzes, could easily boost the defense up 15 spots.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

Without a tremendous amount of luck in free agency and instant impact from a limited draft class this offseason, I don't understand how the defense can be good next year regardless of who the DC is

Just a simple change back to a 4-3, and a more aggressive scheme that blitzes, could easily boost the defense up 15 spots.

You could hit on a FA pickup, or the 1st round draft pick. And then there is also the possibility of the highly drafted safety and cornerback from the past draft coming back, and flourishing in the new system.

And then you have an explosive offense to help you, with Cousins in the 2nd year of being in a great system. What great defensive coordinator would NOT want this position?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

The worst thing the Vikings could do right now is give Cousins any type of extension (count your blessings we aren't 6-10 with this defense). They have been very fortunate that this team will reach the playoffs. In any other given year this team could just as easily be 7-9, 8-8 heading into the final week of the season.

Cousins is under contract for one more year (as I understand it). I would bet almost every cent I have in the bank that he tries to renegotiate during the off-season. Management has to do everything it can to say no.

That means we need to start looking at quarterbacks for the draft so we can get a guy in and groom him. Or, look at potential free agent quarterbacks to sign during the offseason.

One more year until we can take off the 50-pound weight around our necks. Until then, the defense isn't going to be much better unless we have a witch running the defense. There isn't much talent there, and what is talented is pretty old.

As I see it, there is at a minimum between 6-8 teams looking for a quarterback. IMO, the Vikings need to start thinking about this.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

The worst thing the Vikings could do right now is give Cousins any type of extension (count your blessings we aren't 6-10 with this defense). They have been very fortunate that this team will reach the playoffs. In any other given year this team could just as easily be 7-9, 8-8 heading into the final week of the season.

Cousins is under contract for one more year (as I understand it). I would bet almost every cent I have in the bank that he tries to renegotiate during the off-season. Management has to do everything it can to say no.

That means we need to start looking at quarterbacks for the draft so we can get a guy in and groom him. Or, look at potential free agent quarterbacks to sign during the offseason.

One more year until we can take off the 50-pound weight around our necks. Until then, the defense isn't going to be much better unless we have a witch running the defense. There isn't much talent there, and what is talented is pretty old.

As I see it, there is at a minimum between 6-8 teams looking for a quarterback. IMO, the Vikings need to start thinking about this.

Cousins extension last year is the sticking point in the 2023 rebuild option. He's not movable.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

The worst thing the Vikings could do right now is give Cousins any type of extension (count your blessings we aren't 6-10 with this defense). They have been very fortunate that this team will reach the playoffs. In any other given year this team could just as easily be 7-9, 8-8 heading into the final week of the season.

Cousins is under contract for one more year (as I understand it). I would bet almost every cent I have in the bank that he tries to renegotiate during the off-season. Management has to do everything it can to say no.

That means we need to start looking at quarterbacks for the draft so we can get a guy in and groom him. Or, look at potential free agent quarterbacks to sign during the offseason.

One more year until we can take off the 50-pound weight around our necks. Until then, the defense isn't going to be much better unless we have a witch running the defense. There isn't much talent there, and what is talented is pretty old.

As I see it, there is at a minimum between 6-8 teams looking for a quarterback. IMO, the Vikings need to start thinking about this.

Cousins extension last year is the sticking point in the 2023 rebuild option. He's not movable.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

Last offseason many predicted a roundabout .500 season. Some also said (and I totally agree) that without Kwesi making the tough decisions, we will only be good enough to string together several seasons of mediocrity thereby assuring mediocre draft slots.

Due to a crazy range of uncanny things "unlikely to be earned" next year lol, we ended up with a far better record but IMO are essentially a team that plays like it is only "still in the hunt" for the last playoff spot.

We will be going into the offseason perhaps 32nd (last) in terms of combined cap and draft assets.

So related to expectations for the defense, just what do people expect for next year as a whole? Another playoff run?

Barring an improbable SB run - or even with a SB run - I say this chapter of the Vikings needs to be blown up.

I say the Vikes find a sucker to trade Cousins to. Heck, even Washington may want him back. The Raiders? The Jets always seem to have an appetite for bad quarterbacks. New Orleans?

quote:

ORIGINAL: bstinger

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

Last offseason many predicted a roundabout .500 season. Some also said (and I totally agree) that without Kwesi making the tough decisions, we will only be good enough to string together several seasons of mediocrity thereby assuring mediocre draft slots.

Due to a crazy range of uncanny things "unlikely to be earned" next year lol, we ended up with a far better record but IMO are essentially a team that plays like it is only "still in the hunt" for the last playoff spot.

We will be going into the offseason perhaps 32nd (last) in terms of combined cap and draft assets.

So related to expectations for the defense, just what do people expect for next year as a whole? Another playoff run?

Barring an improbable SB run - or even with a SB run - I say this chapter of the Vikings needs to be blown up.

I say the Vikes find a sucker to trade Cousins to. Heck, even Washington may want him back. The Raiders? The Jets always seem to have an appetite for bad quarterbacks. New Orleans?

He has a NTC.