An Open Competition? Wade Knows Better

by Anthony21 on Aug 9, 2009 1:31 PM CDT in Minnesota Vikings

We don't quite know what is behind Bobby Wade's statement about Tarvaris Jackson "knowing he’ll be pretty much the named starter" when the training camp quarterback competition is all said and done.

Wade could simply be throwing some support behind T-Jack, he could have worded his statement poorly and didn't really mean what he said -- or he could have confirmed the fears of those of us who have been suspicious of just how open this quarterback competition is. Wade is a smart media guy, so I fear the third option might be the case here.

It's something I've suspected: Brad Childress isn't about to cut the cord with Tarvaris Jackson (a perennial favorite of his), but he understands T-Jack hasn't done enough to enter training camp with the appearance of having the starting job locked up. So he brings in token opposition (Sage Rosenfels) to "compete" with Jackson before ultimately staying the course at quarterback.

Is this getting conspiratorial? Well, I don't think it's too far-fetched. Consider that Chilly's commitment to T-Jack has been remarkably solid when you take into account the on-field headaches the Vikings have endured as a result of their young quarterback. Also consider timing: Jackson was praised for his performance in the final games of the 2008 season. Of all the possible times for Childress to give someone else a shot at quarterback, is this really it?

And of all the possible quarterbacks who could convince Childress that he should give someone else a shot, is Sage Rosenfels really one of them? By all accounts, his training camp performance hasn't exactly been blowing people away -- which makes Wade's quote believable, in my book.

Rosenfels came into camp facing a losing battle: Take the starting job away from a quarterback who had spent the last four games of 2008 teasing us and who has been a favorite of the head coach. Rosenfels needed to distinguish himself from Jackson to the point that Childress' hand was forced.

But he hasn't done so, and that means Wade is probably right about the winner of the starting quarterback job. Rosenfels and Jackson didn't enter training camp with a 50-50 chance each of prevailing in the competition. This wasn't an open competition. And yes, Jackson entered as the strong favorite.

The judge, after all, is hardly a fair and impartial one.

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I wish Jackson would show some fire once and a while….it’s great to have a calm and collected QB but I want to see him show some spirit. Sure, it’s all business bringing Rosenfels in to “compete,” but do more than take it in stride. Talk like you really want it. Prove you want it.

by cutlassbob on Aug 9, 2009 2:19 PM CDT reply actions

Balancing The Scales

I have to admit, the last two posts here have been a bit disquieting. But, I think no matter what, the scales were tipped against Rosenfels regardless of what Wade said. Sage came to the Vikings with the task of unseating the current starter and to do that he must show that he clearly is the better quarterback. And if neither quarterback has defined himself as the better one, then “better the devil you know” principle probably applies here. Jackson’s experience and his performance during the end of 2008 obviously work in his favor as well. But his poor performance during that playoff game cannot be ignored no matter how loyal Chilly is to him.

But, if Wade tipped Chilly’s hand in this competition, he should face a fine for such a careless remark. And if it simply isn’t true, he still deserves a fine. I’m also confused why Wade would make such a controversial statement with his spot on the team far from assured? Especially after dealing with the entire F-word fiasco and media circus. His big mouth may cost him dearly when the Vikings have to trim the roster.

I can’t believe just yet that Jackson has the spot locked up. In Sage, I see a quarterback with a better QB rating, a better completion percentage, and has done some of his best work engineering comeback wins and near-wins. Yeah, that game agains Indy was ugly, but no worse than Jackson’s bungling of a playoff game. But I am of course an outsider looking in like every other fan. I guess we all have to just wait and see (and hope to hell Chilly knows what he’s doing).

by Purple And Gold Forever on Aug 9, 2009 2:45 PM CDT reply actions

About the playoff game

Sure he didn’t look great. But neither did Tony Romo a week before against that same defense, and Eli “highest paid QB in the league” Manning. Here are their numbers against that super hot defense.

Romo: 53.8% 183 yards 0 TD’s 1 int

Manning: 51.7% 169 yards 0 TD’s 2 int’s

Jackson: 42.9% 164 yards 0 TD’s 1 int

Now given that Jackson has always been less accurate than Romo or Manning, and given it was his first playoff game, I think those numbers are understandable. Philly was just better than we were.

Friday night is going to be awesome!!!

by Cobra312004 on Aug 10, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Not in the same class

A QBs most basic job is to complete passes and move the ball/chains.

2 of the examples completed passes in more than half of their attempts and gave their teams more passing yards toward the possibility of scoring points. 1 did not. I’m not an Eli Manning fan at all, but I’d much rather have him or Romo than T-Jack, even on their worst days.

Yes, Philly was better, but a truly above average QB (I wanted Pennington) would have fared much better.

by KC Viking on Aug 10, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I know why Wade said that.

I happened to be at Training camp this weekend and got the opportunity to see all of the Quarterbacks up close during scrimmages. TJ was showing Sage up even on his knee. I remember one particular play yesterday where TJ threw a 50 yard bullet straight into Shank’s hands and I thought to myself “I guess this is the end for Sage”. TJ is the coach’s man and the player’s man. If he is not the starter it would be a real big change of weather for the whole team.

BTW if anyone else was there I was the tall teenager (6’5) with black hair wearing an AP home jersey on Friday and an away Sidney Rice jersey on Sunday. I talked to a lot of random people so it could have been you.

by FutureViking43 on Aug 9, 2009 3:40 PM CDT reply actions

well regardless of who is winning the spot, you should not come out publicly and say who is gonna be the starter. yes t-jack is probably going to win the starting job but i still dont say it is a lock. this competition will more than likely exceed into the preseason. i do think sage is more than capable but probably just needs to settle into the offense a little better. t-jack has all the assets to be a great QB but cant play in pressure situations,. and thats when you win. who ever starts just needs to make sure they do there job

purple is the color of royalty

by da2213viking on Aug 9, 2009 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

just frustrating

i also agre that i believe that it was never a 50-50 competition. i think that they brought sage in only to give tj a little push i ntraining camp. the only way i see that sage can win the job, is that coach clueless becomes concerned about tj’s durability, which does not have a good track record. my frustration actually comes from the fact that management feels that mediocre qb play is acceptable. they are wasting valuable, precious time that we have with a.p. he can not withstand ALL the pounding he gets every week, and have a long carreer. management needed to attempt to improve the qb situation a little stronger than it did by signing sage to provide a little competition. there was a time in the nfl that teams actually worked out trades for players that could start for a team. now we settle for back up players. i’m not sure that we can afford to try & draft a rookie qb & groom him for a couple of years. i think that a.p’s patience may run out & he would leave after his contract is up.
my battlecry for this year is: “leslie frazier as the new head coach of the vikes”

by indianavikesfan on Aug 10, 2009 8:21 AM CDT reply actions