Miracle October 30, 2023
What would the
Zen Master say? Oh no. Kirk Cousins' end came after a horrific
event. Yes, we suffered mightily as the season began only to win the last
four out of five games. It appeared to be at the very moment that the juggernaut
that we all hoped for arrived. Searching within the Zen Masters face for
his upset demeanor or his words to help comfort us ... instead we get little
reaction followed by the words ... We'll see. Thus is the life of having
purple blood in your veins ... like one more brick onto the wall of despair.
To Kirk Cousins we of the Nation say, you became remarkable where you too have
been taken away. It was true, when Kirk Cousins wanted to win , and we
supported that thought with today's offensive line ... there was nothing that
could stop Cousins but himself. The last five games contains that
proof. Kirk, we will never feel your pain ... we can only share it amongst
us all. We mourn the thought of what might have been for you and this 2023
squad. My deepest ...
So what are we to do? What will Kwesi Adofo-Mensah do? Past history
indicates that we will react by trading with someone like the Philadelphia
Eagles to take-on the next Sam Bradford to help build a Super Bowl Champion in
Philadelphia with our draft capital. Some are calling for a different
reaction, to call on Tom Brady to come out of retirement to help this
franchise. Unfortunately Tom's skills are apparent where he is now like a
kid with a massive trust fund ... Want a job Tommy ... no, I'm good.
Is Watson now proving that out in Cleveland too? In fact, if you're going
to react, we be better off with Kyle Sloter as he better approaches Kirk Warner
that was stocking shelves in a super market before there was even a thought of
the Greatest Show on Turf.
History tells us that the "Greatest Shows" success came from a tearful
opening response by a great coach, melding with a great running back by the name
of Marshall Faulk, combined with several great players & a virtually unknown
quarterback. The key was that they didn't foolishly REACT ... they
didn't try to protect their jobs with some sort of splash move but instead they
pushed forward with the cards that had been dealt. Kwesi chose to not
commit to Kirk Cousins prior to the start of this 2023 season where we now have
the same response from the Zen Master ... We'll see. To be direct, can
anyone entertain the thought of Quesi thinking, "We'll be paying you this
time after you've won that Super Bowl Championship, or at least to have reviewed
your decisions & efforts in trying to get us there. Unfortunately for
Quesi, the entire NFL has seen Kirk Cousins efforts where it will be impossible
to bid for his future services. There is another team that covets Kirk
Cousins beyond the stratosphere.
It doesn't help to know that this occurred less than 2 days prior to the NFL's
trade deadline ... egging us on to REACT in desperation ... the most evil
& ugliest of bitches. Do we stay true to our selves by staying the
course & be willing to lick our wounds ... take whatever is coming with a
commercial sized container of Vaseline ... and hold our heads high. It
really comes down to hope, where we are all collectively thinking ... I hope
that this franchise doesn't do something stupid. Will this group fall into
the next Mike Lynn disaster or will it pull itself up by its boot straps.
There is no disgrace for taking an unforeseen shot in that sensitive area.
What's done ... is done. The key here is to not take on someone else's
problem like that which will come taking on Kyler Murray. To Quesi's
credit, up to this point, he's made it clear that he's here to change history
... not to repeat it ... and the results of that process was witnessed on that
field yesterday. What would be the commentator's ... the media's ...
response to standing pat with our hand & how would that compare to the
opposing players view ... and would that view change in time? Was Kirk
Cousins our Moses ... never being allow to walk upon the lands of milk &
honey? It is very sad to even think of it with everything that he's given
but it is what it is.
It is easy to forget history as it involved a bunch of tough decisions ... where
most of those REACTion-Type decisions don't turn out. There was a
drunkard in Atlanta that had a penchant for slinging interceptions. Did we
forget the "Magic Man's" injury only to call upon the start of Favre's
historic Hall of Fame career.
Is Jaren Hall ready? No, he is a rookie which means that he must be
allowed to make mistakes. Hey, dude! We have all made mistakes &
Kirk Cousins was no exception. Can we win with Jaren, the answer is unequivocally
yes. How do you know? Just take a look at the final set of play
selections made by head coach O'Connell. Anyone else would have run the
ball to chew up the clock but instead coach relied on his absolute faith in his
system & in Jaren's ability. That alone wins games. That T. J.
Hockenson's conversion said it all as that was a dominate jab that deflated the
"Fudge-Packers" day.
You would think that this franchise would be finished because we have no run
game to rely upon. Facing the Packers, we recorded less than 2 yards per
carry. You'll be hearing about the run game ad nauseam for the next
several weeks we all expect ... but is it true? So lets ask Jaren what he
thinks. Was a reliable run game as important as the protection that you
received on T. J. Hockenson's conversion in the 4th quarter? How was it
that Kirk Cousins could execute such a display of offensive genius without such
a run game? Wow, these are really good questions. Take a look back
at our last NFC Championship Game versus the Eagles & you'd see a journeymen
backup quarterback carve us apart because that dominate offensive line didn't
allow us to put a finger on him.
So Jaren, can you throw the ball good (well)? Yes. Do you have NFL
arm talent & is it developed? Yes, but it's still developing.
Jaren, do you think that you can see a streaking wide receiver running free, set
up by O'Connell? Yes. Jaren, do you think that there is sufficient
talent on this Vikings franchise? No response (just rolling his
eyes)? Jaren, do you think that you have the courage to stand in the
pocket & not get happy feet (feet drive success)? Yes, but don't hold
me to that as I may have to secure a first down with my feet when the
opportunity arises? Jaren, do you think that you could throw the ball
rather than trying to run it like most rookie quarterbacks, taking unnecessary
shots in the process? Yes, I believe in spreading it around combined with
using the resources around me. Jaren, do you believe that you belong in
the NFL? Yes. Jaren, are you mature enough to handle these
expectations? I certainly hope so. Jaren, do you have the ability to
look off NFL defenders by not staring down your targets? Well, to be
direct, not as well as I would like to but in time I expect to be able to hone
that NFL level skill too.
Head Coach O'Connell. So why hasn't this franchise been able to run the
ball? This team looks like a Bill Walsh team. O'Connell: Thank
you. Head Coach O'Connell, no, what I mean to say is that isn't your
season over because you have no running game to pair with your inexperienced
quarterback? O'Connell: No, this season is far from over. If I
wanted to run the ball, then we would run it but history is replete with teams
that could run the ball without gaining the overall success that they might
desire. Adrian Peterson was a great runner but his efforts alone would
never be enough to secure a championship.
Maybe it's time for Head Coach Kevin O'Connell to take a page out of Andy Reid's
playbook. The key lies with McKinnon, an X-Minnesota Viking &
49er. Andy is using a diverse set of backs coming out of that backfield
with a diverse set of skills. We've been trying to bull through the
defense, following our blocks, rather than to finesse our way through it by
cutting back against the grain like the younger & more confident Dalvin Cook
would do. I guess defenders know how to follow blocking schemes too.
In other words, too much emphasis has been placed on powering through the hole
which is better served to be used in the 3rd & 4th quarter facing a banged
up defense. After this weekend, Ty Chandler has proven his explosive
capabilities with his called back kickoff return. King Kene Nwangwe
explosive speed has clearly done the same. Along with Cam Akers, the pure
rotation of these four will put any defense into a tail spin. Either way,
up to this juncture, the defense has known exactly when O'Connell was planning
to run the ball where the results are now apparent. They've broken your
code under Kirk Cousins. It's time to put that tell to bed. It is
time to put Quesi's plan (the very opposite of that work horse back) into
effect.
My apologies, as the
Miracle has nothing to do with Kirk Cousins devastation ... it has to do with
the Zen Master ... We'll see! Regardless of Kirk Cousins present
situation, he still has hope & he can wear any Super Bowl Championship ring
with absolute pride. We just all can't get to the promised land
together.
There is one final
thought and that is, if Jaren pulls this thing off, it will change the entire
landscape of this league forever somewhat like transforming the Pittsburgh
Steelers history from bums to plums.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: October 30, 2023
