VIKES v RAMS @ Arizona 1/13/25

[TheLeviathan]

19 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

In the link I posted, I literally said we weren't excusing Darnold's performance. Not sure what else you need. The issue isn't Darnold anymore. In my post prior to that, I agreed with your assessment. But to make it clearer for you - Darnold was bad. We lost the last two games because of Sam Darnold. He will not be the QB the Vikings rely on for their future. We all good? 

As for KOC, I do think we can legitimately question him without it being a "KOC is crap." His playcalling is both good and bad. Darnold gets knocked out for a play, he has Mullins come in and sling the ball b/c he isn't changing his game plan. That's extremely cocky and had good payoff. But it's also dangerous. Up by two scores against the Packers on fourth down, how about a Nailor jet sweep? Inside the three against Buffalo, let's have Cook do a jump throw. Inside the five against the Lions and we won't kick a field goal - so let's not try to run a bit more? Those are all issues that were brought up in game threads this year. Again, love the guy. But IMHO, he deserves some of the blame for this loss because we were outcoached. 

Nick Mullins is similar to Darnold.  He's an aggressive, chuck it deep style guy.  He shouldn't change the approach IMO.  (Also, context matters - several of those times he had to come were 3rd and Long situations. I'd prefer my coach not give up on a series if he doesn't have to.  It's my one thing I am a bit disappointed in about the game - KOC did give up.  He saw what I'm arguing: Darnold couldn't hit the ocean from the beach. I wish he had the guts to sit him)  We did change things for Dobbs...not quite fully for a scrambling QB, but that's a major shift on very short notice.  I thought, overall, he did well to get anything out of Dobbs.  Or Mullins.  Even Darnold.  Some of this is being a victim of his own ability to improvise and coach from the sideline.

All that said - I've been on here willing to criticize KOC.  I've criticized his short yardage and goal line calls. The sneaks with freaking Brandon Powell pushing. The inconsistency in running the ball and when he goes for it/doesn't. He's not beyond criticism for me.  What's frustrating, localized to these two games, is to see people keep claiming there are problems with his gameplan when the film quite clearly contradicts that. Sam Darnold didn't look like the guy from the previous 16 weeks.  (Well...mostly.  He was inaccurate on intermediate throws all year.  And I think I might've posted in game threads two or three dozen times that he holds the ball too long) It is one of the most breath-taking, single human collapses I can ever recall in sports.  

[nicksaviking]

48 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

In the link I posted, I literally said we weren't excusing Darnold's performance. Not sure what else you need. The issue isn't Darnold anymore. In my post prior to that, I agreed with your assessment. But to make it clearer for you - Darnold was bad. We lost the last two games because of Sam Darnold. He will not be the QB the Vikings rely on for their future. We all good? 

As for KOC, I do think we can legitimately question him without it being a "KOC is crap." His playcalling is both good and bad. Darnold gets knocked out for a play, he has Mullins come in and sling the ball b/c he isn't changing his game plan. That's extremely cocky and had good payoff. But it's also dangerous. Up by two scores against the Packers on fourth down, how about a Nailor jet sweep? Inside the three against Buffalo, let's have Cook do a jump throw. Inside the five against the Lions and we won't kick a field goal - so let's not try to run a bit more? Those are all issues that were brought up in game threads this year. Again, love the guy. But IMHO, he deserves some of the blame for this loss because we were outcoached. 

I have no issues being critical of KOC. I think his clock management in particular needs much improvement. 

The play calling is tough though because of the limitations. They don't run enough in short yardage and they don't run screen passes enough, but when they do, they aren't successful and it's not successful because of the dreadful IOL. Do you keep trying? Maybe, but continuing to try and failing is also a bad look.

As for the Mullins' pass, sign me up for that all day long. 99% of the time when the backup QB comes in they hand the ball off and the defense knows it. Complete waste of a down. This is the NFL, the back up QB can throw the ball, even if he's not a starting caliber QB. I'd throw a pass every single time in that situation.