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https://mail.profootballresearchers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8179
That doesn't surprise me. The Vikings of 1986-1989 seemed to have one of the weaker running games in the league; let alone for a team that did as well as they did in general.Gary Najman wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:20 am I talked with Leo Lewis at the past PFRA Meeting, and I told them that they should have made the playoffs in 1986 and that they had a better team than in 1987. IMHO Tommy Kramer was the top QB of 1986 (He was 2nd team All-Pro that year and also made the Pro Bowl). I talked with Lewis about the 44-38 OT loss at Washington, where Leo caught two TDs over 65 yards. He told me that their main problem that year was with the rushing game, with an aging Ted Brown, and with Darrin Nelson never living to his top-10 draft selection.
As a Penn St guy, I would have loved to see them apply DJ Dozier more! I guess you can call him Darrin’s TD-Vulture in ’87. Against Denver, the National Champ leading rusher of the previous year scored 3TDs while rushing for just 15 yards! Very latter-day Jerome Bettis-like! Darrin rushed for 98 yards that game but zero TDs; and he scored just two TDs all season! Dozier and Anthony Carter led in total TDs that year at 7-apiece! Two of DJ’s TDs were receiving ones. Not only was he the leading rusher for Penn St in ’86, he led in receiving as well!SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:54 amThat doesn't surprise me. The Vikings of 1986-1989 seemed to have one of the weaker running games in the league; let alone for a team that did as well as they did in general.Gary Najman wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:20 am I talked with Leo Lewis at the past PFRA Meeting, and I told them that they should have made the playoffs in 1986 and that they had a better team than in 1987. IMHO Tommy Kramer was the top QB of 1986 (He was 2nd team All-Pro that year and also made the Pro Bowl). I talked with Lewis about the 44-38 OT loss at Washington, where Leo caught two TDs over 65 yards. He told me that their main problem that year was with the rushing game, with an aging Ted Brown, and with Darrin Nelson never living to his top-10 draft selection.
It didn't pan out obviously, but I can see why they traded for Herschel Walker in 89 given how their running backs had been performing.
Out of curiosity, how would you say that 86 Vikings team compares to the Seahawks of that same year who were similarly up there statistically, but also similarly missed the playoffs in the AFC?
I realize we're looking in hindsight, so take this with a grain of salt. But I am still wondering what the argument was to take Darrin Nelson at #7, a 5-9 180 lb halfback when the 6'2 215 lb Heisman Trophy Winner, Marcus Allen, is still on the draft board. And if that's not enough, if I'm not mistaken, Darrin Nelson even told the Vikings not to draft him!Gary Najman wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:20 am I talked with Leo Lewis at the past PFRA Meeting, and I told them that they should have made the playoffs in 1986 and that they had a better team than in 1987. IMHO Tommy Kramer was the top QB of 1986 (He was 2nd team All-Pro that year and also made the Pro Bowl). I talked with Lewis about the 44-38 OT loss at Washington, where Leo caught two TDs over 65 yards. He told me that their main problem that year was with the rushing game, with an aging Ted Brown, and with Darrin Nelson never living to his top-10 draft selection.
Wasn’t Lynn the same guy who drafted Doleman, Millard, Browner, Zimmerman on that defense?PaulDeVos wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:08 pmI am still wondering what the argument was to take Darrin Nelson at #7, a 5-9 180 lb halfback when the 6'2 215 lb Heisman Trophy Winner, Marcus Allen, is still on the draft board. And if that's not enough, if I'm not mistaken, Darrin Nelson even told the Vikings not to draft him!Gary Najman wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:20 am I talked with Leo Lewis at the past PFRA Meeting, and I told them that they should have made the playoffs in 1986 and that they had a better team than in 1987. IMHO Tommy Kramer was the top QB of 1986 (He was 2nd team All-Pro that year and also made the Pro Bowl). I talked with Lewis about the 44-38 OT loss at Washington, where Leo caught two TDs over 65 yards. He told me that their main problem that year was with the rushing game, with an aging Ted Brown, and with Darrin Nelson never living to his top-10 draft selection.
Mike Lynn's draft classes from the 1980s might be historically bad ROI... and his trades...
Zimmerman (who was an offensive tackle) was traded from the Giants, although he started his career in the USFL for the Los Angeles Express. If there was not another league back then, he surely would have been a first round pick in the 1984 NFL Draft.CSKreager wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 2:20 pmWasn’t Lynn the same guy who drafted Doleman, Millard, Browner, Zimmerman on that defense?PaulDeVos wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:08 pmI am still wondering what the argument was to take Darrin Nelson at #7, a 5-9 180 lb halfback when the 6'2 215 lb Heisman Trophy Winner, Marcus Allen, is still on the draft board. And if that's not enough, if I'm not mistaken, Darrin Nelson even told the Vikings not to draft him!Gary Najman wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:20 am I talked with Leo Lewis at the past PFRA Meeting, and I told them that they should have made the playoffs in 1986 and that they had a better team than in 1987. IMHO Tommy Kramer was the top QB of 1986 (He was 2nd team All-Pro that year and also made the Pro Bowl). I talked with Lewis about the 44-38 OT loss at Washington, where Leo caught two TDs over 65 yards. He told me that their main problem that year was with the rushing game, with an aging Ted Brown, and with Darrin Nelson never living to his top-10 draft selection.
Mike Lynn's draft classes from the 1980s might be historically bad ROI... and his trades...
Both teams had tough schedules, but I like better the Vikings for their defense. I remember the three-game losing streak by Seattle where they only scored 7 points in each game against the Jets, Chiefs and Bengals (all four teams finished 10-6). I think that in 1986 the AFC was more competitive, but the NFC had the better teams (Giants, Bears, Redskins, 49ers). If they had back then another wild card both teams would have qualified to the playoffs.SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:54 amOut of curiosity, how would you say that 86 Vikings team compares to the Seahawks of that same year who were similarly up there statistically, but also similarly missed the playoffs in the AFC?Gary Najman wrote: ↑Fri Sep 26, 2025 1:20 am I talked with Leo Lewis at the past PFRA Meeting, and I told them that they should have made the playoffs in 1986 and that they had a better team than in 1987. IMHO Tommy Kramer was the top QB of 1986 (He was 2nd team All-Pro that year and also made the Pro Bowl). I talked with Lewis about the 44-38 OT loss at Washington, where Leo caught two TDs over 65 yards. He told me that their main problem that year was with the rushing game, with an aging Ted Brown, and with Darrin Nelson never living to his top-10 draft selection.