Coach-a-polooza! (And some position thoughts)

Jim Schwartz - gone.
Rob Chudzinski - gone.
Greg Schiano - gone.
Mike Shanahan - gone.
Leslie Frazier - gone.
(Yes, I know Gary Kubiak is gone too, but he wasn't fired today.)

I figured Frazier was going, but it's still a little sad to see him go.  He did give this team his all.  He didn't cause distractions, or pass the buck, or blame the players.  He has been the epitome of class and constancy during his four seasons (well, three and a bit), and I raise my glass to him tonight for what he did for us.

Still, I want to win.  And for all Frazier gave us everything he could, we weren't winning.

(I still blame the players for some of that though.)

So now five teams - Washington, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota all need coaches.   Dad wants us to pick up Shanahan.  I've been hearing rumors about Jack del Rio.  One or two people were even murmuring about Lovie Smith, but I think the Browns would be more likely to take him.

So far as coaching goes, I think we need a complete overhaul of staff.  Make Spielman sweat a little, since he's doing all the hiring right now, he needs to put his ass on the line and invest in a really good staff.  Defense is our THING.  We are the Minnesota Vikings!  We are the kings of rough, tough, grind-it-out defense!  Let's bring that back.  Need a good DC, and, almost more important, we need a BRUTAL strength-and-conditioning team too.  No more being gassed in the first quarter!

Ah, I see per Twitter that the Vikings (and the Browns) have asked for permission to interview Adam Gase, the Broncos OC.  He has declined to interview until after the season, which I approve of.  Guess we'll see what comes of that!  Do we want him as OC or HC? I wonder...

I have two positions of real need to be addressed on the player side: quarterback (duh) and linebacker.  The reason we have sucked so brutally this year (what was it, FIVE losses in the last 100 seconds of the game??) is because our line gives up.  Our secondary does too, but Rhodes is coming on so I honestly think line is more needful right now. 

I can see us cutting Ponder right away, keeping Freeman for the offseason, and using Cassel as our tide-over QB until we can trade or draft our future starter.

So far as drafting a QB goes, my father is interested in both Manziel and Bortles...I would LOVE to see Johnny Football in purple&gold, but the man does throw interceptions.  And lots of them.  So I don't know.  I have no faith in Teddy Bridgewater's durability (I feel the same way about Marcus Mariota, but he's sensibly staying in the NCAA another year, I'm told), and I feel seven kinds of iffy about AJ McCarron.  I know he's done very well in the NCAA, but then, so did Ryan Leaf.  (To be fair to McCarron, he seems to have a MUCH better attitude and more stable temperament than Leaf ever did...but still.)

Honestly Tahj Boyd is the only one I really like (God help me!) and he's from Clemsucks.  Can we really trust an ACC quarterback?  I mean...I know the SEC doesn't have the world's best QBs, but our last ACC QB :coughPondercough: didn't turn out too well for us.  (Speaking of SEC QBs, did you hear Tim Tebow has finally given in and accepted a job as an ESPN anchor?)

More to come later.  Suffice it to say I am very happy it's the holidays and I get to watch football again!

SKOL!

OT: Packers' Revenge

Quickie Roster Movies

Sorry I've been quiet lately - the end of the semester was akin to battling up the last stretches of Mount Everest with no carbs and a hole in your warmest pants.  You think I'm joking.


Anyway, the Vikings have announced a few roster moves in the wake of the Peterson/Gerhart injuries.

Harrison Smith is finally all better!!  I am so overjoyed, I picked on him to be my new favorite Viking the day we drafted him and I saw his tape in all its glory.  Of course, Cordarrelle Patterson is giving him a serious run for his money (I have friends who are Tenn fans and they assured me Patterson was a fantastic pickup...guess they were right!), but Smith is just the kind of badass I want on my Vikings' D.

So with Smith activated from IR, we have also signed Joe Banyard, RB (ha, I knew he'd get his chance!), and Robert Steeples, CB (I feel bad I don't remember this guy...maybe he'll give us something to remember him by on the field?  We can hope!!).

We have room for these guys because Josh Robinson fractured his sternum vs Seattle (ouch...although this could be a blessing.  Robinson is so raw.  We need to get his head into the game, and stop him missing assignments.  Maybe this injury will park his ass in the film room and let him see what he looks like on the field.) and we were forced to cut a backup o-lineman Mike Remmers.  I'm not crazy about that, considering how tired our o-line gets, but we do need a backup RB with only Asiata active.  Let's hope Asiata and Banyard can keep some pressure off Cassel.  Also, Rudolph was placed on IR this week.

Xavier Rhodes is questionable with an ankle injury, and I'm glad to say the docs are sitting Peterson.  He's a badass, but I want to KEEP him in badass form as long as possible.

Also, I have heard all the rumors about trying to shop Ponder as a backup.  Do I think they're anything more than rumors?
...eh.  I hope our FO is more concerned with putting the team (and the coaching staff) through their paces now to determine what to do in the offseason than with the offseason right now.  So we'll see.

SKOL!

Vikings v Bears

All night I've been wondering, what did we do different?  IS it that Cassel took after after Ponder was concussed?  (I'm not sure about that since the Bears had a HUGE 4th quarter lead after a very low halftime score.)

Or is this win solely attributable to the Bears going for it on second down in an attempt to avoid catastrophe?

Vikings BEAT Da Bears!!

Longer post later, but I just wanted to say this quickly:  to all the Purple & Gold masses out there who are mad we won a "meaningless" game and "ruined" our chances of a good draft pick...

...seriously, you need some Prozac, bro.

We WON!  The point of a football team is to WIN.  (Moral victories off the field - philanthropy, no arrests, ect - and actual victories on the field.)

We WON a RIVALRY game!  One of the best parts is to bust through a tough streak and BEAT a bigtime rival!

Which we DID!

And frankly, the Jags are sucking a whole lot more than we are.  They've got that #1 pick locked up anyway.  Besides, we must always remember the following: the reason Calvin Johnson is a Detroit Lion is because the Oakland Raiders picked JaMarcus Russell.

SKOL!

P.S. Adrian Peterson - that guy we "didn't need" and just picked because he was the "BPA" - just passed 10,000 yards rushing today.  BOOM!

P.S. Happy Birthday to Cris Carter Too

Yes, I knew it was Cris Carter's birthday.  What I didn't remember was that I forgot to post a happy birthday message to him this morning!

Anyway, maybe he'll send birthday awesomeness to our WRs and they'll do some real damage come Sunday. 

SKOL!

Happy Birthday Jarius Wright!

I hope you have a lovely day, don't drink too much, and don't get a DUI.  I mean, I know Simpson got one a couple weeks ago, and then AJ Jefferson was arrested today too, but trust me, getting arrested is not a fun birthday, no matter what the Cheatriots tell you.

I mean, we went SIXTEEN whole months without an arrest!  And the last arrest was that bullshit one when Adrian Peterson was arrested for "resisting arrest" in Houston when he wanted a drink of water before leaving a club and the cops jumped on him (and his newly surgically repaired knee) and tried to "take him down".  Clearly, they don't watch football...but that's not the point.

I definitely think you should just use some of your paycheck to hire a nice snazzy limo to take you and yours around - just think, you won't have to worry about parking!  It's been a long time since I was in Minneapolis, but I hear parking downtown is horrendous.

And remember, nothing good happens after midnight.  So slow it down, order some sushi (or french fries if you're not a fan of fish), switch to beer, and when you're dropped off by your limo driver, go straight to bed.  AJ Jefferson's little problem with his girlfriend was at 4:30 am, so just make sure if you want a shower, you're in bed before that.

You know perfectly well how thin we are at CB (and safety...) and we released Jefferson IMMEDIATELY without even worrying about due process.  We have more leeway at WR (not much, but some), so I really wouldn't test management right now.  They're under a lot of pressure you know, all those ghastly losses this season. 

Also, I hear you made a bad drop yesterday (sorry I couldn't watch, but I'm not a masochist and decided I'd rather go to brunch with my girlfriends than put myself through us verses the Packers after my Gators AND my Aggies took it in the mouth Saturday), so you might want to be careful about how much alcohol you ingest.  Puking on the sideline of the practice field won't get you any bouquets.

So, Mr. Wright, I hope you have a lovely birthday.  I hope you have a good week at practice, and feel rested and raring to go come Sunday.  I mean, we are playing the Bears.  I know their QB situation isn't much better than ours right now, and maybe if you (that is, the offense as a whole) can chew up some clock with some lovely long touchdown drives, maybe the defense will be rested and stop them from scoring. 

Wouldn't a W be just the best birthday present?

Calling Audie Cole

I'm sure y'alls remember how much I wanted us to pick up Audie Cole and how psyched I was when we did.  Well, I've just seen that Erin Henderson missed practice and Cole might get his first start this week.  This could be your opportunity, Cole, let's hope you take advantage of it!

Vikings Thought of the Day

Greg Childs has been taken off PUP and is easing into practice.  He's said he's listening to the trainers and will take his recovery one step at a time while he recovers fully.  What with Simpson being a moron with his DUI and all that, goodness only knows what our WR corps will be like the rest of this year and next year.  If Childs can really come back, that'd take some of the pressure off.

Of course, we also need a quarterback.

Organized Defenses

In my Nautical Archaeology class today, I came across this sentence:

"Archetypal Viking raiding ships plundering settlements up rivers of France and disappearing before organized defenses could be mustered, against which the Vikings often fared poorly."

And I thought, "Even in those days..."

SHOCK AND AWE

THE VIKINGS WON A GAME!!!


(Gee...one I couldn't watch because I can't afford NFL Network...imagine that!)

OT: Packers

So, fellow Vikes, if Rodgers does indeed have a broken collar bone, where does that leave us?








































Answer:  Still without a gameplan!

Vikings @ Cowboys 11/3/2013

I didn't watch the whole game.  I'm not a masochist.

I had two major thoughts during the game:

THOUGHT ONE: Well, I'll go out on a limb here and say the no-huddle offense agrees with Ponder more than our old offense did.
He's got a TD - a rushing one, but still 7 points - and he SEEMS to actually  be looking around the field, which is a positive.  In fact, so far as the first half goes, he looks like last year's reasonably-in-control Ponder.

THOUGHT TWO: [insert="personal game commentary"]
Kevin Williams destroys DeMarco Murray for a 7 yard loss!!  Ugh, and then when we've nearly backed them into their own endzone on a 3rd and long we let them convert with a 29 yard pass play.  We CANNOT allow that to happen! [/commentary]
The biggest problem with our team is we do well, we do well, and then BOOM we do something shitty we can't recover from.

Like that last Dallas drive.  [insert="stiff drink"]

Post game thoughts:
Phil Loadholt has a concussion.  Do we have any defensive players left?  I'm almost afraid to write their names in case they too get injured!!
Our players are depressed.  Half of me says "GOOD, I'M DEPRESSED TOO."  Half of me says, "Crud.  This is going to make it harder for us to win.  Tired, defeated, emotionally drained guys are not going to be able to rally and win in tight games or turn around drawn-out games.
Our coaching staff aren't going to keep their jobs if they don't stop making boneheaded calls.  YES they make some good ones.  But they have made some BAD ones too.

But whatever happens, I'll still be a Viking.  SKOL!

Injuries! Injuries! Injuries!!

First Desmond Bishop goes down with a torn hamstring (because we could really afford to lose people on the line GAH), and now Harrison Smith (who I have picked as my Viking crush this year) is on IR with turf toe.  Not that I disagree he should be on IR - I would one million times rather sit him and make sure that toe/ligament/tendon/whatever gets FULLY rested and healed, rather than rushing him back too soon and having it linger for weeks, months, or years.

I promised I'd post about Ponder, Cassel and Freeman, but my work is overloading me, especially since my car got ruined in a flash flood (probably a total write-off and I got it less than eight MONTHS ago) and I don't know when I can get it done.  Suffice it to say, the management is starting to freak about our QB situation (about time) and they're turning into whirling dervishes trying to fix it.

SKOL!

Post Bye Week Vikings

Have we EVER won after a bye week under Frazier?  My car got flooded this weekend and I still managed to get SCUBA certified but I missed the game (thank the Football Gods for that ultimate mercy).  Will go over "highlights" and commentary...sometime.  Grad school is no joke.

Wondering if Freeman will morph into Tom Brady.  Not likely, but it's something nice to dream about.

Classy Cassel

Soundbite from today: "My approach hasn’t changed -- continue to work hard, do what I can and be accountable to my teammates and see what happens."

He also stated (but I can't find the direct quote) that he doesn't feel slighted, and this pickup is "not about [him]".

Good for him!  That's the kind of attitude I want!

To be fair, Ponder was very classy as well (I've never had a problem with his off-the-field personality, whatever his issues on the field) and said something along the lines of his only frustration was at being injured and he was going to work through whatever it took to get healthy and earn his starting spot.

So...we shall see...we shall see.

SKOL!

BREAKING

Josh Freeman has signed a reportedly one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings!!!

Oooh boy...Cassel and Ponder must be feeling their seats heat up!!

EDIT - The deal is reportedly worth THREE MILLION DOLLARS!

EDIT - Thinking about this a little more carefully, I have to wonder if Cassel is going to ask to be released.  I still think he's the starter this week, but let's face it, the Bills need a QB badly, and if Houston starts screaming bloody murder, they might look at Cassel too.  Still, this is only a one year deal (and, what with his salary and termination pay from Tampa, as well as this $3 million we're paying him, Josh Freeman's going to make $11.43 million dollars this year), and Cassel may decide to up the ante and beat out Freeman at his own game.

Let's face it.  Freeman has had more than his fair share of INTs over the years, his accuracy is suspect, and so is his dedication.  He not only missed a TON of team meetings with TB, he also missed the TEAM PHOTO.  How many players miss that???

So far as skill goes, Freeman's numbers are pretty similar to Ponder's.  Ponder's average career QB rating is 75.8, Freeman's is 78.8, Ponder's career completion percentage is 59.2, Freeman's is 58.2.  They can both scramble.  They can both freeze up.

Here is the Vikings' official statement about the signing:

"Josh Freeman is coming in as a backup quarterback for the time being. We have to see how he learns and have him adjust to our system. As long as Christian [Ponder] or Matt [Cassel] are having success, and the team is playing well, they’ll continue to run our offense. We wouldn’t make a change just to make a change. But, if we struggle as a team then we have to consider when we will put Josh on the field."

Freeman's best year - statistically - was his second year with 61.4% completions, 25 TDs, 6 INTs, 95.9 QB rating.

I am shocked.  The Vikings are saying loud and clear for the world to hear that they are NOT happy with our QB situation and are going to employ every tactic necessary to fix it, both within this season and in the offseason.  

I am already looking over the QB selection for the upcoming draft, and considering Teddy Bridgewater and AJ McCarron are our best options, I can only see the future becoming a worse headache.  Ponder is clearly not our future anymore (not unless he gets significantly better very quickly).  But who is?

SKOL!

EDIT - Apparently the Vikings wanted a 2 year deal but Freeman insisted on 1!  I'm blown away!!

Vikings vs Steelers - London Edition

Well, boys and girls, I'm rocking my #69 Jared Allen jersey and I'm cautiously pleased with how this game has been going.

Steelers won the toss and deferred to us (it's what I would've done so I can't really say anything about that) and we make sufficient mistakes that Blair Walsh's leg once again bails us out with a 54 yard field goal.  With that one, his twelfth, he broke Ryan Longwell's Viking record of 11 career 50+ yard field goals.  Good for him!

Our D halted the Steelers, Sherels had a great return that got called back because of "fair play signal" (I still don't think his arm was REALLY over his head but whatever) and then Jennings makes the a Top 10 play with a SEVENTY-YARD TD RECEPTION.  Jarius Wright made a fantastic block too, which almost definitely kept the TD alive.

Then we made some crucial third-down mistakes and Steelers scored.  Sigh.

Tie-first moment of the game is Adrian Peterson's 60 yard run for a TD.  I was fangirling all over the apartment for that one (not that I didn't for Jennings' grab!), and held my breath til I turned blue making sure no late flags would be thrown.  His 12th rush TD of 60 yards or more!

Next series Jared Allen sacked Roethlisburger THREE TIMES - he now has 120.5 sacks in his 10 seasons!!  2nd overall, I think.

Anyway we hold the Steelers to a field goal, we get one of our own, and we enter the half up 20-10.

I am hoping this is a good omen, but with ominous reminders of our 3-13 season, I won't crow just yet.

Now my thoughts about Cassel so far: he's been stepping up the pocket and making decisions.  Some of them have been quite poor decisions - Patterson saved his ass by breaking up a sure INT, and Simpson picked up a Cassel fumble right towards the end of the half.  But he has been DECISIVE.  And, frankly, that's something we need.  He's not our golden boy, he's no season-saving potion.  But he's doing exactly what we need him to do (sans the attempted turnovers and the fact he's 4-of-11 in the first half), and we're up by ten whole points at the half.

Our defense has played relatively well but there have been some serious failures here and there which lead to 7 of the Steeler's 10 points.  In fact, you could say it was all 10, because on their last scoring drive Allen sacked Roethlisburger to result in a 3rd & 13 and they converted.  We can't allow that sort of thing.

Second half starts and Robinson makes the worst PI ever.  Ball at 1 yard line.  THIS IS THE KIND OF SHENANIGANS WE CANNOT ALLOW!!! FORTY-EIGHT YARDS OF PENALTY!
1st and goal and Bell stopped at line.  2nd and goal and Bell scores.  Well, I can't say I really expected them to not score there.  Dammit Robinson...you're going the right way to get your ass replaced.

Patterson is looking quite strong, so I'm glad he's adjusting to the NFL in that way at least.  And ANOTHER stupid penalty - this one on Rudolph.  STOP with the STUPID penalties!

Jennings gets a FABULOUS reception - thanks to Peterson picking up a block - and gets a 51 yard reception!  Then Peterson rush for 8, despite having half the Steelers piling on top of him...and he held on to the ball! 3rd and 1 he gets the first and a few more yards.  He's still holding the ball a bit loosely for my tastes, but everyone says his grip is - TOUCHDOWN PETERSON!!

And the NFL just tweeted "LONDON BALLING!! Adrian Peterson, you are RIDICULOUS!!" haha London Balling, that's actually pretty funny.  I'd like to high-five the intern that thought of that one!

Vikings have scored on 5 of 7 possessions today.  Not bad, considering our last three games.

Steelers making a drive when Chad Greenway intercepts Roethlisburger!!  Way to go Greenway!!  Rudolph gets his first catch of the year, and is thrown down by the defender, he gets flagged, and then Cassel makes a beautiful toss to Jennings for a TD!!

Steelers drive, and Fred Evans gets his hand on the ball and tips it.  Excellent play!  Very next play Greenway sacks Roethlisburger!  I am really very pleased with THIS defense.  I would looove it if they turned up every time.  Haha.

Sigh, the Steelers force a three-and-out.  We can't get complacent!  This is the NFL, not the NCAAF!  Hell, I wouldn't get complacent right now even in the NCAAF.  They make a stupid holding penalty during the return and will get 10 yard penalty and start on the 30.
And now they've made two big completions in a row, see this is what I was afraid of.  Come ON Vikings, let's force a stop!!

Blair Walsh missed a FG.  WTF.

And now the Steelers are looking like they might pull this one out.  EXACTLY what I have been afraid of.  COME ON DEFENSE!
Steelers got a FG.

So we need to score on this drive, and eat up as much clock as humanly possible.

Wow.  Couldn't type during that.  We didn't score and somehow, by the grace of the Football Gods we sack Roethlisburger and Williams comes up with the football.

The Vikings have won the game.

Rumor has it

Rumor has it that the Vikings are thinking about trading Adrian Peterson.  I want to smack whoever started it if it's just a foul rumor, and if there's a grain of truth I want to smack the FO.  Yeah it worked out with Percy Harvin, but that a) was once in the way and b) Peterson is a LOT of our offense.  The Browns may have slaughtered us after trading their star runningback but correlation is not causation boys.

Goodbye Ponder. Goodbye Frazier.

I would say it's been nice knowing you, but that would be a lie.

Well, that's not entirely true.  Frazier did a good job after we were liberated from Chilly-ball.  And as a Gator, I looooved seeing Ponder freeze and die for the Noles.  But as a Viking, who was overjoyed when a 3-13 team turned into a 10-6 team, followed by a lovely draft I WILL NOT ENDURE AN ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC 0-3 START!

Especially when London is coming up and the only people who think we're going to win in London are highly beloved by Vegas bookies.

You know, I missed most of this game and consider it a blessing from the Football Gods that I didn't have to suffer as much as I would have otherwise.

I don't know if Frazier and Ponder are really gone; that's just my initial reaction.  But I'll bet you dollars to donuts that unless we go 8-8 this year or better (HA HA) one or both of them is gone.  No one on the injury list today was huge - except Chris Cook - and this style of play AT HOME...I'm sorry it's just inexcusable.  The offense can't pass the check to the defense like that, and if our defense is going to be stuck on the field 60% of the time we need to up their conditioning immediately.

I don't know if Cassel will solve a single problem we have, but I'm starting to get very interested in finding out.  (Word on the street is the Vikings are interested in drafting McCarron from Alabama...oh Football Gods, give me enough grace to endure!!)  I also wonder if throwing McLeod Bethel-Thompson would be a good idea...and then I remember Aaron Rodgers sat for what four, five years behind FavRE?  I'll let him sit.  (Not that I'm convinced he's a Rodgers.  But I know our staff thinks there's something special about him.)

Erin Henderson just said in an interview, "Just pretty much anger and disappointment right now."  That's exactly how I feel.

Chiefs are 3-0

Yeah.  I have nothing more to say, other than: hot DAMN!  They only had two wins last year!  What a turnaround!!


Also, can we copy them??  I'd love to turn around and kick some ass like that!  SKOL!

Home Game Thoughts

I'm glad it's finally a home game - we do play best at home.  But will we be mad enough to trounce the Browns?  Or will we think, "Oh it's the Browns.  We'll trounce them even if we go out and get trashed the night before?"  Because I can promise you bro, we can't beat anyone if we go in there thinking how easy it'll be.  Especially since I hear the Browns have a pretty rough defensive front seven.

Kevin Williams is healthy.  This pleases me.
Brandon Weeden is out for the Browns.  This...well, honestly, I don't even know what to think.  I prefer having someone we have tape on.  But this "Hoyer" I know nothing about.  I had to look him up, and apparently he spent three seasons with the Patriots, and then moved on to Pittsburgh and Arizona last season.  Just one career start and from Michigan State?  That can mean absolutely anything.

I keep reminding myself that in '08 we started 0-2 and won the division.  But we are going to have to turn around and FAST to get there.  Fortunately, all the NFCN is so good this year, there will probably be a lot of conference away losses from everyone, which might give us a good shot at the wildcard or maybe (in my wildest dreams) the divisional slot.

Also, some of our issues did come from serious turf slop at Chicago.  I'm willing to bet some of the spills - noticeably Peterson's 10 yard gaffe in the redzone when he tried to reverse - came from turf that was soaking wet and had been played on the night before.

Anyway let's pull our socks up and get ready for a big week of football!  SKOL!

Thinking about the Bears

Really, all I could come up with from that game yesterday was "we never gave up" and "Ponder looked decent after that pick-six".

It's terribly frustrating when we have so many fantastic players - Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, Brian Robison, Kevin Williams, Kyle Rudolph, John Sullivan, Harrison Smith, etc etc.  And rookies too - Cordarrelle Patterson, Xavier Rhodes and Sharrif Floyd are all kicking ass and taking names, despite some minor injuries!

What IS it we're doing wrong?  The playcalling comes in for a huge portion of the blame, and some of the players are quitting here and there, which causes some crucial mistakes - see Chris Cook giving up on that last touchdown the Bears scored, and one or two of the WRs giving up on their routes leading to interceptions.  But can that be IT?  Adrian Peterson's fumble and Christian Ponder's INT were huge...but Peterson seems to have a banged up hand (should've carried it in the other one man) and Ponder's INT was a stupid bloody throw but not entirely his fault.  Ponder DOES need to start scanning the field, noticing guys who GET open who weren't ALWAYS open, and to STOP STARING DOWN RECEIVERS!!  Our receivers can't quit on their routes.  We need to give Patterson some more touches.  We need to stop running Peterson 3 times in a row and then getting a 3rd and 6 and not converting. 

I don't know if we can go to the playoffs this year.  I really don't, and this offseason, I thought we could.  It's very upsetting.  I hope I'm wrong and we streak through this season in a blaze of glory.  But I just don't see how we'll do it if we don't get rid of these mental mistakes, STUPID penalties, and bad playcalling.

SKOL!!

Vikings at Bears 9/15/13

Hello boys and girls, it's been a tough week for me and when this game is over it'll be time to get back to work.  Grad school is no joke!

I missed the first quarter or so of the game, but congrats to Cordarrelle Patterson for his 105 yard kickoff return for a TD.

I started watching just when Jared Allen strip-sacked Jay Cutler, and Brian Robison returned it 61 yards to tie the game at 14-14.  Then Devin Hester with his 70ish yard return, and then Everson Griffin tips the ball and Kevin Williams intercepts in the end zone.

Peterson's run keeps the drive alive, and then Ponder makes the most boneheaded throw of the weekend, and Chicago returns the interception for a touchdown when there was an OPEN RECEIVER FIVE YARDS AWAY ON THE 50 YARD LINE.  I'm no fan of calling for the quarterback's head, but this is pissing me off.  We're squandering the best years of Adrian Peterson's career here, and we can't keep apologizing and waiting for Ponder to sack up.  Something HAS to give.  I've been a loyal fan since the first Vikings' game I saw in September 1994, and I will continue to be, but I am going to speak up when crap of this magnitude is going down.

To be fair, Simpson did quit on that play.  But still. A LOT of that is on Ponder, especially when there was a wide open guy with nothing but 50 yards of grass between him and the endzone five yards away.  STOP STARING DOWN YOUR RECEIVERS PONDER, YOU'RE NOT A ROOKIE ANYMORE.

And Adrian Peterson FINALLY has a big run!!  Apparently he just hit 9,000 yards in his 91st game, the 3rd fastest guy to reach that mark.

OMG my feed dies the second Rudolph rips a ball away from Major Wright (a Gator alum) and scores a TD!!!  WTF at least I can hear even if I can't see...oh life...you are astoundingly irritating sometimes.

So my feed is still gone, but the Vikings make a STUPID bloody penalty and I can't believe we gave them life when their drive stalled.  And they take us to halftime with a whole minute left??  DAMN YOU FOX SPORTS AND YOUR CRAPPY FEED!!

And the Vikings make a FANTASTIC goal line stand and hold the Bears to a field goal despite them being on the 1.  Halftime score 24-21.  I'm okay with that.  We need to kick some ass in the second half though.

Second half has started, and we don't let Hester have a huge return!  Hooray!  A little extracurricular activity down there, but the Vikings got out of the way quickly and no flags thrown.  And then we allow Cutler to pick up a 15 yard toss.  GRR.
BOOM and Jared Allen stops Forte on the reverse for an 8 yard loss.  That is what I like to see!!  Pressure on Cutler, but we don't get to him in time to stop him making a 12 yard pass to Forte.  Bah.
Ooooh and Robison hits Cutler and nearly gets him picked off...too bad whoever that was couldn't get it.

Ponder makes a daring scramble on 4th and 1 to get a first down, and then Adrian Peterson fumbles.  Let's see if the refs think his knee was down...I can't tell from the replay, it goes too fast for my tiny screen.  It was a fumble.  BAH.

Defense holds CHI to just one yard in that 3-n-out, and we fair catch at the 8.  Not bad, D!!

Cordarrelle Patterson with a nice little catch.  I'd like to see some more of him, based on what I've seen so far.  Hope the staff knows what they're doing, limiting him to 5 snaps last game.  Gerhart gets a 1st down on his first carry of the season!  Good for him.

Jarius Wright WIDE open down the field and Ponder never even looked at him, threw an incompletion in the middle of the field.  Sigh.  Then a BEAUTIFUL pass to Simpson in the face of a blitz on 3rd and 7!  Why can't THAT Ponder just be the one on the field at all times?!  (P.S. Very nice Simpson, very nice indeed.)
WHEW, that review proved the pass was incomplete and the Bears did NOT "recover a fumble" in the endzone.  Now we can try for a FG and tie it up.  What a relief!

And Harrison Smith with a BEAUTIFUL interception!!!  Oh man, I'm glad we got him for sure.

This Vikings' drive is pretty damn good so far, Ponder ran for a first and they gave it to him, the NOSE of the football just over the marker, and the Bears are challenging the spot.  We'll see.

Small note is that SEVEN different guys have catches right now, which makes me very happy.  I do enjoy when we have enough (good) receivers that we can spread the ball around.  Makes it tougher for the other defense too.

So they overturn it (STUPID if you ask me), we go for it, get the 1st, and then Peterson trying to reverse the field loses 13 yards.  Oh boy.  At least we're resting the defense, right?

And the field goal is GOOD, and we have the lead!  WHEW!  Let's see what happens in the last 8:05...

LATROY GUION STEALS THE BALL FROM FORTE AT THE 47 YARD LINE!!!

Wow and a crazy catch by Simpson, I can't believe he got that.  WOW WHAT A CATCH BY JENNINGS!!  He got fucking sandwiched but he held onto it in the redzone!

We get stopped at the goal line, and Walsh's field goal makes it Vikings lead 30-24.  Well, defense, we're all looking at you.  Oof, this is a stressful last few minutes!  According to Twitter, it's pouring out there, so maybe it'll make things harder for the offense?? I'm hoping so! LOL

What a tip by Xavier Rhodes!!  Saved a TD I'm sure!  And the Bears hold, so they're pushed back 10 yards, still 1st down.  SHIT great play by the Bears.

And the Bears score.  They're up by one and we have 10 seconds.  Let's see.  And we fumble and Bears get the ball.  That's that.  Final Bears 31 - 30 Vikings

You know, this was a solid game.  Ponder tried.  He did well except for going conservative on that last drive.  And that interception.  I'm not as depressed about Ponder as I was.  I'm pissed at Peterson's fumble, but he seems to have a hurt hand so that may not be carelessness.

The defense did really well except for that last drive - Chris Cook I'm officially peeved at you for getting confused on the goalline like that - and they scored a TD, stripped two footballs, and made two INTs, so that would generally be a very successful day.

This was a crazy game, no denying that.  But we have got to stop with the stupid mistakes!  Thank goodness, we didn't seem to be in much penalty trouble today, but we can't give up big gashing plays because they lead to field goals!  If the Bears didn't have that FG at the end of the 1st half, we would've won.  Think about that.

My brain is too mixed up from a ghastly weekend (being an Aggie and a Viking this week has been no fun - thank God the Gators didn't play) to think clearly.  I'm going to sit back a few hours and see if anything emerges from the fog.

SKOL!

Vikings at Detroit Recap

Well boys and girls, the Powers That Be did not see fit to air the game down here in Texas, and I've been told by a dozen people I'm lucky I didn't have to suffer through it.

I have been informed by enough people to make it credible that Ponder looked awful and the only reason he hasn't been mobbed and torn to pieces was from the sheer brilliance of Jerome Simpson's and Greg Jennings' catches.  Apparently a fumble credited to Peterson was really Ponder's fault (this one I'm not so sure of...I still remember that ghastly NFC North championship when Peterson fumbled in the redzone), and Ponder had three other turnovers (INTs) all to himself.

Last night as I checked twitter before going back to my thesis, I saw a quote from Colin Kaepernick, stating that if the other team's gameplan was to intimidate him, they'd need a new plan.  THAT is the attitude I want from Ponder.  He's a third year quarterback this year and he still looks lost in the pocket, underthrows, and stares down receivers before throwing late over the middle?  I've never been a fan of calling for the QB's head after a single bad game...but Ponder, your seat is a little hot honey.  Also, Bill Musgrave is definitely coming in for a portion of my censure.  If Ponder can't execute, you have to find something that he CAN execute. 

I wonder how much of our problems came down to DT Kevin Williams being out with a sore knee...and Suh's little effort on John Sullivan's knees.  We NEED a better defense - having REGGIE BUSH of all people running all over us...please excuse me while I go puke.

I wonder how many of our problems came from conditioning...did we get tired in the end of the game?  We were within 3 in the 3rd quarter and then we lost by 10? 

I suffered enough on Saturday, watching the Gators' humiliating loss to Miami - turns out Jeff Driskel sprained his knee during the game and kept playing and is now on crutches (I am not sure I like that he was allowed to continue with a sprained knee, even if his backup is greener than new grass)...our Vikings NEED to get themselves in order and start WINNING!

My dreams of 10-6 and a playoff spot aren't looking good now.  But I've been a loyal fan since 1994 and I'm going to keep on being a loyal fan.  It would just be a lot easier if Ponder had some faith in himself...or his teammates.

SKOL!

Vikings' Practice Squad

The Vikings have officially signed 8 guys to the practice squad:

Travis Bond (G) - 6'6", 329
Everett Dawkins (DT) - 6'2", 292
Chase Ford (TE) - 6'6", 245
Kevin Murphy (T) - 6'7", 295
Tristan Okpalaugo (DE) - 6'4", 260
Bradley Randle (RB) - 5'7", 190
Rodney Smith (WR) - 6'6", 219
Adam Thielen (WR) - 6'3", 200

On IR/PUP we have only
Greg Childs (WR) - 6'3", 217

On reserve "left squad" we have
Christian Ballard (DT) - 6'4", 283

And on reserve/suspension we have
Jerome Felton (RB) - 6'0", 246
DeMarcus Love (T) - 6'4", 315


I think Felton will stay once off suspension, but I can't see Love making the team after a lackluster offseason.  I guess we'll see.

SKOL!

Busy Bee

Sorry about the silence, I've been insanely busy with schoolwork.  I'll write a proper post tomorrow but for now, I just want to show off a little bit:

(I love me some fantasy football!)

SKOL!

Ex-Viking Tidbit

Chris Kluwe has been cut by the Raiders.  Says he intends to stay in shape and hopes he wins a roster spot soon.  More power to you, Kluwe!

SKOL

Vikings' Cuts Today!

First I've heard is (RB) Joe Banyard.  Tom Pelissero says he'll probably make the practice squad if he clears waivers.  I wish I could comment but of course I missed our 4th preseason game so I really don't know enough about him.

I'll update periodically as I hear more.  SKOL!

EDIT 1: Aj Mansour thinks it's likely Banyard will clear waivers and make the practice squad, for what that's worth.

EDIT 2: Antoine Winfield has been released by the Seahawks and a rumor is the Vikings' FO is interested...I'm SO torn...I want Winny back!  I want him to retire as a Viking!  But we have GOT to start making moves towards a Super Bowl run in the next year or two (Peterson isn't getting any younger no matter what a beast he is) and I don't know if taking on Winny and cutting a young guy would do that for us.

EDIT 3: (OLB) Tyrone McKenzie has been released.

EDIT 4: (TE) Colin Anderson is the third Vikings' player to be released.

EDIT 5: (TE) Chase Ford has also been released.  There goes one of my final 53 picks!!

EDIT 6: Brandon Keith (T) has been released.  Brian Hall also reported a "Stephen Nealy" released but we only have a Spencer Nealy (DE).

EDIT 7: Spencer Nealy was the released player.  Brandan Bishop (S) has also been released.  All the cuts have to be made by 5 pm Central time, so either they're waiting until the last second, or they're keeping them quiet for some reason.

EDIT 8: Antoine Winfield has informed the Seattle Seahawks he plans to retire.  I'm sad, but that's how this cookie crumbled.

EDIT 9: (WR) Stephen Burton has been cut. Color me surprised, I didn't see that happening.

EDIT 10: Final list is out: TE Colin Anderson, RB Joe Banyard, S Brandan Bishop, OL Travis Bond, CB Brandon Burton, WR Stephen Burton, DT Everett Dawkins, S Darius Eubanks, CB Bobby Felder, TE Chase Ford, OL Brandon Keith, DT Anthony McCloud, LB Tyrone McKenzie, OL Kevin Murphy, DT Spencer Nealy, DE D’Aundre Reed, WR Rodney Smith, WR Adam Thielen, DE Collins Ukwu were all cut.


Here's the final roster:
Quarterbacks:
Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, McLeod Bethel-Thompson

Runningbacks:
Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Matt Asiata, Zach Line

Wide Receivers:
Greg Jennings, Jerome Simpson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright, Joe Webb

Tight Ends:
Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson, Rhett Ellison

Offensive Linemen:
Matt Kalil, Charlie Johnson, John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco, Phil Loadholt, Jeff Baca, Joe Berger, Troy Kropog

Defensive Linemen:
Brian Robison, Kevin Williams, Letroy Guion, Jared Allen, Everson Griffen, Sharrif Floyd, Fred Evans, Chase Baker, George Johnson

Linebackers:
Chad Greenway, Erin Henderson, Desmond Bishop, Marvin Mitchell, Audie Cole, Larry Dean, Gerald Hodges, Mike Mauti

Defensive Backs:
Chris Cook, Josh Robinson, Xavier Rhodes, AJ Jefferson, Marcus Sherels, Harrison Smtih, Jamarca Sanford, Mistral Raymond, Andrew Sendejo, Robert Blanton

Kicker:
Blair Walsh

Punter:
Jeff Locke

Longsnapper:
Cullen Loeffler

(The bolded guys are the ones I left out in my mock final 53 that made it in after all.  Feel a little guilty about forgetting Cullen Loeffler.  But getting 8 wrong...I guess I need more practice.)

Ballard is on IR.  DeMarcus Love is suspended.

That's all for now - SKOL!

Preseason Game #4 Preview

Hey boys and girls, we're playing the Tennessee Titans at 7 pm, at home.  It hit me today that this is really the very last season in the Metrodome...and I never got to go there - other than to drive by it - when I still lived in Minnesota.  My father doesn't believe in attending live games.  He believes in a nice, comfy couch, your own spotless bathroom a few steps away, and your own gloriously chilled pre-stocked beer fridge.  Which is an excellent way to watch the games, but it's not the same as being there in person.

I have a prior obligation for tonight so I will probably miss most, if not all of the game (really bad timing on my part!) but here are a couple things I'm hoping will be addressed:

1) Ponder happy in the pocket: I mean HAPPY.  Setting his feet.  Scanning the field.  I do NOT mean happy feet!  I'm ok with him running (and sliding) when it's necessary, but it shouldn't be necessary that often.

2) Matt Kalil actually, you know, playing.  Wakey wakey!

3) Josh Robinson keeping up to his man and not getting burned by two steps every time.

4) NO STUPID PENALTIES

5) A decent scheme by Frazier.  Yes, this is preseason.  We do not open the playbook all the way.  But you know what?  Mix it up!  I saw a five-wide the other night and LOVED it.  Do that.  Do two-TE sets.  Do some more screens, some more play-action, some designed sneaks.  Try a couple trick plays, just for the heck of it!

6) An O-line that plays as a unit.

7) A D-line that gets to the quarterback.

8) Receivers completing their routes and NOT stopping halfway through.

9) Some work for Locke and the special teams unit.  Special teams can make or break you, and we need to put our finger on our #1 return guy.

10) Good tackling and field awareness.  No more injures because someone is distracted or aims incorrectly!

SKOL!

My Vikings' 2013 Final 53 Man Roster

Let me preface this by saying I am NOT in any way shape or form affiliated with the Vikings' association or that I have any insider information (I freaking wish).  This is just my educated guessing from what I've seen over the past seasons, this offseason, and our three preseason games.  I may throw up a new one after the 4th game.  I may decide to keep this one.  But here goes!

1. Christian Ponder (#1 QB)
2. Matt Cassel (#2 QB)
3. McLeod Bethel-Thompson (#3 QB)
4. Adrian Peterson (#1 RB)
5. Toby Gerhart (#2 RB)
6. Matt Asiata (#3 RB)
7. John Sullivan (#1 C)
8. Chris Cook (#1 CB)
9. Xavier Rhodes (#2 CB)
10. Josh Robinson (#3 CB)
11. Brandon Burton (#4 CB)
12. Jared Allen (#1 DE)
13. Brian Robison (#2 DE)
14. Everson Griffin (#3 DE)
15. D'Aundre Reed (#4 DE)
16. Kevin Williams (#1 DT)
17. Sharrif Floyd (#2 DT)
18. Fred Evans (#3 DT)
19. Letroy Guion (#4 DT)
20. Jerome Felton (#1 FB)
21. Seth Olsen (#1 G)
22.  Jeff Baca (#2 G)
23. Blair Walsh (#1 K)
24. Chad Greenway (#1 LB)
25. Desmond Bishop (#2 LB)
26. Erin Henderson (#3 LB)
27. Marvin Mitchell (#4 LB)
28. Audie Cole (#5 LB)
29. Joe Berger (#1 OL)
30. Brandon Fusco (#2 OL)
31. Charlie Johnson (#1 OT)
32. Matt Kalil (#2 OT)
33. Jeff Locke (#1 P)
34. Jamarca Sanford (#1 S)
35. Mistral Raymond (#2 S)
36. Harrison Smith (#3 S)
37. Andrew Sendejo (#4 S)
38. Phil Loadholt (#1 T)
39. Brandon Keith (#2 T)
40. Kyle Rudolph (#1 TE)
41. Rhett Ellison (#2 TE)
42. John Carlson (#3 TE)
43. Greg Jennings (#1 WR)
44. Jerome Simpson (#2 WR)
45. Cordarrelle Patterson (#3 WR)
46. Jarius Wright (#4 WR)
47. Joe Webb (#5 WR)


48. Stephen Burton (WR)
49. Chase Baker (DT)
50. Chase Ford (TE)
51. Bobby Felder (CB)
52. AJ Jefferson (CB)
53. Michael Mauti (LB)


Yes, Michael Mauti is a homer pick.  We'll see how the rest look when Saturday rolls around!

One Last Preseason Game

So, we have one preseason game left (obviously) and I've been considering the San Francisco game and the cuts we made yesterday.  August 29th is a Thursday, and we have to make all the cuts to leave our final 53 on Saturday the 31st.  (And then I have three fantasy drafts Sunday and one Tuesday!!)

The #1 thing I walked away from the SF game with was, "We have work to do."  Yes, we went out there testing players, schemes, and just tweaking this and that.  SF came out looking to win the playoffs.  They are PISSED about that Superbowl loss and no mistake!  But we could've done much better.  We lacked on execution and we made some awful penalties that stalled drives and prevented any chance at scoring.  Josh Robinson stood out as making some bad decisions - there was one drive where he missed his man FIVE TIMES, once for the TD.  He was a good two steps behind his man on the TD play and we can't have that.  Not in the endzone.  Hell, I don't want that happening on their own 10 yard line!

Another bad thing about that game was the injuries.  Chris Cook went down with a groin injury that had better heal up yesterday.  Kevin Williams was hit by some youngster while unprepared and that knocked him out of the game.  Joe Looney needs to get fined, even though the NFL has already said the hit was legal.  AIM FOR THE CHEST BOYS!!  DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE SO STUPID YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GUY'S KNEES, HIS CROTCH, HIS CHEST, AND HIS HEAD!  Even a boxer who has been pounded to a pulp can tell where his opponent's head is in relation to his ass.  At least Jarius Wright's concussion seems to be clearing up.

And Jerome Felton has been banned for three games for a drunken driving arrest in 2012.  I just do not understand the NFL and their "regulations"...there is NOTHING regular about them that I can see!!

Everyone is saying Jeff Locke is such a huge positive from that game.  Yes, he had some good kicks.  But he also had a couple bad ones, and while I have no idea what this guy's temperament is, I'm not at all sure it's a good idea to be praising him to the skies when he clearly is a rookie with work to do.  Yes, I'm a bitch, but this is football, not Toddlers and Tiaras.

In squiffy news, Greg Childs is on PUP - he can't practice with the team for 6 weeks.  Then he's got three weeks to either join the 53 man roster, or get put on IR.  Do we take Webb and Burton and then toss one of them IF Childs gets better?  I'm thinking that's most likely...it'll be good for the team for them to duke it out on the field, and we'll get a better sense of who will be a lasting talent and not a flash in the pan.  Yes, I realize they're not rookies.  But you can't judge a rookie for longevity - not well anyway.  This is their year.  Although, with Burton standing like a deer in headlights in the middle of a run route and letting Ponder get intercepted...that has to count against him.  Webb's TD was nice, although it didn't rock my world.  I can only wonder what effect those two plays will have on playing time in the last preseason game?

Also Kalil looked either don't-careish, or hungover.  I don't know which it was and I don't know which one pisses me off more.  I'd like to see a big change in attitude this week!

In the good news department, Floyd is healing well.  Can't wait to see him on the field again, he was looking good before the knee injury.  Also, Greenway REALLY impressed me.  He was quiet and went out there and did his business, just the way he always has.  He's really improved over the past season or so, and I'm damn glad he's one of ours.  Bishop looked good too, and Felder was clearly straining every nerve to stand out.

Overall, it could have been worse, but we're going to have a rough season if we keep this "Oh, hey, is that a football?" kinda thinking going on.  My desired 10-6 is looking less likely, and as for a playoff "run"...we are going to NEED some leaders to step up and whip the team into shape.  Especially Leslie Frazier - why would you put Peterson in for two plays but never give him the ball?  San Fran knew exactly what to defend and you wasted a series!

Wasn't there a team one year that lost every preseason game and then went on to go 6-0?  I'm going to cling to that thought even though I'm not going to look it up...just in case.

SKOL!!

Viking cuts

Just a quick note about the thirteen players the Vikings have released today:

LaMark Brown - WR
Erik Highsmith - WR
Tyler Holmes - OG
Lawrence Jackson - DE
Marquis Jackson - DE
Stanford Keglar - LB
Greg McCoy - DB
Bradley Randle - RB
Chris Summers - WR
James Vandenberg - QB
Camden Wentz - C
Jerodis Williams - RB
Roderick Williams - DB

No surprise about any of the WRs (Burton and Webb are battling it out for the last slot for sure.  I've had it pointed out to me that if Webb were kept, he could be emergency #4 QB...meh.  I don't really want him switching around again, dude needs continuity.) or the DEs.  Floyd is doing well after "minor surgery" and I'm hoping Kevin Williams' knee is indeed just a bruise.  I'm so sick of chop-blocks!!  That guy - whoever he is - had better get fined.  (I'm looking at you Mr. "I'm fining RGIII for a t-shirt" Goodell!)

Don't know much about the OG or C, but I think we're comfortable with our vets at most of those positions so I'm not overly surprised there either.  Same goes for Vandenberg.  Ponder is #1, Cassel #2, and #3 is McLeod Bethel-Thompson.  Vandenberg had some nice looks, but he'll be a good fit for someone else's practice squad this year, I think.  Maybe some development will elevate him to someone's final 53.

Really, the only one that DID surprise me was Bradley Randle.  He was no great shakes at last night's game, but considering the carries he got, I was quite sure he'd come back for #4 and a final looksee.  I mean, was Gerhart really SO good we had to cut two RBs to give him extra looks for our last tune-up?  Only RBs on our roster now are Peterson, Gerhart, Asiata and someone named Joe Banyard.  I don't know how many RBs we'll keep though, not with our WR stable.  Peterson and Gerhart are a given, IMO, and Asiata might get a special teams slot...maybe.

SKOL!

Back in Business! Vikings at 49ers 8/25/13

Well folks, I'm mostly settled into my new place in College Station (go Aggies!) and I'm super excited to see my Vikings on tv for the first time this preseason.  Especially since we're playing against a good team - it's always fun to watch San Francisco.

First play of the game and Ponder goes deep...and misses.  Oy.  It's just preseason, right?  Still, we need to up our play action, so we might as well polish it now instead of waiting until the season actually starts. 

Adrian Peterson is out after two plays, but after all the ish that's gone down with the injury bug this preseason, I'm not complaining.  Let Gerhart light up the field.  I've always wanted him to do well, so his general quietness has not pleased me.

And Ponder loses the ball...WTF??  How did that happen??  Ah, it was stripped by a linebacker Loadholt let go by.  Jeez, I thought our line was doing better this offseason!  I mean, a bad play can happen to anyone.  But I'm afraid of sloppiness - #1 way to kill a good season before it starts. 

Happy to see Robison chasing down Kaepernick and not giving up on a bad play.  And Harrison Smith brings down the 49er behind the line of scrimmage...good man!  Happy to see him busting some ass, despite the sophomore slump curse hanging over his head.  LOVE the pressure on that 3rd and 11, and that my homeboy Kevin Williams knocked down that pass.  THAT's a classic Viking.  We didn't block the kick, but that's ok.  Blocked kicks are not everyday occurrences, The Cock Block of '06 to the contrary.

Cordarrelle Patterson only took the return to the 15...hmm.  Gerhart with a 4 yard run up the middle.  Not bad, wish he could've pushed a bit farther.  Ponder makes a nice little pass to John Carlson, no YAC.  Great tackling by San Fran, they're going to be a rough team to beat this season.  Jennings unable to catch a ball from Ponder, and it's a second 3 and out...this is irritating me.  Locke only gets it to the 42 as well, I hope this is NOT an omen for the rest of the season.

Back to defense...not a lot of pressure on Kaep, we're damn lucky that ball was too low and the receiver fell instead of catching it because he's in open field there.  Chris Cook with a great tackle, glad to see him following through with a play!!  49ers false start, and then Kaep's arm is hit and the ball falls to the field.  Thank goodness for our defense!  Brian Robison is getting in some faces, which is much appreciated by this weary fan.  Not sure I'm in love with the man coverage, but it seems to be working thus far.  Beautiful kick by their punter!

Love the skippy little run by Bobby Felder!  Someone wants to be on the final 53!!  Cordarrelle makes a nice catch in the backfield, but only gains 4 before he's wrapped up and dragged down.  Still, as I remind myself constantly, he did junior college for two years and achieved success in the SEC in just one, so it's another big leap for him.  3rd and inches after another short screen pass by Cordarrelle...OMG Gerhart dragged down way behind the line of scrimmage!  Shitty playcall, and shitty execution.  At least this punt went to the 15 yard line.  Not happy with the offense I'm seeing right now.  Kalil needs to get himself in order.

A small run and then a huge one.  What's with the holes, Defense???  Nice deflection by Jamarca Sanford to save a huge pickup by Kaep.  Whew!  Then a second strangely bad INC by Kaep...is he ok?  Or just not used to these new WRs?  And Kaep is getting into a rhythm, this isn't good.  Oy, I thought we were going to force a punt!  Come on Vikings!  Well...at least our players are getting to the receivers quickly, and not allowing TOO much YAC.  But I don't like this rhythm we're allowing.  Kaep was 1-7 and  now he's 4-4.  At least we stuffed that run, thank you Desmond Bishop.  Beautiful slant gets them to the 5, at least Robinson saved a TD by tackling him at the catch.  SHIT a really beautiful TD catch by Quinton Patton.  I couldn't quite see who was covering him...but he was a couple of steps off.  Kaep 6-6, bah.  At least four of those catches were made to Josh Robinson's assignment, and you can bet Frazier is going to have something to say about that.

2 1/2 minutes left, let's see the Vikings 2 minute drill!
AJ Jefferson runs it back to the 22.  Gerhart picks up three...I'm starting to wonder about his strength.  Surely our trainers are working with him on this?  BEAUTIFUL pass Ponder to Jennings!  So glad to see Jennings connecting with Ponder, let's get a rhythm going here!  Gerhart picks up another three.  Is this design or weakness?  Great attempt by Stephen Burton to get a one-handed catch, but Ponder pump-faked instead of letting it go, and he aimed too high in his hurry.  3rd and 7 and Ponder runs for the first, but there's a flag...nice blocking by Rudolph...SHIT Kalil makes unnecessary roughness penalty, at least we keep the first.  I HATE sloppiness! 
Gerhart picks up two...why are we not throwing the ball?  According to Twitter Patterson rolled his ankle...ahhh not what I wanted to hear!

Ponder with another run, pleased that he at least slid to a finish instead of diving headfirst.  I remember all the trouble we Gators had with Chris Leak and Tim Tebow not sliding to save themselves.  Ponder finds Simpson to convert on a third and long!!  Wow!!  Let's keep THAT up boys!  Ponder actually looked comfortable on this 11 yard toss to Gerhart...I'm feeling a little hopeful!  A happy Ponder in the pocket would do wonders for our offense.  Handoff to Matt Asiata with a nice little run, but there's a flag...MATT KALIL I'm going to KICK YOUR ASS!!!  I may be a 5'6" girl with more flab than muscle, but I will find a way...Frazier, please work your coaching magic...I see him talking to Kalil who has been pulled out, so that's good.

Nice run by Gerhart, negated by a holding by Loadholt.  I HATE SLOPPINESS!!  VIKINGS, DO YOU HEAR ME?! 

John Carlson picks up five with a nice catch in coverage.  Very relieved we're finally going to our TE's.  I've been praying for two-TE and five-wide sets for many years now...hoping we see some soon.  Finally Stephen Burton gets a catch!  Not deep enough though, and our punting unit is on.  You know, without those penalties we could've marched down the field.  Locke and #24 combined to down the ball at the 2 yard line, good job special teams!  According to the Vikings.com player roster that's AJ Jefferson.  Guess he's really after that 53 man spot too!

49ers on offense again, with Colt McCoy as QB, and Greenway is going hard to his targets.  Silver lining, I guess.  Nice spin moves by James who eludes three tackles that way.  Vikes need to work on that.  Thank goodness, 9ers dropped another pass.  McCoy throws into double coverage and his guy makes the catch, we have GOT to work on stripped and batting down passes.  We are in a pass-heavy league this year...and we let James bust up the middle for 9 yards.  Why can't Gerhart do this?  And we finally take down a flustered McCoy.  McCoy took off and just slipped by Jared Allen...I hope Allen's shoulder isn't paining him, it's not like him to miss like that.  Heard Fred Evans' name for the first time all night, good to see him take down McCoy.  And GREENWAY with the interception and takes it to the 28 yard line!!  WOOHOO!!!  LIGHT AT LAST!!

Vikings' ball, and Gerhart gets another catch back to the line of scrimmage.  Are we just passing to all our RBs now?  Serious question bro...and then a beautiful run by Gerhart up the middle!  I need to see the replay to see who ripped that hole for him...hm, looks like three guys including 71.  But a good play.  Gerhart again, but he's tripped up and only gets a yard.  Ponder runs out of bounds, didn't see if all his men were covered due to the camera angle.  Looks like Patterson was pretty open...oof.  3rd and 7.  And it's a FIVE WIDE!!  Pass incomplete, but there's a flag and it looked like PI to me - and it is!  Since it was in the endzone the ball is at the one yard line now?  Nice!  Jennings with a beautiful play, he totally drew that foul.  Beautiful floating pass to Zach Line, never did I think I'd like an SMU player!  But he's got our first touchdown of the game, congrats Mr.  Line!!

Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press just tweeted, "It took 10 possessions for Vikings first-team offense to score first TD after Greenway interception gave them short field."  Oh...that is depressing.

You know what's more depressing?  Hawkings going 105 yards to return the punt for a TD, but there's a flag on the 4 yard line...no, just taunting, it counts.  Bah.  Okay, special teams need work too.

And Chris Cook is out with a groin injury.  I hope it's just a pull, nothing serious.  We need him!  We need all our playmakers!!

AJ Jefferson takes the punt back to the 35 yard line.  Not bad.  Would've loved a TD there, but our offense definitely needs the work.  Asiata with a little run, not bad.  If he hadn't hesitated, or maybe juked left, he could've gotten a couple more yards, I think.  UGH and Ponder is picked off on a deflected pass.  It was a pass to Burton too, this is not doing good for his chances for that spot he's battling for.  Speaking of, I haven't seen Joe Webb at all, and it's a common consensus that Webb and Burton are rivals for the "last spot"...interesting.

McCoy's pass dropped, but the second one caught just short of the first.  Think it was Quinton Patton again.  See a flag - shit it's on us again.  Robinson!  You are really putting your spot in jeopardy!  God damn, I miss my boy Winfield!  Great tackle by Greenway making a stop behind the line of scrimmage.  He's such an underrated player.  I appreciate you bro! 

WHAT THE HELL McCoy ballet danced past FOUR Vikings defenders only to be finally dragged down by Audie Cole.  Good job Cole!
McCoy's pass was wayyy over his receivers' head - and their kicker makes a 40 yard FG.  Oh, there's a flag, and it's on the offense holding.  (Thank goodness it wasn't us.)  10 yards, let's see if he can make it from 50.  And it's good again.  I would be jealous, but Blair Walsh is a pretty darn good kicker in his own right, from what I saw last season.  Let's hope he can at least rival Phil Dawson in all categories.

Burton back to return the punt, tripped up on the 18.  Oh well.  Asiata gets to the 20.  I'm not liking these tiny runs, but halftime it is.  Why not go deep there?  No reason not to, we're losing 20-7 anyway.  Hoo boy.

Started cooking at halftime, not done so less commentary for second half.  Kevin Williams gets injured, but at least he walked off the field under his own power.  We stop LaMichael James on 3rd and 31, which is good, because we made some epic screw-ups on downs like that last season.

Ponder isn't playing next game, so he's still in now.  He's done some scrambling and has another first.  Looking more comfortable in the pocket, Simpson gets a 6 yarder to get a 2nd down and 4.

Kevin Williams seems to have a sprained and/or bruised knee and a "smile on his face" according to Aj Mansour of KFAN.  As long as it's not serious!

And we have a Kyle Rudolph sighting!  At least it's a catch, and a first.  Seeing a lot of Asiata right now.  Man, that was a nasty way to treat Stephen Burton!  Good thing they flagged the guy for helmet-to-helmet, Burton was held and hit...I'm just glad his neck is okay after looking at that replay!

Ponder stayed in the pocket AND Burton caught it inside the 10!!!  Beautiful!!  Just what I've wanted to see!

Joe Webb catches a TD - first time I've seen him all night - and then a flag comes in!  OY!!  Oh it was on the defense - a facemask - so our TD is good!  Good for Webb!

49ers moving well again, grrr, and a Viking is down.  This is the worst part about preseason!  49ers are really looking good.  This is frustrating.  I must say I'm surprised McCoy is still in, maybe he'll stay with them after all?  Who knows.

Ponder being interviewed, saying "there's a lot of room for improvement"...yeah, I agree.  He seems to be taking responsibility, which is encouraging.  I'm hoping for you dude, no matter how much I may rip you when you piss me off.

And a stupid penalty by Rhodes.  Head, meet desk.  We're finally getting a little tackling going, but we're letting the 9ers have their way, which I do not appreciate.  And another 49ers TD that was pretty much a foregone conclusion.

49ers punt and the Vikings' own McCoy comes out to the 23 yard line.  Not bad, because he tripped a little about 10 yards back, I'm glad he recovered.  Cassel in now.  Pass too high and incomplete.

Love Jared Allen shutting down that bloody reporter, "How disappointed are you they haven't made a move to extend you?"  stupid, muck-stirring!!  Jared Allen will earn another contract, and he'll have fun doing so.  At least, that's how I see things.  His DOWN season was 12 sacks.  How many guys think 12 sacks is a GOLDEN season?!  LOTS!!

And Cassel gets sacked by a rookie out of San Jose State.  Really?

How many fans are going to be on the field?  And why do they go to those overhead shots when they are?  To make sure the fans aren't rewarded by being on tv?  I guess that makes sense.

49ers get the ball back.  BJ Daniels is QB...USF huh...Was he the one who had those wins my sophomore year and everyone said USF would crush UF and then they suffered a dozen humiliating losses?  I think it was something like that.  Hahaha extra cops on the field now so the game can go on.  That's funny!!

Good reception by Collie, Bobby Felder is on him, but takes awhile to drag him down.  McCloud is back and looking good despite going down earlier in the game.  Hawkings is looking incredible.  This irritates me.  Daniels is really looking quite good, but the 49ers 3rd string line is much better than USF's first string.  I can't emphasize enough how important it is for a quarterback to have a good line he feels comfortable with.

Michael Mauti is in!!  So happy for him!  I do hope he performs well and makes the team.  I want a leader like him on the team.  Daniels struck down by Desmond Bishop - why is he still in? - in the redzone.

Another 49ers TD.  This is really getting sad.  33-14 is not how I hoped this game would go.  4:12 left...I hope we can score to ease the pain a little.

Bradley Randle returns the punt.  No idea who he is.  Not a bad return, but not a great one either.  49er tips the ball and a Viking Chase Ford comes up with it!  Very nice!  Play carefully Cassel...nice run there, picks up the first.

Bradley Randle gets a first and we're at the two minute warning.  And that series was a waste.  49ers put in Wallace who gets nowhere with 66 seconds on the clock and that's the game.

I'll post this now, and write another post later once I've had time to think it over. 

SKOL!

One Word Reaction to Tonight's Game

BAH!

Temporary Absence

Hey boys and girls, I'm sorry I've been quiet recently but I'm moving on Sunday so I'm very busy and haven't been keeping as on top of the Vikings as usual.  I'm hoping that by next Monday I'll be 100% back on my game and ready to talk about the team in-depth again.  So for now, just a couple of notes:

The Vikes play tomorrow night at 7 pm ET at Buffalo, and I'm interested to see how that goes.  EJ Manuel is supposed to get the start, and I'm interested to see how his former teammate Xavier Rhodes matches up against him.

We lost Jerome Felton for at least this week and probably the rest of the preseason to an emergency appendectomy.  What is it with appendixes?  First the Gators' Jeff Driskel, and now Felton!  Who is next?  I just hope Ponder, Muschamp, Frazier, and the other more integral cogs of my teams have already had theirs out!!

Despite us having one game in the books, I'm still completely at sea about how our secondary will look this season.  I'm furious about losing Winny, and I don't know that even an improved Cook and Robinson will really do what we need out there.  I'm hoping Rhodes really lights up at some point in the season (preferably early on) because we don't have a huge superstar there other than him.  Are we keeping Sherels if Patterson is so good at KR and PR?  Is Sendejo going to show up well in regular season or is he just a flash in this preseason's pan?  Is Mistral Raymond, with his injury history, going to make the final 53?  The secondary is what I'm most concerned about.  No way we make my desired 10-6 and the playoffs if we don't have a solid secondary that can at least present a half-dozen pass breakups per game, not even counting interceptions.

Mankato camp is over, and the gear is returning to Winter Park while our players are settling in their hotel rooms in Buffalo for the weekend.  I think we've had quite a successful camp, although my suspicions are roused by the extreme praise of the offense and a rather lukewarm commentary on our defense.  We're the Minnesota Vikings.  Defense is our thing.  Don't get me wrong, no one will dance for joy more than I if Ponder really does click with the o-line and our receiver corps, but we canNOT ignore defense.  Not when we play in the NFC North!  I'm watching the Bears - Chargers game right now, and the Bears are having a ball out there.  No way we go 2-0 against them with minimum effort.  I'd have an easier time getting enough $$ to buy myself a Maserati!!  (N.B. Most grad students earn $19,000 a year.  IF we're lucky.)

The news about the Wilf audit is worrying, but worrying won't do anyone any good.  I just hope it's all a load of crap and blows over quickly.  GAH!

Saw an article about Kenechi Udeze and how happy he was to be an intern coach for the Vikings.  I'm glad he got to come back as a coach, and that he had a good experience.  He was one of my favorite players and I was devastated when he got cancer.  So relieved he managed to recover!  I really hope the cancer doesn't come back.  He's doing so much for other cancer patients and survivors and he really is the kind of class act and inspiration every team needs.  I was also amazed (and psyched) to find out that his favorite restaurant is Yang Chow in LA.  Holy moly, I love that place, and clearly should've gone more if the likes of Kenechi Udeze and Matt Cassel hang out there!!  Anyway, I hope he still has a job at Seattle or gets picked up somewhere soon.  Guy's a champ and deserves his chance.

That's all for now.  SKOL!

Gator Byte

As I'm sure you all know, as an alumna of the University of Florida I'm a rabid Gator fan, and today we received some highly distressing news.  Andre Debose, our #1 WR and starting kick returner is out for the season with a torn ACL.  I asked Chris Harry, one of the Gator beat reporters, if he'd apply for a medical redshirt, and he replied, "Not sure what he's thinking right now, but he can apply and there is plenty of precedent (one on UF team: Jeremy Brown)."

If I remember correctly, Jeremy Brown stayed on the team for six years, with two medical redshirts.  Hoping Debose can get a second redshirt (his first was his true freshman year with a hamstring) and come back next year.  He would be an asset as a leader on the team for this year while he's healing, and I honestly think it would serve a NFL career better for him to come back for one more year after the injury.  Look at Gator TE Cornelius Ingram, who tore his ACL and went straight to the NFL after his recovery...he hasn't been heard of lately, now has he?  Greg Childs, of course injured himself in his last season and was drafted anyway, and then hurt himself again in training camp, and was waived before returning to our IR.  This season is big for him, and with Debose's up and down career at UF, I don't know if he can risk pulling a similar move.

According to the press release, the injury happened while in pads but was NOT a contact injury.  While listening to the talking heads on Sportscenter this morning about the number of injuries this season and whether or not there are more than usual and what any difference can be attributed too, I started thinking.  It's true that every single year I say, "There have been more injuries this year than ever before!" and it's usually not true.  Injuries usually stay the same - or reasonably so - every year, it's just that we forget about it during the 6 months off.

Every single injury seems to have happened as a non-contact injury so far, even if they players were wearing pads.  (Which is good news for in-game injuries.)  I wonder what we could possibly do to reduce these "planting" injuries?  New drills?  Some sort of preventative muscle training?  A guy friend of mine was lifting with incorrect form, and nearly tore a ligament because he was developing the muscle incorrectly, and it took him months of lifting with proper form to have his muscles lie the way they were supposed to and let his ligament go back in place.  Perhaps some sort of carefully monitored training program to ensure strong muscles around knees, ankles, and other vulnerable joints could be developed?

I'm no trainer, and I transferred out of pre-med to archaeology after two years, so most of my anatomical knowledge is limited to the skeletal system...and that what I've learned from my own many sports injuries.  I have no idea if new drills or a new strength program would eliminate or even alleviate these rashes of injuries.  What I do know is that prevention is better than cure, and I'd love it if the NFL, NFLPA, and NCAAF worked together to try to understand why and how these injuries occur, and if anything can be done about them.

The Knee Epidemic

Okay boys and girls there is DEFINITELY a "knee flu" going around the NFL this year!  Eagles WR Arrelious Benn tore the ACL in his left knee during today's practice - and they released WR Dave Ball as well.  Guess they really  need Riley Cooper! 
AND it just came out WR Danario Alexander tore his ACL today too!!!  WR Jordy Nelson also underwent scheduled knee surgery today too.

 I checked out the NFL Injury list: http://espn.go.com/nfl/injuries and was shocked at how much is up already - Rashard Mendenhall has knee tendenitis, Ryan Williams has knee irritation, Dan Williams strained a ligament in his knee, Kevin Kolb has an injured knee, the list goes on and on.

And, not that I'm part of the NFL in any way, shape, or form (sigh...how lovely it'd be to part of the Vikings organization!), but I'm stuck on my bed with a twisted knee and I'm ridiculously pissed.  Grazed the heck out of it too, and getting the seven-hour-old grazes scrubbed with an iodine sponge was one of the more painful experiences in my life.  If it's not better by Sunday I'll go for a follow-up but it is feeling better, even just a day later, so that's something to be grateful about.

Vikings' injury report is stacking up - Jared Allen rolled his ankle, Harrison Smith twisted HIS knee (although he apparently jogged off the field to the doctor), Erin Henderson has a sore groin, Xavier Rhodes pulled his hamstring, Bishop and Ballard hurt their groins too, and Jefferson did his ankle too.  Hopefully we'll still have a good showing this Friday vs Houston.

SKOL!

WOW!!!

The Vikings have released LB Nathan Williams and re-signed LB Stanford Keglar!!  NEVER did I think that would happen after we released Keglar to pick up Bishop after the voluntary OTAs!!!  This time of year is so exciting!

P.S. Riley Cooper (former Gator) is back at the Eagles practice.  I don't condone what he said, but why is there no outrage about all those rap records that use that same word constantly?  Just wondering...I'm also AMAZED (and pleasantly surprised) that Michael Vick calmed down Marcus Vick and spoke so tolerantly to the media.  Dude must really have calmed down and matured after his own legal issues.

HOF Game: Overview

Well boys and girls, it's official - FOOTBALL IS BACK!!

The Dolphins' first play of the season was a fumble.  Is this an omen about who will NOT make the playoffs?  Who knows. 

The Cowboys get the first touchdown of the season, and they do it without Tony Romo.  I don't believe for a second that they're only sitting him to test out the new guys.  They've got some motive, although I can easily believe they're scared of the latest injury bug and don't want their #1 guy to be out half the season.

Holloman's pick-six was pretty funny too!

- got distracted from taking notes during the rest of the game, but I'll just say I liked what I saw, being a Vikings fan (lol) and I'm so ridiculously glad football is back!

Also, news just came out that Vince Young is trying out for the Packers tomorrow...dying with laughter over here.  That poor kid has had a tough row to hoe, and I can't imagine things'll be any easier in the land of cheese.

Vikings play in just a few days!!!!

SKOL!

HOF Game

IT'S ALMOST TIME!!  FOOTBALL IS ALMOST BACK!!!

The Home Stretch

It's AUGUST!  Preseason NFL starts this month, and college football pops up Thursday, August 29th!!!  (In that vein, Ole Miss at Vanderbilt is the only one I'm particularly interested in, although I'm hoping some of the scrub games are fun.  I mean, is anyone in any doubt as to how North Carolina vs South Carolina is going to end?!)

Sorry for my absence, but I've got an ear infection, an upper respiratory infection, and my headaches are back again.  Curled up on the couch now, going through reports on the Vikings' camp to see what I missed while in bed the past couple days.

So apparently Jerome Felton was out with a personal issue?  He's back now, so that's good.  From what I can tell the whole team turned up ready to practice, for which I am overwhelmingly thankful.  I can't say enough about the culture of responsibility Leslie Frazier & Co have cultivated in our program.

Frazier seems very happy with the progress of some of our key playmakers, and says Ponder's choices last season down the stretch were very encouraging, and that he's being constantly evaluated and critiqued by his staff.  Ponder's confidence is "at a high" right now, and Frazier seems happy with that.  What I'm happy with are the reports that Ponder is establishing a rapport with the o-line.  My biggest criticism of Ponder is that he would freak out in the pocket and run away...dude needs to pull a Brees and learn to trust his pocket, learn his o-line, and stay alert in case it collapses so he can get rid of the ball.

Matt Kalil has changed his diet so he can carry "healthy" weight, and is being coached carefully to continue to improve.  He has said he wants to be the best left tackle in the league, and if he's putting in the necessary work to get there, we'll be in clover.

Word on the street is Jarius Wright is impressing the coaches and the rest of the team both with speed and great catches that "should have been batted incomplete".  Since we had to lose Percy, I'm glad we have Jennings, Wright, and the rest of the WR corps stepping up.  Wright is a little undersized, but if he can catch the ball and run with it, I don't much care how big he is.

Xavier Rhodes is also getting a lot of attention.  The basic message is, he needs more practice, he needs more experience (for the NFL, the speed of the game, etc), but it's all there, and if he sticks around, he could be an integral part of this team.

Jay Glazer called Harrison Smith a stud.  I agree!

That's all for now, hope we have more good news after camp closes today.

SKOL!

Friday Night Football Thoughts

One thing to start with: today (the 26th) is Brandon Fusco's birthday!  Happy birthday Fusco, hope you had a great time :)

Well, back to football news, we're starting out with TWO guys on the PUP list, which is a very little bit sad.  Greg Childs (WR) is no surprise, but Nathan Williams (LB) is.  Apparently his ankle surgery went well, but the staff want him to take a little more time before he trots out on the field. 

As per practice, Cordarrelle Patterson struggled a  little in the beginning in windy conditions, but he showed some versatility and good route-running once he warmed up a little.

Desmond Bishop is rotating around at the LB positions, and seems happy with the organization and his opportunities to perform in several positions for us.  I hope he learns the schemes and gets familiar with these teammates quickly - let's not forget the man only signed with us in June and missed the OTAs and all that sort of thing.

The best thing I read all day was MICHAEL MAUTI PASSED HIS PHYSICAL!!  The training staff are happy with him, and the man hit the practice field!  Even if he doesn't make the team, I am so ecstatic for him to get to play for us, to do the preseason grind, and to get feedback from our coaching staff.  I barely know this kid - not personally, just as blogger fodder - but I keep feeling like he's really got some soul going on in there.  I love a player who is not only a killer athlete (and his PSU teammates attest to that) but is a fantastic leader as well.

Random note: I rather resent that one of our home games got moved to London this season - it's our last at the Metrodome!  Couldn't it be done NEXT season when we're camping out in the Gophers' stadium?

Anyway, that's all for now.  I'm all kinds of nervous for this year boys and girls - last seasons' 10-6 was a killer surprise after a 3-13 previous season, but Adrian Peterson's recovery is "old news" now, Ponder is entering even more killer scrutiny, and one or two of our more important players are getting older :coughAllenWilliamsLoefflerCasselcough:, and our WR corps is untested to say the least of it.  You may not be able to win the Superbowl - oh yes, Leslie Frazier went there! - in the offseason, but any coach will tell you that you can lose it there.


Other Teams:

#1 pick overall Eric Fisher agreed to terms with the Kansas City Chiefs for a 5 year deal.  I wonder how much money he'll make?  Apparently the #2 pick, Luke Joekel (I'm sure I've spelt that incorrectly) will make $300,000 more because of the fact there's no state income tax in Florida.  Do you know, I think I'll stay here for the rest of my life...LOL

Not only will the Seahawks have to do without Percy Harvin for awhile, the San Diego Chargers' 2nd round pick LB, Jonas Mouton suffered a torn ACL today and will be out for the season.  Poor guy, I hope he heals up quickly and can come back at full power!


SKOL!

First Day of Camp: Twitter Tidbits

Just a little collection of factoids from twitter, neatly gathered into one place for your Vikings' pleasure!

- Our only player opening the season on the PUP list is Greg Childs, although with two torn patellar tendons that's hardly surprising, even if his surgeries were last August.  Hope the workouts keep going well for him, for sure.

- Desmond Bishop is going to start at OLB for Vikings during camp and possibly preseason, apparently for his blitzing skills.  Let's hope Ponder doesn't get banged up!

- Greg Jennings "feels like a rookie" because there's a lot that's new around him.  I'm cautiously optimistic that this is a good soundbite.  Rookies strain every nerve to prove themselves, right? haha

- Adrian Peterson was NOT missing.  He just went to the team meeting and skipped the check-in.  Stupid, but maybe he was running late?  Also, Frazier said he'll be limited in the preseason.  Not surprising, since he's our real workhorse running back and knows the offense like the back of his hand.  Hopefully we'll see some flashes of brilliance from Gerhart, because frankly, I've been waiting for them.

- Jared Allen was wearing a cowboy hat.  Where is the mullet of epic magical powers?!

- Frazier said, "We really believe that you can win ball games in the offseason."  I love this man!  He also opened the team meeting with a message of "Hard Work"...yep, I definitely love him!!

- Cassel says the team has embraced him, and he's very excited to work with and compete against Ponder.  I can only pray that his leadership and experience will rub off on Ponder and whichever other QB we keep.  He's also very happy with the coaching staff, and excited to work with them, which makes me very happy.

- Jamarca Sanford seems to be tightening his grip on the safety position by becoming a real leader for the defensive corps, which is pretty freaking awesome.  If ever there was a place the Vikings needed more leadership on defense, it'd be at safety!  Especially with Winny gone...damn, I miss him already.


Other Teams:

- Percy Harvin is opening the season on the Seahawks' PUP list because of his hip...dammit, Percy, you missed like two games your entire UF career and you develop fragility now?!  What the hell kind of trainers do the Seahawks have?!  Also, it seems his hip may require surgery which is just awful.  Harvin may not be a Viking anymore, but you'll always be a Gator, and I'm going to pray he gets better fast!

- Falcons and Matt Ryan are close to agreeing on a 5 year, $100 million extension.  Holy moly, why was I not a boy?!  I'd love that kind of money!!


That's all for now. 

SKOL!

Vikings Quickie

Cordarrelle Patterson, Xavier Rhodes, and Sharrif Floyd all signed their contracts today!  Hooray!  From what I know about rookie contracts, they'll all be four-year contracts, and they may or may not have an option for the 5th year.

Today is also the first day of training camp, and Twitter is overflowing with images of the Vikings being ambushed for signatures on their way to check into camp.  Camp and all the football news that comes in is like eating dinner after fasting all day...haha so excited for the first reports to be released!!

SKOL!

Vikings' Question of the Day

Who are we going to end up with on our 53 man roster?  Who is a lock, who is a goner, and who is in the gray area?  Who will surprise us by staying on?  And who will shock us by being cut?

Michael Mauti I'm not sure about.  He's dedicated, a great leader, and a killer athlete BUT he's badly injured and rehabbing two ACLs at the same time is no joke.  Maybe we can keep him on PUP or IR for a year and see how he is next year?

From Jeff Baca's twitter feed he's working hard and he's definitely a stand-up guy.  But I don't know precisely how we're situated at guard, even for a 6'3", 302 pound baller.

I'm guessing Jeff Locke is a lock lol, as well as Ponder, Peterson, Rudolph, Jennings, Simpson, Allen, Greenway, Loadholt, Henderson, and our core group.

Guion, Loeffler, Felton, Webb, Sherels and Reed are questionable I think.  Still, we'll see in a few weeks.  Camp opens tomorrow!!

SKOL!

Quickie Note

Hey all, sorry for the silence.  I've been sick for a few days now, and am just now pulling myself back together. 

There hasn't been too much news going on in the Vikings' world, which is really good IMO.  Especially when my Twitter feed is full of football players who have been put on their respective IR & PUP lists, and those who have been dismissed due to undisclosed injuries.

Word on the streets is that Greg Childs' workouts are going incredibly well and the dude is 230 lbs now - he was 217 when we drafted him.  If that weight is muscle, and he retains his quickness and a good first step, dude could conceivably be a STUD in a season or two.  I've been arguing that while this IS essentially his rookie year, he's had a whole year getting to know our staff, been rehabbing with our trainers, establish a camaraderie with his playmates :coughPONDERcough:, and getting to know the playbook.  As long as he doesn't go so hard and so fast he jeopardizes his health, I think we might be able to expect a degree of Rookie Excellence from him.

Talking to my fellow Vikings' fans, the consensus that our final WR lineup will look something like this:
1. Jennings
2. Simpson
3. Wright
4. Childs
5. Patterson
Tie for last spot: Smith/Webb/Burton

Now, with Webb's improvement I wonder what will happen to Burton, who has apparently been wowing the staff in practice (did I not tell you that competition does wonders for team play?!).  Will we stick him at PR?  Call him an ATH?  Or will Webb be the one shoved into a different slot?  Will we eliminate an extra TE and put Webb there?  Burton?

I really don't know, and it's going to be something to watch for as the preseason unfolds.  Camp opens on the 25th!  Can't wait to get some inkling of what's going down.  Still, have no idea who really is going to go and going to stay until I see at least two or three of the preseason games.

SKOL!

ESPYS Overview

Adrian Peterson took home the "Best Comeback" and "Best NFL Player" ESPYS tonight, which is awesome and richly deserved.  Glad to see the Vikings getting recognized on a national stage!
What I really liked was his speech - giving recognition to everyone except himself, showing his personality, laughing, joking, and right at the end with his keynote - if you work your ass off, anything can happen.

But I can understand why the ESPYS are losing money  - the more I watch, the more I have no idea what's going on.  These joke skits are awful.  The one with the kids...what?  Just what?

At least the Robin Roberts piece about her winning the Arthur Ashe Courage Award is good.  Still, with someone so courageous, it'd be hard to screw it up.  Hopefully she continues to do well and stay healthy.  And her speech is wonderful.  So nice to see a woman who can really speak!  I think speech and debate needs to be a bigger part of education.  Being well-spoken can only be an asset, no matter what you do.  "Mine is one of the lives that has been saved"  oookay, tearing up.  What a wonderful woman!

ESPY Thought of the Day

Just a quick thought: maybe ESPN would stop losing so much money on the ESPYs if they stopped announcing half of the winners on the preshow red carpet.

Oh, and Ponder...stick to football. 

Is it Camp Yet?

The Vikings report to Mankato on July 25th, with the first practice on July 26th.  Camp will end on August 15th.

And preseason begins in 25 days!  August 9th, at home vs the Texans!  How can I bear to wait 25 more days?!  I really can't be lived with this time of year, I get utterly restless and pull out all my Vikings jerseys (except the autographed Harvin rookie jersey which I keep wrapped in plastic in my closet until I can afford to frame) and try them on, and go online and drool at all the other jerseys I simply can't afford but desperately want.  I think my next jersey HAS to be a Peterson one.  After that I don't know.  I have a Winfield one that I wear to bed (I ordered an XL, not realizing that it was a men's XL instead of a woman's XL, which turned out to be a lot more than one size too big!!), and an Allen jersey that actually fits, and of course the autographed Harvin one I can't wear.

Last night I was reading Emily of Deep Valley (for the sixth time) and this time I actually read the blurb in back and it turns out that Maud Hart Lovelace's beloved Deep Valley was actually Mankato, Minnesota!  That's just redoubled my desire to get there one day.  Of course, I'm sure it'll be massively changed.  But with Vikings every summer, and it being one of my favorite author's stomping grounds I'll be happy to see it anyway.

The NFL Supplemental Draft was last Thursday, and no one got selected.  Those guys are now free agents, so I guess we'll see if anyone picks them up during the summer merry-go-round.

Single game tickets will be sold starting tomorrow...why oh why am I not rich?  How I'd love to go up to Minnesota for a game or two - especially the last games at Mall of America field.  Maybe one day.  Just another reason to stay single and save my money I guess.  Why spend money on boys when I can spend it on football?

SKOL!

Back to the draft board

So yesterday I talked about our draft (is it September yet?) in general, and our three first-rounders in particular.  Today, having done a little reading, I want to talk about our later rounders.

Gerald Hodges - LB (4th round)
Says on his bio he did wrestling in high school, and started out as a safety in football.  At 6'1, 243 lbs, I can see why he switched to LB, and he seems to have done quite well at PSU.  106 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks his junior season with 109 tackles (8.5 for loss), a sack, and two interceptions his senior season.  Not bad!  I'll gloss over him being All Big Ten twice in a row, because as a SEC snob I don't think much of certain other conferences...haha
He's not really a big lineman, but hopefully his purported speed will be enough to mitigate his bad habits of getting locked into blocks and getting fooled by misdirection plays.

From what I saw in the six minutes of tape I watched on him (lol) he's tenacious, but can be fooled.  I'm fine with that.  Tenacity is hard to teach; the structure of the game much less so.  We have a good staff and good vets to mentor him.  

Jeff Locke - P (5th round)
Our new left-footed punting extraordinare is 6'0", 209 lbs, and a grad of UCLA.  He has a collegiate punting career average of 44.23 which makes him the #2 punter in UCLA history.  He was their punter for 4 years, so that's a solid average for sure, especially when you think about the strength differential between an 18 year old and a 22 year old!  He's an economics major and was on the Honor Roll so hopefully he won't squander his football money on pimpin' and hoes...seems to be a standup guy from what I read.  I'm glad, every team needs those, just as much as they need good athletes.

Jeff Baca - G (6th round)
At 6'3 and 302 pounds, I rather like this pick.  Everything I've read about him contains the word "tenacious" and Neuheisel - the UCLA coach - praises him too.  He'll need to get stronger, since he's pretty average size-wise, and apparently he can get suckered by misdirection too, but a bulldog in the 6th that's already overcome adversity (a broken ankle in 2011) is good value in my book, especially with our strength and training staff.  I mean, have you SEEN Adrian Peterson lately?  Dude is ripped!

Watching his tape I definitely see some missed tackles, but as I said, he's a 6th rounder, and I think we could get some good value out of the guy.

Blogger doesn't want to embed the video for some reason, so here's the link I looked at most:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVt6AQU6lU0


Michael Mauti - LB (7th round)

Mauti is another PSU alum, and has been extensively praised for his dedication to the university in hard times.  Apparently, he went around to every player and tried to convince them to stay and show that this team had nothing to do with the scandal, and be a rallying point to the shocked community.

He's had a torn ACL in both legs, as well as some other injuries, which is why he fell to the 7th, but he's called a "deeply instinctual" player, and has a good history of football players in his family.  He's strong and knows his fundamentals, so if he improves his speed and is more consistent, as well as avoiding injury, he could definitely prove to be a value pick.

Also, it's clear why he wears the #42 - he's got the meaning of life down pat.  Glad to have a guy with that kind of inherent leadership and strength on our team.

Travis Bond - G (7th round)

At 6'6, 329 lbs, I think it's clear to everyone why we chose this guy.  Apparently he was 370ish at one point, and his coaches suggested he lose a little, which is when he whittled down to 330ish, which I think is probably both healthier for him and better for his game.  What I read is that he's both powerful and has decent mobility for his size, as well as using his size to advantage in situations like piles and hanging onto a block.  (No penalties from you, mister!)
Due to his height he can apparently be a little slow to get his  hands up, and despite being mobile for his size, he's not truly quick.  I also see a couple mentions of attitude, but hopefully our staff can nip that in the bud fairly quickly.  The biggest questionmark about him is his lack of ball awareness, which is a bigtime minus.  But if he can improve that, then I'll say we all kinds of got a steal!

This is the best video I could find.  Bond is #76.

Everett Dawkins - DT (7th round)

6'2", 292 and also with a long injury history, Dawkins produced pretty well at FSU, especially considering their defensive depth.  The man is quick off the mark and definitely some claim to the title "explosive".  He understands the game and has a good grasp on when to stay put and when to start moving.  Fortunately for my Gators, he can get out of control and had overconfidence issues that lead to him making crucial mistakes.
In short, the man has potential, and we'll just have to see if the Vikings can develop it.  He also looks a little heavier than I remember, but I trust our staff will take care of that ASAP.

SKOL!