Episode 362

Playing without tackling you are the lion

Hosts	Arif Hasan, James Pogatshnik
Guests	Jeremy Reisman
Type	Game Review December 28, 2020

Norse Code Episode 362: Playing without tackling you are the lion aired on December 28, 2020.

Overview

The episode features a post-mortem analysis of the Vikings' loss to the Saints, followed by a preview of the upcoming Lions game with guest Jeremy Reisman. A comprehensive mailbag segment addresses questions about the defense, coaching, and various player futures.

Segments

Opening: Post-mortem of Saints loss
Lions Preview: Guest Jeremy Reisman discusses upcoming matchup
Mailbag: Extensive listener questions covering defense, coaching, and player evaluations

Mailbag Questions

Josh - What did we do to deserve this?
Kyle Slaybee - I don't know if this front seven could ever be schemed to succeed. But was that performance enough to heat up Zimmers seat? Has he relied too often on the "injury bug" excuse over the years or is this just more bad luck for an unlucky franchise? Who is the team Defensive MVP? Sure, the obvious answer is Kendricks, but could you make the argument it should be Hunter?
James Pope - What does the future hold for Mike Hughes and why is it so assumed they we won't take up the 5th year option? He is still an NFL credible player.
Steezo - Who from the specialists (K, P, LS) do you see back and on the roster for wk1 2021
Ryan - In honor of Courtney's argument with Twitter, should we assume this Defense will return to form in 2021? This season was horrible, there are a lot of talent returning from injury, but is it enough?
Dr. Matson - 1. Best case/worst case scenarios for the draft? 2. Any good chili recipes you can recommend?
Andrew Schad - If Rick Spielman had the same leeway as the Ray's front office this offseason, what blockbuster trade would he pull this offseason to set the Vikes up for the next 5 years? Conversely, with Rick pretending he's the Padres, who does he sell the farm for to win it all in 2 years?
Ryan - Rick loves his former first rounders, does he dare put in a claim on Haskins? Related question for Jame's Strip Club corner, how do the Twin Cities clubs compare to the Belt Way?
Justin Ekstrom - How many years until watching the Vikings is no longer a meme and it's fun to watch them for real?
Luke Braun - If the rapture happened, taking Kirk Cousins and whoever else with it, who would be most likely to play QB for the Vikings in 2021? How would this change the landscape of the NFL?
Drawplaydave - Kirk Cousins goes down. By chance, the Vikings sign both Wentz and Trubisky for cheap, so no cap issues. In this hypothetical neutral vacuum, who would you actually want to start? Related from Anton - Would you star both at fullback or TE?
Damian Barrett - Leaving aside leagues with questionable kicking rules, has there ever been a Vikings (or any) game which had such devastating implications for fantasy leagues? Especially taking in the fact, that for most competitions, this was the championship round?
Swervin Surevin - 2021 Stafford landing spots? What would be fun? And what would be the most likely?
Nolan - Question for Arif's Coping Corner: I find myself in need of some solace in the wake of this rollercoaster of a season. Since I live in a strip mall according to Arif, retail therapy seems like the easiest option. What item should I shop for to regain balance in my life? And for James' Football Corner (Arif, weigh in if you feel qualified): in hindsight, should we have made more of a push for Trent Williams last off-season?
Delta BC Dad - Question for @bigmono's car and marital corner: we need to replace our minivan cause the engine is blown. My wife wants a 17 Odyssey w/ 42k miles on it, I went a 19 Sedona with 21k miles for the same price because I think it's a better value. Should I go with the "happy wife is a happy life" approach and get the Honda or get the Kia and wait for her to send me divorce papers? Is the Kia a better value? How much is the divorce worth?
Nate Stanley 4 Starter - Are either of you fans of InstaPots and Air Fryers or are they the Dakota Dozier of cooking devices?
Nick Howard - James did you and the family play bingo over Christmas? Inquiring minds want to know

Guests

Jeremy Reisman appeared to preview the Lions game.

Key Bits & Lore

The episode features several Norse Code recurring segments including Arif's Coping Corner, James' Strip Club Corner, and references to Arif's car corner. A Christmas bingo reference suggests continuation of the show's holiday traditions.

Production Notes

Timestamps: 20:00, 27:09, 40:18, 112:06
Episode includes links to chili recipes and cooking videos
References Courtney Cronin Twitter interaction

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