Vikings Message Board.Com

PurpleKoolaid wrote:Without Childress taking the chance (other teams passed him up) on AD in the draft, Fraizer could be winnless this year. Just sayin...

Peterson was really the consensus/obvious choice even with injury prone concerns

The Minnesota Vikings have been assessed the fourth-fewest penalties in the NFL this season, being called for 75 infractions that resulted in 680 yards.

Only the Atlanta Falcons (50 penalties, 380 yards), New York Giants (65/521) and New York Jets (73/623) have been called for fewer penalties. The Vikings are just in front of the Miami Dolphins (76/676).

This is a big difference from a year ago when the Vikings were the 10th-most penalized team in the NFL with 109 for 908 yards en route to a 3-13 finish.

"If you look back we have not, in the time I've been here, been very good when it comes to penalties," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. "For us to be in the top-five this season, (that's a) credit to our players. We really emphasized it in the offseason, but that's not unlike any other year that we've emphasized it. Once again, it's our ownership really buying into some things that I talked to them about this offseason."

One of the things Frazier brought up was employing officials to work the Vikings' practices this season. Frazier had become concerned about the penalties the Vikings were taking and began talking to other coaches about how they approached the problem.

"One of the coaches I talked with mentioned that they had tried to use officials in practice and he saw a dramatic decrease in their penalties," Frazier said. "I said, 'That's not a bad idea. Maybe that might help us.' I talked to our ownership about it because those (officials) aren't going to volunteer their time and they were willing to support it.

"I think having those officials there has helped us, along with our players being more conscious. But (they are) probably being more conscious because those officials are there and they will call penalties in practice."

The Vikings also hired retired NFL referee Bernie Kukar as a consultant. Kukar observed minicamps and training camp and attempted to help players and coaches get a better feel for the rules at that time. On game days, he works from the coaches' booth.

"He's helped tremendously," Frazier said. "Meeting with our coaches, giving little mini-clinics in training camp with our team and our coaches. So, it has helped a lot and if our ownership had balked at that (suggestion) it may not have become as good as it has. But I think where we are penalty-wise is a direct reflection of the commitment that was made from the top."

Mercy Percy wrote: 3rd year HEAD COACH??? HE had one year as an interim coach after what 6 games? Now he was considered head coach this year? Emotionless robot cool doesnt matter what you think of him only the players and the results he gets on the field! Sticking with Ponder gives him confidence we are saying confidence is his issue right now! Okay lets toy around with an unstable unconfident quarterback! Think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Demi wrote:Good call on officials. Frazier solid head coach who's still learning. He lets his guys do their job and focuses on head coaching. No idiotic challenges like some other coaches do every week. No brain dead timeouts. End of half idiocy has been on Ponder (with even Frazier shaking his head sadly)

Just need a new OC...throw some money at Norv!!!

PurpleHalo wrote: Whats the oc supposed to do, about bad qb, and bad wr? He's still learning too, and he has been running the offense, that has Adrian on the cusp of the best season by a rb ever.

Mothman wrote:Thanks for the link.

Keeping Frazier as the HC next year is absolutely the right move. He's done a good job this season and he and Spielman appear to have the team moving in the right direction. The big question is: will he get a contract extension and, if so, when?

Of course, that opens up a number of other questions.

Well, look for an announcement any day that coach Leslie Frazier is going to get a contract extension. As reported in my column on Dec. 10, Frazier is going to be the team’s coach in the future, and I believe he will get a two- or three-year extension to his current deal, which expires after next season.
The Wilfs have an outstanding relationship with Frazier, one that has improved steadily since he took over as the team’s coach near the end of the 2010 season.

Earlier this week, we suggested the Minnesota Vikings have won enough games this season to make coach Leslie Frazier's return in 2013 a given. And because next season is the last year of the original contract he signed as the team's coach, it made sense that some sort of a contract extension would be on the way.

Teams typically don't let coaches enter a season in a lame-duck contract situation, at least ones they believe in. So Sid Hartman's blog item (yes!) for the Star Tribune makes perfect sense: Owner Zygi Wilf authorized an extension earlier this week and the deal could be announced any day.

Mothman wrote:From Sid Hartman:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins ... coops.html
...and Kevin Siefert, reporting on Sid Hartman's report:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... ie-frazier

HardcoreVikesFan wrote: Bah.

Why can't Frazier just go into next season with his current deal? Give him an extension next season if he truly does deserve it.