I wasn't able to watch the Vikings 24-14 loss to Atlanta live today because of traveling. But i did tape the game and will watch it and have some analysis on this in a day or so.
But check out ESPN 1500's Tom Peliserro in this video recap of the loss. He talks about the Vikings being in games but not finding ways to win them.
It's nothing a left tackle, a right guard, a #1 wide receiver, two starting cornerbacks and a decent defensive tackle couldn't fix.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving, Vikings fans
To my loyal American readers (all three of you), I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday. We had our Turkey Day in Canada over a month ago, so I'll be at work while you Yanks are chugging beers and watching football. You can learn more about the differences in the origin of our countries respective Thanksgiving traditions here.
I must say I'm intrigued by how the Green Bay-Detroit game will turn out. It's been a while since a Thanksgiving game in Detroit meant anything.
The Lions have had a habit of digging themselves into holes early and climbing out of them late this season. But they don't want to follow that formula against the Packers. Still, I'm sensing Detroit plays inspired football Thursday and hands Green Bay its first loss of 2011. Okay, I'm not sensing it, I'm hoping for it.
Detroit 42 – Green Bay 28
Grey Cup fever
This week will also feature the biggest sporting day of the year in Canada, as the Canadian Football League's version of the Super Bowl – the Grey Cup – will be played in Vancouver on Sunday. The British Columbia Lions will play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Bud Grant's old team.
There are a few other Minnesota ties in this game. The Lions have two Minnesota Gophers alumni playing for them and they are both wide receivers: Arland Bruce and Ryan Thelwell (who is a Canadian.)
I'm not sure how storied the Gophers careers of Bruce and Thelwell were, but if you remember their playing days, feel free to leave a comment about what they were like. I'm curious.
The other Minnesota tie in this game is Lions defensive tackle Khreem Smith. You might remember Smith as a member of the Vikings practice squad in Brad Childress' first season as head coach. Smith was cut in training camp the following year and has mostly bounced around the arena league since.
Now he's playing in the CFL for a championship. At least somebody with Vikings lineage is playing meaningful football this November.
I must say I'm intrigued by how the Green Bay-Detroit game will turn out. It's been a while since a Thanksgiving game in Detroit meant anything.
The Lions have had a habit of digging themselves into holes early and climbing out of them late this season. But they don't want to follow that formula against the Packers. Still, I'm sensing Detroit plays inspired football Thursday and hands Green Bay its first loss of 2011. Okay, I'm not sensing it, I'm hoping for it.
Detroit 42 – Green Bay 28
Grey Cup fever
This week will also feature the biggest sporting day of the year in Canada, as the Canadian Football League's version of the Super Bowl – the Grey Cup – will be played in Vancouver on Sunday. The British Columbia Lions will play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Bud Grant's old team.
There are a few other Minnesota ties in this game. The Lions have two Minnesota Gophers alumni playing for them and they are both wide receivers: Arland Bruce and Ryan Thelwell (who is a Canadian.)
I'm not sure how storied the Gophers careers of Bruce and Thelwell were, but if you remember their playing days, feel free to leave a comment about what they were like. I'm curious.
The other Minnesota tie in this game is Lions defensive tackle Khreem Smith. You might remember Smith as a member of the Vikings practice squad in Brad Childress' first season as head coach. Smith was cut in training camp the following year and has mostly bounced around the arena league since.
Now he's playing in the CFL for a championship. At least somebody with Vikings lineage is playing meaningful football this November.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Vikings rebuilding plan at stake in the squad's final six games
You may have heard the Minnesota Vikings aren't very good this season.
With the 2011 season shot, the Vikings final six games takes on significance only in how team positions itself for the 2012 NFL draft. The 0-10 Indianapolis Colts look to have the first overall pick (and the right to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck) locked up. But the number two overall pick is still up for grabs.
At 2-8, the Vikings are one of three teams currently in the running for that second spot. The St. Louis Rams and the Carolina Panthers are the other 2-8 teams. And as much as I hate to write this, if the Vikings keep losing, they very well could claim that draft slot, which would be great for the Vikings rebuilding plans.
Why do I think that? Let me take a few paragraphs explain.
Besides Luck, the college player many mock drafts have ranked as the number two prospect is University of Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley. But the Vikings don't need a quarterback, having drafted this guy last April.
However, the same can't be said for Washington or Miami. Both squads are currently 3-7 and in desperate need of a QB of the future. If the Vikes do end up with the second overall pick, it's logical to think both Washington and Miami would be willing to trade up to get the second pick and a shot at Barkley. And trading up would likely mean either team would have to swap their own first-round pick, plus another high selection or two to get the deal done.
Such a scenario would work our quite nicely for the Vikings. Let's say Washington or Miami finishes with the fifth overall pick, the Colts have the first pick, the Vikes #2, and Carolina and St. Louis have picks #3 and #4 – or vice versa. The Vikings have needs at a lot of positions, but if you had to name the top three, they would be left tackle, cornerback and wide receiver.
By trading away the number two pick to a quarterback needy team like Miami or Washington in exchange for the number five slot, the Vikings are pretty much assured of getting one of the following: the draft's best left tackle (Matt Kalil), the best cornerback (Morris Claiborne) or the best wide receiver (Justin Blackmon.) Plus, the additional pick or picks they get for trading out of the number #2 slot can be used to draft another solid prospect at a position of need. This is the kind of deal that could put the Vikings rebuilding plan on the fast track.
But this is all dependent on the Vikings, Miami and Washington continuing to lose, while Carolina and St. Louis win a bit more. So let's take a look at the Vikings remaining six games and predict how they might finish up.
Game #11 @Atlanta: Stop Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner and Julio Jones? Riiiiight. Vikings lose. (2-9)
Game #12 Denver: Denver's Tim Tebow will have run out of smoke and mirrors by then. Vikings win. (3-9)
Game #13 @Detroit: The Lions' Matt Stafford threw for five touchdown passes last week. How many do you think he will throw against the Vikings secondary? Vikings lose. (3-10)
Game #14 New Orleans: The Saints Drew Brees is on pace to throw for 5,000 yards. He might throw for 5,000 in this game. Vikings lose. (3-11)
Game #15 @Washington: This will be a big game. If the Vikings win, it could cost them the second overall pick. The same could hold true for Washington. Vikings lose. (3-12)
Game #16 Chicago: The result of this game hinges on who is playing quarterback for the Bears: Caleb Hanie, Jay Cutler or Kyle "Neckbeard" Orton. I think it will be either Cutler or Orton. Vikings lose (3-13)
A 3-13 record should be enough to get the Vikings the second overall pick in April's draft. Never before have I been so at peace with the Vikings sucking this hard.
With the 2011 season shot, the Vikings final six games takes on significance only in how team positions itself for the 2012 NFL draft. The 0-10 Indianapolis Colts look to have the first overall pick (and the right to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck) locked up. But the number two overall pick is still up for grabs.
At 2-8, the Vikings are one of three teams currently in the running for that second spot. The St. Louis Rams and the Carolina Panthers are the other 2-8 teams. And as much as I hate to write this, if the Vikings keep losing, they very well could claim that draft slot, which would be great for the Vikings rebuilding plans.
Why do I think that? Let me take a few paragraphs explain.
Besides Luck, the college player many mock drafts have ranked as the number two prospect is University of Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley. But the Vikings don't need a quarterback, having drafted this guy last April.
However, the same can't be said for Washington or Miami. Both squads are currently 3-7 and in desperate need of a QB of the future. If the Vikes do end up with the second overall pick, it's logical to think both Washington and Miami would be willing to trade up to get the second pick and a shot at Barkley. And trading up would likely mean either team would have to swap their own first-round pick, plus another high selection or two to get the deal done.
Such a scenario would work our quite nicely for the Vikings. Let's say Washington or Miami finishes with the fifth overall pick, the Colts have the first pick, the Vikes #2, and Carolina and St. Louis have picks #3 and #4 – or vice versa. The Vikings have needs at a lot of positions, but if you had to name the top three, they would be left tackle, cornerback and wide receiver.
By trading away the number two pick to a quarterback needy team like Miami or Washington in exchange for the number five slot, the Vikings are pretty much assured of getting one of the following: the draft's best left tackle (Matt Kalil), the best cornerback (Morris Claiborne) or the best wide receiver (Justin Blackmon.) Plus, the additional pick or picks they get for trading out of the number #2 slot can be used to draft another solid prospect at a position of need. This is the kind of deal that could put the Vikings rebuilding plan on the fast track.
But this is all dependent on the Vikings, Miami and Washington continuing to lose, while Carolina and St. Louis win a bit more. So let's take a look at the Vikings remaining six games and predict how they might finish up.
Game #11 @Atlanta: Stop Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner and Julio Jones? Riiiiight. Vikings lose. (2-9)
Game #12 Denver: Denver's Tim Tebow will have run out of smoke and mirrors by then. Vikings win. (3-9)
Game #13 @Detroit: The Lions' Matt Stafford threw for five touchdown passes last week. How many do you think he will throw against the Vikings secondary? Vikings lose. (3-10)
Game #14 New Orleans: The Saints Drew Brees is on pace to throw for 5,000 yards. He might throw for 5,000 in this game. Vikings lose. (3-11)
Game #15 @Washington: This will be a big game. If the Vikings win, it could cost them the second overall pick. The same could hold true for Washington. Vikings lose. (3-12)
Game #16 Chicago: The result of this game hinges on who is playing quarterback for the Bears: Caleb Hanie, Jay Cutler or Kyle "Neckbeard" Orton. I think it will be either Cutler or Orton. Vikings lose (3-13)
A 3-13 record should be enough to get the Vikings the second overall pick in April's draft. Never before have I been so at peace with the Vikings sucking this hard.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Ponder least of Vikings worries as they fall to 2-8
After the Minnesota Vikings 27-21 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, the squad's rookie quarterback Christian Ponder said, "Bad decisions by me, and I take full responsibility for this loss."
True, Ponder was picked off three times in this game. All of them were terrible decisions. Two of them came with the Vikings deep in Raiders territory and on the verge of scoring. The other came deep in Vikings territory and gift-wrapped the Raiders three points. But while I like the fact he's manning up to his mistakes, the rookie had plenty of help in this one, such as:
* Chris Kluwe couldn't get a hold down and Jim Kleinsasser botched a blocking assignment, scuttling a 49-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Longwell.
* Lorenzo Booker's fumble on a kickoff return with 1:20 left in the first half set up Oakland for another easy seven points and a 24-7 lead, which is an insurmountable hole for this Vikings team.
* The Vikes committed nine penalties totaling 50 yards.
* The special teams gave up returns of 46, 34 and 36 yards.
* And let's not forget a Vikings defence that kept getting run over by Michael Bush in the first half, and despite being dealt some bad hands, couldn't stop the bleeding and frequently let the Raiders pile up big gains on second and third-and-long. In my view, they are just as culpable in this loss as Ponder.
Ponder was starting his fourth NFL game today, so Vikings fans can forgive him for making some mistakes – as bad as they were. But what is the veterans excuses? I'm getting pretty sick of seeing Letroy Guion jump offsides, or Tyrell Johnson get run over by an opposing running back for a touchdown.
The losing might be tolerable if you could see overall improvement in the Vikings. But they are going backward. That is disheartening for any Vikings fan. Hope is getting increasingly harder to find.
Other things
• I should know better, but I found myself continually surprised by how quickly Ponder's passing pocket disintegrated against Oakland.
• I suspect Adrian Peterson could be out for a couple of weeks with that ankle injury. The Vikings would be wise to be cautious with Peterson, but if he's out that makes the Vikings even more unwatchable. We're down to Ponder, Percy Harvin and Jared Allen as the reasons to bother watching the Vikings right now.
• It's early, but do you think Ponder's got what it takes to be a very good quarterback in the NFL? I would say yes when you consider who he's got to throw to and who is blocking for him.
• I like the coverage ESPN 1500's Tom Pelissero and Judd Zulgad provide, but check out their post-game commentary here. They seem to be taking these losses personally. I'm starting to find that grating.
True, Ponder was picked off three times in this game. All of them were terrible decisions. Two of them came with the Vikings deep in Raiders territory and on the verge of scoring. The other came deep in Vikings territory and gift-wrapped the Raiders three points. But while I like the fact he's manning up to his mistakes, the rookie had plenty of help in this one, such as:
* Chris Kluwe couldn't get a hold down and Jim Kleinsasser botched a blocking assignment, scuttling a 49-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Longwell.
* Lorenzo Booker's fumble on a kickoff return with 1:20 left in the first half set up Oakland for another easy seven points and a 24-7 lead, which is an insurmountable hole for this Vikings team.
* The Vikes committed nine penalties totaling 50 yards.
* The special teams gave up returns of 46, 34 and 36 yards.
* And let's not forget a Vikings defence that kept getting run over by Michael Bush in the first half, and despite being dealt some bad hands, couldn't stop the bleeding and frequently let the Raiders pile up big gains on second and third-and-long. In my view, they are just as culpable in this loss as Ponder.
Ponder was starting his fourth NFL game today, so Vikings fans can forgive him for making some mistakes – as bad as they were. But what is the veterans excuses? I'm getting pretty sick of seeing Letroy Guion jump offsides, or Tyrell Johnson get run over by an opposing running back for a touchdown.
The losing might be tolerable if you could see overall improvement in the Vikings. But they are going backward. That is disheartening for any Vikings fan. Hope is getting increasingly harder to find.
Other things
• I should know better, but I found myself continually surprised by how quickly Ponder's passing pocket disintegrated against Oakland.
• I suspect Adrian Peterson could be out for a couple of weeks with that ankle injury. The Vikings would be wise to be cautious with Peterson, but if he's out that makes the Vikings even more unwatchable. We're down to Ponder, Percy Harvin and Jared Allen as the reasons to bother watching the Vikings right now.
• It's early, but do you think Ponder's got what it takes to be a very good quarterback in the NFL? I would say yes when you consider who he's got to throw to and who is blocking for him.
• I like the coverage ESPN 1500's Tom Pelissero and Judd Zulgad provide, but check out their post-game commentary here. They seem to be taking these losses personally. I'm starting to find that grating.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Is it time for the Vikings to switch to a 3-4 defence?
ESPN 1500's Tom Pelissero penned a story this week wondering whether it's time for the Minnesota Vikings to consider switching to a 3-4 defence.
These are the kinds of things that get talked about when a team is 2-7 and going nowhere. Pelissero notes the trend in the NFL is to run a 3-4 defence and the article implies a 3-4 provides a squad with more flexibility and more ways to disguise blitzes and pressure packages and thus it's a better scheme than a 4-3.
Pelissero doesn't overtly take a stand in the piece, but you get the feeling he thinks the Vikings should seriously consider making the switch for the 2012 season.
But is the 3-4 defence really the superior scheme? Well, the top three NFL defences in 2011 are Houston, Pittsburgh and Baltimore – all 3-4 units. But the 4th, 5th and 6th-ranked defensive units are 4-3's: Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Cleveland. Overall, there are six 3-4 defences ranked in the top 10 versus four 4-3 defences. And of the league's top 15 defences, eight use 3-4 schemes and eight use 4-3 schemes (I know, eight + eight is 16, but Tennessee and Seattle were tied for 15th.)
Ultimately, talent matters more than schemes. Fans and writers who follow the Vikings are upset with its 4-3 Cover Two system. But when you've got Asher Allen as your starting corner, Jamarca Sanford as a starting safety and nobody besides Jared Allen can get to the opposing quarterback, any system will fail. And let's not forget a productive offence can be a defence's best friend – grinding out long scoring drives and providing the defence good field position even when they don't score. But the Vikings are no offensive juggernaut this year, either.
The 4-3 served the Vikings just fine in 2008 and 2009. It could do so again in the future. They just need enough adequate talent to make it happen. Sadly, that talent isn't there.
These are the kinds of things that get talked about when a team is 2-7 and going nowhere. Pelissero notes the trend in the NFL is to run a 3-4 defence and the article implies a 3-4 provides a squad with more flexibility and more ways to disguise blitzes and pressure packages and thus it's a better scheme than a 4-3.
Pelissero doesn't overtly take a stand in the piece, but you get the feeling he thinks the Vikings should seriously consider making the switch for the 2012 season.
But is the 3-4 defence really the superior scheme? Well, the top three NFL defences in 2011 are Houston, Pittsburgh and Baltimore – all 3-4 units. But the 4th, 5th and 6th-ranked defensive units are 4-3's: Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Cleveland. Overall, there are six 3-4 defences ranked in the top 10 versus four 4-3 defences. And of the league's top 15 defences, eight use 3-4 schemes and eight use 4-3 schemes (I know, eight + eight is 16, but Tennessee and Seattle were tied for 15th.)
Ultimately, talent matters more than schemes. Fans and writers who follow the Vikings are upset with its 4-3 Cover Two system. But when you've got Asher Allen as your starting corner, Jamarca Sanford as a starting safety and nobody besides Jared Allen can get to the opposing quarterback, any system will fail. And let's not forget a productive offence can be a defence's best friend – grinding out long scoring drives and providing the defence good field position even when they don't score. But the Vikings are no offensive juggernaut this year, either.
The 4-3 served the Vikings just fine in 2008 and 2009. It could do so again in the future. They just need enough adequate talent to make it happen. Sadly, that talent isn't there.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Vikings look to bounce back from Packers debacle against Raiders
Vikings – Raiders
"Embarrassing" was a word used often this week to describe the Minnesota Vikings performance after enduring a 45-7 beatdown Monday night at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.
Another word that could have been used was "expected." The Vikings aren't very good, and the Packers are. Combine those two truths and you often get a lopsided result.
It's tough writing these game previews when the Vikings are realistically out of playoff chase. Wins and losses don't really matter now, only the performances of certain players (i.e. rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.) And if that's the case, what's the point in previewing anything?
Still I'd like to see the Vikings be competitive. And I think they can be against the 5-4 Oakland Raiders, who are enjoying a bit of a renaissance.
The renaissance is fueled by a fine one-two running tandem in Michael Bush and Darren McFadden (who may not play.) Wide receivers Darius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford (who also may not play) can all fly. Carson Palmer has thrown for 631 yards and five touchdowns (but also four interceptions) his last two games. In short, the Raiders have some weapons that could give a struggling Vikings defence some real problems on Sunday.
Now the Raiders are no hell on defence, either. The squad's pass defence is ranked 22nd in the NFL, and is giving up 246 passing yards per game. But can the Vikings take advantage of that weakness with the slate of wide receivers they have? Probably not.
To win this game, the Vikings need every defensive lineman – besides Jared Allen, who is playing out of his mind – to wake up and get to Palmer, who isn't very mobile. They can't fall behind early because that takes Adrian Peterson out of the game. And they need Ponder to bounce back from a rough outing against the Packers.
But that's probably too much to ask for this team.
Raiders 28 – Vikings 20
Other Stuff
* ESPN's Kevin Seifert delves into a rare occurrence – the Vikings hardly ever turn the ball over and yet they are still losing.
• Seifert also wonders what the future holds for cornerback Antoine Winfield (scroll down to item #4 in this post.)
It's a good question. Winfield missed more tackles when he played this year than I can ever remember, but he was still a pretty effective player. But he'll be 35 soon and you have to figure the injury bug is going to continue to bite him at his age. Winfield is one of my all-time favorite Vikings, but management might want to see this offseason if they can trade him to a contender for a high draft pick. They won't get a first rounder for him, or probably even a second rounder, but a third or fourth might be possible.
Such a trade would be good for both parties. Winfield gets to finish his career playing meaningful football. The Vikings pick up an extra draft pick to aid in the rebuilding process.
* The Star-Tribune's Dan Wiederer points out Ponder's stats aren't all that great after three starts.
I think Sunday's game will tell us something about the rookie. If he bounces back and has a decent-to-good game, that will show us that Ponder's got a short memory and learns from his mistakes. If he struggles again, we'll start to fret and grumble about him. He might even get booed by the home fans. I'm a bit nervous about how Sunday's game will turn out for Ponder.
"Embarrassing" was a word used often this week to describe the Minnesota Vikings performance after enduring a 45-7 beatdown Monday night at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.
Another word that could have been used was "expected." The Vikings aren't very good, and the Packers are. Combine those two truths and you often get a lopsided result.
It's tough writing these game previews when the Vikings are realistically out of playoff chase. Wins and losses don't really matter now, only the performances of certain players (i.e. rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.) And if that's the case, what's the point in previewing anything?
Still I'd like to see the Vikings be competitive. And I think they can be against the 5-4 Oakland Raiders, who are enjoying a bit of a renaissance.
The renaissance is fueled by a fine one-two running tandem in Michael Bush and Darren McFadden (who may not play.) Wide receivers Darius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford (who also may not play) can all fly. Carson Palmer has thrown for 631 yards and five touchdowns (but also four interceptions) his last two games. In short, the Raiders have some weapons that could give a struggling Vikings defence some real problems on Sunday.
Now the Raiders are no hell on defence, either. The squad's pass defence is ranked 22nd in the NFL, and is giving up 246 passing yards per game. But can the Vikings take advantage of that weakness with the slate of wide receivers they have? Probably not.
To win this game, the Vikings need every defensive lineman – besides Jared Allen, who is playing out of his mind – to wake up and get to Palmer, who isn't very mobile. They can't fall behind early because that takes Adrian Peterson out of the game. And they need Ponder to bounce back from a rough outing against the Packers.
But that's probably too much to ask for this team.
Raiders 28 – Vikings 20
Other Stuff
* ESPN's Kevin Seifert delves into a rare occurrence – the Vikings hardly ever turn the ball over and yet they are still losing.
• Seifert also wonders what the future holds for cornerback Antoine Winfield (scroll down to item #4 in this post.)
It's a good question. Winfield missed more tackles when he played this year than I can ever remember, but he was still a pretty effective player. But he'll be 35 soon and you have to figure the injury bug is going to continue to bite him at his age. Winfield is one of my all-time favorite Vikings, but management might want to see this offseason if they can trade him to a contender for a high draft pick. They won't get a first rounder for him, or probably even a second rounder, but a third or fourth might be possible.
Such a trade would be good for both parties. Winfield gets to finish his career playing meaningful football. The Vikings pick up an extra draft pick to aid in the rebuilding process.
* The Star-Tribune's Dan Wiederer points out Ponder's stats aren't all that great after three starts.
I think Sunday's game will tell us something about the rookie. If he bounces back and has a decent-to-good game, that will show us that Ponder's got a short memory and learns from his mistakes. If he struggles again, we'll start to fret and grumble about him. He might even get booed by the home fans. I'm a bit nervous about how Sunday's game will turn out for Ponder.
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Vikings put on an NCAA-like performance against the Green Bay Packers
I'm not sure what the definition of rock bottom is, but if the Minnesota Vikings didn't hit it in a 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers Monday night, they came awfully close.
Playing the 8-0 Packers on the road at Lambeau Field, the Vikings had to play an almost perfect game to pull off an upset. They didn't succeed.
The special teams immediately surrendered an 80-yard punt return touchdown to Green Bay's Randall Cobb, digging themselves a 7-0 hole before the Packers even had an offensive possession. They were flagged for 10 penalties compared to Green Bay's one. Their only score was set up by a muffed punt return by Cobb in the third quarter that gave the Vikings the ball on the Packers 14-yard line. They allowed Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers to throw for four touchdown passes. Basically, the Vikings were as limp as a 99-year-old man with erectile dysfunction.
There's little doubt the Vikings-Packers "rivalry" is at its lowest ebb since the Vikings entered the league as an expansion team back in 1961. Since Mike McCarthy took over as Green Bay's head coach in 2006, his team has a 9-3 record against the Vikings, including sweeping the season series in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.
But a little perspective is in order. Despite the 38-point loss, tonight's thrashing did not reveal any new warts about the Vikings. We know the Vikings secondary cannot hold up against a quarterback and receiving corps that is anything above league average. We know the offensive line can't pass or run block worth a lick. And we know they don't have a wide receiver who can stretch the field and make defences pay for stacking the box against Adrian Peterson. (For all his talent and toughness, Percy Harvin is not that guy – yet.)
So while another shellacking at the hands of the Packers stings, a year or two from now Vikings fans might grudgingly thank Green Bay for the beatdown. And they'll thank them because if there was ever any doubt about the wide chasm that separates the Vikings from a Super Bowl contender like the Packers, it was illustrated in living colour at Lambeau Field on November 14, 2011.
The memory of this game should be enough to convince the Vikings coaching staff and management that some serious housecleaning is required with this roster once the 2011 season is over. That might be the only encouragement we can take out of this blowout loss.
Playing the 8-0 Packers on the road at Lambeau Field, the Vikings had to play an almost perfect game to pull off an upset. They didn't succeed.
The special teams immediately surrendered an 80-yard punt return touchdown to Green Bay's Randall Cobb, digging themselves a 7-0 hole before the Packers even had an offensive possession. They were flagged for 10 penalties compared to Green Bay's one. Their only score was set up by a muffed punt return by Cobb in the third quarter that gave the Vikings the ball on the Packers 14-yard line. They allowed Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers to throw for four touchdown passes. Basically, the Vikings were as limp as a 99-year-old man with erectile dysfunction.
There's little doubt the Vikings-Packers "rivalry" is at its lowest ebb since the Vikings entered the league as an expansion team back in 1961. Since Mike McCarthy took over as Green Bay's head coach in 2006, his team has a 9-3 record against the Vikings, including sweeping the season series in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.
But a little perspective is in order. Despite the 38-point loss, tonight's thrashing did not reveal any new warts about the Vikings. We know the Vikings secondary cannot hold up against a quarterback and receiving corps that is anything above league average. We know the offensive line can't pass or run block worth a lick. And we know they don't have a wide receiver who can stretch the field and make defences pay for stacking the box against Adrian Peterson. (For all his talent and toughness, Percy Harvin is not that guy – yet.)
So while another shellacking at the hands of the Packers stings, a year or two from now Vikings fans might grudgingly thank Green Bay for the beatdown. And they'll thank them because if there was ever any doubt about the wide chasm that separates the Vikings from a Super Bowl contender like the Packers, it was illustrated in living colour at Lambeau Field on November 14, 2011.
The memory of this game should be enough to convince the Vikings coaching staff and management that some serious housecleaning is required with this roster once the 2011 season is over. That might be the only encouragement we can take out of this blowout loss.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Ponder, Peterson and Co. look to pull off upset at Lambeau
The Green Bay Packers have had a couple of close calls the past two games, and at 8-0 you figure they have to lose a game here at some point. So after the Minnesota Vikings gave the Pack a tough game in the Metrodome three weeks ago, I was ready to predict an upset on Monday night.
But then I remembered the Vikes had Adrian Peterson run for 175 yards in that game, the defence "held" Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to 335 passing yards and they weren't playing at Lambeau Field (a 3-7 record in their last 10 regular season games there) and they still lost. So I've come to my senses. I'm not predicting a Vikings upset.
Packers 38 – Vikings 20
ESPN 1500's Judd Zulgad suggest that the Vikings and Vikings fans need to focus on 2012, rather than worry about 2011.
With that in mind, I'll be looking at a few things besides the score in this game.
* Can rookie quarterback Christian Ponder continue his success on third downs and produce another zero turnover game like he did in the win against Carolina?
* Can the Vikings get Peterson involved in the passing game like they did against Carolina?
* Will the Vikings finally try to throw some deep balls to a healthier and fresher Percy Harvin?
* Will any of the Vikings rookie class of 2011 besides Ponder show some promise? (Kyle Rudolph, it's time to make an impact.)
But then I remembered the Vikes had Adrian Peterson run for 175 yards in that game, the defence "held" Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to 335 passing yards and they weren't playing at Lambeau Field (a 3-7 record in their last 10 regular season games there) and they still lost. So I've come to my senses. I'm not predicting a Vikings upset.
Packers 38 – Vikings 20
ESPN 1500's Judd Zulgad suggest that the Vikings and Vikings fans need to focus on 2012, rather than worry about 2011.
With that in mind, I'll be looking at a few things besides the score in this game.
* Can rookie quarterback Christian Ponder continue his success on third downs and produce another zero turnover game like he did in the win against Carolina?
* Can the Vikings get Peterson involved in the passing game like they did against Carolina?
* Will the Vikings finally try to throw some deep balls to a healthier and fresher Percy Harvin?
* Will any of the Vikings rookie class of 2011 besides Ponder show some promise? (Kyle Rudolph, it's time to make an impact.)
Friday, November 11, 2011
The Vikings at the half-way point: A look at pleasant surprises and stinkers
I’ve been meaning to write this post for about two weeks. Now I’m finally getting around to it. Here’s a look at some of the pleasant and not-so-pleasant individual performances from the first half of the Vikings season.
Bright Spots
Christian Ponder: I had never watched Ponder play before the preseason got going. I expected he’d be a cerebral, smart kid who could handle the big stage. But I’ve been surprised by his scrambling ability and speed. He’s got a better arm than advertised. His performance on third downs has been impressive. The Vikes might have something here.
Brian Robison: The Vikings starting left defensive end has gone three games without a sack and ESPN 1500’s Tom Pelissero suggested he might be wearing down. But his 17 tackles and 4.5 sacks compare pretty well with the guy he replaced – Ray Edwards, who has 19 tackles and two sacks with Atlanta. And he’s doing it for almost half the guaranteed money ($6.5 million vs. Edwards’ $11 million.)
Erin Henderson: Henderson won the weakside linebacker job by default, but he’s kept it on merit. He played his best game as a pro in the win against Carolina (five tackles, two passes defensed.) He seems to be getting better in pass coverage. The tackling has been solid. I don’t think anyone is missing Ben Leber. Better yet, Henderson’s only 25.
Everson Griffen: He’s been a demon on special teams coverage units. How often is Griffen (listed at 6’3 and 273 pounds) one of the first guys down the field chasing the opposing punt or kick off returner? I’ve never seen anyone so big do that. He’s also got three sacks in limited playing time. You wonder if the Vikings should play Griffen inside on a permanent basis instead of wasting snaps on Remi Ayodele, Fred Evans and Letroy Guion (more on that in a moment.)
Visanthe Shiancoe: Modest stats (23 catches, 241 yards, two touchdowns), but Shiancoe’s been a reliable option for the Vikings, even if his blocking is just average. I expect his second half will be better than the first half, too, as Ponder has been making more use of Shiancoe since taking over for Donovan McNabb as the starting QB.
Disappointments
Chris Cook: The second-year cornerback isn’t on here for what’s happened on the field, where he has been pretty good, but for what’s happened off the field. You’ve got a guy here who could be a very good cornerback in this league and stands to make a lot of money. Yet he almost threw it away by allegedly choking and beating his girlfriend. Cook, it’s time to get some counseling and turn your life around.
Ryan Longwell: Something’s wrong with one of the game’s most accurate kickoffs. Since signing with the Vikings in 2006, any field goal less than 50 yards has almost been automatic for Longwell. This season his three misses have been from 38, 38 and 45 yards and he’s missed them all badly. His kickoffs are still no hell, either.
Kevin Williams: Maybe it’s not having anyone good playing beside him inside, but the former All-Pro has been pretty much invisible out there. We’re not seeing the penetration on run plays were used to. There are no tipped passes – a Williams specialty in the past. No quarterback pressures. And certainly no sacks. Is Williams almost done at 31?
Remi Ayodele/Letroy Guion: Can you remember a single play Ayodele has made this season? Me neither. Guion might be the biggest disappointment on this list. He looked good in limited snaps toward the end of last year and he looked great during the preseason. He’s been anything but for the first eight games of 2011.
Tyrell Johnson: The Vikings 2008 second-round draft pick makes this list for failing to even live up to my modest preseason expectations. Johnson’s poor angle contributed mightily to Brandon LaFell’s 44-yard catch and run play on a fourth-and-15 on Carolina’s final drive two weeks ago. Negative stuff seems to happen whenever Johnson gets in the game. Bad angles, poor tackling, combined with ball skills: What’s to like here?
Bright Spots
Christian Ponder: I had never watched Ponder play before the preseason got going. I expected he’d be a cerebral, smart kid who could handle the big stage. But I’ve been surprised by his scrambling ability and speed. He’s got a better arm than advertised. His performance on third downs has been impressive. The Vikes might have something here.
Brian Robison: The Vikings starting left defensive end has gone three games without a sack and ESPN 1500’s Tom Pelissero suggested he might be wearing down. But his 17 tackles and 4.5 sacks compare pretty well with the guy he replaced – Ray Edwards, who has 19 tackles and two sacks with Atlanta. And he’s doing it for almost half the guaranteed money ($6.5 million vs. Edwards’ $11 million.)
Erin Henderson: Henderson won the weakside linebacker job by default, but he’s kept it on merit. He played his best game as a pro in the win against Carolina (five tackles, two passes defensed.) He seems to be getting better in pass coverage. The tackling has been solid. I don’t think anyone is missing Ben Leber. Better yet, Henderson’s only 25.
Everson Griffen: He’s been a demon on special teams coverage units. How often is Griffen (listed at 6’3 and 273 pounds) one of the first guys down the field chasing the opposing punt or kick off returner? I’ve never seen anyone so big do that. He’s also got three sacks in limited playing time. You wonder if the Vikings should play Griffen inside on a permanent basis instead of wasting snaps on Remi Ayodele, Fred Evans and Letroy Guion (more on that in a moment.)
Visanthe Shiancoe: Modest stats (23 catches, 241 yards, two touchdowns), but Shiancoe’s been a reliable option for the Vikings, even if his blocking is just average. I expect his second half will be better than the first half, too, as Ponder has been making more use of Shiancoe since taking over for Donovan McNabb as the starting QB.
Disappointments
Chris Cook: The second-year cornerback isn’t on here for what’s happened on the field, where he has been pretty good, but for what’s happened off the field. You’ve got a guy here who could be a very good cornerback in this league and stands to make a lot of money. Yet he almost threw it away by allegedly choking and beating his girlfriend. Cook, it’s time to get some counseling and turn your life around.
Ryan Longwell: Something’s wrong with one of the game’s most accurate kickoffs. Since signing with the Vikings in 2006, any field goal less than 50 yards has almost been automatic for Longwell. This season his three misses have been from 38, 38 and 45 yards and he’s missed them all badly. His kickoffs are still no hell, either.
Kevin Williams: Maybe it’s not having anyone good playing beside him inside, but the former All-Pro has been pretty much invisible out there. We’re not seeing the penetration on run plays were used to. There are no tipped passes – a Williams specialty in the past. No quarterback pressures. And certainly no sacks. Is Williams almost done at 31?
Remi Ayodele/Letroy Guion: Can you remember a single play Ayodele has made this season? Me neither. Guion might be the biggest disappointment on this list. He looked good in limited snaps toward the end of last year and he looked great during the preseason. He’s been anything but for the first eight games of 2011.
Tyrell Johnson: The Vikings 2008 second-round draft pick makes this list for failing to even live up to my modest preseason expectations. Johnson’s poor angle contributed mightily to Brandon LaFell’s 44-yard catch and run play on a fourth-and-15 on Carolina’s final drive two weeks ago. Negative stuff seems to happen whenever Johnson gets in the game. Bad angles, poor tackling, combined with ball skills: What’s to like here?
Monday, November 07, 2011
Vikings buy some time with Cook decision
The Minnesota Vikings have come back to work after their bye week and so have I.
The big news today is the Vikings have kept cornerback Chris Cook on the 53-man roster, but are keeping him suspended while he is facing assault charges for allegedly beating and strangling his girlfriend.
I think this was the right move by the Vikings. You can make a good argument for releasing Cook, but barring a guilty verdict and jail time, Cook is going to play football sometime in 2012. So why shouldn't it be with the Vikings?
I admit this is a selfish view – the Vikings don't have a whole lot of good cornerbacks on their roster and Cook looks like he could be one. So keeping him on the team, as bad as these charges appear to be, would mean the Vikings have one less spot to fill on the roster.
But again, Cook's probably going to play football in the NFL next season. The Vikings drafted him. They've invested money, coaching and time in him. Now they have to make another investment.
There's no need for Cook to play again this year. He's better off getting whatever professional help a guy who's been accused of two violent incidents in less than 12 months can get. Yet if the U.S. is the land of second chances, shouldn't Cook get one with the Vikings?
The big news today is the Vikings have kept cornerback Chris Cook on the 53-man roster, but are keeping him suspended while he is facing assault charges for allegedly beating and strangling his girlfriend.
I think this was the right move by the Vikings. You can make a good argument for releasing Cook, but barring a guilty verdict and jail time, Cook is going to play football sometime in 2012. So why shouldn't it be with the Vikings?
I admit this is a selfish view – the Vikings don't have a whole lot of good cornerbacks on their roster and Cook looks like he could be one. So keeping him on the team, as bad as these charges appear to be, would mean the Vikings have one less spot to fill on the roster.
But again, Cook's probably going to play football in the NFL next season. The Vikings drafted him. They've invested money, coaching and time in him. Now they have to make another investment.
There's no need for Cook to play again this year. He's better off getting whatever professional help a guy who's been accused of two violent incidents in less than 12 months can get. Yet if the U.S. is the land of second chances, shouldn't Cook get one with the Vikings?
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Should the Vikings cut ties with Chris Cook?
Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier told reporters today that he'll be looking for help for his undermanned secondary from outside the organization. Isn't it a shame this guy is no longer on the market?
On a serious note, Frazier says the Vikings will discuss the future of troubled second-year cornerback Chris Cook during the bye week. Cook, of course, is in deep shit for allegedly strangling his girlfriend.
Frazier hasn't been head coach for long, but I've seen enough of his comments regarding personnel matters to read between the lines a bit. And when I hear him give this non-answer – in response to a question about whether the Vikings would cut Cook – where he says, "We've got a lot of things to talk about. A lot of things to talk about as we go forward," that says to me that Cook is gone. If the Vikings were going to keep him, I think Frazier would have said something more definitive.
But is cutting Cook the right move? I don't think it is, and this comes from a guy with a five-year-old daughter.
Most Vikings fans would agree Cook has been a rare bright spot this season in what has been a mostly dreadful secondary. His long frame has allowed him to cover elite wideouts like Calvin Johnson and hold his own, and even though he's not a starter (yet) he's had more pass breakups than any other Vikings corner or safety. The best appears yet to come for Cook on the field.
Yet the actions of the Virginia Strangler put his Vikings future in doubt. Still, I wonder what the Vikings really gain by releasing Cook? If they cut him, there's no doubt another team will claim him and play him. Given how Cook has performed this season, he very well could prosper on the field with his new team, much like Michael Vick has done with the Eagles.
So why shouldn't the Vikings get Cook the counselling or professional help he obviously needs, let the NFL hand out its discipline, and then see if Cook can turn his life around?
Yes, it's a gamble. Cook could screw up again and embarrass the Vikings management. But he might also take this second chance and get his act together. We should remember Jared Allen came to the Vikings as a player with alcohol issues. There was no guarantee he wouldn't relapse and ruin his career. How has that turned out?
Cook is not the elite player Allen is, but he seems like he's becoming a very good player. The question is whether he can become a good person. If he sincerely does what it takes over the next few months to change his life, I don't see why some other team should reap the benefits from that transformation.
On a serious note, Frazier says the Vikings will discuss the future of troubled second-year cornerback Chris Cook during the bye week. Cook, of course, is in deep shit for allegedly strangling his girlfriend.
Frazier hasn't been head coach for long, but I've seen enough of his comments regarding personnel matters to read between the lines a bit. And when I hear him give this non-answer – in response to a question about whether the Vikings would cut Cook – where he says, "We've got a lot of things to talk about. A lot of things to talk about as we go forward," that says to me that Cook is gone. If the Vikings were going to keep him, I think Frazier would have said something more definitive.
But is cutting Cook the right move? I don't think it is, and this comes from a guy with a five-year-old daughter.
Most Vikings fans would agree Cook has been a rare bright spot this season in what has been a mostly dreadful secondary. His long frame has allowed him to cover elite wideouts like Calvin Johnson and hold his own, and even though he's not a starter (yet) he's had more pass breakups than any other Vikings corner or safety. The best appears yet to come for Cook on the field.
Yet the actions of the Virginia Strangler put his Vikings future in doubt. Still, I wonder what the Vikings really gain by releasing Cook? If they cut him, there's no doubt another team will claim him and play him. Given how Cook has performed this season, he very well could prosper on the field with his new team, much like Michael Vick has done with the Eagles.
So why shouldn't the Vikings get Cook the counselling or professional help he obviously needs, let the NFL hand out its discipline, and then see if Cook can turn his life around?
Yes, it's a gamble. Cook could screw up again and embarrass the Vikings management. But he might also take this second chance and get his act together. We should remember Jared Allen came to the Vikings as a player with alcohol issues. There was no guarantee he wouldn't relapse and ruin his career. How has that turned out?
Cook is not the elite player Allen is, but he seems like he's becoming a very good player. The question is whether he can become a good person. If he sincerely does what it takes over the next few months to change his life, I don't see why some other team should reap the benefits from that transformation.
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