VikingLord wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:58 pm
J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 1:14 pm
So while I'm optimistic about the growth of our young players, I'm less optimistic about our future than I would be if the salary cap were still in the $200 million range.
I agree - the cap situation isn't good and Spielman will likely have to make some more difficult decisions this coming offseason.
But man, I can't recall a season where I saw so many promising young players on the team. That should make at least some of the cap decisions a little easier, or at the very least a little less painful.
The other thing that makes me optimistic about this team is the character they've shown so far. The way things went early in the season they could have just thrown in the towel. They had a myriad of excuses lined up if they wanted to go that route. They refused. For the most part they've buckled down and kept slogging and trying to get better and they've managed to do that. While the team won't remain static over the coming offseason, if they can retain that fire and get a full offseason, I can't wait to see what they can do next year.
I'm cautiously optimistic about what I'm seeing, as well. The real issue is the defense, which I do believe will be better with Hunter, Pierce and Barr next year, assuming we can keep them all.
Here's an interesting stat I picked up on Vikings.com.
This year, the Minnesota Vikings have come from behind to take the lead in the fourth quarter three times.
The Vikings have lost the lead — and the game — each time.
I continue to stand by my premise that if it's late, 2 minutes or less, and the Vikings are behind, they're likely going to lose. I've yet to see Cousins bring us back from that situation since he's been in Minnesota.
But that stat ... wow. It's cause for both optimism and alarm. It bears repeating. We've come from behind to take the lead in the fourth quarter THREE TIMES, only to then lose the lead and the game. Our offense can get us the lead. Our defense can't hold it. We're the total anti-Zimmer team!
That's the difference between 4-6 with our playoff hopes on life support, and 7-3 and tied with the Pukers for the NFC North lead.
Get those three guys back, and get our young DBs some more playing time, and we could be in for a good year in 2021.