These Minnesota Vikings aren't hard to figure

The Vikings loss to Tampa Bay last Sunday was the kind of defeat that in past years would have caused me to seriously think about smashing my TV with a baseball bat.

With the 2011 Vikings, there was no fit of rage – just resignation – as I witnessed another brutal second half collapse by my favorite team. This squad is what it is – a 6-10/5-11 team, that if a few breaks go its way could be 7-9 or 8-8, and if a few breaks don't go its way could be 4-12 or 3-13 this season.

Still, what is it with this team? How can it look so competent in the first half and so incompetent in the second half? Is it conditioning? The poor tackling we've seen in the second half of losses to San Diego and Tampa Bay suggests that might be an issue.

Or are there mental issues? What does it say about this Vikings team when several players commented after the Tampa Bay loss that their opponents "wanted it more" and that they didn't play hard for 60 minutes? That tells me this team is fragile and mentally weak, although some veteran leaders tried to address that issue on Monday.

I don't think this season is going to be much fun.

Other links

* The Vikings must hate ESPN 1500's Tom Pelissero. In his weekly tape study (always a must read), he says Donovan McNabb's skills are "obviously in decline", declares that guard Steve Hutchinson is "just so average" and wonders if cornerback Antoine Winfield might be finally showing his age (sacrilege!)

* Can the Vikings get their first win of the season against the 2-0 (I can't believe I'm writing this) Detroit Lions? Sam Monson's scouting report on the Leos suggests it will be difficult.

* ESPN 1500's Patrick Reusse wonders why fans of the Vikings are taking it easy on head coach Leslie Frazier after two-straight second half collapses and some questionable coaching decisions. Judging from the boos that rained down on the Vikings in the Metrodome after last Sunday's loss, the kid gloves are already coming off.

* The Vikings decided to release defensive end Adrian Awasom on Tuesday to make room for Kevin Williams. Some people wondered if safety Tyrell Johnson arrest would signal the end of his Vikings career. I'll take no glee in this if it eventually happens. Johnson was regarded pretty highly by many NFL teams when he was drafted in the second round of 2008. If he were playing up to the potential scouts saw in him four years ago, the Vikings pass defence would be better off. But it appears Johnson will go down as one of the Vikes draft busts.

* It's too early for this, but CBS Sportsline's Clark Judge has the Vikings in the running for the right to draft Stanford Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck.

Luck might be the most highly prized college QB since Peyton Manning. So let's say the Vikings keep losing in brutal fashion and secure the number one pick. Do they select Luck even though they already drafted their quarterback of the future in Christian Ponder last April? Or do they trade the number one pick to another QB needy team and use the draft picks and players they land to fill the numerous holes in he roster? It's an intriguing debate for Vikings fans.