quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Agreed. Our OL isn't great, but it's been together awhile. Usually that's a good thing. Peterson is still the best in the game, Patterson is going to be a hell of a WR, Jennings is still a decent 2, and we've got some other good receiving options. And Rudolph is more than a solid TE. Couple that with one of the best OC's the game has ever seen and we should have a solid offense almost no matter what happens at QB. And I expect at least" decent" out of those guys.

For the defense, I don't really see how we're not a lot better. Coaching is huge. Yes, we lost Jared Allen, but he wasn't the same guy the last couple years anyway. Honestly I think the gain of Linval Joseph (who is a stud) is bigger than the loss of Jared alone. Then you add in guys that should be better with experience and/or better scheme (Robison/Floyd/Griffin/Smith/Rhodes) and add in what should be immediate improvements in Captain and Barr, and I can't see how how both our defense and offense shouldn't be significantly better. I expect the front 7 to be very, very good this year with the back 4 still a couple of pieces short.

I'd put our win range at 6 to 11 this year. And yes, I think it will hinge heavily on those first 4 games or so.

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Because zone blocking was always a "makeup" scheme for size, and we had one of the biggest lines in all of football. Obviously made a ton of sense...

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Yep, Hutch built an all pro career around bludgeoning his man into submission and Birk was the best pulling center in football at the time. So of course the logical thing to do was to implement a scheme that forced Hutch to be a finesse blocker and never had Birk pulling. God that man was .... just.... so ..... stupid!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Agreed. Our OL isn't great, but it's been together awhile. Usually that's a good thing. Peterson is still the best in the game, Patterson is going to be a hell of a WR, Jennings is still a decent 2, and we've got some other good receiving options. And Rudolph is more than a solid TE. Couple that with one of the best OC's the game has ever seen and we should have a solid offense almost no matter what happens at QB. And I expect at least" decent" out of those guys.

For the defense, I don't really see how we're not a lot better. Coaching is huge. Yes, we lost Jared Allen, but he wasn't the same guy the last couple years anyway. Honestly I think the gain of Linval Joseph (who is a stud) is bigger than the loss of Jared alone. Then you add in guys that should be better with experience and/or better scheme (Robison/Floyd/Griffin/Smith/Rhodes) and add in what should be immediate improvements in Captain and Barr, and I can't see how how both our defense and offense shouldn't be significantly better. I expect the front 7 to be very, very good this year with the back 4 still a couple of pieces short.

I'd put our win range at 6 to 11 this year. And yes, I think it will hinge heavily on those first 4 games or so.

As sucky as our team was last year, we won 5 games and tied another. If there is as much improvement as you are suggesting...how do we only win 6 games?

Yes I see the "to 11" part of that. It just seems odd that you are convinced we will be much better but only get one more win...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Yep, Hutch built an all pro career around bludgeoning his man into submission and Birk was the best pulling center in football at the time. So of course the logical thing to do was to implement a scheme that forced Hutch to be a finesse blocker and never had Birk pulling. God that man was .... just.... so ..... stupid!

"I know it's a kick-ass offense when it's executed properly," Childress said. "It's been done with all different levels of people and personnel. But I'm not shaken. It's a multiple system that you can run in just as easily as you can throw it, and we need to become better at it. That's my job."

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave E

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Yep, Hutch built an all pro career around bludgeoning his man into submission and Birk was the best pulling center in football at the time. So of course the logical thing to do was to implement a scheme that forced Hutch to be a finesse blocker and never had Birk pulling. God that man was .... just.... so ..... stupid!

"I know it's a kick-ass offense when it's executed properly," Childress said. "It's been done with all different levels of people and personnel. But I'm not shaken. It's a multiple system that you can run in just as easily as you can throw it, and we need to become better at it. That's my job."

I've said it before: never has any Minnesota team had a coach I've disliked so quickly. An ass the moment he got the job.

Even Brewster had me for a couple of press conferences.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Hey, Smokey Joe Salem was a great man. Didn't want him running my big college FB team tho.
We have picked some real losing horses thru the years.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MDK

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Hey, Smokey Joe Salem was a great man. Didn't want him running my big college FB team tho.
We have picked some real losing horses thru the years.

He had the record of success.....maybe success in MN is more difficult to achieve than elsewhere.

51–39–2 at USD in 9 seasons turning a dormant program into winner

26–17 at Northern Arizona after going 1-9 in his first season

19–35–1 in 5 seasons at the U of M

Maybe his failure to win at MN was simply Joe Salem but perhaps it was the environment or lack thereof to having a winning football team at the U.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

quote:

ORIGINAL: MDK

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Hey, Smokey Joe Salem was a great man. Didn't want him running my big college FB team tho.
We have picked some real losing horses thru the years.

He had the record of success.....maybe success in MN is more difficult to achieve than elsewhere.

51–39–2 at USD in 9 seasons turning a dormant program into winner

26–17 at Northern Arizona after going 1-9 in his first season

19–35–1 in 5 seasons at the U of M

Maybe his failure to win at MN was simply Joe Salem but perhaps it was the environment or lack thereof to having a winning football team at the U.

Sorry if I Hit a nerve
Absolutely agree
Good man, good coach at certain levels

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Agreed. Our OL isn't great, but it's been together awhile. Usually that's a good thing. Peterson is still the best in the game, Patterson is going to be a hell of a WR, Jennings is still a decent 2, and we've got some other good receiving options. And Rudolph is more than a solid TE. Couple that with one of the best OC's the game has ever seen and we should have a solid offense almost no matter what happens at QB. And I expect at least" decent" out of those guys.

For the defense, I don't really see how we're not a lot better. Coaching is huge. Yes, we lost Jared Allen, but he wasn't the same guy the last couple years anyway. Honestly I think the gain of Linval Joseph (who is a stud) is bigger than the loss of Jared alone. Then you add in guys that should be better with experience and/or better scheme (Robison/Floyd/Griffin/Smith/Rhodes) and add in what should be immediate improvements in Captain and Barr, and I can't see how how both our defense and offense shouldn't be significantly better. I expect the front 7 to be very, very good this year with the back 4 still a couple of pieces short.

I'd put our win range at 6 to 11 this year. And yes, I think it will hinge heavily on those first 4 games or so.

As sucky as our team was last year, we won 5 games and tied another. If there is as much improvement as you are suggesting...how do we only win 6 games?

Yes I see the "to 11" part of that. It just seems odd that you are convinced we will be much better but only get one more win...

Schedule.

It also should be noted that I think there's so much parity (mediocrity) in the NFL now that the difference between 4 wins and 12 wins is relatively minor.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Ray Rice gets 2 games

Josh Gordon gets a year.

Beating your spouse >>>positive drug test.

NFL Epic Fail

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Agreed. Our OL isn't great, but it's been together awhile. Usually that's a good thing. Peterson is still the best in the game, Patterson is going to be a hell of a WR, Jennings is still a decent 2, and we've got some other good receiving options. And Rudolph is more than a solid TE. Couple that with one of the best OC's the game has ever seen and we should have a solid offense almost no matter what happens at QB. And I expect at least" decent" out of those guys.

For the defense, I don't really see how we're not a lot better. Coaching is huge. Yes, we lost Jared Allen, but he wasn't the same guy the last couple years anyway. Honestly I think the gain of Linval Joseph (who is a stud) is bigger than the loss of Jared alone. Then you add in guys that should be better with experience and/or better scheme (Robison/Floyd/Griffin/Smith/Rhodes) and add in what should be immediate improvements in Captain and Barr, and I can't see how how both our defense and offense shouldn't be significantly better. I expect the front 7 to be very, very good this year with the back 4 still a couple of pieces short.

I'd put our win range at 6 to 11 this year. And yes, I think it will hinge heavily on those first 4 games or so.

As sucky as our team was last year, we won 5 games and tied another. If there is as much improvement as you are suggesting...how do we only win 6 games?

Yes I see the "to 11" part of that. It just seems odd that you are convinced we will be much better but only get one more win...

Schedule.

It also should be noted that I think there's so much parity (mediocrity) in the NFL now that the difference between 4 wins and 12 wins is relatively minor.

And we didn't play any tough teams last year? Like Green Bay, Seattle?

I think we can win a few more than 6. I'm thinking 9-7 is very much attainable. Schedule be damned, it's a new season.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see 4 wins in our division. The Bears are always a crap shoot and the Kitties and the Pukers are overrated. Outside the division the Lambs, Suckaneers, Foreskins and Billbos are all very winnable. One out of the Fish, Titanics or Crop Dusters gets you to 9.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

I'd be pissed if we win less than eight
We are markedly better in every facet, IMO
Top to bottom
Don't give them any outs, they should EXPECT a decent year.
We are still filled with some very well- paid performers.
I'm gonna say 9-7 with 10-6 being completely plausible

quote:

ORIGINAL: Boyd Tesch

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

I'd be pissed if we win less than eight
We are markedly better in every facet, IMO
Top to bottom
Don't give them any outs, they should EXPECT a decent year.
We are still filled with some very well- paid performers.
I'm gonna say 9-7 with 10-6 being completely plausible

And miss the playoff by a hair which I am fine with this year but next win it all baby