hoosier
10-22-2007, 07:53 AM
Tavarius Jackson may not be the answer, but he's not the biggest problem in Minnesota either. Firing Childress would be addition by subtraction. I'm so glad they didn't let him get on that plane to GB...
(Jim Souhan, Minneapolis Star Tribune)
IRVING, TEXAS - They filed into the Texas Stadium locker room silently Sunday night, looking more resigned than angry. They spoke in hushed tones, measured their words, bit their tongues and shrugged. The Vikings are getting good at this, and by this, we mean losing. A year ago they earned what seemed a seminal victory in Brad Childress' tenure, whipping the Seahawks in Seattle to improve to 4-2. Since that promising day, the Vikings have played the equivalent of a full regular season and are 4-12, the kind of record that causes most owners to clean house.
"That's very worrisome," cornerback Antoine Winfield said.
What's worse, they are losing the same way this season that they did last season. Check that. The losing is worse this year, because the new regime had a full offseason to fix its obvious problems.
Six games into the season we have to admit that if Adrian Peterson hadn't fallen to them in the draft, the Vikings would be 1-5 at best.
As it is, they're 2-4 on merit, and it's obvious to everyone who isn't in charge that the braintrust is asking too much of second-year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who is overmatched, and not enough of Peterson, who is underused.
In the Cowboys' 24-14 victory, the Vikings offense scored on its first drive, then didn't score again. Jackson completed six of 19 passes for 72 yards, with only two to wide receivers.
Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher entering the game, carried four times for 27 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards on the first drive, then touched the ball just eight more times from scrimmage the rest of the game, an embarrassing waste of a singular talent.
The problem with the Vikings is not that they are awful; it's that they're so close to being good -- just one efficient quarterback, one top receiver and one sensible decision-maker away from the eminently accessible NFC playoffs.
Sunday, their defense surrendered only 17 points to the NFC's best offense, and scored a touchdown of its own. The Vikings hassled quarterback Tony Romo, and their offensive line handled the Cowboys' talented defensive front. They averaged 4.9 yards per rush, with Peterson carrying 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown, and Jackson usually was given time to survey a secondary that allowed 388 passing yards to the Patriots last week.
Jackson produced 312 fewer yards than Tom Brady, and you know what? It's not his fault. The Vikings rushed or overrated a second-year quarterback from Alabama State who, at best, will slowly learn on the job.
Sunday, Jackson and Childress argued vehemently on the sideline. You don't have to know what they said to side with Jackson, an earnest guy who gives you the impression of an intern accidentally locked in the CEO's office.
What's interesting about the construction of this team is that the roster is filled with must-win-now veterans, and yet Childress' demeanor -- more relaxed, friendly, patient this year -- suggests he's working on a 10-year rebuilding plan.
Either he is delusional, or owner Zygi Wilf promised him job security he hasn't earned.
This team is desperate for a No. 1 receiver, yet the pass-catcher they signed this winter was unproven tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. He's scheduled to make $18.2 million over five years but has caught zero passes the past two weeks and nine for the season, meaning that money should have been spent on more pressing needs.
Losing in Dallas is understandable; completing six passes and ignoring Peterson is perplexing.
Childress keeps saying the Vikings need to execute his offense; for the past year, it's been the other way around.
(Jim Souhan, Minneapolis Star Tribune)
IRVING, TEXAS - They filed into the Texas Stadium locker room silently Sunday night, looking more resigned than angry. They spoke in hushed tones, measured their words, bit their tongues and shrugged. The Vikings are getting good at this, and by this, we mean losing. A year ago they earned what seemed a seminal victory in Brad Childress' tenure, whipping the Seahawks in Seattle to improve to 4-2. Since that promising day, the Vikings have played the equivalent of a full regular season and are 4-12, the kind of record that causes most owners to clean house.
"That's very worrisome," cornerback Antoine Winfield said.
What's worse, they are losing the same way this season that they did last season. Check that. The losing is worse this year, because the new regime had a full offseason to fix its obvious problems.
Six games into the season we have to admit that if Adrian Peterson hadn't fallen to them in the draft, the Vikings would be 1-5 at best.
As it is, they're 2-4 on merit, and it's obvious to everyone who isn't in charge that the braintrust is asking too much of second-year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who is overmatched, and not enough of Peterson, who is underused.
In the Cowboys' 24-14 victory, the Vikings offense scored on its first drive, then didn't score again. Jackson completed six of 19 passes for 72 yards, with only two to wide receivers.
Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher entering the game, carried four times for 27 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards on the first drive, then touched the ball just eight more times from scrimmage the rest of the game, an embarrassing waste of a singular talent.
The problem with the Vikings is not that they are awful; it's that they're so close to being good -- just one efficient quarterback, one top receiver and one sensible decision-maker away from the eminently accessible NFC playoffs.
Sunday, their defense surrendered only 17 points to the NFC's best offense, and scored a touchdown of its own. The Vikings hassled quarterback Tony Romo, and their offensive line handled the Cowboys' talented defensive front. They averaged 4.9 yards per rush, with Peterson carrying 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown, and Jackson usually was given time to survey a secondary that allowed 388 passing yards to the Patriots last week.
Jackson produced 312 fewer yards than Tom Brady, and you know what? It's not his fault. The Vikings rushed or overrated a second-year quarterback from Alabama State who, at best, will slowly learn on the job.
Sunday, Jackson and Childress argued vehemently on the sideline. You don't have to know what they said to side with Jackson, an earnest guy who gives you the impression of an intern accidentally locked in the CEO's office.
What's interesting about the construction of this team is that the roster is filled with must-win-now veterans, and yet Childress' demeanor -- more relaxed, friendly, patient this year -- suggests he's working on a 10-year rebuilding plan.
Either he is delusional, or owner Zygi Wilf promised him job security he hasn't earned.
This team is desperate for a No. 1 receiver, yet the pass-catcher they signed this winter was unproven tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. He's scheduled to make $18.2 million over five years but has caught zero passes the past two weeks and nine for the season, meaning that money should have been spent on more pressing needs.
Losing in Dallas is understandable; completing six passes and ignoring Peterson is perplexing.
Childress keeps saying the Vikings need to execute his offense; for the past year, it's been the other way around.