Hybrids
Now choose. Would
you rather have your team peak throughout the season in order to be a top
playoff seed with a first round bye. In doing so, you'd end up missing
your key runner, oh say someone like ... Kareem Hunt. Or how about a
dinged up & potentially ineffective Todd Gurley to go along with not having
Cooper Kupp both of which were key in shredding our Viking defense. Or
would you rather have a team that really hasn't peaked & hit on all
cylinders for the entire season, that finds itself sliding in the back door on
the NFL's big year end tournament ... with something that I don't recall ever
... a practice team sporting full participation at the end of the season.
Before you answer this question, can you still remember John Randle colliding
with one of our own on the last play of the game versus the Arizona Cardinals in
our 1998 year end tournament, which made him almost completely ineffective
versus the Falcon's in the championship game.
Do you think that the LA Ram's brought forth the same intensity versus the
Philadelphia Eagles in last nights Sunday night contest, that they unleashed versus
the Vikings on that Thursday Night Prime time event? Do you think the
Green Bay Packers brought forth the same effort versus the Bears yesterday that
we faced in both of our contests with the Packers? Well, obviously these
may be different teams, matching up against different opponents, but what can
clearly be extracted from these events, is a clear & pristine picture.
Every possible effort is being made to manipulate the tournament to either
remove this franchise from the playoffs, or to ensure that this franchise
doesn't pass on to the number one seed in the upcoming NFL tournament.
There are now three teams that could potentially finish with a 9-7 record to
eliminate the Vikings from playoff contention, which means that this franchise
must win its final two games, but after our brutal schedule ... nothings really
changed. Now consider that Chicago has clearly demonstrated it's ability
to dispatch the Vikings in Chicago, where the only other "unlikely"
outcome that we might face would be for the Vikings getting to travel to Los
Angeles, if the Rams ended up being the NFC's 3rd seed (Bears achieving the #2
seed). Why, might this conspiracy theory be evident & of controlling
concern? Well that's easy. It's because as of this very moment the
franchise is now sporting the most dangerous franchise on the planet ... and to
a man, it is now clear that every member of this franchise now knows it.
In addition, there is no other franchise as devoutly focused on ambushing New
Orleans in their complex in revenge for that lost 2009 season of unsavory
acts.
Irony is a truly fickle
mistress. Here we have before us maybe the greatest liability that the NFL
has ever known in our franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins. He's given up
the ball at what is now beyond an alarming rate. Now combine that
liability with having the best play action passer in the league, on a team that
is statistically almost dead last in running. In steps Kevin Stefanski, wielding
his blind (1st opportunity) "Field Generals Baton" in his hand, and he
pulls off his rendition of "Pat Shurmur". Stefanski didn't do
his best to cram a round peg into a square hole by making the team accommodate
his grand plans. No, instead coach Stefanski reaped the rewards of utilizing
what his personal did best. The most important aspect of every Kirk
Cousins play action look was that it forced his lazy ass to move & shuffle
his feet, which doesn't sound like much, but it, in almost every case, changed
his launch point. Now just think about the number of 3, 5 & 7 step
"straight-back" drop backs into our flawed pocket that occurred this
year & you get some idea of why our offense was so dysfunctional. In
effect moving the launch point by moving & shuffling his feet will be the
most useful tool in Head Coach Mike Zimmer tool box & it will be devastating
for each & every future opponent.
Now they are asking, "Is Kirk Cousins this franchises greatest
liability?" Well, compare the following. When Robert Smith was
foolish enough to put the ball on Denis Green's carpet ... each & every time
he immediately thereafter found himself picking splinters out of his hind
quarters until he didn't have that type of problem any more. The exact
same issue almost derailed Tiki Barber's career. Every member of the
Viking faithful is well aware of Adrian Peterson's two key playoff fumbles in
the 2009 championship game as well as in the Blair Walsh playoff debacle at the
University of Minnesota. And if you're a little salty, you might remember
Brent McClanahan's fumble on the 1 yard line in the Super Bowl XI, or Fran
Tarkenton fumble at the goal line in Super Bowl IX and let's not even talk about
Charlie West fumble at the X in Super Bowl IV allowing the Chief's to gain a
16-0 lead. So, sure a quarterback giving up the ball at an alarming
rate is without doubt our greatest liability. So, in regard to our
greatest liability, what is it's greatest cause. Well it is due to the
definition of the word "PLACATE". Due in part to their franchise
quarterback stature, both Kirk Cousins, & Fran Tarkenton have been handled
entirely differently than how everyone else had been handled. You can
ignore it, or you can correct
it.
After throwing the Miami pick six, you could say that Kirk just didn't see it,
which is the most obvious response that every member of the Viking Nation clings
to in hope ... but hope is a very bad thing, as the word "HOPE" can
only be used against us. From Kirk's reaction, you could also say, he just
didn't care. You could think that he's been carefully trained to quickly
clear his mind of any & all bad events (to have no short term memory) ... so
that you can successfully get on to the next play. One could also deduce
that this particular play was a statement from him to the entire franchise ...
don't screw with me because I can make all your dreams go bye bye (Vindictive,
Vindication, Vitriol ... all hidden). So, after all that history, as well
as the continuation of all this substandard play, is there a solution to this
franchises #1 problem? Absolutely.
The following must be made clear to the entire team as neither General Patton,
nor I, aren't going to Placate a G-d Damn thing going forward. Trevor
Siemian is our backup quarterback and will only play only if Kirk Cousins cannot
go {As this franchises number 1 liability, even the opposing team has an
interest that Kirk Cousins will not be injured}. In regard to my abilities
at enhancing & correcting any outstanding issues in regard to the protection
of my rock ... Kyle Sloter will dress for all future games ... which means just
about anything is possible & is on the table. This is our plan going
forward. The message here is clear. Any attempt to PLACATE anyone or
anything ... will stand to inject a crippling effect within the men that I'm
entrusted to Sheppard through this very difficult process. We, as an
organization, are willing to do anything to help each & every one of you ...
be successful. Unfortunately, what it also means is that as a team we are
all need of raising our level of play ... or
else.
In regard to Daniel Carson, what this organization did for him was truly
remarkable. He has been taken out of the pressure cooker & been
allowed to assimilate himself within the NFL. At present, his number &
efficiency reflect this but keep in mind that the Raiders are not playing for
anything other than to upset their opponents. It's unfortunate Daniel was
unable to do that here but he now has the time to develop into the player that
we knew he would be.
You can count the number of players of Chad Beebe's ilk on one had which include
Wes Welker & Julian Edelman (and to a much lesser extent Cole
Beasley). The cat is out of the bag. This kid is a flat out baller
& if he dresses ... he will become an invaluable weapon for Kirk
Cousin's. In my opinion, if Beebe dresses it may mean that Treadwell will
not, unless we can find some other option. Treadwell's is clearly suited
as being a hybrid tight end. Oh, by the way, did you know that Kevin
White wears the number 11 too (how's that working out for
him).
HYBRIDS:
When facing either Kamara or Tarik Cohen, you have to recognize that their big
back (like Jordan Howard) isn't their primary threat. In other words, the
big back is forcing Zimmer to counter with Anthony Barr. The key to
Trubiski, whether at home or in Chicago, is to shadow Cohen in man coverage with
your hybrids. Kendricks has to shadow Trubiski as a continual running
threat. Barr, Brothers & Gedeon are useless in coverage versus both
Kamara & Cohen and the later is suspect in trying to corral Trubiski on the
run. To counter the Kamara/Cohen threat you may need to play both
Alexander (slot) & Kearse (man on Cohen or Kamara). You won't stop
either of them but the hybrids are capable of being very physical with them
which will reduce their overall effectiveness.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: December 17, 2018
