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Posts Tagged ‘Adrian Peterson’

The Minnesota Vikings have lost two of their last three games and even though they’ve clinched the NFC North division, a sinking feeling is settling in amongst the fans.  Debate rages over Brett Favre’s rebuke of coach Childress’ “stream of consciousness” and all is not well in the land of Norseman.  Two games are left in the regular season; first against the clawless Chicago Bears and then annual seasonal nemesis of the New York Giants (fighting for their playoff lives), and the good folks cheering for the purple wonder if this dream season is starting to fall apart?

Last weekend's sideline skirmish between Brad Childress and Brett Favre is just the latest episode between the two. - Brett Davis/US Presswire

Offensive line play and the coach’s authority

First off, the offense line play has been horrible of late. Rather than dominate, or even most of the time win the battles, the linemen are getting beat in pass blocking and stood up in a rush blocking. Watch the next two games when we run the football. Look to see where the offense of linemen end up after their first few steps. It is usually the line of scrimmage, give or take a yard, instead of 4 or 5 yards downfield. That cannot all be blamed on Sullivan either. the ability to rush block greatly affects Adrian Peterson’s or Chester Taylor’s yard per carry stat. Going over to football outsiders, about the only place I know that tracks offensive line stats, it shows the offensive line ranked 24th in rushing.

Brett Favre, and the Vikings have been audibling out of runs. Brad Childress has been open with his philosophy about wanting to run first and run often. He believes that is the way to win ballgames consistently and for a long time. But yet the Vikings seem to be throwing more and more. That is not such a big deal if your offense is geared around it, or if you do not have the running backs to sustain that type of power offense, but that is not the case here. Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are two of the best backs in the league. When have the Vikings consistently had hundred plus yard rushers week to week? Are you going to tell me it is because Matt Birk is now in Baltimore or that Ryan Cook is a better rush blocker than Phil Loadholt? Everybody else on that line is the same. The difference is the person who elects to audible out of the run play.

You will counter that it is Brad Childress that gave him the authority to do such.  How true you are.  The whole idea is to give Brett the ability to take advantage of what the defense will give him.  An example would be if there are 10 guys stacked in the box, then Sidney Rice or Bernard Berrian will be covered one-on-one streaking down the sidelines or running a post.  That is the idea, but is Brett Favre taking what the defense is giving him, or is he audibling out to something he is a whole lot more comfortable with? He likes the spotlight and he even admitted that he didn’t come to Minnesota just to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson.

Adam Warwas over at Vikings Gab Road wrote a great blog today comparing the run versus the pass.  We have all heard how each team desires a balanced offense, where we run 50% of the time and throw the other 50% of the time.  That’s why the Vikings were said to be that one good quarterback away from making it to the Super Bowl, one that could throw and achieve that balanced attack that seems to be the golden key for success.  Adam goes on to break down the stats of run versus pass for each and every game the Vikings played this season.  There are some surprising results.  Of the three games lost, the running percentage has been under 35%.  Every other game, all the wins, it was well above that mark.

If you set that percentage at 40% or greater there is an interesting result.

Games with the least 40% rushing the Vikings record is 10-0 with an average point difference of 16.6.

Games with less than 40% rushing the Vikings record is 1-3 with an average point difference of -9.75.

As we have learned, Brad Childress has tried to remove Brett Favre from the game at least twice (Six ‘events’ between Childress and Favre) before the Carolina game, and obviously during the third quarter of the Carolina game caught by an NBC cameraman in all its glory, what do the other players think? Coach Childress has allowed a player to undermine his authority. How will the other players react? Will they take this as an example of an acceptable behavior in the future when they don’t get what they want? Will they just keep on playing and refused to be benched? I will argue that that is more damaging for the Vikings in the long term, much less in the short term. This does bother me and Erin McLaughlin at Bleacher Report.  Doesn’t this bother anybody else?

This is the beginning of the bad Brett and the explosion within the organization. It is taking place in slow motion and I am seeing the fireball expand and shrapnel fly in all directions. Knowing that there will be blood and carnage shattering through what were moments before, thoughts of blissful Super Bowl victory parties. Dissension, mistrust, lack of faith and anarchy are all seeded on television for all to see.  It was if we saw him riding his tractor with the seed attachment in back working its magic to produce a much promised reward.

Could this just be an aberration, a blip, or stupid thinking by a hapless coach?  The argument can be made that way, but this is the same guy that pushed all in to get Brett Favre.  Brad Childress is also the coach that gave Brett far the ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage as he saw fit, even if that means changing to a Favre centered offensive game plan instead of an Adrian Peterson featured attack.

Mutton sure is tastes good!

Sunday at noon, the modern day Norseman will meet destruction upon the throwback wearing Rams.  The rams hope to gather some of the mojo they once had wearing royal blue and bright yellow.  “They look great. Hopefully, we’ll be able to bring back some of that throwback energy” said Rams cornerback Ron Bartell.  They will need it because the Rams (0-4) have been feeble offensively, mistake-prone and their 14-game losing streak is the longest in the NFL.  On top of it, the weather has changed.

A wet and now cold wind has moved into the St Louis area.  Three days of storms, wind and water everywhere and now near freezing conditions have been brought by the men of the North.  As Vikings players sleep and dream of long voyages across bitterly cold and ferocious seas, journeys that would exhibit their strength and ferocity as warriors and build their legends, the same feeling has wafted down on the first major cold front of the season and the locals are anxiously awaiting the bad things the feeling brings.

The first of those bad feelings comes with Brett Favre, the man who is looking to start his fourth decade on the planet with a win.  Brett Favre’s three touchdown performance against his former team last Monday Night earned him player of the week honors.  This week he is going against the 19^th rated Rams secondary who are averaging giving up 27 points a game and he knows since he has led the charge on the battlefield, Favre and his lieutenants rank 4^th in the league in point production with an average of 29.5 per game.

Sydney Rice is quickly becoming his favorite receiver to go along with Visanthe Shaincoe and Chester Taylor.  Bernard Berrian who now seems almost completely healed from an earlier hamstring tweak, also looks to get more action from that 40 years young arm that still throws lasers like the Viking long sword to the heart centuries ago.

This contest will feature two of the best running backs in the league, Steven Jackson for the Rams and Adrian Peterson for the Vikings.  If you ask who has the more 100 yard games and guess AD, you’d be wrong; Jackson has 2 and is really the only offensive weapon the Rams possess.  The last three weeks teams have forgone the Vikings passing game to their demise just to curtail Adrian’s forceful running.  Will the Rams defense, ranked 24^th against the run, try the same thing?  Will they have the same success as the better teams before them just to sacrifice the game to Favre’s arm?

Fearing  an offense that can slice on both sides of that battle axe,  Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole was asked how he was going to focus his attack.  Was he going to try and stop the run and let the Hall of Fame bound legend of Brett Favre pick apart a much depleted secondary or focus on stopping Adrian Peterson like the Packers did on Monday?  Flajole’s honest response was, “It is kind of a two-headed monster.  I am kind of hoping one of those guys misses the team charter.”

The Vikings lead the league with 16 sacks in their first 4 games, with Aaron Rodgers feeling the brunt of them last week.  The Rams promise to bring a young offensive line that has issues of its own and should have the Four Norsemen of the Apocalypse drooling puddles in the turf in anticipation of Kyle Boller on a spit.  Steven Jackson will just be a hors d’œuvre on the way to the succulent main course.

Asked about the Vikings defense and not just the front four, the Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur seems to know what they will be up against.  “Their front seven is very, very dominant in some areas … obviously the two inside defensive tackles,” Shurmur said. “They’ve got great pass rush on the edges, their linebacking corps is solid, and their scheme is very good as well. Not to mention their secondary. Antoine Winfield is one of the finer corners in the league. All around, they are an excellent defense so we are going to have to play our A-game to get in the end zone.”

“A-game” from a team that has only averaged 6 points per game, seems to be a little wishful thinking from the kind and gentle folk of St Louis.

There have been some technical issues this week On Vikings Valhalla and elsewhere.  They have hopefully been completely rectified, but Greg the Greek wanted me to pass on his prediction for the men from the land of ice and snow.  “Vikes are -10.5 and the over/under is 41.  My prediction is [Vikings] 33-10 [over the Rams].  This is our year!”

Vikings Valhalla gets represented at home games every week; it will be at this away game as well.  A small crew of VV regulars vikechick, noroof, myself and family have ridden that same wind and will be in the Edwards Jones Dome cheering on our beloved Purple on every snap and with all the strength the of Vikings fans everywhere.

Skol and GO VIKINGS!

A feeling has washed over me, one that whispers of Vikings glory in battle centuries ago across northern Europe, or even over the last decades as men know for their ferocity and skill destroyed opponents on the green grid of turf that was their battlefield.  Like in the past, warriors prepare for conflict for reasons of honor, glory, fortune or revenge, and this anticipated meeting will be no different.   This contest will be taking place on Monday Night, when all of the 30 other teams are watching.  A time when prime time players show their skills and when All Day morphs into All Night.

Days ago, I set sail on a journey from what some have called Hell, a place where man’s inhumanity towards man has exhibited itself again and again over the millennia, that place departed was Baghdad, Iraq.  One of the reasons was to see a game, one that marks time, one that will transcend known emotion, myth, and history, one for all time!  That game, that local, national and for the fine men and women serving overseas, world-wide event that is the Minnesota Vikings with the ageless Brett Favre against the team for which his legend resurrected, the Green Bay Packers.

Today is that day, the one you can feel the blood pumping through your veins.  Brett Favre will face the team that thought he was washed up.  Don’t think for a minute this is not personal, because it is.  In an interview, Favre told Gruden, “I want to beat them.

“I’ve got a lot of friends on that team. The way things went down. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you. It was disappointing, for both sides. I still want to prove that I’m worthy and I think that’s human nature. Believe me, I want to win the game.”  That dear friends, is an understatement.  He wants Ted Thompson to regret ever even thinking about trying to run Brett out of town.

“He’s an emotional guy [Favre],” Vikings coach Brad Childress said. “I’m sure he’ll be a wave of emotion before the game and hopefully (have) a cold kind of serial-killer mentality when the game starts.”

…and proceed to eat their hearts as the green and gold oozes from the dying carcass of a mercilessly slaughtered stinky cheese smelling team, setting up a dysfunctional reaction that will prevent them from winning for decades.

- I just thought that I would finish Brad’s quote for him.
Packers fans feel it.

Jeff Margolis said he doesn’t mind Favre playing for another team. He minds greatly that Favre chose to play for the Vikings.

“It’s still so bizarre to see him wearing purple,” Margolis [a typical Packers fan] said. “I almost can’t believe what I’m going to see.

“He showed last week that he’s still got it, and Vikings fans were giving me a hard time on Monday. I just said, ‘See what you missed the last 16 years?’ Because it was a pleasure watching him. It was a treat. And to see him wearing purple….”

Margolis finished that thought with words inappropriate for polite company, words that will echo around the Metrodome tonight when Favre finally, officially, switches sides.

I have one word for you: ‘SCHADENFREUDE’.

But this game doesn’t completely revolve around Brett Favre, or even Adrian Peterson against a soft run defense of the Packers, or of Percy Harvin and the cast of offensive talent playing in prime time.  It is also and more importantly about a defense that will take this game over.

MLB E.J. Henderson is back from injury last year and leads an absolutely talented bunch of Berserker-like hungry “wild warriors” of Norse legend.

“He’s come back and is playing very well,” an offensive assistant for a recent Vikings’ opponent said. “Sure tackler. He can be a mismatch on your backs in pass protection. They do a nice job keeping blockers off him. He’s relentless. He, 94 (Pat Williams), 93 (Kevin Williams), 69 (Jared Allen) and 26 (Antoine Winfield) are their really good players.” Playing every snap, Henderson leads the team in tackles with 22, 10 more than anyone else. “That’s the bell cow of that defense,” one scout said.

The Green Bay Press Gazette reported today that Packers left tackle Chad Clifton will not play Monday night.

Clifton did not practice today, according to the paper. He’s listed as questionable on the injury report.
The report that he won’t play isn’t surprising because Clifton hadn’t practiced all week. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that Clifton would be a game-time decision, at best.

The news means that Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will match up against Daryn Colledge, who has struggled at times.

I sense that there will be lots of salivating on the part of Jared Allen and the rest of the defensive line as they envision Aaron Rodgers slowly roasting in the heated glare of EJ Henderson’s stare. As drippings melt from his body an aroma will fill their nostrils forcing them into a bone crushing, life threatening, feeding and sack frenzy like piranhas on a poor unsuspecting swimmer that just happens to have a small open cut. Daryn Colledge will just be the appetizer on what should be a feast of mammoth proportions.

Can you feel it? This isn’t any regular game day.

“Oh Lord, save us from the rage of the Nordic people” — Common prayer in the French churches during the Viking Age and today from Packers fans everywhere.

Later today, noon your time, look for the 49′ers to step into a thunderous dome of pain and frustration.

Their head coach is very familiar with the pain portion and is instilling a rough and tough smash mouth style of football that the delicate sensibilities of those living in the rice-a-roni city by the bay, just aren’t quite used to.

Mike also knows the frustration portion inheriting some good players and some awful ones. He also had to work with the mad scientist Mike Martz and under the threat of being released. It worked out for him so far this season and with a new OC who is relying heavily on the running legs of Frank Gore, the team now leads the weak NFC West with a 2-0 record.

The interesting match-up to watch for me will be Mike Singletary versus one of his best friends, Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier. The two were rookies together playing for the Bears way back when. They talk to each other every week except this one. The question will be who knows the other better?

Kudos to our own Greg the Greek who has been winning picks for you. This week is no different with his breakdown:

49ers vs Vikings: A Sneak Peak at the Odds

It is the first home game of the season. Seeing Brett Favre in Purple will get more comfortable with each win. Adrian Peterson will be running with a purpose after being held to only 94 yards last week, but mostly it is all up to the loud and raucous Minnesota Vikings fans bringing Thor’s thunder smashing down upon the boys from the west.

SKOL Vikings!

I am so Purple pumped, I can hardly contain it. The season is about to start and I can’t wait. The long preparation from the 2008 campaign to opening kickoff is almost over.

Boom, boom.

Can you feel it? It is a palpable, ever intensifying drum beat of of battle. They can hear it Green Bay, Chicago and even Detroit. It is getting louder.

Brett Favre ’s arrival only solidifies the Vikings as the crème of the crop in the NFC North. – Detroit News

Boom, boom.

There has been the good word that the Williams Wall will start game one and the rest of the season. If you are a Brownies fan, you might think otherwise. How many sacks and interceptions will this top 5 defense rack up in week one? Who will be at the receiving end, Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson [does it really matter], of Jared Allen’s fury, EJ Henderson’s sinus clearing hits, or Antoine Winfield’s pick 6?

Boom, boom.

How about that primed for battle offense with the best back in the league? 2000 yards is heard whispering on the winds. Chester Taylor is probably the best 3rd down back in the business and the #2 punch that is deadly. Speedsters that can catch, Bernard Berrian, Percy “Rookie of the Year” Harvin and his “WOW!” factor, Visanthe Shaincoe who has developed into one of the best pass catching tight ends around, and the rest of the stable of more than capable point producers.

Boom, boom.

They are lead by the ageless ironman, Brett Favre. He has more experience in this offense than most of his coaches. He knows the correct read within milliseconds, and still can plant a football through the Vikings indoor practice facility’s wall. But his throwing is only secondary to making the right decisions and handing the ball of to Adrian Peterson. This is AD’s offense, and Brett will just help to open it up even more.

Boom, boom.

So man your oars, the longboat is ready and provisioned. The quest starts Sunday, one with a goal of raping, pillaging and burning up the NFC North and the rest of the league. The journey will culminate in Vikings glory in Miami.

Boom, boom.

Hear the battle axes and swords banging against the mighty Vikings shields. Can you feel it?

BOOM, BOOM!

So it is happening, signs of the apocalypse, a Hatfield is marrying a McCoy and the Minnesota Vikings have signed a Green Bay Packers living legend to lead them to the promise land and handle the one trophy that is named after another Packer legend. What was foretold that this might come to pass?

I am reading and seeing the pictures of Brett Favre flying up to Minnesota to become the Vikings starting quarterback. He is a man that will turn 40 years old this season. He is a Hall of Famer for sure but well past his prime. He now rides in as Head Coach Brad Childress’ right hand man, his field general to lead the offense. Remember, this is a run first team, and as long as it stays that way, Brett’s ability to break a run defense’s back by burning one on one coverage will be invaluable, and that isn’t the half of it.

My best bud and fellow Vikings fan shot me an email to these far reaches of the planet and in it he asked, “So how are you feeling over this? I knew you were lukewarm at best, but man, I think it’s a significant upgrade at the only position of weakness.”

I’m not one to usually get in a publicly confessional way, but I thought it might be best to write about how I feel.

I will admit that I do think it is the best for the team. Ticket sales, merchandise, jerseys alone will now put the Vikings in a better position to operate for years, and this may even be beneficial in the push for a new stadium.

I think it will help AD reach the 2,00 yard goal and runningback immortality if Childress/Bevell/Favre get to pass happy. Visanthe Shaincoe is probably telling relatives to get Pro Bowl tickets and hoping that they will only see him standing on the sideline with the other Vikings as they wait to play the following Sunday. If Jackson is kept, he will get to watch and learn from a living legend.

I hope to see the joy on Sundays of the game, the greatest game ever played by boys, girls, and men. I want to see that and cheer with you, your dad and Vikings fans everywhere as Brett hopefully adds to legend and takes full advantage of one of the most talented teams the Vikings have fielded in their storied history. I want to yell SKOL! And shout baaaawwooooooooooooooooooo! I want to see excellence in all 3 units of this team, and as of today, we have a much better shot of that happening.

I do have mixed feelings and worry about the adverse affects of his past prima donna ways, but for now this will be a good day for the Vikings and it s starting to look like a cold front is heading towards hell.

That is how I am feeling…

How do you feel?

Yes, the Brett Favre story has hit the presses with the 2009 edition and as much as it may or may not be just titillating subject matter for sports writers and bloggers, it is like the coming of spring and discussions about the weather, we just can’t resist. But, more on that later, let’s talk the draft: I haven’t had much time to digest it a whole lot, being busy over here in Kuwait and all (which is probably a good thing), but I do have a first impression.

Percy Harvin – I was sort of surprised by this pick. I thought all the press about the Vikings wanting him was pure subterfuge. Tice was rebuked for expressing the Vikings’ desired pick one year. Then there was the whole “culture of accountability” thing, the stupid act in judgment of Percy to decide to go organic prior to the scheduled test, and the fact that he is an under-sized hybrid that will be asked to fit into the rigidity of the KAO scheme, a round peg into a square hole type of thing. With all of that, I thought all of the talk was pure smoke. …The type that gets you busted on a pee test. I was wrong.

If Childress gets creative (and Percy abstains from trouble), this could be brilliant and make whoever plays quarterback almost irrelevant. If he gets lined up in the slot opposite of B2 and with AD in the backfield, who gets the one on one coverage or drops out of the box to help defend leaving Adrian with almost an unfair advantage. I’m drawing up plays in my head now and starting to get excited. …But can we really expect that from Mr. Predictable who may still be laying awake trying to think of new ways of, “How am I going to get the ball to Tahi?” (Thanks Jim Souhan for that disturbing mental picture).

Talking with a good buddy of mine, Noroof from Vikings Valhalla and author of The Purple Buckeye, about the Harvin selection and here is what he had to say.

If Childress has a plan for Harvin, and it works, my God…imagine AP, No Mercy Percy, and Berrian all available to get the ball. If you focus on AP, Harvin will kill you. You focus on neutralizing Harvin and AP will run all over you. Concentrate your efforts on neutralizing Berrian’s deep threat, and the next thing you know Harvin takes a 5 yard swing pass and goes 80 yards untouched. At Florida Harvin was like Moss in his prime, Devin Hester, and Adrian Peterson are…when he touches the ball, you hold your breath, because you’re thinking something big is gonna happen. When he makes the first guy miss, your pulse picks up, and when he gets to the second level it becomes a foot race. You mutter ‘My God’ and rewind the Tivo to make sure you really just did see what you think you saw. Can Childress use Harvin correctly? He better be able to, or he’ll be out of a job.

Phil Loadholt will be that competition for Ryan Cook that I talked about in my previous blog. I worry that he was written up as having issues with speed edge rushers. But hey, that is no different than we have now on either side of the line. He can also play left tackle if Bryant McKinnie gets his groove on one night and gets a little too feisty. Loadholt has the size and comes from a good program at OU. This was a good pick and should pay dividends for years.

I think picking the corner, Asher Allen, next was a good move. The kid sounds like a young version of Antoine Winfield and from what I’ve heard idolized and emulates him as a player. He will at least have the opportunity to watch and learn from him for a year if not hopefully a couple. I also saw this move as a motivational one for Winfield’s extension talks. The team can say, “we’ve drafted your replacement”. That can also possibly said about Harvin being Chester’s.

Speaking of the runningbacks, I like what I read about the undrafted free agent (UDFA) we signed out of Boise State, Ian Johnson. We needed at least one more body back there like I had pointed out in my needs blog. Did you notice that there wasn’t a fullback picked like I thought? They are cheap and we may have signed an UFDA one already…(the Vikings haven’t), or with the Harvin drafting, Chilly may be moving away from using them so much (or he’s happy with who is on the roster already).

It looks like Rick Spielman read The Purple Buckeye blog and we picked up that linebacker, Jasper Brinkley. He is big enough to play MLB, but what I’m really hoping is that he’ll be the bookend twin of Heath Farwell on the special teams.

I’m starting to get excited about the possibilities of the new season and for some reason, even think Childress might even pull it off. “In 2009, the Vikings will play a remarkably easy schedule. They will play in a mediocre division. They will be in their fourth year under Childress’ guidance, and will have maintained continuity on their coaching staff and throughout their football operation.” – Jim Souhan

Remember, we also now have a new special teams coach [a sore spot from last year] and that alone should mean a couple more wins. The Packers had a decent draft and have started to rebuild and mold their new 3-4 defense. The Lions have started the Stafford era and in a couple of years hopefully will have something to show for it. I like the new redesigned logo and uni’s, and Detroit is due for a fresh start. The Bears had nothing but a second day draft, but they did land Jay Cutler and will be tough to play against and the most likely team to have a shot at challenging the Vikings for the NFC North crown (sorry Cheeseheads, you’re destined for at least 3rd again).

Now to the story that just keeps coming back year after year for the last few years or so, “to retire or not retire,… or even un-retire… again”. Brett Favre’s agent, Bus Cook passed his words in a message Tuesday, “Nothing has changed. At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.”

“At this time” is the key phrase in the statement that has folks all over the NFC North in a bit of a tizzy. No matter which side of the love-hate side of Brett Favre the future Hall of Famer and player, this begs the question of will he get the itch to come off the tractor and play? He is now a free agent, one that could sign the $1 contract with the Packers and call it officially a career. Then again, he being the same best friend of Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and a good acquaintance with Vikings head coach Brad Childress. These are the men running the offense on the team that Brett openly said that he wished to play for last year and the only one that has question at quarterback. There is a small question of a torn bicep tendon needing extensive rehab or surgery, but who knows what Brett has been doing since the end of last season.

My friend Noroof, an avid Brett to the Vikes advocate last year, doesn’t quite think it would work this year.

Here’s the problem with signing Favre now, as I see it. First off, which QB do you get rid of? TJ is still a Childress guy and will be given every opportunity to win the job. They just traded for and gave an extension to Sage, and for God sakes, they spent two years trying to get him. That leave JD Booty, who might be an insurance policy as your long term QB if Jackson flames out, because Sage is over 30.

If you get Favre, you really upset the apple cart now, because you’ve promised TJ and Sage that they will compete for the job, and the best man will win. If you bring in Favre and make him the guy, you embitter your top two guys that will be here next year (because I doubt Favre will be around more than a year) and as great as Favre is, Childress could really lose a lot of creditability in the locker room.

Is a healthy Brett Favre leading very talented team worth the locker room credibility that Childress has tried to establish in his first 3 years? Does Brett have it in him physically after fading last season due to his arm injury? What about the Vikings other quarterbacks, the newly acquired starting competition Sage Rosenfels, Childress’ own pick Tarvaris Jackson and even John David Booty and UDFA Sean Glennon? Do you think the Vikings would carry 4 quarterbacks on the starting roster, or get rid of Rosenfels who they spent 2 years trying to acquire, or Tarvaris who played his best ball in the final games of last season [not including the Wild Card loss]? Is the gamble worth it?

Worth it or not, it is and will be the talk of the summer again and I’m interested in your opinion.

I’d like to give a shout out to the men and women serving in Kuwait and the rest of the CENTCOM theater, especially the folks I spend time with at Camp Arifjan, K-Crossing and those Camp Buehring. Thanks for keeping America free and enjoying the greatest sport on earth.

The greatest needs for the Vikings fall in two areas.  Strengthen the offensive line and improve the quarterback play.  The draft nears and we ask, will the Vikings address the issues or just white wash over them with spin and hype over draft choices brought in as part of a sustainment effort?  Are they looking years ahead, and only selecting backups to go behind an established “win now” team, or are they looking for a player to make a difference from day one?  We look forward to the discussions here and at Vikings Valhalla as the picks roll in.

On the offensive line, an aging but serviceable former Pro Bowler Matt Birk was let go not because of slightly declining play but because he disagreed with Brad Childress and he did it publicly.  I doubt that Ryan Cook will be moved over center, John Sullivan, the 2008 6th round draft choice from Notre Dame will be given the first shot at the job.  He is built more like a center whereas Ryan is built like a tackle.  I won’t rule out Cook making the move over, but unless the Vikings select someone in round one to compete for and win the right tackle job (and they passed on good players in free agency), I thinks he keeps it.  Even though he had never played the position, he did beat other tackles, some who had even started like Artis Hicks and Marcus Johnson for the job.  There is also Drew Radovich who spent last year on IR, who had prior to his injury earned the number 2 slot behind Cook as a rookie.

Ryan Cook along with Tarvaris Jackson were hand selected by Brad Childress in the 2006 draft.  Coach Childress fancies himself a builder of quarterbacks and offenses.  He will stick by his men unless they are soundly beat in head to head competition.  Tarvaris now has Sage Rosenfels to give the public appearance of a battle for the starting job.  I suspect a tackle draftee will be the same for Ryan Cook, but barring injury or a clearly obvious better play, they both with keep their starting jobs because not to, would mean that Brad Childress isn’t the offensive and talent guru that he wants Zygi Wilf to think he is.

The draft is heavy in tackle talent this year, which is a good thing.  The bad thing is it looks virtually all of it will be selected long before the Vikings and their number 22 pick reach to put a name on a card.

Eben Britton, Andre Smith, may be available especially since the Philadelphia Eagles consummated a trade with the Buffalo Bills for Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters.  But will the Vikings stick with their best player available philosophy and go in a different direction?

Viking shortages come in many flavors.  First is at center with Matt Birk heading eastward and out of Brad Childress’ dog house.  Sullivan is the only person listed as a center on the roster.  Ryan Cook could move over or even Anthony Herrera as center but they both have jobs already on the weaker right side.  I fully expect the Vikings to select in a later round a center-guard type, a guy who can play both positions and backup at both spots if the need arises.  Guard is another position that there presently isn’t a whole lot of depth with just 3 on the roster and 2 of them starting, Herrera and Steve Hutchinson.  If Herrera must move to center, right guard will need filled. If Cook moves over, right tackle will need filled plus the time to gel that all offensive lines seem to require.

There are 5 offensive tackles presently on the roster, with Cook position being the perceived need.  His play is nowhere near what the Vikings and their fans would like, so expect someone to at least give the appearance of competition.  If the Vikings select one in the first round we will see how serious they are about replacing Ryan.  The other implied benefit of getting a starter quality tackle is that if Bryant McKinnie ends up following off the lubed up no incident wagon, he’ll have to serve a full year suspension.  That starting caliber rookie tackle would sure be a bonus then, but fans don’t get your hopes too high, it still takes the young guys a little time to acclimate themselves to the league, the pace of play, the skill and speed of defensive ends and to gel with their linemates.

The defense is sound and will be led by EJ Henderson who is fully recovered from his separated toe injury.  He was on pace last year for his first Pro Bowl quality season when the injury pulled from field.  He along with Chad Greenway and Ben Leber will line up behind the best defensive line in the league.

The line however faces the possibilities of a missing Williams Wall.  Kevin and Pat will find out in June if their suspension for consuming diet pills will be held up, and if they must miss the first four games of the season.  If so, that leaves Jimmy Kennedy and Letroy Guion as the two remaining pure defensive tackles on the roster.   Yes, Brian Robison and some of the other defensive ends could slide in to relieve these big men, but they are only a situational stop gap [pun intended].  Plus, Pat isn’t the jolly youngster we all know and love, but is getting up there in years and unless Kennedy steps up his play more (a hopeful possibility), the Vikings need to grab an heir of parent if one such round bellied stud presents himself.

Sticking with the offense, another couple of spots that are low on the numbers are in the backfield.  There are currently only 3 runningbacks listed and working out at Winter Park.  There is the best one in the league, Adrian Peterson [Who just turned down the Madden cover.  I guess he didn't want to be a part of all of those coincidences.] , and then there is best #2 back in Chester Taylor.  That has to be the best 1-2 punch in the league.  Chester also gives the back office some trade options, should the need arise and Childress willing to go with AD all day or have young Albert Young move into the position.  I see the Vikings taking a running back between rounds 2 and 4.

The other low number is that we have only 1 fullback for the Childress KAO offense.  The coach likes to use the fullback as a battering ram for Peterson, and 1 isn’t enough for the depth chart even though we all know Garret Mills and Jeff Dugan could be moved back there if needed.  FB will be a later round acquisition or at least one of the undrafted free agent signings that come immediately after the draft.

So now we show a need for offensive tackles, guard, center and fullback, and a defensive tackle.  Let’s look at linebacker and defensive back next.

We have 7 linebackers total on the roster and we know the first 4 spots are assured.  Starters Ben Leber [weak side], E.J. Henderson [middle] and Chad Greenway [strong side], along with special teams’ ace and primary backup Heath Farwell.  Of the other 3, Erin Henderson has the best shot as a primary backup.  The Vikings very well may want to increase the quality of the pool of backups and look for someone that can make a mark on special teams.  If the opportunity presents itself, especially in the true best player available analogy, you just might see Rick Spielman and Scott Studwell call on one in an early round.  The linebacking corps is a rough and tumble bunch that have seen more than its fare share of injuries, and especially those effecting Vikings and their playoff aspirations and run, a good backer would be worth his weight in gold.

As for the defensive backs, the Vikings are set on their starts and remarkably have good numbers already on the roster.  They are presently carrying 8 cornerbacks and 5 safeties.  Antoine Winfield like Pat Williams is nearing the end of his career, but unless an obvious groom-able talent presents itself, I don’t see this as much of a need as others might think, especially when you look at it from a pure numbers angle.

The Vikings have 6 picks, and being the numbers game that it is, not just with defensive backs but with receivers on the other side of the ball, the totals and need level go against a high level pick.  Yes, more play makers are always welcome on both sides of the ball, but with Sagevaris Jacksonfels [as a buddy of mine calls him] going to be the quarterback, the best thing for him [them] is going to be a beefy front line to protect him [them] and pave the way for AD to run all day.  So I see the Vikes needing a C, G, OT, DT, and  LB the most with the quarterback position apparently in stone, and then throw in a RB and FB and WR and or CB that can add to special teams and you quickly see the numbers won’t quite match up.   You win football games from the line of scrimmage Chilly, but of course you already knew that, you guru you.

I wrote after Terrell Owens release from the Cowboys and speculated where he wouldn’t end up, “You can guarantee that the Vikings won’t be that team.”

Now, that’s what I wrote, but could I be wrong?

NFL.com writer: Owens and Vikings a match?
Posted by Sean Jensen on March 6, 2009 11:02 AM

NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche believes that WR Terrell Owens may be a good fit for the Vikings.

Wyche, who previously covered the Atlanta Falcons for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, made several interesting points.

First, he noted that the Vikings missed out on T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Second, he notes that coach Brad Childress “doesn’t have much to lose,” because his job security could be on “thin ice” if he doesn’t take the Vikings to the postseason.

“Desperate men have been known to make desperate moves,” Wyche writes.

Third, Wyche said Owens can thrive on a short-term basis, wondering if an incentive-laden, one-year deal would fire him up.

Fourth, Wyche notes that Owens has a very good relationship with Vikings receivers coach George Stewart. Stewart helped develop Owens in San Francisco, and they remain close.

Is Childress that desperate?

Judd Zulgad writes:

PFT put the Vikings on that list, citing an NFL source, and pointed to the troubles that Vikings coach Brad Childress had with Owens when the two were together in Philadelphia. Childress was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator and an unhappy Owens requested that Childress not speak to him during his final season with the franchise. Childress, who loves that type of challenge, never passed up the opportunity to say hello to Owens after that.

While they did not get along at the time, Childress said last year that he and Owens actually had a nice exchange before the Vikings played the Cowboys. I believe it was in a preseason game last summer. That doesn’t mean Childress is going to want to bring Owens to Minnesota — even if the team did try to upgrade at receiver by attempting to sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh. (Owens also is familiar with the West Coast system the Vikings run).

Did absence between Chilly and TO make their hearts grow fonder?

My friend Pacifist Viking points out that TO is good for quarterbacks.

Terrell Owens has a habit of getting contentious with his quarterbacks and ex-quarterbacks. But on the field, he helps QBs to their best seasons. He’s aided four different quarterbacks to 30+ TD seasons: Steve Young (1998), Jeff Garcia (2000 & 2001), Donovan McNabb (2004), and Tony Romo (2007). Only Young ever had a 30+ season without him.

I’d be wary of Terrell Owens, and I’d expect him to eventually say bad things about his quarterback. But on the field, he helps quarterbacks to career years.

TO’s talents would definitely be appreciated, but would the forthcoming headache after this season? Could receivers coach George Stewart who is a father figure and his coach at San Francisco “control” him, or at least convince Brad that he could? Would Zygi want him for ticket sales? Free your mind and consider it a minute. What is the worst that could happen? He improves TJack or Rosenfels into a respectable QB. Removes the extra guy from the box for Adrian to run free. The Vikes make it to the Super Bowl and TO does everything in his power to win, or the Vikes fail and Brad Childress gets fired. That sounds like a win – win to me.

Just think about it…

After the game (and while I was updating Luft’s Locker Room and Vikings Valhalla), I was thinking who deserved the game ball for the win.

I would love to give one to Zygi Wilf and his family for investing in the Vikings and now coming away with their first of hopefully many, championship banners.

But though Zygi was definitely an integral part of the success, he never touches the ball during the game. So who in the game deserved it?

One man came to mind.

Usually it is a player that is in the mix for a weekly leader spot in rushing, or touchdowns, sacks, interceptions, turnover recoveries, etc.. T-Jack had a decent day with 239 yards, 1 TD and the 1 pick resulting in an 88.5 QB rating. AD had 103 yards, topping the 100 yard mark for the 10th time this season a Vikings record to go along with league rushing title and 1,760 on 363 carries. Bobby Wade had 98 yards and Bernard Berrian 81 with a clutch TD. Berrian had his best yardage total ever and almost reached 1,000 yards on 48 catches this season. And there was the defense, #1 against the rush, much improved against the pass and hard to score against, but that would not be it either.

The game ball should go to a man that has improved on his distance, and always been clutch. He definitely was yesterday and after three time outs and the confusion of poor clock management. Ryan Longwell trots out and bangs the NFC North winning 50 yard field goal.

This kicker has earned it.  (And you say I pick on kickers…)

Speaking of that defense, they deserve credit for their history setting effort this season.

The Vikings run defense made history Sunday, but they clearly are not the same without their top run-stopper clogging up the middle. The Vikings became the first team to lead the league in run defense for three consecutive seasons since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger. They allowed an average of 76.9 yards rushing.

First Mike Tomlin received credit as the defensive coordinator, and we know this year Leslie Frazier will reap the credits and get hired as a head coach SOMEWHERE ELSE! But there has been one common denominator between the both of them: Karl Dunbar, the defensive line coach. If Leslie goes off to coach his own team, then in my opinion, Karl should be asked if wants the DC job and who he’d like to see replace him as line coach.

The quote above was taken from a Chip Scoggins at the STrib story on how Pat Williams is going nuts not being in the game.

Pat Williams says he’ll put a stop to the run

Pat Williams is sorely missed in his two and a half game absence. Both Kevin Williams and Jared Allen have been guaranteed double teams and held to no sacks in each of the final two games. I think that would have been different if Phat Pat were healthy and playing. Hopefully, like he says, he’ll be back against Philadelphia pushing the offensive line backwards and causing all sorts of havoc.

Congratulations to the line, linebackers, defensive backs and the coaches for being the first team to lead the league in run defense 3 years in a row since the merger. In case you were wondering, the NFL record is 4 seasons and held by the Cowboys. That will be the goal for next season, but for now it is onto glory in the playoffs!  Enjoy it Vikings fans, just like for Zygi, it is well earned.