Fansided

Minnesota Vikings: 5 burning questions for 2018

By Joe D'Aloisio

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) laughs before the start of the regular season game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) laughs before the start of the regular season game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

The Vikings are Super Bowl contenders after signing Kirk Cousins but they aren’t without their share of burning questions this summer.

The Minnesota Vikings won 13 games last season, the most since 1998. They won the NFC North Division for the second time in the last three seasons. Their season fell short in the NFC Championship Game, falling to eventual champions the Philadelphia Eagles. But, this was the deepest playoff run they had since 2009.

Minnesota’s tenacious defense was elite in 2017. They ranked first in points and yards allowed. Expectations remain high for this unit, which features a good mix of veteran and youth players.

Offensively, the Vikings are supposed to take it to the next level and going into the 2018 season all eyes will be on this unit. Last year they were led by Case Keenum and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Keenum is now with the Denver Broncos and Shurmur is the new head coach of the New York Giants.

The Vikings have put all their faith in new quarterback Kirk Cousins, who they signed this offseason to an extremely lucrative deal. With Shurmur out, Minnesota added former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach. How will the offense perform under DeFilippo? That’s where we begin.

5. How will the team perform under John DeFilippo

John DeFilippo has a ton of quarterback experience. He spent time with the New York Giants, Jets, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and most recently the Philadelphia Eagles. This doesn’t include the time he spent at the college level.

Last season he was instrumental in the development of quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz threw for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions, in only 13 games before going down with a torn ACL.

Even with Wentz out, the Eagles offense didn’t skip a beat. Nike Foles took over the reigns and helped lead Philadelphia to a Super Bowl.

Kirk Cousins has been a good quarterback, and teaming up with DeFilippo could be exactly what the signal caller needs to take his game to the next level. DeFilippo will play a key role in the Vikings’ offensive success and he has a handful of talent outside of Cousins to make them a legit threat next season.

A successful stop in Minnesota will make DeFilippo a hot offseason commodity and could propel him to his first head coaching opportunity.

Home/Minnesota Vikings