Watching Division Rival Lions- they are bad tonight

[HarveyWallbangers]

Do you know if either of the Ravens RB's looked OK ? Was thinking of grabbing Musa Smith in another league off of waivers.

Baltimore's OL got manhandled by Minnesota's DL, so they didn't get much room. Musa Smith didn't look good. Jonathan Ogden looks over the hill.

[Joemailman]

Anyway, I see you are migrating to my view of the Vikings. They are serious contenders to the Bears. That defense has playmakers and Chester Taylor will be fine with that OL.

Chester Taylor doesn't impress me that much. He doesn't do much on his own. They haven't been able to run a lick, Artis Hicks isn't very good, and Marcus Johnson doesn't look much improved over last year. Their offense is going to be ugly, but their defense is going to keep them in games. If they get lucky breaks like 2001 and 2005 Bears, they could win 10-11 games and the division.

Last year our offense was ugly, but our defense kept us in games. The result was 4-12. If they can't run the ball, they will not have a good season. Any defense can get worn out if it has to spend too much time on the field.

[Rastak]

Minnesota's defense looked damn good tonight. I'm hoping it's just preseason ball (e.g. Daunte had like a 10,000 QB rating last preseason and came out struggling). Smoot still sucks--despite his gift tonight, but they have a lot of talent on defense. Their offense is very pedestrian, but this looks like the favorite in the division to me. I don't like their depth much though. They also have a QB who is pretty fragile, and a really bad situation at backup QB. If they stay healthy, I think they are better than Chicago. I don't understand how they can be so poor running the ball though. I think Green Bay proved last year that it takes five good OL--not just three. Their OL may end up not being as good as some people think. Their DL looks downright awesome though.

I must say that I got amusement out of Longwell missing a 40 yard FG tonight. I'm sure it was the holder.

Well, I just got back from that game...their running game hasn't been good at all but for some odd reason they've been running right quite a bit.
We'll have to see how they look when the full playbook is out. Anyway, enjoy Longwell's miss, I'll equally enjoy Raynor's many misses...


Vikes did look solid again tonight.

[Bretsky]

I'm concerned about our D this year too; they won't rank as high as last years overall. We will miss Bates and his intensity IMO

[Bretsky]

Minnesota's defense looked damn good tonight. I'm hoping it's just preseason ball (e.g. Daunte had like a 10,000 QB rating last preseason and came out struggling). Smoot still sucks--despite his gift tonight, but they have a lot of talent on defense. Their offense is very pedestrian, but this looks like the favorite in the division to me. I don't like their depth much though. They also have a QB who is pretty fragile, and a really bad situation at backup QB. If they stay healthy, I think they are better than Chicago. I don't understand how they can be so poor running the ball though. I think Green Bay proved last year that it takes five good OL--not just three. Their OL may end up not being as good as some people think. Their DL looks downright awesome though.

I must say that I got amusement out of Longwell missing a 40 yard FG tonight. I'm sure it was the holder.

Well, I just got back from that game...their running game hasn't been good at all but for some odd reason they've been running right quite a bit.
We'll have to see how they look when the full playbook is out. Anyway, enjoy Longwell's miss, I'll equally enjoy Raynor's many misses...


Vikes did look solid again tonight.

That's because Minnesota has sold it's soul the the devil and nabbed a
F'ckin Badger Coach.

[Rastak]

Minnesota's defense looked damn good tonight. I'm hoping it's just preseason ball (e.g. Daunte had like a 10,000 QB rating last preseason and came out struggling). Smoot still sucks--despite his gift tonight, but they have a lot of talent on defense. Their offense is very pedestrian, but this looks like the favorite in the division to me. I don't like their depth much though. They also have a QB who is pretty fragile, and a really bad situation at backup QB. If they stay healthy, I think they are better than Chicago. I don't understand how they can be so poor running the ball though. I think Green Bay proved last year that it takes five good OL--not just three. Their OL may end up not being as good as some people think. Their DL looks downright awesome though.

I must say that I got amusement out of Longwell missing a 40 yard FG tonight. I'm sure it was the holder.

Well, I just got back from that game...their running game hasn't been good at all but for some odd reason they've been running right quite a bit.
We'll have to see how they look when the full playbook is out. Anyway, enjoy Longwell's miss, I'll equally enjoy Raynor's many misses...


Vikes did look solid again tonight.

That's because Minnesota has sold it's soul the the devil and nabbed a
F'ckin Badger Coach.

I watched the sideline quite a bit and Childress is all alone most of the time while Bevell and Tomlin huddle with offense and defense. Very different from Tice who was all over the place during the games...don't know if that is good or bad, just different.

[Bretsky]

I'd classify Tice as nearly as bad as Wayne Fontes; neither were as bad as Rich Kotite though.

Regardless IMO Tice to Childress will probably be a good change

[Rastak]

Anyway, I see you are migrating to my view of the Vikings. They are serious contenders to the Bears. That defense has playmakers and Chester Taylor will be fine with that OL.

Chester Taylor doesn't impress me that much. He doesn't do much on his own. They haven't been able to run a lick, Artis Hicks isn't very good, and Marcus Johnson doesn't look much improved over last year. Their offense is going to be ugly, but their defense is going to keep them in games. If they get lucky breaks like 2001 and 2005 Bears, they could win 10-11 games and the division.

Last year our offense was ugly, but our defense kept us in games. The result was 4-12. If they can't run the ball, they will not have a good season. Any defense can get worn out if it has to spend too much time on the field.

Joe, that's very true, however, Minnesota has had unreal time of possesion numbers this preseason. Although the running game hasn't been great, they throw tons of short passes which result in long drives. It's somewhat simmilar to Philly's offense of the last couple of years. Boring but effective.

[Terry]

You beat me to it, Joemailman. I was going to quote the same line and say, Rayner does that and everyone's screaming for Ted to get a new kicker.

Rastak can hold his breath.

[ahaha]

That Viking D-line is looking quite scary. It's not quite 'the purple people eaters' yet, but its bringing up memories of the Doleman, Noga, Millard and Thomas line.

[Rastak]

That Viking D-line is looking quite scary. It's not quite 'the purple people eaters' yet, but its bringing up memories of the Doleman, Noga, Millard and Thomas line.

They are getting quite a bit of pressure on the QB which makes good things happen.

[red]

I'm concerned about our D this year too; they won't rank as high as last years overall. We will miss Bates and his intensity IMO

i absolute 100% agree B

[Rastak]

Smoot still sucks--despite his gift tonight

He may or may not still suck but I just watched the reply 3 times of that pick and it was a great play, he tore the ball out of the recievers hand and took it 69 to the house. THAT is what you want. Gift?, I don't think so.

[mmmdk]

Remember, great D-lines, make mediocre secondaries look good. Sharper will make the probowl (again) unless injured. Minnesota looks good in the short run (this and next year) but I don't buy their offensive strategy. Vikings clone Philly but the Reid model only won because the NFC has been weak for half a decade. Not anymore. In the long run it won't make Vikings SB champs but they'll win more than they lose with the Philly model. I'd copy New England, Pittsburgh, the 49ers dynasty and even the Holmgren way...if I'd copy a team philosophy. I like McCarthy but he must deliver to make me a true believer but I trust the Packer direction.

[Rastak]

Out of curiosity, if you don't like the WCO, what is your perferred offense, a more vertical game?