Who's Guy Was Kirk?

A lot of unhappy fans here in Vikings country right now.  The peanut gallery is calling for General Manager Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer's head.  I believe those are foolish opinion's as that the Vikings team culture is very good.  Sure a 8.5 win team is a disappointment, but with the offensive line as currently constructed that is what we were.  And what we were was a missed field goal in Lambert away from making the playoffs in which the team didn't stand much of a chance anyway.

Anyway, back to what I was writing this blog about.  I believe the Kirk Cousins hire was a decision made at the very top of the organization.  I believe Kirk Cousins was the Wilf's guy first and foremost. Blame Ziggy if you think bringing Cousins in was a mistake.

The 20% Chance I Gave To The Bears Comes To Fruition, Vikes Bounced

What a disappointing performance!  First by the Vikings O-line.  Second by the Referees.

I am giving Kirk Cousins a break on this game. The Vikings Offense Line played like they didn't believe they were good enough.  That was some uninspired football by them.  They didn't step up the challenge at all.  I expect major changes on this unit next year.

I wonder how the game would have turned out had the Ref. done the right thing and kept the flag in his pocket on that roughing the passer call on Weatherly on third down when the Bears were deep in our territory.  That was a ticky tack call that was a gut punch to the Defense and deflated the crowd.  Had the Bears kicked the ball in that spot the game might have turned out differently.  The ref's made a number of questionable calls this game going against both sides, but this the call that led directly to Bears going up by two scores and was the most critical play of the game in my mind.  It's a shame that the outcome of the game very well may have hinged on a poor call.

I think the Bears are gonna have their hands full if Foles is able to go next week.  I think they made a huge mistake by putting up a fight against us this week.  Their offense played a lot of snaps against our D and played very impressively.  I think it is going to be tough for them to duplicate next week.

     

Why? I Don't Get It

This is comment a Vikings fan wrote on an article I read today.  Sure it's a guy giving his opinion that the Vikes aren't a Super Bowl team this year.  I get that.  But why rule out the Vikings chances all together? 

I don't know if they are a Super Bowl worthy team or not.  I place no faith in anyone's predictions about how this Vikings team will perform because these Vikings are a very talented team that has only put things together this season in fits and starts.  I would say it's a 55% chance the Vikes continue to play this way and get bounced from the playoffs, a 30% chance the Vikes play well but get bounced anyway which leaves me believing the Vikes have a 15% chance of making the Super Bowl as of right now.  In my opinion, the playoff's started last week for the Vikes.  Here's how I think they can continue on:

Keys to Vikings making a Super Bowl run:
1. Offensive Line getting it's act together. (run, Dalvin run)
2. Cousin's playing inspired turnover-free football
3. Shut Down D not allowing more than 20 pts a game
4. Kicker making his kicks

My outlook for this week:

Trubitsky isn't going to come into U.S. Bank and bounce us.  20% Chance of that happening.

Where Do The Vikes Go From Here?

The Vikes victory over the Dolphins was able to get my mind off how bad I suck at ice fishing for a few hours anyway.  Here is what I'm thinking about the team right now.  I don't trust them.  I don't know if they will be able to beat the Lions next week.  I think they probably will win, but this team has been so erratic with it's play this year.  The Rams didn't do us any favors by losing to the Eagles.  And the way this weekend has gone I wouldn't put it past the Panthers to down the Saints tomorrow to make it a three horse race for the final wildcard spot.  The Vikes may need to win out to make it. One positive is that the team seems to be as healthy as they have been all year.  Come on Vikes, turn that Zimmer thumb up the next two weeks.  That would actually give me a great deal of optimism for the lads in purple.  Let's find a winning formula.  It's not too late yet.

 

Flip Flopped, Now He Gone

My reaction:

Stefanski elevated to O.C..  After last night's debacle, I am all for the change.  In retrospect, Stefanski should have been the original hire.  Maybe this move will get our offense on track.  SKOL! 

I Didn't Suck Tonight, But Fishing Wasn't That Good Again

A Few Fish At Bulldog

9" VMC Fly/Maggot

4:30-7:00PM Bulldog Lake
27-22℉, Clear, Calm

When I got out there, three guys were fishing in the area I wanted to be. They packed up at about 4:40, so I moved over. I didn't get the first couple of marks to move through.  Not a whole lot of fish marked tonight.  Only 1 took the minnow and I missed it.  I ended up with 8 crappies caught half of which were 5-inchers.  I had an 11-incher come off in the hole.  I threw all the fish back tonight.

8 Crappies

I Pretty Much Suck!

Late Bulldog Trip

7" Glow Demon/Minnow

My new rechargeable light $14 on eBay

7:45-10:00PM Bulldog Lake
17-15℉, Clear, Calm

I decided to go out fishing tonight because there was no wind.  I forgot maggies and wax worms, Doh!  I drilled holes in the general area I was last time.  Nobody else was out and I didn't see any other houses.  The light I bought on eBay lights up the interior really well. There were fish down there, but funky.  I tried minnow heads unsuccessfully for the most part.  I got two bites on a minnow catching one.  And at the very end of the night, I got a 7-incher on the Glow Demon Spoon with a minnow head and Power Wax Worm.  I really suck at ice fishing this year.

2 Crip 

My Opinion, Zim Is The Man For The Foreseeable Future

I swear some Vikings fans are out of their minds.  Sure the teams' play has been all over the place this year and the teams' performance at Foxboro was a disappointment, but calling for Zimmer's head, really. C'mon Man!  Zim is a very good head coach and a defensive wizard.  It's not Zim's fault Rhodes and Waynes were injured in the game.  The lack of offensive production versus the Pats is all on Flip, Cousins, and Belichick who is also a defensive wizard.  Winning in Foxboro in December is a tough draw.  I expected the Vikes to play a bit better, but I didn't think they played as badly as the final score and stats indicated.  We weren't very far off from giving the Pat's a scare.  

I think Seattle is a much more beatable team.  I'm sure Zim wants some revenge against the Seachickens.  Cousin's gets another primetime opportunity to prove the critics wrong and the whole offensive unit has something to prove. 

A final word on Zim.  His record versus the Packers the last 7 times we have played says it all: