2017 Vikings

This is just an observation I made about the defense this season. Early on, Zimmer wasn’t calling safe games. He dialed up a lot of pressure before Griffen got injured which aided in Griffen getting a bunch of sacks early as the opposing limemen were being disrupted. Zimmer is know for bringing “exotic” double A gap pressures. As the season wore on, after Griffen’s injury, he did a lot less of that, and fortunately our secondary compensated by really being very stingy. I really thought he was anticipating playoffs and trying to keep his schemes and different exotic looks off tape. But, the fact that he never fired up the pressure in either playoff game makes me think he got really conservative (especially after Cam ran all over us) and kept players in coverage rather than pressuring, and the fact that he never changed that was exploited. Once you get to the playoffs, teams take advantage. I don’t doubt that’s why the Saints made adjustments and torched us, and I don’t doubt that’s why Nick Foles looked God-like after being just meh in the Falcons game. Zimmer just quit bringing pressures, I think he was afraid to. That’s what my opinion is on the collapse of the D.

As far as Keenum, I want the guy back. A couple things about that, number 1 – the players respect him and you can see that pretty clearly. 2 – He’s durable, something we haven’t had in a QB for a long time. 3 – He has Brett Favre’s pocket movement and sling-it skills (take the good with the bad there) and 4 – He looks like he has a ton of fun, and I like watching him play. Bradford on the other hand is stiff as a board, and Teddy, though I like him and think he has a very high upside looks like Mickey Mouse with those gloves on, sorry but true. I’ll hang up and listen.

It was probably injuries that played a heavy hand, especially in the 4 linemen’s ability to penetrate, which they could not do against Philly, but still, to go through the season with a 25% third down conversion rate on defense, that was part of what made them so effective was dropping the LBs into coverage and then on 3rd down either overloading on one side or bringing safeties on a blitz to elicit frantic, errant throws. They didn’t do that at all in the two playoff games. It doesn’t take long to figure out that Trey Waynes isn’t Xavier Rhodes when playing man coverage the whole game. Even without depth on defense, Zimmer still has the ability to adjust pressure to at least TRY and mix up coverages. You don’t need skill players to cause confusion, you just need a better plan. But, at the same time, I still give Zimmer a lot of credit for getting us this far with what has happened. He’s a helluva coach and I think if he keeps the defense intact and even better, we’ll be very competitive as long as he sticks around.

Why is there so much hostility for not being a hometown team fan? I know where Dober is coming from firsthand, because in my younger days I was a Michael Jordan fan. Same reasons dober mentioned about Brady. Leadership, drive, you just knew he had the will to win. I was a Bulls fan while Jordan and his supporting cast was there because it was fun to watch. I’ve never been a Timberwolves fan. The only time period when I watched and went to Timberwolves games was when Kevin Garnett was here. And the Wolves wasted him aside from one year when they spent money on Cassell and Spreewell and made a legit run. I could not have been happier for him when he won a championship with the Celtics. I’m a Vikings fan first and foremost, but I like good football too. It’s just a game within a sport. If you get defensive about it and it becomes your life, then you get what has happened in Philadelphia…

Well so much for the Garappolo idea. 5 years – $138 million! That sets the bar for Rodgers extension this offseason. Those are crazy numbers for a guy that really hasn’t proved a whole lot at this time but it was the only way the Niners would be able to keep him under contact. In a way this sets the bar for Keenum. Let the games begin!

Vikes hired John DeFilippo – QB coach from Philly as the new OC. I’m trying to decide if this suddenly opens the door to Foles coming here or what will happen. Spielman made it pretty well known that the OC will have a large role in figuring out the QB situation. I still think they should keep Keenum though. Foles will be expensive after what he did. Probably worth more than the Garappolo deal.

Foles won’t be cheap. You’d need to trade for him AND pay him.

I’m not 100% sold on any of the QB’s out there, they all come with their own risk. The more I think about it the more I think putting the franchise tag on Keenum and letting him prove himself for another year might be the right move. It buys you some time before having to go all in on him. In the meantime they should be looking at the draft for their QB of the future.

The only reason any of the free agent QB’s are on the market is because they come with risk and are all unproven in some capacity. Cousins is the most proven but he still hasn’t shown he’s a true franchise guy that will be worth what he’s undoubtedly going to get paid.

San Fran was never going to let Garappolo go so that was a non-starter. As nofish said, Foles is going to a lot cost money and draft picks so either he stays put or some team is going to give up a lot to get him. The Vikings would be foolish to go out and get him but then again, I thought it was foolish for them to get Bradford. BTW, the guy who strip sacked Keenum in the championship game (Derrick Barnett) is the guy the Eagles picked with the 14th overall pick the Vikings gave up for Bradford. Kind of ironic.
Everyone seems to like Cousins but why go get him when you have a little smaller version already in Keenum? If all you’re looking for is a gun slinger, Keenum is the guy and he won’t cost you as much as Cousins.
The talking heads on radio are even suggesting Mike Glennon! ” title=”” class=”bbcode_smiley” /> I think the Vikings best option was already traded to Washington but then again, I’m just here to bash the Vikings. ” title=”” class=”bbcode_smiley” />