Questions Answered: Biggest Fear for 2024, Vikings’ Power Ranking, Dwight McGlothern
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the July 3rd edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Biggest Fear for 2024, Vikings’ Power Ranking, Dwight McGlothern
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: What’s your biggest fear for the 2024 Vikings?
Answer: Basically a repeat of last year but with fewer wins — as in, Sam Darnold gets hurt or stinks, and the Vikings refuse to play J.J. McCarthy, leaving a dumb carousel between Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall.
That’s aside from the obvious stuff like a Justin Jefferson ACL tear or something of the sort. In short, our top fear for the 2024 Vikings is a total banishment of J.J. McCarthy to the bench — hell or high water — if the season immediately seems lost. For example, if Minnesota is something like 2-7, but there is no indication that McCarthy will see playing time.
That would be brutal, and we hope the coaching staff avoids the scenario at all costs.
Life would be much easier if Sam Darnold just balls out.
Q: Where would you personally rank the Vikings in NFL power rankings?
Answer: Probably around 21st or 22nd.
It all boils down to quarterback efficiency and which man — Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy — can protect the football while throwing some touchdowns. Minnesota is prepared for a transformational season, eyeing a 7-10 or 8-9 campaign if Darnold starts the entire time.
The NFC North is simply too brutal after being rather lousy in 2022, for example. There’s always a chance that Darnold scripts a Baker Mayfield story from 2023, but those are best-case scenarios.
We’ll continue to pound home this stat … because it’s the turnovers, stupid.
Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Breaking Even or Winning Turnover Battle:
17-0
Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Losing Turnover Battle:
3-14
Q: Do you think cornerback Dwight McGlothern will make the 53-man roster?
A: No.
The team has “too many” decent cornerbacks on the current roster, and there are already CBs on the roster bubble not named Dwight McGlothern.
It would be pretty sweet if McGlothern authored an Ivan Pace-like story this summer, but he’s likely heading to the practice squad in September, where Minnesota will hope he doesn’t get swiped by another team.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.