MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings shifted

their strategy this season Olisaemeka Udoh Jersey nfl draft , determined to re-establish a running game that could not only get them in the end zone more but dominate an opponent when they need it to.There’s still plenty of space to turn Kirk Cousins loose, though, and the deep ball was on full display against Philadelphia.More Vikings coverageVikings’ Kearse faces gun, drunken driving charges after arrestVikings’ Kearse apologizes, returns to work after weekend arrestPhotos of the Week: 10/20/19 – 10/26/19Vikings surge into second half thanks to Cousins, CookVikings Snap Counts: Penalties spoil Mattison’s big day“He made some great throws,” coach Mike Zimmer said, “whether it was on the move or out of the pocket.”Two weeks after Cousins struggled badly in defeat at Chicago, their hyper-scrutinized quarterback is in a groove after back-to-back 300-yard games. He threw for four touchdowns to beat the Eagles 38-20 on Sunday, including a pair of home runs to Stefon Diggs in the second quarter that each covered more than half of the field.“Man, anytime you see that ball fly in the air like that and it comes down and it’s six points for the home team, that’s what it’s all about Minnesota Vikings Jerseys 2019 , you know?” an appreciative linebacker Eric Kendricks said. “I always like seeing that. I mean, who doesn’t? Every person whoever watches football likes watching that.”Cousins went 22 for 29 and took one sack. One-third of those passing plays called by offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski included a run fake by Cousins, and half of those had Cousins rolling out on a bootleg away from the run-blocking. The play action has long been a strength for Cousins, and that showed against the Eagles.“It was an aggressive, creative game plan, and credit Kevin for the way he just kind of kept it unpredictable,” Cousins said.After taking his share of heat last month for those performances against NFC North rivals Green Bay and Chicago, Cousins has so far delivered.“He’s a guy we trust every week. He’s going to give us his all, and he’s going to keep getting better,” wide receiver Adam Thielen said. “He’s going to prove that he’s a top quarterback in this league and that he can play at a high level.”Here’s a closer look at the Vikings at the six-game mark:WHAT’S WORKINGThe pass protection was a significant problem for Cousins in the game on Sept. 29 against the Bears, leading to a lost fumble among six sacks and causing him to settle for short, safe throws at the expense of some opportunities to throw to openings Diggs and Adam Thielen had further up and down the field.Over the past two games against the Giants and Eagles Olisaemeka Udoh Minnesota Vikings Jerseys , though, Cousins has completed 44 of 56 passes and averaged 11.4 yards per attempt. The NFL leader for the season is Patrick Mahomes with 9.1, and Cousins is third.WHAT NEEDS HELPWhile the outside coverage by cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes was strong and the Vikings kept Eagles tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert quiet, but running back Miles Sanders caught three passes for 86 yards out of the backfield. Zimmer said he made the wrong call on one of those plays.STOCK UPAfter minimal involvement in the offense over the first four games and then causing a stir with an unexcused absence from practice and cryptic comments about his desire to remain with the team, Diggs is suddenly on pace for an 1,100-yard season.“When you get that guy going, watch out,” Thielen said. “We know that we have to get him the ball, because he’s a special player and one of the best in the game. We are blessed to have him on our side.”STOCK DOWNAfter two strong games, singling out an individual player for substandard performance is quite a stretch. Punter Britton Colquitt had one 35-yarder in the third quarter on Sunday that gave the Eagles the ball at their 45 before kicking a field goal to pull within 24-20.INJUREDThe offensive line held up especially well against an accomplished front seven for the Eagles, particularly considering right guard Josh Kline was held out with a foot injury and left tackle Riley Reiff hurt his ankle and didn’t play in the second half. Dakota Dozier and Rashod Hill capably filled in.On defense, cornerback Mackensie Alexander returned from his third absence in four games with an interception Youth Alexander Mattison Jersey , a half-sack, and a quarterback hit. Linebacker Ben Gedeon was held out with a concussion.KEY NUMBER46 — Career sacks for Danielle Hunter, who set the record for the most sacks in NFL history for a player under age 25. Hunter, who has two more games before his 25th birthday, is tied for fourth in the league this season with six sacks.NEXT STEPSAfter losing their first two intradivision road games, the Vikings will visit Detroit on Sunday. With a home game against struggling Washington following four days after that, they have a prime opportunity to extend their momentum and keep pace in a strong NFC North. Cousins passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover in a win on the road over the Lions last year. Mark has a mock draft for your viewing pleasure!"Now that free agency is all but over with maybe a few small signings remaining the attention goes to the draft.The mantra among Vikings fans is the offensive line needs many new faces which should come early in the draft.The draft could unfold in a way that it likely comes to fruition.I often like to think outside the box though. I do think they need to get one interior lineman or a tackle if they are serious about trying Reiff at guard.They could get both too.I personally would leave Reiff at left tackle who had a 73.6 grade from PFF last year which was #23 overall.Not too bad.He does turn 31 in December though. I could see the starting line being Reiff, Collins, Elflein, Kline, and O’Neill very easily. Collins played extensively last pre-season at left guard in the preseason games.He moved to left tackle and right tackle in those games and almost played the entire game in the first 3 preseason games.That is unusual to say the least.He played half the game in the last preseason game.If they had someone else who was going to play left guard when the season began they did a really good job hiding him from us because all I remember seeing is Collins out there with the starters.Maybe I don’t understand how it works but I thought they would want to get all 5 starters together for at least a little work in the preseason unless one was injured.I think Collins could break out this year actually.Thielen was undrafted too and broke out in his 3rd season.The Viking cannot put all their eggs in that basket but they could have been dead serious when they (the new OL coach) said they had a lot of talent.In this mock I set out to prove I am truly clueless.I used the fanspeak on the clock premium simulator with the Matt Miller Big Board.I do not know how to list show the screen shots of what I was offered in trades but I never accept those anyway.I offer my own trades.When the Vikings pick came up, Gary Super Bowl Alexander Mattison Jersey , Dillard, Risner, Ford, Hockenson, Simmons, and Bradbury were all available.https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/sharedra...TRADESBALTIMORE RAVENSSENT: ROUND: 1 PICK: 18RECEIVED: ROUND: 1 PICK: 22 & ROUND: 4 PICK: 11ARIZONA CARDINALSSENT: ROUND: 2 PICK: 18 & FUTURE ROUND 3 PICKRECEIVED: ROUND: 2 PICK: 1NEW YORK JETSSENT: ROUND: 3 PICK: 17 & ROUND: 4 PICK: 18RECEIVED: ROUND: 3 PICK: 4NEW YORK GIANTSSENT: FUTURE ROUND 4 PICKRECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 33 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 722: R1P22 WR DK METCALF OLE MISS6’3.3” 228 4.33 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/d.k.-...746f1b94aaPhoto by Butch Dill/Getty Images33: R2P1 TE TJ HOCKENSON IOWA6’4.6” 2514.70 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/t.j.-...874885b155Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images68: R3P4 G CHRIS LINDSTROM BOSTON COLLEGE6’3.6” 3084.91 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/chris...2312551b1b2Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports113: R4P11 S AMANI HOOKER IOWA5’11.3” 210 4.48 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/amani...a13809f8Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports171: R5P33 RB DEVINE OZIGBO NEBRASKA5’11.7” 222 4.55 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/devin...792ef55223Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images180: R6P7 C LAMONT GAILLARD GEORGIA6’2.5” 305https://www.nfl.com/prospects/lamont-...decf1a04Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports190: R6P17 CB JORDAN BROWN SOUTH DAKOTA STATE6’0” 2014.5 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/jorda...31d1ff432aChuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports209: R6P36 DL JOHN COMINSKY CHARLESTON6’5.2” 286 4.69 fortyhttps://thedraftnetwork.com/article...ad99ba74b4eb247: R7P33 LB BLAKE CASHMAN MINNESOTA6’1.1” 237 4.5 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/blake...7120bc9212Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images250: R7P36 DL GREG GAINES WASHINGTON6’1” 3125.06 fortyhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/greg-...7b356aaJennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY SportsUDFAsCB MARK FIELDS - CLEMSONCB DERRICK BAITY - KENTUCKYEDGE MAXX CROSBY - EASTERN MICHIGANEDGE JUSTIN HOLLINS - OREGONG PHIL HAYNES - WAKE FORESTG ALEX BARS - NOTRE DAMELB DRUE TRANQUIL - NOTRE DAMELB JAHLANI TAVAI - HAWAIIOT DONNELL GREENE - MINNESOTAOT TREY PIPKINS - SIOUX FALLSQB TRACE MCSORLEY - PENN STATEQB KYLE SHURMUR - VANDERBILTS ZEDERICK WOODS - MISSISSIPPIS WILL HARRIS - BOSTON COLLEGETE DAX RAYMOND - UTAH STATETE ANDREW BECK - TEXASWR MILES BOYKIN - NOTRE DAMEWR STANLEY MORGAN - NEBRASKAK COLE TRACY - LSUP MITCH WISHNOWSKY - UTAHThe Vikings are likely to sign 15 free agents or thereabouts but this is a list of players that I like that did not get picked in this mock.Of course some could get picked in the real draft.Using the simulator produces interesting results that are usually different every time.Obviously the first argument is the classic “so and so wont be there in some round”. Perhaps not but I have learned to not be too sure of those kind of statements.If the Vikings actually did this in the draft the natives would be going berserk!I like to offer up some outlandish mocks just to see how it may unfold if the Vikings do NOT take offensive linemen early.I would say taking one in the 3rd round is early though.I like this mock a lot though.Metcalf is a stud!He could be the #1 WR real soon.That will open up things a lot for Diggs and Thielen. Hockenson has been discussed relentlessly on this board and his qualifications go without saying.Why the Patriots did not take him in this mock and took Irv Smith instead is only a question the simulator can answer.Stranger things have happened though.These first two picks give the Vikings financial flexibility as well.If they did take Metcalf and Hockenson it should help in the contract negotiations with Thielen and Rudolph.They may not be as inclined to pay too much if they have possible replacements.Not sure it would drive the price down.They could look to move Rudolph during the draft in this scenario but with a 7 mil salary and only one year remaining on his deal, trading him would yield very little.Better to keep him this year and see what happens.A lot of these players the Vikings have met with or will have in as one of the 30 visits they are allowed.That did inform my selections but not all of them.This obviously is far fetched and really unlikely to happen.But I would not be mad if it did. It’s crazy.Crazy like a fox!