A week ago today, Brad Childress stressed after a 18-15 loss to the Colts, that Tarvaris Jackson was still his guy. Up until mid-week, Jackson was his guy. By Wednesday afternoon, Childress changed his tune, one that was no doubt, orchestrated by owner Zygi Wilf. Here's a quick breakdown of what I feel may have taken place Wednesday morning as Wilf made his way to Childress' Winter Park office, closing the door behind him:
Childress: "Hey Zygi, have a seat, can I get you some coffee?"
Wilf: "No thanks, just had a Caribou, and I'll stand for this one thank you."
Childress: "Errr, ok. So what brings you in on a Wednesday?"
Wilf: "The Tarvaris Jackson experiment is over, I want Frerotte in there."
Childress: "But I'm soo close, I just need a little more ti..."
Wilf: "You've had enough time, make the change, or you'll be looking for a College Coordinator job by Friday. I've spent too much money to bring a winner here, I can't have a QB that the players and fans have no faith in. Got it?"
Childress: "Yes sir, but can I..."
Wilf: "No, Brad, he's done for the year. Announce that Gus is starting the remainder of the year."
Of course this is all just pure speculation on my part, but I'm sure I'm not alone on this one. There's no way Childress made this move on his own just days after reiterating that Jackson was still his guy.
So days after the opening of the new I-35 bridge, the Vikings offense revealed a re-build of their own starting Frerotte, hoping to bring the players and fans together again.
Calm, Cool, and Collected
For what ever reason, Jackson has lacked the confidence and leadership he showed in the first two preseason games before missing time with the knee injury. What this team needed was someone that could manage the offense and provide some offensive stability. Gus "suit case" Frerotte has been around the league for a while, but he's still got a strong arm and respect in the huddle. If Warner and Favre can still get it done, there's no reason to think that Gus can't lead the West Coast offense in it's most simplistic form. Early in the game, Berrian dropped a couple of catchable balls from Gus, and Gus shook it off and came back to him later in the game. Berrian made those catches and it was a testament to Frerotte's experience in counting on his receivers. The more they play together, the better the timing will get, and Gus has proven that he is more than capable of getting the ball down field.
The Return of the Purple People Eaters?
Before the season started, the Vikings were touted to have the best front four in the game. While the defense did a decent job holding two high-scoring offenses in check for the most part in the first two games, this unit showed what they are capable of against the Panthers. After giving up 10 points in the first half, the Vikings defense pitched a shut-out and Winfield's sack/forced fumble/fumble recovery for a touchdown kicked the entire defense into another gear. The Vikings held the Panthers to less then 70 yards in the second half while the offense chewed up plenty of time off the clock. The secondary should get a bit of a boost when Madieu Williams is available to play in the next week or two. As for that dominating front four, they showed it this week as they closed out the game in grand, sacking fashion.
Missing 100 yards or so?
Not all was rosy on Sunday. The Vikings were penalized for more than 100 yards and many of those penalties came at the most inopportune times. Granted, the same could be said for the Panthers, but to help Frerotte get up-to-speed with this offense, you can't shoot yourself in the foot and cost the team insane amounts of yardage. This team must dig deep and play better disciplined football as they hit the road the next two weeks.
All Day took a Half Day
I don't think we would be talking about a Vikings victory if Jackson played in a game where Peterson only rushed for 77 yards. Peterson was a game time decision due to a sore hamstring, and he only touched the ball 17 times. One has to wonder if Peterson should have even been out there, but I guess when your job is on the line, you let your star back decide for himself. This was another sign of offensive balance led by Frerotte. On a day where All Day was not himself, Frerotte still found a way to lead this team to victory.
Isn't it Ironic
How's this for irony, and another stab at the young, benched QB. Had Shiancoe caught the potential touchdown pass against the Colts, Frerotte may have never seen the field today. Instead, he dropped it, the Vikings lost, and Frerotte's first touchdown this year went to the very same player that cost Jackson his starting job.
I think it's safe to say that as long as Frerotte is able to continue managing this team, and make some big plays with his big arm, they still has a chance to be a heavy playoff contender. With this defense, that's all it takes and it's a formula that has won the Super Bowl many times over. Next up is a road trip to the South where the Vikings will take on the undefeated Tennessee Titans. Time to see if Frerotte's experience and calmness can lead to the first road win of the season against a very solid defense.
Players of the Game
Defense: EJ Henderson - What a beast Henderson has become. From flying Superman backfield tackles to non-stop pursuit, Henderson is turning into one of the best Linebackers in the game today.
Offense: Gus Frerotte - Brought back some much needed leadership to the huddle and managed the game well. It appears that Coach Childress is willing to open up more of the offensive playbook with Gus driving the bus (come on, I had to fit it there some where).
Thoughts from the other games
- I know Brady's out, but the Dolphins? And at home? And that bad?
- Falcons prove that they are the best of the worst.
- Bills need a comeback to top Raiders. Russell's passing numbers continue to mirror Vince Young.
- Giants need extra session to top toothless Bengals and stay undefeated.
- Much like Frerotte, Collins manages well and has a stout defense to count on. Schaub continues to prove that you don't give big money to a unproven QB.
- Griese may not have a arm left after leading the Bucs to a overtime victory over the Bears. He threw for over 400 yards on 67 attempts....yes, 67! That's not a 6th inning pitch count people!
- Cards drop to 2-1, Skins keep pace in NFC East moving up to 2-1.
- Denver wins another close one, this time without the aid of the refs.
- Kitna kills my Fantasy team as the resurging 49ers crush the Lions.
- Seattle wakes up against the Rams. Scott Linehan might be gone by the time you read this.
- Steelers offense non-existent in Philly. Eagles continue to impress as does the NFC East in general this week.
- What happened to Derek Anderson? Quinn is already wanted in Cleveland and the Ravens make easy work of the Browns.
- Colts 0-2 at home? Should have lost to the Vikings on top of that? AFC's weakening as the Colts and Pats appear to be in disarray.
- Cowboys still the team to beat, make easy work of the Packers.
Who I like Monday Night (and no I don't mean Peter King)
I can't see the Chargers going 0-3 and the Jets will suffer from the East Coast to West Coast travel hang-over. I like the Chargers at home, Favre struggles yet again.
Chargers 24
Jets 13
Later,
Keith Michaels
venomlace@yahoo.com
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Purple Pride Ponderings - Week 3
Monday, September 15, 2008
Purple Pride Ponderings - Week 2
As much as Dan Dierdorf attempted to make excuse after excuse for the Colts, the Vikings found a way to hand the game to the growing infirmary report known as the Indianapolis Colts. Throughout the entire game, viewers were subjected to hearing over and over again how detrimental it was for the Colts to be without center Jeff Saturday and tight end Dallas Clark. So why is it that we only heard about the injuries and missing players from the Colts? The home team Vikings had a couple of rather important pieces missing as well. Safety Madieu Williams missed his second game due to a nagging neck injury, forcing the Vikings to start a rookie in his place once again. On the other side of the ball the Vikings were without LT Byannt McKinnie, serving game two of his four game suspension for trouncing a bouncer over the head with a rope stantion. In his place was Artis Hicks, who by all accounts could have not played due to injury so he was nowhere near 100%.
So Dan, the next time you try making excuses for the darling network favorite throughout a game, try to at least acknowledge the other team's ailments, and you might want to make sure it's not against a team that's going to blow a fourth quarter lead.
Jackson is not ready; neither is Childress
Tarvaris Jackson is taking a lot of heat for his play so far in his young career. Anyone that watched the game heard the chorus of boo's in the Metrodome after incomplete passes and bad decision making with his feet. At no time has Jackson shown any kind of leadership quality while on the field or the sideline. Sure he's had some misfortune with bone-headed receiver play (Williamson, Berrian, Shiancoe), but when it comes down to it, he's just not ready to be a leader for an offense that desperately needs one. Despite all the inadequacies at QB, the supposed leader holding this team back right now is the head coach, Brad Childress. Not only did he place all of his eggs in one basket with Jackson, he also fails on every level when it comes to making proper in-game decisions. Childress has been with this team long enough to warrant a firing after the first two games. It's not going to happen, but it should. Wilf should do what it takes to bring a winner back to Minnesota, something he needs during his push for a new stadium. Fire Chilly, hire a coach like Cower, and pursue Jeff Garcia and try to salvage this season. While it's improbable for someone like Cower to take over a team part way into a season, I could see at least promoting Leslie Frazier to change things up. This team has loads of talent, but it has the wrong personnel in place to lead it.
Peterson destined to be the next Barry Sanders?
We already know he can run and move like Barry, but he could end up following in Sanders' infamy as well. If Zygi refuses to fire Childress, Peterson will be subjected to being the only playmaker worthy of moving the ball in this offense. He will get over worked and become frustrated. This is exactly what happened to Sanders, a great player that just got tired of losing and destroying his body in the process. Peterson had another remarkable day on Sunday and was responsible for the Vikings 15 points. This team cannot count on him to break the big one and reach the end zone every game. If Jackson refuses to be the leader in the huddle, Peterson needs to step into this role and I don't doubt for one second that he won't.
Don't blame the Defense for this one
Even though the fourth quarter looked like a defensive breakdown, I don't think it's fair to place the blame on them at all. They played outstanding football and kept Manning in check for nearly three quarters before Gonzales barley snuck by the secondary and took a page out of Randy Moss' book with the last second lateral. Last week I said it was time for Allen to shut his mouth and play football, and he did just that this week. Even though he only had one sack, he was in Manning's face all day and put some pads on him several times throughout the game. The other defensive star was EJ Henderson who is on a quest for the Pro Bowl this year, and will get it should he continue to play the way he is so far this year. Had the offense actually punched one or two into the end zone, this game would have never came down to a Manning comeback and the defense wouldn't have become so winded down the stretch.
Doesn't get any easier
The schedule gods were not pleasant to the Vikings this year. If it wasn't bad enough to start the season 0-2, the Vikings must now face a re-emerging Panthers team, followed by a road trip to Tennessee against one of the best defenses in the game. They then find themselves under the Monday Night lights in New Orleans. I know I may have jumped the gun about firing Childress only two games into the season, but should the Vikings end up 0-5 and Zygi still not make a move, I think it's a clear indication that this team will not be in Minnesota after the Metrodome lease ends in 2011.
A bit too much of the doom and gloom in this week's PPP, but that could be remedied with a solid win against the Cats next Sunday.
Later,
Keith Michaels
venomlace@yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Purple Pride Ponderings - Week 1 2008
As we all know, part of this metal infused evening left me feeling like the typical lyrics of a sad Country song, and that part would be the Minnesota Vikings.
The Stage was set, and he blew it
Jackson once again, did not have a good night, completing less that 50% of his passes. Sure he looked a bit better in the second half, but how could he not after piling up a measly six yards in the first half. As bad as the Vikings overall appeared to play (and as much as Rodgers was....Favre-like....puke!), they still found themselves in the game, with a chance to win on the final drive. This was it, Jackson's chance to prove all the sceptics wrong, show them that he is ready to be a big-time play maker in this league. But of course, instead he throws a horrible interception at the most inopportune time. Game over, Vikings fans left wondering what to do about a team with loads of talent, and a QB that still seems incapable of leading them.
Money well spent
Well at least that's what we were led to believe this entire off-season. The Vikings spent a truck-load of money on three players in particular - Jarred Allen, Bernard Berrian, and Maideu Williams. So how did they fare in this Monday night dance with their hated rival?
Williams - Did not play, out with a bad neck. May see action by week three.
Berrian - Three receptions for 38 yards and no touchdowns. If this guy could actually stay on his feet, he very well would have been over 100 yards with a score. But hey, at least he caught a few balls, which is more than Williamson could of ever said last year.
Allen - 0 tackles, 0 sacks Shut your mouth and play next week Country boy!
A little harsh on these guys after week one, but when you make the kind of jing they got, you better perform.
Offensive Line
I'm sure Jackson took a lot offense to the way these guys played. I understand that McKinnie was out, but let's face it, that guy is overrated anyway. Jackson is taking a ton of heat after this game and rightfully so, but the Offensive Line did nothing to help in regards to pass protection. Jackson hardly ever had time to sit in the pocket and go through his reads, and when he did, he stood there and took a few shots, which is a credit to him. This unit better gel and gel quickly, or the next three games will put Jackson in the hospital.
The three big plays
Three big plays decided the outcome of this game.
1. The punt return for a touchdown, most of which was run down the sideline (the supposed extra man).
2. The bomb to Greg Jennings. Outstanding catch! While Rodgers seems to be getting all the accolades for that, it's Jennings that deserves it.
3. The 50+ yard Ryan Grant run that lead to the winning touchdown. Totally unacceptable for this defense. Grant is not that great of a running back, something I think that will be exposed with Favre gone. For a team that prides itself in stopping the run, they really shot themselves in the foot at that wrong time. This unit should take on as much heat as Jackson did for his interception.
A pissed off Manning comes to town
So what do we have to look forward to next week? How about a pissed off Colts team after stinking it up in their new house against that Bears. Neither of these teams wants to be 0-2 and both have something to prove now. The Vikings front seven HAS to get pressure on Manning or it's going to be a long day in the big inflatable toilet.
That's all I can muster after this debacle. As I stated earlier, would this be the year Childress and his "kick ass offense" takes off and leads us to the promised land? As of right now, the only ass kicking going on is the new Metallica album, Death Magnetic. From beginning to end, it's a hard-charged, the boys are back and grabbing you by the balls, epic masterpiece. Wish I could say the same about the Vikings, but hey, relax, it was only week one.
Later,
Keith Michaels
venomlace@yahoo.com
Saturday, August 30, 2008
McKinnie suspended for four games
We all knew it was coming. Since training camp started it was inevitable that the NFL would suspend Bryant McKinnie for his brawl at a Miami night club this past February. It's not the actual suspension that bothers me, it's that fact that a player gets suspended four games for hitting another man at a night club, while another only gets one game for hitting a woman.Earlier this week, the NFL reduced the four game suspension of Brandon Marshall to one game. This guy hit his girlfriend and still has a hearing for drunk driving coming up later in September.
So what kind of message exactly is the Commissioner trying to send here? I understand that McKinnie assaulted another man with a rope-post, but still, at least he assaulted another man. I firmly believe that his suspension is warranted, but I'm a little befuddled by the reduction in games for Marshall.
So, how bad does this affect the Vikings? Well it has Artis Hicks protecting Jackson's blind side for the first four rather important games. I say important based on the Defensive Ends he will be facing. After Kampman on Monday night, he will be lined up against the Colts' Dwight Freeney, Panthers' Julius Peppers, and the Titans Kyle Vanden Bosch. That's a daunting task for any tackle to start the season.
With the only true question mark for the Vikings being at quarterback, this does not make the situation any better and will be watched closely to see how Hicks handles this pressure.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
No Action for Jackson, Defense decides to play
The Good
Defense
From the Bad in game one, to the good in week three. As stated already, week three has a bit more meaning, and the Vikings starting defense showed that well on Saturday. Apparently Childress was not talking out of his ass when he said they played a vanilla defense in week one and two. The front seven had Big Ben confused and flustered all night and held the running game in check as expected. What stood out even more is the way this team tackles. I don't think I saw one broken tackle from the starters and EJ Henderson looks like he might be in the talks of Best Linebacker in the NFL this year.
The Bad
Running Game
Ok, I know this team is trying to establish the passing game to help free up some real estate for MR. 28, but for the third preseason game, the running game was non-existent. This by no means is to take away from the Steelers defense, a defense that is known to stop the run. When you have the Minnesota moving company and backs like AD and Taylor in the backfield, you should still be able move the ball on the ground. It doesn't help that Bernard Berrian has been sidelined that past two games. He was brought in to help spread the field and pull the LB's and Safeties back, and so far, his little toe is bothering him. He's out with a toe injury!!?? I know turf toe is no joke, but come on, he's getting paid way to much to miss this much time. I'm also concerned with Rice, another WR that I thought was set to have an outstanding season. These injuries at wide out are, and should be a huge concern at this point.
The Ugly
Preseason Injuries
A lot of big names have been going down in preseason games around the NFL again. Some want to shorten the preseason, and add to the regular season. I have a problem with that. For years NFL teams have been preparing with the current structure, so why change? If the game is for real (taking two games from preseason and adding them to the regular season - 18 games), won't starting players be subjected to more injuries as they are on the field for several more quarters?
The Preseason is a necessary evil. Players and coaches need the time to prepare, evaluate, and train their bodies/minds for the rigors of an NFL season. I know the infirmary report looks bad, but what do you expect, it's a contact sport.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Tarvaris Jackson Sharp in Preseason Opener
Well it's here, the first preseason game of the 2008 season. This is the year we see what Tarvaris Jackson is made of and if tonight was any indication, Childress deserves many apologies. So here's a quick take on tonight's game. Not the usual Purple Pride Ponderings format as I'm not in regular season form yet either.
The Good
Tarvaris Jackson
Jackson went 8 for 11 with 118 yards and 1 touchdown. He looked poised, in control, and made all the right decisions tonight. The most interesting thing about tonight was that while Jackson was in there, they didn’t run the ball until they got on the goal-line and let Chester Taylor punch it in. A well designed test by the Vikings coaching staff for Jackson turned into a success for the third year quarterback. He used his athletic abilities to avoid the rush and made a couple of nice throws on the run. The Vikings have some potential playmakers with Berrian, Rice, and Allison so teams may be a bit reluctant to stack the box against Peterson if Jackson continues to look the way he did tonight. Another positive for Jackson tonight, he didn’t throw a single jump pass!
The Bad
Defense
It must be noted that Pat Williams was a healthy scratch tonight. With that said, the Vikings starting defense looked rather lackluster tonight. I was hoping to see early signs of a dominant pass rush but that was nowhere to be found. The Seahawks starting offense pretty much had their way against the Vikings defense on the ground and in the air the first two drives of the game. I know it’s only preseason, and the 1st game at that, but I was still disappointed in what I saw. Hopefully it will be a different story when the Defensive line has Edwards, Williams x2, and Allen in there.
As for the reserves, they didn’t look ANY better. I’m sure this entire side of the ball will have extra duty when they get back to Mankato. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for the film session with the defense tomorrow.
The Ugly
Bollinger and Booty
He only attempted two passes and I think that was by design. He just looks awkward out there and since the Vikings will be cutting down to three quarterbacks soon, I firmly believe Bollinger is the one to go. Jackson, Frerotte, and Booty will be the three and I was almost equally un-impressed with Booty. If Jackson was to be slammed the past two years, this guy should have tomatoes tossed in his face. I’ve been hearing how Booty may have been the most pro-ready QB in the draft, but he looked horrible. His throws were way off target and he just doesn’t have the arm to get the ball downfield that Jackson has.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Vikings 2008 Training Camp: Five Burning Questions
Today was the day every player in the NFL dreads - reporting to Training Camp. The actual fun for the Minnesota Vikings beings on Friday, and like every year at this time, there's several questions before our boys lace the cleats and put on the pads. So here's my top five questions for the Minnesota Vikings leading into the 2008 version of Training Camp.5. How will the Packers allegations of Tampering affect the Vikings, especially Tarvaris Jackson? (Getting this one out of the way first. Even the NFL Commish wants this soap opera to come to a swift end)
Coach Childress stated a few weeks ago that Jackson is his QB and he's got his full vote of confidence. With phone records stating that Favre made several calls to Bevell and Childress, one might think that Jackson will start to question his coach's actual confidence in him. As late as today, the Star Tribune ran a story stating that Antoine Winfield thinks Favre would be a great fit for the Vikings. But Jackson does have plenty of support from other Pro-Bowl veterans to include Sharper, Pat Williams, and Kevin Williams. Jackson needs to do what the rest of the NFL should have done from the begining and just ignore this story. As it stands, he is the leader of the Vikings and he's got plenty to prove.
4. Does adding Jarred Allen truly improve the Vikings' secondary?
It's been no secret in the NFL the past couple of years on how to attack the Vikings defense. Pass, pass, and pass some more. But you have to mix in the run to open the passing game right? Not on the Vikings because....A) You CANNOT run against them due to the Williams Wall and B) The Vikings are innept when it comes to stopping any passing game in the NFL and they often provide mediocre at best QB's with career games. The Vikings have actually had good personnel in the secondary. Guys like Sharper and Winfield play a Pro Bowl calibur game every year, but when you have zero pass rush, there's no way you are going to cover receivers in the NFL when a QB has all day to survey the field. So, if Allen follows up in Purple with what he did last year in Kansas City, the Vikings' Secondary should be vastly improved.
3. Will Bryant McKinnie be suspended after his court date on September 24th?
Since McKinnie is a repeat offender of the League's Personal-Conduct Policy, he's all but guaranteed to suffer a four game suspension, but not until after his day in court. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings organization deals with this situation as well. He's a huge part of one of the better offensive lines in football, but the Vikings have cracked down on what types of characters they have on their team. Should he only get the four game suspension and be welcome back to the team, it will be an interesting month to see how the line holds up in pass protection and providing the holes for the dynamic duo - Peterson and Taylor. The Vikings must address this in camp and find out who will be able to step up in McKinnie's October absence.
2. Has Adrian Peterson fully recovered from last year's knee injury?
Before Peterson suffered his knee injury in hated Green Bay, he was on pace to beat Dickerson's rookie rushing record. When he came back, he didn't have the same explosive press though the line that propelled him during the first half of the season. According to team trainers and coaches, Peterson looks stronger than ever and has that explosive step back. But, can he sustain it through the course of an entire season? The Vikings are lucky enough to have a humble Chester Taylor behind Peterson, but let's face it, without Peterson, the Vikings offense is no where near the same level.
1. Can Tarvaris Jackson lead the Vikings to the Playoffs and beyond?
Ah yes, the million dollar question. Childress seems to think so and has put all of his faith in Jackson (should you truly ignore Favre's phone records). He's still raw, but I firmly believe he's got the arm to become a good QB in this league. This is the year he gets fairly judged. Gone is Troy Williamson and that alone will be a huge asset in Jackson's decision making. The Vikings also landed Bernard Berrian who started showing #1 receiver ability in this league with a rotating QB situation in Chicago that I feel is far worse than Jackson. Sidney Rice enters his second year and has all the makings of having a break-out season. Allison also showed promise last year as a rookie and Bobby Wade will fill the slot this year, a roll he's happy with and damn good at. Jackson has all the tools to show that he's for real this year, and having AD behind him for a little play action never hurts either. Should the Vikings show that they can establish a passing game early on, that will limit the eight and nine man fronts and make AD even more dangerous.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Madden Curse Strikes Again
Last night I was checking out some of the video previews Shacknews put up straight from the E3 floors. One of the titles I was anxious to checkout was EA Sports’ Madden 2009. The game is looking great and for the first time in years, actually looks worthy of a purchase. I say that only because there really haven’t been many graphical updates or noteworthy game play elements to justify paying $60+ for roster updates.
With all the Favre talk over the last week and a half, it finally dawned on me that the Madden Curse has struck again, and nobody’s talking about it. Sure it normally means that the cover athlete is doomed to suffer a year ending injury at some point. But this time it’s worse, yet beautiful for those of us that continually drink the Purple Kool-Aid. This time the curse affects an entire organization and their fan base.
Aside from the effects on the Packers, what about EA? With the game shipping in less than a month, the production part of it is finished. What happens if Favre gets re-instated and the Packers agree to trade him? All of a sudden you have Favre on the cover of the largest sports game in video game history, in the wrong jersey. The only reason he was chosen as the cover boy to begin with was as a tribute to his Ironman legacy in the NFL.
So not only has Favre’s desire to be the center of attention yet another year disrupted the Packers, Vikings (thanks to the Packers asinine allegations), and fans – it will also impact the video game industry and cause the Marketing team at EA Sports to question their decision making.
So do us all a favor Favre and stay retired. It’s one thing (good thing) to send the Green Bay Packers into a state of disarray, but the Vikings and Madden……..that’s going too far.
As for the game itself - from what I’ve seen while watching the E3 2008 footage, it’s looking very nice. I’ll be picking up this year’s addition for sure and can’t wait to run AD all over everybody on Xbox Live!