Vikings 2013 look ahead: The Big Picture

[chicagopurple]

well,its a tuff schedual...but we are due for it after we were given a lot of cream puffs this year. No free passes like Titans/Jags/etc
On the other hand.....I think the Bears will implode with their coaching change, the Packers are getting old. And the Lions, well , they kinda suck and their coach is a moron.....so we might do real well in our division, IF we get a LB, Ponder gets some Psychotherapy, and we get at least 1-2 NFL grade WR's......

[Cliff]

well,its a tuff schedual...but we are due for it after we were given a lot of cream puffs this year. No free passes like Titans/Jags/etc
On the other hand.....I think the Bears will implode with their coaching change, the Packers are getting old. And the Lions, well , they kinda suck and their coach is a moron.....so we might do real well in our division, IF we get a LB, Ponder gets some Psychotherapy, and we get at least 1-2 NFL grade WR's......

The Vikings had the 8th strongest schedule last season.

[Eli]

I think the Bears will implode with their coaching change, the Packers are getting old.

Believe it or not, the Packers were a younger team than the Vikings this year.

[PurpleJarl]

Believe it or not, the Packers were a younger team than the Vikings this year.

That does depend on were the age is. If I am correct their receiving core is pretty long in the tooth and as Rodgers has shown in the last couple of years, when he is out of timing due to new or inexperienced receivers bad things happen.

[mansquatch]

The Packer O is going to be different next year. It looks like both Finley and Jennings are going to walk away via Free Agency. They still have a solid group in Nelson/Cobb/Jones but it will not be as deep as it was in past years. This will probably make them "relatively" easier to defend, but Rogers is still the best QB in the league and can throw people open with pinpoint throws.

Defensively I think they are at a crossroads. Their rush defense needs help and their LB are pretty blah outside of Mathews. The defense has been all about a few big time playmakers making everyone else look good, but one of them, Woodson, is close to being done. Their OL is also highly suspect IMO.

Don't get me wrong, they will still be a threat as long as Rogers plays all 16 games, but they are far from being a complete, balanced team. They are more like the Falcons right now.

Bears are a giant questions mark IMO. I think their defense is going to suffer without Lovie. So what becomes of their O? Who knows there, that OL is terrible as well. I think the Lions will be better next year, especially if they find a RB.

[Purple bruise]

well,its a tuff schedual...but we are due for it after we were given a lot of cream puffs this year. No free passes like Titans/Jags/etc
On the other hand.....I think the Bears will implode with their coaching change, the Packers are getting old. And the Lions, well , they kinda suck and their coach is a moron.....so we might do real well in our division, IF we get a LB, Ponder gets some Psychotherapy, and we get at least 1-2 NFL grade WR's......

You seem to come up with a lot of negative posts relating to almost every aspect of the team. The latest is that the Vikes had a cream puff schedule this year. Besides playing Houston and the 49ers the vikes had to play in the NFC north with the Packers, Bears and Lions who were all playoff contenders the year before. The Redskins were/are a tough out. Anyway it was the 8th toughest schedule in the league and that is coming off of a three win season. Besides the Titans and Jags who were the other( etc.) teams you refer to

[ViciousBritishVike]

As an English Vikes fan, even I am relatively worried about the lack of home support generated at the Wembley game. Was hoping for designated spaces for us to group together and create some kind of positive atmosphere but unfortunately that wasn't the case.

I fear the crowd will be loaded with Terrible Towels and the usual bandwagoners.

As for what next season promises, though a tough schedule awaits, I believe many tough games can be overcome due to the momentum gained from such a fantastic achievement this past year.

With the strengthening of a viable deep threat and perhaps the acquisition another experienced Linebacker to assist Greenway, I think we are destined for yet more success.

Keep Positive! (:

[VikeMike]

Like any season for any team, injuries will play a huge part. And, the Vikes had an unusually good season as far as injuries go in 2013. Can we get off as easy as we did last season? Probably not.

They have $12 million in cap room, but I suspect that a good portion of it will be eaten up by players currently on the roster ... Some this year, and some the following year when the chickens come to roost with dealing with Robison, Allen and Griffen.

If they can address the two biggest areas, LB and WR, then we'll be competitive -- that tougher 2014 schedule notwithstanding. In fact, I think tougher schedules ultimately work in favor of a good team. It forces everyone to focus every week and makes the team more prepared for the playoffs.

[mansquatch]

I have confidence in the Viking’s ability to manage their cap space, Brezinski has shown himself to be more than confident. Also, there are some people with large cap numbers will see their impact change next season (Winfield and Allen) In a way, the team paying them the “monster” last year of their contract is a good faith gesture. Many of those guys get restructured. I would think that bot Allen and Winfield will get resigned and see their short term impact reduced, which will make space for other players to be signed/resigned. The issue is getting more playmakers.

Right now the Vikings FO is indicating it won’t spend big money in FA, however I think we need to temper that expectation to some degree. Spielman and Co. made a large offer to Garcon in 2012. They didn’t get him because WSH overpaid him. That sucked for us, but it was sound management. The point though is that in doing that we have seen that Spielman is willing to pay bigger FA dollars if he feels he is getting fair value for a player in a position of need. So while I think it is overall unlikely that we will see an obnoxiously large signing, I do not think we should rule out the possibility that if they can get a player at a fair value they’ll pull the trigger.

Any good LB out there?

[dead_poet]

Spielman and Co. made a large offer to Garcon in 2012.

They also made a competitive offer to retain Sidney Rice (last I read guaranteed money was the biggest issue)

I do not think we should rule out the possibility that if they can get a player at a fair value they’ll pull the trigger.

What is "fair" is debatable. Generally teams "overpay" a player's worth (particularly premiere players) during free agency.

Any good LB out there?

The only linebacker of any note is Phillip Wheeler. 109 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 6 passes defended last season. Only Von Miller had a higher grade from Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately he's a SLB, as opposed to ILB or WLB so that's probably not going to happen. Brad Jones from the Packers is a free agent. He'd be an upgrade from Brinkley, but only marginally. Ravens' ILB Dannell Ellerbe is another option, but he's expected to be a priority re-sign from the Ravens as Ray Lewis' successor.

[mansquatch]

What is "fair" is debatable. Generally teams "overpay" a player's worth (particularly premiere players) during free agency.

The only linebacker of any note is Phillip Wheeler. 109 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 6 passes defended last season. Only Von Miller had a higher grade from Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately he's a SLB, as opposed to ILB or WLB so that's probably not going to happen. Brad Jones from the Packers is a free agent. He'd be an upgrade from Brinkley, but only marginally. Ravens' ILB Dannell Ellerbe is another option, but he's expected to be a priority re-sign from the Ravens as Ray Lewis' successor.

On your first point, agreed, but that is why Spielman gets paid the big bucks. He has to determine what the market “is”.

I haven’t looked at the FA LB very thoroughly, so taking your second point at face value this would seem to point to WR being a FA priority while LB is more of a draft priority. I did read some reporter floating the idea of moving Greenway inside. I have no idea if that has any merit. Someone posted on here about a former #1 draft pick getting jettisoned from the Raiders. Guy had loads of talent and loads of issues. Makes me wonder if that would be a worthy project for Frasier and co. Have to find talent somewhere.

The Manti T’eo thing just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Not so much that any of it says anything about his ability to play, but that he would be involved with such stupidity. It makes me question his intelligence and focus, two things that WILL be exposed in the NFL if lacking.

[dead_poet]

I haven’t looked at the FA LB very thoroughly, so taking your second point at face value this would seem to point to WR being a FA priority while LB is more of a draft priority.

There's more premiere talent at WR this season than LB. Though it'll be pricier. Certainly a cost-benefit aspect to weigh.

I did read some reporter floating the idea of moving Greenway inside. I have no idea if that has any merit.

It's a nice idea in theory, but it won't happen.

Someone posted on here about a former #1 draft pick getting jettisoned from the Raiders. Guy had loads of talent and loads of issues. Makes me wonder if that would be a worthy project for Frasier and co. Have to find talent somewhere.

Rolando McClain and no way. Compounding his arrests and character issues is his incredibly poor play. He's not a fit for the team Frazier/Spielman are putting together in any respect.

The Manti T’eo thing just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Not so much that any of it says anything about his ability to play, but that he would be involved with such stupidity. It makes me question his intelligence and focus, two things that WILL be exposed in the NFL if lacking.

His focus, athleticism and intelligence on the field over the course of his collegiate career speak enough for me. Maybe this ridiculous incident will drop him into the Vikings' lap and they'll get a steal, team leader and playmaker for years to come. I must admit, a leader on the field like Jared Allen on the D-line, T'eo for the linebackers, Winfield for the corners and Smith for the safeties is an intriguing prospect.

[chicagopurple]

You seem to come up with a lot of negative posts relating to almost every aspect of the team.


Yeah, after following this team for 40 yrs, and countless blown playoff and SuperBowl games, I AM a cynic....
we got some free passes this year and blew some games we should have won. We had a good Bye schedual, we had very few injuries. We get to play Detroit 2x/yr .....and our RB pretty much carried the Offense all year....the odds of getting all those breaks next year is slim AND we will have a tougher schedual.

SO, as I said, I hope Ponder gets his head on straight, we pick up some REAL receivers, and at least one really good LB.

[Texas Vike]

There's more premiere talent at WR this season than LB. Though it'll be pricier. Certainly a cost-benefit aspect to weigh.
It's a nice idea in theory, but it won't happen.
Rolando McClain and no way. Compounding his arrests and character issues is his incredibly poor play. He's not a fit for the team Frazier/Spielman are putting together in any respect.
His focus, athleticism and intelligence on the field over the course of his collegiate career speak enough for me. Maybe this ridiculous incident will drop him into the Vikings' lap and they'll get a steal, team leader and playmaker for years to come. I must admit, a leader on the field like Jared Allen on the D-line, T'eo for the linebackers, Winfield for the corners and Smith for the safeties is an intriguing prospect.

I agree on Te'o. I initially thought that he'd been deeply involved with the hoax with the intention of creating an interesting "feel good" narrative w/ hopes of garnering attention for the Heisman. After reading articles from interviews it seems pretty evident that he was only really guilty of being very naive and young in matters of the heart and in extending the story publicly even when he knew something fishy was going on. I don't question his ability to excel at the next level or about being a distraction in the locker room or being the kind of teammate that lifts the spirit of the team. I think, in fact, that he has those qualities in spades and he would be a huge difference maker for us. I really hope he slips to us.

[Mothman]

I know, for people claiming one game as a marker is ridiculous. Lets just ignore career numbers and focus on eone game at the end of last season!

... and that game came after a long layoff against a fantastic opponent!