Chargers @ Vikings Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 3

[mosscarter]

i agree fiesta. 3 weeks in a row now. and by the way, the niners have looked great the past two weeks. what does that tell you about the shameful week 1 blowout? my ridiculous logic? we beat rodgers in 1 regular season game and you are trying to say what? that might be the most senseless thing i've ever heard. the packers make the playoffs. they packers win in the playoffs and win championships.

[fiestavike]

He can't be productive without opportunities. I know there's a "chicken and the egg"-style argument there about earning opportunities but I'm not going to get into it again.

It seems to me that he played pretty well in the preseason. He was catching the ball. He burned a DB for a nice TD. He ran a kickoff back for another TD. I don't buy the idea that he's afraid of contact. He didn't look afraid of contact on his first KO return today or on the jet sweep he ran, where he was literally fighting through tacklers to get a first down. I didn't see the return where he supposedly did shy away from contact (I'll have to catch it later) but even if he did, I'd say that was atypical.

He does what they ask him to do and he maintains a good attitude. The Vikes don't seem to be complaining about his attitude or work ethic. On the contrary, Zimmer seems to like it.

I know its quite an undertaking, but compare his first 16 games with his last 19 games as a returner. If you can't see the difference one of us is missing something, and you know I respect your opinion Jim. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but it seems obvious to me that what made him a great returner is no longer part of his game. Same thing happened to Percy…There aren't many guys who have a long shelf life as a kick returner. It gets beaten out of them. Eric Metcalf, Devin Hester maybe? (and he lost something too).

*edit…Jerry Gray?

[fiestavike]

This team is going nowhere? Hmmmm ok? So are we suppose to be pissed because we're 2-1?? I think this team has a lot of potential and if you remember, Rodgers wasn't a "real QB" for quite a long time before he was ever relevant. We beat Aaron Rodgers with Christian Ponder at QB a few years ago. So what ridiculous logic does your post even have behind it??

Offensively we are not in the same league as the Packers. I don't think this is a newsflash or controversial. I think this is the point in 2 sentences.

[fiestavike]

And you know that how? Last time I checked, he's still one of the best returners in the game

Its been a year and half since you last checked...

[PurpleKoolaid]

Stupid CBS doesn't acknowledge that. They woule rather massage Rivers's butt all day.

Well Rivers would need it. He was on his backside a lot of the game and got the snot kicked out of him.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Offensively we are not in the same league as the Packers. I don't think this is a newsflash or controversial. I think this is the point in 2 sentences.

When did I ever once say we were anywhere near GBs offense?? But to say we are going nowhere?? Ok? What are some things going for us right now? A good pass defense and GB throws a lot. Getting after the QB, if we keep doing what we have been the past few games, Rodgers could be in trouble. Running the football, something GB hasnt been able to stop for how long now. So just because Aaron Rodgers is a good QB, we are going nowhere?? Yeah sounds like thats some pretty smart logic.

[CbusVikesFan]

They won games very much like this with Ponder (and Bridgewater turned it over in the red zone today!).

Thus far in his second season Bridgewater's game actually resembles Ponder's at this same point in his career.

If the int was indicative of Teddy's play today, my concerns are more relevant than even I predicted. I do not like his delivery one bit.
I am glad the Vikings manhandled the Chargers. Any win is a good win.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Well Rivers would need it. He was on his backside a lot of the game and got the snot kicked out of him.

Yeah the last 2 weeks our pass rush has been relentless

[dead_poet]

Poor Philip Rivers...

@MartyCaswell: King Dunlap has a concussion. Orlando Franklin on crutches. DJ Fluker can hardly walk.

[fiestavike]

Poor Philip Rivers...

Wishing the Chargers O Line a speedy recovery.

[Mothman]

I know its quite an undertaking, but compare his first 16 games with his last 19 games as a returner. If you can't see the difference one of us is missing something, and you know I respect your opinion Jim. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but it seems obvious to me that what made him a great returner is no longer part of his game. Same thing happened to Percy…There aren't many guys who have a long shelf life as a kick returner. It gets beaten out of them. Eric Metcalf, Devin Hester maybe? (and he lost something too).

*edit…Jerry Gray?

I'll try to undertake that project this season when I have the time. It would be interesting and maybe it will open my eyes to something I've missed.

For now, I just don't see the fear of contact you're talking about. I definitely didn't see it this week. He ran with a "full speed ahead" effort on his first KO return and he ran hard and fought off tacklers on the jet sweep. I had a chance to watch his second KO return this morning (I missed it yesterday) and I'm inclined to agree with Dead_Poet about that one. It looked like he was covering up the ball as he ran into the pile. There was no real hole or seam for him to go through. I think that was just a player taking care of the football and trying to get a couple of extra yards.

If Patterson had developed a genuine fear of contact I would expect it to manifest itself much more clearly and consistently.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I'll try to undertake that project this season when I have the time. It would be interesting and maybe it will open my eyes to something I've missed.

For now, I just don't see the fear of contact you're talking about. I definitely didn't see it this week. He ran with a "full speed ahead" effort on his first KO return and he ran hard and fought off tacklers on the jet sweep. I had a chance to watch his second KO return this morning (I missed it yesterday) and I'm inclined to agree with Dead_Poet about that one. It looked like he was covering up the ball as he ran into the pile. There was no real hole or seam for him to go through. I think that was just a player taking care of the football and trying to get a couple of extra yards.

If Patterson had developed a genuine fear of contact I would expect it to manifest itself much more clearly and consistently.

Yeah I don't understand that "fear of contact" thing at all

[yezzir]

Conclusion:
1. "Hater" = posters down on a player that YOU don't think deserves the criticism.

2. CP84 is terrible, and that is an objective FACT outside the purview of Haterism.

(I am much too old to use the word hater... I'm trying to figure out the lingo of whipper snappers).

Your definition of "hater" is somewhat correct, but you touched on something important about the term.

In today's slang, a "hater" is someone who talks negatively about someone/something out of jealousy or unjustified terms. Or they aren't reaching your unreasonably high standards, so you feel you have to talk down to them. Example: "Elvis had a terrible singing voice. Sinatra is the man." Or, "Michael Jackson sucked at dancing...I'm better." Huh? Jealousy or unreasonably high standards influenced those opinions.

However, the term loses its luster when someone calls you a "hater" even though there is reasonable/logical evidence to support your "hate". In other words, a very valid opinion can be unfairly discredited or tossed aside after being called a "hater".

[losperros]

Its been a year and half since you last checked...

CP returned a kick for a TD this year during preseason. He showed speed and moves. I really don't think he's lost anything, though your comments about returners gradually getting beaten down is a valid one.

I like the first down run CP made in the last game. Speed and lots of persistence. The last few yards he got on his own to get the first down.

How about we give Patterson this season to work things out? That's what Zimmer is doing.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Its been a year and half since you last checked...

Yeah because that great return he had against Dallas never happened right?