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[size=10pt]Why the Minnesota Vikings Have Every Reason to Be Optimistic In 2009[/size]
by Gonzo on Jan 5, 2009 7:08 PM CST
dailynorseman.com
It's been about 24 hours since the Minnesota Vikings' 2008 season ended. . .and about eight days since the season ended for Green Bay and Chicago (because, apparently, some people still need to be reminded)...
The perpetually pessimistic ignore everything along these lines.Quote:
...Take into consideration that the Vikings played five games all season against teams that were below .500 in 2008. . .and four of those games took place within the division.
The only non-NFC North team the Vikings played this season with a sub-.500 record was the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Vikings also defeated the champions of the other three NFC divisions, a claim that I don't believe any team in either conference can make (meaning no AFC team beat the other 3 AFC division champions, either).
So, to anyone that says that the Vikings "have to play a first place schedule in 2009," guess what?
I guess the fact that we beat the other three division champions pretty much means we played a first-place schedule THIS year, doesn't it?...
They will even dismiss the Jints win as a win against second stringers even though the Vikings were ahead at the half against their starters and won the game (at the same time conveniently ignoring that the Vikings beat the Jints their SB winning year to a tune of 41-17 in week 12).
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
The offseason acquisitions of Hutch and Allen sent shockwaves across the league, following the plan of strengthening the lines.
It will be interesting to see what transpires this offseason.
"Prophet" wrote:
Some fans look at the talent level across the league and look to see what teams are peaking and where their team is it compared to the depth of the rest of the league.Quote:
The perpetually pessimistic ignore everything along these lines.Quote:
...Take into consideration that the Vikings played five games all season against teams that were below .500 in 2008. . .and four of those games took place within the division.
The only non-NFC North team the Vikings played this season with a sub-.500 record was the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Vikings also defeated the champions of the other three NFC divisions, a claim that I don't believe any team in either conference can make (meaning no AFC team beat the other 3 AFC division champions, either).
So, to anyone that says that the Vikings "have to play a first place schedule in 2009," guess what?
I guess the fact that we beat the other three division champions pretty much means we played a first-place schedule THIS year, doesn't it?...
They will even dismiss the Jints win as a win against second stringers even though the Vikings were ahead at the half against their starters and won the game (at the same time conveniently ignoring that the Vikings beat the Jints their SB winning year to a tune of 41-17 in week 12).
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
The offseason acquisitions of Hutch and Allen sent shockwaves across the league, following the plan of strengthening the lines.
It will be interesting to see what transpires this offseason.
If you do look at the teams left in the playoffs there is not one dominant team. and as you said, we beat several division winers. That is why so many fans are frustrated. We have a team that was one above average QB and a RT away from being good enough to be that dominant team this year.
We may add players next year and we may be better as a team, but we don't know what the rest of the league is going to look like. It may come to be that the rest of the top teams in the league take a step back and no other teams make any head way which could leave us in a good situation, but more than likely a few teams will transform into powerful teams that will change our chances of winning it all.
One thing is certain. After next year we will start to have contracts due on the players we have signed and drafted in the Chilly era and some key names will either be leaving or taking bigger hits against our cap space and when that happens it will make it that much harder to field a high caliber team or to bring in top free agents.
2010 free agents:
Minnesota Vikings
Pos Player Name FA Status Previous Team Current Team
QB Tarvaris Jackson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
RB Chester Taylor UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
TE Garrett Mills UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OG Artis Hicks UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OT Marcus Johnson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
C Ryan Cook UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
DL Ray Edwards UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Vinny Ciurciu UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Dave Herron RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Cedric Griffin UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Antoine Winfield UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
FS Eric Frampton RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
"UffDaVikes" wrote:
One way to offset that trend of more money is to win.Quote:
Some fans look at the talent level across the league and look to see what teams are peaking and where their team is it compared to the depth of the rest of the league.
If you do look at the teams left in the playoffs there is not one dominant team. and as you said, we beat several division winers. That is why so many fans are frustrated. We have a team that was one above average QB and a RT away from being good enough to be that dominant team this year.
We may add players next year and we may be better as a team, but we don't know what the rest of the league is going to look like. It may come to be that the rest of the top teams in the league take a step back and no other teams make any head way which could leave us in a good situation, but more than likely a few teams will transform into powerful teams that will change our chances of winning it all.
One thing is certain. After next year we will start to have contracts due on the players we have signed and drafted in the Chilly era and some key names will either be leaving or taking bigger hits against our cap space and when that happens it will make it that much harder to field a high caliber team or to bring in top free agents.
2010 free agents:
Minnesota Vikings
Pos Player Name FA Status Previous Team Current Team
QB Tarvaris Jackson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
RB Chester Taylor UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
TE Garrett Mills UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OG Artis Hicks UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OT Marcus Johnson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
C Ryan Cook UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
DL Ray Edwards UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Vinny Ciurciu UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Dave Herron RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Cedric Griffin UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Antoine Winfield UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
FS Eric Frampton RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
Players want to play for teams like the Colts and the Patriots to be part of a system, a dynasty, a dominant power house team year after year.
Now, the Vikings aren't there... yet... but maybe that changes next year?
Some players are all about the money, no question... but others want to be paid but more so they want to play for a winner.
"UffDaVikes" wrote:
Some yutz on here tried to get a discussion going about signing a few of these this year and was told he was a yutz.Quote:
"Prophet" wrote:
Some fans look at the talent level across the league and look to see what teams are peaking and where their team is it compared to the depth of the rest of the league.Quote:
The perpetually pessimistic ignore everything along these lines.Quote:
...Take into consideration that the Vikings played five games all season against teams that were below .500 in 2008. . .and four of those games took place within the division.
The only non-NFC North team the Vikings played this season with a sub-.500 record was the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Vikings also defeated the champions of the other three NFC divisions, a claim that I don't believe any team in either conference can make (meaning no AFC team beat the other 3 AFC division champions, either).
So, to anyone that says that the Vikings "have to play a first place schedule in 2009," guess what?
I guess the fact that we beat the other three division champions pretty much means we played a first-place schedule THIS year, doesn't it?...
They will even dismiss the Jints win as a win against second stringers even though the Vikings were ahead at the half against their starters and won the game (at the same time conveniently ignoring that the Vikings beat the Jints their SB winning year to a tune of 41-17 in week 12).
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
The offseason acquisitions of Hutch and Allen sent shockwaves across the league, following the plan of strengthening the lines.
It will be interesting to see what transpires this offseason.
If you do look at the teams left in the playoffs there is not one dominant team. and as you said, we beat several division winers. That is why so many fans are frustrated. We have a team that was one above average QB and a RT away from being good enough to be that dominant team this year.
We may add players next year and we may be better as a team, but we don't know what the rest of the league is going to look like. It may come to be that the rest of the top teams in the league take a step back and no other teams make any head way which could leave us in a good situation, but more than likely a few teams will transform into powerful teams that will change our chances of winning it all.
One thing is certain. After next year we will start to have contracts due on the players we have signed and drafted in the Chilly era and some key names will either be leaving or taking bigger hits against our cap space and when that happens it will make it that much harder to field a high caliber team or to bring in top free agents.
2010 free agents:
Minnesota Vikings
Pos Player Name FA Status Previous Team Current Team
QB Tarvaris Jackson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
RB Chester Taylor UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
TE Garrett Mills UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OG Artis Hicks UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OT Marcus Johnson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
C Ryan Cook UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
DL Ray Edwards UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Vinny Ciurciu UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Dave Herron RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Cedric Griffin UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Antoine Winfield UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
FS Eric Frampton RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
Probably cause TJ was lumped into the discussion and the discussion turned into a discussion just about TJ.
;D
Anywho........I bet we see a few of these cats signed early (ala this year).
Griff
Whinny
Edwards
Cook (yes Cook)
To alleviate some of the pain that will happen in 2010.
Throw in some injuries to key players that were missed most of the season and the guy is preaching my kindof sermon.Quote:
Man, I don't know about you, but that tells me that this team has got to have some talent on it someplace.
Teams don't go 10-6 while overcoming "horrible quarterback play" and "awful coaching" to go 10-6 unless they've got some serious talent
Still mystifies me why Ole Bryz hasn't been in some discussions as a possible candidate as a GM for one of these developing teams.Quote:
Do any of those teams have the best cap guy in the business working their books?
Nope.
Lets hope the Wilfs Ownership Group is paying him enough to stay here.
"Marrdro" wrote:
I think alot of the doom and gloom is because people don't beleive that anything will change. We wasted this season. W ehad the talent to be an elite NFC team, however, we took chances in positions that you need a certainty. With Chilldress at the helm, many people we will always be a talented team on the out side looking in.Quote:
Throw in some injuries to key players that were missed most of the season and the guy is preaching my kindof sermon.Quote:
Man, I don't know about you, but that tells me that this team has got to have some talent on it someplace.
Teams don't go 10-6 while overcoming "horrible quarterback play" and "awful coaching" to go 10-6 unless they've got some serious talent
Still mystifies me why Ole Bryz hasn't been in some discussions as a possible candidate as a GM for one of these developing teams.Quote:
Do any of those teams have the best cap guy in the business working their books?
Nope.
Lets hope the Wilfs Ownership Group is paying him enough to stay here.
The Packers are retooling, the bears are gettign healthy and many feel like we will aways be weighed down by foolish decisions. I personally believe the coaching staff is holding this team back.
"kevoncox" wrote:
I hear ya, however, I believe it is a combo of the staff and the players.Quote:
"Marrdro" wrote:
I think alot of the doom and gloom is because people don't beleive that anything will change. We wasted this season. W ehad the talent to be an elite NFC team, however, we took chances in positions that you need a certainty. With Chilldress at the helm, many people we will always be a talented team on the out side looking in.Quote:
Throw in some injuries to key players that were missed most of the season and the guy is preaching my kindof sermon.Quote:
Man, I don't know about you, but that tells me that this team has got to have some talent on it someplace.
Teams don't go 10-6 while overcoming "horrible quarterback play" and "awful coaching" to go 10-6 unless they've got some serious talent
Still mystifies me why Ole Bryz hasn't been in some discussions as a possible candidate as a GM for one of these developing teams.Quote:
Do any of those teams have the best cap guy in the business working their books?
Nope.
Lets hope the Wilfs Ownership Group is paying him enough to stay here.
The Packers are retooling, the bears are gettign healthy and many feel like we will aways be weighed down by foolish decisions. I personally believe the coaching staff is holding this team back.
For some reason you won't agree with me on the latter.
I will keep working on ya though.
We have a long offseason to convince you that they have/had a role in some of the let down us fans are feeling right now.
"Marrdro" wrote:
A lot of that will depend on the CBA negotiations. If I remember correctly, the current one ends in 2010, and 2010 will be an uncapped year. What hasn't been said much is that the number of years played to reach unrestricted free agency goes up in 2010 as well in that scenario. I don't believe all of those players (on the original list) will have enough years, and they will only be restricted free agents, which greatly improves our chance of resigning them. I'll have to do some more research on this. I'm going strictly from memory here.Quote:
"UffDaVikes" wrote:
Some yutz on here tried to get a discussion going about signing a few of these this year and was told he was a yutz.Quote:
"Prophet" wrote:
Some fans look at the talent level across the league and look to see what teams are peaking and where their team is it compared to the depth of the rest of the league.Quote:
The perpetually pessimistic ignore everything along these lines.Quote:
...Take into consideration that the Vikings played five games all season against teams that were below .500 in 2008. . .and four of those games took place within the division.
The only non-NFC North team the Vikings played this season with a sub-.500 record was the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Vikings also defeated the champions of the other three NFC divisions, a claim that I don't believe any team in either conference can make (meaning no AFC team beat the other 3 AFC division champions, either).
So, to anyone that says that the Vikings "have to play a first place schedule in 2009," guess what?
I guess the fact that we beat the other three division champions pretty much means we played a first-place schedule THIS year, doesn't it?...
They will even dismiss the Jints win as a win against second stringers even though the Vikings were ahead at the half against their starters and won the game (at the same time conveniently ignoring that the Vikings beat the Jints their SB winning year to a tune of 41-17 in week 12).
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
The offseason acquisitions of Hutch and Allen sent shockwaves across the league, following the plan of strengthening the lines.
It will be interesting to see what transpires this offseason.
If you do look at the teams left in the playoffs there is not one dominant team. and as you said, we beat several division winers. That is why so many fans are frustrated. We have a team that was one above average QB and a RT away from being good enough to be that dominant team this year.
We may add players next year and we may be better as a team, but we don't know what the rest of the league is going to look like. It may come to be that the rest of the top teams in the league take a step back and no other teams make any head way which could leave us in a good situation, but more than likely a few teams will transform into powerful teams that will change our chances of winning it all.
One thing is certain. After next year we will start to have contracts due on the players we have signed and drafted in the Chilly era and some key names will either be leaving or taking bigger hits against our cap space and when that happens it will make it that much harder to field a high caliber team or to bring in top free agents.
2010 free agents:
Minnesota Vikings
Pos Player Name FA Status Previous Team Current Team
QB Tarvaris Jackson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
RB Chester Taylor UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
TE Garrett Mills UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OG Artis Hicks UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
OT Marcus Johnson UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
C Ryan Cook UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
DL Ray Edwards UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Vinny Ciurciu UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
LB Dave Herron RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Cedric Griffin UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
CB Antoine Winfield UFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
FS Eric Frampton RFA Minnesota Vikings Free Agent
Probably cause TJ was lumped into the discussion and the discussion turned into a discussion just about TJ.
;D
Anywho........I bet we see a few of these cats signed early (ala this year).
Griff
Whinny
Edwards
Cook (yes Cook)
To alleviate some of the pain that will happen in 2010.
I think better play at quarterback would make Childress look a lot better than he does right now.