In Brad Childress’ first game as head coach in 2006 the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a tough road victory against Washington.
It was the kind of victory that had been unthinkable in the latter days of Dennis Green’s regime and during all the days of Mike Tice’s regime. It marked a promising start for Childress, one that signaled maybe he was the coach that could make the Vikings a difficult team to beat on the road, more disciplined at home and on the road and a future Super Bowl threat.
On Sunday in Leslie Frazier’s first game as a head coach, the Vikings also pulled off a tough road victory against Washington – the kind of victory that the team hadn’t been able to win with Childress as head coach in over a year.
Hopefully, Frazier’s time as Vikings head coach, however long it lasts, won’t be marked by the head-scratching decision-making, lackluster offensive showings and a litany of other shortcomings that ultimately got Childress fired last week.
And while it is impossible to make any judgment calls on Leslie Frazier as a head coach after one game, what we did see in this game was a team that took care of the football (no turnovers), got back to tackling well, protected the quarterback pretty well and seemed energized playing for Frazier.
The Vikings played a road game, and they played a good road game – for 60 minutes. It’s a start.
Some other positive signs from this win:
The defensive line: Let’s be honest, the Washington offensive line is not very good. But the Vikings front four has had a tough time of it no matter what the caliber of competition this year.
In this game, the front four looked like the dominant unit it was in 2008-2009 (In particular, Letroy Guion had quite a nice game). Washington couldn’t run the ball and Donovan McNabb frequently threw under extreme duress.
Brett Favre: The Vikings had a conservative offensive gameplan in this one, which got even more conservative after Adrian Peterson went out with an ankle injury (get well soon, A.P.).
That’s not a bad idea when playing on the road with a new head coach – as long as you execute it well. I thought Favre executed it well. He was much more accurate than he’s been most of the year. He made some key throws (the completion to Shiancoe in the third quarter setting up the second TD was a beauty). There were no bonehead throws. And that 10-yard scramble to ice the win late in the fourth quarter was pretty sweet.
Toby Gerhart: Like most Vikings fans, I’ve been less than impressed with Gerhart this season.
Today I was impressed. His longest run was just six yards, yet he consistently got extra yards after contact and had few running plays with negative yards. His play allowed the Vikings to keep running the ball even without Peterson. And it kept the Vikings from having to depend on Favre throwing it to win – which has mostly failed this season).
If a running back can have a great game while averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, Toby Gerhart did that today.
There are still concerns coming out of this game – mostly what the health status is of Peterson and defensive end Ray Edwards, and the play of the special teams.
However, it was a win – a road win – and it’s the kind of win that puts a smile on my face every time.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Friday link-o-rama
Vikings – Redskins
No need for a game preview this week. You know the Vikings are going to lose this one.
They're playing away from the Metrodome. And the game is outdoors and on grass. More importantly, the Vikings are playing terrible football.
Redskins 30 Vikings 14
Keep the bags packed, Leslie
If Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is going to base his decision on whether interim head coach Leslie Frazier gets the job permanently on wins and losses, Frazier is probably screwed.
A way with words
I'm pretty sure this is Brett Favre's last season and I'm positive it is his last Vikings season.
If he does retire, I'll miss his comments during press conferences. Most players are pretty careful with their words these days at these things. It makes for boring reading.
But Favre is different. He usually says what he feels. Like his mid-week press conference following he firing of Brad Childress where he talked about the Vikings now being able to simplify their offence a bit.
"I always say if I were a coach, which will never happen, I would be very simple and be more, 'They have to stop what you do.' You think those guys crack that book, go through all 500 pages, c'mon? You could hide a couple hundred dollar bills in there."
Access Vikings had more of Favre's comments on this matter in the following post.
Donovan McNabb
This topic never goes away.
However, Donovan McNabb is not having a good year in Washington. His quarterback rating is 76.1. His completion percentage is 57.5. He has also thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10).
And he is 34 going on 35. Certainly McNabb isn't the long-term answer to the Vikings quarterback problems. He might not even be the short-term answer.
While I'm on the subject of quarterbacks ....
This guy is also not the long-term answer at quarterback for the Vikings.
But this guy might be. If we can get him.
No need for a game preview this week. You know the Vikings are going to lose this one.
They're playing away from the Metrodome. And the game is outdoors and on grass. More importantly, the Vikings are playing terrible football.
Redskins 30 Vikings 14
Keep the bags packed, Leslie
If Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is going to base his decision on whether interim head coach Leslie Frazier gets the job permanently on wins and losses, Frazier is probably screwed.
A way with words
I'm pretty sure this is Brett Favre's last season and I'm positive it is his last Vikings season.
If he does retire, I'll miss his comments during press conferences. Most players are pretty careful with their words these days at these things. It makes for boring reading.
But Favre is different. He usually says what he feels. Like his mid-week press conference following he firing of Brad Childress where he talked about the Vikings now being able to simplify their offence a bit.
"I always say if I were a coach, which will never happen, I would be very simple and be more, 'They have to stop what you do.' You think those guys crack that book, go through all 500 pages, c'mon? You could hide a couple hundred dollar bills in there."
Access Vikings had more of Favre's comments on this matter in the following post.
Donovan McNabb
This topic never goes away.
However, Donovan McNabb is not having a good year in Washington. His quarterback rating is 76.1. His completion percentage is 57.5. He has also thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10).
And he is 34 going on 35. Certainly McNabb isn't the long-term answer to the Vikings quarterback problems. He might not even be the short-term answer.
While I'm on the subject of quarterbacks ....
This guy is also not the long-term answer at quarterback for the Vikings.
But this guy might be. If we can get him.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Different coach, same results?
I didn’t get a chance to post an analysis on the Brad Childress firing Monday.
By now, everybody’s had a say in this, so there is not much point in writing much about it.
But what about Leslie Frazier?
I think it’s good that he gets a six-week trial run here in 2010. I’m also quite skeptical about Frazier’s ability to be a successful head coach in the NFL. So better to find this out now, rather than next year and go through another lost season.
While I'm a Frazier skeptic at this point, here is what I like about the guy:
1. Calm demeanor.
2. A former player, so he will earn some respect among the players.
3. He isn’t Brad Childress.
What I don’t like about Frazier is the statistical performance of the team’s he’s been defensive coordinator for.
In 2003-2004, he was defensive coordinator for the Bengals. According to Football Outsiders stats (and I realize FO isn’t gospel, but …) the Bengals had the 31st ranked defence in 2003 and ranked 11th in 2004.
And since 2007, he’s been the defensive coordinator of the Vikings. Again, according to Football Outsiders' stats, the Vikings have had the following defensive rankings:
2007: 17th
2008: 4th
2009: 17th
2010: 22nd
For a team that has players like Antoine Winfield, Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, Chad Greenway, E.J. Henderson, Pat Williams, and Ray Edwards, those aren’t impressive overall rankings.
And after watching Frazier’s units the past four seasons, he seems to run a pretty simple and conservative system. He depends on the front four to get pressure. He doesn’t like to blitz, and the blitzes aren’t very creative when they do happen.
Frazier is a guy who believes in his system. He doesn’t use a lot of trickery, or exotic looks to confuse opponents. I guess he figures if you’re trying to do too many things, you’ll master none of them. So he sticks to his Cover Two scheme, looks for Jared Allen to put some heat on opposing quarterbacks and he expects the rest of his players to tackle well. That philosophy hasn’t worked very well this year.
Leslie Frazier has six games to make me a believer that he can be the kind of head coach that can lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl. At least it gives me a reason to watch the final six games.
By now, everybody’s had a say in this, so there is not much point in writing much about it.
But what about Leslie Frazier?
I think it’s good that he gets a six-week trial run here in 2010. I’m also quite skeptical about Frazier’s ability to be a successful head coach in the NFL. So better to find this out now, rather than next year and go through another lost season.
While I'm a Frazier skeptic at this point, here is what I like about the guy:
1. Calm demeanor.
2. A former player, so he will earn some respect among the players.
3. He isn’t Brad Childress.
What I don’t like about Frazier is the statistical performance of the team’s he’s been defensive coordinator for.
In 2003-2004, he was defensive coordinator for the Bengals. According to Football Outsiders stats (and I realize FO isn’t gospel, but …) the Bengals had the 31st ranked defence in 2003 and ranked 11th in 2004.
And since 2007, he’s been the defensive coordinator of the Vikings. Again, according to Football Outsiders' stats, the Vikings have had the following defensive rankings:
2007: 17th
2008: 4th
2009: 17th
2010: 22nd
For a team that has players like Antoine Winfield, Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, Chad Greenway, E.J. Henderson, Pat Williams, and Ray Edwards, those aren’t impressive overall rankings.
And after watching Frazier’s units the past four seasons, he seems to run a pretty simple and conservative system. He depends on the front four to get pressure. He doesn’t like to blitz, and the blitzes aren’t very creative when they do happen.
Frazier is a guy who believes in his system. He doesn’t use a lot of trickery, or exotic looks to confuse opponents. I guess he figures if you’re trying to do too many things, you’ll master none of them. So he sticks to his Cover Two scheme, looks for Jared Allen to put some heat on opposing quarterbacks and he expects the rest of his players to tackle well. That philosophy hasn’t worked very well this year.
Leslie Frazier has six games to make me a believer that he can be the kind of head coach that can lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl. At least it gives me a reason to watch the final six games.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
We're all professionals here
Well, that was not very enjoyable to watch.
It's one thing for Vikings fans to watch their favorite team get smacked around by the Packers at Lambeau Field. We're kind of used to that.
But to get smacked around at home to their main rivals in the Metrodome – to the point where the Packers can bring in Matt Flynn into the game – is a knockout blow for any Viking fan who thought this season held out any hope.
So another miserable performance by the Vikings, and as with any miserable performance it required a total team effort to pull it off.
Offence, defence, special teams, coaching – no matter what player, coach or unit you could choose to focus on, no one in the Vikings organization will be proud of what they did in this game.
The collapse is astounding: in just 10 games the Minnesota Vikings have gone from a Super Bowl contender to a team jostling for position to get a top five pick in April's 2011 NFL draft.
The Vikings haven't reached the level of the Carolina Panthers yet. But after watching their play against Green Bay in this game, they are clearing working on it.
For those Vikings fans out there who still care, I'd love to hear where we go from here.
Fire Childress Immediately???
Update.
The Access Vikings blog reports Brad Childress has been fired.
More on this later tonight.
It's one thing for Vikings fans to watch their favorite team get smacked around by the Packers at Lambeau Field. We're kind of used to that.
But to get smacked around at home to their main rivals in the Metrodome – to the point where the Packers can bring in Matt Flynn into the game – is a knockout blow for any Viking fan who thought this season held out any hope.
So another miserable performance by the Vikings, and as with any miserable performance it required a total team effort to pull it off.
Offence, defence, special teams, coaching – no matter what player, coach or unit you could choose to focus on, no one in the Vikings organization will be proud of what they did in this game.
The collapse is astounding: in just 10 games the Minnesota Vikings have gone from a Super Bowl contender to a team jostling for position to get a top five pick in April's 2011 NFL draft.
The Vikings haven't reached the level of the Carolina Panthers yet. But after watching their play against Green Bay in this game, they are clearing working on it.
For those Vikings fans out there who still care, I'd love to hear where we go from here.
Fire Childress Immediately???
Update.
The Access Vikings blog reports Brad Childress has been fired.
More on this later tonight.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
At least he's saying the right things
Unlike some other Viking players, Jared Allen isn't spending any time whining about the coach or blaming others for the Vikings sucky season.
He understands the team has been playing bad and that he hasn't been playing all that well, either. But he's also putting forth a positive "we'll get it together" message to the fans and media here. And that's what I'd expect a team leader to do when the season has been going the way this one has been going.
If the Vikings are going to turn around this season, it's going to be the stars – guys like Allen – who will lead the charge.
So it's nice to hear Allen isn't giving up and that he's confident (on the record anyway) that the Vikings will make something of the 2010 season.
I think Jared Allen is going to have a big game on Sunday against the Packers.
He understands the team has been playing bad and that he hasn't been playing all that well, either. But he's also putting forth a positive "we'll get it together" message to the fans and media here. And that's what I'd expect a team leader to do when the season has been going the way this one has been going.
If the Vikings are going to turn around this season, it's going to be the stars – guys like Allen – who will lead the charge.
So it's nice to hear Allen isn't giving up and that he's confident (on the record anyway) that the Vikings will make something of the 2010 season.
I think Jared Allen is going to have a big game on Sunday against the Packers.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The thrill is gone
Vikings – Packers
If you believe the Vikings chances of making the playoffs are pretty much zero at this point (I certainly do), but there’s one game you absolutely, positively still need them to win, this is probably the game.
Losing to the Packers once in any season is bad enough. But to get swept? And for the third time in Brad Childress’ five seasons as Vikings head coach? That’s just more grist for the “Fire Childress Now!” club.
At this point in the season, analyzing matchups for any Vikings game is pointless. It’s pretty clear what the Vikings problems are: the quarterback is giving out turnovers like candy at Halloween; his blockers struggle to protect him; the pass rush is dead; the run defence has been vulnerable; and they aren’t forcing enough turnovers from their opponents. These reasons and much, much more, are why your 2010 Minnesota Vikings are 3-6 and sucking ass.
Meanwhile, the Packers are 6-3, on a roll and rested after a bye week.
Yet, just as the Vikings can always expect a tough game at Lambeau Field regardless of how good or bad the Packers might be, the same can be said for the Packers when they face the Vikings at the Metrodome. Green Bay has trouble winning there.
Is this an upset waiting to happen, with a bad Vikings team feeding off the noise and energy of the Metrodome crowd, playing inspired football, and beating a good Packers team?
Possibly. But watching a Vikings game in 2010 is like watching a re-run of your favorite TV show. You know how it’s going to turn out.
So I expect this game to be close. But I also expect Brett Favre to throw a costly interception or two. I expect Aaron Rodgers will have plenty of time to throw to Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. I expect the Vikings offence will struggle in the early going and the team will be behind at halftime. And I expect the Vikings to lose.
Packers 31 Vikings 24
Sidney Rice
Hasn’t enough bad stuff happened to the Vikings this year? And now we’ve got to have Sidney Rice’s future with the team questioned?
I hope Rice can play on Sunday. If nothing else, he can help the Vikings in the red zone where they’ve been generally awful this season.
Long term, I’m not sure what the Vikings have in mind for Rice. I’m not sure what Rice has in mind, either.
I’ve always thought Rice a great talent – he’s big, has got great hands, great body control, runs nice routes and is fast enough to make cornerbacks pay. I think the Vikings should be looking at signing him long-term.
But there are some concerns, namely injury concerns, which make the decision a difficult one for the Vikings.
Look at Rice’s track record and it’s a bit sketchy. He had a relatively promising but modest – statistically speaking – rookie season. During his sophomore season he was largely invisible, perhaps due to a lingering knee injury. In his third year he enjoyed a Pro Bowl year playing with a Hall of Fame quarterback enjoying an improbably good statistical season. This year, he’s been hurt again and hasn’t played a game.
Do you spend big bucks on a player who’s been injured two of his four seasons and produced very little in three of those four? And if you’re Rice, do you sign with a team with a pretty bleak looking quarterback situation heading into 2011?
I don’t want to give Sid any ideas, but New England would look like a nice landing spot I were him. The bad news for Rice is New England probably won’t sign him to a long-term deal or pay him top dollar right away.
The good news for Rice is he would be playing with a future Hall of Fame quarterback, playing for a future Hall of Fame coach, and knowing that those two individuals can bring out the best in a tall receiving threat who can make plays down the field (see Randy Moss circa 2007-2009).
It seems like a pretty good match for both sides, and a situation that must look a lot more attractive to Rice than what's currently going on in Minnesota.
Pat Williams
When the Vikings signed Pat Williams in 2005, I thought he was exactly what the franchise needed – a space-eating defensive tackle that could occupy blockers and fortify a soft run defence.
The signing has worked out well for both sides. Williams has made a lot of money, is loved by the fan base and enjoys playing for the franchise. For the Vikings, Williams has been a key member of some league-best run stopping units, something that was unheard for the team before he arrived.
Now Big Pat is saying he’d like to play a couple of more seasons – even though he’s 38 and is the oldest defensive player in the NFL.
If that’s the case, I hope it isn’t with the Vikings. I just haven’t seen Williams play at the level I’m used to seeing this year. I’m not seeing him pushing opposing lineman back. I’m not seeing him getting penetration. I’m not seeing him swallowing up running backs at the line of scrimmage or chasing them down from behind.
What I have been seeing is teams like the Saints and Patriots play keep away late in games by running the ball on the Vikings.
Two seasons ago, that never would have happened. But then, two seasons ago, Pat Williams was still Pat Williams. I don’t think he is anymore.
If you believe the Vikings chances of making the playoffs are pretty much zero at this point (I certainly do), but there’s one game you absolutely, positively still need them to win, this is probably the game.
Losing to the Packers once in any season is bad enough. But to get swept? And for the third time in Brad Childress’ five seasons as Vikings head coach? That’s just more grist for the “Fire Childress Now!” club.
At this point in the season, analyzing matchups for any Vikings game is pointless. It’s pretty clear what the Vikings problems are: the quarterback is giving out turnovers like candy at Halloween; his blockers struggle to protect him; the pass rush is dead; the run defence has been vulnerable; and they aren’t forcing enough turnovers from their opponents. These reasons and much, much more, are why your 2010 Minnesota Vikings are 3-6 and sucking ass.
Meanwhile, the Packers are 6-3, on a roll and rested after a bye week.
Yet, just as the Vikings can always expect a tough game at Lambeau Field regardless of how good or bad the Packers might be, the same can be said for the Packers when they face the Vikings at the Metrodome. Green Bay has trouble winning there.
Is this an upset waiting to happen, with a bad Vikings team feeding off the noise and energy of the Metrodome crowd, playing inspired football, and beating a good Packers team?
Possibly. But watching a Vikings game in 2010 is like watching a re-run of your favorite TV show. You know how it’s going to turn out.
So I expect this game to be close. But I also expect Brett Favre to throw a costly interception or two. I expect Aaron Rodgers will have plenty of time to throw to Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. I expect the Vikings offence will struggle in the early going and the team will be behind at halftime. And I expect the Vikings to lose.
Packers 31 Vikings 24
Sidney Rice
Hasn’t enough bad stuff happened to the Vikings this year? And now we’ve got to have Sidney Rice’s future with the team questioned?
I hope Rice can play on Sunday. If nothing else, he can help the Vikings in the red zone where they’ve been generally awful this season.
Long term, I’m not sure what the Vikings have in mind for Rice. I’m not sure what Rice has in mind, either.
I’ve always thought Rice a great talent – he’s big, has got great hands, great body control, runs nice routes and is fast enough to make cornerbacks pay. I think the Vikings should be looking at signing him long-term.
But there are some concerns, namely injury concerns, which make the decision a difficult one for the Vikings.
Look at Rice’s track record and it’s a bit sketchy. He had a relatively promising but modest – statistically speaking – rookie season. During his sophomore season he was largely invisible, perhaps due to a lingering knee injury. In his third year he enjoyed a Pro Bowl year playing with a Hall of Fame quarterback enjoying an improbably good statistical season. This year, he’s been hurt again and hasn’t played a game.
Do you spend big bucks on a player who’s been injured two of his four seasons and produced very little in three of those four? And if you’re Rice, do you sign with a team with a pretty bleak looking quarterback situation heading into 2011?
I don’t want to give Sid any ideas, but New England would look like a nice landing spot I were him. The bad news for Rice is New England probably won’t sign him to a long-term deal or pay him top dollar right away.
The good news for Rice is he would be playing with a future Hall of Fame quarterback, playing for a future Hall of Fame coach, and knowing that those two individuals can bring out the best in a tall receiving threat who can make plays down the field (see Randy Moss circa 2007-2009).
It seems like a pretty good match for both sides, and a situation that must look a lot more attractive to Rice than what's currently going on in Minnesota.
Pat Williams
When the Vikings signed Pat Williams in 2005, I thought he was exactly what the franchise needed – a space-eating defensive tackle that could occupy blockers and fortify a soft run defence.
The signing has worked out well for both sides. Williams has made a lot of money, is loved by the fan base and enjoys playing for the franchise. For the Vikings, Williams has been a key member of some league-best run stopping units, something that was unheard for the team before he arrived.
Now Big Pat is saying he’d like to play a couple of more seasons – even though he’s 38 and is the oldest defensive player in the NFL.
If that’s the case, I hope it isn’t with the Vikings. I just haven’t seen Williams play at the level I’m used to seeing this year. I’m not seeing him pushing opposing lineman back. I’m not seeing him getting penetration. I’m not seeing him swallowing up running backs at the line of scrimmage or chasing them down from behind.
What I have been seeing is teams like the Saints and Patriots play keep away late in games by running the ball on the Vikings.
Two seasons ago, that never would have happened. But then, two seasons ago, Pat Williams was still Pat Williams. I don’t think he is anymore.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
What's changed?
When Mike Tice was fired at the end of the 2005 season by new owner Zygi Wilf, he was fired because his team was often sloppy, undisciplined and couldn't win on the road.
So what does Wilf do now that the man he picked to succeed Tice - Brad Childress – presides over a Vikings team that is consistently sloppy, undisciplined and can't win on the road?
Like most Vikings fans, I've mostly tolerated Childress during his time as Vikings head coach. It was nothing personal. In my view he did a pretty good job gathering talent. But I also felt (and still feel) that he got less out of that talent than other coaches might have.
Today's 27-13 loss to the Chicago Bears just reinforced that belief. It also makes me wonder what the difference is between Tice and Childress – other than the talent Childress has had at his disposal the past three seasons.
The Vikings performances on the road during the Childress era serves as one example that there probably isn't much difference at all.
Most Vikings fans remember Tice's Vikings teams as pathetic on the road. And they were.
During Tice's four years as head coach, the Vikings went 12-21 on the road, losing by an average of 11.9 points in those 21 losses.
But now into year five of the Childress Administration, the Vikings aren't any better on the road. The blowouts have been fewer (the Viking road losses have been by an average of 8.8 points) but they've still been losses.
The road record of Brad Childress Vikings teams is now 14-23 after Sunday's ugly loss. And they've now lost their last nine road games. Mike Tice's Vikings teams never lost nine straight road games.
If Wilf wasn't considering it already, Sunday's loss should give him reason to wonder if the Vikings are any further ahead now with Childress than they were in 2005 with Tice.
So what does Wilf do now that the man he picked to succeed Tice - Brad Childress – presides over a Vikings team that is consistently sloppy, undisciplined and can't win on the road?
Like most Vikings fans, I've mostly tolerated Childress during his time as Vikings head coach. It was nothing personal. In my view he did a pretty good job gathering talent. But I also felt (and still feel) that he got less out of that talent than other coaches might have.
Today's 27-13 loss to the Chicago Bears just reinforced that belief. It also makes me wonder what the difference is between Tice and Childress – other than the talent Childress has had at his disposal the past three seasons.
The Vikings performances on the road during the Childress era serves as one example that there probably isn't much difference at all.
Most Vikings fans remember Tice's Vikings teams as pathetic on the road. And they were.
During Tice's four years as head coach, the Vikings went 12-21 on the road, losing by an average of 11.9 points in those 21 losses.
But now into year five of the Childress Administration, the Vikings aren't any better on the road. The blowouts have been fewer (the Viking road losses have been by an average of 8.8 points) but they've still been losses.
The road record of Brad Childress Vikings teams is now 14-23 after Sunday's ugly loss. And they've now lost their last nine road games. Mike Tice's Vikings teams never lost nine straight road games.
If Wilf wasn't considering it already, Sunday's loss should give him reason to wonder if the Vikings are any further ahead now with Childress than they were in 2005 with Tice.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Vikings - Bears
Last Saturday I was surfing on the YouTube site when I stumbled upon a series of videos that showed the 1987 NFC divisional playoff game where the Vikings beat San Francisco 36-24.
That game, almost 23 years on, is still my favourite Vikings victory.
So after a depressing week due to the loss to the Patriots coupled with the Randy Moss business, I watched all 14 videos showing the game and revelled in the memory of the rarest of Vikings victories ─ on the road, on grass, outdoors and against a quality opponent.
The 2010 Minnesota Vikings should probably put that tape on and watch it a few hundred times before Sunday’s game against the Bears. Because if there’s anything rarer than a Vikings road win against a quality opponent, it’s a road win at Soldier Field (the Vikings are 2-8 there the past 10 games). Maybe by watching that game the Vikings would learn something – like how to rise to the occasion and do the unexpected.
The Vikings must do that on Sunday. At 3-5, they can probably only afford one more loss and the Bears are not the most difficult opponent on that second half schedule.
Chicago Bears have a 5-3 record, but my suspicion is they aren’t a good team. Football Outsiders even has them ranked below the Vikings in terms of its DVOA rankings.
Chicago’s offence has struggled. Jay Cutler has been sacked a lot (28 times) and the running game has been ordinary. The Bears have beaten the Packers. But their other wins are against Detroit (2-6), Dallas (1-7), Carolina (1-7) and Buffalo (0-8). They also lost to Seattle and Washington at home.
The Bears haven’t been giving up a lot of points this season. And as the Vikings offensive struggles continue, you have to figure the Vikes will find it difficult to get to the 20 point plateau in this one - especially if Percy Harvin can't play.
Maybe the Bears defensive success so far has something to do with the weak teams they have faced. However you look at it, Chicago is a team with some holes. They are certainly a club the Vikings are capable of beating – even on the road, even at Soldier Field.
But if it is going to happen, the Vikings have to play solid football. That means they will have to avoid doing things they’ve been doing all season. So no crippling false start penalties. No silly challenges by Brad Childress. No dropping interceptions that hit them in the hands. No problems by the offensive line and running backs picking up Bear blitzers.
And no turnovers. The Vikings turnover differential is currently a horrid minus 9, second worst in the league. They’ve committed three or more turnovers five times this season. Brett Favre has four games with two or more interceptions. Several of those interceptions have come with the Vikings deep in their opponents territory. It’s hard to win that way.
But if the Vikings – and especially Favre – don’t give the ball to the team in the black jerseys on Sunday, they could walk away with their first road victory in over a year. They haven’t been able to do it all year, so why would we expect them to do it now?
I guess I think they’re due.
Vikings 21 Bears 17
After eight games, some other observations
* The Vikings are getting nothing from their 2010 rookie class. It’s way too early to be labelling any of them as busts, but it’s also obvious no Viking rookie is going to emerge as a key contributor to the team like Adrian Peterson did in 2007 and Percy Harvin and Phil Loadholt did in 2009.
* Do the Vikings defenders have the worst hands in football? I can probably name six instances this year where a Vikings defender should have picked off a pass and didn’t. Chad Greenway’s drop last week was the latest example. And this has been going on for the past three seasons – at least.
* If you are looking for another reason why it might be wise for Vikings owner Zygi Wilf to fire Brad Childress, please consider the issue of how the handling of the Moss situation and other issues will affect player recruitment in 2011 and beyond if Childress sticks around.
You can complain about Childress’ coaching abilities, but when it comes to convincing players to come to Minnesota, he’s been pretty successful up until now. Some of the moves have worked out better than others (like the signing of Steve Hutchinson as opposed to the signing of Madieu Williams), but he’s been able to get guys in here who were viewed as upgrades over what the Vikings already had.
But will players continue to come here after seeing how the Moss situation went down and when they hear stories about Childress arguing with hurt stars like Harvin? I think it's something Wilf has to consider if he's still thinking about the future of Childress and the Vikings.
That game, almost 23 years on, is still my favourite Vikings victory.
So after a depressing week due to the loss to the Patriots coupled with the Randy Moss business, I watched all 14 videos showing the game and revelled in the memory of the rarest of Vikings victories ─ on the road, on grass, outdoors and against a quality opponent.
The 2010 Minnesota Vikings should probably put that tape on and watch it a few hundred times before Sunday’s game against the Bears. Because if there’s anything rarer than a Vikings road win against a quality opponent, it’s a road win at Soldier Field (the Vikings are 2-8 there the past 10 games). Maybe by watching that game the Vikings would learn something – like how to rise to the occasion and do the unexpected.
The Vikings must do that on Sunday. At 3-5, they can probably only afford one more loss and the Bears are not the most difficult opponent on that second half schedule.
Chicago Bears have a 5-3 record, but my suspicion is they aren’t a good team. Football Outsiders even has them ranked below the Vikings in terms of its DVOA rankings.
Chicago’s offence has struggled. Jay Cutler has been sacked a lot (28 times) and the running game has been ordinary. The Bears have beaten the Packers. But their other wins are against Detroit (2-6), Dallas (1-7), Carolina (1-7) and Buffalo (0-8). They also lost to Seattle and Washington at home.
The Bears haven’t been giving up a lot of points this season. And as the Vikings offensive struggles continue, you have to figure the Vikes will find it difficult to get to the 20 point plateau in this one - especially if Percy Harvin can't play.
Maybe the Bears defensive success so far has something to do with the weak teams they have faced. However you look at it, Chicago is a team with some holes. They are certainly a club the Vikings are capable of beating – even on the road, even at Soldier Field.
But if it is going to happen, the Vikings have to play solid football. That means they will have to avoid doing things they’ve been doing all season. So no crippling false start penalties. No silly challenges by Brad Childress. No dropping interceptions that hit them in the hands. No problems by the offensive line and running backs picking up Bear blitzers.
And no turnovers. The Vikings turnover differential is currently a horrid minus 9, second worst in the league. They’ve committed three or more turnovers five times this season. Brett Favre has four games with two or more interceptions. Several of those interceptions have come with the Vikings deep in their opponents territory. It’s hard to win that way.
But if the Vikings – and especially Favre – don’t give the ball to the team in the black jerseys on Sunday, they could walk away with their first road victory in over a year. They haven’t been able to do it all year, so why would we expect them to do it now?
I guess I think they’re due.
Vikings 21 Bears 17
After eight games, some other observations
* The Vikings are getting nothing from their 2010 rookie class. It’s way too early to be labelling any of them as busts, but it’s also obvious no Viking rookie is going to emerge as a key contributor to the team like Adrian Peterson did in 2007 and Percy Harvin and Phil Loadholt did in 2009.
* Do the Vikings defenders have the worst hands in football? I can probably name six instances this year where a Vikings defender should have picked off a pass and didn’t. Chad Greenway’s drop last week was the latest example. And this has been going on for the past three seasons – at least.
* If you are looking for another reason why it might be wise for Vikings owner Zygi Wilf to fire Brad Childress, please consider the issue of how the handling of the Moss situation and other issues will affect player recruitment in 2011 and beyond if Childress sticks around.
You can complain about Childress’ coaching abilities, but when it comes to convincing players to come to Minnesota, he’s been pretty successful up until now. Some of the moves have worked out better than others (like the signing of Steve Hutchinson as opposed to the signing of Madieu Williams), but he’s been able to get guys in here who were viewed as upgrades over what the Vikings already had.
But will players continue to come here after seeing how the Moss situation went down and when they hear stories about Childress arguing with hurt stars like Harvin? I think it's something Wilf has to consider if he's still thinking about the future of Childress and the Vikings.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Was this is a good thing?
Before Sunday’s Cardinals game I made a deal with wife.
She would take our little daughter to her Sunday learn-to-skate practice, which started at 11 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Once that was over and she had some lunch, I would stop watching the Vikings game, record the rest of it and take our daughter to the pool for an afternoon swim.
As it turns out, I was happy to do that today. Because when I left for swimming, there was 12:40 left in the game and the Vikings were behind 24-10. And I was pretty confident there would be no need to watch the final 12:40 of the game I had recorded when I got home – the Vikings were going down.
I even had my post-game write-up sketched out in my head.
I was going to write that I hoped Zygi Wilf didn’t fire Brad Childress after the game, but instead waited until the end of the season to do it.
My “logic” was I figured the train wreck that has been the Vikings 2010 season had a better chance of continuing if Childress stayed on as the conductor.
Each loss would ensure the Vikings got higher and higher draft picks in every round of the 2010 draft, improving their chances of landing players who could be franchise cornerstones in the future – maybe even allowing them to select a guy like Jake Locker or Andrew Luck, hotshot college quarterbacks who could potentially solve the Vikings issues at this position in the long-term.
Of course, when I got home from swimming and learned the Vikings had pulled off a 27-24 comeback win in overtime, I had to re-think the theme of my post-game rant.
Which brings me back to the headline of this post.
In the long run, was this win a good thing for the Vikings?
Yes, these kinds of comeback wins feel good. But at 3-5, the Vikings probably still have to go 7-1 or 6-2 to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs.
And if they do manage such a run and make the playoffs, what happens then?
For three-plus quarters against the Cardinals, I didn’t see anything that suggests the Vikings are the kind of team that can challenge for a Super Bowl.
So what we’re looking at is a one-and-done playoff scenario with this team. But it’s a one-and-done that would likely mean Childress sticks around for another year, the Vikings lose out on a chance to draft a franchise quarterback, and the team tries to make it work in 2011 with Tarvaris Jackson or Michael Vick or some other 30-something QB with Childress pulling the strings.
Is that a development that would be good for the Vikings in the long run? I say no.
She would take our little daughter to her Sunday learn-to-skate practice, which started at 11 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Once that was over and she had some lunch, I would stop watching the Vikings game, record the rest of it and take our daughter to the pool for an afternoon swim.
As it turns out, I was happy to do that today. Because when I left for swimming, there was 12:40 left in the game and the Vikings were behind 24-10. And I was pretty confident there would be no need to watch the final 12:40 of the game I had recorded when I got home – the Vikings were going down.
I even had my post-game write-up sketched out in my head.
I was going to write that I hoped Zygi Wilf didn’t fire Brad Childress after the game, but instead waited until the end of the season to do it.
My “logic” was I figured the train wreck that has been the Vikings 2010 season had a better chance of continuing if Childress stayed on as the conductor.
Each loss would ensure the Vikings got higher and higher draft picks in every round of the 2010 draft, improving their chances of landing players who could be franchise cornerstones in the future – maybe even allowing them to select a guy like Jake Locker or Andrew Luck, hotshot college quarterbacks who could potentially solve the Vikings issues at this position in the long-term.
Of course, when I got home from swimming and learned the Vikings had pulled off a 27-24 comeback win in overtime, I had to re-think the theme of my post-game rant.
Which brings me back to the headline of this post.
In the long run, was this win a good thing for the Vikings?
Yes, these kinds of comeback wins feel good. But at 3-5, the Vikings probably still have to go 7-1 or 6-2 to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs.
And if they do manage such a run and make the playoffs, what happens then?
For three-plus quarters against the Cardinals, I didn’t see anything that suggests the Vikings are the kind of team that can challenge for a Super Bowl.
So what we’re looking at is a one-and-done playoff scenario with this team. But it’s a one-and-done that would likely mean Childress sticks around for another year, the Vikings lose out on a chance to draft a franchise quarterback, and the team tries to make it work in 2011 with Tarvaris Jackson or Michael Vick or some other 30-something QB with Childress pulling the strings.
Is that a development that would be good for the Vikings in the long run? I say no.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Stop the pain
Vikings – Cardinals
It’s been a shitty week. It will get shittier if the Vikings lose at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
That’s a distinct possibility, by the way. Even with the Cardinals going back to Derek Anderson and his 53.5 completion percentage as their starting quarterback. Even with the Cardinals giving up 143 yards rushing per game – 28th in the league – and facing the NFL’s leading rusher.
That’s because the Cardinals still have Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston. The pair combined for 14 catches, 219 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 38-35 loss at Tampa Bay. And you might have noticed the Vikings aren’t getting much pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
So even though Anderson’s inaccurate and mistake-prone (seven interceptions in limited playing time this season), he’ll probably get enough time to find Fitzgerald and Breaston for some big plays that will hurt the Vikings. And nobody on the Vikings defence knows how to pick off a pass anyway.
Are there any reasons to be optimistic the Vikings will win this one?
Sure. We’ve got Adrian Peterson. Brett Favre actually played pretty well last week. Maybe he’s coming around. And just like the Vikings, the Cardinals are a terrible road team. They’re 1-3 away from home and their losses have been by 12 points, 31 points and 34 points.
But this week has been so chaotic, and this season has gone so sour for the Vikings, I only see misery in store for them for the rest of 2010.
It continues this Sunday.
Cardinals 28 – Vikings 17
Rumors of Jared Allen’s demise are not greatly exaggerated
I don’t know what’s more depressing, the Vikings 2-5 record, the way the Moss thing turned out, or as Football Outsiders Doug Farrar writes, that Jared Allen may be on a very swift decline.
The article makes for interesting reading if you’re a football fan. But it’s painful reading if you’re a Vikings fan.
However, when I finished reading Farrar’s article, I almost immediately started thinking about Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
Last year around this time, football writers were saying Umenyiora was done. You could run on him at will. He couldn’t get to the quarterback. He wasn’t even an every-down player.
This year, Umenyiora has eight sacks and seven forced fumbles. He’s playing well, and he’s the same age as Allen – 28.
So I think Allen is just going through a bad stretch here, like almost all of the Vikings are.
It’s been a shitty week. It will get shittier if the Vikings lose at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
That’s a distinct possibility, by the way. Even with the Cardinals going back to Derek Anderson and his 53.5 completion percentage as their starting quarterback. Even with the Cardinals giving up 143 yards rushing per game – 28th in the league – and facing the NFL’s leading rusher.
That’s because the Cardinals still have Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston. The pair combined for 14 catches, 219 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 38-35 loss at Tampa Bay. And you might have noticed the Vikings aren’t getting much pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
So even though Anderson’s inaccurate and mistake-prone (seven interceptions in limited playing time this season), he’ll probably get enough time to find Fitzgerald and Breaston for some big plays that will hurt the Vikings. And nobody on the Vikings defence knows how to pick off a pass anyway.
Are there any reasons to be optimistic the Vikings will win this one?
Sure. We’ve got Adrian Peterson. Brett Favre actually played pretty well last week. Maybe he’s coming around. And just like the Vikings, the Cardinals are a terrible road team. They’re 1-3 away from home and their losses have been by 12 points, 31 points and 34 points.
But this week has been so chaotic, and this season has gone so sour for the Vikings, I only see misery in store for them for the rest of 2010.
It continues this Sunday.
Cardinals 28 – Vikings 17
Rumors of Jared Allen’s demise are not greatly exaggerated
I don’t know what’s more depressing, the Vikings 2-5 record, the way the Moss thing turned out, or as Football Outsiders Doug Farrar writes, that Jared Allen may be on a very swift decline.
The article makes for interesting reading if you’re a football fan. But it’s painful reading if you’re a Vikings fan.
However, when I finished reading Farrar’s article, I almost immediately started thinking about Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
Last year around this time, football writers were saying Umenyiora was done. You could run on him at will. He couldn’t get to the quarterback. He wasn’t even an every-down player.
This year, Umenyiora has eight sacks and seven forced fumbles. He’s playing well, and he’s the same age as Allen – 28.
So I think Allen is just going through a bad stretch here, like almost all of the Vikings are.
Monday, November 01, 2010
Liberating
In memory of Randy Moss, I'm going to dog it with this entry.
So here are some other writer/blogger takes on the Moss situation, which remains a bit uncertain as I type away.
Vikes Geek.
Pacifist Viking.
Kevin Seifert.
Viking Update.
Regardless of whether Moss is, indeed, going to be released or not in the next 24 hours, what this move represents to me is it officially takes the pressure off you, dear Vikings fan.
After all, the 2010 season surely has been wearing you down, as you keep waiting, hoping for the Minnesota Vikings of 2009 to return.
But they haven't been returning, and this latest sideshow is the final sign that 2010 is a lost season for your Vikings.
Now maybe they will gets things straightened out a bit after this. Maybe they won't.
But whether they do or not matters little. You can no longer expect anything from this team, and that takes a lot of pressure off of your Sundays for the next nine weeks or so.
And if this leads to a complete collapse by the team and they lose the vast majority of their games and finish 3-13 or 4-12, it won't be so bad.
It will mean the Vikings will go into 2011 with a very high draft pick, who could be an impact player (maybe even a quarterback!) It will mean an easy schedule, a team with several excellent players (Peterson, Harvin, Allen, etc.) can take advantage of. And it probably means a new head coach who will bask in the glory of a rapid one season turnaround.
Dare to dream.
So here are some other writer/blogger takes on the Moss situation, which remains a bit uncertain as I type away.
Vikes Geek.
Pacifist Viking.
Kevin Seifert.
Viking Update.
Regardless of whether Moss is, indeed, going to be released or not in the next 24 hours, what this move represents to me is it officially takes the pressure off you, dear Vikings fan.
After all, the 2010 season surely has been wearing you down, as you keep waiting, hoping for the Minnesota Vikings of 2009 to return.
But they haven't been returning, and this latest sideshow is the final sign that 2010 is a lost season for your Vikings.
Now maybe they will gets things straightened out a bit after this. Maybe they won't.
But whether they do or not matters little. You can no longer expect anything from this team, and that takes a lot of pressure off of your Sundays for the next nine weeks or so.
And if this leads to a complete collapse by the team and they lose the vast majority of their games and finish 3-13 or 4-12, it won't be so bad.
It will mean the Vikings will go into 2011 with a very high draft pick, who could be an impact player (maybe even a quarterback!) It will mean an easy schedule, a team with several excellent players (Peterson, Harvin, Allen, etc.) can take advantage of. And it probably means a new head coach who will bask in the glory of a rapid one season turnaround.
Dare to dream.
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