Praise for the offense?

[dead_poet]

1st in rushing TDs; 5th in points/game; T5th in least number of penalties; 7th in rushing yards/attempt; 8th in total first downs; 10th yards/game; 10th yards/play; 12th in 3rd down conversion %

Unsung improving player: Brandon Fusco. Seems the light is turning on?

Stock Up: Brandon Fusco (+6.0, Q1 2013; -4.7, Q4 2012)

Fusco dominated the snaps in a nominal timeshare at right guard with Geoff Schwartz last season, but he is flourishing in 2013 without the threat to his starting spot. Grading positively as a run blocker each week (including a terrific display, +3.1, against the Bears) the only blot on Fusco’s copybook thus far was a woeful pass protection display against the Lions (-5.1). Without that he would have been in with a shout for making the Team of the Month.

It does seem like the Vikings have a lot of success running to the Fusco/Loadholt side. Reminiscent of the McKinnie/Hutchinson side of yore. Hopefully he keeps improving, especially in pass protection. Desperately need a legit GOTF (guard of the future).

[Mothman]

1st in rushing TDs; 5th in points/game; T5th in least number of penalties; 7th in rushing yards/attempt; 8th in total first downs; 10th yards/game; 10th yards/play; 12th in 3rd down conversion %

Fire Bill Musgrave!

Seriously, thanks for the info. NFL.com has the Vikes listed 4th in points per game with 115 so maybe the source you quoted discounted the defensive TD?

As a sidebar to the stats above, it's interesting to note that the Vikings are 26th in # of plays from scrimmage with 247. They've had some big plays and some efficient scoring drives this season.

It does seem like the Vikings have a lot of success running to the Fusco/Loadholt side. Reminiscent of the McKinnie/Hutchinson side of yore. Hopefully he keeps improving, especially in pass protection. Desperately need a legit GOTF (guard of the future).

I'm glad you posted about Fusco. I almost brought him up earlier today. He's been good the past few weeks. Hopefully it will continue. Sometimes teams have to take their lumps when developing a player. It's worth it when it pays off and hopefully, that's what we're beginning to see.

I still wish Musgrave was a more instinctive situational playcaller but I can't argue much with the results he's getting. What's amazing is that we all know they've left some points on the field and what's frustrating is despite scoring more points than all but 3 teams in the league, the Vikes have just one win.

[losperros]

I'm glad you posted about Fusco. I almost brought him up earlier today. He's been good the past few weeks. Hopefully it will continue. Sometimes teams have to take their lumps when developing a player. It's worth it when it pays off and hopefully, that's what we're beginning to see.

It's good to see anyone on the OL get some kudos. They haven't always deserved praise this season.

The OL still has a ways to go, though it looked much better against the Steelers. I have to wonder if that's also because the Steelers have been looking bad lately.

I still wish Musgrave was a more instinctive situational playcaller but I can't argue much with the results he's getting. What's amazing is that we all know they've left some points on the field and what's frustrating is despite scoring more points than all but 3 teams in the league, the Vikes have just one win.

That's the problem. All the stats in the world can't change the most important one, which is the 1-3 record. Both the offense and defense need to learn how to finish off opponents.

[mondry]

What's truly maddening is that we have only scored 9 points in the 4th quarter of FOUR games COMBINED and still have the 5th most.

Still, that's why I think this team has a chance of doing well. I believe with Cassel we could aim for 35+ a game as the standard. In fact that probably SHOULD be the game plan knowing what our defense is capable of now. Ponder can't execute that game plan because the more you ask out of him, the more turnovers we're going to get so they have to keep him under wraps. They've left so many points on the field with the expectations to play a close "safe" game. I think we have to ditch that mentality, develop a killer instinct, and aim for the offense to carry the load here.

That'll allow the defense to keep forcing turn overs which btw is a significant part of that #5 rank and we've seen the Packers and Saints do well with that strategy.

It's great to hear Fusco might actually be stepping it up and figuring it out. I thought for sure we would need 2 G's this off season. But that's one of the things to keep in mind when analyzing this team is that we do have a lot of young talent coming along. If Floyd and especially Rhodes can step it up that'd be huge but the key might be if cook can get healthy and we can sit Robinson down.

Finally, I really think this offense is pretty special. Adrian is at the top of his game and I think he's improved a LOT since 2009. Felton is certainly better than Tahi so that helps as well. We went 10-6 last year with no one at WR and we've seen Jennings and a healthy Simpson do some nice things so far. Don't believe me? Think about this, we're a top 5 scoring offense while basically determining our starting QB is a total bust! How many teams can say that?!

[PurpleKoolaid]

It really is amazing how we can score points, yet we NEVER go for the throat. We become so timid in the 3rd-4th quarters. And our D gives up so many late yards, I just don't understand why they don't score more late. So far it isn't working. Last game they became timid and came so close to a tie. Almost as frustrating as the D falling apart.

[Demi]

It really is amazing how we can score points, yet we NEVER go for the throat. We become so timid in the 3rd-4th quarters. And our D gives up so many late yards, I just don't understand why they don't score more late. So far it isn't working. Last game they became timid and came so close to a tie. Almost as frustrating as the D falling apart.

I wouldn't trust Cassel/Ponder not to throw a game away....

[Reignman]

Yeah - there's gotta be a middle ground between running AD up the gut when they're expecting it and throwing to the sidelines for potential pick-6s.

On these 3rd and manageables late in games when we're trying to move the stick and keep the clock running, a good PA should almost be automatic. On the other hand, running AD up the middle in the same situation is borderline conceding. If this offense fails at anything, it's using the PA as a weapon.

[dead_poet]

As far as PFF grading, I don't know what thoses grades mean. It's hard to comprehend. Cassel was graded with a -3.1 even though he had highest QB rating for a Viking QB since Favre. Can anyone explain how those grades are calculated?

https://www.profootballfocus.com/about/grading/

[mansquatch]

The people who need to read that are the ones responsible for the 4th quarter play calling. Start closing teams with points instead of clock management.

[Cliff]

The Vikings don't have very many points in the 4th quarter because they've been leading and trying to run the clock out. Considering they have the best RB in the game that really isn't a horrible strategy ... but now that they see it doesn't work perhaps they'll knock it off.

[Hunter Morrow]

I know, but it is such a stupid, loser mentality. It seems like if we take a lead into the 3rd or 4th we go into Big 10 Offense/Prevent D
mode. You do that stuff when there is minutes left in the game. You don't go...

"Hey, we're up by 3 in the third quarter. All we gotta do is run out the clock for the next 19 minutes!"

If you are up by 3, get up by 10. Winning by 10? Win by 17. Look at all the Super Bowl winners recently.
Those are high octane offenses led by good to excellent quarterbacks and running backs who'll just slit throats.

You don't run Big 10 and Prevent D for entire QUARTERS.

This team does that timid, conservative, pantywaist play for the entire 4th quarter. The result?
Outscored in the 4th 31 to 9! 9 total points in 4th quarters.

[Reignman]

The Vikings don't have very many points in the 4th quarter because they've been leading and trying to run the clock out. Considering they have the best RB in the game that really isn't a horrible strategy ... but now that they see it doesn't work perhaps they'll knock it off.

I'm not that optimistic. I expect more of the same. It was 3rd n 5 vs the Steelers with just under 2 min to go and we were coming off 2 consecutive losses in the final minute where Frazier and co were 2nd guessed for playing it safe rather than putting a team away, and they did it for a 3rd time in a row. They ran AD up the middle into a wall and punted back to the Steelers who had just scored 10 points in their previous 2 drives cutting our 17 point lead down to 7. You tell me if you believe Frazier and co have learned their lesson lol. All I can ask is, how is a simple PA 10 yard pass not automatic in that situation? Game over! We don't even have to rely on the defense to close the deal.

Now if running AD were working late in games and we were capable of moving the sticks, running the clock, and closing the deal with that formula, there would no argument, but it's NOT working.