Here We Go Again
How weird is it that jan's over there starting up Twins threads and I'm writing about the Vikes? It's like when his FFL season turns to dust he just can't be bothered to think football anymore. Meanwhile, I've got Santana Fatigue Syndrome and want to talk about something more positive.
Anyway, I mostly just want to note my frustration with the national football media's growing obsession with our red-hot team, now that they've won 4 in a row. My god, Peter King's not only penned us into the playoffs, but is insinuating that we've got a legitimate shot at giving the Pack or Cowboys trouble in the divisional round. Do these people have no memory? Didn't we just get destroyed by Favre Bay a month ago? Surely none of the five of us has deluded ourselves into thinking we'll do anything other than finish 9-7 and leave a big ostrich egg in Seattle in three weeks, right? C'mon, people, relax. This is the Vikings.
All that said, I remain impressed by what I'm seeing/reading about the team lately. I never thought Jackson was capable of what he's doing. I think a large part of it might be that defenses have to overload so badly to stop the 6.5 ypr running attack, but be that as it may it looks like the light's come on for him. I know I'm not thinking much about Donovan McNabb anymore.
What do we need to take the next step? Better possession receivers to go with Rice? I'm going to go with a pass-catching machine at tight end. Think how well our system could work for Winslow or Gates or Witten. What's the defense missing that makes it so susceptible to the pass? I'm guessing it's the corners. Who's out there in the draft?
13 Comments:
Echo the comments on the national media jumping on some sort of Vikings bandwagon. If we hadn't beaten semi-legit teams in the Giants and the Lions, I would be much more negative.
As for T-Jac, I am going to sound like an idiot sports radio guy but it is a 'system' thing for him. Yes, the running game does take off the pressure but he operates in an offense based on effiencies. He doesn't throw the deep ball very often (I'd say 2 times a game?) and he is often checking down to the running back out of the backfield or to a receiver that is 10 yards out.
With all that said, I must say that he throws a really crisp and accurate ball. I've noticed he has started to put the ball where only his receiver has a chance at it and he isn't leading DB's around by staring down guys. You're right, McNabb who?
The best thing about yesterday was the fact that we didn't find ourselves in a tight game. If this was 5 years ago Shaun Hill would have filled in for Dilfer with a 300 yard, 3 TD performance and the win.
December 10, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Guys,
I'll probably lob in a separate post on my experience from yesterday, but I have to say that T-Jack looked legit. He throw downfield twice all day, just to stretch the D a bit, but every other throw essentially went to a spot the Niners' d-back had vacated. They essentially tried to "run-blitz" us all day, and it worked in stopping AP (and ending my fantasy season), but it allowed T-Jack to find some guys in the 10-15 yard range. What impressed me was that he stood in there in the face of a corner blitz and calmly delivered the ball. He didn't take any sacks, didn't turn the ball over, and ran a couple of times...plus, he converted several 3rd and long situations in the first half. Awesome.
Also, kudos to the O-line for some good protection, for the most part.
I agree that this team will go nowhere in the playoffs, if we make it...as it's one thing to expect an efficient game at Candlestick, where 30% of the crowd was wearing purple and the other 70% was just waiting to boo their offense, but it's another to expect the same thing at Seattle, in 40-degrees and rain.
I guess I'm just happy that the Vikes are still relevant in Mid-December. Sure beats last year.
December 10, 2007 at 1:33 PM
I would imagine that all the car flags that were absent from the Minnesota scene a month ago are now on every other car as people pile back on the bandwagon. Everyone is excited to get back to 9-7, myself included. It is kind of like when gas dips, people get all excited even though it is still more than they were paying 12months ago. I guess part of the real appeal here is that we can run the ball, which growing up was the achilles heel. And finally, we have an Iowa guy at linebacker! I have no idea how he is doing, but I still like it. Just remember "guns don't kill people, Chad Greenway kills people." I saw it on some home made shirts once.
Anyone watch the Baltimore/ Indy game? Anyone notice who the Kicker for the Ravens is? Rhys Lloyd. Who is Rhys Lloyd you ask. He was the rugby player (maybe an english fellow too ) that won Glenn Mason's open tryouts for the Gophers kicking game. No the F'N guy is in the NFL. Go figure.
December 10, 2007 at 1:52 PM
BG not to rub it in, but that could have been the worst playoff performance in the history of the FFL. Jan, I could not help but notice Addai had 3 tds last night, 1 week too late for you. Don't worry I will get mine, the W-Melon is going to blast me next week.
I should pick up Griese in front of RabbitX since he lost Grossman and went into the playoffs with only 2 QBs and no backups. Good luck to you MCA, I know I speak for everyone when I say no one wants to see RabbitX get his 3rd title.
December 10, 2007 at 2:01 PM
I can't beat Rabbitx7 this year, even when I score 153 points. That's why I needed you to lose, rts, so I could get Stanch. Now, with my Island of Misfit Toys and Tom Brady, I have little hope of topping 100 points, so we'll have to hope Wasser can stop Shaffer. I would suggest you pick up Trent Edwards if you really want to frustrate Rabbit, though. I'd love for him to start Griese against me.
Seriously, BG. Nice performance, dude.
But, back to the topic at hand. Assuming 9-7 and a first round loss in the playoffs, what do the Vikes need to do in the offseason to make themselves a legitimate threat for the next 3 years until Peterson's body falls apart? Other than hope Favre finally retires or has his arm severed in a gruesome wood chipper incident on his farm in Mississippi, of course (no, I would never actually wish that on another human being). jan, you follow them most closely - where are the holes right now?
December 10, 2007 at 4:45 PM
Yeah...what can I say? AP had ZERO points, all my other RBs had tough matchups and Shockey caught one ball for 4 yards. This is why I hate the fantasy playoffs and believe that most of the $$$ should go for regular season performance. Sucks...although it's easier than what happened in my other league, where I put up a HUGE day and lost because the other guy had Brady, Brandon Marshall, J. Lewis (with a garbage TD), and everyone else out there who had a career day. UGH.
December 10, 2007 at 5:10 PM
BG, I can see why the band aid method of losing would hurt less.
There is abslutely no way I could pick up Griese. It would be FFL suicide. If I were to pick up Griese, the number of factoids associted with the Bears / Vikes game would not bode well for my FFL team. I would much rather have Shaffer battle that voodoo. Additionally, Griese plays the Packers, more voodoo, the following week.
December 10, 2007 at 8:01 PM
While the FFL commentary is enthralling, I thinnk we need to drag this back to the pressing issue of how many Superbowls we are about to win.
MCA, to answer your question, we've got holes in the secondary fo' sho'. Winfield is starting to break down, he had been out since the Packer game (I think) and got uncharacteristicly deeked out of his shoes yesterday. The other dudes in the backfield are getting better (Marcus McCauley) but are young and playing a lot.
Bright spot on defense are the linebackers. When is the last time you could say that? Henderson is finally good and Chuck's boy Greenway is solid for his first full year. BTW - Chuck, I love that t-shirt for Greenway.
On offense, your call on a solid TE is a good one. Actually Shinacoe is big and has soft hands but we run a lot of blocking schemes with our TE's. Oh, and we need a receiver. Sid the Kid is 21 years old which is both good and bad. Not counting Robert Ferguson (and, honestly, why would you?), Bobby Wade is the most seasoned hands with 5 years under his belt.
While the car flags have yet to reappear (might have something to do with it being f'ing 10 degrees out today) people have jumped back on the bandwagon en masse. While there are bright spots to this team, the five of us need to resist the urge to fully believe again or I'll start my series of postings I've been working on titled "1998."
December 10, 2007 at 10:31 PM
Since there is no place to comment on a poll, I will do it here. That is unbelieveable. I figured it was just Jan being a smartass when he started it had been on espn. There should have been a fourth choice "See Pohlad pass away."
December 11, 2007 at 11:04 AM
rts - that's just what ESPN does, and why I don't watch Sportscenter or ever visit their site anymore. This is their standard M.O. Step 1: hype up whatever's in the ascendant, as it's good for ratings. Step 2: when the hype reaches the point of making fans of whatever's not in the ascendent resentful from the overhype, feed the backlash of hatred. Trust me, as a Duke fan, I've seen this at play for years. At any time on espn.com you can find both an article extolling the virtues of Coach K and a Page 2 screed discussing which former Duke basketball player is the most loathed. There's something to appeal to every choir that way. That's why they need three channels and four websites, 'cause it would create too much cognitive dissonance to have it all in one place.
By the way, I meant you should pick up Edwards to force Shaffer to take Griese, not the other way around. Doesn't matter - Orton's starting this week now.
Definitely agree with jan that we need our own Wes Welker/Houshmandzadeh type. Especially in a scheme that doesn't go vertical a whole lot. Rice can be the deep threat, but we need Cris Carter, too. Could we pry Engram from the WR-rich Seahawks?
I hadn't thought about the fact that Winfield is getting a little long in the tooth, but that's a good point. I assume the best way to get those replacements in via the draft.
December 11, 2007 at 11:32 AM
How do we add things on the right side of the front page? It's cluttered enough as it is, but just curious. Especially since I wanted to be the first to mention that the Zep concert was apparently ridonkulous. I was watching some On Demand videos of old concerts a few nights ago and thinking how jealous I was of anyone getting to go to this thing. They need to go on tour and they need to send me a free ticket. Apparently, the three big apprehensions people had were all for naught: Jason Bonham did not by any means hold them back, Plant can scream just like 30 years ago, and Page's dexterity is still very much intact.
December 11, 2007 at 5:52 PM
MCA et al
Go to the "Customize" button on the top of the blog page (should be next to your e-mail address right after the "New Post" link.
Once there it will bring you to the page layout. On the right hand side of that you will see "Add a Page Element" where you can edit current "Elements" or add new ones (polls, videos, blah blah blah.) There is a limit to the number of things we can add so tread carefully. I deleted Chuck's "Gamblor's Corner" thinking he was not updating it.
As self-proclaimed "Blog Master" I reserve all rights to determine what is and what isn't suitable content (ex. a 'Tribute to Brett Favre' would be out, while a 'Tribute to Why I hate Brett Favre' is in.)
December 12, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Back to the Vikes for a 2nd...yes, the hype is out of control. Everywhere I turn, some talking head or web writer is praising us for our patience with T-Jack and for sticking to "the system" (gawd, that sounds like Dirty Denny Green). Anyway, I am please with the progress, but we definitely have issues. Secondary, as mentioned and WR are the obvious ones. Grab one WR and keep drafting D-backs and we could be great. I also wouldn't mind bringing in a more seasoned QB, just to push T-Jack and provide insurance. I'm not totally sold on him yet.
December 12, 2007 at 12:55 PM
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