Purple Pride Ponderings 12/12/05

Purple Pride Ponderings
St. Louis at Minnesota
December 11, 2005

I can’t even begin to explain how sick and tired I am of hearing people say how Brad Johnson is the reason for the Vikings’ resurgence during this six game stint.

I’m more than trilled about having a backup such as Johnson, but let’s be honest, he’s not doing much. What he is doing is actually not doing something – turning over the ball.

I have no problem giving him credit for that, as do I have no problem acknowledging the fact the Culpepper was an awful turnover machine.

What I do have a problem with is those that fail to acknowledge:

1. Daunte’s health at the beginning of the season(he should not have been playing)
2. An early season defense incapable of creating turnovers and stopping anybody.
3. Piss-poor Offensive Line play (well that wasn’t to good this game, but I’ll get into that later)
4. No Koren Robinson playing at the WR position.
5. Early season media negativity.

Take a look at that list and then ask yourself, is it truly fair to compare the two quarterbacks with said circumstances?

I don’t think so.

Again, Johnson is serviceable, but he’s hardly burning it up (16 for 25, 146 yards and no TD’s this week). The defense is what has made this remarkable turn around possible (well that and an easy part of the schedule). During the 2-5 part of the season, the defensive players were still trying to get on the same page and couldn’t get a turn over to save their lives. Now this unit is on the same page and is turning the ball over at an alarming rate, and that’s what I attribute this win streak to.

Giving Season not for Vikings
The Holidays are about giving, but luckily for Vikings fans, the Vikings are more into taking. Five more interceptions for a secondary that’s starting to look good, really good.

Smoot is back, but it’s the play of Brian Williams that continues to impress me. He seems to be all over the field and is either busting up a big play, or making an acrobatic interception.

Need more KROB!
While Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken are in need of more cowbell, the Vikings need more Koren Robinson.

All the off-season talk was about how this team would replace Randy Moss. To some, drafting Troy Williamson was the answer, while others scoffed at the notion.

Troy is far from the answer in his rookie season, but the gambling acquisition of Koren Robinson is starting to pay dividends. This guy is a gamebreaker. Every time he touches the ball, you feel like something special could happen. As was the case again on Sunday with the 13 yard run that looked dead in the water, but ended up a touchdown.

While there is no replacing Moss, Robinson comes close and the Vikings need to find a way to keep him here.

Offensive Line
Offensive Line.

How fitting that actually is. I know I was offended by their play against the Rams, and I’m sure Brad Johnson was as well. Just when you think this unit is coming together and starting to provide protection for our QB, they stink it up like they did Sunday.

The Vikings were lucky to pull this win out thanks to the defense, because looking at Brad’s numbers, there’s no other way we win this game. Michael Bennett gets loads of credit in this game though, running for 70 yards and a touchdown on only 18 carries.

In defense of the Offensive Line, the Rams did appear to be blitzing 90% of the time. This unit will need to step it up and do a complete 180 if they are to have any chance at beating the Steelers next week, who you know will notice how effective the Rams’ blitz was.

Quick Hits

• Baldinger might be dumber than Madden. During the game he mentioned that receivers who jump while a pass is in the air, have a harder time catching the ball. When asked why that was, he replied “Because their feet aren’t on the ground”. Thanks Brian, I feel so much better now knowing you get paid to do a job we wish we all had.
• Troy Williamson was allowed to come out and play.
• Anyone else almost have a heart attack when Pat Williams stayed on the turf?
• Why does Smoot get called for ticky tac penalties all the time? Has he done something to the refs in the past that I’m not aware of?
• Another starting back held in check – Jackson held to 67 yards.
• Guess Fitzpatrick’s game a couple weeks ago was nothing but an aberration. He’s followed that great coming out party with back-to-back stinkers.
• Winfield had 10 tackles and an interception – he’s been worth every penny.

The Week Ahead
The Steelers were our buddies on Sunday and did us a huge favor by beating the Bears. But now they come to the Dome and become the hated enemy.

This will be a true test for the resurging Vikings. Many discredit the Vikings six game win streak due to inferior opponents so a win against the Steelers would quiet the nay-sayers.

Can it be done? I don’t see why not. The Steelers have a physical offensive line, and one of the most physical, hard-pounding backs to ever play the game in Bettis. But the Vikings front four is pretty physical as well and led by one of the best run stoppers in the league, Pat Williams. Hopefully Kevin Williams finds himself back in the lineup because I’m afraid we are going to need him.

It will be interesting to see how Big Ben handles the crowd noise in the Dome. It will be buzzing with a playoff atmosphere and will hopefully throw off his game some.

I don’t really want to call this one, I think it will be close and come down to turnovers. Hopefully the Vikings continue to take during this giving time of the year.

Thoughts from the other games

• What in the world did the Browns do to Palmer? Luckily for the Bengals, Rudi was able to have a big day.
• Frustrated Jags get dirty on the Colts towards the end of the game.
• I’m still a firm believer that no one can hang with the Colts.
• Think Moss misses Minnesota this time of the year? After looking at the Raider’s record and quarterback, I’m thinking he does.
• Any doubt that Kris Brown missed that field goal on purpose?
• If the Texans take Bush, what about Davis?
• Several weeks ago I stated that the there was no way the Bucs would win the NFC South. I heard crow tastes good this time of year.
• Well maybe one team can give the Colts a game, the all of a sudden healthy Pats – watch out for this team come playoff time.
• Feely finally comes through for the Giants - and who the hell is Moats!!??
• I was way out of line last week stating that the Bears were the best team in the NFC. Seattle is clearly the class of the NFC and the road to the Super Bowl goes through Seattle.
• Brunell only throws for 122 yards, 3 Int’s, and no TD’s, yet the Redskins still find a way to beat the Cards. Guess it’s not to hard to believe when playing against a Denny Green led team.
• The Chargers find out the hard way what happens when playing against the Chamber(s) of Secrets. They might not recover from this loss.
• Chiefs time is running out as well as Tynes misses an easy tying field goal.
• Broncos survive the pesky Ravens, move to 10-3.
• Samkon Gado’s mom braves the Green Bay cold and watches her son destroy the Packer single game rushing record.

Tonight I want the Falcons to lose, but they won’t. The NFC Wildcard race gets more complicated with a Falcons win and makes the last few games for the Vikings that much more important.

While they are in the thick of the Wildcard hunt, winning the division may be the only way to get in due to virtually every potential wildcard team holding tie-breakers over the Vikings.

Later,
Keith Michaels
venomlace@yahoo.com