Are We Unserious?

[Vikergirl]

[pattersaur]

You would think we are replacing Darnold with Murray from the comments.  I really do not get the outrage and obviously there is more to this than just JJM getting competition that has some up in arms, definitely some agendas.  Funny the argument about mediocrity, but then defending to not have competition and potentially replace a guy who had one of the worst years by a Viking QB in our history. 

Wilfs can be blamed for the Kwesi hiring for sure, but overall they have been great owners and have fully supported the organization.  But some here obviously have issues with them that extend beyond football and there is a lot of displaced anger.  Do not think the Colts fans attacked Isray last year for essentially doing the same thing.

I had forgotten about the Colts and you’re right they’ve done a similar thing with Jones and Richardson… but is this helping your argument?

The Colts had a solid year and are rewarded with overpaying a pretty ok injury prone QB with huge money. That’s not the model I’d be following.

As to agendas I agree with you there are some who have them, but that’s not me. I don’t mind Murray as much as I cant get past the pit in my stomach that McCarthy is going to be very good in the NFL someday and it isn’t going to be for the Vikings.

Lastly if you think JJM is the worst starting QB we’ve had in 40 years I have plenty of film to recommend! “McNabb, Donovan and Ponder, Christian” should yield some hits.

[supafreak84]

I agree on the field.  Clearly off the field they know how to build buildings and run an ok organization.  But football is the meat of the matter and most of what you said about triangles and out of box stuff is true.  They seemingly value short term feelings over long term strategy.  The slightest strain from having to be patient through growing pains is unacceptable to them.  So you get the quarterback of the year club and yoyoing from good year to bad year, playoffs to no playoffs, and when you are in the playoffs you typically do a pratfall onto your face which is totally embarrassing.

Maybe when their kids inherit the team one of them will have some long term vision and build a winner.   The short term, "anything can happen" philosophy as expressed by Mark Wilf is just plain lazy.   They want a set it and forget it franchise--do whatever quirky hires/front office setup then walk away and spend time on stuff they are really interested in.  That's why their front office turning into a dysfunctional mess for a 2nd time in less than 5 years is apparently a surprise to them.  They aren't around the office to even know what's going on it seems.

I agree completely and it's exactly how their ownership tenure has gone. You'd think enough football people who know what they are doing would have clued them in by now, but maybe they just don't care and there is no long term vision. The Kwesi hire is the perfect example of this  They are happy just to be "playoff caliber" to keep butts in the seats. Playing things year to year has gotten us the exact results we've gotten.

[JR44]

I had forgotten about the Colts and you’re right they’ve done a similar thing with Jones and Richardson… but is this helping your argument?

The Colts had a solid year and are rewarded with overpaying a pretty ok injury prone QB with huge money. That’s not the model I’d be following.

As to agendas I agree with you there are some who have them, but that’s not me. I don’t mind Murray as much as I cant get past the pit in my stomach that McCarthy is going to be very good in the NFL someday and it isn’t going to be for the Vikings.

Lastly if you think JJM is the worst starting QB we’ve had in 40 years I have plenty of film to recommend! “McNabb, Donovan and Ponder, Christian” should yield some hits.

The Colts completely turned around their organization with Jones and was on the way to the playoffs before the injury.  It is to be seen how it works out with resigning him, but based on last year, I think it is in their favor, so I think it was a good move for them.

I do think McCarthy could become a very good QB in the league as he has all the tools and I do think it could still happen here, the one way it wouldn't if it Murray plays at an all pro level here.  I didn't say he was the worst QB we have had, but that he had one of the worst years by a QB here.

My main point is that we needed to bring in competition and the outrage about it and then the bashing of the Wilfs is so far over the top and so apparent it is about something more than football.

[medaille]

I don’t think lack of a long term vision is really a trend. I just think they’re still executing the same long term vision as before but now some added pressure to show some results, meanwhile they fired one person for underperforming.

I think by this time next year, the team will create the vision for the following 5 years. The Vikings, in my mind, are clearly one of the better teams that creates a plan and follows through with that plan patiently.

I think some people on here have a bias that the only thing that counts as a plan is burning it down, tanking, and rebuilding around a #1 overall QB. I don’t really think that’s the case and I don’t think that’s how good teams do it.

[Psyched Vike]

Your timeline is certainly telling.  I also pine for the 70's despite the 4 gut punches/groin kicks come SB time that decade.  Old news, though my gut has never really felt great over the past 40+ yrs with the other losses and drama you mentioned.  That said, I am optimistic of a rise back to prominence for our team.  Will Kyler turn his career around and raise his level of play? TBD for sure, but I'd bet on KOC and our offensive roster to help greatly in that happening.  I believe the secret sauce to consistently challenging for SB's is:

1) Great Coach with a front office that supports him and owners that are willing to spend to win.
2) Great Defense 
3) Great Quarterback. 

Does not hurt to have several superstars on the team at various positions.  Where do we stand?  I do believe we have a really good coach (great, tbd), a really good defense (ready to challenge for SB), owners willing to spend and not meddle in team building, and QB (Kyler - good but higher potential that is tbd).  Sure sounds like JJM was not ready (per KOC's assessment).  Will he rise to the occasion?  The ball is in his court.  I like where this is headed for now.  We also have a superstar and quite a few stars, no thanks to miserable drafting for some time now.  I disliked way more decisions by Kwesi than those I liked, so I am glad he is gone (not sure how much of the blame lies with KOC, but he gets the hall pass for now).  Will be a very telling year, but I like where we are at now and keep in mind that another year with JJ at QB would absolutely (imo) lead to our superstar at WR to be demanding a trade.  He looked awfully upset and discouraged at the end of the season with JJ and Max, and understandably so.  Glad he kept his cool on it and bringing in Kyler will help keep THE JJ happy.

[NorseFeathers]

I think Kyler coming in and pushing JJM is more of a test for KOC than it will be for Kyler or JJM. If KOC makes it work, then he'll be golden from the perspectives of the Wilfs and the fans. He'll need to demonstrate that he can be much more flexible in his play calling and offensive philosophy. As many here have stated, Kyler is a much different QB than JJM or Sam, so it will all be on KOC. If it blows up then KOC is probaby done as the Vikings coach. Hopefully, KOC pulls it off. If not, BFlo has proven that he may deserve his second chance at being a head coach.

[Mattyman]

IMO it's the wilfs, they're the 21 year constant.

Until they get the front office right nothing changes.

All the accolades of being voted the top franchise by players is irrelevant if leadership isn't making the right moves.

[CFIAvike]

Man…I got SOOOO fooled by the Kwesi/KOC “era”. I thought FOR SURE the Vikings were FINALLY going to develop a team with a sustainable future that doesn’t include the never ending revolving door of QBs I’ve watched my entire life outside of the Culpepper years.

But nope…that rug pull hurt and we’re right back at it…. And this time it’s for good. As long as the Wilfs have this team, we will literally NEVER be able to develop a young QB. We will never suck enough to get a truly great one from the draft and neither they nor all these dog shit fans will have the patience or stomach to see it through.

We are destined for one Cousins contract after another. Overpaying for a slightly above average retread because that’s the best we can do. This Sam Darnold fiasco will be proven to do irreparable damage to this franchise for YEARS to come. Him winning the Super Bowl the very next season, after it appears we just let him walk, will fuel every decision we make for the next decade.
That’s why Kyler was signed.

Make no mistake, unless JJM comes out and looks like literal Tom Brady in camp (which is completely unreasonable), the Vikings are completely done with him. It’s over. They got their taste of developing a QB and it’s too hard for them…not a fast enough return on investment.

I truly believe the only thing that held them back from locking up Kyler long term already was the contract situation this year and their lack of cap space. Unless Kyler completely shits the bed (which is realistically unlikely) the Vikings will literally have NO choice but to pay him $50-60 million a season because they’re mortally afraid of letting another “Darnold” get away.

I’m not a believer that Kyler Murray can win us a Super Bowl. Hopefully I’m wrong, because it sure won’t be JJ McCarthy or any other young QB giving it a shot any time soon.

[StickierBuns]

Make no mistake, unless JJM comes out and looks like literal Tom Brady in camp (which is completely unreasonable), the Vikings are completely done with him. It’s over. They got their taste of developing a QB and it’s too hard for them…not a fast enough return on investment.

I agree they are done, but nothing will happen with him this year. And maybe not next year, either. But I think he's locked into QB2 with this franchise now and although it will never be admitted this season, their eyes are focused elsewhere for the QBOTF.

Switching gears a bit, I see Anthony Richardson is being shopped for a 'late round' pick....several teams interested, but yikes. He went from hero to zero in record time. It must be that's he's struggling mentally with offensive gameplans and reading a D.