The positives

[mansquatch]

I just can't believe how bad the bad news bandwagon has been this year. It seems like there is a large contingent of the fan base/media types who are basically operating under the thought process of:

If Ponder is not a top 5 QB we are going to lose 13 games.

It is just ridiclous. Last year with his "Check Down Charlie" game play and a 7 game slump we went 10-6. We're far better at WR and we will have an AP at 100% for the entire season vs. 65% of it last year. We lost Winfield and PH, so some shoes to fill there, but they hardly justify the "its all Ponder's fault" stuff we've been seeing.

We haven't even played a regular season snap with all of our starters on the field and it seems like 2/3 of the message board is already convinced we are going to be the worst team in the NFC. You know, on second thought, carry on. BTW, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to each and every one of you. I'll give you a GREAT deal!

[Mothman]

I just can't believe how bad the bad news bandwagon has been this year. It seems like there is a large contingent of the fan base/media types who are basically operating under the thought process of:

If Ponder is not a top 5 QB we are going to lose 13 games.

It is just ridiclous. Last year with his "Check Down Charlie" game play and a 7 game slump we went 10-6. We're far better at WR and we will have an AP at 100% for the entire season vs. 65% of it last year. We lost Winfield and PH, so some shoes to fill there, but they hardly justify the "its all Ponder's fault" stuff we've been seeing.

We haven't even played a regular season snap with all of our starters on the field and it seems like 2/3 of the message board is already convinced we are going to be the worst team in the NFC. You know, on second thought, carry on. BTW, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to each and every one of you. I'll give you a GREAT deal!

Great post.

[The Breeze]

I just can't believe how bad the bad news bandwagon has been this year. It seems like there is a large contingent of the fan base/media types who are basically operating under the thought process of:

If Ponder is not a top 5 QB we are going to lose 13 games.

It is just ridiclous. Last year with his "Check Down Charlie" game play and a 7 game slump we went 10-6. We're far better at WR and we will have an AP at 100% for the entire season vs. 65% of it last year. We lost Winfield and PH, so some shoes to fill there, but they hardly justify the "its all Ponder's fault" stuff we've been seeing.

We haven't even played a regular season snap with all of our starters on the field and it seems like 2/3 of the message board is already convinced we are going to be the worst team in the NFC. You know, on second thought, carry on. BTW, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to each and every one of you. I'll give you a GREAT deal!

It's udder madness I tell you.

How big is the bridge?

[Just Me]

Positives thread....OK

I'm POSITIVE the sky is falling and there is no hope! All is lost!!!!!!

On a serious note. The D has been solid. Not perfect, but solid. With a decent defense we'll always have a chance to win any game.

[Texas Vike]

It's udder madness I tell you.

How big is the bridge?

Does udder madness lead to Mad Cow's Disease? If so, I think 2/3 of the board has it.

[Mothman]

Positives thread....OK

I'm POSITIVE the sky is falling and there is no hope! All is lost!!!!!!

On a serious note. The D has been solid. Not perfect, but solid. With a decent defense we'll always have a chance to win any game.

That's a good one.

There's actually quite a bit to be positive about. The starters have played competitive football this preseason and it's the starters who will actually play the majority of the regular season. People on the "bad news bandwagon" are freaking out about Ponder after every game, whether he attempted 2 passes or 23, but at this point it's clear that there are people who will freak out about Ponder now matter what he does. I actually considered quite a bit of his performance against SF a positive and not because I'm blind to the shortcomings that were on display in his game but rather because despite those shortcomings, he was 17 of 23 and threw for two TDs. When Greenway made a great play and came up with an INT, the offense promptly capitalized on it by scoring a TD.

SF has had one of the best defenses in the league over the last few years so it's hardly surprising that the Vikes offense struggled early in the game or that Ponder sometimes looked uncomfortable in an often collapsing pocket but he hung in there and completed passes. He spread the ball around too so he wasn't just dropping back and focusing on a favorite target every play. It would have been nice if SF had left their defensive starters in longer so we could have seen how the Vikes handled them as the game progressed and they had opportunities to make adjustments. However, the Vikes can only play against the players the opposition puts on the field.

Another positive was that the Vikings were running more man coverage and overall, I think it was pretty effective (not always effective but encouraging).

[The Breeze]

@Texas Vike:

I think it's closer to hoof and mouth disease.

The phrase is 'udder madness' comes from an old 'Far Side' cartoon that consisted of several people standing doing various things while having cows udders on tops of their heads. The caption simply read, 'udder madness'.

Maybe for the last home game at the dome they can give away 50,000 udder hats~

[The Breeze]

That's a good one.

There's actually quite a bit to be positive about. The starters have played competitive football this preseason and it's the starters who will actually play the majority of the regular season. People on the "bad news bandwagon" are freaking out about Ponder after every game, whether he attempted 2 passes or 23, but at this point it's clear that there are people who will freak out about Ponder now matter what he does. I actually considered quite a bit of his performance against SF a positive and not because I'm blind to the shortcomings that were on display in his game but rather because despite those shortcomings, he was 17 of 23 and threw for two TDs. When Greenway made a great play and came up with an INT, the offense promptly capitalized on it by scoring a TD.

SF has had one of the best defenses in the league over the last few years so it's hardly surprising that the Vikes offense struggled early in the game or that Ponder sometimes looked uncomfortable in an often collapsing pocket but he hung in there and completed passes. He spread the ball around too so he wasn't just dropping back and focusing on a favorite target every play. It would have been nice if SF had left their defensive starters in longer so we could have seen how the Vikes handled them as the game progressed and they had opportunities to make adjustments. However, the Vikes can only play against the players the opposition puts on the field.

Another positive was that the Vikings were running more man coverage and overall, I think it was pretty effective (not always effective but encouraging).

I think it's becoming evident that most fans are misunderestimating the importance of defense in regards to superbowls.
All the hand wringing about one position on offense, allbeit an important one, is akin to putting emPHAsis on the wrong sylLAble.
How many rings did Fouts, Marino, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers win?
When the Patriots have gone to the superbowl on the back of their offense they've been beaten by teams that play defense.
Flacco and Difer have won as many rings as the 4 HoF QBs above...(projecting a bit on Rodgers there) The Ravens play defense...period. So do the Niners.

Point is....this team has more need than just better play at QB to win a ring, but they are headed in a positive direction in that regard.

I'll bet you didn't know that, Jim~

[Mothman]

I think it's becoming evident that most fans are misunderestimating the importance of defense in regards to superbowls.
All the hand wringing about one position on offense, allbeit an important one, is akin to putting emPHAsis on the wrong sylLAble.
How many rings did Fouts, Marino, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers win?
When the Patriots have gone to the superbowl on the back of their offense they've been beaten by teams that play defense.
Flacco and Difer have won as many rings as the 4 HoF QBs above...(projecting a bit on Rodgers there) The Ravens play defense...period. So do the Niners.

Point is....this team has more need than just better play at QB to win a ring, but they are headed in a positive direction in that regard.

I'll bet you didn't know that, Jim~

LOL! It's news to me.

You're absolutely right, it takes much more than great QB play to win a Super Bowl and clearly, it doesn't necessarily take great QB play at all.

[Texas Vike]

@Texas Vike:

I think it's closer to hoof and mouth disease.

The phrase is 'udder madness' comes from an old 'Far Side' cartoon that consisted of several people standing doing various things while having cows udders on tops of their heads. The caption simply read, 'udder madness'.

Maybe for the last home game at the dome they can give away 50,000 udder hats~

Better than musty cheese heads!

Wearing a cow's tit on one's head seems about right for the glass half empty crew.

[Reignman]

This thread was sinking fast so I'm giving it a bump.

I just don't find it healthy to constantly whine and cry about things, especially if I can't change them. That--that is a boy thing. Kidding!

As opposed to how always being positive leads to winning haha? But I would disagree with you. What some people consider whining and crying is just other people getting things off their chest. It's sort of therapeutic. Always trying to be positive when it comes to the Vikings means you have to hold in a lot of things and bury them deep, where it can turn into cancer (or so my mother always told me xD). That can't be healthy either. Plus those are the people that usually snap at some point xD.

Cheer up guys and gals, we haven't gotten to see AD carry the ball yet. I can't wait to hold my breath every time he touches the ball.

[mondry]

hahaha, good to know the VMB is keeping you guys sane !

[S197]

I know a lot has been said about Harrison Smith but I just wanted to say I love the way he tackles. If you watch those big hits, he's knocking guys helmets off but he's leading with his shoulder, not his head. Refreshing to see a guy who can make solid tackles with good technique rather than trying to knock the other guy out of the game. Reminiscent of Ronnie Lott.

Also after a rather bad preseason, it was nice to see Josh Robinson have a good game. He diagnosed plays well, made solid tackles, contributed on special teams, and forced a fumble.

Lastly, Fred Evans has a blazing fast first step. I think we'll see him starting next to KWill instead of Guion against the Bears.

[dead_poet]

I know a lot has been said about Harrison Smith but I just wanted to say I love the way he tackles. If you watch those big hits, he's knocking guys helmets off but he's leading with his shoulder, not his head. Refreshing to see a guy who can make solid tackles with good technique rather than trying to knock the other guy out of the game. Reminiscent of Ronnie Lott.

I take some issue with this. He lays wood, for sure, but I do seem him have a tendency to think his power will take a guy down and it frustrates me to no end when I don't see him wrap up. I saw a couple plays yesterday where he continued to do this and it was a good thing he had some help otherwise the guy would've recovered.

Also after a rather bad preseason, it was nice to see Josh Robinson have a good game. He diagnosed plays well, made solid tackles, contributed on special teams, and forced a fumble.

Man, I hate to do this again, but I was continually frustrated him (save for the strip). He allowed nine catches for 93 yds (78 YAC) against mediocre talent. He's reminding me more and more of Asher Allen. I want to see him better in run support and significantly improve his coverage.

Lastly, Fred Evans has a blazing fast first step. I think we'll see him starting next to KWill instead of Guion against the Bears.

I agree. The strange part is, he does little after that. Lack of technique? Weight? Strength? Athleticism? I don't know. But he does seem to perform a bit better than Guion at the position. Unfortunately, it seems as though whoever was in there yesterday was getting bullied around by a mediocre front four.

[Just Me]

I take some issue with this. He lays wood, for sure, but I do seem him have a tendency to think his power will take a guy down and it frustrates me to no end when I don't see him wrap up. I saw a couple plays yesterday where he continued to do this and it was a good thing he had some help otherwise the guy would've recovered.

He doesn't wrap up every time but darned close. I don't share this reservation at all. The guy puts himself in a position to make tackles...and he makes them. Is he perfect? No. On Bush's TD Run, Smith was out of position, but his failure to tackle Bush was him putting himself in the wrong place, not because he use poor tackling technique. Maybe I'm mistaken, but has there been a time where someone has "bounced off" Smith to the Viking's detriment?