Vikings Off-Season Thread

[Badsmerf]

Most teams don’t seem to have these chronic kicking problems. Didn’t Spielman get to hand pick his new special teams coach, holder, long snapper and kicker? I’d say he’s had all winter to figure it out, but it’s been longer than that. Then blow a 5th round pick because it’s panic time three weeks before the first week?

I mean I’ll totally give him credit for cutting bait with the new kicker already, even though it will make him look bad, that’s a bold and commendable quality. I just don’t think he’s got a long range vision for this team and I don’t think he’s been a good talent evaluator for quite some time.

Spielman has long been on my hot seat.... from the second he drafted Ponder. I'm hesitant to be too hard on Zimmer, based on the incompetence of slick Rick. I really don't think any position has been managed well, maybe defensive backs.... but Rhodes, Smith and Winefield are a big part of why the d backs have been solid.

[Mike Sixel]

Fifth round picks are pretty useless. I think the kicking is all on Zimmer

[Badsmerf]

Fifth round picks are pretty useless. I think the kicking is all on Zimmer

How? I agree about fifth round picks not being valuable, and a good kicker is more than worth it.... but how is the performance of a kicker the coach's responsibility? Zimmer can be an idiot in kicking situations, but it is still on the kicker to get the ball through the uprights.

[nicksaviking]

Fifth round picks are pretty useless. I think the kicking is all on Zimmer

I’d need to hear more on that theory I guess. But Spielman hired and continues to retain him too. It’s not even week one and it feels stale; time for a change.

 

A nice 12-4 season would be helpful to pursued me otherwise though.

[Vanimal46]

 

I'm getting really tired of the quick trigger finger with these kickers. A 5th round pick may not be huge compensation but sometimes it turns out to be Stefon Diggs.

[Badsmerf]

I'm getting really tired of the quick trigger finger with these kickers. A 5th round pick may not be huge compensation but sometimes it turns out to be Stefon Diggs.

You mean like the Auburn kid that wasn't good in college, and was unsurprisingly bad in the NFL? Maybe the Vikings should hang out at some women's soccer games...

[Mike Sixel]

I’d need to hear more on that theory I guess. But Spielman hired and continues to retain him too. It’s not even week one and it feels stale; time for a change.

 

A nice 12-4 season would be helpful to pursued me otherwise though.

Well, Carlson is good now. Vedvik was good before he came. Bailey had one of his worst years. The punters aren't great. I think Zimmer might not be the right coach for kickers to thrive. Leadership matters.

[Vanimal46]

You mean like the Auburn kid that wasn't good in college, and was unsurprisingly bad in the NFL? Maybe the Vikings should hang out at some women's soccer games...

Oakland turned him around pretty quickly after we dumped him... He's been perfect on XPs and 16/17 on FGs with the Raiders.

[Vanimal46]

Moving on from kicker, why are the Vikings not claiming any WRs who were waived? The depth is paper thin after Thielen and Diggs...

[Mike Sixel]

Moving on from kicker, why are the Vikings not claiming any WRs who were waived? The depth is paper thin after Thielen and Diggs...

I hope they do. Definite stars and scrubs feel to this roster.

[Vanimal46]

Kyle Sloter clears waivers and the Vikings don't even want him on the practice squad. Biggest head scratcher of all.

 

He got claimed by the Arizona Cardinals.

[Danchat]

 

Kyle Sloter clears waivers and the Vikings don't even want him on the practice squad. Biggest head scratcher of all.

He got claimed by the Arizona Cardinals.

Cardinals practice squad... yup, so apparently no NFL team wanted to roster him. I'm surprised, but Vikings fans have overrated him... there are still fans losing their minds over this.

[Mike Sixel]

They just signed a punter who was last in net yards last year.... Nick may be right.

[Mike Sixel]

Apparently they signed him because he's a good holder....

[Vanimal46]

Cardinals practice squad... yup, so apparently no NFL team wanted to roster him. I'm surprised, but Vikings fans have overrated him... there are still fans losing their minds over this.

Definitely overrated by the folks at Daily Norseman... Never thought he was a savior for the team, but at least he possesses some upside. Mannion has no upside whatsoever.

[Mike Sixel]

Josh Doctson is your new number three receiver....

[Vanimal46]

Better than Beebe. Better than Treadwell.

[Bavarian]

I think one needs to expand their field of vision thinking Spielman should be on the hot seat for one pick in Ponder.  He's built an entire team through good drafts and key FA signings with very few players leaving the core he has built.  One cannot ignore the amount of talent on this team.  Are there misses?  Of course, name a team that doesn't. 

[Mr. Brooks]

I think one needs to expand their field of vision thinking Spielman should be on the hot seat for one pick in Ponder. He's built an entire team through good drafts and key FA signings with very few players leaving the core he has built. One cannot ignore the amount of talent on this team. Are there misses? Of course, name a team that doesn't.

Every GM has good draft picks and FA signings, even the bad ones have their share of hits.

 

Bottom line is that his teams have won a grand total of one playoff game.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I think one needs to expand their field of vision thinking Spielman should be on the hot seat for one pick in Ponder.  He's built an entire team through good drafts and key FA signings with very few players leaving the core he has built.  One cannot ignore the amount of talent on this team.  Are there misses?  Of course, name a team that doesn't. 

 

they've only made the playoffs half the time.....and not done all that well in them. What's your bar for success?

[Vanimal46]

they've only made the playoffs half the time.....and not done all that well in them. What's your bar for success?

Perception is funny like that... Zimmer has made the playoffs in 2 of 5 seasons. Most think of him as a good to great head coach.

 

Brad Childress made the playoffs in 2 of 5 seasons. And universally thought of as a bad coach.

 

Hell, Leslie Frazier, who's also thought of as a terrible HC made the playoffs in 1 out of his 3 seasons.

[Mr. Brooks]

Perception is funny like that... Zimmer has made the playoffs in 2 of 5 seasons. Most think of him as a good to great head coach.

 

Brad Childress made the playoffs in 2 of 5 seasons. And universally thought of as a bad coach.

 

Hell, Leslie Frazier, who's also thought of as a terrible HC made the playoffs in 1 out of his 3 seasons.

Yeah, some people locally talk about Zimmer as if he's among the great head coaches in the league. I don't get it at all.

[Badsmerf]

Zimmer has been acceptable. I don't view him as elite, but not a scrub. I'd rather have him than a bunch of otter coaches in this league.

 

Spielman has either gotten lucky, like with catching lightning in a bottle twice with Diggs and Theilen... at the same time. Or, getting an all time great to lead a great season. I guess he gets credit for that... Most of the player moves and drafts have been mediocre at best. What he hasn't done lately: waste first round picks on QBs like Ponder. At least there's that.

[Bavarian]

I'm just not in favor of cutting the cord as the body of work and everything he's built is in the middle of their window for success.  When you keep changing leadership, the direction gets lost.  I'm just not ready.  I don't see the rush in moving him.  A lot of QB injuries have prevented this team from finding more success than they have had with the current talent base.  I'm not placing the entire blame on Rick for a fluke injury to the franchise QB Bridgewater and a sudden degenerative knee issue for Bradford.  Combined with sudden injuries to the OL with Kalil, Sullivan, Fusco and Easton among others with tough luck on Shariff Floyd...those are bad breaks.  Has he had some swings and misses?  Yeah, too many in the 1st round although three were busted due to injury.  Patterson and Treadwell come to mind.  But a lot of hits too.  Rudolph, Cook, Bradbury (hopefully), Rhodes, Diggs, O'Neill, Hunter, Weatherly, Kendricks, Barr, Smith, Alexander, (Hughes?), with low-round and UDFA hits in Fusco, Thielen, Wilson, Harris among others.  He's also been aggressive in FA while not overpaying. 

I still rank him as a better than average GM all considered.  I'm not in a rush to see him booted.   You guys will have to do more than provide their playoff record to convince me.     

[Vanimal46]

During Spielman's tenure as the sole GM, we've had 3 different head coaches, and 3 playoff appearances in 7 years. Certainly not the worst, but there are others out there who are better.

 

Like everything in the NFL, there's an expiration date where things get stale. I think we're nearing that point with Spielman.

 

He's basically tied his future to the Kirk Cousins signing. It was a bold move, and if they miss the playoffs in the first 2 years of that contract, I don't know how he can see the 3rd year. He bet on this roster being Super Bowl contenders...

[Badsmerf]

Every team deals worth injuries. You evaluate talent like Paul Allen....

 

Vikings might make the playoffs due to the ineptitude of the North. I wouldn't be surprised with a record between 7-9 to 12-4. Know more after the first game.

[Danchat]

 

They just signed a punter who was last in net yards last year.... Nick may be right.

Not sure what you're looking at, he was ranked 20th out of 33 punters for average net yards (just net yards means nothing because you need to know the # of punts). He also had 6 touchbacks. He's a decent downgrade from Wile, but I guess he's a veteran and he can hold kicks...

[Vanimal46]

Now that the NFL season is here, it's prediction time!

 

My expectations are low this season... Obviously from my previous posts I think the defense starts to decline for multiple reasons.

 

The success of the offense still depends on the OL. If that unit bounces back to middle of the pack, I think the offense finishes in the top 10.

 

I think this is a 6-7 win team. Any time I think that they pull a 11-12 win season out of their hat. *shrug*

[Mike Sixel]

Not sure what you're looking at, he was ranked 20th out of 33 punters for average net yards (just net yards means nothing because you need to know the # of punts). He also had 6 touchbacks. He's a decent downgrade from Wile, but I guess he's a veteran and he can hold kicks...

I saw the stat on another site.... Where they are usually quite accurate, so I didn't verify it. Thanks.

[Mike Sixel]

Now that the NFL season is here, it's prediction time!

 

My expectations are low this season... Obviously from my previous posts I think the defense starts to decline for multiple reasons.

 

The success of the offense still depends on the OL. If that unit bounces back to middle of the pack, I think the offense finishes in the top 10.

 

I think this is a 6-7 win team. Any time I think that they pull a 11-12 win season out of their hat. *shrug*

Ten wins, early playoff exit. The DL and OL hold them back, along with Rhodes' decline.