2024 Offseason Discussion (moves, rumors, hopes & dreams!)
Mar 27, 2024 7:04:45 GMT -6
Funkytown, diehardtwinsfan, and 3 more like this
Post by Uncle on Mar 27, 2024 7:04:45 GMT -6
Here ya go, andhesloose28 ...
I highlighted some key sections of the article below. The "cliff notes" version is that the Wilfs don't "meddle" too much and put their trust in Kwesi & O'Connell. There was a quote in there with Wilf stating that O'Connell "knows quarterbacks as well as anyone in the league", and we've seemingly heard the same from sports-media pundits over the last few months and how great a landing spot Minnesota would be for a young QB. My take on that is "we'll see" because I haven't those sorts of results on the field quite yet from someone who knows QB's as well as anyone in the league. Did Kirk play really well during his 2 years under O'Connell? Sure, but was it leaps-and-bounds better than his years under Zimmer and the plethora of OC's during those years? To me, no, it wasn't exponentially that much better.
A few other nuggets I highlighted:
- There is mention of the Wilfs thinking more "long term" than making knee-jerk/emotional decisions, and while that's a great strategy, the Wilfs have been the owners since 2005 - basically 20 seasons - and what has that approach yielded so far? While it hasn't been the worst team in the NFL, there have been only fleeting moments of the Vikings being a Championship-caliber team during their tenure so far and they needed to pick up a HOF QB in Brett Favre from the airport and a "miracle" (2017 NFC Divisional game) to get to that level. Long-term thinking is great, but perhaps the Wilfs need to rewatch Star Wars Episode I and remember this exchange between Obi Wan Kenobi and Master Qui-Gon:
Kenobi: But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future
Qui-Gon: But not at the expense of the moment
- Alec Lewis, the Vikings beat reporter for The Athletic - mentions a section of fans that have wanted the Wilfs to "tear it down", basically a direct shot at online fans on social media platforms and message board forums (ie, "us", collectively). In my opinion, Lewis doesn't get the scoops that other Viking beat reporters get and this is his subtle way of pointing out how we - as online fans - should only be consuming "his" articles and paying no attention to the Luke Braun's, Judd Zulgads, Arif Hasan's, Ben Goessling's, Will Ragatz or the "Purple FTW' guy on YouTube. My response: "hey, Alec...put out better content and perhaps we'll cite your work more online".
Vikings ownership has key part to play in success of potential QB draftee - link
I highlighted some key sections of the article below. The "cliff notes" version is that the Wilfs don't "meddle" too much and put their trust in Kwesi & O'Connell. There was a quote in there with Wilf stating that O'Connell "knows quarterbacks as well as anyone in the league", and we've seemingly heard the same from sports-media pundits over the last few months and how great a landing spot Minnesota would be for a young QB. My take on that is "we'll see" because I haven't those sorts of results on the field quite yet from someone who knows QB's as well as anyone in the league. Did Kirk play really well during his 2 years under O'Connell? Sure, but was it leaps-and-bounds better than his years under Zimmer and the plethora of OC's during those years? To me, no, it wasn't exponentially that much better.
A few other nuggets I highlighted:
- There is mention of the Wilfs thinking more "long term" than making knee-jerk/emotional decisions, and while that's a great strategy, the Wilfs have been the owners since 2005 - basically 20 seasons - and what has that approach yielded so far? While it hasn't been the worst team in the NFL, there have been only fleeting moments of the Vikings being a Championship-caliber team during their tenure so far and they needed to pick up a HOF QB in Brett Favre from the airport and a "miracle" (2017 NFC Divisional game) to get to that level. Long-term thinking is great, but perhaps the Wilfs need to rewatch Star Wars Episode I and remember this exchange between Obi Wan Kenobi and Master Qui-Gon:
Kenobi: But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future
Qui-Gon: But not at the expense of the moment
- Alec Lewis, the Vikings beat reporter for The Athletic - mentions a section of fans that have wanted the Wilfs to "tear it down", basically a direct shot at online fans on social media platforms and message board forums (ie, "us", collectively). In my opinion, Lewis doesn't get the scoops that other Viking beat reporters get and this is his subtle way of pointing out how we - as online fans - should only be consuming "his" articles and paying no attention to the Luke Braun's, Judd Zulgads, Arif Hasan's, Ben Goessling's, Will Ragatz or the "Purple FTW' guy on YouTube. My response: "hey, Alec...put out better content and perhaps we'll cite your work more online".
Vikings ownership has key part to play in success of potential QB draftee - link
Luke Bornn is a sports executive. He has a PhD in statistics. He was a professor at Harvard. He became a vice president of strategy and analytics with the Sacramento Kings. And now, he is a co-owner of European soccer teams and co-founder of a sports intelligence consulting company.
Several weeks ago, Bornn shared with me some of what he’s learned working for professional sports teams. The first lesson was about decision-making.
“The first thing that surprised me (working for teams) was seeing how much they deviate from their strategy in the intensity of the moment,” Bornn said.
Media pressure creates second-guessing. Fan response generates division in the ranks. Ownership intervenes. Bornn discusses these dynamics frequently with counterparts like Billy Beane, the famed Oakland A’s executive portrayed in “Moneyball,” whom Bornn has teamed up with in some of his soccer ventures.
“I think when you look at sports, you have an environment where there are very high-dollar decisions being made,” Bornn said, “and it’s simultaneously a very emotional playground in which to make those decisions. Those two things, combined, lead to kind of bizarre behavior.”
Bornn thinks the most successful owners maintain a long-term view, which is easier in theory than in practice. Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf hinted at this Monday afternoon in a conversation with reporters at the NFL’s league meetings. He described his family’s philosophy as “being long term and not to be knee-jerk.” He added: “We try to be patient the best we can in a very competitive environment.”
The key word?
Try.
Is it hard?
Wilf thought briefly before answering and chuckled.
Most of his responses had been fairly canned. His phrasing around Kirk Cousins’ departure, Justin Jefferson’s potential extension and the idea of drafting a quarterback was mundane. This tiny laugh, at the very least, was a brief departure.
Lying within it was the basic tension of being the owner of a sports franchise: How do you react when you expect success and instead get failure?
“We’ve always been highly engaged,” Wilf said Monday. “I think that’s the way to put it.”
He said he has “a lot of confidence” in general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, the two men the Vikings hired to chart a new path two years ago. “We know what we know, and we know what we don’t know,” Wilf added. “These guys are running our organization for a reason.”
Concerns among team ownership are common, and the Wilfs have not been immune over their 20 years in charge of the franchise. A faction of Vikings fans often complains about Wilf’s apparent unwillingness to tear the roster down the way franchises like the Philadelphia Eagles have in the last decade. Hearing Wilf’s perspective on ownership involvement should provide some satisfaction, though now is as crucial a time as ever for the Wilfs to practice what they preach.
Drafting a young quarterback is an organizational decision. In past years, owners heavily involved themselves in the process. Take, for example, the Carolina Panthers. Their owner, David Tepper, attended pro days, shook hands with prospects like Bryce Young and ultimately mortgaged the future to select him. Once Young arrived, and after some early struggles, Tepper inserted himself more, telling then-head coach Frank Reich to fix the rookie’s footwork.
The Panthers’ general manager, Scott Fitterer, informed Tepper that Young’s feet were a byproduct of bad protection. Mandates were given nonetheless.
Young did not sit behind a veteran. He was thrust into action immediately. This is one isolated situation, but the hunger to select a specific young quarterback and then command the football staff to operate a certain way around that player is a common thread across the NFL. Washington’s Dan Snyder was partial to Robert Griffin III. Cleveland’s Jimmy Haslem wanted Johnny Manziel.
The Wilfs aren’t perceived to be in the same category as many of these owners, nor should they be, but irrational decision-making can creep into the picture amid emotional circumstances. Wilf understands this and wants to guard against it.
“Kevin (O’Connell) knows quarterbacks as well as anyone in the league,” Wilf said. “On that front, we have a lot of confidence in them.”
O’Connell uses the word “journey” to talk about quarterback development. Most of his beliefs derive from his playing career. He evaluates the draftable QB prospects yearly, analyzes his scouting reports after the fact and has concocted specific beliefs about what a draftable quarterback needs to succeed. Listening to him — and trusting his opinion and ability to build relationships — is going to be paramount for ownership not only throughout the evaluation period but also when the likely draftee arrives.
Minnesota is in an intriguing position from the perspective of the top quarterback prospects. The Vikings’ talented skill players are one aspect of that, and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown’s recent experience watching Young’s introduction to the NFL should help. But the consistency factor is also at play.
Thrive in an offense in Chicago, Washington or New England, and the offensive coordinator in those spots (Shane Waldron, Kliff Kingsbury or Alex Van Pelt) is likely to ascend to a head-coaching role. As long as the Vikings believe in O’Connell the way they say they do — “Coach O’Connell is an outstanding leader of men in the building and of the organization as a whole,” Wilf said — the Vikings’ drafted quarterback is likely to develop amid more consistency. The verbiage will be similar. The coaching will be similar. The familiarity will be similar.
Study the successful young quarterbacks of the past, and you’ll recognize how much that matters.
None of this is to say that the Wilfs’ action (or inaction) will yield a future star. But the more the Vikings’ owners can guard against reacting emotionally at the whim of media narratives, fan opinions or family beliefs — even if their young QB is starting and struggling — the better chance this team will have at finding the figure it has been looking for.
Several weeks ago, Bornn shared with me some of what he’s learned working for professional sports teams. The first lesson was about decision-making.
“The first thing that surprised me (working for teams) was seeing how much they deviate from their strategy in the intensity of the moment,” Bornn said.
Media pressure creates second-guessing. Fan response generates division in the ranks. Ownership intervenes. Bornn discusses these dynamics frequently with counterparts like Billy Beane, the famed Oakland A’s executive portrayed in “Moneyball,” whom Bornn has teamed up with in some of his soccer ventures.
“I think when you look at sports, you have an environment where there are very high-dollar decisions being made,” Bornn said, “and it’s simultaneously a very emotional playground in which to make those decisions. Those two things, combined, lead to kind of bizarre behavior.”
Bornn thinks the most successful owners maintain a long-term view, which is easier in theory than in practice. Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf hinted at this Monday afternoon in a conversation with reporters at the NFL’s league meetings. He described his family’s philosophy as “being long term and not to be knee-jerk.” He added: “We try to be patient the best we can in a very competitive environment.”
The key word?
Try.
Is it hard?
Wilf thought briefly before answering and chuckled.
Most of his responses had been fairly canned. His phrasing around Kirk Cousins’ departure, Justin Jefferson’s potential extension and the idea of drafting a quarterback was mundane. This tiny laugh, at the very least, was a brief departure.
Lying within it was the basic tension of being the owner of a sports franchise: How do you react when you expect success and instead get failure?
“We’ve always been highly engaged,” Wilf said Monday. “I think that’s the way to put it.”
He said he has “a lot of confidence” in general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, the two men the Vikings hired to chart a new path two years ago. “We know what we know, and we know what we don’t know,” Wilf added. “These guys are running our organization for a reason.”
Concerns among team ownership are common, and the Wilfs have not been immune over their 20 years in charge of the franchise. A faction of Vikings fans often complains about Wilf’s apparent unwillingness to tear the roster down the way franchises like the Philadelphia Eagles have in the last decade. Hearing Wilf’s perspective on ownership involvement should provide some satisfaction, though now is as crucial a time as ever for the Wilfs to practice what they preach.
Drafting a young quarterback is an organizational decision. In past years, owners heavily involved themselves in the process. Take, for example, the Carolina Panthers. Their owner, David Tepper, attended pro days, shook hands with prospects like Bryce Young and ultimately mortgaged the future to select him. Once Young arrived, and after some early struggles, Tepper inserted himself more, telling then-head coach Frank Reich to fix the rookie’s footwork.
The Panthers’ general manager, Scott Fitterer, informed Tepper that Young’s feet were a byproduct of bad protection. Mandates were given nonetheless.
Young did not sit behind a veteran. He was thrust into action immediately. This is one isolated situation, but the hunger to select a specific young quarterback and then command the football staff to operate a certain way around that player is a common thread across the NFL. Washington’s Dan Snyder was partial to Robert Griffin III. Cleveland’s Jimmy Haslem wanted Johnny Manziel.
The Wilfs aren’t perceived to be in the same category as many of these owners, nor should they be, but irrational decision-making can creep into the picture amid emotional circumstances. Wilf understands this and wants to guard against it.
“Kevin (O’Connell) knows quarterbacks as well as anyone in the league,” Wilf said. “On that front, we have a lot of confidence in them.”
O’Connell uses the word “journey” to talk about quarterback development. Most of his beliefs derive from his playing career. He evaluates the draftable QB prospects yearly, analyzes his scouting reports after the fact and has concocted specific beliefs about what a draftable quarterback needs to succeed. Listening to him — and trusting his opinion and ability to build relationships — is going to be paramount for ownership not only throughout the evaluation period but also when the likely draftee arrives.
Minnesota is in an intriguing position from the perspective of the top quarterback prospects. The Vikings’ talented skill players are one aspect of that, and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown’s recent experience watching Young’s introduction to the NFL should help. But the consistency factor is also at play.
Thrive in an offense in Chicago, Washington or New England, and the offensive coordinator in those spots (Shane Waldron, Kliff Kingsbury or Alex Van Pelt) is likely to ascend to a head-coaching role. As long as the Vikings believe in O’Connell the way they say they do — “Coach O’Connell is an outstanding leader of men in the building and of the organization as a whole,” Wilf said — the Vikings’ drafted quarterback is likely to develop amid more consistency. The verbiage will be similar. The coaching will be similar. The familiarity will be similar.
Study the successful young quarterbacks of the past, and you’ll recognize how much that matters.
None of this is to say that the Wilfs’ action (or inaction) will yield a future star. But the more the Vikings’ owners can guard against reacting emotionally at the whim of media narratives, fan opinions or family beliefs — even if their young QB is starting and struggling — the better chance this team will have at finding the figure it has been looking for.