Tag: Rick Spielman

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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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An Unsung, Much Needed Hero for the Minnesota Vikings

Most football fans spend their time cheering for “skill players” on their respective teams. With guys like Diggs, Thielen, and Cook, the Minnesota Vikings have their fair share of these athletes. However, there is one player not at a skill position who has quietly been the team’s best recent acquisition. That player is offensive lineman Josh Kline.

It is rare to see an article dedicated to a single offensive lineman. If that’s the case, it’s usually because the player is creating trade rumors, is in the middle of a contract holdout, or is playing so badly that it puts their respective quarterback in grave danger. Josh Kline does none of these.

When the Vikings entered the offseason, GM Rick Spielman had a clear mission – get protection for Kirk Cousins. Fans applauded Spielman when he went all in on center Garrett Bradbury in the draft, but some were left scratching their heads when Slick Rick brought in Kline to play right guard. Surprisingly, Kline was the only big-name free agent that Spielman signed, and he was supposedly a far cry from some of the premiere talent on the market.

When it was revealed that Kline would become a Minnesota Viking, fans (including myself) were praying he would perform better in the north than he had with the Tennessee Titans. After all, he was ranked as the 53rd best guard while playing for the Titans. With experienced offensive line coach Rick Dennison soon to be training Kline and his new unit, it seemed like there was a chance for improvement.

Kline may have struggled in his final year in Tennessee, but he has had a turnaround like none other in Minnesota. Either Dennison is an absolute miracle worker of a coach, or Kline is the best mentee in the business. Whatever the case, Kline has played heroically since coming to the Vikings, transforming himself and the rest of the offensive line along the way. Pro Football Focus currently ranks the Vikings line as 11th best, a huge improvement from when they were 29th last year.

The veteran right guard is thriving in Dennison’s zone-blocking scheme, and he more than holds his own in both pass protection and run blocking. He’s a big reason for the success of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. For the last few years, Minnesota’s running backs struggled to get anything going on the ground. That all changed this year. Cook currently leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, and Kline definitely plays a part in that.

His performance aside, Kline is also a great mentor for the right side of the line. Since arriving in 2017, left tackle Riley Reiff has added an excellent veteran presence to the left side of the Vikings line, but that attitude and experience was lacking on the right. Kline plays alongside two very young players, and his work ethic and talent is exactly what this group needs to see.

At the midseason mark, Kline seems like the steal of the offseason. Barring any major injuries, I bet he will continue to prove Spielman and the scouts right.

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Minnesota Vikings Should Not and Will Not Trade Stefon Diggs

Only two weeks ago, trade rumors regarding Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs riddled NFL headlines. After two convincing performances, Diggs has effectively silenced those who fed the rumors, and he has reminded Minnesotans why he belongs in the north.

To Vikings fans who thought Diggs might be traded, or opposing GMs hoping to nab a premier receiver, it’s time to put your fantasies to rest.  If Slick Rick Spielman really wanted to trade Diggs, he would’ve made it happen. Not surprisingly, Spielman kept his homegrown receiver far from the trading block, and it is continuing to pay dividends. Diggs went from four catches last week to three touchdowns this week, and he was one missed throw away from adding a fourth. It’s safe to say, Spielman wants to keep Diggs in purple.

Everyone knows Diggs can produce. What doesn’t get talked about enough is his attitude. Yeah, he winked at a reporter and made some mysterious tweets. I’ll just equate that to the Diggs charm. But, unlike other top-tier receivers, Diggs stays out of real trouble, avoids self-inflicted injuries (i.e. frozen feet), and he is respected by his teammates. That’s one of the main reasons another team would want him: he doesn’t come with any baggage. And, that’s another reason why Diggs is not for sale.

Fans (and especially the Vikings scouting department) also love how Diggs rose from his underdog status. From fifth-round flier to maker of the Minneapolis Miracle, he has a story second to only that of Adam Thielen. Speaking of which, the two get along great. Whenever there’s stress in Minnesota, it never gets between the dynamic duo. The receivers certainly hype eachother up, but they also help one another from an X’s and O’s standpoint. Opposing defenses typically double up on one of the studs, leaving the other in man to man coverage. We saw just how well that works three times on Sunday.

On that note, I’m expecting Diggs to have a good game next week in Detroit. Since his rookie season, some of Diggs’ best games have come against the Lions. In recent memory, Detroit’s defense has given up a lot of deep plays to the Vikings, like the Kyle Rudolph hail mary last year. With the lack of production from Rudolph as of late, don’t be surprised if it’s Diggs making plays this time.

So, sorry if you were hoping to trade for Jalen Ramsey or Trent Williams, but it’s not going to happen at the expense of Diggs. It would be an absolute sin to ship Mr. Minneapolis Miracle out of state for one of these guys, and the Vikings need him as they pursue a playoff berth. Keep being you Diggs, I can’t wait to see you winking at Ford Field.

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Vikings vs. Bears – Less Obvious Keys to Victory

After successfully shellacking the Oakland Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings have a crucial game coming up fast. As Vikings radio announcer Paul Allen would say, it’s a division collision with the Chicago Bears. A road win would be quite the statement from the purple and gold, so let’s look at some less talked about keys to victory.

Two New (Old) Players = Advantage Vikings

Soldier Field is a brutal place to play, but the Vikings will enter the game with reinforcements. For those of you who don’t know, GM Rick Spielman decided to get the gang back together. Yes, he brought back wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and punt returner Marcus Sherels in the same day. These signings may seem like nothing more than nostalgia, but they could be just enough to give the Vikings an edge against the Bears. More on that below:

Successful ‘Quon

Laquon Treadwell gets a bad rap for dropping passes. I couldn’t agree more, but let’s not forget his other talents. Treadwell is one of the best blocking receivers in the NFL. The Vikings have clearly moved away from an aerial attack, and they need as many blockers as they can get. With gritty tight end David Morgan still out, Treadwell can fill in as a blocker and create opportunities for Dalvin Cook.

The Uncuttable

After a brief stint with the New Orleans Saints, Marcus Sherels is back in Minnesota. The Vikings lost several players in their first few games, and they came calling for his services earlier this week. As most fans know, Sherels is an elusive punt returner and decent emergency cornerback. Some of his best games have come against the Bears, so let’s hope he mauls ‘em again on Sunday. Divisional matchups tend to be close, so scoring off a punt return would put the Vikings in a great position to win.

Lastly, Cook’s Compliment

You’d have to be blind to not notice Dalvin Cook these past three weeks. He’s been healthy (knock on wood) and leads the league in rushing yards. That said, fans might not be noticing the second man on the depth chart, rookie Alexander Mattison. When called upon, the third-round pick has churned out yards and made defenders miss. Cook can’t be the only one taking pressure off of Cousins, so I expect the Vikings to use Mattison as another weapon on third downs.

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“Big Nickel” Jayron Kearse Will Be Big Part of Vikings Defense

At the end of last season, safety Jayron Kearse had a limited role with the Minnesota Vikings. With the recent injury to slot corner Mackensie Alexander, Kearse could become a critical component of the Minnesota defense.

For readers that aren’t familiar with the fourth-year safety, Kearse was a seventh-round pick out of Clemson. Despite his hype coming out of college, he hasn’t seen much action as a safety behind Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, and formerly, Andrew Sendejo. Kearse is a valued special teams player, but his reps with the defense are limited to plays that call for a “big nickel” to be brought in. Kearse is 6’4” and literally fits this role well.

In his fourth year, Kearse will need to make a statement if he wants to earn a new contract. Now, he’s primed to do so. Mackensie Alexander has been an excellent slot corner, but he might be out of commission for a couple weeks. Normally, Mike Hughes would fill in at nickel, but he’s still recovering from an ACL tear. With both nickel corners out of commission, coach Zimmer will likely employ the big nickel more often. If Jayron can seamlessly fill Alexander’s shoes, Mike Zimmer would be hard pressed not to give him a larger long-term role in the defense. GM Rick Spielman would also seriously consider a new contract.

There’s no better time to show his stuff than against Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers hasn’t beaten the Vikings in over 900 days, and we all know he’s hoping to end that streak. Intercepting or sacking a quarterback of Rodgers’ caliber would be a huge play for anyone, but especially Kearse. With his size and athleticism, I think fans will be seeing some big plays on Sunday.

Beyond this weekend’s matchup, Jayron will be invaluable if Alexander is unable to return. The Vikings reported that Alexander dislocated his elbow, but there’s no saying how long he’ll be out. Like many fans, I’m excited to watch Jayron play more downs with the defense. Fans have gotten so used to watching him as a gunner on special teams, but he was an excellent defensive back in high school and college. He had seven interceptions as a Clemson Tiger, and hopefully he can get his first as a Minnesota Viking.

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Vikings vs. Falcons: 4 Things to Watch for in Week 1

The 2019 regular season opener is only hours away, and the Vikings are preparing to take on the Atlanta Falcons at home. Now that we’re past the preseason and back to meaningful football, what should fans be watching for?

Offensive Identity

Last year, Mike Zimmer’s cries for a run-first offense fell upon deaf ears, and it eventually cost offensive coordinator John DeFilippo his job. New offensive coaches Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison have had a whole off-season to practice their version of run blocking, and week one will be the first real glimpse of the Vikings’ new offense. Expect to see a healthy dose of Dalvin Cook, along with plenty of run-pass options for quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Defensive Line Rotation

It is well known that the Vikings claim one of the strongest defensive lines in the NFL. That said, no one would argue that some of their stars are aging, and it’s time to see more rotation along the line. The Vikings kept an astonishing six defensive tackles, and it will be interesting to see how much they use backups like Hercules Mata’afa and Jalyn Holmes on game days.

Kicking

After all the antics of bringing in a new kicker during training camp, Rick Spielman opted to keep veteran Dan Bailey as the Vikings placekicker. Fans can only hope this was the right call, and they’ll get their first taste of 2019 Bailey soon enough. Spielman also made an unusual move by signing a kicker to the practice squad, so Bailey knows he’s on a short leash. Will he thrive under pressure? If the final pre-season game of the year was any indication, he just might.

Crowd Noise

It’s great to have Vikings football back, but the season opener can be surprisingly sleepy. Last year’s matchup against the 49er’s had an odd feel to it, even with the Vikings coming out on top. Hopefully fans are feeling confident in this year’s squad, and we can load the Bank. The Falcons are a formidable opponent, so Minnesota might need an extra edge to win the game. Cue the gjallarhorn.

It might not be a primetime slugfest, but this will be a great matchup for the Vikings to get their feet wet. If you’re in the Twin Cities or beyond, come on down to the house of pain to do some bird watching.

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Vikings Make Three Big Moves to Bring Roster to 53

After a long off-season, several weeks of training camp, and four preseason games, Rick Spielman has cut the Vikings roster down to 53 men. With so many talented players vying for a job, cut-day 2019 was one for the books.

Here are some of the top storylines:

“Sloterhouse” Has Fallen

Vikings fans love a good backup quarterback battle, and Kyle Sloter vs. Sean Mannion was no exception. In this case, the vast majority of fans were rooting for Sloter, creating the nickname “Sloterhouse” for his support group. Since coming to Minnesota in 2017, Sloter has been electric each preseason, earning a perfect passer rating of 158.3 during this year’s campaign. 

That said, he’s never given Mike Zimmer the confidence that a game-tested veteran could provide (e.g. Case Keenum, Sean Mannion). Fans will never know exactly what transpired behind closed doors, but reports say Sloter struggled to run the offense and often made the wrong play calls. During games, he could improvise and hide these issues from fans, but he couldn’t hide them from coach Zim. As of Sunday, Sloter is an Arizona Cardinal.

Hakuna Matata

The Vikings reached for Treadwell in the 2016 draft, and he never got into a groove in Minnesota. Despite success in college, the former first-rounder immediately had problems with dropping passes, and he quickly became a mainstay in Minnesota media. “Fans” and analysts have been so harsh on social media, Treadwell recently quoted the Lion King, saying he’ll be “Hakuna Matata,” or “alright” no matter what happened on cut day:

“I have no worries, I’m like Lion King. Hakuna Matata.”

After three middling years, Rick Spielman finally pulled the plug on Treadwell. Earlier reports said Spielman was trying to trade Treadwell for a late-round draft pick, but he wasn’t able to recoup any of his investment. I really hope a change of scenery gets Laquon back on track, and I’m sure on some level he’s glad to move on from Minnesota. Fans are rightfully disappointed in Treadwell and Spielman, but he wasn’t the only first-round bust from the 2016 draft. Wide receiver Josh Doctson, who many fans think the Vikings should have traded up for, was also cut by Washington on Saturday. I’m not saying Spielman made a great pick, but he wasn’t the only one to reach in that draft. 

Kicking Himself

In yet another attempt to solve the Vikings kicking woes, Rick Spielman recently sent a future fifth-round draft pick to Baltimore to acquire Kaare Vedvik. The dual-purpose punter/kicker was very intriguing, but Vedvik had the yips by his first preseason game in purple, and he only slightly improved in the next game. A few missed kicks was all it took for Spielman to pull the plug on the Norwegian prospect, and I’m sure he’s kicking himself for using a fifth-rounder on Kaare. I think it was too early to admit defeat, but I’ll trust Spielman on this one. Despite missing many of his kicks, Vedvik seemed overly confident in front of reporters. Maybe Spielman didn’t want that attitude in the locker room.

P.S., Slick Rick has already signed a new punter and added a rookie kicker to the practice squad since cutting Vedvik. Will this debacle ever end?

Many other football players saw their time in purple come to a close, and we wish them the best of luck elsewhere in the NFL. Hopefully, the Vikings made the right call with these higher-profile players, and we’ll find out in about six months if they put together a championship roster.

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Special New Strategy for Vikings Special Teams

The Minnesota Vikings may finally be on the brink of solving their kicking woes. Sound familiar? We’ve all been let down before, but a new strategy by Rick Spielman seems foolproof as the regular season approaches.

It’s been years, even decades, since the Vikings last had consistent kicking and punting. Through all the heartbreak, Spielman has tried training camp competitions, midseason acquisitions, and even the draft to fix the problem. Only two weeks ago, Slick Rick traded a draft pick to Baltimore for kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik. It seems like more of the same to the average Skoldier, but this move is truly a game changer.

As a refresher, let’s take a look at Minnesota’s current special teams unit:

Austin Cutting, Longsnapper

Dan Bailey, Kicker

Kaare Vedvik, Kicker/Punter

Matt Wile, Punter

By bringing in Vedvik, the Vikings can, and more than likely will enter the season with two kickers. That’s almost unheard of in the NFL, but the Vikings might just need a plan this crazy to crack the code. Heck, they already drafted a long snapper, why not try this? The move to acquire Vedvik more than likely means punter Matt Wile is on his way out. Vedvik looked great punting on Sunday, and Wile is limited with an injured hand. I’ve always liked Matt, as he’s drama-free and seems like a good locker-room guy, but it’s not looking good for him if you ask me. 

If last weekend’s preseason game is any indication, fans can expect veteran Dan Bailey to handle field goals and extra points while Vedvik takes care of punts and kickoffs. However, coach Mike Zimmer did let Vedvik kick an extra point. It was just a sample size, but his first performance in purple confirms he’s a jack of all trades.

Some fans want Vedvik to be the kicker AND punter right from the get go. It would certainly be intriguing, but probably too risky in the event of an injury. That said, this option isn’t off the table yet. Let’s assume the Vikings enter the season with Bailey as their primary kicker, and Vedvik as the punter and kickoff man. If Bailey continues to struggle as he has during training camp, Spielman may be inclined to go all in on Vedvik, releasing Bailey to free up a roster spot. 

We can’t predict the future, but it’s going to be another interesting year for the Vikings kicking corps. At the expense of a draft pick, Spielman bought the equivalent of two players, and one more chance at solving the curse.

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Vikings vs. Seahawks: What to Watch for in Preseason Game Two

Last weekend, the Minnesota Vikings successfully beat the New Orleans Saints in the Big Easy. There were some studs and some duds in the 34-25 victory, so what should fans be watching for in the second preseason game?

Chad Beebe

This player was on my watch-list last week. Despite rave reviews throughout training camp, Beebe didn’t have a single catch against the Saints, and now he really needs to prove himself on Sunday night. Many analysts have him as a lock for making the final roster, but another catchless night could put Beebe’s future in jeopardy.

Kicking and Punting

Rick Spielman stirred the pot this week by trading for special teamer Kaare Vedvik. The Norway native and ex-Baltimore Raven has the ability to punt and kick, a rare talent in today’s NFL. It’s extremely uncommon for a team to rely on one player to do both, but the Vikings may consider that route given the mediocre performances of kicker Dan Bailey and punter Matt Wile during camp. It would be nice to save a roster spot, but the move puts the team in a tough spot if that player is injured. Keep in mind, Bailey and Wile are still playing in purple, so this situation hasn’t been sorted out yet. One thing is for sure: at least one player will soon be sent packing.

Seahawks Preview

It’s not very often that the Vikings face off with a regular-season foe during the preseason, but it will happen this Sunday. Minnesota hasn’t defeated Seattle in several years, so they will likely use this game to prep for the real dance that awaits in the regular season. This is also the first home game of the year, and it’s a great chance to unleash pent-up Vikings fandom. Tickets start at only $20, so make it to the ‘Bank’ if you can.

Olabisi Johnson

After being taken late in this year’s draft, Bisi Johnson has had a somewhat quiet training camp. Like many NFL hopefuls, he turned some heads during his first preseason game with good routes and a touchdown catch. Since then, he’s looked good in practice and there’s reason to believe he can play well again this Sunday. With players like Chad Beebe, Laquon Treadwell, and Jordan Taylor vying for limited roster spots, he’ll need another solid showing to have a chance at making the roster.

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Why Sean Mannion Should be on Your Radar

With the preseason opener less than two weeks away, the backup quarterback competition is heating up. As has been the case in recent memory, an unproven veteran (Sean Mannion) is facing off against a younger contender (Kyle Sloter). Many fans are rooting for Sloter to earn the backup job, but there’s a big reason to jump on the Mannion bandwagon.

Sean Mannion is eerily similar to one of the makers of the Minneapolis Miracle. Yes, I’m talking about Case Keenum. During 2017 training camp, the newly acquired journeyman was also battling with an exciting young quarterback, Taylor Heinicke. Many fans were outright disappointed to see the Vikings sign Keenum, as they were hot for Heinicke. And who wouldn’t be? The feeling was that Keenum already had his chance, and Heinicke had a higher ceiling.

Much like Mannion is trying to do this year, Keenum put together a solid preseason and his experience earned him the backup job. When then-starter Sam Bradford went down, disappointment turned to utter despair. Someone even took the time to make a remix of “Hooked on a Feeling,” and change it to “Screwed With Case Keenum.” Boy was he wrong. After a few weeks, the pessimist had to make a new song: “We All Love Case Keenum.”

If Mannion passes up Sloter during the preseason, which I believe he will, there will likely be a similar reaction. Fear not… if Mannion becomes the backup, he’ll likely never see the field this year (fingers crossed). That said, his experience with the Super Bowl runner-up Rams would be valuable. Don’t forget, Case Keenum also came from the Rams. 

Through the first week or so of training camp, Mannion has the edge over Sloter. It’s hard to say why, but Mike Zimmer has chosen to give more of the second-team reps to Mannion. Both backups have had their miscues, but Mannion looked more confident at camp this week.

If I were Rick Spielman, I’d side with history and roll with the veteran. It might just lead to a Minneapolis Miracle. 

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