Rand: Are the Vikings better off than they were a year ago?

[Mothman]

This seemed worth posting but not worthy of it's own thread. I think fits with the basic theme of this thread:

http://blog.startribune.com/sports/acce ... yoff-teams

Harrison Smith took the bait. Sort of.

The Vikings’ starting free safety was surveying this year’s NFL playoff field when he was asked if he felt the Vikings were “close” to joining the party a year from now. He said yes, but …

“I do think we are close to those teams,” he said. “But at the same time, I don’t know if that’s saying a lot.

“In this league, it’s always close. We’re all close. The good teams, the teams that are always in the playoffs and fighting for the Super Bowl are the teams that make enough plays to win those close games.”

The Vikings finished 7-9. They were third in the NFC North and 10th in the conference, four spots out of the playoff field. They went 1-5 in games against teams that made the playoffs. The beat Carolina 31-13 and had losses by three points to Green Bay and two points at Detroit.

“It’s good to know we could compete and that we made improvements this year,” Smith said. “But almost every game in the NFL is some sort of two-minute situation at the end of the half or at the end of the game.

“So to say you’re close, yeah, that’s great. But that’s still a big area to have to make up when you’re sitting where we’re sitting.”

[J. Kapp 11]

This seemed worth posting but not worthy of it's own thread. I think fits with the basic theme of this thread:

http://blog.startribune.com/sports/acce ... yoff-teams

Leave it to Harrison Smith to say it better than any of us can.

He's exactly right. It's fine to be competitive in virtually every game, but it's a big next step to start winning those games they could have/should have won (Buffalo, Detroit, Miami, etc.). Until a team gets to the point where they're taking care of business in those games, they really can't be considered contenders. I believe the Vikings are getting close, but the team as it's currently situated isn't there.

[Mothman]

Leave it to Harrison Smith to say it better than any of us can.

That was my exact reaction after reading his comments.

As you said, he's exactly right. Hopefully, the Vikes will work harder than ever this offseason and find a way to join the true contenders next season.

[The Breeze]

Smith's comments reflect why I say this team is better off than at the end of last season. They weren't really close enough to warrant these types of comments last year.

It's hard to sound convincing trying to suggest your team is progressing when you are about dead last in everything on defense. That's no longer the case.

I hope they just pay AD once/if he's reinstated and draft a solid lineman.

[Purple bruise]

The future looks bright. Glad they have a very good GM and a great head coach

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... b9da49612b

[Mothman]

Smith's comments reflect why I say this team is better off than at the end of last season. They weren't really close enough to warrant these types of comments last year.

It's hard to sound convincing trying to suggest your team is progressing when you are about dead last in everything on defense. That's no longer the case.

It's no longer the case, and I see the point you're making, but is it really much easier to sound convincing when the offense finished ranked 27th out of 32 teams and the team had the NFL's 25th-ranked run defense? It will be interesting to see what the offseason brings and whether the Vikes can sustain areas of improvement and build upward from here.

[The Breeze]

It's no longer the case, and I see the point you're making, but is it really much easier to sound convincing when the offense finished ranked 27th out of 32 teams and the team had the NFL's 25th-ranked run defense? It will be interesting to see what the offseason brings and whether the Vikes can sustain areas of improvement and build upward from here.

As much as I dislike doing so, I'm excusing the offensive plummet as more a situational abberation (injuries, new scheme and QB, AD suspension) rather than where the true median is....but it is where they finished and that's ot good at all.

The run defense is particularly irritating to me. Basic tenet of the game...'stop the run'

And the whole question of better off or not is proving to be more subjective than anything.

But, like you, I'm confident that question has more objective relevance a year from now.

Color me cautiously optimistic and braced for disappointment.

Aren't those the attributes of purple?

[Mothman]

As much as I dislike doing so, I'm excusing the offensive plummet as more a situational abberation (injuries, new scheme and QB, AD suspension) rather than where the true median is....but it is where they finished and that's ot good at all.

I understand. I agree about the situational aberration but it's a problem that can reoccur so easily in the NFL that I think the team has to get better-equipped to overcome it. I realize when a team loses a real star player, there's simply going to be a drop-off that's hard to make up but I still believe the Vikings need to improve the bottom half of their roster quite a bit if they're going to become a contender. They obviously need work at the top too, and that's more important, but too many recent seasons have ended in disappointment in no small part due to the team's inability to overcome injuries. The overall talent level isn't where it needs to be to field a consistent winner.

The run defense is particularly irritating to me. Basic tenet of the game...'stop the run'

And the whole question of better off or not is proving to be more subjective than anything.

But, like you, I'm confident that question has more objective relevance a year from now.

Color me cautiously optimistic and braced for disappointment.

Aren't those the attributes of purple?

Yes, they are... and "cautiously optimistic and braced for disappointment" is exactly where my feelings are in regard to the Vikings now.

[The Breeze]

@Jim:
Can't argue with the talent depth issue and how injuries need to be dealt with. Those are facts of NFL life...for sure.

I'm holding the perspective that all of those things got undermined even more by having the new coaches and systems in place. And the significance of losing AD before any real routine was established put them further behind the wave.

Conversely, the way it played out is a bit of a blessing concerning the points you raised. Lots of young guys got significant time in the new system due to how it all played out. Especially significant in the case of McKinnon and guys along the O-line.

So, maybe the depth process got a little kick start this year.

I'm glad I got to see some of these draft picks get quality time. It should pay dividends down the road.

Plus it happened in Zimmer's first season where expectations are likely lowest.

[Mothman]

@Jim:
Can't argue with the talent depth issue and how injuries need to be dealt with. Those are facts of NFL life...for sure.

I'm holding the perspective that all of those things got undermined even more by having the new coaches and systems in place. And the significance of losing AD before any real routine was established put them further behind the wave.

I think you have an interesting point there in regard to the new coaches and systems, especially since there's an always an adjustment period with that kind of change anyway. Maybe that just exacerbated some of the issues raised by injuries.

Losing AD hurt them in a big way. That was a major threat removed from their arsenal. I hope they get that threat back.

Conversely, the way it played out is a bit of a blessing concerning the points you raised. Lots of young guys got significant time in the new system due to how it all played out. Especially significant in the case of McKinnon and guys along the O-line.

So, maybe the depth process got a little kick start this year.

That's a good way to look at it and hopefully, that's exactly what happened. They were definitely able to get an extended look at their offensive depth chart in action, which should help them going forward.

Plus it happened in Zimmer's first season where expectations are likely lowest.

Which is certainly not bad from Zimmer's perspective.

The injury to Cassel may have been a true blessing in disguise (though not for him). Bridgewater was able to handle the pressure of starting and gained valuable experience in a season where he might not have received it otherwise. I'm hoping that will pay big dividends next season. After looking at the progress he made between year one and year two in college, if he can do anything remotely like that in the NFL, it will go a long way. I'm not going to expect that out of him but he's already demonstrated an impressive ability to learn on the job so I'm optimistic about what he might be able to do in year 2.

[The Breeze]

Jim:

I'm certainly hoping that AD gets a shot with Turner and TB. Norv has had the chance to work with a couple of the best RBs ever and their success seemed to go hand in hand.

Outside of TB's poise and pocket sense, what struck me was his ability to spread the ball around. He doesn't seem to need that go to guy to move the chains...which makes him more effective if they find that guy...however they find him. Maybe he's there already.

cheers to the off season~

[PurpleKoolaid]

Leave it to Harrison Smith to say it better than any of us can.

He's exactly right. It's fine to be competitive in virtually every game, but it's a big next step to start winning those games they could have/should have won (Buffalo, Detroit, Miami, etc.). Until a team gets to the point where they're taking care of business in those games, they really can't be considered contenders. I believe the Vikings are getting close, but the team as it's currently situated isn't there.

He did put it perfectly. But it is nice to be able to have so many games close, as opposed to last year. With a new coaching staff, their best player, not playing for them, with little time to try to adjust the running game, and a rookie QB. Yeah, a lot of the games were close, but they didn't have to be. Instead, people are talking about how well Teddy played. A QB for the Vikings. I am in shock! Its nice to dream the QB position is fixed. And I said dream, not that it has been. But a dream is something more then what we have had in so long.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Jim:

I'm certainly hoping that AD gets a shot with Turner and TB. Norv has had the chance to work with a couple of the best RBs ever and their success seemed to go hand in hand.

Outside of TB's poise and pocket sense, what struck me was his ability to spread the ball around. He doesn't seem to need that go to guy to move the chains...which makes him more effective if they find that guy...however they find him. Maybe he's there already.

cheers to the off season~

I am at the point I hope AD stays a Viking (and the NFL can get its thumb out of its arse and reinstate him sooner then April 15th) which is a complete 180 from where I was when he let his team down. I just don't see a trade working itself out. I don't see a cut. How nice would it be not to blow a 1st or second pick on a RB!.

The question, as ALWAYS with the wilfs, is money. How much revenue will they lose if they keep AD, who has gotten them SO much money in the first place, from their sponsors. And public opinion (which also equals money). If both of these are on the bad side, The Wilfs will personally walk up to AD, tell him hes fired, them smile at the camera. It will be worse then how they treated as Mike Tice. Speaking of Meathead, can we get him over here to get a Oline playing better?

[84BreaksAnkles]

Guys, let's take a stinkin' chance huh? Lets pour our hearts out and heed not our yurning urge to exercise cautious optimism all the while bracing for inevitable disappointment. We know that THIS TEAM has what it takes to become something special. Just admit it, don't let the wise old Viking's fan in you take over... Recall the joy and HOPE and true faith of the 6 year old Viking's fan in you

Stinkin' dangit..;D

[Mothman]

Jim:

I'm certainly hoping that AD gets a shot with Turner and TB. Norv has had the chance to work with a couple of the best RBs ever and their success seemed to go hand in hand.

Outside of TB's poise and pocket sense, what struck me was his ability to spread the ball around. He doesn't seem to need that go to guy to move the chains...which makes him more effective if they find that guy...however they find him. Maybe he's there already.

cheers to the off season~

Cheers!

Guys, let's take a stinkin' chance huh? Lets pour our hearts out and heed not our yurning urge to exercise cautious optimism all the while bracing for inevitable disappointment. We know that THIS TEAM has what it takes to become something special. Just admit it, don't let the wise old Viking's fan in you take over... Recall the joy and HOPE and true faith of the 6 year old Viking's fan in you

Stinkin' dangit..;D

Good post. Honestly, I was able to maintain that same joy and hope you mention all the way through the Super Bowl losses, the '80s and most of the '90s but it's been gone since '98. Now, I'll believe the Vikings have what it takes to be something special when I see it again. Right now, cautious optimism is the best I can muster for this bunch.