Frazier doesn't fit our mental image of an NFL head coach. He doesn't "flare up" the way many of them do. His volatility quotient is zero. His keel is so even he probably is the envy of the U.S. Navy. He doesn't raise his voice or throw things or cuss. He says nothing controversial. Furthermore, he rarely criticizes a player, let alone throws one of them under the bus. He is relentlessly positive. In another life, he might have been an aromatherapist.
The other day, one of my colleagues asked Adrian Peterson if he thought Frazier was a candidate for coach of the year.
"The job he has done since taking over -- leading this group -- he has been the inspiration we need as the leader of this team," Peterson said. "You couldn't ask for a better person to win it."
That might irritate all of those who prefer to see sideline histrionics or to hear struggling players dressed down in public. But everyone has to agree that, whatever he is doing, it's working. Eight victories? This team? With a quarterback who still sports training wheels? That's incredible.
BGM wrote:Listen, this has been a frustrating season, but this is not a situation in which a scorched earth policy regarding coaching will yield better results.
I can't be the first guy to say "Whoa!" on this comment. We are 8-6, currently having the last playoff seed. Who saw that coming? I think there's a lot of difference between the micro-frustration we see this season (ok, maybe our guards are average, ok, our two or three top WR's are injured - Childs/Harvin/Simpson, ok, maybe Ponder has seen little improvement) and the macro-frustrations of the Vikings last year, or of nearly any other team in the league who has a losing record.
Edit - Sorry, looks like this was a bit of an earlier post. Does the season look better after the last victory? But I submit to you that you could not in good conscience consider this season to be frustrating in it's entirety.
John_Viveiros wrote:
I can't be the first guy to say "Whoa!" on this comment. We are 8-6, currently having the last playoff seed. Who saw that coming? I think there's a lot of difference between the micro-frustration we see this season (ok, maybe our guards are average, ok, our two or three top WR's are injured - Childs/Harvin/Simpson, ok, maybe Ponder has seen little improvement) and the macro-frustrations of the Vikings last year, or of nearly any other team in the league who has a losing record.
Edit - Sorry, looks like this was a bit of an earlier post. Does the season look better after the last victory? But I submit to you that you could not in good conscience consider this season to be frustrating in it's entirety.
I don't think he does. If you view the "frustrating'" comment in context and look at his other posts (even the post directly above it) it seems clear that he sees this as a somewhat encouraging season.
Extensions durring the season are " bad idea jeans" wait till next year and see if the Vikes make any improvement before you hitch our wagon to him . The last time we extended a mediocre coach it ended poorly !
Lash Man wrote:Extensions durring the season are " bad idea jeans" wait till next year and see if the Vikes make any improvement before you hitch our wagon to him . The last time we extended a mediocre coach it ended poorly !
At this point, it's just a report, nothing official, so Frazier may not actually get an extension until after the season. Personally, I think waiting until that point would make sense. That said, there's little harm in extending a coach in Frazier's situation unless the team goes overboard and gives him a contract that will make it difficult to go in another direction a few years down the line if things don't work out. The Vikes have already shown improvement...
I think there are clear benefits to extending Frazier's contract rather than putting him in a "lame duck' coaching position next season. It creates stability, sends the message that the team will reward a job well done (few can argue that the team has exceeded expectations this season) and allows the Vikings to retain a coach whose career may be on the rise. The Vikings are already 5 games better in the win column than they were a year ago and we don't know where they will finish. If they improve again next year, signing Frazier could cost the team a lot more and he might have some other options to choose from.
I don't think Frazier has earned the label mediocre just quite yet. I think there is a learning curve for all first-time HCs and whether or not his calm demeanor isn't your cup of tea, the one thing he's done that is very important is remain consistent in his message. Has he made mistakes? Sure. Name me one coach that hasn't. He took over during a period that can only be called a disaster. He kept the team together during a very awful season and in his second full season has surpassed the record most (including the majority of this board) predicted. I don't think,you need a "fiery" personality to win. It works for some, but there's other attributes that are present for the yellers out there. The biggest things, I think, are being consistent in the way you handle issues and players and then getting the players to buy into your message. I think Leslie has done that.
Will his tenure turn into a successful stretch? Can't tell yet. I know that the players on the the 1967 team called Bud Grant "the alien" during his first season. Then, as Grant filtered out the players he didn't think would help them win and the players started to see that he meant what he said and there was a reason behind his methods, the team became consistent winners. I can honestly say that there's a good possibility that it might happen again under Frazier.
We did this with Fraizer and got screwed. Dont do it with Fraizer. If we lose these last 2 games, I want to here why he would even deserve one. I think Spielman, more then anyne but AD has helped this team this year. Lets just see how we do.
They need to lock Frazier up immediately!!! He's putting all the haters to shame, first it was an easy schedule to start the year, well guess what we're still winning even against the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL.
The defense was Ferocious and Ponder looked pretty good. The Texans made sure AD didn't beat them and Ponder did, tripled the win total from last year, it doesn't get much more impressive than that.
mondry wrote:They need to lock Frazier up immediately!!! He's putting all the haters to shame, first it was an easy schedule to start the year, well guess what we're still winning even against the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL.
The defense was Ferocious and Ponder looked pretty good. The Texans made sure AD didn't beat them and Ponder did, tripled the win total from last year, it doesn't get much more impressive than that.
At this point, Frazier is looking like a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate. He's earned an extension.
Mothman wrote:
At this point, Frazier is looking like a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate. He's earned an extension.
Ha Ha and I bet the farm you were one who said Chilly deserved his extension too lol ! I agree the team is playing well I just dont see the advantage of rushing into an extension until his current contract runs out . If we have a good start to the season next year then by all means give him a 5 year deal but there isnt any rush to do it right away in my opinion .
Lash Man wrote:Ha Ha and I bet the farm you were one who said Chilly deserved his extension too lol !
You'd lose the farm because I wanted Childress run of town years before he received that extension.
I agree the team is playing well I just dont see the advantage of rushing into an extension until his current contract runs out. If we have a good start to the season next year then by all means give him a 5 year deal but there isnt any rush to do it right away in my opinion.
I don't think it needs to be done right now either but it doesn't have to be a 5 year extension. They could give him a shorter extension with an option to increase it later. There are several advantages to doing it before his contract runs out: it establishes stability, reassures players, potential free agents, etc. that the coach and the team's current approach aren't all hanging by a thread and locks in a head coach with the potential to be very successful before he becomes a free agent. It may also save ownership quite a few dollars in the long run.
I fail to see a significant downside to giving Frazier an extension unless the extension is so lucrative that it makes it financially impossible for the Vikes to cut ties with him a few years down the road if they want to make a change.
Mothman wrote:
You'd lose the farm because I wanted Childress run of town years before he received that extension.
I don't think it needs to be done right now either but it doesn't have to be a 5 year extension. They could give him a shorter extension with an option to increase it later. There are several advantages to doing it before his contract runs out: it establishes stability, reassures players, potential free agents, etc. that the coach and the team's current approach aren't all hanging by a thread and locks in a head coach with the potential to be very successful before he becomes a free agent. It may also save ownership quite a few dollars in the long run.
I fail to see a significant downside to giving Frazier an extension unless the extension is so lucrative that it makes it financially impossible for the Vikes to cut ties with him a few years down the road if they want to make a change.
Agree on the length of term you are 100% correct a three year deal is more likely and damn what am I going to do now that I have lost the farm lol ! Merry Xmas I like our banter , we may not agree on many things but we both are passionate about the VIKINGS !
Lash Man wrote:Agree on the length of term you are 100% correct a three year deal is more likely and damn what am I going to do now that I have lost the farm lol !
