A message board dedicated to the discussion of Minnesota Viking Football.
https://vikingsmessageboard.com/
I know I would have questioned the OL's manhood at halftime of that game. Don't know if it was coaches or players, but someone got their attention. They definitely stepped it up and gave Ponder room to work.dead_poet wrote:Was it just me, or did the offensive line play noticeably better in the second half? And, oddly enough, that's when Christian Ponder suddenly did his best to look like an NFL quarterback. There just might be a correlation? Anybody notice if the Bears stopped bringing pressure or if the line just manned up and have the best protection they've had all year?
As far as I could tell, it was the latter but there was a noticeable difference.dead_poet wrote:Was it just me, or did the offensive line play noticeably better in the second half? And, oddly enough, that's when Christian Ponder suddenly did his best to look like an NFL quarterback. There just might be a correlation? Anybody notice if the Bears stopped bringing pressure or if the line just manned up and have the best protection they've had all year?
Well, that begs the question...WHAT got them to play this well? It's frustrating to realize they have this potential. Where has it been and how do they harness it for four quarters?Mothman wrote:As far as I could tell, it was the latter but there was a noticeable difference.
It wasn't pretty. Several of the Bears' red zone plays and the long TD to Marshall it was particularly noticeable. There hasn't seemed to be a steady flow of pressure this season, which is frustrating when that's been our defensive strength. Also, our linebackers continue to be non-factors. There are a lot of holes on this defense. It seems like when one gets filled, two others open up. I know this is getting too far ahead of ourselves, but aside from possibly guard and QB, LB, DE and DT are going to be priorities in the next draft.On a related note, there were some plays where Cutler had all day to throw. The Bears o-line has definitely improved.
I know it's early, but he's looking like a complete bust. Team expected big things. Was hoping he'd also win the PR job due to his speed. Something isn't clicking and the secondary is hurting due to lack of other options.mansquatch wrote:Robinson was totally beat.
Bishop: 2 snapsCordarrelle Patterson replaced Simpson to start the #Vikings second drive, but played just six snaps, still fewer than Webb.
I have no idea but they were brutal in the first half so the difference in their performance from one half to the next really stood out to me. The defense was markedly better in the second half too. Aside from the turnovers (which, admittedly, were big plays) I thought the defense was pretty lousy in the first half too.dead_poet wrote:Well, that begs the question...WHAT got them to play this well? It's frustrating to realize they have this potential. Where has it been and how do they harness it for four quarters?
I hope so too. They definitely have to play better on that side of the ball.It wasn't pretty. Several of the Bears' red zone plays and the long TD to Marshall it was particularly noticeable. There hasn't seemed to be a steady flow of pressure this season, which is frustrating when that's been our defensive strength. Also, our linebackers continue to be non-factors. There are a lot of holes on this defense. It seems like when one gets filled, two others open up. I know this is getting too far ahead of ourselves, but aside from possibly guard and QB, LB, DE and DT are going to be priorities in the next draft.
Cook, so far, hasn't looked like a guy that's deserving of a contract extension, either. Of course, due to the Vikings' lack of options outside of Rhodes, he'll probably get one. Plenty of time to improve, I suppose. I hope it happens.
@TomPelissero
Watched #Bears final drive again. Definitely at least two plays #Vikings aren't all playing the same defense. Brutal time for breakdowns.
I agree with your last part, almost to the point where I'd like to see some hurry-up, up-tempo stuff. He needs to get out of his own head and just PLAY. With how smart he supposedly is, he might be TOO smart for his own good and overthinks everything. At times (the first half of the game, for example), he just seems to play so technical and robotic. I dunno if I can really put my finger on it. But this Good Ponder Atrocious Ponder act is really getting old.mondry wrote:It's a whole lot of what came first? The chicken? the egg? or the chicken? maybe the egg? possibly the chicken?
Was it more of the formations / 3 WR sets and less of the condensed zach line lead runs that helped the o-line which helped Ponder?
Was it Ponder making more plays both with his arm and a couple nice runs that fired him up and fired the team up and allowed him to get in a rhythm?
Was it the line getting their crap together for some inspired blocking?
Was it Musgrave calling the right plays to take advantage of what the bears were doing and that put Ponder and the line in a better situation to succeed?
That is what is so maddening about this team because it happened last year for a stretch as well. It feels like everything from the top down is under performing whether it's play calling, formations, QB play, O-line, or the WR's (though the WR's have been a strong point I'd say this year) to the point where they look border line incompetent. Then all of a sudden it's like everything comes together and they play nearly lights out.
Realistically it's probably all 4 of those things combined to some extent. At least until we get felton back those condensed formations just haven't been too hot for us. I'm trying to remember that outside of rudolph and AD, our offensive weapons are still fairly new. Simpson and wright were here for 1 year and simpson was limited most of that time. Jennings and Patterson are brand new and if you notice Tom Brady looks "human" relying on his rookies and new faces.
Point is it takes Musgrave a little bit to figure out how to use all these guys and of course the Chemistry between them and Ponder is still a work in progress. We've got a squishy part of the schedule coming up and it's been said it looked like we finally came out of preseason mode so if that's the case, look for us to get back to 2-2 here.
I do think we need to get ponder involved from the get go though, whether that's with passes, some boot leg designed runs, or whatever. He just seems to respond more when we get him into the action and just playing FOOTBALL rather than the calculated "I can't make a mistake" mode that ironically leads to tons of mistakes...
Frazier on Patterson not being on the field: "We're going to get that rectified." Said it shouldn't be the case again.