Raiders @ Vikings

[superfan]

Yeah, that same Jackass has been a Packer hater for years. He's always saying stuff like that. Not sure what his problem his. I won't mention his name either.

On the other hand, I thought Kornheiser and Turico were solid overall.

It's a shame Madden wasn't there to stick up for Brett.

[MJZiggy]

Did anyone hear that jackass say that the Packers should have not brought Favre Back? I refuse to mention Jackass by his god given name, but holy sweet baby Jesus, is he serious? Thank God for Tony K putting Jackass in his place.

Wish Kornheiser would have been a little firmer about it, though. I completely agree with your sentiment though. It's what he said before and should be shitcanned for those comment immediatly. Not brought back my ass.

[Rastak]

Well, just got home from the game....more positive than negative from my perspective...first team defense was very good....pass rush was good most of the night. Offense had a nice long drive and Tavaris Jackson looked good considering his backround in div II and him being a rookie. I like that Childress didn't send it into overtime or I'd still be there. Vikings outplayed the Raiders and should have won but as you guys know, they don't count anyway.

[Cheesehead Craig]

The Viking fans up here are going nuts over QB Travaris Jackson. Well, he beat up on the 2nd string Oak D. Yep, time to start him over Johnson.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Jackson showed good potential. He definitely can run, but that's not what will ultimately make or break him QB (although having good feet in the pocket is nice). They kept it pretty simple for him, and he didn't have to make many tough throws. It was mostly dumpoffs and checkdowns. For a first game, he looked good though. The only negative is that I thought he looked smaller than the 6'2" 225 he is listed at. The same guy who measured Mike Vick must have measured him.

[Rastak]

The Viking fans up here are going nuts over QB Travaris Jackson. Well, he beat up on the 2nd string Oak D. Yep, time to start him over Johnson.

No no no.....he made a few mistakes but looked ok overall. He didn't "beat up" Oak's second string defense, but he was playing with 2nd and 3rd string players on his side also. The whole offensive line was replaced and there were a few street free agents out there in the 3rd quarter. I would like to see him start next year if he progresses though.

[Rastak]

Jackson showed good potential. He definitely can run, but that's not what will ultimately make or break him QB (although having good feet in the pocket is nice). They kept it pretty simple for him, and he didn't have to make many tough throws. It was mostly dumpoffs and checkdowns. For a first game, he looked good though. The only negative is that I thought he looked smaller than the 6'2" 225 he is listed at. The same guy who measured Mike Vick must have measured him.

As usual I agree with Harvey.....didn't notice the size thing, being 100 rows up...LOL.....he threw a couple of passes that should have been picked....but he also COULD have gotten a TD with the pass that was dropped on the 3 yard line.....would have won the Vikings the game.

[HarveyWallbangers]

He'll learn to slide though. Man, Bing light him up. I'm iffy on whether it should have been a flag. Bing hit him with an elbow to the helmet, but in Bing's defense Jackson didn't slide and it almost looked accidental that he got him in the head. Jackson was kind of falling forward. Now that I think about it, it probably should have been a flag.

[Rastak]

He'll learn to slide though. Man, Bing light him up. I'm iffy on whether it should have been a flag. Bing hit him with an elbow to the helmet, but in Bing's defense Jackson didn't slide and it almost looked accidental that he got him in the head. Jackson was kind of falling forward. Now that I think about it, it probably should have been a flag.

Actually he did slide the right way his first scramble. He came back in after getting his bell rung and got a standing ovation, which I think was meant for JT O'Sullivan leaving.....

[superfan]

Michelle Tafoya reported that Brad came over to Tarvaris and told him that he played well but needs to learn how to slide. Jackson smiled and said "okay".

I think he'll be fine, with a solid chance to be good. Can't ask for much more from a guy in his first NFL action coming from a small school. And he definitely should have had a TD -- that drop was one of the worst I've seen in the NFL. Whoever dropped that is cut for sure.

(Brad Johnson, not Childress)

[Rastak]

Michelle Tafoya reported that Brad came over to Tarvaris and told him that he played well but needs to learn how to slide. Jackson smiled and said "okay".

I think he'll be fine, with a solid chance to be good. Can't ask for much more from a guy in his first NFL action coming from a small school. And he definitely should have had a TD -- that drop was one of the worst I've seen in the NFL. Whoever dropped that is cut for sure.

(Brad Johnson, not Childress)

Hey superfan.....I think it was a street freeagent backup fullback that dropped it. Steven Jackson might be his name...it was funny, in the 4th quarter I had no clue who half the friggen players were.

[Rastak]

Interesting Packer org view on the Vikes......not sure on the original link....

The Green Bay Packers ran a version of the West Coast offense under former coach Mike Sherman that is similar to what Brad Childress is installing with the Vikings this season.

John Schneider, the Packers personnel analyst to the general manager, was at the Vikings' preseason opener Monday against Oakland and was impressed by what he saw. Schneider credits quarterback Brad Johnson with making the transition look so smooth.

"They look very good, and it's primarily because Brad is such a good game manager and such an efficient player," said Schneider, who also attended the Vikings' practice against Kansas City in Mankato. "That's going to put the progress of the offense that much ahead of schedule."

Johnson played all three series of the first quarter for the Vikings before being replaced by backup Mike McMahon. Johnson completed five of six passes for 32 yards and had an 88.9 quarterback rating. He led the Vikings on their only touchdown drive of the first half.

Johnson's longest completion was a 12-yarder to Koren Robinson. That was no surprise considering the West Coast offense is based on a short-passing game.

Schneider said that Johnson is the key to the Vikings' success on offense because it might take a quarterback not familiar with this system two years to get a complete grasp of it.

"That's what a quarterback would say," Schneider said. "But based on Brad's experience, especially having played under Jon Gruden [in Tampa Bay], he's that much further ahead. I don't think they are going to miss a beat. ... Basically the transition will be that much smoother for all of the players if the quarterback is able to help everybody line up and just be able to give the team confidence in what they're doing."

Schneider also was impressed by the play of rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who entered in the second quarter. Jackson completed four of seven passes for 39 yards in the second and also ran twice for 19 yards. Jackson, a second-round pick, looked poised in leading the Vikings down the field for a 41-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell as time expired in the first half.

Jackson left the game in the third quarter after taking an elbow to the helmet from linebacker Darnell Bing at the conclusion of a 17-yard run that included a nifty move. Jackson was able to return to finish the quarter.

"I think he looked very poised," Schneider said. "Darrell Bevell [the Packers former quarterbacks coach and the Vikings offense coordinator] is very good with quarterbacks, and so in terms of [Jackson's] progress, he's around Darrell and he's around an experienced guy like Brad Johnson.

"J.T. O'Sullivan [another former Packer] has worked under excellent quarterback coaches, too. Mike McMahon has been around good quarterback coaches.

"[Jackson's] got an advantage a lot of rookies would not have. I think it showed. He's such a good athlete and has so much talent.

"I think the sky is the limit for that guy."

[superfan]

Rastak,

Good article, and you are correct on Steven Jackson. And that's why preseason records don't matter. He cost the Vikes a win, and won't make the final roster.

That's some impressive coherence for that late in the game.

[Lurker64]

Too bad about Greenway for the Purple. Any word on how bad he's hurt?