Vikings Vs Saints: How 2022 started for the Minnesota Vikings
It’s been a long off-season for Minnesota Vikings fans, with a disappointing 2021 season giving way to big changes and renewed optimism for 2022. As part of our preview of the 2022 Minnesota Vikings, let’s look back at all that has happened to the team this season happened and how we got here. NFL London fans to buy NFL London Tickets from our website.
It’s a new day, yeah
Vikings ownership relieved head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman a day after the season ended with a win over the Chicago Bears in the U.S. Bank Stadium.
Spielman has been with the team in some capacity since 2006, while Zimmer was the team’s head coach for eight seasons – the third longest coach in franchise history. The Wolfs felt that changes needed to be made and implemented immediately.
On January 26, after an extensive search, the Vikings hired former Cleveland Browns assistant general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their new general manager.
Adofo-Mensah is now one of the youngest general managers in the NFL, and perhaps more importantly, has a more analytical background having worked in business before starting his NFL career. He should take a radically different approach to how the Vikings are building their future roster.
Searching for a coach involves a bit of drama. After a public flirtation with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Harbaugh has officially decided to return to Ann Arbor, as the job seems to be his duty. With Harbaugh out, the Vikings turned to Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell to become the 10th head coach in franchise history.
The Vikings are hoping O’Connell quarterback Kirk Cousins can “unlock” and take the offence to the next level after eight seasons under the defensive Zimmer.
O’Connell enlisted tight-knit coach Wes Phillips—Bum’s grandson and Wade’s son—to join him as the team’s offensive coordinator while hiring longtime defensive coach Ed Donatell to work with him.
Come and go
While free agency is expected to be relatively quiet for the Vikings, the team has made significant strides in the free agency pool. Their first off-season signing was former Buffalo Bills nose tackle, Harrison Phillips. Phillips will work with Dalvin Tomlinson to fortify the Vikings’ porous defences.
They also took steps to help with their pass rush, signing former Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Zadarius Smith to a three-year deal. Smith, who played only one game in 2021 due to injury, originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens but changed his mind and moved to Minnesota. NFL London Vikings vs Saints fans to buy Minnesota Vikings Vs New Orleans Saints Tickets from our website.
If he can stay healthy, he will team up with Danielle Hunter to bring warmth from the outside into the Vikings’ new 3-4 formation.
Other notable additions to the Vikings in free agency include linebacker Jordan Hicks of the Arizona Cardinals, cornerback Chandon Sullivan of Green Bay and tight end O’Connell of the Rams Striker Johnny Mundt.
The Vikings also have some key departure points for free agents. The team released nose gear Michael Pierce, who was having trouble staying healthy for the Vikings. After signing a three-year contract with the Vikings in March 2020, Pierce played just eight games for the Vikings after opting out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and sustaining numerous injuries in the 2021 game.
The team also said goodbye to longtime linebacker Anthony Barr, who signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys. The #1 overall pick of the Mike Zimmer era, Barr spent eight seasons in Minnesota but has fallen slightly in recent seasons.
Other departures from the team include offensive lineman Mason Cole, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and tight end Tyler Conklin, who signed a major contract with the New York Jets after a strong season in 2021 to help the injured Irving Jr. Smith to replace.
Feel a draft
The 2022 Minnesota Vikings NFL draw is a very eventful one for Adofo-Mensah, who will host the show alone for the first time. He did what many thoughts was an odd move early in the game. When he traded with Vikings’ rival Detroit Lions, losing 20 places in the first round. The Lions selected Alabama wide receiver, Jameson Williams, with the 12th overall pick. While the Vikings chose Georgia safety Lewis Cine in the first round of the final draft.
Adofo-Mensah then struck another deal with another division rival. This time with Green Bay, involving one of their Detroit picks to fall again.
Green Bay selected North Dakota wide receiver, Christian Watson, with the #34 pick. While the Vikings later picked Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. in the second round selected.
With that all said and done, the Vikings drew ten players last April.
| Round 1 | No. 32 overall | Lewis Cine, S, Georgia |
| Round 2 | No. 42 overall | Andrew Booth Jr., S, Clemson |
| Round 2 | No. 59 overall | Ed Ingram, G, Louisiana State |
| Round 3 | No. 66 overall | Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma |
| Round 4 | No. 118 overall | Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri |
| Round 5 | No. 165 overall | Esezi Otomewo, Edge, Minnesota |
| Round 5 | No. 169 overall | Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina |
| Round 6 | No. 184 overall | Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois |
| Round 6 | No. 189 overall | Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State |
| Round 7 | No. 227 overall | Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina (practice squad) |
Here’s a quick look at the off-season for the Minnesota Vikings. In the second part of our preview, we look at how we expect all of these changes to affect the Vikings in 2022 and make predictions for the team’s final record for the season. NFL London Vikings vs Saints fans to buy Vikings Vs Saints Tickets from our website.
5 Takeaways from the Minnesota Vikings’ 2022 first depth chart
In the first game against the Green Bay Packers, we’re just five days away from the Minnesota Vikings. In turn, the Vikings released their first depth map of the season.
There are many notable things scattered throughout the depth chart. Here are five takeouts from the first complexity chart.
K.J. Osborn is not a starter
It’s an interesting one because Osborn is listed as the first wide backup receiver. With the attack set to run more 11s and even use it as a base pack, FB C.J. Ham is listed as a starter. We knew Ham had been the centre of attack in previous years. But we didn’t expect him to be Osborn’s starter.
Ed Ingram is officially a starter
In the least surprising development the depth chart has given us, Ingram is officially the right-back starter. Ingram defeated multiple competitors and was the most consistent and dominant throughout the training camp. While some would argue that O’Connell named him the starter and former head coach Mike Zimmer didn’t, I have no doubt that Zimmer would have labelled Ingram as the starter from day one.
No spare nose gear?
While there are players capable of the position, the Vikings don’t list official backups on nose tackles. James Lynch has played there in the past but is listed as a defensive target. This is his more natural stance in defence.
Andrew Booth Jr. at the bottom
Running behind Kris Boyd and Akayleb Evans in the second round was a surprise, but it points to factors other than talent. Booth Jr. injured his ankle in Game 2 of the preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers and is likely set for Week 1 against Green Bay. Combine that with his free throw problems and it makes sense at the moment. But he won’t be that low for long.
Jalen Reagor is a punt returner
After the Vikings took over from the Philadelphia Eagles last week, Reagor has blocked the punter’s return to work. While he sometimes excelled in his return to football, Reagor played three punts for the Eagles last season. His advantage is worth betting on, and the Vikings will see that early.
Eticketing.co is the best website to buy NFL London Tickets.
Comments
Post a Comment