didn’t see a thread so I thought I would start one. maybe some are protesting but I will be watching. Vikes made some noise today acquiring one of the best rushers in the game even tho many never heard of him. Ngakoue and Hunter will likely be the best end duo in the league. this should be an elite defense and will be interesting what it will look like with Zim and Dom designing it.
Elite is maybe a stretch, no?
Hunter hasn’t practiced in two weeks and we have unknown edge depth. DT is a huge question mark with Joseph gone and Pierce opting out. We have one decent linebacker in Kendricks. We have all new corners.
Too many unknowns at this point.
a good pass rush should help young corners as well as 2 of the best safeties behind them. Barr ain’t too shabby either and he will likely be asked to rush more too. Kendricks has turned into one of the best LB in the league. Pierce opting out changes things.
Elite may be a stretch but I been drinking a lot of the koolaid lately
Bears have Robert Quinn & Kahlil Mack. Of course we have no QB.
a good pass rush should help young corners as well as 2 of the best safeties behind them. Barr ain’t too shabby either and he will likely be asked to rush more too. Kendricks has turned into one of the best LB in the league. Pierce opting out changes things.
Elite may be a stretch but I been drinking a lot of the koolaid lately
Barr sucks.
He can’t cover and has done nothing rushing the passer. We should have let him walk.
Yeah the cornerbacks are a huge question mark. Seems like yesterday Hughes got drafted and now he’s the senior CB. Very strong at the safety spots, I’d argue one of the best combos in the league. As you mention eyeguy I do like our DE pairing now and I also agree with greig john that the interior DL is a big question mark.
I see the offense being pretty similar to the last 2-3 years unless someone shows some improvement. Maybe Jefferson becomes a game-changer as a rookie, who knows. Cook is a big wild card too, whether it’s injuries or just not wanting to be there. When he’s been on the field he’s been around a top-5 RB but I personally don’t want to see him paid as a top-5 RB. Sorry man, too many injuries at a short lifespan position. Mattison ain’t Cook but if it comes down to it I’ll take the cheaper option, an expensive Cook contract would take some of the last money away from an already cash-strapped team.
Yeah the cornerbacks are a huge question mark. Seems like yesterday Hughes got drafted and now he’s the senior CB. Very strong at the safety spots, I’d argue one of the best combos in the league. As you mention eyeguy I do like our DE pairing now and I also agree with greig john that the interior DL is a big question mark. I would say though that Barr ha his moments.
I see the offense being pretty similar to the last 2-3 years unless someone shows some improvement. Maybe Jefferson becomes a game-changer as a rookie, who knows. Cook is a big wild card too, whether it’s injuries or just not wanting to be there. When he’s been on the field he’s been around a top-5 RB but I personally don’t want to see him paid as a top-5 RB. Sorry man, too many injuries at a short lifespan position. Mattison ain’t Cook but if it comes down to it I’ll take the cheaper option, an expensive Cook contract would take some of the last money away from an already cash-strapped team.
The offense goes how the OL goes. If they can open holes and pass block to give Cousins time, we’re fine. If not, we force the defense to be on the field longer and we’re a .500 team.
Running backs are a dime a dozen. Cook should not be signed to a big money deal, especially with his injury history.
I don’t see us being any better than last year. OL still not that great, questionable CB’s, not terribly strong at LB except Kendricks.
9-7…..maybe 10-6
10-6 (shoulda been 11-5 if not for a complete sandbag in week 17 with nothing to play for) with a road playoff win is a darn good season in my book. There’s about 25 other teams that had a worse season than that.
You probably need to win the division and get at least one home game to have a legit chance in the post season. If you have a first round bye, even better.
I expect more of the same this season as last year.
SUPER BOWL BABY!!!! 
Oh boy….. Here we GO.
Did dutchy’s lawnchair get burned in the riots? Otherwise he’s got that working for the parade.
Ooh no, Dutchy has never been on the Purples bandwagon. I think you are thinking of EPG.
Dutchy doesn’t think there is a chance in he77 of the NFL getting a full season in.
I am corrected. It is EPG with the chair.
Ooh no, Dutchy has never been on the Purples bandwagon. I think you are thinking of EPG.
Dutchy doesn’t think there is a chance in he77 of the NFL getting a full season in.
well your time is running short to owing me a real beer!! Cause they will start.
It’s always the same ‘ol, same ‘ol with the Vikes. They’re either terrible or they’re just good enough to make the post-season and then choke.
I predict similar results as last year-10-6 and 2 and done, at best. But I also believe the season will be canceled by Thanksgiving at the latest.
I’m excited for the defense, assuming Hunter comes back at full strength and soon. Corners are young but talented, interior DL aren’t world beaters but they’ve been solid and are well coached. Nguakoe is a beast and should be fun to watch, pretty crazy he gave up $6M this year just to get out of Jax.
Offense should show improvement in year 2 under Kubiak’s sole leadership. Jefferson and Irv Smith should easily exceed Diggs’ production last year. I agree with not signing Cook, great player but Mattison gives you 90-95% of the production at a fraction of the potential cost. OL is still the big ? mark, hopefully Elflein/Bradbury can figure it out and live up to their draft status. I like O’Neill, Reiff is serviceable, and Dozier is a journeyman ham and egger. Hopefully some competition from the young depth (Cleveland, Samia etc.) raises the level a bit.
Per Las Vegas latest odds, these are the probabilities for each team to win the division (and subsequently host a home playoff game):
Packers 45%
Vikings 40%
Bears 12%
Lions 3%
Week 1 will prove to be a crucial game, right out of the gate. With no pre season games either…
The DB’s are definitely young but it can’t get much worse than the play from Rhodes and Waynes last year. Rhodes was worst in the league and Waynes wasn’t far above him.
My fear like others, is the offensive line. Especially when I’m hearing Reiff is probably gone in the next couple days, they want to move O’Neill to LG and Cleveland to RG. O’Neill has been great on the right side and Cleveland’s natural position is LG. Everything is getting jumbled around again and that’s the last thing this line needs (other than Elflien needing to be cut).
Elflien shouldn’t even be a waterboy, and Bradbury better figure it out. If the o-line sucks we’re a .500 team.
The DB’s are definitely young but it can’t get much worse than the play from Rhodes and Waynes last year. Rhodes was worst in the league and Waynes wasn’t far above him.
My fear like others, is the offensive line. Especially when I’m hearing Reiff is probably gone in the next couple days, they want to move O’Neill to LG and Cleveland to RG. O’Neill has been great on the right side and Cleveland’s natural position is LG. Everything is getting jumbled around again and that’s the last thing this line needs (other than Elflien needing to be cut).
Cleveland played LT in college and appears to me to be more of the nimble athletic type of lineman. What makes you think his natural position is LG?
I think he meant tackle.
I think he meant tackle.
Meant LT. Thanks. Totally butchered that post. HA
Per Las Vegas latest odds, these are the probabilities for each team to win the division (and subsequently host a home playoff game):
Packers 45%
Vikings 40%
Bears 12%
Lions 3%Week 1 will prove to be a crucial game, right out of the gate. With no pre season games either…
How’d the Lions even get 3%?! 
I’d think week 1 without any preseason games heavily favors the Vikings. Defenses are always “ahead” early in the year even with preseason games. The scheme of defense and a whole lot of running the ball should play into the Vikings’ favor heavily for the first few weeks.
Outside of Adams, Rodgers is throwing to a bunch of special teams and practice squad WRs.
Vikings 24, Packers 17.
Vikings win the division, Packers sneak in as a Wildcard. Both go nowhere in the playoffs.
Injuries during the season will decide who’s there at the end .
Injuries during the season will decide who’s there at the end .
That and number of wins
I hope Reiff takes a pay cut and stays. Last year, he was the best OL they had, per the metrics. He’s a battering ram of a run blocker, and that often goes unnoticed. He’s not very good in protection, and that’s a lot easier for fans to notice. The metrics have Reiff ranked as about the 20-25th best tackle, right or left, in the league. O’Neill gets similar rankings, slightly behind Reiff. The issue the Vikes are running into is that Reiff is paid to be in the top 10.
It was the interior line that stunk it up last season. Elflein needs to stay healthy, pick up the pace and the effort, or he’s going to be gone. I think it’d be premature to have already cut him after how well he did as a rookie.
Looks like Reiff is staying.
Looks like Reiff is staying.
That’s good news, stability can only help.
I’m looking forward to the start of the season. There’s a lot of static surrounding so many things right now but sports, mainly football provide a lot of enjoyment for me and I’m not going to deprive myself. It’s definitely going to have a strange aura with empty stands.
Would be great to see Cook put together a quality, full season. Thielen’s going to face a ton of double coverage with Diggs being replaced by a rookie.
Can’t think of a better first game!
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