Week 2 Reaction - Quick Hits

[PurpleKoolaid]

They switched up the front four to start the second half, going with Griffen and Floyd. I think they were trying to find a way to contain Forte. In any case they had two stops back to back then two turnovers later in the game. It might have been more execution than adjustments, there's really no way for us to say for certain but whatever they did, it sure looked a lot better than the 1st half.

I didn't see any adjustments. Different personale , but they were subbing in and out in the first half too.

[Arma]

For sure, that pretty much sums it up right now. There's nothing really else too it, we have a severe lack of talent in all of those positions you listed. Not just "average guys we wish were probowlers" but guys who wouldn't start for a single other team in this league.

At this rate the draft could literally look like LB, OG, LB, OG, S and it would make sense... Of course how do you get a solid QB prospect at the same time? You're right spielman has a long ways to go for this rebuild to finish.

It's always been a 3 year rebuilding phase, we just went over our heads last year.

[HornedMessiah]

I'm a little surprised that Patterson hasn't been used in the offense more...ya he's raw and has a lot to learn but get that guy on the field! Anything to take pressure off AD, so the sooner he starts making plays the better. Very happy that he got the KR TD today but I want them to take the training wheels off. He can learn on the job. Use him as a decoy and put him in motion, line him up in the backfield with AD and give him carries, run reverses, whatever. I want to see more than just the leftside WR screen they've ran once each game. He's a 1st round pick, he should be on the field. Dude is a playmaker, just find a way to put the ball in his hands.

[Texas Vike]

I'm a little surprised that Patterson hasn't been used in the offense more...ya he's raw and has a lot to learn but get that guy on the field! Anything to take pressure off AD, so the sooner he starts making plays the better. Very happy that he got the KR TD today but I want them to take the training wheels off. He can learn on the job. Use him as a decoy and put him in motion, line him up in the backfield with AD and give him carries, run reverses, whatever. I want to see more than just the leftside WR screen they've ran once each game. He's a 1st round pick, he should be on the field. Dude is a playmaker, just find a way to put the ball in his hands.

They used him ONCE in a really intelligent way today. Fake hand off to AD, bubble screen to Patterson who has two WRs setting up blocks; CP84 makes a guy miss w/ a nice juke and gets decent yardage.

I agree w/ you: get the ball in his hands already! He's a weapon. Why in the world is Carlson on the field and CP84 is riding pine?

On the D we need to put Bishop in already. He was fast and fierce at times in the preseason. We are getting eaten alive in the middle of the field w/ check downs, short crossing routes, etc. QBs know that we are weak in the middle.

[LA Viking]

Bishop was in there at the end. Not sure when the switch was made, but I think it was around the beginning of the 4th.

[Eli]

They used him ONCE in a really intelligent way today. Fake hand off to AD, bubble screen to Patterson who has two WRs setting up blocks; CP84 makes a guy miss w/ a nice juke and gets decent yardage.

I agree w/ you: get the ball in his hands already! He's a weapon. Why in the world is Carlson on the field and CP84 is riding pine?

There was another completion to Patterson for no gain. Chicago was expecting that play any time he was on the field. He made a great move on the one for a good gain, but using a talented player in such a limited way is foolish.

[LA Viking]

There was another completion to Patterson for no gain. Chicago was expecting that play any time he was on the field. He made a great move on the one for a good gain, but using a talented player in such a limited way is foolish.

Yeah, that's one of my complaints about Frazier; he seems to be very conservative with using his personnel and bringing them along (like last year with AD and now with Cordarrelle). I would think he would be like a kid on Christmas opening up his shiny new toy (I know I would!).

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I hate to say it because anything can happen, but the season is pretty much over. It just wasn't meant to be Minnesota's year. I hardly see this team pulling out a 2008 turn around. They lack the mental toughness and have many coaching incompetencies that will not allow them to finish in the playoffs. I say the ceiling for this team is 7-9.


Hopefully, by the end of the season Musgrave, Williams, and Frazier are canned. I hope that Ponder is cut, Fusco is cut, Charlie Johnson is cut, Erin Henderson is cut, Jamarca Sanford is cut.

Yeah, yeah - go ahead, call me a 'negative Nancy.' However, it is not hard to see that the same players are making the same mistakes game in and game out, year in and year out. We also continue to see the same conservative stupid #### play calling year in and year out. I am sick and tired of it. We have had the same systems in place for almost 7 full years. It is time for a damn change.

[Texas Vike]

There was another completion to Patterson for no gain. Chicago was expecting that play any time he was on the field. He made a great move on the one for a good gain, but using a talented player in such a limited way is foolish.

Yeah, I'm not advocating using that play 10 times a game. Patterson showed he can run a variety of routes well in preseason. They need to get him on the field more. 3 WR sets.

[Eli]

I still have no #### clue what Musgrave's obsession is with rollouts to the left. Does he not know what hand Ponder throws with? Ponder's not exactly good when he's in the pocket with time, why have him roll to the opposite hand and have throw off balance so much? It's baffling.

It's really hard to tell with Ponder which plays are _designed_ as rollouts and which plays are him bailing out early. I just finished watching Peyton Manning and the difference in pocket presence couldn't be more pronounced. Manning steps up into an almost imperceptible pocket and goes through his progressions as it's collapsing around him, then makes the throw with guys draped on him. Ponder seems to think that running is an option on every play and never even uses the pocket.

[Reignman]

Manning steps up into an almost imperceptible pocket and goes through his progressions as it's collapsing around him, then makes the throw with guys draped on him. Ponder seems to think that running is an option on every play and never even uses the pocket.

Yeah that's pretty much the problem with all these mobile QB's. They know running is an option and they go to that option way too soon. Guys like Manning don't have that option so they learn to make a living from the Pocket. There was some crazy stat a few years back that had Vick sacked just as often as Bledsoe.

[The Breeze]

Overall I thought it was a much better performance top to bottom than last week, which is what you strive for.

The wet field clearly worked to Hester's advantage.....but still no excuse to keep kicking it to him.

I thought Ponder ran the play action well in the 2nd half... and the little dump off passes to AD helped open up some room for the run. I would still like to see more little swing passes where the guy catches it on the run. If Zach is going to be in the game, thow him the ball! Don't just count on him for what he is least effective at(lead blocking)... get your moneys worth outta that guy.

I thought Ponder played better in the 2nd half. Looked like he's starting to click some with Jennings. The pick 6 was the horrid stare down the receiver bit. Awful throw. I think he had more good momens than bad today. But that pick was huge.

I agree with everyone about LB and the 2TE sets. Get Patterson on the field. Dobson, Austin and that kid in Texas are all contributing.....play this guy over Carlson please.

The last 2 red zone posessons were depressing to only come away with field goals. I can only imagine how many, "They can't hear you, Ramsey" moments there were in Vikingland after that last 3rd and goal call by Musgrave. That would have been the perfect time to hit Line on a roll out....instead we got coaching not to lose.

I noticed (I think) more motioning and spread formations in the second half. Still much of the motion was toward the formation which brings another defender into the box.

It was tough to watch that final Bears drive. It looked like the D-line just gave up to me. The long play before the TD was a totally blown coverage by Henderson. And before the game winning play Cook was frantically waving for help on his side of the field before the snap. They really miss Winfield....

A positive step game for the offense IMO....but it's just way too easy to move the ball against our defense, which is really bad cause the offense still has a way to go.

They will hammer the Browns next week.

[King James]

It seems like Patterson was only used as a decoy. Our coaches simply DO NOT, know how to utilize their star players. Im sure even if we had a good team like Seattle we would still lose.