I was lucky enough to see a Vikings game yesterday...and when they let that dude return the second-quarter field goal attempt 109 yards for a TD, I figured it was going to be another rough day for the Vikes.
But how about Adrian Peterson? He had 296 yards rushing! That's an all-time, single-game record! He's fun to watch.
They just kept giving him the ball and he kept running roughshod over the Chargers defense.
Kudos to the VIkings front line...they can hold some serious blocks.
I don't expect that Vikes to go anywhere this year, as they've already got five losses and no QB.
However, if they can get their hands on a good QB (Tavaris Jackson is not the man), they have the makings of a pretty good team. They should look to the free agent market for an established QB.
Steelers vs. Ravens tonight on MNF.
DDDDD
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Impressive win by the Vikes. The big question of course, is how come it took them this long to figure out how good Peterson is, when everybody was calling for him to get more carries since week 1 I think. You're also right about their O-Line, the Hutchinson guy they got from Seattle is supposed to me one nasty sumofabitch, which a serious asset when it comes to run-blocking. As for the QB issue, yes, that's another thing you wonder why they couldn't see it coming and didn't move sooner to address it. Maybe next year will be better, but I guess I'm still scratching my head as to why this had to be a rebuilding year for the Vikes.
Cheers.
X
The two big Viking problems: QB and coaching. How long had Brad Childress been in the league? He acts--in some ways--like a novice.
For example, I still can't believe that he had his team attempt a 55-yard field goal and not emphasize that they needed to TREAT IT LIKE A PUNT.
As I watched it unfold, I thought They're going to let Cronkite run it all the way back for a TD...they're not even going to make it close.
Freakin' lame.
And I'm not entirely sure what to think about Childress' abilities to judge talent. He did draft Peterson, which is great. And he did draft WR Rice and a pretty talented DB who I can't remember the name of...all good choices.
But I think Childress also thought that Jackson represented the future at QB for the Vikes, but it doesn't seem like Jackson is cut out for the job. He doesn't seem to have the touch, the judgment, the intuition...
In addition, while everyone was calling for Peterson to get the ball move often, Childress was still giving the ball to Chester Taylor. Now, Taylor is a pretty good back, but he's no Ardrian Peterson. In fact, Taylor is better coming in to spell Taylor, and that's not a pretty situation for a defense: Peterson goes to the bench and now you have to face Chester Taylor. Geez.
Overall, I agree with you. The Vikes are a talented bunch. This should not have been a rebuilding year. I think that Childress may be up to the task, but he still has to gain some seasoning as a head coach.
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This is Childress' first gig as a head coach. He's known as a West Coast style guy. His most recent gig was Philadelphia.
Childress never played college or pro football. Plus, he has never been a head coach. That may account for some of his errors.
He is, by all accounts, a bright guy. I say give him a chance and see what happens.
After all, it's pretty rare for any former player to become a good head coach. Bill Cowher was an exception. Then look at Mike Tice...
If you'd like to read more, here's part of the Wiki entry on Childress:
"On January 6, 2006, Childress was hired to be the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. This choice was the result of a fervent and short-lived selection process.
"Former coach Mike Tice was informed that his contract would not be renewed shortly after the Vikings' last game of the 2005 season on December 31, and rumors began to circulate about Childress as the new head coach on January 5. Four candidates were interviewed by the Vikings: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders, Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, and former Vikings defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell.
The short length and small breadth of the selection process was questioned by some in the local media.
"Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, who is known as an intense football fan but not as an expert on the game, was criticized for not first hiring a top-shelf personnel manager who would then be tasked with hiring a new head coach.
"Childress had never played football at the college level or the pros. He had never been a head coach before and never called his own plays either, which he would be doing with the Vikings.
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Childress reminds me of the assistant coach (Burt Reynolds' sidekick) on that old sitcom Evening Shade.
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