Minnesota Championship Drought

[AbeVigodaLive]

I pondered this same thing today after the Twins game ended. Here's my take. I think the Twins, Wolves, and Vikings all have culture problems. And this culture undermines any real chance they have to make a title run. You can't possibly lose 18 straight playoff games without having some systemic issues. A novelist framing a fictional team with the same history as the Vikings wouldn't be believed, and wouldn't sell any books. And we all know the Wolves have the worst culture in the league, and possibly in the entire sports landscape.

The problem with the Wild is much the same as the very early Wolves teams. They were too good too early and haven't been able to escape the middle class of the league's hierarchy. But I think with the Wild there is hope. GM Bill Guerin knows things have to change, and I'm encouraged by the vigor in which he is going about it. It won't happen overnight, but I can see him building a winner within 3-4 years. Hope springs eternal.

As for culture... I agree entirely with the Wolves.

But haven't the Twins completely overhauled the way they play/manage/teach baseball? Hasn't the team gone from being the unmentioned "old school dumb guys way of playing baseball" in Moneyball to modern-day analytic devotees?

Like the Wolves, the ownership is the same, but the Pohlads seem much more hands-off with day-to-day operations. I doubt Jimbo is sitting down with Sano and Buxton and begging them to play harder before he gives them $150M.

As for the Vikings... they've had some success. And continually fall short, sometimes in heart-breaking fashion. Is it a culture thing within that organization? I dunno... maybe there are systemic culture issues with this current regime at this point.



[Note: And then KG mentioned the Gophers. Another one with almost unprecedented futility...]

[Monster]

I pondered this same thing today after the Twins game ended. Here's my take. I think the Twins, Wolves, and Vikings all have culture problems. And this culture undermines any real chance they have to make a title run. You can't possibly lose 18 straight playoff games without having some systemic issues. A novelist framing a fictional team with the same history as the Vikings wouldn't be believed, and wouldn't sell any books. And we all know the Wolves have the worst culture in the league, and possibly in the entire sports landscape.

The problem with the Wild is much the same as the very early Wolves teams. They were too good too early and haven't been able to escape the middle class of the league's hierarchy. But I think with the Wild there is hope. GM Bill Guerin knows things have to change, and I'm encouraged by the vigor in which he is going about it. It won't happen overnight, but I can see him building a winner within 3-4 years. Hope springs eternal.

As for culture... I agree entirely with the Wolves.

But haven't the Twins completely overhauled the way they play/manage/teach baseball? Hasn't the team gone from being the unmentioned "old school dumb guys way of playing baseball" in Moneyball to modern-day analytic devotees?

Like the Wolves, the ownership is the same, but the Pohlads seem much more hands-off with day-to-day operations. I doubt Jimbo is sitting down with Sano and Buxton and begging them to play harder before he gives them $150M.

As for the Vikings... they've had some success. And continually fall short, sometimes in heart-breaking fashion. Is it a culture thing within that organization? I dunno... maybe there are systemic culture issues with this current regime at this point.



[Note: And then KG mentioned the Gophers. Another one with almost unprecedented futility...]

I don't see the Vikings having a problem with culture. They don't suck. The Browns...they sick and have for a long time. The Vikings are a good organization with flaws. There are what like 3-4 NFL franchise that have been to the playoffs more than the Vikings? The Vikings have had their issues with Culture in the past but the reality is they are good enough to break your heart. The Wolves would be happy to be that type of organization.

The Twins look like they are heading in a successful direction. Part of Falvey's Hiring was he had an eye for pitching. This team has made some strides there. They didn't get everything right (Nick Anderson) but people shook their head at Matt Wisler and the dude was wildly effective this short season. This group hasn't got everything right but they have done much more good than bad. There are a bunch of intriguing prospects coming up and it feels like they are pretty legit ones. I'm excited to see where this group goes.

Wild...don't follow enough but it seems like things are maybe a little more interesting in a good way.

I'd love another championship but especially with the pandemic I'm just enjoying watching games when I can. I don't think that's going to change after this is all over.

[mrhockey89]

You guys can speak for yourselves. As a former UMD Bulldog, we're used to winning recent championships!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It feels like the Vikes and Twins at least try to field competitive teams on a regular basis and appear to have functional organizational cultures. But yeah, the playoff history has been pathetic since '91. I was at game 7 by the way. It's pretty embarrassing to tell my recently-turned-adult son that I was at the last Minnesota championship win, 10 years before he was even born!.

[Porckchop]

If the Vikes tank and get the first pick in the draft I'll guess they have the best shot at a ring. Trevor Lawrence might be a generational talent. You get that at the qb position you have a chance.

The Vikings have had the talent, but they've always patched the tire with past their prime qbs. A revolving door at the most important position is not a recipe for success.

[mrhockey89]

If the Vikes tank and get the first pick in the draft I'll guess they have the best shot at a ring. Trevor Lawrence might be a generational talent. You get that at the qb position you have a chance.

The Vikings have had the talent, but they've always patched the tire with past their prime qbs. A revolving door at the most important position is not a recipe for success.

Unfortunately, I think the Vikings have too much talent to pull off the 1st pick, especially when you have teams like the Jets, who lack talent and wins...oh, and who happened to just lose at home to a team with a no-name backup QB, not to mention trading their best young defensive player in the offseason.

I have to think the Vikes would take Lawrence if they had the 1st pick, but if they somehow got a top 8 pick or so, there's a few QBs in this draft class that are highly regarded prospects. With that said, Cousins is under contract for another 2 years after this one and would take a pretty massive cap hit if they dropped him early, and with the team still in win-now mode due to the talent and veteran coaching staff, I think they'd be much more likely to grab a top OL, top WR, or top DT with that 1st pick.

[Porckchop]

If the Vikes tank and get the first pick in the draft I'll guess they have the best shot at a ring. Trevor Lawrence might be a generational talent. You get that at the qb position you have a chance.

The Vikings have had the talent, but they've always patched the tire with past their prime qbs. A revolving door at the most important position is not a recipe for success.

Unfortunately, I think the Vikings have too much talent to pull off the 1st pick, especially when you have teams like the Jets, who lack talent and wins...oh, and who happened to just lose at home to a team with a no-name backup QB, not to mention trading their best young defensive player in the offseason.

I have to think the Vikes would take Lawrence if they had the 1st pick, but if they somehow got a top 8 pick or so, there's a few QBs in this draft class that are highly regarded prospects. With that said, Cousins is under contract for another 2 years after this one and would take a pretty massive cap hit if they dropped him early, and with the team still in win-now mode due to the talent and veteran coaching staff, I think they'd be much more likely to grab a top OL, top WR, or top DT with that 1st pick.

If Trevors there you admit your mistakes, eat the cap hit and move forward. Jets willing to admit their mistake and give up on Darnold is the question.

[mrhockey89]

If the Vikes tank and get the first pick in the draft I'll guess they have the best shot at a ring. Trevor Lawrence might be a generational talent. You get that at the qb position you have a chance.

The Vikings have had the talent, but they've always patched the tire with past their prime qbs. A revolving door at the most important position is not a recipe for success.

Unfortunately, I think the Vikings have too much talent to pull off the 1st pick, especially when you have teams like the Jets, who lack talent and wins...oh, and who happened to just lose at home to a team with a no-name backup QB, not to mention trading their best young defensive player in the offseason.

I have to think the Vikes would take Lawrence if they had the 1st pick, but if they somehow got a top 8 pick or so, there's a few QBs in this draft class that are highly regarded prospects. With that said, Cousins is under contract for another 2 years after this one and would take a pretty massive cap hit if they dropped him early, and with the team still in win-now mode due to the talent and veteran coaching staff, I think they'd be much more likely to grab a top OL, top WR, or top DT with that 1st pick.

If Trevors there you admit your mistakes, eat the cap hit and move forward. Jets willing to admit their mistake and give up on Darnold is the question.

True, Jets probably wouldn't take Trevor unless Darnold does a faceplant this year. But I bet they'd be more than willing to hold the 1st pick hostage to the highest bidder, something I want no part of (I generally think it's a bad idea to trade up in early 1st as the cost would undoubtedly be multiple 1sts). ESPN Power Index thinks the Vikings will own the #14 pick this year (after having started 0-3), and the Vikes 2nd half schedule is easier than the 1st half, so I'm bracing for worst case scenario (good enough to miss a top 5-10 pick, yet missing the playoffs).

[Porckchop]

If the Vikes tank and get the first pick in the draft I'll guess they have the best shot at a ring. Trevor Lawrence might be a generational talent. You get that at the qb position you have a chance.

The Vikings have had the talent, but they've always patched the tire with past their prime qbs. A revolving door at the most important position is not a recipe for success.

Unfortunately, I think the Vikings have too much talent to pull off the 1st pick, especially when you have teams like the Jets, who lack talent and wins...oh, and who happened to just lose at home to a team with a no-name backup QB, not to mention trading their best young defensive player in the offseason.

I have to think the Vikes would take Lawrence if they had the 1st pick, but if they somehow got a top 8 pick or so, there's a few QBs in this draft class that are highly regarded prospects. With that said, Cousins is under contract for another 2 years after this one and would take a pretty massive cap hit if they dropped him early, and with the team still in win-now mode due to the talent and veteran coaching staff, I think they'd be much more likely to grab a top OL, top WR, or top DT with that 1st pick.

If Trevors there you admit your mistakes, eat the cap hit and move forward. Jets willing to admit their mistake and give up on Darnold is the question.

True, Jets probably wouldn't take Trevor unless Darnold does a faceplant this year. But I bet they'd be more than willing to hold the 1st pick hostage to the highest bidder, something I want no part of (I generally think it's a bad idea to trade up in early 1st as the cost would undoubtedly be multiple 1sts). ESPN Power Index thinks the Vikings will own the #14 pick this year (after having started 0-3), and the Vikes 2nd half schedule is easier than the 1st half, so I'm bracing for worst case scenario (good enough to miss a top 5-10 pick, yet missing the playoffs).

When your bad there's no such thing as an easy schedule. Other teams look at the Vikings as an easy part of their schedule. Lol
Zimmer got a big head about being the secondary whisperer and wouldn't you know it, it's a complete train wreck.

[mrhockey89]

I think the Vikings pass defense has less to do with the cornerbacks and more to do with the pass rush (or lack there of). There's almost zero push up the middle, and we've got 1 DE who can rush the passer. Tie that with the fact one of our safeties trying to play hero-ball. The Vikings will get better on defense, especially if/when Hunter comes back.