Well, unfortunately for Vikings-nation, my prognostications proved to be all too prophetic with the Vikings getting spanked 31-3 by the hated Packers, at home no less (I had predicted 36-13), and Head Coach Brad Childress was fired. Surprising?...eh?....no. It was the same ol', same ol', with dropped passes, turnovers, blown coverages, dumb penalties, in other words, the exact same thing we've seen all year. I believe that the Childress firing was apprpriate, and I did get the sense that this team had quit on it's coach, but I'm not ready to lay all of the blame on him. He certainly deserves his share of the blame however. Poor game planning, poor play calling, poor clock management, and really the defining problem with the Chilly-era, was a complete and total lack of ability to connect with and communicate with and motivate his players. Again, it's a fine line....he doesn't have to be everybody's buddy, but he came off as a very distant dictator, and like it or not, today's pro athletes are necessarily thrilled to be lorded over. Out of his control of course, is that QB Brett Favre has been terrible, pretty much from the get-go, save an awesome performance against the Cardinals in an overtime win. I think stud RB Adrian Peterson, while being 2nd in the league in rushing, has been underutilized. The pass rush had been non-existent while showing a modest comeback the last two games. The pass coverage has been poor. And we're last in the league in turnover differential.... (-13). You're not going to win much with those things happening. Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier has been annointed as the interim-head coach, and here's hoping he can at least bring this team back to some kind of respectability and competitiveness in these last 6 games.
The Vikings 3-7 start is actually the 3rd worst start in TEAM HISTORY. That's pretty hard to swallow for a team and a fan base hoping for a Super Bowl run.
The fact is, this team will look a lot different next year. Favre will be gone, DT Pat William will be gone, LB Ben Leber, S Madieu Williams, WR Bernard Berrian, DE Ray Edwards, and probably TE Jim Kleinsasser will all be gone. That doesn't necessarily gut the team, but that's a lot of holes to try and fill. The Vikings need to do several things, contractually speaking: Re-sign K Ryan Longwell, LB Chad Greenway, and WR Sidney Rice. Then, they can look at signing RB Adrain Peterson to a contract extension. The cupboard isn't bare by any means, assuming Peterson, Rice, and Harvin are all here and producing.
I'm also going to suggest something here, that hasn't been brought up in the national media, or in the chat rooms,..but how about this: In the offseason trade DE Kevin Williams. Now before vesuviusing on me for something so ridiculous, think about it: We're not going to be a Super Bowl team next year, Kevin's trade value will never be higher, and we could probably get a 1st round pick (if not more) for a perennial Pro-Bowler who could solidify an aspiring teams' defensive line...(think Atlanta Falcons). Look at this idea the same way as New England trading DE Richard Seymour to the Raiders. Stock-piling draft picks for a solid vet still playing at a high level. Hmmmm.......
Personally, as a Packer-hater, it's hard for me to look at this team as a force, because I don't see them as anything special. But take a close look at them: This years' squad actually, to me, resembles perennial powerhouses Indianapolis and New England. They're not dominant defensively, but can get to the quarterback, and create turnovers. They've got a crappy running game, but an awesome quarterback and a nice group of recievers, with which they "throw to set up the run". The Patriots have been winning with that type of team for years and the Pack have an uncanny resemblance to that formula. I still think they missed an opportunity to trade for a solid running back at the trade deadline (Marshawn Lynch). RB Brandon Jackson?....he's Scottie Graham,..nothing more. And I think I saw something called "Demitri Nance" running around with the football on Sunday? What the heck is that? Anyway, with the NFC being as wide open as it is, and I hate to admit this, but I have to call 'em the way I see 'em,.look for the Pack to be a serious contender for the NFC title. (Note: Before the season, SI's Peter King picked a Packers/Steelers Super Bowl.....time will tell.)
Mike Veiseth can be found this NFL season wondering how and why the Vikings season went awry, drinking Coldies, chowing Hot Wingees, and trying to figure out why the Timberwolves give up 65 point in the first half of EVERY game. Good Grief!
