Random Commanders Thoughts

[Chris]

Even crazier than Quinn not winning (I honestly can see a case being made for O'Connell based on the Vikes regular season) is the fact that Quinn apparently came in fourth place in AP voting. That's nuts.

It was the AP voters protest to the no name-change announcement.

 

[burgold]

 

[Chris]

Lol at Sirianni’s votes.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

My biased opinion is that Quinn should have won. What he did to turn around this team is astounding. But to be honest, I have no problem with O’Connell winning. He won 14 games with a backup QB that was left for dead by 3 different franchises and pretty much the rest of the NFL. When McCarthy went down in preseason, everyone declared the Vikings dead becuase they were now stuck with Sam Darnold. Yet he got the most anyone ever has out of Darnold and it led to 14 wins. So I have no problem with him getting that credit. It’s actually recognition for showing that coaching matters.

However, for Quinn to finish 4th behind Reid (is this a lifetime achievement award all of the sudden) and Campbell who both did exactly what was expected of them this season, is very disrespectful by the voters. Even Sean Payton did a better coaching job that those two and he was also below them. It really does show that reputation and preseason hype and expectations matter a lot with these awards.

 

[Chris]

However, for Quinn to finish 4th behind Reid (is this a lifetime achievement award all of the sudden) and Campbell who both did exactly what was expected of them this season, is very disrespectful by the voters.

I’m going to do something I could never have imagined doing…defend Nick Sirianni.

Dan Campbell actually achieved less this season than what was expected (though he did face significant injuries on the defense). And he did so with a stacked roster and with consistency at the 2 main coordinator positions.

Sirianni also had a stacked roster though he was afforded the addition of a future HOF running back. But he also had to deal with 2 new coordinators.

For 1 to receive 283 points and the other 3 is ludicrous.

 

[burgold]

I’m going to do something I could never have imagined doing…defend Nick Sirianni.

Dan Campbell actually achieved less this season than what was expected (though he did face significant injuries on the defense). And he did so with a stacked roster and with consistency at the 2 main coordinator positions.

Sirianni also had a stacked roster though he was afforded the addition of a future HOF running back. But he also had to deal with 2 new coordinators.

For 1 to receive 283 points and the other 3 is ludicrous.

I think Siriani's greatest fete this year was swallowing his ego and listening to his players. Their season started off rough, but when the players shouted Run the damn ball, the coaches listened and their season turned around.

 

[Riggo Reincarnated]

it’s logical to exclude the playoffs because you’re trying to compare apples to apples over a 17 game season. Of course coaching has a lot to do with getting to the playoffs and what happens when you get there. But I think there are legit candidates for COTY who don’t make it.

I don’t know how you don’t pick Quinn in 2024 though.

True, I was just thinking win differential. Even excluding the playoffs, Quinn is +8 from 2023, McConnell is +7. McConnell also ended the season being blown out, while we managed to win a succession of close games in December.

The playoffs should have just made it a no brainer.

 

[Riggo Reincarnated]

My biased opinion is that Quinn should have won. What he did to turn around this team is astounding. But to be honest, I have no problem with O’Connell winning. He won 14 games with a backup QB that was left for dead by 3 different franchises and pretty much the rest of the NFL. When McCarthy went down in preseason, everyone declared the Vikings dead becuase they were now stuck with Sam Darnold. Yet he got the most anyone ever has out of Darnold and it led to 14 wins. So I have no problem with him getting that credit. It’s actually recognition for showing that coaching matters.

However, for Quinn to finish 4th behind Reid (is this a lifetime achievement award all of the sudden) and Campbell who both did exactly what was expected of them this season, is very disrespectful by the voters. Even Sean Payton did a better coaching job that those two and he was also below them. It really does show that reputation and preseason hype and expectations matter a lot with these awards.

Will O'Connell show loyalty to Darnold though?

 

[Discobob]

Dan Quinn takes over the defensive playcalliing after the debacles (3 in a row) against Saquon Barkley. Joe Whitt Jr isn't cutting it for training and preparation of this defense.

You realize that hardly anyone was able to effectively stop Barkley.... including teams with much better defensive rosters? I'm sure there are things Whitt would change in hindsight, but going pitchforks out on Whitt is an odd take...

 

[Riggo Reincarnated]

You realize that hardly anyone was able to effectively stop Barkley.... including teams with much better defensive rosters? I'm sure there are things Whitt would change in hindsight, but going pitchforks out on Whitt is an odd take...

We had 3 opportunities to solve Kellen Moore and his offense. A backup QB from the Dallas Cowboys - Saquon Barkley, and AJ Brown. 3 Opportunities. The failure is on coaching and perhaps overestimation that Lattimore was capable of locking down Brown.

 

[Discobob]

We had 3 opportunities to solve Kellen Moore and his offense. A backup QB from the Dallas Cowboys - Saquon Barkley, and AJ Brown. 3 Opportunities. The failure is on coaching and perhaps overestimation that Lattimore was capable of locking down Brown.

That feels like blaming the coach of the Wizards everytime Lebron drops 30 on them..... you've had 10 times to solve Lebron, and you haven't!!

 

[Mark The Homer]

Some posters for sale

TWP - Special Products

 

[Chris]

Some posters for sale

TWP - Special Products

I thought some of us were up for sale. Whew!

 

[burgold]

I thought some of us were up for sale. Whew!

I think that's exactly what he meant. Got to raise money for the board somehow...

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

This may be the first post I've seen agreeing with me about Johnny Newton. I know he missed time but he was supposted to be a top 10 talent and he showed very little. Going into the season they were worried about the edge but the real weakness turned out to be right up the gut.

,

That’s not entirely true. Teams hit runs either outside or around the ends all year. Our ends could not set the edge and were easily moved. Sometimes the were moved outside , and the run came between the DT and the end.

The DTs got pushed around less than the ends. The ends just couldn’t anchor at all. Even if you have an un-moveable roman column in the middle, if the outside guys are on ice skates the entire game, it’s a problem.

Newton was ok. And he will probably get better. But he’s more of a passing down DT than a run stopping or 3 down guy. Which is fine.

Also, if he gets a full off season, he can develop, add strength and technique.

Rookies who do ok and show flashes tend to develop a lot between year 1 and 2. Rookies who show nothing tend to either never develop or develop more slowly.

I think the same thing about Coleman. He missed all of camp, ended up playing ok. Now let’s see how he improves year over year.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

View attachment 9600

I actually think Reid should have won. He got an in-Mahomes like performance from Mahomes and they lost once when they tried to win.

The issue with Reid is now 13+ wins is just expected.

Shrug.

 

[skinsmarydu]

Wtf??

 

[Chris]

Wtf??

I’ve turned on the bat signal for Boone to take a look at this.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

That’s not entirely true. Teams hit runs either outside or around the ends all year. Our ends could not set the edge and were easily moved. Sometimes the were moved outside , and the run came between the DT and the end.

The DTs got pushed around less than the ends. The ends just couldn’t anchor at all. Even if you have an un-moveable roman column in the middle, if the outside guys are on ice skates the entire game, it’s a problem.

Newton was ok. And he will probably get better. But he’s more of a passing down DT than a run stopping or 3 down guy. Which is fine.

Also, if he gets a full off season, he can develop, add strength and technique.

Rookies who do ok and show flashes tend to develop a lot between year 1 and 2. Rookies who show nothing tend to either never develop or develop more slowly.

I think the same thing about Coleman. He missed all of camp, ended up playing ok. Now let’s see how he improves year over year.

I saw both. Teams were running right up the gut on us starting with Game 1. it seems they had much more success running to the left or at the right side of our defense. Which would point the finger at Fowler more than Armstrong IMO. But the entire DT group failed to shut down the run or pressure the QB very well at all.

 

[Mark The Homer]

Cool photo I found of the crowd in the stands. The caption says the game is at RFK Stadium, Washington hosting Dallas, Nov 16, 1969, but that doesn't look like RFK. When I first saw it, I thought it was Griffith Stadium.