2018 Minnesota Vikings In-Season Thread

I can't believe the Bears blew it last night.

I know, right? For the life of me, I can't figure out why in the world they threw the ball on 3rd and 2 on the drive where they ended up kicking the go-ahead FG. Green Bay had used their final timeout to stop the clock at 2:47. Run the damn ball! Best case, you get the first down and can then run the clock down to a few seconds to kick the game-winning FG - or maybe even punch it in and have a 2-score lead. Instead, they throw the ball (incomplete), kick the FG to retake the lead, and then never get back to reasonable scoring position after GB scores the winning TD. It doesn't take a multimillion-dollar salary to figure out the correct strategy in that situation.
 

Seems very likely Rodgers will not be 100% on Sunday. I hope Zimmer blitzes the entire game.
 

Seems very likely Rodgers will not be 100% on Sunday. I hope Zimmer blitzes the entire game.

Yes. He couldn't move last night, and for some reason, the Bears kept sending 4 guys. No blitzes. WTF
 

I know, right? For the life of me, I can't figure out why in the world they threw the ball on 3rd and 2 on the drive where they ended up kicking the go-ahead FG. Green Bay had used their final timeout to stop the clock at 2:47. Run the damn ball! Best case, you get the first down and can then run the clock down to a few seconds to kick the game-winning FG - or maybe even punch it in and have a 2-score lead. Instead, they throw the ball (incomplete), kick the FG to retake the lead, and then never get back to reasonable scoring position after GB scores the winning TD. It doesn't take a multimillion-dollar salary to figure out the correct strategy in that situation.

They were actually already ahead by 3. So the FG just got them to up 6. I agree though, it was a stupid play call. Run the ball, if you don't get it, I would have gone for it. Making the lead 6 points helps but not that much. With Rodgers playing so well, should have gone for the win. You have to think the chances of gaining 2 yards in 2 plays is pretty good.
 



They were actually already ahead by 3. So the FG just got them to up 6. I agree though, it was a stupid play call. Run the ball, if you don't get it, I would have gone for it. Making the lead 6 points helps but not that much. With Rodgers playing so well, should have gone for the win. You have to think the chances of gaining 2 yards in 2 plays is pretty good.

You are correct. And yes, already being ahead makes the play call even worse! Just an epically bone-headed way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
 

As far as the Vikes - some thoughts:

Cousins did not complete a pass in the 4th Quarter. I think he was 0-7 passing down the stretch.
On the plus side, Cousins seemed more mobile than I expected - but he needs to slide when he runs.

on the RB's - Murray seems to hit the line a little quicker and with a little more pop. Cook seems to set up really deep in the backfield. There were plays where Cook was 9 yards behind the line of scrimmage at the snap - so he's got to run 9 yards just to get back to the line, and the Vike's O-Line was not exactly blowing open any big holes. Cook is good at catching balls out the backfield, but I wonder if we might see more of a 50-50 split between Murray and Cook while the O-Line sorts things out.
 

You are correct. And yes, already being ahead makes the play call even worse! Just an epically bone-headed way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
They did a good job of that too a little later when dude dropped an INT that my sister may have been able to catch.
 




per Sid:

JOTTINGS

• The Vikings’ available salary cap is down to about $1 million, and it’s looking more likely that they’re going to have to pull off a miracle to be able to sign Anthony Barr to a long-term extension.

• The Vikings’ odds for winning the Super Bowl are 8-1, tied for second with the Rams. The Patriots are 6-1. The Vikings are the favorite to win the NFC at 9-2.

• Pro Football Focus has the Vikings third in its power rankings and ranked their offensive line 18th in the league after Week 1 — in the preseason they were 28th. PFF wrote: “Pat Elflein can’t get back soon enough. ... For a line that has issues elsewhere to begin with, they can’t afford center to be added to the list.” PFF ranked Linval Joseph third and Sheldon Richardson fourth when it came to interior defensive linemen in Week 1.

• Will Vikings rookie Mike Hughes play as much in the slot on Sunday against the Packers? He played 30 snaps at outside corner in Week 1 because Trae Waynes was injured early.

• Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo on the Packers defense under new coordinator Mike Pettine: “They have a really good scheme, a difficult scheme. We’re going to have to do a great job of our communication and determining what personnel groupings are on the field.

http://www.startribune.com/harrison...-face-familiar-rival-aaron-rodgers/493397441/

Skol Vikes!!
 

Vikings to do list:

Send Prieffer to an island and nuke it until it glows
Cut Carlson
Sign Forbath
Trade for Josh Gordon
Cut Treadwell
 

Vikings to do list:

Send Prieffer to an island and nuke it until it glows
Cut Carlson
Sign Forbath
Trade for Josh Gordon
Cut Treadwell

For sure cut Carlson that’s a no brainer. Forbath was a solid kicker for us.
 




After today, I don’t think you can doubt the signing of Cousins, though. Wow.


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For sure cut Carlson that’s a no brainer. Forbath was a solid kicker for us.

His only issue was XPs and he didn't miss the last 10 games or so last year. Preiffer and Spielman were arrogant and tried to fix what wasn't broken. What a joke. Forbath and Dan Bailley are both available.
 

His only issue was XPs and he didn't miss the last 10 games or so last year. Preiffer and Spielman were arrogant and tried to fix what wasn't broken. What a joke. Forbath and Dan Bailley are both available.

Agreed it was a strange move.
 

When does Emmit Carpenter graduate? Vikings can't catch a break with kickers.
 

Vikings to do list:

Send Prieffer to an island and nuke it until it glows
Cut Carlson
Sign Forbath
Trade for Josh Gordon
Cut Treadwell

I agree with the last four. Heartbreaking to again not win a game all because of bad kick(s). That said, I'll take the tie given how it looked going into the 4th...or going into the final minute.
 

His only issue was XPs and he didn't miss the last 10 games or so last year. Preiffer and Spielman were arrogant and tried to fix what wasn't broken. What a joke. Forbath and Dan Bailley are both available.

Zimmer plays for FG's. He was willing to sacrifice accuracy to extend FG range. Well....we know how that turned out. Huge fu**ing mistake.

That said.....we should have lost the game in regulation. The roughing call on Matthews was a joke.
 
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Zimmer plays for FG's. He was willing to sacrifice accuracy to extend FG range. Well....we know how that turned out. Huge fu**ing mistake.

That said.....we should have lost the game in regulation. The roughing call on Matthews was a joke.

And so was the one they called on us earlier. They were identical plays. Therefore, they have to call it. And time of game should never have anything to do with it.

Neither should be a penalty. But at least they were consistent.


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And so was the one they called on us earlier. They were identical plays. Therefore, they have to call it. And time of game should never have anything to do with it.

Neither should be a penalty. But at least they were consistent.


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Correct. I just hope this forces the league to look closer at some of these rules. This is ridiculous.
 

Cut Carlson right now. Cut Cut Treadwell immediately afterward. It's Zylstra and Beebe time.

Come on Beebe 8.
 

Vikings to do list:

Send Prieffer to an island and nuke it until it glows
Cut Carlson
Sign Forbath
Trade for Josh Gordon
Cut Treadwell

Overreact much? Prieffer is one of the best special teams coaches in the league. Carlson was terrible, hard to say if the book has been written on him 2 games into his first season. I had no problem with them dumping Forbath and moving on. Hindsight is 20/20.

It's September for crying out loud
 

And so was the one they called on us earlier. They were identical plays. Therefore, they have to call it. And time of game should never have anything to do with it.

Neither should be a penalty. But at least they were consistent.


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Yep, both penalties were a joke. But I don’t blame the refs. This is on the NFL for creating rules that are nearly impossible to call consistently.
 

Yep, both penalties were a joke. But I don’t blame the refs. This is on the NFL for creating rules that are nearly impossible to call consistently.

Correct on all of it. I was watching the Pats, Jags game and Tom Brady got hit exactly like the Cousins and Rogers plays that were penalties and no flag was thrown on his.

The punt getting blocked should never have happened. Bad decision by Wilson to step out and block the wide guy to leave Allison a free run inside. But, the play before that we should have been given 5 yards as the GB corner covering the slot rec. was lined up 1/2 yard offside. The ball was 1/2 yard past the 20, I think. He was standing on the 20 the whole time before the snap and slid in to blitz before the snap. Don't see how that was missed because it was clear he was lined up offsides.

Just knew Carlson was going to miss the last one as we should have played that to score a TD or get closer, not just run the clock down with some vanilla play calling.
 

Overreact much? Prieffer is one of the best special teams coaches in the league. Carlson was terrible, hard to say if the book has been written on him 2 games into his first season. I had no problem with them dumping Forbath and moving on. Hindsight is 20/20.

It's September for crying out loud

Ummm.......the regular season is only 16 games and he cost us the second game of the season. If we were the Bills.....yeah.....who cares. We're not. We are fresh off a NFC Championship Appearance, just spent an a$$load on a QB, and figure to be one of the favorites to be in the mix for a Super Bowl again this year. This is no time to be holding the hand of some rookie kicker who's not ready. Kickers are a dime a dozen and we can't afford to lose games because the pressure gets to them. I especially don't want to be counting on that choke artist in the playoffs.

I'd be absolutely shocked if Carlson is still on the team tomorrow. Zimmer and Priefer need to own up to that gaffe and fix it.
 
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Ummm.......the regular season is only 16 games and he cost us the second game of the season. If we were the Bills.....yeah.....who cares. We're not. We are fresh off a NFC Championship Appearance, just spent an a$$load on a QB, and figure to be one of the favorites to be in the mix for a Super Bowl again this year. This is no time to be playing holding the hand of some rookie kicker who's not ready. Kickers are a dime a dozen and we can't afford to lose games because the pressure gets to them. I especially don't want to be counting on that choke artist in the playoffs.

I'd be absolutely shocked if Carlson is still on the team tomorrow. Zimmer and Priefer need to own up to that gaffe and fix it.

They let Carlson on the tarmac?
 


Ummm.......the regular season is only 16 games and he cost us the second game of the season. If we were the Bills.....yeah.....who cares. We're not. We are fresh off a NFC Championship Appearance, just spent an a$$load on a QB, and figure to be one of the favorites to be in the mix for a Super Bowl again this year. This is no time to be holding the hand of some rookie kicker who's not ready. Kickers are a dime a dozen and we can't afford to lose games because the pressure gets to them. I especially don't want to be counting on that choke artist in the playoffs.

I'd be absolutely shocked if Carlson is still on the team tomorrow. Zimmer and Priefer need to own up to that gaffe and fix it.

Unfortunately it’s going to cost someone else their job. I doubt they cut a 5th round draft choice. I see them cutting someone else, bringing in a veteran kicker and using Carlson as a kickoff and long field goal specialist.

They should cut his choke ass but that would involve someone admitting they made a mistake.


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Overreact much? Prieffer is one of the best special teams coaches in the league. Carlson was terrible, hard to say if the book has been written on him 2 games into his first season. I had no problem with them dumping Forbath and moving on. Hindsight is 20/20.

It's September for crying out loud

We cut the punter right before the season. The kicker is a mess. We got a punt blocked. One of the best? Give me a break.

Cutting a kicker is hardly a major move. Cleveland's probably doing it too. This is a Super Bowl contender, they can't afford to throw away games trying to get a rookie kicker through a case of the yips. What did Forbath do to deserve being dumped?

I don't care if they bring him back, sign Dan Baily or someone else, but they can't continue with Carlson. None of those FG's today were even close and the last one was basically an extra point. It's in his head and that's not going to change overnight. It's Blair Walsh all over again but worse. If they absolutely have to have his strong leg for kick-offs and 59 yard FG's they can carry two kickers. But he can't be the primary guy.

As for Treadwell, are there any examples of a 1st round pick being terrible for 2.5 seasons and magically turning it around?
 




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