To summarize: Kirk is clutch and Zimmer is not. Really not much else to say. Just would love a week without passive aggressive comments directed at Kirk. I think he’s earned it.
I know Darnold isn't good, but, to be fair, his receivers dropped a gazillion balls that were catchable. However, the Panthers got dominated by the Vikings, and almost won. Zimmer will never trust his offense enough to just let it fly.
The Vikings are one chip shot away from 4-2, and another play away from very likely being 5-1, so why does 3-3 feel somewhere between about right and overachieving, despite the amount of talent they have?
Way too much to unwind here. First of all, glad we got the win despite how truly ugly this game was.
I agree with Jarred, too much Dalvin even as effective as he can be, he should be spelled by Madison at least 8 - 10 times a game, not 3.
Why are we using Westbrook for anything? Osborn is a much better receiver and certainly more reliable. Every time Westbrook touches the ball I expect something bad to happen.
The refs missed two significant penalties where players could have been seriously injured. Helmet to helmet on Jefferson. He was speared in the face. You might say he dropped his head a bit but no more than a bit and the trajectory of the spearing would still have been a helmet to the throat regardless. Should have been a personal foul. The helmet to the kicker's plant leg should also have been a penalty. A helmet directly to the knee of the plant leg on the blocked kick.
I thought Darrisaw had a good game, actually really good for his 2nd full game.
Zimmer's comment that "we should have run more" shouldn't have stunned me but it was so nonsensical I could hardly believe it. The playcalling in this game was much more aggressive than previously and should continue to utilize our greatest offensive threat... THE PASSING GAME. I'm not minimizing Dalvin. Dalvin actually becomes more effective when the passing game is clicking (as it should be and as he should be in play-action RPOs). Zimmer's comment solidified my opinion that he is the one responsible for Kubiak calling that many run plays particularly those 3rd and longs.
Osborn is the hero of the game and should be etched in permanently as the 3rd WR. He shouldn't be trading time with Westbrook.
Breeland, in my opinion, did not redeem himself with the interception. I appreciated the effort and the turnover but the rest of the game he was constantly mugging receivers. He could have been called for PI and D holding several times. After seeing Dantzler's play I don't know who is worse. I'd love one of them to step up.
There 's more but... there always is! SKOL Vikings
Did anyone else see that 2pt play call? That was so pathetic and I knew they were running draw so bad. Also can we wake up and stop running offset I formation on 2nd down run for a negative play its so predictable.
Keeping in the Halloween theme, a Vikings game is like a bad horror movie where the good guys do something stupid and the monster rises up from the dead again and again and again... Just put the damn stake through the heart, cut off the head and be done with it already
The Vikings are achieving the art of being a dominant team that is not capable of clearly winning a game.... Offense pretty darn good.... Defense solidifying.... Overall result... Mediocrity
Great job Mathew on the article but almost wish they would've lost these last two games for the dagger because the next 5 games are gonna be pretty playing like this. Last 2 games are all on the coaches shoulders not the players.
Can`t say I wish they lost, but they clearly can not coach the last couple of minutes of a game... Why did they have a run to the side for Dalvin when they were at the Panthers 32... Up the gut and at worst they get stuffed in FG range. And they had little success to the side.... It is like, gee, let`s try to be stupid.
Still not sure what the Vikings have, these two wins we're against pretty suspect teams. Both offense and defense looks great at times, then total poop at other times. Can they change that and play whole game? Darrisaw, appeared to have a nice quite game, that could change offense up and downs if he settles in to be good LT.
Yes! I only saw Darrisaw get beat once, and as noted cheater J. Vilma mentioned on the broadcast, Burns may have been off-side. In his first start, that was a bravura performance against a tough DE. If Darrisaw can do that consistently, it's a game-changer.
On your first point, it's maddening. The Cards have chewed up and spit out every other team they faced, and if Zimmer had been smart or savvy the Vikings probably win that game. It seems the game-plans and play-calling vacillate considerably based upon the opponent, which is of course, insane.
Those two Darnold scampers through our vaunted D was a result of the pocket collapsing, Griffen making spin moves to the inside, allowing the QB to escape to the outside.
Lean into the Kirk. He is vastly outproducing the run game and kicker. Hat tip to the OL today.
To summarize: Kirk is clutch and Zimmer is not. Really not much else to say. Just would love a week without passive aggressive comments directed at Kirk. I think he’s earned it.
I know Darnold isn't good, but, to be fair, his receivers dropped a gazillion balls that were catchable. However, the Panthers got dominated by the Vikings, and almost won. Zimmer will never trust his offense enough to just let it fly.
Is Cook getting too many touches?
Will they run him into the ground?
Look at Taylor’s touches 15-18 a week for example.
Most systems other than the Titans now split carries.
Cook will keep getting banged up at this rate.
The Vikings are one chip shot away from 4-2, and another play away from very likely being 5-1, so why does 3-3 feel somewhere between about right and overachieving, despite the amount of talent they have?
Way too much to unwind here. First of all, glad we got the win despite how truly ugly this game was.
I agree with Jarred, too much Dalvin even as effective as he can be, he should be spelled by Madison at least 8 - 10 times a game, not 3.
Why are we using Westbrook for anything? Osborn is a much better receiver and certainly more reliable. Every time Westbrook touches the ball I expect something bad to happen.
The refs missed two significant penalties where players could have been seriously injured. Helmet to helmet on Jefferson. He was speared in the face. You might say he dropped his head a bit but no more than a bit and the trajectory of the spearing would still have been a helmet to the throat regardless. Should have been a personal foul. The helmet to the kicker's plant leg should also have been a penalty. A helmet directly to the knee of the plant leg on the blocked kick.
I thought Darrisaw had a good game, actually really good for his 2nd full game.
Zimmer's comment that "we should have run more" shouldn't have stunned me but it was so nonsensical I could hardly believe it. The playcalling in this game was much more aggressive than previously and should continue to utilize our greatest offensive threat... THE PASSING GAME. I'm not minimizing Dalvin. Dalvin actually becomes more effective when the passing game is clicking (as it should be and as he should be in play-action RPOs). Zimmer's comment solidified my opinion that he is the one responsible for Kubiak calling that many run plays particularly those 3rd and longs.
Osborn is the hero of the game and should be etched in permanently as the 3rd WR. He shouldn't be trading time with Westbrook.
Breeland, in my opinion, did not redeem himself with the interception. I appreciated the effort and the turnover but the rest of the game he was constantly mugging receivers. He could have been called for PI and D holding several times. After seeing Dantzler's play I don't know who is worse. I'd love one of them to step up.
There 's more but... there always is! SKOL Vikings
Oh, and Cousins played pretty well again. Credit his skill and the O - line play in protection.
If the playoffs started today the Vikings are in as the 7th seed. Just have to hang on for 12 more weeks!
Did anyone else see that 2pt play call? That was so pathetic and I knew they were running draw so bad. Also can we wake up and stop running offset I formation on 2nd down run for a negative play its so predictable.
Keeping in the Halloween theme, a Vikings game is like a bad horror movie where the good guys do something stupid and the monster rises up from the dead again and again and again... Just put the damn stake through the heart, cut off the head and be done with it already
The Vikings are achieving the art of being a dominant team that is not capable of clearly winning a game.... Offense pretty darn good.... Defense solidifying.... Overall result... Mediocrity
Great job Mathew on the article but almost wish they would've lost these last two games for the dagger because the next 5 games are gonna be pretty playing like this. Last 2 games are all on the coaches shoulders not the players.
Can`t say I wish they lost, but they clearly can not coach the last couple of minutes of a game... Why did they have a run to the side for Dalvin when they were at the Panthers 32... Up the gut and at worst they get stuffed in FG range. And they had little success to the side.... It is like, gee, let`s try to be stupid.
at least they haven’t peaked yet, right? 😂
Still not sure what the Vikings have, these two wins we're against pretty suspect teams. Both offense and defense looks great at times, then total poop at other times. Can they change that and play whole game? Darrisaw, appeared to have a nice quite game, that could change offense up and downs if he settles in to be good LT.
Yes! I only saw Darrisaw get beat once, and as noted cheater J. Vilma mentioned on the broadcast, Burns may have been off-side. In his first start, that was a bravura performance against a tough DE. If Darrisaw can do that consistently, it's a game-changer.
On your first point, it's maddening. The Cards have chewed up and spit out every other team they faced, and if Zimmer had been smart or savvy the Vikings probably win that game. It seems the game-plans and play-calling vacillate considerably based upon the opponent, which is of course, insane.
Those two Darnold scampers through our vaunted D was a result of the pocket collapsing, Griffen making spin moves to the inside, allowing the QB to escape to the outside.