Tag: Mike Zimmer

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How Vikings Can Maintain Postseason Position

Let’s Reid between the lines…

The Minnesota Vikings have battled to get back to an even record. Now, they control their own destiny and are currently in position to make the playoffs. So what does the team have to do to continue the hot streak and invade the postseason?

Much of the success the team has had as of late comes from the offense. Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, and Adam Thielen are offensive weapons at the top of their class. And quarterback Kirk Cousins has looked more than comfortable distributing the ball to these playmakers.

The key for the offense from here on out will be balance. Even when one of the studs is on a roll, it’s important that the Vikings offense diversifies rather than becoming reliant on one player to carry the load. This keeps opposing defenses guessing and the players fresh.

On the other side of the ball, Minnesota must continue to call smart plays on defense. Zimmer and the defensive coordinators have generally been doing a good job… they put their players in position for sacks, picks, and big plays all around. However, there have also been moments and even entire quarters of questionable decisions. 

Last week against Carolina, there were long stretches of the game where the coaches inexplicably refused to send the blitz. They also put the team in precarious position by switching to the “prevent” defense too early. It nearly allowed Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers to charge back and win on a last second field goal. More experienced quarterbacks will make the Vikings pay if they pull that kind of playcalling again.

Finally, we come to special teams… by far the sloppiest Vikings unit this season. Errors must be eliminated. The focus is no longer on making saucy plays like blocking punts and pulling off fakes. Instead, coordinator Marwan Maalouf has to go back to basics, clean up sloppy plays, and find some consistency. 

From kicker to long snapper to punt gunner, everyone in the special teams room is clearly shaken. This late in the season, the solution is unclear. Maalouf may experiment with different personnel packages, but that carries its own risk by putting players in new positions. Whatever the case, further errors in this phase could bump the Vikings out of the playoff spot they currently hold. This is the unit I’m most concerned about, so it’s time for special teams to sharpen up.

This scrappy team actually has a realistic chance to make a run to the playoffs. So long as the Vikings can play to their strengths and cut down the miscues, I believe they have the swagger to take down any team in the league.

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Vikings Need to Bring The Blitz

The Vikings defense flustered the Chicago Bears with their blitz and earned a rare Monday Night Football win. To keep winning, the Purple defense should employ the blitz more often.    

The Vikings are fielding their weakest defensive line of recent memory. Everson Griffen is now a Detroit Lion, and Danielle Hunter is sidelined with a neck injury. Without these star players rushing the passer, Mike Zimmer is looking outside the defensive line to create pressure.

We’re seeing safety Harrison Smith charging into the backfield, Eric Kendricks storming through the A-gap, and even some corner blitzes. With versatile players like these, Zimmer and the coaching staff should use them even more.

When it comes to the young and unproven D-line, rotation is key. When you have eight defensive linemen active on gameday, you’d be smart to use them all. The coaching staff is following this logic so far, and it needs to continue throughout the playoff push.

Mike Zimmer really likes to rush the passer, and he is known for his famed double A-gap blitz. For non football minds, this is when two players (typically linebackers) try to rush past the center on both sides simultaneously. By overwhelming the center, the tactic creates instant quarterback panic.

Zimmer used this look frequently when he first came to Minnesota, but he has unleashed it less in recent years. I saw him “send the dogs” with great efficacy on Monday night, so he should trust the proven method more going forward.

The tradeoff of blitzing is having fewer men in pass coverage, but this hasn’t haunted the Vikings yet. Some of the most successful teams in the league are known for their persistent, exotic blitzes, so more is more in this scenario.

Rushing the quarterback won’t always put sacks on the stat sheet, but it creates an unstable pocket to throw from and a chain reaction of bad passes and picks. One pick can be the difference in winning a game — and one game can be the difference in making the playoffs.

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Vikings Fans: It’s Not Time To Tank (Yet)

It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to realize the Vikings are off to a rough start. However, it might take a detective, or at least an in-tune and overly optimistic fan to find reasons the team could still turn things around. 

After this 0-3 start, many Vikings fans have given up on the season and turned to social media, using the hashtag #TankForTrevor (meaning star Clemson quarterback and likely number-one draft pick Trevor Lawrence). It is disturbing to see how quickly people give up, and despite the many reasons to do so, I am not yet comfortable pulling the plug on this season and boarding the train to tank town. Theoretically, the team could still go 13-3, so there is without a doubt still time to turn things around.

Let me be clear: there is limited time to infiltrate the win column and set sail towards the playoffs. Another loss or two this early in the year would almost certainly seal Minnesota’s fate of a losing season. It would be their first since 2014, when they went 7-9 in Head Coach Mike Zimmer’s first season. If the Vikings don’t win this week or next, tanking to obtain a high draft pick becomes a very real possibility, and I will reluctantly join the #TankForTrevor movement.

Since the team’s struggles have already been thoroughly covered in the media, let’s jump right into the reasons the Purple could turn things around.

Offensive Line Shuffle?

In place of injured right guard Pat Elflein, second-year blocker Dru Samia has had a tough go of it these past two weeks. Since Samia does not yet look ready for a starting role, talks of trying someone else are swirling. General Manager Rick Spielman recently told local radio station KFAN that Ezra Cleveland may “…get his opportunity shortly,” and I’m all for it. As a second round pick, Cleveland has plenty of potential. Keep in mind, Minnesota’s other most recent second-round lineman (Brian O’Neill) was an absolute success even when forced into early action.

A Pass Rush Emerges

After a quiet first two games as a Viking, possibly due to a minor injury, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue made some noise last week against the Tennessee Titans. Both Ngakoue and linebacker Eric Wilson tallied sacks on Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and the pass rush as a whole was creating pressure from multiple angles. Even safety Harrison Smith was seen rushing on the quarterback. Typically, safeties aren’t your go-to blitzers, but if that’s how the team can best produce a pass rush, I’ll trust defensive mastermind Zimmer’s judgement.

Kubiak Getting Dialed In

Fans including myself questioned Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak’s play calling through the first two games of the season. In my opinion, Kubiak redeemed himself Sunday. With Kubiak’s play calling, Kirk Cousins distributed the ball to six different receivers, including rookie Justin Jefferson (more on that later). The game plan was also very balanced, as the offense had almost a perfect 50:50 ratio of run plays to pass plays. Speaking of run plays, Kubiak made good use of Dalvin Cook, who racked up 181 yards rushing on the day. Reminds me of back when the Vikings would ride Adrian Peterson to the playoffs. Perhaps Kubiak will take a similar approach with Cook…

Justin Jefferson On The Scene

Minnesota’s last few first-round receivers have been busts, but Spielman finally seems to have struck gold in Justin Jefferson. In weeks one and two alone, Jefferson had more receiving yards than Treadwell did in his ENTIRE rookie season. And in week three? Jefferson blew up for 175 yards and a score against the Titans. One man can’t carry the team, but he could light the spark that turns this season around.

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Do The Vikings Have A Safety Situation?

The Minnesota Vikings lay claim to perhaps the best safety duo in the league. This accolade has distracted some from the fact that there is little to no depth behind the two starters, so it’s time to take a closer look at the situation. But, being that we’re optimists, let’s also guzzle some purple Kool-Aid and find those sweet silver linings.

First things first… Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, or “Harris and Smith” as some have tabbed them, are the definition of elite NFL talent. Look around, and you will be hard pressed to find the level of consistency, football smarts, and athletic ability that these two possess. Vikings fans can be proud to have them in Purple, and the rest of this article becomes irrelevant if neither of them gets hurt.

Behind the dynamic duo, the Vikings have four more safeties on the training camp roster, and they typically carry four total during the regular season. These players are:

Myles Dorn

Josh Metallus

Steven Parker

Dan Chisena

At first glance, it’s concerning to see no household names. However, if there had to be one position on the team, or any football team not to be deep, safety is a good choice. It’s not a skill position on offense, the players aren’t protecting the quarterback via the offensive line, and it’s not one where the athletes are having physical contact on every down (i.e. defensive line).

Three of the aforementioned players are rookies, so naturally the one more experienced player, Steven Parker, stands out to me. In only 14 games with the Miami Dolphins last year, four of which he started, Parker defended three passes and tallied two picks. Not bad for someone who went undrafted out of Oklahoma. It’s a small sample size, but he’s certainly shown flashes of talent. Perhaps Minnesota’s defensive backs coaches, or Mike Zimmer himself, can help develop Parker.

Dan Chisena is another player to watch. Chisena started training camp as a wide receiver, and he was recently switched to strong safety. Position switches rarely work out in the long run, but rarely is better than never. A prime example on the home team where a switch worked out was with CJ Ham, who came into 2016 training camp as a running back, and earned a practice squad spot as a bruising fullback. Look where he is now. 

Richard Sherman is a great example outside of Minnesota who has had a fruitful career after making a position switch (wide receiver to corner). Late in his career, the All-Pro is now considering another switch, this time to safety.

If the coaching staff are unable to develop these young backups into NFL-ready players during this turbulent time of COVID-19, don’t rule out GM Rick Spielman bringing in an outsider. The Vikings ran into some similar depth issues late last year, so they brought back Andrew Sendejo in a pinch. Not ideal, but it could absolutely be done.

A final alternative in the event of an injury would be to alter the defensive scheme. Given that he has a bounty of corners to work with, Zimmer and his defensive coordinators could switch to a single-high safety look that incorporates an extra corner. Zim always talks about trying new wrinkles, and this one would kill two birds with one stone.

Keep an eye on Minnesota’s safeties this season. Hopefully there doesn’t end up being a situation, but if there is, the Vikings are in safe hands with Zimmer and Spielman.

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Vikings Have Viable Options Around Corner

With the losses of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander, it will be a new era of Vikings cornerbacks starting this season. Some analysts have already discounted Minnesota’s defense as a pretender vs. contender, but fans should actually be as excited as ever for what’s to come.

Before we explore the many reasons why Minnesota’s new generation of corners are more than capable, let’s pay homage to the trio of playmakers that are moving on. Xavier Rhodes became a household name during his time in the Mike Zimmer defense, using his physical play-style and long arms to shut down the NFL’s best receivers. Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander took some time to work their way into starting roles, but they ultimately used their speed and athleticism to lock up foes. Many are sad to see them go, especially considering the latter two have plenty of gas left in the tank, but that’s the name of the NFL and its respective rosters – not for long.

Now, let’s take a look at the new guys… both rookies and players who weren’t previously consistent starters. These are the Vikings corners who should make the 53-man roster:

Mike Hughes – 5’10” – 189 – 23 yrs – Returning Player

Holton Hill – 6’2” – 196 – 23 yrs – Returning Player

Jeff Gladney – 5’10” – 197 – 23 yrs – Rookie

Cam Dantzler – 6’2” – 188 – 21 yrs – Rookie

Kris Boyd – 5’11” – 200 – 23 yrs – Returning Player

Harrison Hand – 5’11” – 197 – 21 yrs – Rookie

The first and probably most important thing we notice within the group is their build. Most of the players are under six feet tall and 200 pounds, and the two who are over in height are under in weight. Today’s NFL favors shifty receivers who can quickly change direction (i.e. Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs) and quick, nimble corners are well suited to keep up with these players. Aside from when he would match up against bigger receivers, Rhodes really struggled these past two years. For reference, he is a larger corner at 6’1” and 215 pounds, so his ability to mirror receivers declined drastically as he approached 30.

With Minnesota’s cap space being marginal at best, (at least until Michael Pierce opted out of this season), the team chose not to bring in or retain any veterans at this position. With the oldest player(s) being 23, it is clearly a youthful group. Personally, I think this is a good approach, so the group can grow together, and the team can avoid any controversy that comes with deciding when it’s time for the young guns to start over veterans. With youth also comes athleticism… as was noted earlier.

Important measurables with corners aren’t restricted to just their height. Arm length is just as important as height, and many of these players are above average in this category. Holton Hill and Jeff Gladney have the longest arms of the group, which is notable that they may both be the Vikings outside starters this year. Regardless of where they play, all have very desirable traits for the position, and they should be able to play inside or outside interchangeably in the event of injuries.

In this group of corners, it may seem as though Zimmer is willing to sacrifice physicality for quickness and lateral agility. That’s not really the case. 

If you watch game tape from any of the players in this group, it becomes very clear that they aren’t afraid to get physical. Hill and Gladney in particular are eager to execute hard hits, and they can also be used effectively in blitzes. Cam Dantler fits this aggressive but disciplined mold too, and I have high expectations for him as a third-round rookie. Also keep your eyes on Mike Hughes, who has battled injuries early in his career, but fits the modern day mold for a corner very well.

Despite what some may tell you, there is a lot to be excited about with the Vikings defense this year. Much of that is thanks to the promising players at the cornerback position, and it will be a great unit to watch compete amongst themselves and against opposing offenses this season.

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No Need to Fear, Dalvin Cook is Staying Right Here

With the recent news that Dalvin Cook is holding out until he receives a new contract, Vikings fans are in a flurry. Many analysts are acting as though this is a shocking revelation, but this is not at all the case, nor should anyone get too riled up by the reports. Read on to understand why.

It is almost no surprise Cook is not planning to participate in team activities until he sees a new contract. Players at the NFL level have the right to do so, and although the new collective bargaining agreement brings players the possibility of fines or voided contracts, holdouts still are happening. Now, that doesn’t mean fans, coaches, and general managers have to like them, but they are hardly the boldest move a player can make. Want to see bold and controversial? Try not participating in team activities because you don’t like the model of your helmet (cough cough, Antonio Brown). Sheesh.

Not to mention, expecting Cook to play on what’s left of his rookie deal (roughly 2 million this year) is really a stretch of the imagination. Running back is an extremely high risk position where players tend to have shorter careers anyways. Cook is right to be looking for his “big payday” now that he has established himself.

Hearing that Cook’s camp was initially asking for top dollar ($16 million per year) was actually very predictable, assuming the reports were even true. Although he has missed many games over his first three seasons because of injuries, it is obvious that Cook is a very special running back, and he will be on the top of stat sheets for years to come. Expecting Rick Spielman and the Vikings to shell out 16 mil was/is unrealistic, but of course his agent was going to start high. That’s his job.

The latest reports say both sides are being flexible, and Cook’s camp has already lowered their asking price to 13 mil. Although this number is likely still a bit too high for Spielman’s liking, fans need not worry about getting a deal done this week, or even this month. With Coronavirus still prevalent, players literally cannot even show up to the practice field. The team should survive if Cook misses a couple Zoom meetings.

But, what if the two sides can’t reach an agreement by opening kickoff? This scenario is highly unlikely given Cook’s humble nature and the presence of salary cap wizard Rob Brzezinski on the Vikings staff, but let’s tool around with the idea. A prolonged Cook holdout would leave Minnesota with Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone, Ameer Abdullah, and C.J. Ham to tote the ball. Not the worst group of runners you’ve ever seen, eh? If you’re not convinced, these stats/notes should do you in:

  • Mattison boasted 4.6 yards per attempt his rookie year… Cook performed only marginally better at 4.8
  • Boone is absolutely on the rise. After going undrafted in 2018, the Vikings felt so strongly for Cook in 2019 that they turned down a fifth-round draft pick from the Eagles. He tallied almost 300 yards rushing in 2019 as the third-string back.
  • Abdullah may not light up the stat sheet, but he is a do-it-all running back still in his prime at 26 years old.
  • Ham is a silent gamechanger who can be loud when needed. Another player on the upswing, Ham earned his first Pro Bowl invitation last year, and he without a doubt was a significant factor in Cook’s big year. The stout, burly blocker can also catch passes… just check out his 36 yard catch and run against the Seahawks last season! – (https://www.vikings.com/video/ham-rumbles-for-36-yard-gain-on-pass-from-cousins)
  • Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak has a track record of turning average running backs into dependable playmakers in his system

Again, don’t be fearful… as Voice of the Vikings Paul Allen would say, be FAITHFUL. With Spielman’s leadership, Zimmer’s interest in the running back position, and Brzezinski being in Minnesota, Cook is all but guaranteed to wear purple for years to come. Mark my words, the Vikings will find a way to conjure up some cash for their lead back.

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An Open Letter to Vikings Fans

To Vikings fanatics and Green Bay refugees everywhere,

Without a doubt, this has been a tough year. Coronavirus has torn apart our country, and in the midst of the pandemic, Vikings fans are pinned inside watching their purple heroes walk out the door. It would be easy to be pessimistic right now, but this is no time to get down on our favorite team. Instead, we must forge ahead towards a new beginning.

Like it or not, we are Minnesota sports fans, and we have been beaten down before. Aside from the Twins and Lynx, there haven’t been many titles won in this state. Heck, the Timberwolves and Wild may never finish their seasons, and who knows if the Twins will ever start. Let’s have some perspective and be grateful that the Vikings have a good chance of actually starting their season on time.

It is truly amazing how quickly things can change. One minute you’re enjoying a burger in downtown Minneapolis, and the next you can’t leave your house without a hazmat suit. One year, Stefon Diggs is your miracle man. The next? You know the drill… He’s making controversial Instagram posts and getting shipped to Buffalo. Didn’t see that one coming after a certain play in January of 2018.

Now, it’s easy to be sad about the loss, or blame GM Rick Spielman for pulling the trigger on a polarizing trade. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Diggs wasn’t who we thought he was, or at least he changed very quickly and drastically. He made it painfully clear what he wanted and had done so for some time. It was time for Spielman to listen. All we can do is be thankful for the memories he brought us. Some open cap space and a few draft picks are pretty nice too.

Diggs isn’t the only one we had to let go. Three corners, all starters in fact, will be donning different colors for the first time in each of their careers. Don’t even get me started on the safety situation. How hard do you think it was for Mike Zimmer, cornerback guru, to see his beloved draftees, as well as a former all-pro go out the door? I can only imagine. Thank goodness he had the foresight to draft a first-round corner and take an undrafted gamble on another. See, that’s the mindset we need. Zimmer and Spielman built the old team from rubble, and they can craft a new one too.

This is the important part, the new beginning. Yes, we’re talking about the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s only weeks away, and it will be the most critical channel for bringing in new talent this year. Don’t sell Spielman short, as he picked up a couple of good players in free agency. That said, the meat and potatoes come from college recruits. Zimmer has acknowledged that football is a young man’s game, and I believe he was warning us that this team was getting old.

Wow, with the losses of seven starters, the draft is really starting to look like a do or die arena, huh? Well, perhaps, depending on your perspective. If Spielman puts on his Ray Bans and rolls the dice like a riverboat gambler, he might pot enough talent to get Cousins and the crew back to the playoffs. If not? Fans accept the reality of not having instant gratification and wait a year or two for the young guns to develop. It’s not nearly as fun as proving people wrong, but it is a reality we must prepare for. 

Either way, this team isn’t rolling over and playing dead. Both Zimmer and Spielman are in a contract year, so they must prove their ability to get this team on the upswing. If not? There are plenty of coaches, some in house, who would love to be in their shoes.

In closing, I’ll put my money on slick Rick in the draft, and Zimmer on the field. There are vacancies to be filled, but I think we should view every week, every game, and every hurdle this year as an opportunity for this team to grow, and we can also embrace being the underdog. It was without a doubt difficult to see some old friends go, but they brought us many good memories while they were here, and they are giving Minnesota the chance for a new beginning.

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Is Harris a High Priority for the Purple Defense?

Before the 2020 off-season began, I was all aboard the Anthony Harris hype train. It was for good reason, as Harris tied for the league lead in interceptions last year, and he was the definition of homegrown, undrafted talent. Given his story and rise to stardom, I, along with many other Vikings fans, believed Anthony Harris should be one of the team’s top priorities this off-season. But, after reviewing Mike Zimmer’s defensive values, and looking at the teams that made it to the Super Bowl, I no longer think that is the case.

First and foremost, it should be established that I am a huge fan of Harris. As a matter of fact, he has been my favorite current Viking for two years, and it is hard to know he might have to go. It really does seem like him leaving is inevitable though, given Minnesota’s undesirable cap situation, and comments made by head coach Mike Zimmer at the NFL scouting combine.

When speaking to reporters, Zimmer said: “I love Anthony. If he doesn’t come back, I think he’s earned everything he’s got, but if you put up the positions most important on defense, it’s probably not going to be safety.”

Defensive linemen and linebackers tend to be more valuable in Zimmer’s, and most modern NFL schemes, so the Vikings have previously used their high draft capital to target these positions. Look at the two contestants in last year’s Super Bowl. Both defensive lines were laced with talent, especially the runner up 49ers. The Vikings were more or less overrun by guys like Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner, and these players continued to wreak havoc all through the playoffs.

Someone may initially disagree with the previous statement of the Vikings not valuing safeties, pointing to success stories like Smith, Harris, and Andrew Sendejo in recent years. If you look closer, you will notice that Zimmer inherited Smith from the Frazier regime, and both Harris and Sendejo were undrafted free agents who developed over time. Moral of the story: Zimmer has proven he can develop players at this position, and he hasn’t given much draft priority to safeties.

No doubt, both Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman would love to have Harris back and playing alongside veteran Harrison Smith. However, Harris has proven himself as a top-notch player at his position, and he is due for a big payday. Unfortunately, the Vikings likely can’t afford it. 

The only way I can see Minnesota retaining Harris is by using the franchise tag, which would keep him with the Vikings for one more year, but at a high price. When the franchise tag is used, the instating team must pay that player the average salary of the top five players in the league at that position.

If Spielman believed there would be money available for Harris further down the road, this might be smart, but there is no reason to count on that coming to fruition. Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook are entering the last year of their current deals, and they will also demand a large portion of the Vikings salary cap. They are also likely more valuable to the team as point scorers on offense.

As much as fans love Harris, he likely isn’t a high priority for Spielman and Zimmer. Maybe, and we can only hope, money will be found or the franchise tag will be used, as it is painful to let a homegrown star go. Stay tuned to see how the story unfolds.

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A Compromise for the Vikings Cap Problem

The Minnesota Vikings are in a sticky situation. As it stands, the team is already $12 million over the cap for next season, and that’s before they even attempt to re-sign any of their 19 free agents. So, what can the team do, or what should they do? Below is my offseason plan that plans for the future while positioning the team for present-day success.

Mike Zimmer, Rick Spielman, and the Vikings ownership (aka the Wilfs) must make some tough decisions in the coming months. The team is dead last in cap space (of any team in the NFL) for 2020, so these are the options I see available:

  1. Let as few free agents walk as possible, restructure and backload contracts to free up some money and make another run at the Super Bowl with the same core
  2. Let some free agents walk, cut/trade a couple of big-name players, spend any available money on free agent offensive linemen and hope to be a playoff team in 2020
  3. Let most free agents walk, cut or trade several big-name players, accumulate draft picks and save money while going into full rebuild mode

I think it would make the most sense for the team to go with option number two. Allow me to elaborate:

Option one would be incredibly difficult to pull off. The Vikings have a salary cap wizard in Rob Brzezinski, but even he would struggle to free up the kind of money it would take to re-sign most of Minnesota’s high profile free agents. Even if it were possible, perhaps by extending Kirk Cousins and backloading his contract, or restructuring several veterans, I think it would be a bad call.

As much as I love coach Zimmer and his defensive legion, he has sent basically the same cohort into battle for five years straight and been unsuccessful in getting to the big dance, aka the Super Bowl. As much as we hate to admit it, fan favorites like Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph, and Everson Griffen are starting to age, and I think more emphasis should be put on investing in the future Minnesota Vikings than trying to preserve the old gang

Minnesota’s management should also be cautious not to swing the pendulum too far. Is this team going to change during the offseason? Almost certainly. Should Spielman scrap it, sell out, and build something brand new? Absolutely not. It’s not time to commit to a full rebuild, at least not yet. Despite what some may say, there is still a window of opportunity open for the Vikings, and they have plenty of talent to make another playoff run next year. Even our own fans like to rag on the team, but the Vikings have breached the postseason three times in five years, and that’s largely thanks to the continuity and leadership the team has in its older players. 

It’s important to keep veterans at certain positions, especially those where age is less of a factor (in my opinion, those positions may include safety, linebacker, or interior offensive line). So, option two seems like the obvious choice to me. To be specific, here are some of the things I would do this offseason as the Vikings general manager (more important moves have been bolded):

Losses/Money Savers

  • Cut or trade Linval Joseph to create cap space
  • Cut Xavier Rhodes to create cap space
  • Cut or trade Everson Griffen to create cap space
  • Cut Riley Reiff to create cap space
  • Cut Pat Elflein to create cap space
  • Let Trae Waynes walk
  • Let Mackensie Alexander walk
  • Let Andrew Sendejo walk
  • Let Ameer Abdullah walk
  • Let Dakota Dozier walk
  • Let Sean Mannion walk
  • Let Kentrell Brothers walk
  • Let Marcus Sherels walk
  • Let Jayron Kearse walk
  • Let Laquon Treadwell walk

Retentions/Money Spenders

  • Re-sign Anthony Harris
  • Re-sign Dan Bailey
  • Re-sign Britton Colquitt
  • Re-sign Rashod Hill
  • Re-sign Brett Jones
  • Re-sign Stephen Weatherly
  • Re-sign CJ Ham
  • Re-sign Eric Wilson

Draft Priorities in Order of Importance

  • Left Tackle
  • Corner
  • Wide Receiver
  • Defensive Line
  • Left Guard
  • Backup Quarterback
  • Safety

Miscellaneous

  • Determine if Stefon Diggs WANTS to stay in MN

With this plan, the Vikings are losing five key defensive players, but retaining breakout safety Anthony Harris. He’s proven to be a quick learner and has a high football I.Q., so he should be a top priority. And, as mentioned earlier, Safety is a key position on defense that I believe can be played at an older age. Re-signing Stephen Weatherly also makes a lot of sense, as he will be inexpensive compared to Everson Griffen and is starting to hit his stride on the defensive line. He has also been touted as one of the smartest players on the team.

As for the offensive line, this plan would go into action with the intent of making either Dru Samia or Brett Jones the starting left guard, and focusing draft capital on a left tackle of the future to replace Riley Reiff. I think it’s too risky to attempt to move Reiff to guard this late in his career. The Vikings have attempted it in the past with players like Mike Remmers, and it just ended up hurting two positions.

As for the offense, assuming Diggs is willing to enthusiastically stay, this keeps almost the same skill players in town for Kirk Cousins to target. I think it is also more important than people think to retain CJ Ham, and not just because I’m also a Duluth native. If it weren’t for Ham, Dalvin Cook would not have had as fruitful of a season. As a fullback, he will also be relatively inexpensive.

On special teams, the Vikings finally found some consistent kicking and punting, so Britton Colquitt and Dan Bailey should be retained if possible.

Overall, the team would look a bit different and certainly be younger, but some change may not be a bad thing as the Vikings continue to claw at the Lombardi. This would be a nice first step towards a new era of Vikings football, but it still keeps enough of the experienced core together to make the 2020 postseason a realistic goal. Who knows how much of my plan Spielman will follow, but I’m excited to see how this all unfolds.

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20 Questions for the 2020 Vikings

As the Super Bowl confetti has fallen and lockers have been emptied, Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman are beginning to concoct a plan for next season. If you think the offseason is a time to turn away from the purple and gold, you are sadly mistaken. There are plenty of big question marks for Minnesota, and they will help determine the fate of the franchise in the coming season and beyond.

Here are 20 of the most pressing questions for the 2020 Vikings that I will delve into during the offseason:

  1. Who will call the defensive plays?
  2. Will Dom Capers be a great asset to the defense, or create a too many cooks in the kitchen scenario?
  3. Will Xavier Rhodes make the 53 man roster?
  4. Will Riley Reiff be moved from tackle to guard, or will he be cut?
  5. Can the Vikings afford to bring back Britton Colquitt after he helped boost Dan Bailey’s kicking confidence?
  6. Will the team approach Linval Joseph about restructing to save cap space, and would he go for it?
  7. Will Stefon Diggs be traded?
  8. Will the team use any of their limited cap space to re-sign breakout safety Anthony Harris?
  9. Who will be the backup quarterback?
  10. Who will be the team’s starting left guard?
  11. Will the Vikings draft a quarterback?
  12. Will the franchise tag be used?
  13. Will Dalvin Cook still play if the Vikings don’t raise his pay?
  14. Does Marcus Sherels have a place on the team anymore?
  15. How long will it take for Mike Hughes to recover from his broken vertabrae?
  16. Who will be the number three wide receiver?
  17. Is Dru Samia ready to be a starter?
  18. Will the Vikings bring back Stephen Weatherly?
  19. Was Dom Capers hired to experiment with running a 3-4 defense?
  20. Will this be the year that the Vikings win the Super Bowl?

Stay tuned for much more Vikings lore!

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