Vikings Get ‘On the Rise’ National Attention

  |  
Aug 21, 2021
Dalvin Cook
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

You wouldn’t know it by the performance from the Minnesota Vikings in the first week of the preseason, but the team is evidently “on the rise” per ESPN’s determination.

This week, ESPN ranked every NFL team per position on the depth chart, chiming in at the conclusion that the Vikings are a team to monitor for stardom in 2021.

Only one other team was afforded such kudos — the Cleveland Browns.

Via positional rankings — comprised of talent and depth — this is how the Vikings were adjudicated against national peers:

ESPN’s Mike Clay said about the Vikings possible unsung ascension:

“The 2021 Vikings are also an extremely fascinating team. Minnesota has an intriguing, high-pedigree offensive line, as well as near-completely overhauled interior defensive line and cornerback units. That defense will also have standouts Anthony Barr and Danielle Hunter back after the duo missed all but a combined 91 snaps last season due to injury. As if that’s not enough, stars Eric Kendricks (who also missed time last year) and Harrison Smith are sure to make a big impact. Coach Mike Zimmer is known for elite defense, and following a rough 2020, he now has the team on paper to get back to that in 2021. QB Kirk Cousins remains a polarizing player, but he played well last season and led Minnesota to the fifth-most offensive touchdowns. He has plenty of support in the form of Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson and Irv Smith Jr. Minnesota is on the rise.”

Truth be told, Clay’s summary about Minnesota is how close followers of the team perceive this brand of Vikings. Most other power rankings dump the Vikings into the 16th-to-22nd best team status for 2021. But a glance up and down the roster indicates Minnesota should be better than that.

What’s more, the Mike Zimmer-led Vikings own a strange tendency. Since 2014, the franchise alternates very good seasons with subpar ones. Here’s a look at the win-loss records per season:

  • 2014 = 7-9
  • 2015 = 11-5
  • 2016 = 8-8
  • 2017 = 13-3
  • 2018 = 8-7-1
  • 2019 = 10-6
  • 2020 = 7-9

Cumulatively, that makes the Vikings the NFL’s eighth-best team per win percentage since 2014.

The Vikings avoid all-out bad seasons under Zimmer while frustratingly showcasing mediocre ones — every other year. It’s akin to what heralded franchises like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints do when they encounter “bad” seasons. That is — a bad year for the Patriots, Steelers, and Saints is in the ballpark of 8-8.

The problem for Zimmer is that this oddity arises every other year.

And that’s the knock on Zimmer. His brand of Vikings feels stale to some solely because Minnesota cannot conduct playoff-bound operations in consecutive years. To an extent, none of that matters for 2021. Odd-year voodoo is on the menu, so if the Vikings continue the clockwork trend, the playoffs should be self-fulfilling.

The key takeaway from ESPN’s depth chart rankings? The offensive line. Each season, the Vikings glue together offensive trenches that fail to protect quarterbacks. From Matt Cassel, Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum, to Kirk Cousins, pass protection is a stomach-churner for folks that follow the team intently.

If these 2021 Vikings finally protect Kirk Cousins to the tune of 16th-or-better in the NFL, an offense not yet seen from the Vikings can be unlocked. Cousins always leads a Vikings offense in spite of poor pass protection. One time — it would be fabulous to see the full potential of Cousins-Cook-Jefferson-Thielen with apt offensive line play.

With some competent pass protection, this “team on the rise” stuff can truly come to fruition. Now, it’s up to Rashod Hill, Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Oli Udoh, Wyatt Davis, Brian O’Neill, Phil Rauscher, Klint Kubiak — and yes, Mike Zimmer — to make it happen.