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Minnesota Vikings News:
SI.com speculates about the situations of Danielle Hunter, Za’Darius Smith, and Dalvin Cook. The three players have been the subject of trade/cut rumors basically since last season ended, and none of them have attended the team’s voluntary workouts this spring.
Brian O’Neill talks about his recovery from injury and the O-line’s next steps together, at Vikings.com. Also, Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans are ready to take the next step in their sophomore season.
From NFL.com, veteran OL Kelvin Beachum says there is no hard feelings between he and Kyler Murray. At the end of last season, Beachum commented that Murray needed to ‘be a man and grow up’. We all know that Murray isn’t very tall, but I think that it’s unreasonable for Beachum to expect Murray to suddenly get taller. I also doubt that ‘becoming a man’, whatever he means by that, is going to trigger a growth spurt.
The Colts have released veteran QB Nick Foles after one season, according to NFL.com.
Video of the Day:
Steve Smith Sr. has good things to say about Vikings WR Jordan Addison.
Read that the Redskins were trying to get Andrew Luck to unretire and join their team in 2022. Luck declined and instead the Redskins picked up Wentz from the Colts. The Colts still own the rights to Luck so if he had decided to play for the Burgundy and Gold, a trade of some sort with the Colts would have been required.
Lol…my how far the Redskins have fallen. Perfect example of how toxic leadership at the top eventually destroys everything. Once the sale goes through and Snyder is permanently gone I hope to see them get back to relevancy. They currently have one of the best defenses. I’d trade it for ours in a heartbeat and we’d be SB favorites straight up.
Twins 1 hit thru 8, what a fucking joke.
5 hour round… beat. Shot 85, 43-42.
I tried using my fingers and wrists more to some success. Reached a 416 yard par four in two for the first time in like 25 or 30 years. Hit a solid drive (for me) and had 205 to the middle of the green. Hit a 3 wood which I normally wouldn’t do because I can only hit it about 180 if I hit it perfect. I hit the ball to the green, about 10 paces on. Estimate it went around 200 yards. I also hit a shot on a 560 yard par 5 with my 7 wood that I normally hit 160 that went at least 185. Finally I have a 4 hybrid that I normally hit 150. Hit a shot with it from 165 because I just wanted to see what I could do. Reached the green with that club too.
So this wrists and fingers thing works. I have to practice some with it to really get a feel for it as I did hit some clunkers. My chipping and putting were decent as is usual for me, so although we were waiting for every shot, I still ended up with a decent score.
Great round! I shot a 49, 56 yesterday. Awful backside fell apart and quit caring with 3 holes to go.
I tried the fingers and wrist thing at the balloon factory last week. It did seem to increase swing speed a bit, maybe a little more distance at the start, accuracy was about the same but I didn’t have near the control which I would have to work on so I’m just freeing up the wrists a tad and will get use to that. Drove the ball great yesterday.
Keep in the short grass, always. Nothing wrong with a long iron off the block.
Yeah what was my struggle, driver / long irons, I’ve improved dramatically but now chipping and putting has absolutely left me. Good news is my short game will return as I’ve always been good at both so not too worried about turning that part of my game around and when I do I should be in the mid to low 80’s as it’s costing me at least a dozen strokes over a round.
Congratulations on the round. Should have kept my mouth shut yesterday, if you found something that works for you – great.
Wife got me some lunch, then I dozed off… yes I hit some shots with some real authority today. The course I played had a lot of trees and a lot of water. Several holes had trees that were sort of staggered on the hole overhanging the fairway. So off the tee there’s a large tree immediately off the right, then farther down the fairway there’s another tree overhanging the fairway on the left, then farther down another tree overhanging right again. This course is very old and the trees are very large. Trying to hit tee shots on these holes was tough. I hit a lot of 3 woods that I sort of just punched down the fairway low and running to try and just keep it in play. Weird layout.
Sounds like you are on your way. 85 is good golf and you seem to have enough distance now to play anywhere. And heck, this was with little practice – it will only get better as you get more used to it. Success builds confidence and confidence leads to repeatability.
Yes, I never go to the driving range, never work on my game, never practice. Just go out to the first tee cold, and hit it. As I mentioned to lifer, I have a pretty simple turn back, turn through swing. Nothing fancy. My game is decent. I hit the ball pretty much the distance I want and the direction I want. If I can start getting more distance I can shoot in the high 70’s and low 80’s.
How was your chipping and putting? Any three putts?
No three putts, chipping was good not great. I consider a good chip to be within 10 feet, great within 3 to 5 feet.
No holes with more than bogey, no birdies. Just a steady round.
man that’s fantastic to not have anything worse than a bogey. I had four doubles, two triples and a quad. All from poor chipping and putting. That’s 9 shots if I just bogey those holes, easily should be a couple pars in there and I’m in the 80’s. Just part of my game I never struggle with and its a shit show around the green right now but it will get better.
I was terrible with chipping the ball for a long time. Duffed them fat or thinned them over the green. I improved when I started turning my hips a little and picked the club up a little taking it back. Started making consistent contact with that method.
Yeah I’ve chipped many in green side and had excellent distance control from 30 yards out to get it to 10’ usually but I tried something new, my 48 gap wedge, to get more rollout and try to get more chances at one putts and it just hasn’t worked out. Did at first then quickly went to blading chips trying to finesse shots with it when I would just swing fully through with one of my specific wedges, 52, 54, 56, 58.
Going back to that and I should be ok. Putting will be a little more difficult to hone in as it always is.
I have rounds where my putter is on fire and I roll in a ton of putts. Then I have rounds where I can’t hole a putt to save my ass. I don’t worry about it. My misses are usually close misses unless I’m putting from 50 feet or something.
Lifer I gave some bad advice other day, so certainly don’t want to suggest how to hit pitches chips, lobs , etc. But hearing about your doubles, triples,, I wonder if a simple mental thought would help – namely a bogey is your friend. You seem to get the ball up to green in regulation. Maybe just think = no “hero” shots. No lobs over sand to tight pins etc. 30 yard pitch, give yourself fair amount of space for error. If you end up with a 15 foot put for par, fine. Maybe make it, probably not, but a bogey will never hurt your score. In time, maybe as the pitching gets better, bring the circle in somas you get more confidence.
Just a thought – if you think it’s crap, just forget it..
no that’s solid advice…when I was playing with all my different wedges it was playing it safe to get to minimally two putt position and I made way more par’s and bogeys, never made quads and rarely triples and had it down to maybe 1 or two doubles a round. Was shooting high 80’s to low 90’s pretty stress free. I tried to get more aggressive and it backfired when I should have just practiced chipping and putting more to make more par’s.
Good luck. As you get more comfortable around the greens, scoring will come.
I don’t think your far away. My father was a pretty good golfer but like everyone lost a fair amount of distance with age. Last couple of years he might get 200 yards with a little roll. Still, he concistantly shot 80 – 84. Drive, shot, pitch and either one put par or two put bogey. Could maybe hit some of shorter fives amd OK on threes. But very stress free golf – no three puts, no penalties, no doubles. Once in a while on good days, get in high seventies.
Once you get below 85, more a matter of learning to manage your game on the course.
Yes, that’s my normal game. Hit something down the fairway, hit something down the fairway, wedge it on, one putt or two putt. In general, around the green I’m a decent chipper and putter. Once in a while I have a hole that eats my lunch. I never worry about it. I play for fun and as a social event.
Nice. Haven’t gotten to get out this season yet but just started warming up here.
Golfing 18 for my bday next Friday. So freaking excited
Go early and warm up good!
I bought the golf bag below last week to set up a 2nd bag to change things up once in a while since I got that free new Cobra 50 yr anniversary driver.
I have a set of Mizuno MP4 blade irons as my backups to my titleist T100s blades I put in there.
I have a titleist 5 hybrid with a black kuro kage shaft, old Cleveland 3 wood and 54, 60 wedges, a $300 Taylor Made spider putter I bought in Chicago in 2011 I regripped last week with a super stroke 2.0 pistol grip.
Also have a Nike 24 deg utility hybrid which is a nice finesse club in the rough.
I’m going to call this my Dark Brandon bag since my Titleist bag is all white.
Clint Eastwood, 92, hasn’t been seen in 455 days. A legend, icon. I miss the good ole days. “Get off my lawn”.
“Make my day”
Dying ain’t much of a living, boy.
Weather app said heavy T-storms yesterday. Now i see sun and 75.
#climate change.
@stop driving, eating meat, eating rice and heating/cooling your house@
Was there some kind of coronation yesterday? Read Jill and granddaughter dressed in Ukraine colors. Odd, America would seem more appropriate. FU Jill.
That’s the First Lady, an educated Dr you’re speaking of sir, refrain from the slander. I suppose you find this type of behavior more appropriate for a First Lady?
Hawt
Exactly the mentality I expected. Sensationalism over substance.
My god, no wonder the donald only sleeps 4 hours a night.
lol…she wants nothing to do with him…she’s tagging the secret service detail.
Morning Skolholes! FTP!
Schedule release is this week. Thursday I think?
Yup
Yes
Safe to say…
yhh yeah.
Breaking news, thanks.
Dude must have just climb out from his darkness retreat at BSPN and scanned Skoloholics open threads from January.
Interesting thread on the power of media to “shape” the minds of their readers.
Just imagine if it were used for the good of everyone than the good of a few…
This is why we have “fake news” “disinformation” and all the other “everyone but us are lying to you” narratives.
Interesting chart. The Times and the Post were once great newspapers – now the editorials start on page 1. Katherine Graham is turning over in her grave.
It goes both ways… not just the left.
That’s true. I’m just familiar with those two as I read them both every day for 30 years.
Sure, no doubt about it.
The machine runs and runs and runs
Not for The NY Times and the Wash Post.
Me walking around the house after posting another gun rant on skoloholics.
What kind of smoker do you have slushie?
Campchef Woodwind 36
Here’s the pulled pork. Bone pulled right out. The picture is before shredding it better of course lol.
Looks good.
even again for breakfast.
So you wrapped at 180, then went to an internal temp of 200-205 and it’s moist inside?
Si.
Pi.
I wrap at 160.
I’m contemplating the move to a pellet grill/smoker.
I enjoy the fight of my charcoal barrel smoker…
but something about the pellete and forgetting it is calling me in.
I too enjoyed my wood chip/chunk propane smoker. But yeah, the set it and forget it smoker that I can change the temp and smoke level and check the temp from anywhere… Is awesome.
I used to work on cars when they were simple, way back when.
Changed head caskets, carburetors, transmissions, etc….
When we were done, we would use transmission fluid (tranny fluid) to clean the oil and grease off of our hands.
Fast forward 45 years……
tranny fluid = Bud Light.
Another day, another mass shooting in America. Second one this week. But it’s ok it happens everywhere right? Like in other countries once a decade, same thing right?
Remember this mentally ill person could have used a butter knife, potato peeler, vehicle or baseball bat and killed just as many. It’s not the guns, it’s the crazy people, probably liberals from antifa or an immigrant. We need more guns specifically assault rifles and might as well go full auto with ammunition vending machines with fully loaded 100 rd clips for a dollar.
Fox nailed the issue below…can’t trust anyone and be prepared to kill anyone at any moment, but be kind say fake nice words like you care so we can live in a fake society of kindness and unity. It’s the conservative utopia, arm yourself to the hilt and sit back and wait to try out all your cool shit on people. Enjoy America, at least you’re not subjected to LBGTQ doctrine and rainbow flags and forced to pay a little more in taxes to help poor people.
https://twitter.com/brynntannehill/status/1655044698820493312?s=61&t=MSJjCAC7RYtUNOadOBqDvw
Why would gun control stop this?
Every time new gun control is passed, it doesn’t work.
Another day of you and others playing politics.
So do nothing, is that your answer….every fucking time while people get slaughtered?
Me and others are playing politics asking for someone in authority to stop this killing? What are you saying…specifically what the hell are you saying? Let it continue….do nothing….arm yourself and kill back if you have too? Is that your answer?
I didn’t say do nothing.
I said passing gun control didn’t stop this.
How many gun control laws have been enacted over the last 25 years? Did it work?
ok so gun control measures to this point hasn’t worked. Are you saying don’t try and pass any more gun control measures and just accept this as how it is? Is that what you’re saying, let the killings continue?
Why do something that you just admitted didn’t work? What is the goal of more control?
We have a society where people think that killing people doesn’t bother them. Honestly, I have no clue how to reach them, except through prayer.
Do you have any ideas on how to help people who want to randomly kill people?
Need a bill to unfuck peoples heads. Don’t see it.
Oh….look….the evil Democrat governor from California asking the question what is our priorities in society, the right to kill or the right to live free and safe. How dare him.
Is it a gun problem or a problem with some people’s lack of consciousness?
If the gun is banned, which is what you and the left want to do, does this person’s mental state change?
All you and left wingers want is to limit freedom in any way possible.
There have been mentally ill people in our society from the start, this level of slaughter has never existed in America until guns became so abundant. Fact.
So yet again you’re stuck on the mentally ill person being the problem, the catalyst, if this mentally ill person didn’t have the EASE OF ACCESS to the gun he used he’s just another mentally ill person in our society like there have been over the centuries. Why can’t you square that in your little conservative brain? Why is protecting guns instead of american lives, fucking children, so important to you and is your shining example of freedom in america. WTF is wrong with you…I frankly think you enjoy seeing the news of another killing, helps re-enforce the need for more guns and stand you ground laws to make killing even easier.
Not once, not one fucking time have you or the other gun fuckers on this site said THIS HAS TO STOP, the killing of children and innocent Americans has to stop. No you talk about the mentally ill, left trying to take your precious guns and rights away, nothing about those killed.
Pathetic.
Come on – this just isn’t right. Look at our history.There have been millions of guns. I would suspect their were more guns per capita in the past than today. And yes there has always been crazy people. Have no proof, but “seems” like more wacky people today than at any time in our history.
No we did not have as many guns, the same types of guns, readily available to the public as we do now. Statistics are proving it’s the ease of access to guns every single day.
May 7th is day 127 of 2023. Yesterday’s mass shooting was the 200th of 2023 or 1.6 mass shootings per day. Next time you’re out and about in public….
I am for about anything that will work. Ban AK15’s – OK. I used to have an automatic shotgun that I could cut down, pull the plug and load with double “00” shot. Armed with that and my 45, I could do a hell of a lot of damage. Ok – do away with those too. Well then, we’ll probably start seeing molotov cocktails. Then the psychiatric community (oh Boy) will take over Wouldn’t count much on that.
So what to do. I’m not sure – tough issue. But I’m a sinner and touch old testiment. So maybe this until we find a good solution – Tell the cops (IF possible) don’t kill and to get suspect. Then take him outside and string him up to any pole available . Apply some butter and honey if available. Nice to go get some bees and buzzards. You get the idea though. Person wants his moment of glory – Fine. But maybe we as a society can gave ours too. And, all those other wold be copycats that want their day of glory, just might take note.
Crazy idea….. bur gun control is little more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Banning assault weapons and high capacity handguns guns makes sense at this stage. No it’s not just the guns, someone with a shotgun like you described could kill as many people but we have to ask ourselves why didn’t it happen before, the last 90 yrs, high capacity shotguns have been around. Why now, not then?
It’s an inflection point in society we’ve passed around the Columbine massacre where the perfect blend of mental illness / social isolation, an act of suicide defiance combined with the mainstream media to report and spread the idea and glamorize it and now with social media we’ve crossed a point of no return.
We have to many socially maladjusted misfits with no emotional intellect to control their self created pity who can create a fantasy of grandeur of making their mark of being recognized by the world and sacrifice themselves and others in the process.
I’ve thought a lot about this, I do care for others, I do care for our freedoms and way of life but this is not ok, this is not acceptable and cannot be ignored. Something has to be done. Now.
Thoughts & Prayers….that’s the answer?
What did we do when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor? Thoughts & Prayers? Or when the Nazi’s were invading Europe and sinking our commercial ships in the Atlantic? Thoughts & Prayers? Or 9-11?
No we took action to stop the killing, not always the best action but we took action to stop it so we could protect our democracy, our freedoms and safety in our towns and cities.
How is this any different? Why must we sit back and allow any person Foreign or Domestic to terrorize our societal safety net? This is just a self created issue from gun lobby capitalists and the media getting rich off our 2nd amendment rights that has lead to the continued slaughter of innocent Americans.
Why doesn’t that outrage 2nd amendment supporters like when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor or al-Qaeda took down the twin towers? Are the Americans that were slaughter yesterday in that TX mall any less American than those that died on those days? Where’s the outrage, where’s the passion to stop the killing of our citizens? Is an amendment more important than American lives is that what they’re saying? What is that amendment protecting if not American lives yet it is being used as the excuse to flood our nation with weapons to allow innocent american lives to be taken. Can we not see the hypocrisy in that, do we not want to change that?
Thoughtful response. I agree – let’s do something but hopefully something that will have a “real impact.” I don’t know the right answer.
You make a great point above – we have too many maladjusted people ……. – What is the reason for this? How do we fix that?
The brisket turned out INCREDIBLE!
Dude, this looks seriously delicious. Want some!
That brisket was insane! So good!
It looks perfect, enjoy the leftovers!
that smoke ring is amazing.
Well done. I have beef envy here.
That looks great!
Looks good (and spendy).
Man, those jockey’s are small.
little fellers…was a great race.
Twins have a team batting average of .225. They suck. Going with hockey. Wish i had some of that meat Edge.
They also have a Team ERA of 3.33, third best in the majors.
So I guess we can look forward to lots of low scoring games.
Brisket at 160, taking it off to wrap in butcher paper. I haven’t used butcher paper before. Have always done foil. See how it goes but it looks and smells amazing!
You feeding the 101st Airborne?
😂, if the smoker is going to run 10+ hours might as well make it count!
Yum….last couple briskets I smoked on my little Webber charcoal turned out dry, over cooked and not very good. Did the temps right through the wall up to a low 180 internal temp and still didn’t turn out. Quit doing them.
You need to cook until 200/205 at 180 you’re still sitting in the stall phase possibly. What happens around 180 is connective tissue and fat really break down and re-moist the meat. So if you take off at 180 you have over cooked meat that hasn’t had the fat and connective tissue break down back into the meat.
Hmmmm…nothing in what I read said any of that lol….welp guess I’ll have to try anther one soon. The meat would come out well done and dry as a bone. Weird it would remoisten after that….I’d like a nice medium doneness if possible.
This looks really good.
Pork at 160, butcher wrapping. Boosting heat up to 250. Cooking both until 200/205. Brisket is close. To taking off and resting.
Love using Peach Butcher paper. that bark looks great.
Boy. Busy. Might need a new thread.
Two maybe, even. It´s 10pm over here, just got home from a nice afternoon and evening with my sister and her family, so couldn´t contribute so far. BIL and myself had a few Nußschnaps and gespritzer Most, but unfortunately, Saturday almost over on this side of the pond. Any Hockey to watch tonight, Chief?
May watch the Oil. Hope they win or MT might be on suicide watch. Maybe some Twins.
Sounds like a plan. Rooting for the Oil as well, for MT´s sake, since the Bruins managed to royally shit the bed. Twins suck again, I take it?
Ok in a suck division. Probably hop all over cable to find something.
Got the Derby on at 6:30pm est. Unfortunately horses are dropping like flys, 6 horses have died at Churchill Downs the past week. Just a bunch of weird stuff, broken neck, couple practice run falls had to be put down, couple their not sure what happened under investigation, one being saddled got out of control injured had to be put down. They’re doing blood tests all coming back normal…something is not right there…4 other horse scratched today including the favorite. Crazy.
Not a big pony guy Lifer but will watch. What the hell is 2 mins out of a guys life!
there ya go…Brady did a nice run up on Secretariat 50 yr anniversary. Even he said Secretariat was the greatest athlete of all time hands down.
Twins are the best of the worst.
And worst of the best. Minny sports is hard to watch.
Forward thinking!
Gorgeous 70 degree day here, PGA boys are in the neighborhood…tee’d off at 7am myself, played my new Autoflex shaft on my driver…love the feel only missed 3 fairways with poor swings not the shafts fault. Chipping and putting was atrocious shot well over 100 after starting the round really well. Oh well always next time.
Chipping takes touch and feel, but you can’t develop that until you consistently strike the ball in the center of the club. For me, I was terribad in chipping and pitching the ball, usually duffing them, for decades. It wasn’t until I started breaking my wrists as took the club away and using my hips to get the club to strike the ground in front of the ball on those little shots that I got decent at chipping. Chip with your hips.
A few days back you posted a video about throwing the club. I sort of took exception to that idea and posted a too long idea to use instead. I’m no pro or anything, but if you want,look back (day after video) and see. May help.
I am actually a pretty good ball striker. I hit the ball solidly with good direction control. What I lack is power. I have never used my fingers and wrists in my swing though. I have not yet tried this technique but want to see if I can make it work. I did read your comment though, and know you highlighted casting as a problem. If you listen to the video though, Darrell highlights snapping the club through at the bottom. You can’t do that if you’re casting.
I’m playing golf tomorrow and I will experiment with this technique a little. I’ll let you know if it works out.
I use to chip and putt great…strength of my game but its left me as of late. Haven’t been working on it enough but have been practicing each week warming up with chipping. This past couple weeks I’ve been trying my 48 degree gap wedge to chip fr more run out. I’m going back to my vokey’s 52, 54, 56, 58…I did better with them.
Hardest hole we started on the course today, 410 yrd par 4….35 yard wide fairway with landing spot 225 out, very narrow, with massive downhill 40 foot drop then up hill 40 feet fairway you hit over. Requires a perfect drive or you’re dropping. I smoked a drive dead center 230, 2nd shot 180 out, hit just short front of the green, bladed my gap wedge across the green, 3 putted for a double…that kind of day around the greens. That’s my struggle and why I can’t shoot low 80’s or high 70’s. It costs me no less than 15-20 shots a round. Frustrating.
The problem with throwing at the bottom is in the time of the swing it’s virtually impossible to time the bottom of the swing – little early fat shot, little late thin one. For the nonpro golfer who doesn’t hit a 1000 balls a day, just believe this is wrong way to go. I’m all for a good release, and believe it will happen if a person lets it happen, but I guarantee you there is something incorrectly happening before that that is the cause of the bad release. Not fixing that, and even if you can then throw it perfectly at the bottom, will still yield a bad shot.
As an aside, the proper release, is not rolling the forearms. If you hold a club in one hand right in front of you – cock it straight up and down. That’s the proper release, not forearm rolling open and closed.
Anyway, do try a few things and hope you have a good game..
Nice
Since Eggslusher doesn´t seem to be around…
I got through 14 holes yesterday before the rain started.
Lost one ball. That is how I keep score in May. How many balls I lose in the water/woods.
FTP
GM
sucks for this guy.
One thing I felt last year with KOC’s play design was our TE’s weren’t wide open on plays like Kelce ALWAYS is for Mahomes, or Jason Whitten always was for Romo. Even Jordan Reed was always open for Cousins in 2016.
It often looks to me like Kelce doesn’t actually run routes. He just runs to an open space and Mahomes just watches him and throws it to him. I mean, there’s more to it than that of course, but I really think Hock needs to be utilized like Kelce for the Vikings. Find space, receive the ball, get yards after the catch.
Reed was no doubt a great route running TE. But thought he got helped a lot by teams having to pay attention to both Garcon and Jackson. Teams certainly paid attention to JJ, but seemed AT fell off and the teams adjusted. If both of our WR’s are good enough to draw attention, believe Hock will get a lot of balls – Just like Jordon did.
True, DeSean Jackson could take the top off a defense with his exceptional speed and remarkable ability to track the ball in the air and catch it. Garcon was a very physical receiver… the “possession guy” who could out muscle the CB and get open in those intermediate spaces. They also had Chris Thompson, a great receiving RB who could get into space quickly and make tacklers miss in the flat. So as you say, across the board there was a solid cast of characters that Jordan Reed could take advantage of.
Perusing Vikings articles and thought this tidbit was a good one to discuss.
These are the Vikings cornerbacks at the moment:
CB1: Byron MurphyCB2: Andrew BoothCB3: Akayleb EvansCB4: Joejuan WilliamsCB5: Mekhi BlackmonCB6: Tay GowanCB7: John ReidCB8: Kalon BarnesCB9: C.J. ColdonCB10: NaJee ThompsonCB11: Jaylin Williams
KAM could still target a free agent like Shaquill Griffin or William Jacksons, but the room is pretty full now, especially since rookie safety Jay Ward will likely also play some CB snaps.
About five or six guys on the list above will make the regular season roster, so the team doesn’t really need many “extra guys” after the draft and free agent acquisitions. Still, I am less than awe inspired by the group.
Do we have enough talent there to really contain the NFL’s best receivers?
There’s going to be other factors too.
Will enough pressure be generated so our CB’s aren’t expected to cover guys while the QB is scrambling?
That alone… not having to cover receivers for extended periods will help tremendously.
The two best rushers, Z and Hunter ranked 22&37 in pass rush productivity.
Not stellar.
Hicks and Kendricks were 42&45 for LB’s in PRP with 11.5 and 11.4 and our DL wasn’t any better.
If Flores can get the defense to generate the pressure, the DB’s will be more successful.
I think turning Hunter and Z Smith into outside linebackers vice defensive ends decreased their value as pass rushers. It certainly wasn’t a good fit for Hunter at all IMO. He eventually started getting it towards the end of the year, but I like him a whole lot better in a 4-3 as a true defensive end than I do in a 3-4 as a linebacker.
Z was an OLB and Hunter wasn’t horrible.
We’ll know a lot more about it when/if they take the field in purple this year and how Flores runs the defense.
So much of last year’s defense is questionable in my mind. How much was Ed and his scheme and how much of it was the players?
To me, the mindset Donatell brought to the defense was too soft. Play soft zone, and keep things in front of you. Don’t worry about yardage and first downs, they mean nothing. Suddenly stiffen up inside the red zone and stop offenses there.
This led to long drives that kept the defense on the field and ultimately meant they had very few three and outs and really the opposing QB was sitting back there shooting fish in a barrel. Every single QB we faced looked like an all pro against us.
I think the scheme had a lot to do with that. I don’t think we had all the right fits to run a 3-4 though as well.
All of those factored in. Kinda Crazy when you look at it.
Pass Pass Rush Type #Pl ToGo Yds Cmp Att Cmp% Yds Y/A TD Int Sk 1D Rate ANY/A Blitz 128 7.91 6.33 73 119 61.3 881 7.4 3 2 9 47 85.5 6.6 Normal Rush 527 9.03 7.03 335 498 67.3 3875 7.8 20 13 29 177 93.1 7.0Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/6/2023.
A question. We used to play 4-3 and last year switched to 3-4. The before season hype was how much better the 3 -4 was against modern offenses. But also, with this defense. they adjust right at the snap which confuses the QB some giving some advantage to the defense.
I certainly didn’t see too many QB’ that looked confused – our secondary did though. And surprisingly, I thought our defense got worse as the season progressed.
Yeah, as the season progressed and game tape was out there for teams to watch, it became clearer and clearer where the weaknesses and holes were.
If you remember when Mike Shanahan came to the Redskins, he wanted a 3-4 defense too. OC’s say a 3-4 is harder to game plan against. Didn’t work for the Redskins though, and last year it didn’t work for the Vikings. KOC still wants it though because he’s an OC and “a 3-4 is harder to game plan against”.
It didn’t pass the eye test, thats for sure.
There was an incredible lack of pressure and that stressed out the back end of the defense.
Opposing offenses shredded the middle of the field.
I think we’re all waiting to see what Flores does, and hoping he can create a defense that makes us cheer.
Seems to be the superpower of the Vikings defense. Make every QB look like a 1rd ballot HOFer.
Does the OL make a big step forward this year?
Mick,
I think that’s an excellent question. 2nd year in the offense with the same coaches, one would think so. Certainly should.
Same coaches and same players.
There was growth last year, maybe a leap this one.
contract year for Cleveland, he should be extra motivated.
Yep, Cleveland needs to show us he’s “the guy” and can be a true stalwart on the line.
First time in 10 years I saw we have the same line in b2b seasons
And coaches. It’s been a real rough decade OLwise.
Live look from my bedroom…
Swing is too flat…
Beautiful morning here in Trinity Florida. It’s a sunny 69 degrees. Golfers have been out since sun-up hitting balls into the lake. Cussing and dropping balls. Love relaxing by my pool in the morning with my coffee and watching them. I see very few good swings. Mostly really bad, very uncoordinated lunges and lurches at the ball.
Slightly warmer in Orlando this morning – but still beautiful.
My wife is at the yoga studio… I’m relaxing till she gets back then we’re heading to Tarpon Springs for the day. Gonna shop, eat, and have a couple drinks. Saturday is our “us” time day.
My wife is shopping for a dress for daughter’s wedding. We are going to Disney Springs for dinner. Getting used to the Florida lifestyle.
Nice… love Florida. So glad to finally be back.
Us time huh 😏
Hmm… Analytics.
Reason why they resigned him besides the cost savings. McBride has the same traits with a little more wiggle.
He just doesn’t seem to pass the eye test to me.
I don’t see/sense the ability to make big plays.
Whats the biggest/longest play of his career?
I tend to agree with this DE. Cook has the ability to break one and take it to the house whether on a run or a screen pass. That threat is always there with Cook on the field. Mattison is a solid RB#2 but he doesn’t bring what Cook does to the table IMO.
This is a big reason why I see McBride flying up the charts.
A 14m back just isn’t tenable in todays NFL. Especially at 28.
He certainly isn’t the HR threat Cook is. But recently Cook seems so inconsistent. A HR or a double, then 10 strikeouts. Given the status of our defense, maybe a “work horse ” type RB who can churn out 4 or 5 yard carries, will help keep the offense on the field.. .
So we want to continue with the “prevent offense” mindset Zimmer promoted? Long drives that eat clock, shorten the game, and protect the defense? Run first offense that doesn’t attack defenses and keep them on their heels like Kansas City?
Possession throws by a QB who can light up a defense if you let him?
Good point – no, I actually hate that. Just see too many screens on first down for 1 yard, then a pass for 8, and then we get stuffed on a third and one run.
Unfortunatly, I’m starting to believe to much what I read. You know, too many 3 and outs by our offense causing our defense to get tired. Personally I don’t really buy in to that. Used to play football for a coach who used to tell the defense – you want a rest, then just go and get three stops and you can come right back here and sit and rest.
Yes. I like big play offense. Just have become worn down by defensive woes. Thanks for steading my thinking.
So my personal belief (for what it’s worth) is KOC should go back and watch the Redskin offense in 2016 and put his scheme together like that. Cousins threw for almost 5,000 that year with that scheme. THAT offense was built to Cousins strengths. The only one I’ve ever seen that was BTW.
Kirk threw for over 4500 yards last year, 2nd highest in his Career. What he did last year worked out just fine.
Throwing in Addison should really open up the offense as another weapon to account for. 5k should be achievable this year.
True, but Cousins played in 17 games and threw for 4,500 yards this year. In 2016 he threw for almost 5K in 16 games. The offense was much more dynamic and Cousins routinely threw the ball to 8 different guys in a game. It was an attacking offense, not a ball control offense. They had 3 WR sets on the field religiously.
I want that for the Vikings this year.
We’ll see if Addison pans out. He had some issues with drops I think, and let’s face it, he’s never gonna be a help as a blocker downfield. Maybe he will actually be great, but I’m not holding my breath.
They’re going to be using the 12 personnel formations with Hock and Oliver and having JJ, Addison, and KJ rotating in will create a lot of mismatches.
Dropping KJ and having Mattison or McBride will keep the defenese on their toes.
This is where I think McBride will shine.
Excellent point. I´d love to see an offense like that on the Vikings, KOC would do well to check on what the Vikes could utilize from that offense with the current personnel.
Question though – wasn’t McVay the OC for that offense. and thought he took that to LA and KOC got it from him there.
Just my opiinion., when KOC got here there was all the hype to “get the ball to JJ more” and he complied
Agree, getting back to the basics of that scheme wouls be a really good thing..
Yes McVay was the OC for the Redskins then, and KOC was on the staff. Cousins said he thought he would be running a similar offense when KOC was hired, but alas, it was totally different. On top of that, it wasn’t QB friendly at all. Cousins had to not only read the defense, but he also had to wait for his receivers to read the defense and alter their routes mid-flight. This caused problems for Cousins because he had to hold the ball vice hitting his back foot and letting it go. I really didn’t like the KOC play design, especially with a weak ass pass blocking O-line. There is a proven model in-place for utilizing Cousins skills to their utmost. How about using that?
I’m all for that but a thought. That team had Garson, Jackson and Crowder in the slot (he was about the best at the time). then they had Reed from TE and a great route running back(can’t remember name) Not sure new WR will be as good as Garson, and no way KJ is close to Crowder. Maybe Hock and Reed is a push, but wer’re not as good at the RB.
So, they had more talent and believe that team had better pass blocking.
So, may not get quite the same results but certainly not a reason to not do it. And, a good coach needs to adjust the system to play to the strengths of the available talent…
I think that’s fair. The “Jimmies and Joe’s” aren’t an exact match. Frankly we don’t actually have anyone to match the DeSean Jackson role in my opinion. I think KJ can take on the Garcon role, and maybe Addison takes on the Crowder role. JJ is really good, so by default he gets the Jackson role, but he doesn’t have the speed Jackson did.
Chris Thompson was the receiving back. He was a smaller back but was great in getting out to the flat and giving Cousins a place to go with the ball. Cook is actually a pretty good receiving back, but Thompson was better at that role IMO.
I think Hock could take on the Reed role easily.
You make a great point about Cousins reading the defense, and then the receiver reading the defense. I’m actually shocked there wasn’t a hell of a lot more interceptions.
Well for sure we know Reagor didn’t get it…
2022 was Cook’s worst year for Y/A with 4.4.. 264 for 1173 yards.
83, 51, and 40 were his 3 longest runs and without those bumping him up he was at 3.8 Y/A.
Cousins fault… obviously. Grin.
Cook is a Sliden Biden. Used up his prime. Like him, just not for the money.
Nobody has beaten Father Time yet.
True, but Brady at least cheated it a little bit.
Valid point.
Gm
FTP