Vikings v Commanders

[gunnarthor]

Sounds like the Vikes are trying to simplify things for JJ this week. Telling him not to worry about footwork so much as decision-making. That's probably a good idea. Sorta like not making a guy think about his swing so much as go out and play because that's what got you here in the first place. 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/viewersguide47200964/nfl-week-14-picks-predictions-schedule-fantasy-football-odds-injuries-stats-2025#wshmin

[TheLeviathan]

24 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Sounds like the Vikes are trying to simplify things for JJ this week. Telling him not to worry about footwork so much as decision-making. That's probably a good idea. Sorta like not making a guy think about his swing so much as go out and play because that's what got you here in the first place. 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/viewersguide47200964/nfl-week-14-picks-predictions-schedule-fantasy-football-odds-injuries-stats-2025#wshmin

While I think that's the right decision.....part of me thinks the "who cares about your footwork, go play" is basically the nicest way to wave the white flag on a player I've ever heard.

I can't shake that the decision to say that publicly is basically giving up on him.

[The Great Hambino]

4 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

While I think that's the right decision.....part of me thinks the "who cares about your footwork, go play" is basically the nicest way to wave the white flag on a player I've ever heard.

I can't shake that the decision to say that publicly is basically giving up on him.

As pessimistic as I've become about McCarthy, I don't see that as waving the white flag on him at all.  Mechanics are something better drilled in the offseason.  During the season, correct decision-making within the speed of the game is much more important.  Acknowledging that they were trying to have him think about too much at once.  If you're making the correct decisions and making them on time, that gives you more margin for error to help cover for whatever inaccuracies might be resulting from faulty footwork.

Having said that, "Then what the hell were you doing with his mechanics all last offseason?" is a very fair question.  The way they behaved in player acquisition, they clearly thought they had that in a good place.  My working theory is that something in his injury and recovery subtly threw his footwork off, and they weren't able to diagnose it until it was put to the test under game speed that you can't truly replicate on the practice field.  That's the optimist in me, anyway.  KOC has been too good with too many other QBs to suddenly forget how to develop a QB.  Maybe he's better at refining a QB's rough edges than he is molding a raw lump of clay, so his success with veteran QBs hasn't translated to a young rookie?  I dunno

[gunnarthor]

29 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

As pessimistic as I've become about McCarthy, I don't see that as waving the white flag on him at all.  Mechanics are something better drilled in the offseason.  During the season, correct decision-making within the speed of the game is much more important.  Acknowledging that they were trying to have him think about too much at once.  If you're making the correct decisions and making them on time, that gives you more margin for error to help cover for whatever inaccuracies might be resulting from faulty footwork.

Having said that, "Then what the hell were you doing with his mechanics all last offseason?" is a very fair question.  The way they behaved in player acquisition, they clearly thought they had that in a good place.  My working theory is that something in his injury and recovery subtly threw his footwork off, and they weren't able to diagnose it until it was put to the test under game speed that you can't truly replicate on the practice field.  That's the optimist in me, anyway.  KOC has been too good with too many other QBs to suddenly forget how to develop a QB.  Maybe he's better at refining a QB's rough edges than he is molding a raw lump of clay, so his success with veteran QBs hasn't translated to a young rookie?  I dunno

Yeah, I think that makes sense. I do remember after week one, some online QB guys saying that his mechanics were better than Williams so some regression may have happened. Still, it could be just too many things in his head. "make the right read, footwork, throw" could explain why he's late on a lot of things. In any event, they have five weeks to see if they can fix this or not.

[gunnarthor]

Bit of a puff ball video but here's a nice video of Dallas Turner. A few things popped out 1) he's a freak athlete like everyone is these days but 2) he's been playing both OLB but also hand in the dirt DE a bit more this year, I think, with the defense doing more 4-3 fronts.

 

[TheLeviathan]

3 hours ago, The Great Hambino said:

As pessimistic as I've become about McCarthy, I don't see that as waving the white flag on him at all.  Mechanics are something better drilled in the offseason.  During the season, correct decision-making within the speed of the game is much more important.  Acknowledging that they were trying to have him think about too much at once.  If you're making the correct decisions and making them on time, that gives you more margin for error to help cover for whatever inaccuracies might be resulting from faulty footwork.

Having said that, "Then what the hell were you doing with his mechanics all last offseason?" is a very fair question.  The way they behaved in player acquisition, they clearly thought they had that in a good place.  My working theory is that something in his injury and recovery subtly threw his footwork off, and they weren't able to diagnose it until it was put to the test under game speed that you can't truly replicate on the practice field.  That's the optimist in me, anyway.  KOC has been too good with too many other QBs to suddenly forget how to develop a QB.  Maybe he's better at refining a QB's rough edges than he is molding a raw lump of clay, so his success with veteran QBs hasn't translated to a young rookie?  I dunno

A totally viable take.  It's just weird to me to have spent so much time talking publicly about his mechanics to pull a 180 and say "screw it, throw it like a weirdo".

I'm not at all sold on my pessimism, I just can't shake it.

[Vanimal46]

4 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

While I think that's the right decision.....part of me thinks the "who cares about your footwork, go play" is basically the nicest way to wave the white flag on a player I've ever heard.

I can't shake that the decision to say that publicly is basically giving up on him.

I’m with you. It sounds like he’s tried everything and knows there isn’t an answer this season. So he’s talking like he’s coaching a 6th grade pee wee team. Don’t forget to have fun out there kiddo! We will have orange slices after the game win or lose 

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

Bit of a puff ball video but here's a nice video of Dallas Turner. A few things popped out 1) he's a freak athlete like everyone is these days but 2) he's been playing both OLB but also hand in the dirt DE a bit more this year, I think, with the defense doing more 4-3 fronts.

 

I've been very hard on this pick, but I think it's partly not being used correctly, as he's so raw he should rush the QB more, which he is this year. 34 th in sacks is good! Still not very good, still not worth what they gave up, but there is at least hope. 

[TheLeviathan]

44 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I've been very hard on this pick, but I think it's partly not being used correctly, as he's so raw he should rush the QB more, which he is this year. 34 th in sacks is good! Still not very good, still not worth what they gave up, but there is at least hope. 

Agreed, the explosive pass rush plays have finally started to show up.  Last year I said we needed to be patient because of his age and we should look for a breakout this year.  This year he started really poorly and had trouble getting snaps and I termed it as he was "trending" towards a bust.  The last few weeks have "trended" towards being a stud.

Product isn't finished yet, but we're at least headed the right way.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Before the week 1 opener I joked that JJM and the VIkes should come out on offense in a no huddle hurry-up. Then before the last Packers game, I said the same thing but not completely joking that time. 

What do people think? On something or on to something?

Do the Vikings script the first 10 offensive plays? Is that still a thing around the league?

 

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Before the week 1 opener I joked that JJM and the VIkes should come out on offense in a no huddle hurry-up. Then before the last Packers game, I said the same thing but not completely joking that time. 

What do people think? On something or on to something?

Do the Vikings script the first 10 offensive plays? Is that still a thing around the league?

 

I'd no huddle him way more....less time to think. 

[Parfigliano]

5 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’m with you. It sounds like he’s tried everything and knows there isn’t an answer this season. So he’s talking like he’s coaching a 6th grade pee wee team. Don’t forget to have fun out there kiddo! We will have orange slices after the game win or lose 

Orange slices?  We want DQ Blizzards.

[Vanimal46]

Vikes have been bad at home all season long. I don’t enjoy saying this but it’s a must lose game. The team looks broken anyway, and with Jayden Daniels back for the Commies it should be a cake walk. 

Washington wins 28-10

[gunnarthor]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

Vikes have been bad at home all season long. I don’t enjoy saying this but it’s a must lose game. The team looks broken anyway, and with Jayden Daniels back for the Commies it should be a cake walk. 

Washington wins 28-10

We're due. 35-10, us. 

[Parfigliano]

Vikes Line:  +1.5 / +105.  Vikes home underdog again.

[nicksaviking]

16 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Vikes have been bad at home all season long. I don’t enjoy saying this but it’s a must lose game. The team looks broken anyway, and with Jayden Daniels back for the Commies it should be a cake walk. 

Washington wins 28-10

Considering the records of the two teams, this would probably be the most beneficial game to lose the rest of the season.

So Vikings win 48-0.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Considering the records of the two teams, this would probably be the most beneficial game to lose the rest of the season.

So Vikings win 48-0.

It’s the Vikings way. Man I am not excited about this game one bit. Meaningless December games are no fun. 

[mrtwinsfan]

Drew Brees doin the game ,  hope he is honest assessing the q.b. play , he sure knows alot about it !!!!!!

[Aggies7]

Who tf is Ben Sims 

[Aggies7]

Ugh I want a win but it would only hurt us 

[Aggies7]

Must have the alter ego NINE today 

[Vanimal46]

A well executed first drive for the boys 

[gunnarthor]

Nice fist drive. Let's repeat that. 

[Parfigliano]

12 minutes ago, mrtwinsfan said:

Drew Brees doin the game ,  hope he is honest assessing the q.b. play , he sure knows alot about it !!!!!!

Drew is beneficiary of Mark Sanchez getting hammered and beating up a retiree.

[Parfigliano]

Tackle much

[Aggies7]

Surely the defense isn’t going to struggle now that we’ve actually scored a touchdown right 

[Aggies7]

Wow 3 passes from the 1. Different era. Good job by the defense 

[Aggies7]

Best quarter in weeks

[Aggies7]

JJM is cooking

[Aggies7]

Is this going to be a 99 yard drive?!