You Like That?

"You Like That?"

Kirk Cousins' exclamation after a dramatic, come-from-behind win a few years ago has been overused but it sure works for what the Minnesota Vikings have done the past few days. General manager Rick Spielman entered the offseason with three priorities.

1. Find an offensive coordinator
2. Find a franchise quarterback
3. Find a three-technique defensive tackle.

That was then.

This is now.

1. John DeFilippo
2. Kirk Cousins
3. Sheldon Richardson

Spielman has checked those three boxes. It's no stretch to say that the Vikings have improved. As a team in general and in those three areas in particular. Those three needs became needs during the torturous 2016 season. The Vikings had high hopes heading into that season due to a playoff appearance the year before and a young, talented team that seemed to be hitting it's stride. Before the season even started the Vikings lost quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a brutal knee injury. A few weeks later defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd was lost, and his career likely ended, when a routine surgical procedure on his knee resulted in a nicked nerve. About a month after that, offensive coordinator Norv Turner left the team for unknown reasons. Two very important positions, positions of strengths with Bridgewater and Floyd, suddenly became question marks moving forward. The departure of Turner resulted in the promotion of Pat Shurmur. That was actually a good thing as Shurmur's playcalling and guidance was a revelation. So much so that it got him a head coaching job with the New York Giants this offseason.

Quarterback is the most important position on a football team. There's no need to go into that as it's well documented and we're reminded of it every week of the season, as well as the offseason. The Vikings felt that they had their franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater. When he went down with that terrible knee injury on a routine, non-contact drill the trajectory of the franchise changed. They were forced to trade a first- and fourth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Sam Bradford. The Vikings felt that they had a team that could compete for a title that year and they needed a quarterback that could play to that level. In short, they were desperate. Bradford played well in 2016. In fact, he played so well that the Vikings were confident that he was their quarterback for 2017 and perhaps beyond. That changed when Bradford was essentially lost for the season in the 2017 opener. His knee couldn't hold. Again. Enter Case Keenum. He was brilliant. He led the team to the NFC Championship game. One step short of a home Super Bowl. So, the Vikings entered the 2018 offseason with three quarterbacks, each with fine moments as the team's starter, each with expiring contracts, and each with significant questions. Bridgewater and Bradford had injury concerns. Will their knees hold up? Keenum had been a career backup until his eye-opening opportunity last season. Will he do it again? Will he play at that level for consecutive seasons? The Vikings have had a revolving door at the quarterback position since Fran Tarkenton retired after the 1978 season. They haven't had the same quarterback start consecutive seasons since Christian Ponder did so in 2012 and 2013. Christian Ponder! They needed a quarterback without questions. They needed stability at quarterback. Kirk Cousins started every game for the Washington Redskins the last three seasons and posted numbers comparable to the league's leaders. The Vikings haven't had that sort of consistency since the 1970s.

Penetrating, disruptive three-technique defensive tackles (shaded over the guard's outside shoulder) have become one of the most valued talents on defense. They can foul a quarterbacks day simply because they have the shortest route to him. The Vikings had that sort of player in Sharrif Floyd. Injuries were his nemesis. When he was on the field he disrupted offenses but nagging injuries forced him to miss scattered games. If he could only stay healthy. Those injury issues turned even more serious with that surgical mishap in 2016. It's looking like it ended his promising football career. Tom Johnson has filled in well for Floyd but at 33 he's worn down with the increased playing time. Since Sheldon Richardson entered the NFL in 2013 he's been one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the the league. Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams rules the roost but Richardson's up there with the likes of Fletcher Cox, Geno Atkins, Gerald McCoy, and Ndamukong Suh. Perhaps some off-the-field shenanigans have kept him from reaching his true potential but he's a rare talent. He's the sort of talent that puts an already very talented Vikings defensive line to a whole other level.

John DeFilippo has been opening eyes around the league since, as the offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, he got something good out of Johnny Manziel. His work with the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks during the team's run to the Super Bowl title got him some head coaching attention this offseason. He's one of the most promising, innovative offensive minds in the game. The Vikings were fortunate that he thought enough of this opportunity with the Vikings to leave the Eagles.

1. Find an offensive coordinator
2. Find a franchise quarterback
3. Find a three-technique defensive tackle.

The Vikings filled those needs with the best that this offseason had to offer.

Yea. I like that!