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Posts Tagged ‘Artis Hicks’

Hicks Now Right and Cook Can Only Look

In an effort to shake things up a little, Brad Childress notified this year’s under-performer of the week, Ryan Cook, that he has been demoted to the bench. After starting at right tackle in 29 consecutive games, Cook was relieved of his starting duties and Artis Hicks was named the new starting right tackle.

Artis played left tackle for the suspended Bryant McKinnie and did a respectable job against four outstanding defensive ends. Did that had a lot to do with Hicks getting the nod?

“It sure doesn’t hurt the decision at all,” Childress said. “I mentioned before he’s a natural left-handed guy, but he’s got the ability to swing all the way along that line.”

Being left-handed means that his usual or natural position on the line is on the left side. That is the side he is most comfortable with and moves naturally. If you remember last year, he was replaced at right guard by Anthony Herrera for poor performance himself. Let us all hope that tackle has much better results.

Cook and Hicks were each asked about the move.

“I kind of saw it (coming),” he said. “Obviously, I’m not very happy with the decision, but that’s the decision they made. I’m here to support Artis in all his endeavors and the team, as well.”

“It’s all for the betterment of the offense. Cook’s a great player,” Hicks replied. “Don’t take nothing away from Cook. We all go through times where we’re not playing as good as we like. I had kind of known from my own personal opinion of how I played (in the Green Bay and Tampa Bay) games. I made technical mistakes that I shouldn’t be making.”

As being one of the few Ryan Cook fans in the Vikings blogosphere because he’s a hometown boy, I have taken a lot a grief over his play and given some. For all of those I may have come on a little strong or over the top, my apologies. I did my analysis last year and he was just barely below average compared to other starting right tackles , but this year, and especially the last two games has played worse than that. Demotion is deserved.

All we need now is Cedric Griffin benched (which was a possibility prior to Gordon’s gruesome injury), and the whole 2006 second round of Ryan Cook, Cedric Griffin and Tarvaris Jackson could be standing behind Brad Childress and cheering the team together. Some advice, “Watch your back Cedric.”

Artis Hicks needs to view this as his chance to cement a starting position and we all hope play on the right side of the line improves. First test is the Jags and rookie Quenton Groves. A nice start and help with a win will be a step in the right, and first place direction.

It has been an eventful week leading up to this battle between John Fox’s 2-0 Carolina Panthers and Brad Childress’ 0-2 Minnesota Vikings. In a move that reeks of desperation, and I’m talking like the smell down wind of a pig farm, coach Childress benched his hand picked quarterback for being tentative. He has announced that he will being going with the veteran Gus Frerotte for the rest of the season.

A potential problem with that decision is that Frerotte’s career numbers are worse than Jackson’s. He has only completed 54.2% of his passes thrown and last year threw for 7 touchdowns in three games, but almost doubled that total in interceptions with 12 over the same time period.

That leads to the first key need for the Vikings to win what may be the cliché must win game.

1. Gus Frerotte must at least complete 60% of his passes with more TDs than INTs.

That may not be as easy as it sounds for multiple reasons.

First, he will be throwing to a gimpy receiver corps. Bernard Berrian is still being hampered by turf toe, Sydney Rice may be out due to a sprained knee and Aundrae Allison is slowed by a bruised foot. That leaves veterans Bobby Wade, not known as a deep threat or Robert Ferguson retained for his down field blocking. Even though at 37, Gus has a strong arm and good deep ball, but due to lack of speed of the receivers and their ability to get separation, and that leads to the second problem.

Gus is known for his immobility, and with a power rush led by Julius Peppers against left tackle stand in Artis Hicks, plus Ryan Cook on the right, there may be not enough time for healthy receivers to get open.

2. The offensive line must limit sacks to 3 or less and give Gus time to throw.

The quarterback’s best friend is a good running game and the Vikings have one of the best. They ranked 1^st last year and are presently 4^th after two games this year. The only question here is will Adrian Peterson play and how effective will he be with a sore hamstring? Will Brad Childress push his star in desperation or sit him and let a very capable Chester Taylor handle the load? Maurice Hicks, coming off his own injured foot will be asked to be the #2 guy if AD can’t play.

3. Continued success in the running game and its use to set up the play action pass.

That brings me to offensive play calling. It has been truly offensive, unbalanced and as predictable as the sun will coming up in the east. Brad Childress has seemed to throw out over half his play book, either out of a perceived need to simplify things for Tarvaris Jackson or out of rigidity in sticking within his imaginary “kick ass offense” system that calls for running the same plays over and over, it has cost the Vikings production and arguably wins.

This is probably the biggest key to this game and the entire season. He feels Gus will give him the ability to open things up, we are assuming, and hope that is the case.

4. There is a diversified and more balanced game plan and play calling.

Defensively, the Panthers will try to take their two headed rushing attack of DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart and try their luck against the unit that held all of the Indianapolis Colts to only 25 yards total rushing. Where the Panthers will most likely will aim Jake Delhomme’s at the returning Steve Smith.

The Panthers have the 18th ranked passing game in the first two weeks of the season, and with the return of Smith from his two game suspension paring against the 24^th ranked Vikings pass defense. There has been talk that instead of leaving Cedric Griffin on his side and matched up against Smith, and having a result like when Fred Smoot lined up against Smith two years ago, that Antoine Winfield will flip sides and have the sole responsibility to cover him. The problem is that Winfield hasn’t played on the left side since becoming a Viking.

5. Pass defense must be effective and not give up the big play. That include pressure and sacks from the front guys and good coverage from the guys in the back.

Special teams need improvement over last week. I’m hoping to see Vinny Ciurciu play with an “I’ll show you” chip on his shoulder for his former team.

6. Special teams coverage units need to keep returns under the 20/10 average for kick and punts along with allowing no TD returns.

If the Vikings achieve these keys to winning, then they can start their march to success. If not, there has only been 3 teams since 1990 to make the playoffs, 1992 San Diego Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions, and the 1998 Buffalo Bills. Starting 0-4 and you can almost forget it and start scouting the college players we want in the draft.

The Vikings should rally around their new quarterback; the defense will look to shut down another decent offense. Combine that with some good game management and the Vikes will pull out the “must” win.

Skol Vikings!

Going into the game against the Colts last Sunday, I had written 7 items needed for success. From these it has solidified my opinion of the team. The offensive coaching and game planning has hurt this team and Tarvaris Jackson’s development. Tarvaris Jackson looks like a young quarterback that is being thrown to the wolves after little “teaching” from the coaches, and our defense though still a little weak on the left DB side is overall outstanding.

This is what I was looking for:

1. Will Tarvaris Jackson complete at least 60% of his passes?

NOT ACHIEVED – He threw for a little over 58%, no TD (Shaincoe dropped one, also knocking 4% points from TJ’s completion rate), no INTs, 130 yards and a 73.3 QBR.

2. Will Artis Hicks play very effectively or his backups?

ACHIEVED – Hicks played, Freeney had one sack. Play was adequate.

3. Anthony Hall over at Vikings War Cry wrote Friday about the play calling and player utilization (or lack there of). Was there going to be a more normal split of the one-two punch of Peterson-Taylor?

NOT ACHIEVED – Failed miserably. Peterson had 29 carries to Taylor’s 4, that is 86-14 and even more lopsided that week 1.

4. Play calling should favor the run this week because the Colts are relatively week and can be taken advantage of in this area. By no means does that mean abandon the pass though. There needs to be a more consistent mix of play calling and a better balance in the run pass ratio.

NOT ACHIEVED – Failed miserably. There was no consistent mix of play calling as illustrated by 6 strait run up the middle calls.

5. Will the defensive line get pressure on the less mobile [than Aaron Rodgers] Peyton Manning?

ACHIEVED – Jared Allen and the rest of the line had Manning ducking and stepping up for his life all day. Allen had a sack, but there were least a dozen times that he barely missed Manning as he screamed into the backfield. The run D held Addai to only 20 yards on the day and the Colts as a team to 25. That folks is OUTSTANDING!

6. Can Tyrell Johnson hold up against Peyton Manning’s sure fire effort to pick on him? More over will Griffin, Gordon or what ever other young DB gets some playing time hold up to the master? This will be key to holding the Colts score low.

PARTIALLY ACHIEVED – Johnson held up pretty well, but Manning picked on Griffin mercilessly. Expect to see more of this as the season continues.

7. Can the special times improve on kick coverage? Somebody, or a group of somebodies needs to step up and tackle the ball carrier on the short side of the return averages on every play.

PARTIALLY ACHIEVED – They did not give up a touchdown, unlike in week 1, but they still did not hold returners consistently under the 20/10 average. The Colts had a kick return average of 21 and punt return of 15. It is an improvement, but there is still more needed.

The blame for getting into Colts territory 8 times in a row but only coming away with 5 field goals (with the exception of Shaincoe’s TD drop) should not be attributed to lack of player abilities, but to the play calling as part of a system versus calling plays against a defense from the system, hopefully taking advantage of the athlete’s talents.

It is sad when Dan Dierdorf along with most of us fans can predict the next play called by Chilldress/Bevell, because if we can on a regular basis, you surely know defensive coordinators that study the stuff surely can. That has absolutely nothing to do with players’ abilities, but that of a coach stuck rigidly in his system.

Tarvaris’ completion percentage was higher in the preseason and now with a gimped up Berrian and as of last week a sprained knee on Sidney Rice, just like last year, there isn’t a whole lot to throw to. Some of those off target throws are timing related or route running related not just only attributable to Jackson but to the receivers that we tend not to notice as easily we can see the drops.

Why would we throw 4 times to Mills in week 1 and 0 in week 2? Why are 6 straight AD up the middle plays ran and ESPN commenting on how 90% of are plays are to the right. That has nothing to do with Tarvaris.

He is a young quarterback and if he had a game plan that maximized his and the rest of the offense’s talents versus shoving players into a conservative system based on player’s talents from 30 years ago, and play calling to mix things up, you would see success far greater than the last two years.

How many multiple receiver sets did you see? Was Adrian ever set up wide? We have to of the best ever pulling linemen ever in Birk and Hutch and how many times did you see them pull?

Just like Brad Johnson, Kelly Holcomb and Brooks Bollinger, and if we give up on Jackson, I would hypothesize that Gus Frerrotte will meet with the same sort of result if he is made the starter. It is a result not of lack minimal skills, but because of the offense they are stuck trying to succeed in.

My conclusion is that Tarvaris is a 3rd year quarterback that has talents being wasted and not developed to the maximum extent. That is what a good coach would be doing, that along with all the players on the team and utilizing their talents in a way that maximizes the chances to win games.  Jackson isn’t the problem, it is Childress’ and Bevell’s actions, decisions, and calls or the lack of them.

Are you really looking forward to the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers opener?  Me too.  Even Zygi Wilf and his family have a new found appreciation for what is the premier rivalry in the division and one of the arguably all time best in football.  This season version was heightened by the Brett Favre saga and the immediate [and acquitted] charges of tampering leveled against the Vikes by the Pack.  Feel the love Baby!

The preseason has ended and the games are starting to count.  A few things came out of the games in the preseason that Vikings fans will look forward to.  First and foremost was the improved play by Tarvaris Jackson in the first two games prior to his knee sprain.  The sprain is easily at a point now, that not 100% will be fully functional and not impair his play.

Tarvaris this year also has an improved group of receivers led by Bernard Berrian and second year player Sidney Rice.  The big case of dropsies was traded off to Jacksonville earlier in the year and I don’t anticipate its return.  Even the under-achieving Visanthe Shiancoe has shown improvement at catching the ball.  This ability to throw should give the Vikings the ability to strike from anywhere on the field and compliment the run.  It will also be necessary to pull the safety from the box that will surely be there to stop the run.

Running the ball is what the Vikings of ’07 did best.  With the Rookie of the Year, Adrian Peterson, and the Chester Taylor providing a league leading tandem at running the ball, the only way that teams could stop them was to shut down the passing game and throw 8, 9, and sometimes 10 guys in the box.  The Vikes still drove the ball, but it eventually lowered the offensive output.  This year, Adrian Peterson has been learning patience and following his linemen, then when a hole opens up to break free instead of trying to force it.  Plus, he should be in on more passing situations either blocking or getting open in space where he is absolutely deadly.

If opposing teams, and by that I mean Green Bay this week try to fill the box, Jackson with weapons and confidence will beat them over the top.  The Vikings will be a run first team with the stable of backs they have but this year with the acquisition of Berrian and the improved play of receivers and more importantly Tarvaris Jackson, there should be more of a balanced attack with each facet of the offense feeding off of what the defense is trying to stop.

Monday night’s game, the Vikings will see an injury recovering Packers defense lead by linebacker A.J. Hawk and his sprained chest (questionable) and a slower Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila with a gimped knee not practicing Friday, but listed as probable.  This should help Artis Hicks who will be making his start at left tackle for the suspended Bryant McKinnie.

Artis Hicks should have help from Steve Hutchinson on his right and Jimmy Kleinsasser on his left.  The only thing I’m concerned about is that Childress will show which direction the play [run] is designed to go by which tackle is getting help from Kleinsasser.  Last year the left side of the line had a 5+ yard per carry average and the right side of the O-line had a league leading 7+ yards per carry average, and though Ryan Cook contributed, it was probably more due to the help of Kleinsasser’s and somewhat Tony Richardson’s blocking abilities.  This year Thomas Tapeh will be at full back, and along with Jimmy be helping more now no matter which direction the play is designed.

On the defensive side of the ball the Vikings will be testing the first season starter Aaron “I’m want my Mommy” Rodgers like he has not been tested before.  Just think, he’s named the starter and future of the franchise after Brett Favre’s retirement, Brett has a change of heart and a fight with the club, and the poor backup who is to be the new leader is stuck in the middle.  Even the young Packers fans where giving him grief.  All I can say is expect more.

Jared Allen was one of the best free agent acquisitions in the league this year and has bonded with the Williams Wall and the forgotten Ray Edwards to form the best defensive line in football today.  They will be busting through a highly suspect line due to injuries; Josh Sitton (G) is out with a knee, Chad Clifton (T) is listed as not participating with some sort of knees and chest problems, but is listed as probable, and Scott Wells (C) with back issues and only listed as questionable.  That lineup of wounded and substitutes will have all of the front four licking there chops in anticipation of many meetings in the backfield.

Take a first time starting QB, a busted line and throw in for good measure a starting running back in Ryan Grant that sat out most of the preseason, then once finally showing up tweaks a hamstring.  He did not participate Friday, but is still listed as probable.  Pat Williams is sure hoping he will be there, because he is the only back last year to gain over 100 yards against him [the Vikings run D] and he takes it personally.

Such a strong defensive line will command double team blocking from the opposition whether it be the Pack or the rest of the league.  This leaves the Vikings linebackers lead by E.J. Henderson in the middle to reek havoc and fill holes in the running game and hunt for receivers in the passing game.

In the passing game, a sore spot from ’07, pressure on the QB from that defensive line [thank you Zygi for getting Allen] should shorten the time Rodgers has to throw the ball along with mess with his mind causing bad decisions and wounded ducks that Darren Sharper will eagerly gobble up.  The Vikes only rookie starter, Tyrell Johnson will be playing next to him and should be holding his own.  He will be targeted for sure, but with help from Sharper, has shown throughout preseason that he is up to the task.

There were a few things that came to focus during the week.  This defense looks to be very, very good and the offense has greatly improved.  Leadership in the front office and coaching staff has made it possible, but what gets me psyched is the chemistry of the players.

Jimmy Kleinsasser, my favorite player also thinks so, and thinks it is unique because the closeness is for the team as a whole. He credits players such as defensive standouts Jared Allen and Kevin and Pat Williams and offensive stalwarts Peterson and Steve Hutchinson with setting a good tone in the locker room.

“This group is probably the closest team I’ve been on in the NFL, that’s for sure,” he said. “And that’s across the board, every position, offense and defense. We’re not just having guys sitting as a position group or hanging out with the offense. We’re all for each other.”

And we as fans are for them too.  I expect the Vikings to go into Lambeau Field and start something special.  This is the ticket I’m voting for in ’08 and it will start by defeating the NFC North champs.  Skol Vikings!

What this time is between preseason game 3 and, an early final preseason game and preparations for week 1 on Monday Night Football. A few thoughts first on Saturday’s game first, then the cuts for Tuesday, Dallas and the final 53. That’s a lot I know, but let’s see how it goes… So much so, that I’ve decided to do this as a two part-er.

Part One:

A little Vikings self critiquing to make some of the Steelers fans feel a little better. The offense sure missed Tarvaris Jackson [I didn’t expect it that much, but it shows how much he is in sync with the offense], but thankfully we have old Gus, but things were “off”. Be it nervousness about the Steelers good defense or as the excuse I heard last night, “not being used to Frerotte’s cadence”, the O-line and even the running backs looked like their timing was a skewed. Childress went on to call it rhythm, but whatever it was the offense just wasn’t as productive as it had been with TJ at the helm.

AD and Taylor only getting 26 yards? Good job Steelers.

“The Steelers’ defense is very stingy,” said Peterson, who rushed for 21 yards on 12 carries. “They’re a playoff team, so we knew what to expect. We came out the second half with a good drive and really got into a groove. That’s what our offense is all about. When you play playoff-caliber teams it’s going to be tough.”

Tough maybe, but I think it may be more of the vanilla and lack of game planning style of the preseason. Plus Adrian and Chester both become effective because them and the offensive line wears down the opponent over the course of a game, not just one half. Some of those runs needed just one missed tackle and either back was off to the races. Like I said, good job by the Steelers D.

False start penalties from Herrera, Birk and Shiancoe, flat out unacceptable. The line play was “off” as a group with a sack even given up by Steve Hutchinson, but at least we saw McKinnie’s suspension backup, Artis Hicks get some snaps with the first team at left tackle. Shiancoe did catch 2 passes and didn’t drop or fumble either one, so progress there. Allison looked good receiving except for his drop, and Frerotte did well statistically with the exception of the one horrible interception leading to the Steelers’ 3 points.

The defense looked great! My favorite play among many was Pat Williams meeting Mendenhall 4 yards deep in the backfield. Sweet! EJ Henderson should be a Pro Bowler this year easily the way he is playing, a beast. I guess besides his talent, it says something for having the same D coordinator 2 years in a row. Also, why his kid brother wasn’t drafted is beyond me. Erin is playing better than many first day draft picks. Don’t worry guys, he’s made the final 53 [especially after the first cut was announced].

Longwell, who played for the first time looked good and distance on kickoffs was adequate. (Some day I would love to get a guy that consistently blast kickoffs through the end zone… sigh.)

It was good contest between two good teams, which who knows if all goes well, might see each other again in Tampa.

The only injury of note was to Robert Ferguson who got kicked in the calf. He was seen Monday in Winter Park with a stiff limp and a sleeve over the right calf.

Tuesday, the day teams make their first cuts from 80 to 75. The Vikings accomplished that task on Monday and with only one surprise. Linebacker Derrick Pope, who was signed as a free agent in the spring to be another special teams ace and backup linebacker has failed to make the team. That currently leaves Vinny Ciurciu, Rufus Alexander, J Leman, David Herron and Erin Henderson as the backups. Last year the Vikes kept 7 backers on the roster, but even if they go to 6 this year, I am convinced that Ciurciu, Erin Henderson and Alexander will be the #2s. It will be tight between Leman and Herron if they keep 7, but either one should now make it to the practice squad.

The other three cuts were offensive tackles Sean Dumford and Brock Pasteur and receiver Daniel Davis. Dumford and Pasteur were literally camp bodies picked up after the Vikings when on an IR spree. The Vikes were already down to 79 because of it and never replacing defensive tackle Kenderick Allen a part of the same spree. Davis didn’t do anything worthy to stand out, a must when you are trying to make the team.