…And that’s a wrap!
Final Thoughts on the 2023-24 Vikings season
By: Ross Blilie
1-8-2024
Yesterday the Minnesota Vikings attempted to upset the NFC Champion Detroit Lions. I say attempted because the team did not perform up to the expectations of the fanbase. The Detroit Lions beat down the dead Vikings 30 - 20. Now that the season is over for the Vikings, they are forced to watch the playoffs on their couch hanging their heads in disappointment. Below is a snapshot of the remaining teams in the National Football League playoffs.
In the off-season, Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah, aka KAM, has a lot of moves to make. I think his first order of business is to figure out who his QB 1 is. I think in order for him to make that determination, he has to look at his books. Meaning, how much can he afford to pay for a quarterback? I know one thing for sure; Nick Mullens is NOT the answer to be the back up to Kirk Cousins ( IF Cousins is able to return to the team).
If it were up to me, I’d make Joshua Dobbs the back up instead of Mullens and then release Mullens into free agency.
The second move he needs to make is with Justin Jefferson. JJ has said to the media that he doesn’t care who the QB is, he just wants to play football; which I think is refreshing to hear. JJ, at this point in his career with the Vikings, has done more than lived up to the hype when he was drafted. His future in the NFL is a bright one. He is one heckuva player.
After re-signing JJ and Cousins, KAM should look into fixing the Offensive Line. Over the course of the season, injuries have piled up and the guys that were promoted played ok, but their lack of game experience made me cringe every time I turned on the game. Left Tackle Christian Darrisaw cannot do everything by himself. Right Tackle Brian O’Neil did not complement Darrisaw all that well, and it certainly did not help when he went down injured and Quessenberry filled in. Center Garrett Bradberry has not been very good either I think. Don’t get me wrong, though. He has shown in some games that he can handle the opposition, but it’s spotty at best. The two guards that Minnesota has in Ed Ingram and Dalton Risner aren’t that good at keeping the opposition off the quarterback. Just look at the film from yesterday’s game. Nick Mullens was sacked three times.
After fixing the Offensive Line, KAM needs to look at the Defensive Line. I think the first order of business is to re-sign Danielle Hunter. He is the unit’s best pass rusher. He led the team in sacks this season. On the flip side, he only had 83 total tackles this season, which is good for seventh on the team. If Harrison Smith ends up retiring, then let’s assume that Cam Bynum takes over his spot. He out tackled Josh Matellus by 19 total tackles (137 - 116).
Overall, I think the young, a nearly inexperienced defensive unit played pretty well together in the middle of the season. However, as the season progressed, and injuries piled up, the defense began to fall apart. The season ended the way it did because they stopped playing together and started playing individually.
When it comes to the Offense, I believe that the season ended the way it did because of a lack of leadership on the field. Without Kirk Cousins and his leadership, the offense was doomed. The three quarterbacks as well as the inexperience of the running backs did not help matters. In addition, becoming one of two teams that consistently turned the ball over at least three times a game does not help the team in winning games. It is a recipe for disaster. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell did not make many adjustments in any game until it was too late and I believe that also contributed to the disaster of a season. Hopefully things will change for the better in the off-season. It’s got to, right?
Ross Blilie is an avid NFL fan of the Minnesota Vikings since the 1990’s. He loves to talk about the NFL. He also enjoys attending the University Of North Dakota Men’s Hockey games in Grand Forks, ND. His hobbies also include bowling with his wife and friends, narrating audiobooks, fishing, and even sitting by a campfire with family at Lake Blackduck in Minnesota. You can find Ross on the X app @Rossthenarrator and @pigskintalespod.
