Vikes/Lions post-game thoughts

[Mothman]

Agreed. Games like that will be the litmus test. That's when the Vikings D will have to consistently be precise, not miss tackles or assignments, cover and hit extra hard. And it's when the offense will have to throw the ball downfield successfully. Things will have to open up for the Vikings.

It's just at this point I'm beginning to actually believe that this current Vikings team does have some surprises in them. Instead of dreading any upcoming games against high horsepower offenses, I'm actually looking forward to them. I'm not saying the Vikings will win all the time but I think they can make a game out of it against most any team.

It's still a rebuilding year. I think it's working. This current Vikings team is clearly better than last year's version.

I agree, they're better and it IS still a rebuilding a year. We shouldn't lose sight of that just because of the good start and we shouldn't even lose sight of it if the Vikes finish with a winning record.

I also think, amidst the weekly concern about the downfield passing game, that people need to acknowledge that the Vikes have been hitting intermediate routes and even a few deeper routes all season. They haven't connected on a bomb but despite all the consternation, the offense hasn't simply been comprised of short routes and running plays.

[Just Me]

I also think, amidst the weekly concern about the downfield passing game, that people need to acknowledge that the Vikes have been hitting intermediate routes and even a few deeper routes all season. They haven't connected on a bomb but despite all the consternation, the offense hasn't simply been comprised of short routes and running plays.

What is interesting about the critique (perceived lack of a vertical passing game) is that I would still argue that whenever the Vikings have needed a long completion, they have gotten one. The offense was still able to tie the game near the end at Indianapolis, and it was a defensive "let down" that resulted in the Colts pulling out the win. Just an observation.

[MrPurplenGold]

I think one interesting item from the past two games that is kind of being ignored is how well the LB corps, and defense as a whole for that matter, has played without Erin Henderson. I don't know if they haven't attacked Brinkley in the Nickel, Alan Williams has schemed around Brinkley, or Erin Henderson isn't as important to the overall success of the Vikings LB Corps as it was initially thought. It's going to be interesting to see how the Vikings handle things when Henderson recovers from his concussion.

[mansquatch]

I've felt that Brinkley has really become a solid contributor. He is making the plays he's needed to make. Offenses have been testing him, he has passed.

[dead_poet]

Vikings will turn in Robinson's personal foul to NFL. Frazier: "It just seemed like a tackle. Now, it was a hard tackle. But it's football"

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[dead_poet]

Leslie Frazier said Vikings came out of Sunday's game healthy. Michael Jenkins suffered bruised ribs but returned.

Frazier said WLB Erin Henderson (concussion) still not cleared to play. Sounds like Brinkley might keep nickel job when Henderson returns.

As of right now, sounds as if Mistral Raymond won't lose safety job to Jamcara Sanford. But Raymond out a few more weeks, too.

[Mothman]

very interesting... thanks for the link.

If Sanford keeps playing like he has the last two weeks, I'll be surprised if he's taken out of the starting lineup. He's been a factor in these past two wins..

[cstelter]

I think this is the first game where Peterson really looked like his old self. What makes him great is all the second effort yardage he makes and I think today we really saw him bring that back to his game.

I'm pretty sure I heard this stat during the game-- when AD had ~90 yards. He had 70+ of those yards after first contact. I'm not sure how good that is compared to other backs (couldn't find a good listing of that stat), but it sounds awfully good to me.

In other words, I agree!

[VikingLord]

If the queen had balls, she'd be king. She doesn't so she's not. Ifs don't work.

"If this did not happen"... Well, it did happen. The "ifs" are just an attempt to find something sour about a win.

I'm not attempting to find something sour about a win. I'm pointing out an issue supported by facts which, if not addressed, is going to come back to bite this team, probably sooner rather than later.

Look, Edward, I agree that the day is coming where the Vikings are gong to have to throw medium to deep passes to pull out a win. I guess I don't buy the argument that all is lost because the Vikings haven't done that yet. I'm not convinced they can't get the ball downfield nor am I convinced that they won't.

Who knows? Maybe you're right to complain. But I wouldn't bet on it. They've already been doing things this year that a lot of people, including myself, said the team couldn't do before the season started. For example, they've been winning. I'd say that's as good of a place to start as any.

I don't know that I'm complaining per se, but anyone who thinks this was another solid won ala the one against the 49ers is high on purple Kool Aid. The Vikes beat the 49ers convincingly. The Lions could have won that game had their receivers not had a case of the dropsies.

As for getting the ball downfield, you get better at something when you try to do it. This looks like Chilly-ball to me. It's the definition of it. Run AD, run AD, run Gerhart, compress the field, throw it short to Harvin, check down, check down, check down, then chuck-and-duck 2-3 times per game and hope for something good to happen.

That's Chilly-ball, and it's not complaining to point out that is how the Vikes played on offense yesterday and it would have cost them had they not had two returns for touchdowns (something that has happened only 3 times in their 50+ year history).

[dead_poet]

Praise for Guion:

Frazier also had high praise for nose tackle Letroy Guion, who has taken his game to a new level in the Vikings' 3-1 start. Said his head coach: "He’s become so much more professional about his work and his approach to work. We talked a lot during the offseason. He's really worked to show his teammates, along with our staff, that he was taking his job more seriously. He was awarded a contract [as a free agent] in the offseason. He was very grateful for that. And I expressed to him the way to show your gratitude is to be a pro about your business, about what you have to do on the football field. He’s spent a lot more time in the classroom, studying and preparing for opponents. It’s showing up on the field. He’s playing exceptionally well for us. But he’s taken his game to another level as far as his preparation. He’s had the physical tools. Now he’s becoming a student of the game.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 41581.html

[admvp]

I'm so tired of the 'luck' and 'fluke' argument. It's garbage. That's what people said about my Orioles all baseball season, and guess what? We're playoff bound.

I don't care if the Vikings return 4 kickoffs for TDs every Sunday and win each game by 1 point. They are still wins. And they aren't flukes. God, they aren't flukes.

Ugh. I can't stand people saying this. I can't. I dealt with a whole baseball season of it... I swear, if this starts happening for my football team too...

Please, credit where credit is due, people. This game in particular wasn't a fluke because the Lions special teams are a joke, and Percy Harvin is one of the best kick retuners in the game. Having an asset like that increases the chance of 'fluke' kickoff return TDs, which, in turn, makes it NOT a fluke. Percy + Lions special teams = Touchdown. Not so fluky.

[Just Me]

I'm so tired of the 'luck' and 'fluke' argument. It's garbage. That's what people said about my Orioles all baseball season, and guess what? We're playoff bound.

I don't care if the Vikings return 4 kickoffs for TDs every Sunday and win each game by 1 point. They are still wins. And they aren't flukes. God, they aren't flukes.

Ugh. I can't stand people saying this. I can't. I dealt with a whole baseball season of it... I swear, if this starts happening for my football team too...

Please, credit where credit is due, people. This game in particular wasn't a fluke because the Lions special teams are a joke, and Percy Harvin is one of the best kick retuners in the game. Having an asset like that increases the chance of 'fluke' kickoff return TDs, which, in turn, makes it NOT a fluke. Percy + Lions special teams = Touchdown. Not so fluky.

Not to re-post, but the Vikings actually planned (or as close as you can come to planning, anyway) the first KO return for a TD. The Link was earlier in this thread, but to me this is huge. Coaching actually may have been the difference in the game (7 points for the TD)

[Mothman]

I don't know that I'm complaining per se, but anyone who thinks this was another solid won ala the one against the 49ers is high on purple Kool Aid. The Vikes beat the 49ers convincingly. The Lions could have won that game had their receivers not had a case of the dropsies.

The 49ers missed make-able plays too (like a mis-fired pass to Moss that could have been a TD). That sort of thing happens in every NFL game. Winning teams don't just win because they make every play. They all benefit from missed opportunities by the opposition. It's part of the sport.

I don't care if this win over the Lions wasn't as convincing as the win over the 49ers. It's a win and they didn't just have it handed to them, they earned it. Have things been going so well for the Vikings over the past few years that we need to be picky about how they win from week to week?

As for getting the ball downfield, you get better at something when you try to do it.

They do try it...

This looks like Chilly-ball to me. It's the definition of it. Run AD, run AD, run Gerhart, compress the field, throw it short to Harvin, check down, check down, check down, then chuck-and-duck 2-3 times per game and hope for something good to happen.

That's Chilly-ball, and it's not complaining to point out that is how the Vikes played on offense yesterday and it would have cost them had they not had two returns for touchdowns (something that has happened only 3 times in their 50+ year history).

... and again, they might not have played it the same way if they hadn't had the two long returns. It seems like you're compartmentalizing the game, focusing on the aspects you didn't like but when viewed as a whole, this was a game where "Chiliball" worked and arguably made sense. They were getting points from their special teams, the defense was playing well and keeping the score down (the Lions had just 6 points until well into the 4th quarter) and the Vikes offense was being conservative when in poor starting field position, which was often. They weren't able to put together TD drives and that's always a problem but they did put together some long drives and their game plan worked well. They never trailed, their approach didn't give the home team much-needed momentum by turning the ball over on high risk plays, they ran the ball well and were relatively even in time of possession even though they had two big returns for TDs. I think everyone, the Vikes included, would like to see more point production out of the offense but even with a terrific, high-flying offense, there would be weeks where they'd just have to find another way to win.

[akvikingsfan]

Do you guys remember the 09 season? Of course you do. We went to the NFCC game and only lost because Favre wanted to be a hero. Anyway not the point I am making. After every win at the start of the year people on this board would post reasons why we weren't that good, how we barely beat a bad team, how we didn't put up huge numbers. I see this as being the exact same as that season. We are winning. Not destroying teams but winning none the less. If this season turns out anywhere near as good as 09 I'll be very pleased.

[dead_poet]

Looks like #Vikings D learned one important lesson: Antoine Winfield was rerouting Calvin Johnson every play on final drive.

Tom Pelissero