It's been 48 hours since the end of the season, it's taken that long for the shock to wear-off. In it's wake comes the cold reality of another squandered opportunity at the end of a great season. So this will be a look back and the first look forward into the latest pivotal "offseason."
With the exception of the Blair Walsh game a full decade ago Minnesota has made a habit of collapsing like a cheap tent to end every playoff appearance since Bounty Gate. Five chances to at least be respectable but be it under Mike Zimmer or Kevin O'Connell, the operation can't get the recipe right.
Sam Darnold will take an unequal amount of blame for the way the games went in Detroit and Arizona - which comes with the territory for the position. And there's no debating that he was abysmal in both pressure situations.
But O'Connell deserves an even larger share of the pie as the one in charge of the whole ship. His offense had earned the praises but in those moments seemed incapable (at best) or unwilling (at worst) to adjust to the pressure packages that both of the final opponents employed. Why they wouldn't have been capable of going with more quick-fire plays for Darnold is unanswerable by me but unwillingness to adjust is worse and must be answered.
The battering that #14 took revealed that the offensive line will once again have to be a top priority during these reformation months. That's in addition to cornerback, perennially, and defensive line. Safety could also be mighty thin depending on what happens with Harrison Smith & Cam Bynum.
It's not breaking news that there would be immense turnover once the season ended, that's pretty standard for teams which achieve to the level that Minnesota did this season. Players and coaches will be lured away.
Of the 21 such who put the pads on, there are a few who should be priorities
Smith
Byron Murphy
Bynum
Shaq Griffin
Kamu Grugier-Hill
Most will agree about the first three but question the other two. Even with as much cap space as the team will have, they will need to find some value along the way, Griffin can be that for one more season at the cornerback position and help take some of the edge off the desperate need. KG-H would likely come back on an even lower salary while providing depth in the LB group. Not flashy but not all 53 can be stars.
As the previous defensive coordinator showed, talent needs scheme to match. So the biggest decision for that portion of the roster will rest with Brian Flores. He's getting interviews this cycle, which is more than he got a year ago, but it remains to be known whether he will accept any offer or will wait for a certain opportunity.
For the offense, as J.J. McCarthy seems to be back in the pole position, there will also be changes to the offense. If the Wolverine gets the reins from the opener then Sam Darnold has most likely signed or been traded elsewhere. For the former commodities trader who only has so many to work with in his current role, franchising and then trading Darnold still makes sense. It's been stated ad nauseam that McCarthy would be the run-away choice in this draft cycle so while he's older and doesn't have the shine of December, Kwesi would be smart to use the asset that Sam Darnold could still be in the current market to improve the organizations opportunity. Which would leave Daniel Jones, Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien as possibilities to fill the other two quarterback spots next August. Sure, they could get another outsider but having familiarity with the scheme and coach is a leg-up for those three.
Didn't want to have to think about any of this stuff for another month, even as the draft showcase events are beginning, but the humble pie was forced down Minnesota's collective gullet. Now comes the work to make the great 14-win mark even better. Ultimately that's what we have to look forward to!
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