Continuation from the Darnold thread

So let's look at the Vikings PPD since Cousins has been here. Since that is the critical complaint about him by some. I took the Vikings PPD from 2018 and compared it to the last 25 Super Bowl winners. The same set of numbers, one sorted by offensive PPD and the other by the difference in offensive PPD and Defensive PPD. Can you pick out Cousin's numbers? But I'm sure I'm missing some context here. 

Sort by offense Sort by difference
Offense Defense Difference Offense Defense Difference
1 1.47 1.11 0.36 2.44 2.67 -0.23
2 1.58 1.38 0.20 1.85 1.91 -0.06
3 1.58 0.79 0.79 2.04 2.09 -0.05
4 1.60 0.90 0.70 2.08 2.11 -0.03
5 1.72 1.09 0.63 1.90 1.92 -0.02
6 1.75 1.30 0.45 1.77 1.63 0.14
7 1.77 1.63 0.14 1.80 1.63 0.17
8 1.80 1.63 0.17 1.58 1.38 0.20
9 1.85 1.91 -0.06 1.88 1.67 0.21
10 1.88 1.67 0.21 1.47 1.11 0.36
11 1.90 1.92 -0.02 2.27 1.85 0.42
12 1.97 1.24 0.73 1.75 1.30 0.45
13 2.00 1.36 0.64 2.01 1.50 0.51
14 2.01 1.50 0.51 2.29 1.76 0.53
15 2.04 2.09 -0.05 2.65 2.08 0.57
16 2.08 2.11 -0.03 1.72 1.09 0.63
17 2.12 1.17 0.95 2.00 1.36 0.64
18 2.21 1.47 0.74 2.50 1.85 0.65
19 2.25 1.34 0.91 1.60 0.90 0.70
20 2.27 1.85 0.42 2.71 2.01 0.70
21 2.29 1.76 0.53 2.59 1.88 0.71
22 2.37 1.12 1.25 1.97 1.24 0.73
23 2.40 1.63 0.77 2.21 1.47 0.74
24 2.41 1.41 1.00 2.40 1.63 0.77
25 2.44 1.64 0.80 1.58 0.79 0.79
26 2.44 2.67 -0.23 2.44 1.64 0.80
27 2.50 1.85 0.65 2.72 1.89 0.83
28 2.59 1.88 0.71 2.25 1.34 0.91
29 2.65 2.08 0.57 2.12 1.17 0.95
30 2.71 2.01 0.70 2.41 1.41 1.00
31 2.72 1.89 0.83 2.37 1.12 1.25


Well I think Brady is for sure on there too but he has been in such great situations I guess it's tougher to say lol. It looks like in 2011 Brady had the 21st ranked defense but still made the SB. In 2005 they had the 22nd ranked defense and lost in the divisional round. Even Matt Ryan has lead a team to the SB with the 28th ranked defense though. So I don't think we are only talking about the very top elite of the elite, they can not only make the playoffs but even have some success there with average or worse defenses.

If you look at the media, player voting etc. the best Cousins has looked to the public was 2022. That is because everyone understands the defense was bad and even if the offense wasn't elite he continually came up in big moments (in the RS at least). His stats, the team stats were not there but he played like a top 10 QB for the first time imo as a whole over that RS. As much as we talk about how the offense/defense does, there is no guage for this ability and Kirk has largely been lacking in this area outside of that year (which he was rightfully praised for in multiple ways).

I agree that Darnold certainly isn't on that trajectory and JJ also is unlikely to get there. They also don't make nearly as much money so it is less important they play like an elite player and we can spend elsewhere to make up for it. Those first 5 seasons here while healthy Kirk I believe was top 3 overall in cap hits over that span. That is why it was more important he play like an actual elite player on a regular basis. If JJ is Kirk like (11-15 range) but on a rookie contract that gives us a much better window to compete, especially after also resetting the cap issues from the Kirk tenure.

Funny thing is that this thread was not exactly a continuation of the Darnold discussion when it was created.....lol

If they win, I really don't think many will give Sam any credit at all.  Did Kirk get any credit when we won 13 games?

And people still wanted him gone after that season.  

Now Hold up hold up😂. I’m sure this been mentioned but not sure. Okay so both in the same situation in 2022 Sam did better than Baker. They even got rid of Baker. So how come there is no way Sam can have a good year like Baker did.

Baker had Stefanski a solid coach then that’s still wasn’t enough. They didn’t believe in him snd he had maturity issues.Not until last year under a good situation did he take off.

So yes I understand to keep expectations down but I have seen crazier things. When in the same situation Sam was better. Just saying you neva know🤷🏾‍♂️

A lot of Darnold's success was because of the insanely good rushing attack at the end of that season, but regardless the Vikings probably win 6 games this year with a season like Mayfield had last year.

He was the definition of mediocre and barely made the playoffs in the worst division in football. Yes he did beat an Eagles team in the playoffs that had completely fallen apart by the end of the year, but his level of play is not good enough to compete with this schedule in this division.