Always Look on the Bright Side

Jor-El
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Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 10:29:01 GMT -6 Danchat likes this

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Post by Jor-El on Sept 9, 2021 10:29:01 GMT -6

I'm definitely in the Skeptics Circle, if not the official Dark Side here, and I see a lot of concerns with this team. But there are some rays of light for any of us, right?

Oli Udoh is starting at RG. Wait, I might have buried the lead: Ding Dong, Dakota Dozier's Gone! I know, Oli still has to prove on the field that he isn't just Dru Samia 2.0, but...what if...
DJ Wonnum is starting at DE. Yes, Zimmer has not one but two veteran DEs to make him feel secure, but they are letting Wonnum start and develop, not just ride the bench. Assuming Hunter comes back his old self, by next year we could part with Griffen and Weatherly and have a DE rotation of Hunter-Wonnum-Jones-Robinson with a lot of talent and youth.
There is actual promise at WR3. Around draft time, I wasn't sure - and certainly didn't care - if KJ Osborne was still a Viking. He looked like another wasted 5th-round pick throughout 2020. Even the initial buzz during OTAs might have been no more legit than the same buzz about Jake Browning. But he kept it going through preseason...and Ihmir Smith-Marsette improved through TC. I suppose they might both get benched as soon as Dede Westbrook puts down his crutches, but it's nice to see some young talent there.

Come on, any other reasons to whistle??

Last Edit: Sept 9, 2021 10:29:34 GMT -6 by Jor-El

suncoastvike Moderator Some say I'm too laid back. Really, I'm just too lazy to argue with them. Posts: 10,643 Likes: 7,202	Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 10:34:37 GMT -6 Funkytown likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by suncoastvike on Sept 9, 2021 10:34:37 GMT -6 Green Bay and Chicago have no cheerleaders. There yah happy? I found a reason to whistle.
	If being a Viking fan was easy ~ everyone would do it.

comet52 Hall of Fame Candidate Posts: 7,078 Likes: 8,706	Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 10:39:33 GMT -6 suncoastvike likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by comet52 on Sept 9, 2021 10:39:33 GMT -6 Sept 9, 2021 10:34:37 GMT -6 suncoastvike said: Green Bay and Chicago have no cheerleaders. There yah happy? I found a reason to whistle. You forgot this guy...
	I'm here for entertainment purposes only

comet52 Hall of Fame Candidate Posts: 7,078 Likes: 8,706	Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 10:40:28 GMT -6 diehardtwinsfan, suncoastvike, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by comet52 on Sept 9, 2021 10:40:28 GMT -6 Sept 9, 2021 10:29:01 GMT -6 Jor-El said: Ding Dong, Dakota Dozier's Gone! That all by itself is a Minneapolis Miracle.
	I'm here for entertainment purposes only

suncoastvike
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Some say I'm too laid back. Really, I'm just too lazy to argue with them.

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Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 10:52:29 GMT -6

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Post by suncoastvike on Sept 9, 2021 10:52:29 GMT -6

Mostly just excited about the guys I know will game. Cook and JJ are always reason to believe good things can happen. New pieces and starters interested and hopefully is more the feeling.
Our defense just has to be better then last year. I can't see how that's not possible. If not someone failed badly. Defense better Cook and JJ controlling their ends and yes it could be good.

If being a Viking fan was easy ~ everyone would do it.

Uncle
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Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 10:57:02 GMT -6 Jor-El likes this

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Post by Uncle on Sept 9, 2021 10:57:02 GMT -6

Just to throw a bit of pessimism in an optimistic thread, Dakota Dozier isn't 100% "gone". He's still on the PS, and he very well could be the primary backup at LG behind Ezra...ESPN's Viking depth chart doesn't have anyone listed behind Ezra (link) so if Ezra misses a few games due to injury in 2021, it very well could be the return of Dozier at least activated for Gameday.

I think the main "hope" for Oli is that there's a possibility this could be the first Day 3 OL "hit" in the Zimmer era (defining "hit" as a Day 3 draft pick performing at a league-avg rate).

I'm still personally in a "I'll believe it when I see it" mode when it comes to the 2021 Vikes and much of my optimism stems from looking beyond the 2021 season:

- Team finally invested in a Day 2 QB; even if Mond doesn't turn out to be anything, at least they recognized the need and did something and perhaps recognized that Kirk may not be the answer they thought he was. Unless Kirk has a tremendous season in 2021, I think a trade out of Minnesota is more likely in the 2022 offseason than another extension, even if the Vikes have to give up draft capital to get him off the books.

- Yes, there was real investment in the OL in prior drafts, but 2021 was the first time we took an OL on Day 1 AND Day 2 since the 1985 Draft when we took Kirk Lowdermilk and Tim Long in Round 3. I'm not sure we're reap the full benefits of the investment until 2022+.

- Rick didn't trade down for more late Day 3 picks in 2021 and instead traded into a bit more into the section of the Draft where you can find solid players (Day 2). That could be the start of a trend if Rick continues beyond 2021....

Last Edit: Sept 9, 2021 11:41:38 GMT -6 by Uncle

Jor-El
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Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 11:48:59 GMT -6

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Post by Jor-El on Sept 9, 2021 11:48:59 GMT -6

Sept 9, 2021 10:57:02 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Just to throw a bit of pessimism in an optimistic thread, Dakota Dozier isn't 100% "gone". He's still on the PS, and he very well could be the primary backup at LG behind Ezra...

Nooooooooo!!!!! That's such a Dark Side thought, Uncle.

Sept 9, 2021 10:57:02 GMT -6 Uncle said:

much of my optimism stems from looking beyond the 2021 season

I actually tried to focus on post-2021 thoughts as well - in fact, I might have made that a defining factor of this thread, because I was trying to avoid the all-too-numerous alterations to this roster which will, even if they do prove effective in 2021, blow away next year.

whoskmoon
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Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 12:02:30 GMT -6

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Post by whoskmoon on Sept 9, 2021 12:02:30 GMT -6

We are one year closer to the end of the Cousins era.

There are 2 legit pass rushers on the team once again, possibly three if Richardson thrives in that primary pass rusher role.

The Bears are probably going to struggle to break 500, Lions are going to suck as usual, and Rodgers is due to take a huge step back because of his age any year now.

blindguy Practice Squad Posts: 186 Likes: 68	Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 9, 2021 15:37:25 GMT -6 Funkytown likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by blindguy on Sept 9, 2021 15:37:25 GMT -6 I know this is a Vikings board, but I am very happy I'm not a Ravens fan right about now! And that's not just whistling Dixie! :)

diehardtwinsfan Moderator Posts: 11,979 Likes: 7,517	Always Look on the Bright Side Sept 10, 2021 9:54:20 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by diehardtwinsfan on Sept 10, 2021 9:54:20 GMT -6 Sept 9, 2021 12:02:30 GMT -6 whoskmoon said: We are one year closer to the end of the Cousins era. statements like this will get him extended... even if technically it's always true.