Thoughts on the Vikings 2015 season

The Minnesota Vikings schedule was released on Tuesday night April 21^st and with that brought a few pleasant surprises.

The schedule is comprised of a few firsts and a 2 game road trip to Detroit and Chicago along with 2 out of the last 3 at home in this the final year of TCF Bank Stadium so the cold elements will be in place.

The Vikes face 5 of last year’s playoffs and will go head to head against 5 teams with brand new coaches.

Week 1 is a Monday night 2^nd game of a national TV doubleheader when the Vikes travel to San Francisco with new coach Jim Tomsula in charge after Jim Harbaugh left and took the University of Michigan job, 49ers defense took a he hit in the defense with a couple of unexpected I am truly excited to see Bridgewater in year 2 on national TV. The 49ers took major hits in the linebacker corps due to retirements. It will be fun to see Vikes defense take on Colin Kaepernik and his athleticism.

Week 2 the Vikes open the home schedule when last year’s playoff team, the Detroit Lions comes to TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikes had a 5-3 home record last year including winning the final 3 at home. An NFC North opponent is a great way to start the home schedule.

Week 3 sees the San Diego Chargers come to Minnesota. It is the first time Minnesota has faced the Chargers since the regular season opener in 2011 in San Diego.

Week 4- The Vikes travel to 2014 Playoff team, Denver and take on new coach, Gary Kubiak, Peyton Manning and the rest of the Broncos. The game is scheduled for a 3:25 CST time.

Week’s 1-4 summary sees Vikes have 2 home and 2 away, 2 playoff and 2 non-playoff teams and 2 AFC West opponents in a row giving the Vikes a heck of a way to start the season.

Week 5 is the Bye week which I am not a fan of with it being so early in the season.

Week 6 has the Kansas City Chiefs come to Minnesota. This will be the first meeting of the 2 squads since week 6 in 2003.

Week 7 and Week 8 are back to back road games against NFC North division Lions and Bears in respective order. The Vikes will get their first look at new Bears coach, John Fox. Will Jay Cutler be a different quarterback under a new system?

Week 9 sees the St. Louis Rams come to Minnesota with a new quarterback. I was so excited to see the Vikes defense go against Sam Bradford but with Sam going to Philadelphia we will see Nick Foles in charge. This will be the 3^rd meeting in 4 years with the Rams.

Week 5-9 summary sees a bye week, 2 home and 2 away with the 2 away being back to back with Lions and Bears.

 

Week 10 the Vikings travel to Oakland to take on new head Coach Jack Del Rio and the Raiders. This will be the first meeting between these 2 teams since 2003.

Week 11 the Vikes will host the border battle when the Green Bay Packers come to town. The way the Packers season ended last year in the playoffs was something to never forget. Packer’s Coach Mike McCarthy gave up the play calling duty so we will see what the Packers offense will look like.

Week 12 the Vikes travel to Atlanta and take on new coach, Dan Quinn and the rest of the Falcons. It is every time I see the Falcons on the schedule I look back at 1998 and always wonder, what if?

Week 13 the Seattle Seahawks come to Minnesota. This will be a great challenge for the Zimmer lead defense as they take on Russell Wilson and bruising running back, Marshawn Lynch.

Week 10-13 sees 2 home and 2 away once again. The Vikes will face Atlanta and Seattle who are connected by one name. Yes new Falcons coach, Quinn was last year’s Seahawk defensive coordinator.

Week 14 the Vikings travel to play the Arizona Cardinals and play on Thursday night national TV which will be a first time in Vikings franchise history. This game is the 2^nd national TV game of the year for the Vikings with Week 1 also. Mike Zimmer’s team is getting noticed and TV wants to show how this young team is developing the right way.

Week 15 and 16 are back to back home games when Chicago comes followed by the New York Giants. How will the weather be on December 20 an 27^th? Will cold records be set? Yes, I am a season ticket holder and will brave the weather on matter what!!!

Week 17 the Vikings travel to Lambeau Field and take on the Green Bay Packers. It is the first time in this long border battle rivalry that these 2 will face off in the last game of the season. What if the winner of this game goes to the playoffs? I can only hope the Purple will have this problem.

Weeks 14-17 sees 2 home and 2 away with the 2 home back to back weeks and the season ends in Green Bay. What a way to end the season.

The schedule Is tough but I have so much faith in Coach Zimmer and the team I believe this team can compete and win.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Vikes news and updates

The week that was in the offseason for the Vikings and the rest of the NFL has been a little busier and yes the mock drafts keep flowing.

JOHN SULLIVAN GETS AN EXTENSION

Tuesday the organization announced that John was given a one year extension that adds on to his current deal and will keep him a Vikings until at least 2017. Sullivan is currently ranked 4^th all time for Vikings centers with 93 starts. He has not missed a game since 2011 and has only missed 3 games in 7 seasons with the team. 

Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt have both been given contracts within the last couple years that will keep at least 3 united. The team cut left guard, Charlie Johnson in the offseason so there is a position open.

Matt Kalil is back but his 5^th year option is still up in the air with the team. I found per Matt Vensel, Vikings beat writer for the Star-Tribune this info on 5^th year pick up.

In case you need a refresher on these fifth year options, they are only available for teams to use on first round picks. In the case of Kalil and Smith, the Vikings have the ability to keep them through the 2016 season. Their fifth year salaries- $11.1 million for Kalil and 5.3 million for Smith- would only be guaranteed in the event of an injury. So if a healthy Kalil struggles, they can simply cut him before the 2016 league year and won’t have to pay him a dime of the $11.1 million. The deadline for teams to exercise the option May 3^rd, the day after the draft wraps up.

VIKINGS PRESEASON OPPENENTS ANNOUNCED

Week 1- Pittsburgh in Hall of Fame game

Week 2- home vs Tampa Bay

Week 3- home vs Oakland

Week 4- at Dallas

Week 5- at Tennessee

I like the 5 games because it means the Vikings start Training Camp in Mankato earlier than normal. The Vikes face Tampa Bay who has the number 1 pick overall in the upcoming draft. Will the Vikes face Jameis Winston?? The team also will see Christian Ponder with the Raiders and it’s a home game. I am anxious to hear any kind of reception he will get.

NFL SCHEDULE DATE RELEASED

Thursday April 17^th at 8:00 the teams will know their schedule, Teams know their opponents just not the dates.

Vikes home opponents

Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, San Diego, St. Louis, Seattle and the New York Giants

Vikings away opponents

Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, Oakland, San Francisco, Arizona and Atlanta

VIKINGS DRAFT 11

The Vikings will once again host a draft party on Thursday April 30^th at the Minneapolis Convention Center as fans gets together and await the announcement.

I believe the Vikings will draft defense and more specifically 2 names and they are Trae Waynes (DB-Michigan State or Vic Beasley (LB/DE- Clemson). I read an article written by a good friend, @Vikings Corner, Daniel House who made me add the name Beasley. I would be ecstatic with either. I will not be shocked if the Vikes do trade down but I do hope we stay at 11.

I looked up names picked at 11 going back to 1984. Here below is a few names and years they were taken:

1988- Michael Irvin

2000- Ron Dayne

2001- Dan Morgan

2002- Dwiht Freeney

2004- Ben Roethlisberger

2005- DeMarcus Ware

2006- Jay Cutler

2007- Patrick Willis

2011- JJ Watt

This will be the 3^rd time since 1984 the Vikes wll have the 11^th pick. In 1995 the team took Derrick Alexander and in 1999 the team took Daunte Culpepper.

STADIUM UPDATE

The stadium was announced this past week to be half done. I go up at least 1 time a month and take pictures of the progress and keep them in a photo album. I started with the deflating of the dome roof and went up Saturday April 11^th to witness the half done.

I have signed my PSL for my seats in the new stadium and I now see the team has opened to the public the right to sign PSL’s if they do desire. It is going to be an amazing stadium and I am so excited to be part of the future.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick