1 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: Recket Recket. I'm here. Hey, everybody, welcome into another episode 2 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: of the Tailgate, brought to you by ticket Master. It's me, 3 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: your host, Cy Aminson, taking you through the final week 4 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: of the NFL season for your Minnesota Vikings. Now, normally 5 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: this is a two man show, myself the great Chad Daniels. Unfortunately, 6 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: with holidays and travel and schedules, the final episode of 7 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: the season will be a solo one. It's just me. 8 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: It's it will Jase here. I shouldn't say it's solo. 9 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: Producer Jay Nelson is here, but it'll be me. Colin 10 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: cowharding my feelings directly into a microphone. As we prepare 11 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: for Packer week. For the final week, people are it's 12 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: it's kind of in two camps. As we are eight 13 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: and eight, we've won a bunch of games in a row. 14 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: The Packers are gonna be without a bus load full 15 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: of people. We have a chance to go nine to eight. 16 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: And you have the people who are thrilled, they needed 17 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,119 Speaker 1: some meaning, they needed some positivity. You have the other 18 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,759 Speaker 1: people who are furious they wanted the draft pick. They 19 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: don't like to middle They either want to be on 20 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: the top or the bottom, and I think you can 21 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: only be where you're at. So we are at eight 22 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: and eight. I know it's not a one for one comparison, 23 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: but I want to harken back Jay to a few 24 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: years ago when the Lions got a when the schedule 25 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: was set up weird, when it should have been. You know, 26 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: the Lions shouldn't have known their fate in my opinion, 27 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: before they played on Sunday Night Football against the Green 28 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: Bay Packers. They were eliminated, and they came out and 29 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: they played their hearts out and won a big game, 30 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: and a lot of people viewed that as the springboard 31 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: into what has been the Lions run. Now, obviously they're 32 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: on a run because of all the crazy talent and 33 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: the coaching, et cetera, et cetera, but that was a 34 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: big moment for them. And I've said this on this 35 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: show before, and it's something I'm a firm believer in, 36 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: is locker rooms are weird places. When teams start winning 37 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: like that, they start believing it, they start believing in 38 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: one another. When they start losing that way, they start 39 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: believing in it, they stop believing in one another. So 40 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: every year is its own team and its own roster 41 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: and its whole own thing. But it's not like this 42 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: is gonna be a new unit Florida ceiling. You have 43 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: the pillars, the general manager, the ownership, the general manager, 44 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: the coach, a vast majority of his coaching staff, positional coaches, 45 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: and you have a lot of cornerstone players spread all 46 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: over the roster. So, yes, the roster and some things 47 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: are going to look different next year, but not much. 48 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: And the messaging and the vibe and the community that's 49 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:07,839 Speaker 1: built underneath Koc isn't gonna change significantly from what he's 50 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: been doing each and every year up and to this point. 51 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: And so I don't take lightly like would I love 52 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,119 Speaker 1: a high draft pick, Yes, but if you're gonna win 53 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: a few games and land in the football purgatory, which 54 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: is not a top five to seven pick and not 55 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, well then do it in a meaningful way. 56 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: You know, you've seen Koc at the end of each 57 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: game when he does his post games, he keeps referencing 58 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: before this streak started, go out and win one game, 59 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: and then like whatever this streak is that some people 60 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: think is meaningless. There's been a belief in the locker 61 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: room about it. There's been a belief and a preaching 62 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: from the coaching staff about it. And I do think 63 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: that matters. I do think it carries through. I do 64 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: think for Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, you know, for the 65 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: young guys, Dallas Turner, Donovan Jackson, people who are gonna 66 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: be here next year. You know, there's a long list 67 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: of those guys. I do think it matters. And so 68 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: not only am I all in on winning this game. 69 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: I don't care who they line up. I don't I 70 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: don't care if they put their significant others or siblings 71 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: on the field in green Bay, squash them. I like 72 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: watching green Bay lose, even if they don't have anything 73 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: to play for. Squash them, run them into the mud, 74 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: and walk out with all these wins in a row. 75 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: And let's build what we're going to do next. Let's 76 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: worry about next year, but let's carry that momentum from 77 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: this one, because that's the best case scenario given you've 78 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: arrived at this point. 79 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 2: For sure, I think the thing that you know, coaching 80 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: staffs and teams want to do is build stability. And 81 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: if you're at the end of your season with these 82 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 2: different players and guys have different escalators, guys have different meanings. 83 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: All these guys are the alphas of the alphas, and 84 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 2: all they want to do is win. The entire thing 85 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,119 Speaker 2: is to put good plays on tape and to build 86 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 2: a winning culture. And I think you cited the thing 87 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: that I've been thinking about all season long is the 88 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: end of that Lion season, and they got to the 89 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 2: end of the year, and then they continue that going 90 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: into next season. It's something that I think that everyone 91 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 2: that's on this roster and everyone that's going to be 92 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: on this roster next year are looking at and pointing at, saying, 93 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 2: finish off on a five game win streak, which would 94 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 2: mean Kevin O'Connell has a five game win streak and 95 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: every season he's been a coach for the Vikings. That 96 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: is a big deal. And for all of these guys 97 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: that can carry that momentum into the offseason into whatever 98 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 2: they end up retooling into and then into the twenty 99 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 2: twenty sixth season, which ought to be a fun one. 100 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you're right. I think you lean into it. 101 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: I think you build meaning into this run in a 102 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: season that didn't go where anybody wanted it to go 103 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: and did have some negativity around it. What are the 104 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: things that you can lean on and look back at 105 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: and go of that that was a good thing. I'm 106 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: staking my mental energy. I'm giving space to that and 107 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: to me. When you talk about this win streak, you 108 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: talk about the second half of the season, it's the defense. 109 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, they've been insane. 110 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: After they got healthy, we got a glimpse of why 111 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: everybody was having this who was the quarterback discussion? Why 112 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: we were talking about stuff like that in the offseason, 113 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: because it looks like a championship caliber defense. They look 114 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 1: like they can play with anyone anywhere at any time. 115 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: This thing where they didn't hold, where no one got 116 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: a passing touchdown on them for however long Jay six 117 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: Street games, that wasn't that. Dak was in that run. Yeah, 118 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb were in that run. And 119 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: so I just think when you look at the defense, 120 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: you look at the places that the production came from 121 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: on a high level, there's not going to be enough 122 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: turnover that if we are fortunate enough, and this goes 123 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: into my resolutions, but if we are fortunate enough to 124 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:47,239 Speaker 1: retain the defensive coordinator and you know, build a little 125 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: bit more talent around that side of the ball. I 126 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: don't see any reason why not only is that one 127 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: of your positive pillars from this season, but it's something 128 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: that's springboards in the next season, and you should be 129 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: the same amount whatever you felt last season. I think 130 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: if we get Jalen Redmand back, if this thing looks 131 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: you know, if Dallas Turner takes the step forward that 132 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: it looks like he's taking, there's no reason that it 133 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: shouldn't just be something you're happy about this season, something 134 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: that you're springing forward into next season. Yeah. 135 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,559 Speaker 2: I think the biggest thing is, you know, there's always 136 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: going to be roster turnover. There's a host of players 137 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: at this point who are going to be unrestricted free 138 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 2: agents and some other people that have different designations. But 139 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,119 Speaker 2: ultimately it's the same thing like we were just talking about. 140 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: It's about consistency, it's about building a winning culture, and 141 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:34,559 Speaker 2: like you said, a lot of it's going to depend 142 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: on what happens with the defensive coordinator. It's also going 143 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: to depend on what's going to happen with some of 144 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 2: those players that have been playing out of their minds 145 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 2: this season. You cited Jalen Redmond. Redman's the guy that's 146 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: and He's going to be a highly sought after piece 147 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: of the puzzle here in the upcoming offseason, and so 148 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 2: it's going to be very interesting to see what happens 149 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: with him. And I just think if you can bring 150 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 2: a guy like that back into the fold and pay 151 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 2: him and keep him for the future, I think that 152 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: is a guy you can build around as a young 153 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: talent for this defense. 154 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: Let me do the other one. The other, you know, 155 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: because this is a subset. This is the year in review, 156 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: the second thing I'm leaning on, But it's a it's 157 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: a bullet point of the header, that is the defense. 158 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: When are we going to start talking about Andrew van 159 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: Ginkel as more than a high level unique gadget The 160 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: way he's discussed by media and by you know, fans 161 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: got in this guy, we're any unique? Oh he's so smart, 162 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: any Like I'm I'm over there. And and maybe part 163 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: of it is you couldn't find a more perfect marriage 164 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: than him and the defensive coordinator. They really work together. 165 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: Flores knew that brought him in and it's but I 166 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: don't want to be dramatic to be like, this is 167 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: a guy that should be talked about in defensive player 168 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: of the year, but it's not a fluke what he 169 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: did last year, those interceptions, the ballhawk always being in 170 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: the right place. He's an absolute freak. And I think 171 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: we need to move from discussing his unique Swiss army 172 00:08:56,559 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: gadget nature into starting to discuss him among the better 173 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: and or best all around defensive players in the league, 174 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: because that's what he looks like. It's not a small 175 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: sample size anymore. It's two seasons. 176 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 2: He's one hundred percent of difference. 177 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: Maanker. 178 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 2: I remember coming out of Miami, everyone's like, this guy 179 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: just flashes whenever he gets into games. And I think 180 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 2: you talked about the fact that he had the multiple 181 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 2: pick sixes last season that really put him on the 182 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 2: map for us, but then you just you see him 183 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 2: out there making those similar kind of plays just game 184 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 2: in and game out. Talks about the fact that, you know, 185 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 2: being a former quarterback, he kind of understands what they're 186 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 2: looking for and what they're trying to do, so he 187 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 2: masks it as well as he does. And the guy's 188 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: been nothing but absolutely a plus for us since he 189 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 2: walked in the door. So Van Ginkle's a guy that 190 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: you noticed when he wasn't on the field, and when 191 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: he got back, you started to see different things pop off. 192 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 2: You started to see other people around him benefiting from 193 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: the plays that he was making. And so he's a 194 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 2: guy another one. It's just like that is a guy 195 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: you can help build around on this defense moving forward. 196 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: It reminds me with him of the early Patriots team 197 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 1: because when that two thousand, two thousand and one, two 198 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: three four, when that first run of the Patriots was 199 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: winning and having success, I remember what the narrative was. 200 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: It was all these you know, hardened dads across America going, see, 201 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: that's how you win. No egos, no superstars, just a team. 202 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: And the truth was we just didn't realize how many. 203 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: It took a minute to go, oh, there's a bunch 204 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: of borderline Hall of famers and Hall of famers on 205 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 1: this team. 206 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 2: That's what I was gonna say. Guys that were weekend 207 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 2: and week out that ended up becoming Pro Bowlers and 208 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,839 Speaker 2: then stuck in Canton with bust after bust. 209 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, you just didn't recognize it at the time. And 210 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,439 Speaker 1: I wonder to the Van Ginkle thing with like, he's 211 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: a gadget player, he's everywhere. Is this that I wonder 212 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: if years from now we will look back and go, oh, 213 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: you mean one of the best players in the NFL. 214 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: That's maybe I'm being a little ridiculous, but I just 215 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: have such a high level of belief in what that 216 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 1: guy is and what his ceiling is that that's number 217 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: two for me. Stick around for more after the break 218 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: right here on the Vikings Tailgate, presented by Ticketmaster, but 219 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: first as the official ticket marketplace of the Minnesota Vikings 220 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: and the NFL. Ticketmasters the safest and most convenient marketplace 221 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: to score fully verified Viking tickets. So get those touchdown 222 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: celebrations ready and score your tickets today at ticketmaster dot 223 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 1: com slash Vikings. Hey Viking fans, right now you can 224 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: pick up a commemorative Pepsi Vikings Cup at us Bank Stadium, 225 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: participating Highvy, Fast and Fresh locations and Buffalo Wild Wing 226 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: locations for your chance to win Victor's Ride and or 227 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: other great prizes. Viking fans deserve Pepsi scoll Welcome back 228 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: to the Vikings Tailgate. Let's jump back into our week 229 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: eighteen conversation. So let's do resolutions and then we'll shut 230 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: down this New Year's show. I want to tell you 231 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: a couple things that I'm really looking forward to this weekend. 232 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: One of the fun things about being a fan is 233 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: saying what you want to happen, criticizing what happened, loving 234 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: what have like. Thinking you're smarter than the people making 235 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: the decision is one of the things that makes professional 236 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: sports truly an escape right. You're so deeply invested you 237 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: think you know, you want to know. I like that. 238 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 1: I enjoy that part. I also am very aware of 239 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: how insanely difficult the processes and jobs are, of the 240 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: evaluators and the scouting staffs and stuff like that. You know, 241 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: when you get to work for a team and you 242 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: get to see inside the building and it stops being 243 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: something you watch on Sunday and it starts being like, Oh, 244 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: you go to work every day and do a job, 245 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: and then you realize how much goes into everything. It's 246 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: it's kind of like, what's that phenomenon called where people 247 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: don't they're too dumb to realize what they don't know 248 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: about a thing, so they think they're good at it. Yeah, 249 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: there we go, right. So I just constantly, whenever I'm 250 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,719 Speaker 1: in the building, get smacked in the face with the 251 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: gigantic operation that it takes to run a sports organ 252 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: I saw that at ESPN. You go into these teams 253 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: and into these locker rooms, you go, oh my god, 254 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: look at how many people it takes to make any 255 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: of this happen. So I think the nice thing about 256 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: being a Viking fan right now is we have great ownership, 257 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: and that's the number one thing in sports. And I 258 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: think they truly want to win, and so you have 259 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: this belief that things are being done right, and then 260 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: that gets reinforced right by the grades. So I try 261 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: to stay away from the I don't want this guy, 262 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: I want this I can't do that with my resolutions, right, 263 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: I leave that. I leave that to my psycho threads. 264 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: I don't want that on record. I don't want anybody 265 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: to tell me how wrong I was about something anytime 266 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: in the future. Here are my broad resolutions, and the 267 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: first one is a retain someone bring them back. But 268 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: I think it's the obvious one. It's Flores. I hope 269 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: nothing but the best for this guy. Right, he's been 270 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: such a killer for the team. Man, I hope he's 271 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 1: our defensive coordinator for the next thirty years. He's so unique, 272 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,319 Speaker 1: He's coached so many positions. He's got such a weird 273 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,559 Speaker 1: background coming up as a scout. He just knows football 274 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: in this different way. He knows what he wants and 275 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: knows how to execute it. It's hard to go from 276 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: not in the playoffs to winning a Super Bowl, for sure, 277 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: because the NFL is a true salary cap sport. It's 278 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: the one sport where you really can do that. You 279 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: can make steps pretty quickly, and in a couple of 280 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: years you go from being at the bottom to being 281 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: at the top. And to me, if you are able 282 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: to retain someone like Brian Flores and you have the 283 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: offensive firepower from a talent weapons standpoint, and brain power 284 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: from a coaching standpoint, I think just as a fan, 285 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: you feel like you're really ready to take another swing. 286 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: I think if we're lucky enough that Brian Flores is 287 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: this team's defensive coordinator through this offseason and in the 288 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: next year, there's no reason that you shouldn't be carrying 289 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: the same sort of enthusiasm you may be carried into 290 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: this season in the next season. 291 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think if you look at the talent 292 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 2: that's been put on his defense, I think a lot 293 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 2: of those guys were people that he identified that he 294 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 2: was looking for your cashman's, your Grenard's, your ven ginkles. 295 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 2: Those guys who have been those kind of difference makers 296 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 2: on this defense are guys that he just looked at 297 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 2: and said, I know they're going to work in my system. 298 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 2: Let's bring them in. And I think, you know, having 299 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 2: a cornerstone like him, if we're able to retain him, 300 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 2: that's just one of those other things that you don't 301 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 2: have to necessarily worry about anymore. I mean, right now, 302 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 2: your sixthn yards allowed a game, third and passing yards 303 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 2: a game, and then twenty second rushing, but overall your 304 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 2: tenth and points per game, Like, if you are able 305 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 2: to keep that kind of a thing where you have 306 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 2: essentially a top ten defense and you're able to pair 307 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 2: that with, you know, whatever is happening with your offense, 308 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 2: and you can make it as consistent as possible, that's 309 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 2: when you start to see teams like Chicago flip it 310 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 2: from fourth place to first place in one season because 311 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 2: they're able to get everything on both sides of the ball. 312 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 2: So having a guy like Flores come back would be 313 00:15:58,760 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: a huge deal. 314 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: It's me to my second one all aboard the quarterback train. 315 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: And here's what I mean by that. I said this 316 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the year. I continue to say this. 317 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: Whatever the coach decides for quarterback, he's earned my willingness 318 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: to hear him out, watch him and see what happens 319 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: when you do what you did with Kirk, when you 320 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: do what you did with Dobbs, when you did what 321 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: you did with Mullins, when you did what you did 322 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: with Sam Darnold. Like you've You've shown who you are. 323 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: You've earned it. So I like, I like anyone and 324 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: everyone bring what do you say free agents? Tell me 325 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: about all of them rookies. I want to hear about 326 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: all them, JJ, give them another shot. Like whatever, whatever 327 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: they decide, all aboard the train, every option above the train, 328 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: and let our quarterback guru head coach have an opportunity 329 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: to sort it out. Because I think I feel the 330 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: way most people feel is that we are a quarterback evolution, 331 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: you know, a growth, an improvement away from this being 332 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: a very very scary football team. I like JJ McCarthy. 333 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: I'm rooting for the dude, and I'm but I'm going 334 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 1: to root for whoever whenever, however, and I'm very curious 335 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: to see how all that comes together. I want them all. 336 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 1: Throw them all at me, Let's see what happens, and 337 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: let the coach who knows this position better than anyone 338 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 1: sort it out. 339 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 2: Right there with you, it's, you know, take whatever it 340 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 2: takes in this offseason, evaluate whatever you got to do, 341 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 2: and then and then you know, throw the competition out 342 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,159 Speaker 2: there and let's see what happens between McCarthy and and 343 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 2: whoever else they identify at this point. So right there 344 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 2: with you, buddy, it's the whole thing of if you 345 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 2: can get more consistent play out of this offense, that's 346 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 2: going to be something that's going to be a huge, 347 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 2: huge help next season. 348 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: The last one for me is a fairly obvious one. 349 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: It's splashed the draft. And here's here's what I mean 350 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: by that. The NFL is a math equation does this 351 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: has always been my opinion. It's the only hard salary 352 00:17:54,520 --> 00:18:00,479 Speaker 1: cap sport you you thrive on getting more production versus 353 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: the dollars spent than the next team. That's why so many, 354 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 1: so many teams win Super Bowls with quarterbacks on rookie 355 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: contracts right or in Roethlisberger's case, on a second contract 356 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: where they're not making max money, because the ultimate cheat 357 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: code in the draft in the NFL is to hit 358 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,400 Speaker 1: the draft and get some players you can, especially when 359 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: you're close, like I think this team is close, Like 360 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,959 Speaker 1: this winning streak is indicating they're close, like the record 361 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: versus some of the statistical metrics show how close it is. 362 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: You have a home run draft and everything goes the 363 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: right direction really really quick. So I'm I don't normally 364 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: do it, but I think this is gonna be the 365 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 1: year that as a fan, I'm gonna be pathetically invested 366 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: because I don't know anything about college football, so I 367 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: always stay out of opinions on who gets drafted and 368 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 1: what and where. But I'm getting into it. Jay, I'm 369 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 1: gonna do you think my messages are bad now? I 370 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,159 Speaker 1: imagine as we roll up to draft and I actually 371 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 1: have opinions on the guys who might get drafted, I 372 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: am I'm concerned that I'm about to go deep on 373 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: caring about the draft this year. 374 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 2: I'm looking forward to you showing up to the facility, 375 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 2: sitting in my office and watching all the college tape 376 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 2: that we get in for all these different guys, because 377 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 2: you've talked about it a lot in the past. You 378 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 2: are trying to refill that well and just trying to 379 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 2: make sure that you've got more and more talent that 380 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 2: can come in here and augment versus having to completely 381 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 2: overhaul a roster. So hopefully that with whatever is going 382 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: to happen here coming up, with all the different picks 383 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 2: that we've got, there's all the compensatory and everything else 384 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 2: that's going to hit. But with everything else coming here 385 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 2: this offseason, I think it's going to be a really 386 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 2: interesting offseason to see, not only once again for free agency, 387 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 2: but what does the draft turn into. 388 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: Let's close the show down here, and let's close the 389 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: season down, because even though the Vikings upside of our team, 390 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: even though the Vikings aren't playing for positioning, there's a 391 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: couple of fun ones that are I'm always going to 392 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: be a secondary Buffalo Bills fan. I think if you 393 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: are a Viking fan, you should be a Bills fan. 394 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 1: That is my belief. They have suffered the way you 395 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: have suffered, Famous Miss Kick. They have four lost Super Bowls. 396 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 1: They have a fan base that they are not unlikable 397 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: in any way. I mean, unless your partner divorced you 398 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: without you, without any warning and moved to Buffalo and 399 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: change their number. I guess then you could have some 400 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: beef with the city at Buffalo, but you'd have to 401 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: explain to me how someone could not like Buffalo from 402 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: a just rooting for them in that city. It's a 403 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: no brainer to me. 404 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,239 Speaker 2: If your divorce papers were served you while you were 405 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 2: flying through a table with a chicken wing in your 406 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 2: mouth eating blue cheese like you know, there would be 407 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 2: some trauma there side. 408 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I guess. I think with the Chiefs out, 409 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: with potentially the Ravens out, we'll see how that Sunday 410 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: night game goes. It's the path for Josh Allen, and 411 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: I want to see him do it, but in the 412 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: final week of the season because they don't. There's not 413 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: really a lot going there. For me, it's two things. 414 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,919 Speaker 1: I'm a Sam Darnold guy. I liked Sam when he 415 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 1: was here. He answered the bell against a team that 416 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,640 Speaker 1: beat him twice last year. It is literally an identical position. 417 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 1: He is playing a divisional opponent for the number one 418 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: seed and the bye. It is a big time game. 419 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: It is primetime, it is Saturday night football. I'm all 420 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: in on hoping Sam Darnold has a moment. 421 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,479 Speaker 2: Listen I am salty enough with all these NFC teams 422 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 2: just in general because it's not my team that's in there. 423 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 2: But if there's one team at this point through the 424 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 2: entire NFC that I can get behind, it's the Seahawks, 425 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 2: and it's for what you said. Defensively, they're not the 426 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 2: legion of Boom, but they are stout as hell and 427 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 2: they're running the ball as well. So to me, they 428 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: feel like one of the most complete teams in the 429 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 2: entire NFL. And I'm going to be rooted for the 430 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 2: Seahawks and the NFC side that's going to. 431 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: Do it for us on this episode of The Tailgate 432 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,959 Speaker 1: that's going to do it for us. As a season 433 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: on the Tailgate, maybe we'll do some off season stuff 434 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: around the draft since I am going to be so 435 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: involved in it. Thank you from Chad, myself and Jay 436 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 1: Zach Martine, Blake Wexler, all the people who contributed. We 437 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: love doing the show. We appreciate that you guys listen 438 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 1: each and every week. If you want to hear the 439 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: full conversation, make sure you check out our Vikings Tailgate 440 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: podcast feed on your favorite podcast app, and while you're there, 441 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: leave us a good review. And a comment it helps 442 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: the show out. Finally, huge shout out to Ticketmaster, the 443 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 1: official ticket marketplace of the Minnesota Vikings, for helping make 444 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: this show happen. We appreciate you listening all season long 445 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: and enjoy the game. Everybody Minnesota needed a go to 446 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 1: source for everything high school sports. That's why the Star 447 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: Tribune created Strib Varsity. 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