A few post-Panthers thoughts

by medicineball on Dec 20, 2009 10:48 PM CST

That was terrible, but we've seen signs of this earlier. It finally happened all in one game, and it didn't stop.

It seems likely to me that Leslie Frazier will not be asked back as defensive coordinator. Frazier gets out-coached a lot. He apparently can't teach anyone how to tackle..

Playoffs? Playoffs? Forget it about it. We can't even block or tackle.

The running game is officially cold. Adrian Peterson is above average, but that's it. Our offensive line plays bad. Just bad. How about giving Jon Cooper a start at center? We need somebody who gets the job done.

The idea of using Brinkley as middle linebacker on running downs (1st and 2nd) and using Leber at that position on passing downs is Frazier's brainchild. Clearly, this idea is a disaster. Leber and Brinkley both played well below their abilities tonight. Brinkley is not a sure tackler yet. His technique needs to be refined. Leber was out of position because he is confused about what he's supposed to be doing on the field. Childress needs to make Leber the every-down middle linebacker for the rest of the season. It worked last year, and it can work this year.Either that or make Brinkley the every-down middle linebacker and take Leber out on passing downs. Just make a choice and stick with it.

It's too bad J Leman wasn't active tonight. It would have been interesting to see him take over for Brinkley, who was burned over and over again on run and pass plays.

Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield just showed they are overrated tonight. We have a good defense, but the national media has been turning these guys into something else entirely. Ray Edwards can't rush the passer, either.

Tyrell Johnson missed a number of tackles again tonight. I don't see why Jamarca Sanford doesn't take his place, particularly after Sanford's solid performance at starter against the Bengals.I'm not ready to give up on Tyrell Johnson's development, but he needs to be benched at this stage. Another idea is moving Winfield to safety.

On the road, the offense needs to start the game in hurry-up mode and stay in it until tempo is established. That might be the entire first quarter or longer. There is no tempo in road games recently. We saw the same thing tonight as in Arizona. The offense got off to a slow start.

Stay aggressive through the whole game. Take the time outs at the end of the first half and try to score. Never try to sit on a lead unless the game is completely in hand.

Whenever we play Julius Peppers or Steve Smith, double-team them for the entire game. In the case of Steve Smith, try triple-teaming him. How many times do we have to learn the lesson about these two players?

NBC failed to report anything about why McKinnie was not in the game. I hope he wasn't injured.

We won the division today. Yay.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

Tweet Comment 48 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Respone to Medicineball Post game Comments

I agree 100% with your assessment of the game. We have several players who are over rated including our “HUGE TACKLES”.

Good read Medicineball!

by Hellosully on Dec 20, 2009 10:55 PM CST reply actions

Not Load

Seriously, the rest of them were unimpressive, but Loadholt did a man’s job of it out there. I consistently see him staying in every play, beyond the line of scrimmage. It’s true that Peppers handled him him too, but Load’s a rookie and Peppers is a very seasoned NFL veteran and All-Pro; Load did the best you can expect, all things considered.

Maybe if he had Dugan or Kleinsasser beside him, double-teaming Peppers, it would have gone better.

Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!

by DCPurple on Dec 21, 2009 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

You can tell Load was doing a good job because Peppers went back to McKinney and stayed

So Load was doing a better job than McKenny which you could see since you hardly ever saw pressure coming from teh right side.

by Grime on Dec 21, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

The offense got off to a slow start.

..and slow middle…and ..oh yeah.. slow end.. lowest point total of the year against a middling defense..disturbing

"the following statement is true:
the preceding statement was false" - george carlin

by BranFavrenton on Dec 20, 2009 11:06 PM CST reply actions

Julius Peppers is not "Middling"

And that’s who busted through, consistently. The Vikings never adjusted for him, never keyed on him, never double-teamed him.

Arrogance? Or stupidity?

by DCPurple on Dec 21, 2009 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

I thought arrogance, but c'mon

how can you be arrogant for that long? So it has to be a blend of both.

by Grime on Dec 21, 2009 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

well...

suit it up boys and get out there and do it better…
OH… that’s right… you don’t actually PLAY for the team.

I BELIEVE...

by ArizonaVikingsFan on Dec 20, 2009 11:30 PM CST reply actions

Pick the First 11 Commenters

to this post, and they’ll play with more heart and enthusiasm than the Vikes offense, and yes, that includes AD.

Absolutely pathetic performance.

by JasonAve6413 on Dec 20, 2009 11:41 PM CST up reply actions

watch yourself...

AD plays with fire every single down. Of course we didn’t see him much because he got the ball 12 FRICKEN TIMES

Adrian Peterson, enough said.

by 4 AP Jerseys on Dec 20, 2009 11:54 PM CST up reply actions

AD dropped passes that hit his hands on 2 consecutive plays...

and after the 2nd drop we got a screen-shot of him laughing as he walked to the huddle. Sorry, that’s just unacceptable in my book… and I agree that our O-line sucks balls hard lately.

by Jshore on Dec 21, 2009 12:32 AM CST up reply actions

yep.

by JasonAve6413 on Dec 21, 2009 7:02 AM CST up reply actions

Dropped passes

Yes, AP dropped passes…

So did Chester Taylor, and CT rarely ever does that.

So did Berrian.

So did Shanko.

So did Rice. And Rice got his career-first fumble. I don’t hold that too much against him, 1 fumble in 3 years isn’t too shabby.

Bottom line is, this was a team fail, there wasn’t any single Viking player on the field that didn’t under-perform. That includes Favre, who’s passes were pathetic, even when he had time to throw.

by DCPurple on Dec 21, 2009 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

No Heart?

Are you kidding me?… Bad game plan I will take. Can’t play night games, maybe. Can’t play on turf, could be. But, no heart on this team? Are you kidding me?….. I understand being a fanatic about the team, but being a lunatic is over the line.

by PurpleJesus on Dec 21, 2009 6:40 AM CST up reply actions

We were totally outplayed by a Panthers team missing their #1 running back, and a slough (slew?) of other players.

Our defense yet again made a no-name #2 QB look like Peyton Manning.

Our offense couldn’t have driven Miss Daisy last night.

If you think the Vikes showed up to play last night, you were watching a different game than I was, PJ.

by JasonAve6413 on Dec 21, 2009 7:09 AM CST up reply actions

the defense played well. they got torched in the fourth quarter because they were worn out. our offense did nothing to give them a rest.

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 21, 2009 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

Exactly

by DCPurple on Dec 21, 2009 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

Well I would have expected a sack

From Keven Williams, or Jared Allen. Not good when the only sack we had was from our Corner back.

Where is teh vaunted pass rush we used to have? We need sacks on D to put pressure on the QB if we don’t do that we aren’t going to win the game. With a couple of sacks on Matt Moore we would have owned him.

by Grime on Dec 21, 2009 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

they didn’t pass enough in the first three quarters for us to come up with sacks. they passed a lot in fourth and we were wore out.

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 21, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions

Allen had a sack,

and a forced fumble. Then he and Leber failed to get the ball.

by medicineball on Dec 21, 2009 5:03 PM CST up reply actions

that’s my only beef with allen. he always wants to try and pick up the ball and run. that the third time this season that the opposing team has recovered the ball because allen tried to pick it up instead of falling on it.

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 22, 2009 3:48 PM CST up reply actions

That's Leslie Frazier

It’s what he coaches the defense to do. I don’t like it, either.

by medicineball on Dec 22, 2009 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

I saw the same game

But I saw three problems which I attribute to our difficulties:

1) We do not do well against teams with a good O line.
2) We weren’t at all comfortable the whole game on that field or in those playing conditions.
3) Our O Line was horrible – probably due partially to # 2 above and not getting traction to block.

by PurpleJesus on Dec 21, 2009 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

I'll suit up for WR, I can catch BABY!!! :)

"A bad day over here is better than a good day over there"~ Jared "The Mullet" Allen

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Dec 20, 2009 11:57 PM CST reply actions

i call OC!

"the following statement is true:
the preceding statement was false" - george carlin

by BranFavrenton on Dec 21, 2009 12:05 AM CST reply actions

Don't want to minimize what just happened

But there are a lot of things that made this game a very different game for us. It may also be things that are not in our “sweet” spot and we need to adjust to.

1) Night game
2) Game on natural grass
3) Field was in horrible condition due to the Nor’easter that just went up the coast
4) Game in cold temps

All of these, are things that we are not accustomed to in combination, in one game. This made this a unique game for us as compared to any other game we have played this year. For us, perhaps too tough a combination.

by PurpleJesus on Dec 21, 2009 6:47 AM CST reply actions

+1

Nice point. Still, the Vikings had the ability to win that game.

by medicineball on Dec 21, 2009 8:22 AM CST up reply actions

really? the panthers didn’t look like they had any problems with the exact same conditions.

i’ve seen blame given out all over, except where it’s deserved..

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 21, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

Gee

Let’s start at the beginning so you can catch up with the rest of us who are already at this level…..

Carolina plays on grass at least 8-12 games per year. We don’t.
Carolina practiced on that same field all week. We didn’t.
We practiced outdoors on frozen turf to adjust during the week. When we got there the turf there was not frozen and very soft. Carolina practiced on it.
We practiced outdoors all week to adjust to temps. Still didn’t adjust as well as Carlina who plays all the time outdoors. This affects fell of hands catching passes.
Carolina was already probably close to the correct cleats to use. We started out wrong and took almost two quarters to adjust.

Any further explanations on NFL adjustments on the road search Google.

by PurpleJesus on Dec 21, 2009 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

thanks for catching me up!

now that i’m caught up, i still saw both teams playing under the same conditions last night…..

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 21, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry

I can’t be bothered to converse down at this level. Logic doesn’t exist in these conversations and I had forgotten.

by PurpleJesus on Dec 21, 2009 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

and yet you keep posting. any other pearls of wisdom you’d like to add since you have nothing constructive or that in any way validates your points?

perhaps you’d care to insult my mother?

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 22, 2009 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

My mother was a pure woman

Dang that’s all I can remember from that part of 13th Warrior.

by Grime on Dec 22, 2009 3:55 PM CST up reply actions

Reminds me of that Ron White skit

You can’t fix………

by PurpleJesus on Dec 22, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions

...stupid

by PurpleJesus on Dec 27, 2009 7:46 AM CST up reply actions

Common sense would help

At Az game we slipped and lost footing…Same at Carolina….Longer cleats wld be the key for that.. Several Vikings were slidding around..Then lil later announcers sd..maybe Vikings need to go to the locker room for longer cleats,,,,,,,,,,,,Amazing what is logical, seems to slip (pun there) rite past Chilly..Have to stop being so conservative play calling on the road…Terrible…We have best blocking TE -Kleinsasser and why was he not put over there..or someone..to help with Peppers !!!!

by WVVikings on Dec 21, 2009 7:00 AM CST reply actions

Ugh

McKinney got taken out because Peppers was beating him like he stole his stereo. I have no idea why they never double teamed Peppers it was stupid. If I were Favre I would have hit Bevel in the mouth and told him to double Peppers every down. Kliensauser is a monster we could have handled that situation completely better. Steve Smith showed up yesterday with Mat Moore. I hate to say it but we did not pressure Mat Moore enough. Are rush was anemic. We did a fairly good job on the run defense but this is a game where I think our offense actually killed our defense. What we were on the field for about 15 minutes that game? Positively sick.

by Grime on Dec 21, 2009 8:01 AM CST reply actions

Leber

Anyone have any thoughts on moving Leber to middle linebacker for the rest of the season? Or Greenway?

Brinkley is lost. He and J Leman might be good one day, but it is probably unrealistic to have them start at middle linebacker right now.

Having Leber switch from WLB to MLB depending on whether it’s a run down or passing down to me seems like one of those “nice in theory, but doesn’t work in the game” ideas.

by medicineball on Dec 21, 2009 8:24 AM CST reply actions

Not sure....

But they need to make some adjustments for sure….This will not get better, EJ is not coming back…..Chilly and crew need to work hard this week….

Talk about a slap in the face for them (us too)! They have now fooled even themselves regarding underdogs for the playoffs – and have to prove otherwise….

That being said, they do have the potential, so of course not giving up just yet….I think this kick in the gonads (again) will do something – man oh man, once is normally enough to get one’s attention!

Sheejssh!!!!! Let’s see….

I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...

by vikingfanfrom afar on Dec 21, 2009 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

how about having the offense actually make some plays so the defense doesn’t have to be on the field for 40 minutes a game? that might help too.

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 21, 2009 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

Fingers crossed :)

by DCPurple on Dec 21, 2009 12:54 PM CST up reply actions

Yes and No

Somethings wrong with the defensive scheme when Leber catches the blame for not being able to keep with a WR 30 yards downfield when the WR catches a TD pass.

They say that while Brinkley does well against the run, he’s not as good in pass coverage…

Doesn’t this ring any alarm bells at all?

What are the Minnesota cornerbacks doing? How about the safetys? Aren’t they supposed to handle actually covering the WRs while the LBs guard the flat and the TE?

I’ve been watching Leber downfield for the past couple years and it always impressed me that an LB of his size could hustle down to make the play, but if he’s pretending to be a CB, it’s a lot less impressive and a lot more like absolute freaking stupidity.

I’m really good with moving Leber to MLB, and Brinkley to the side, as long as neither is expected to cover the WRs.

by DCPurple on Dec 21, 2009 12:53 PM CST up reply actions

it doesn’t ring any alarm bells with me. if the time of possession had been even and our offense had actually moved the ball a little our defense would have been just fine.

as it is, you can only expect the defense to run up and down the field so many times before they get tired and run down.

brinkley was decent last night and the scheme was fine. fatigue caught with them in the fourth.

offense was the problem.

by iseepurplepeople on Dec 21, 2009 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

Little upsetting, to once again witness the team collapse on national TV. The previous Sunday Night outing, there was at least the fact that Arizona was remotely a good football team, but Carolina was mediocre, and I think everyone here expected a huge win, with no difficulty.

Watching these 2 Sunday Night games, I’m a bit worried about the Playoffs. Cowboys and Eagles are both competent teams, that I’m not sure the Vikes could beat if the same team we saw last night shows up, especially the Cowboys, who are playing there best football in months/years right now.

We already saw what Arizona is capable of doing, but I have my doubts they’d be able to do it again to the Vikes if there paths cross; Not worried about the Packers. I’ll give them credit that they will most likely be out for revenge, and will most likely play inspired football, if paths were to magically cross, but I think “good” Favre will show up, on account he can say he beat them 3 times, and crushed there playoff hopes, as well as there regular hopes.

by swader on Dec 21, 2009 10:28 AM CST reply actions

The things people say when we lose!

None of this was even brought up when we were winning! Teams can get fatigued through a season, you just can’t expect them to have a 16-0 season! When the wheels finally get’s the turning so do the fans! Overrated! Are you kidding me? Your teams is as good as your record and and 11-3 team can’t have too many over rated players!

Why Do People Question The Vikings' Status?

by UnBannedVikingholic on Dec 21, 2009 12:08 PM CST reply actions