TELL THE TRUTH MONDAY: 10 Truths about the 6-8 Minnesota Vikings

TELL THE TRUTH MONDAY: 10 Truths about the 6-8 Minnesota Vikings

What’s going on, Jerome? It’s beautiful Monday. As I choke and die. Yeah. Uh, and Mondays you tell the truth. So, here are 10 10 uh truths about the six and eight. Not great, but getting better. Minnesota fighting Vikings. Numero uno. JJ McCarthy’s quarterback won, right? And it was uh a little bit touch and goat there for a while. Especially you hit the doldrums of the season, the Ravens game, the Bears game, the Packers game. There’s some questions there. E even we uh the eternal optimism, drinking the purple Kool-Aid, sipping the scissor, uh were questioning things, right? Uh but McCarthy, you know, last two games 2 and0 record, 73.3% completion percent, which is good. uh 448 total yards, six total touchdowns a pick. Uh garbage pick, by the way. 120.3 quarterback rating, which is pretty good. And he is 4-4 as a starter. Uh he’s still learning on the job. He’s got eight career NFL starts, which is basically half a season. And there there’s been a lot of things going on like he missed his rookie year due to injury. Had two injuries so far this season. Well, one injury and one concussion. Uh, of course, you know, new father, there’s a lot of new challenges with that. I mean, the players aren’t robots or human, too. And yes, the Vikings should still bring in a veteran that you feel comfortable with. Maybe they bring back Carson Wentz. Maybe they make a play for someone else. But as of right now, and this is what’s important, the rest of the way, JJ McCarthy needs to get experience. And, you know, Kevin McConnell simplifying the offense and just McCarthy getting that experience. looking good, getting confidence, you can really roll that up, right? And by the end of the of the year, if you can walk away comfortable that JJ McCarthy is going to be your presumptive starter in 2026, and you have confidence in him, you have confidence in Kevin McConnell, that’s what’s really going to be important. So hopefully that is accomplished the rest of the way. It’s off to a really good start. Number two, JJ to JJ will be fine. Now, I understand the frustration of, you know, Justin Jefferson uh th this season and just the connection has not been what you’ve wanted it to be. All right, but as we’ve explained before, Jefferson didn’t attend all voluntary OTAAS. Did attend some and no training camp because of the hamstring. Then McCarthy gets hurt right away and I mean, he shows a little something with Wentz, right? But that’s expected because Wentz is a veteran. And then McCarthy comes back and it’s just really been helter skelter and it’s not for lack of trying. His 66 catches on 117 targets is extremely inefficient. But a lot of it is I don’t know just chemistry, right? Just getting reps in together. And if you think about like McCarthy and Jefferson have not played a lot of football together, right? But they both work too hard. They both want to win too much for it not to work out. They’re going to put in the work and go from there. Number three, Vikings should shut down Darasaw, right? So, Darasaw was a no-go against the Cowboys. And this late in the year, it would be devastating if Darasab had a setback with that knee or what tends to happen is that if a player comes back and he’s overcompensating for an injury or if a player is playing hurt, then all of a sudden everything else becomes vulnerable. And you can be like, well, he could get hit by a bus just like all the rest of us. Yes, but actually that that’s kind of dark. But the a player who may be at a slightly diminished capacity does have a higher risk for being reinjured, right? And if Darasaw had a significant setback or a new injury at this time of year, it could put 2026 in jeopardy and that would be for the long-term good to the team, devastating, be terrible, right? And you know, obviously you want McCarthy to look good down the stretch, but having Darasa out there, I think is too much of a risk. And frankly, I think what happened too is that Darasaw perhaps was rushed back onto the field and then you’ve had the fits and starts with the knee and you’ve had the modified practice schedule. I mean, it’s probably it’s going to take time for him to get fully back. I the fact that he returned week three, it’s pretty damn impressive. But uh you know, frankly, the the Vikings offensive line looked really good against the Cowboys, right? And Justin School certainly held his own. Blake Brandle was in for Brian O’Neal at the end. Why is Jerry Jones in every press conference? But yeah, so I I would say shut down Darasaw the rest of the year. And I I know they’re going to try it out Justin School. What about our guy Walter Rouse left tackle? But I guess we’ll see. Uh next up, number four, Jaylen Speedy Naylor is going to get paid. going to get paid. So Speedy, uh, who got revived by Addison, which was hilarious. Speedy, three for 47 and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. And the one catch that wasn’t a touchdown was a key fourth and three, which big- time spots. And now stats-wise, 26 catches, 395 yards, four touchdowns. Like, it’s not it’s not going to blow the doors off the roof. Uh, but 15.2 yards per catch, and he does have that speed. He does have that deep threat ability. Plus, drops issues really plagued the early seasons of Jaylen Speed and Naylor. And knock on all the wood, he’s gotten a lot better. I mean, the receiver dropping bowels this year is Addison and Jefferson, sadly. Uh, but Speedy, uh, like some wide receiver needy team is going to pay Speedy, not greedy, but no, a lot like he’s probably going to get 15 16 million bucks a year and and respected that. And the Vikings have a decision because they could let him walk, get some good uh like a decent comp pick or they could trade Addison and roll with Speedy at a cheaper rate. Don’t know. But they got to ask themselves, do you see Speedy Naylor as a wide receiver, too? Or you really like him as a high-end wide receiver three? Guess we’ll see. Number five, need more on the Dline. So, the Vikings defensive line, I know you paid Allen. I know you paid Hargrave and they’ve had their moments, but it just hasn’t been there. Just the juice has not been worth the squeeze. Jaylen Redmond’s really stepped up. Definitely need to keep him in the fold. He’s going to be exclusive rights free agent, take care of him. Levi Drake Rodriguez has been solid in spurts. T when he’s been on the field has made things happen. So, yeah, the Vikings and it’s been frustrating this year. like whenever a team really wants to run the football, they they’ve been able to. You going back to uh Kenneth Gainwell uh with the Steelers uh as well as Kamani freaking Vidal with the Chargers and Javvante Williams 91 yards that touchdown for the Cowboys 6.1 yards per carry. The Vikings just do not have that two gapping run stopping nose tackle. I mean, Harrison Phillips was fine, but we just need that dude. And I I like what the Vikings have done, but also Jonathan Allen’s a three-te at heart. Javon Hargraves is a three-tech at heart, and you’re making him you’re making them play Forex and nose tackle, which at a certain point, you can get too cute. You’re moving players around, and versatility isn’t always a virtue. Like if you have players that come on in and can play a singular role, maybe two, really well, cater to that role. It’s like, hey, you’re a great chef, but can you farm? RIP Mitch Hadber, the pride of St. Paul. That’s right, man. Uh, number six, Eric Wilson should be a pro bowler. Absolutely he should. I understand he’s not a household name, but you know, five and a half sacks, tied for the team lead. uh had that huge tackle for loss against Cowboys as well at the fourth down stop and 55 just is flying around making plays. What whatever you need, he’s got it. And the Vikings should and could bring him back. Yes, he is 31. Uh but him and Cashman, dynamic duo uh in that second level. Bring Wilson back at but what price? Like 10 million a year, two-year deal. So two years, 20 million, like 12 guaranteed most of it first year. I’d be okay with that. I’d be okay with that. Uh, next up, number seven, Harrison throwback game. So, two games in a row, Harrison Smith has basically turned back time. Had the pick against the commies as well as had six tackles, two passes broken up, and nearly had strips sack on Dak. I mean, Harrison, yeah, he’s very melancholy after the commies game. Talk about his love for the game. Like, this was definitely a love for the game. And this might be the last three games of Harrison Smith’s career coming on up. He’s gonna savor every single second of a man. And you know there’s still times where it just like throwback to the old deuce deuce. I mean number eight thrill and right. So both these guys are playing at a pro bowl level. Depalo too. Again I can’t tell a good long snapper but I can tell a bad long snapper. And Dalo is a allp pro for a reason. And you will the thrill just ice water in his veins nailing that 53 yarder to seal up the game. Ryan Wright had two amazing Boomer punts against the Cowboys. Didn’t hit the scoreboard on either either of them. Both of them have played exceedingly well this year and Ryan Wright has been really impressive because we’ve talked a lot of ish about Ryan Wright the last couple years, but this year he’s been nails, man. Absolutely has. So, your respect there. Number nine. Number nine. Uh Kevin McConn is learning on the job. And you can say, well, it’s year four for him. Yes. but also he’s learning to deal with the Dune dynamic of this team, notably JJ McCarthy, right? Because if if you think about it, Kevin McConnell’s worked with veterans, whether it’s Stafford or Cousins or Darnold, veterans who have been around the block, and he’s really had to check his ego and respect because he has where instead of well, you need to you need to adhere to the system. The system is is not working. You’re not working the system. But instead of saying, “F it. We’ll worry about your technique in the off season. Just go out and sling it. Just go out and make plays. Just go out and do what you do.” Right? That’s exactly what’s happening. I feel like it’s actually making the Okonnell McCarthy bond stronger. I feel like there’s a lot more trust there and they’re learning how to communicate with each other, learning on the fly, and this offense will get to where it needs to be. I’m fully confident in that. I think I feel like the last two games have been very good. And yes, they’ve been been against bad pass defenses, but also do not care, right? Uh, next up, number 10. Play spoiler the rest of the way. That’s exactly what it is, man. Actually, don’t spoil the Giants because the Giants are clearly tanking. And I I get it because if you’re in contention for the number one pick, and that could be worth a windfall of draft picks since they have Jackson Dart, go ahead. Go ahead. But in the Vikings case, nah, f that. I mean, you’re going to draft seven or between like eight or 12, right? So, go out, take care of the Giants, the last road game of the year. Then you can knock the Lions out of the playoffs in all likelihood. That’s going to be a great Christmas gift. And then week 18, I mean, maybe the Packers, maybe they beat the Bears uh coming on up, split the season series. Maybe they’re in contention for the division. So, it could be a spot where the Packers have to beat the Vikings at US Bank Stadium to win the division. Do you think that’s going to fly? Do you think that Kevin McConnell, Brian Flores, JJ McCarthy, Justin Freaking Jefferson, Jonathan Gernard? Do you think Harrison freaking Smith? Do you think they’re just going to let Oh yeah, come come on in Packers. Don’t you know, just come on and win the division. No. F you. F your mom. F your face. F everyone. It’s gonna be great. It’s gonna be biblical, man. Lastly, number 11. Doesn’t feel like last place. Now, I I understand that the Vikings are in all likelihood going to finish in last place. Well, I mean, if Detroit has a nose dive, who knows? But this does not feel like a last place. Like, does this feel like the Titans to you? This feel like the Cardinals or the Giants to you? Nah. Uh, now it may have been a little late for the vibes to become immaculate again, but tons of injuries, tons of nonsense, tons of ego and overthinking and and experience and just whack-a-ole of the phases not working. Better late than never. All right. And I feel like if the Vikings had just had turmoil all season, that would have greatly been very detrimental to the culture of this team. the vibe of this team and the direction of this team going forward. But even though the Vikings are eliminated from the playoff contention, like finishing strong is extremely important, especially for a team with a young quarterback like JJ McCarthy. So that that’s what the Vikings are going to do around the holidays. Going to piss in everyone’s Cheerios and it’s going to be great. It’s going to be Vikings. Honestly, there is a path where the Vikings finish nine and eight and I think that that will actually be one of the better things for the team. Yeah, it might cost him a draft pick or two, uh, or a draft slot or two, but also I I I do not care in the slightest. But anyways, that’s it. Tell the truth Monday. Uh, 11 11 truths about the six and eight soon to be nine and eight Minnesota. Feels good to say. Let us know comment section. 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TELL THE TRUTH MONDAY: 10 Truths about the 6-8 Minnesota Vikings

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