Panthers @ VIkings Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 6

[Rus]

^^ This...replace the coaching staff with people who are aggressive, innovative tacticians; who are expert teachers of the game and its fundamentals. A great coaching mind can fix Ponder's issues. Now, if Freeman steps in next week or the week after and really lights it up, great, I'll be as excited as anyone!

On top of that, fans really have to learn a couple things.

1. The media loves it's non-contextual cutaway shots. If you have several cameras, and one guy picks up someone telling someone a joke at a bad time, you bet they cut away for that because it creates drama in the heads of fans. You see laughing without context, and you assume that the guy is pure evil for laughing when you're mad.

2. Football is a game that is a job for athletes. Obviously. The pay is awesome, job security sucks, and as an employee you may not even really fully identify with a team the way a fan would. A fan follows that team year in, year out, most of their lives. That player, as an employee, was probably more often than not a fan of another team growing up and knows in the back of their heads that if they get too attached to their current team, they run the risk of being pretty badly hurt when they will most likely be cut or traded. It's really just an ego trip for fans when they want to see their players do the rah rah go team stuff.

[yezzir]

On top of that, fans really have to learn a couple things.

1. The media loves it's non-contextual cutaway shots. If you have several cameras, and one guy picks up someone telling someone a joke at a bad time, you bet they cut away for that because it creates drama in the heads of fans. You see laughing without context, and you assume that the guy is pure evil for laughing when you're mad.

2. Football is a game that is a job for athletes. Obviously. The pay is awesome, job security sucks, and as an employee you may not even really fully identify with a team the way a fan would. A fan follows that team year in, year out, most of their lives. That player, as an employee, was probably more often than not a fan of another team growing up and knows in the back of their heads that if they get too attached to their current team, they run the risk of being pretty badly hurt when they will most likely be cut or traded. It's really just an ego trip for fans when they want to see their players do the rah rah go team stuff.

Your point makes sense, but doesn't really apply here. Even if you aren't "laughing evily", you should be smart enough to realize cameras are on you, and the perception concluded by fans is that he doesn't care too much, and/or doesn't mind seeing the team fail.

[Demi]

Ponder apologists still at it.

[Just Me]

1. The media loves it's non-contextual cutaway shots. If you have several cameras, and one guy picks up someone telling someone a joke at a bad time, you bet they cut away for that because it creates drama in the heads of fans. You see laughing without context, and you assume that the guy is pure evil for laughing when you're mad.

Actually, no. My thoughts are that an NFL player is getting paid to be focused on the game when he's on the field. Since there doesn't seem to be anything to laugh about during a loss like that. I can assume they are not reviewing/speaking/focusing on the game. Sure they can tell jokes. Can they at least wait until they are not on the "time-clock"? To me, that represents a lack of intensity and drive to win the game.

[yezzir]

Actually, no. My thoughts are that an NFL player is getting paid to be focused on the game when he's on the field. Since there doesn't seem to be anything to laugh about during a loss like that. I can assume they are not reviewing/speaking/focusing on the game. Sure they can tell jokes. Can they at least wait until they are not on the "time-clock"? To me, that represents a lack of intensity and drive to win the game.

Not just that, but a lack of care for positive outside perception. No fan wants to see a player laughing on the sideline after getting killed at home. It sends a bad vibe. Especially when the player is in Ponder's position.

[NextQuestion]

Worst game I've ever seen in my life and I had to be there for it. What a disgrace. Rick Spielman, Frazier, Musgrave, Williams must all go. Rick drafted some nice pieces but so could any GM.

[yezzir]

Frazier, Williams, Musgrave, Singletary

[yezzir]

Darren Wolfson @DarrenWolfson

Talked to Robinson on the field. It was man coverage on the long TD he gave up. In other words, why he stopped is a mystery. #vikings

[yezzir]

Frazier on possibility of Freeman starting next week: "Wait and see."

Puke.

[vikeinmontana]

holy crap. i'm convinced we cannot have a thread without ponder being mentioned!

the dude didn't play. he'll probably not play for us again. he's done. we know he's not the answer. we know he's not very good. he's done. so now we must fall back on what he's doing on the sideline?! wow.

and it wouldn't be so bad if people were at least consistent. I saw other guys laughing on the sideline throughout the game too. hell, I even saw AD smiling when he was talking to felton. I can only assume this means he doesn't give a crap about the team and I guess I can go even farther and say he's a piece of crap because he obviously doesn't hurt after the loss of his son. I mean he was smiling right?!

maybe just an ounce of perspective guys. our team sucks. our playcalling is terrible. our o-line might be the worst in the nfl. and our defense is the worst in the nfl. I can assure you there wasn't a single guy on the sideline happy with that game today. just...wow....

[tmscr]

I've been a big supporter of Frazier for some time now, maybe because Childress was so bad, but today was the first time I've ever wondered if he should be fired. I'm sure it's been said somewhere in the 33 pages of this thread, but it is completely inexcusable to come out like that after a bye week at HOME. Maybe it means nothing, but I believe there is something to be said for the great records of coaches like Andy Reid and Dennis Green the week after a bye.

The worst part of today wasn't the loss, it wasn't really even the score. It was the fact that the Panthers kept punching the Vikings in the mouth and the team stood there and took it each time. No fight back, nothing. The Panthers continued to blitz and tee off on Cassel in the 4th quarter with the game well in hand and the Vikings did...nothing. It was a monumental lack of effort today and that falls on everyone. Just a complete dogsh*t effort. Embarrassing to watch the visitors run and dance and taunt all over your field.

[tmscr]

I also think what we saw from the defense today is what is probably going to happen every time the Vikings defense fails to force turnovers/get a pass rush against even a marginal offense. You simply cannot expect our DB's to stay with any receiver when our rushers do not get to the passer. It has been killing us all season long. The lack of turnover creation contributed to the terrible field position the Vikings had all day.

[yezzir]

Andrew Krammer @Andrew_Krammer

Frazier said he didn't bench Josh Robinson, plan was to mix in Marcus Sherels all along.




Andrew Krammer @Andrew_Krammer

Frazier: "Our season by no means is a lost season. There's a lot of football to be played."

[Mothman]

Andrew Krammer @Andrew_Krammer

Frazier: "Our season by no means is a lost season. There's a lot of football to be played."

Realistic or not, as the head coach, it's the only attitude he can take. Let's just hope that football is a lot better than what they played today.

[indianation65]

I just got home from watching at my parents', and what a game. I did not know Carolina brought their scout team to scrimmage in the Metrodome. Too bad the Vikes fans paid to see it.

...wisdom