Guess who saw ALL this coming? Looking back @ my 2020 Predictions
Joe Johnson
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I don’t tend to pat myself on the back for my takes often, but I felt compelled to point out the above as I was so roundly mocked after my post-draft malaise that I felt like I’d sit back, bide my time, and wait for my predictions to (mostly come true) regarding the 2020 season, before the 2020 season.
So, let’s break down everything I said!
“I’m writing this before seeing or reading any of the takes from my fellow purpleTERRITORY teammates, but I have a strong feeling that I’ll be in the minority here with this opinion.”
That ended up being true, sort of.
Our other writers bottomed out at 8-8 for the season, but there were some in Vikings media that picked the Vikings to not only improve on their 2019 despite the blood-letting everywhere, not only to go 12-4, but also to make it to and lose the Super Bowl (to the Steelers, double ouch).
“The crux of which is as follows: If the 2019 Vikings, with the talent, the veterans, the continuity, and the grasp of Zimmer’s system… Not to mention the fact that the team had Stefon Diggs (and Thielen, when he wasn’t injured) went 10-6 and the team from 2018 with a healthy Diggs and Thielen went 8-7-1… “
That was before the rash at injuries at nearly every other veteran spot on this defense, but the point holds true.
“How can we expect this team with rookies at key and especially difficult positions to acclimate to (in general terms, but especially in Zimmer’s system) to do better than that?”
You go, dude.
“If the team had locked down some stud left guard, and kept Josh Kline, then perhaps I’d say that I felt that this local and national idea that the Vikings were on the cusp of making a deep run had some merit. “
Or, moved Ezra Kline to left guard and kept Brett Jones at right guard? Imagine that! Then again, the offense hasn’t been anywhere near the problem this year.
“But when you cut Kline and replace him with PAT ELFLEIN, who says he’s more comfortable there (which is similar to what he said about moving from center to left guard), and replace Elflein with Dakota “I somehow didn’t replace the atrocious Elflein in 2019” Dozier, I have a feeling that the 27th-ranked pass blocking unit from 2019 might be the best possible outcome for the 2020 unit. “
If not for Ezra Kline? That may be the deal. Although, as of late the line has played (as a former Vikings offensive lineman told me for an upcoming story: “It’s bad. Really bad.” And “Anyone that blames Kirk for what is going on is out of their mind. … every single guy on the Vikings OL plays with different technique. Sometimes a certain guy will do a certain thing different to suit his abilities/skill set but here it looks like the Vikings OL doesn’t even have a coach. It looks like they get handed a piece of paper and someone says, go ahead and figure it out on your own.”
Not a huge endorsement.
I continue:
“That isn’t to say that I’m totally down about Zimmer/Spielman 2: This time it’s starting out exactly the same. In fact, I am a huge proponent of offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and his team, and am warming up to Justin Jefferson as well as some of the non-guards taken in picks 1-14. “
See? I can be positive!
Kubiak may be MUCH more conservative than any of us expected, but I wouldn’t blame that on anyone not named… It rhymes with Blummer. Wait, no it doesn’t.
“I just feel like it’s unrealistic to expect this young team to surpass the 2019 unit this year. That having been said, they did score the biggest draft pick haul in 7-round Draft history and it is looking like all reports from camp are that players like Cameron Dantzler look amazing thus far. “
Hey! I’m doing pretty well here! I almost had hope for a second!
“But for a complex defense that is predicated on everyone doing their job so you can focus on yours, and one that is especially complex for corners, I have a feeling that unless the offense becomes a top-3 scoring unit, this could be the second sub-.500 team in the Zimmer era. “
So close!
The Vikings offense has trended upward and during their amazing win streak after starting 1-5 was firing on all cylinders. Had the defense, you know, forced a punt or something these last couple weeks? Who knows what would’ve happened.
Wait, maybe I would? Since this article confirms that I can see through space and time.
“With the 10th-hardest strength of schedule (although that’s a flawed metric), the loss of their deep ball specialist and all around stud receiver Stefon Diggs (not ALL around, but you know what I mean), and the continued lack of investment on the offensive line, and you see where I’m coming from. “
The only thing that didn’t end up being true was that Diggs was missed. Jefferson is already a better receiver than Diggs, which is saying something as Diggs is having A YEAR.
Now? Let’s see if I stick the landing!
“Regular season record: 6-10, miss playoffs (obviously), Zimmer officially on hot seat”
Considering articles like…
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2020/12/28/22202777/who-are-you-firing
…I guess I should start playing Daily Fantasy or standing at an intersection while calling out the color of the cars that are driving by. Because, we all should’ve seen this coming.
There are still a ton of variables and things that could go wrong, but the good news is that 2021 should be a vast improvement just courtesy of the passage of time.