Vikings' Late Comeback Not Enough To Overcome Early Errors
by Christopher Gates on Nov 20, 2011 4:43 PM CST
in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season
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PrintIt would have really been pretty easy for the Minnesota Vikings to have folded up the tents at halftime of their game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday afternoon. After all, they had just allowed two touchdowns in a very short span of time, they had allowed 24 unanswered points to the Raiders, and had watched their superstar offensive player get helped off of the field.
But that's not what happened. The Vikings didn't roll over, and they almost managed to get themselves an improbable comeback victory in front of the home town fans. I know that there's no such thing as a "moral victory" in the NFL, but it was still good to see from a team that has a history of folding in the face of adversity.
Generally, I'm not this serene after a Minnesota Vikings' loss, but after this one, I'm more confident than ever that this team has a serious long-term answer at quarterback in Christian Ponder. Did the guy throw a few bad passes today? Yeah, he did. . .he tried to force a few things, and got burned as a result. He's a rookie. Rookies do those sorts of things occasionally. Learning how to play quarterback in the NFL means screwing up occasionally, particularly as a rookie. Heck, as somebody pointed out in the Game Threads, Troy Aikman went 0-11 as a rookie starting quarterback, and got his head beaten in for most of that season to boot. Even the great Peyton Manning went 3-13 as a rookie. Both of those guys wound up just fine, thanks, and there's no doubt in my mind that Ponder is going to wind up fine, too.
For the bad throws he made, he got off some really good ones, too, like the 37-yarder to Shiancoe that set up Kyle Rudolph's touchdown and the 42-yard pitch-and-catch with Devin Aromashodu that set up Percy Harvin's touchdown to start the fourth quarter. And, honestly, I don't know how the heck anybody can give the guy a fair evaluation with the offensive line he's playing behind every week. Ponder wound up being the Vikings' leading rusher today with Adrian Peterson being out, and it's not like he was running to make plays or running because that's how the play was designed. . .he was running for his life out there because he had about .8 seconds to react before he had a defensive lineman standing right next to him.
Frankly, for as maligned a group as our receivers are, they're not anywhere near as big a problem as the lack of pass blocking ability of our offensive line. Charlie Johnson just goes out and continues to get his butt kicked over and over and over and over and over and. . .well, you get the idea. With today's loss, unfortunately, we are officially in Matt Kalil territory for the 2012 NFL Draft, and a guy like that would go a long way towards fixing a lot of Minnesota's offensive problems.
The defense actually played pretty good football, in my opinion, despite what the final score says. Thanks to special teams miscues, the Raiders' touchdown drives were 53, 57, and 16 yards in length. Stopping offenses on a short field constantly isn't easy, but the Raiders' return guys constantly put them in good field position. Sadly, Jared Allen's streak of consecutive games with a sack came to an end today at 11, despite the Vikings dumping Carson Palmer four times. The sacks were registered by E.J. Henderson, Chad Greenway, Kevin Williams, and Brian Robison.
According to reports, an x-ray of Adrian Peterson's foot and ankle showed no broken bones or anything like that. He's scheduled for an MRI tomorrow to see if there was any other damage. Hopefully we'll know sooner rather than later.
It started out ugly, got exciting at the end, and ended with the Vikings just running out of steam. Discuss the game here, and thanks to everyone that hung out in the Game Threads to share it with us. We really do appreciate it.
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Comments
re: Allen (Asher)
I couldn’t agree more with the muffin man…I don’t care if we pull someone from the practice squad at this point in the year. Allen gets attacked by QBs every week b/c they know how absolutely awful he is at CB…he’s not getting the job done, try someone…anyone else
I know I'm the minority but I really don't think Asher is that bad.
This is what it boils down to, Asher Allen should not be covering #1 recievers he should be a nickle back, the people in front of him on the depth chart got hurt now he is the starter even though he’s suposed to be the nickle back. Why is this hard to figure out? Nickle backs are the starters when the starters are gone!
"Winning isn't everything but losing is nothing" - Ace Bricka coach of the Galaxy Aces
Ugh...
It’s frustrating seeing the biggest problem every game with the O line collapsing in every single play and giving up deep penetration every running paly and just never seeing any improvement.
I’ll never cheer to lose, but I wouldn’t mind Kalil next season. Now we need to come up with some Superman references for the guy.
Ponder needs a Trojan for protection… Heh heh
First Vikings memory: age 5, crying in front of the tv with my dad after the '98 NFC championship game.
by Sburrillbowen14 on Nov 20, 2011 7:18 PM CST up reply actions
Agreed
Sure he blows coverage at times, but I see him have textbook coverage and still get beat because he is up against the Greg Jennings and Steve Smiths of the opponent (seems to happen a lot)
also you wont ever hear his name called out when he does good, just comes with the territory of DB
HOWEVER
Both safeties and Griffin are playing extremely poorly for being the starters since the beginning of the season, and I know I may take some heat for this but Greenway is not that great
It was a good game
and you guys have some nice pieces. Our pass rush is really good, so don’t be too down on yr line.
"In football, I root for the Oakland Raiders because they hire castoffs, outlaws, malcontents, and f*** -ups, they have lots of penalties, fights, and paybacks, and because Al Davis told the rest of the pig NFL owners to go get f***ed. Someday, the Raiders will be strong again, and they will dip the ball in s*** and shove it down the throats of the wholesome, white, heartland teams that pray together and don't deliver late hits." - George Carlin.
Lol ya right, our o line is so bad I can't even think of a joke for it
rabble rabble rabble
by Justine Hicks on Nov 20, 2011 5:05 PM CST up reply actions
More holes than Swiss cheese?
As much push as a brown snake playing peekaboo?
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 5:34 PM CST up reply actions
Let me correct you
It was a good game. You have some nice peaces. Our Offensive Line is really bad, so don’t be too high on your pass rush.
Ponder to Harvin for 6!
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Nov 20, 2011 5:38 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
*pieces
Damn autocorecct
Ponder to Harvin for 6!
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Nov 20, 2011 5:41 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I will say your OL is not very spectacular.
But to say the Raiders don’t have a great pass rushing DL doesn’t compute. lol They are known for generating pass rush.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I'm sorry. Don't know too much about the Viking's OL.
=/
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I
Didn’t say it wasn’t great. I was making a joke out of what he said because the way he said it made it seem like the only reason our OL got spanked is because your DL is phenomenal. Just a joke :)
Ponder to Harvin for 6!
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Nov 20, 2011 6:07 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah I know (Was even thinking of saying that you didn't say that, but was just saying).
and yeah, like I said, I don’t know too much about your OL other than Hochstein(?), so I don’t know HOW bad your OL is….
Did you guys get an OL last draft though? If so, whats going on with him?
Hope Peterson gets a speedy recovery. I have great respect for RBs in the NFL, and hate to see one of the best go down.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I think you might mean Loadholt but that's OK
I’m trying to forget most of them.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Hochstien=Loadholt?? Perhaps Hutchinson
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 6:20 PM CST up reply actions
thats his name. lol
I know he is one of the better OL in the league. Well I dont know how he is this year though..
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
Getting older and has had some injurys.
Off topic. after the loss of Al Davis it would be nice for you guys to hit the play-offs. Palmer should improve week to week.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
It will be tough.
Only 6 wins now, but a tough road ahead for the raiders. They need to stop committing penalties though.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I think they may have gotten all their penalties out of them this game
Geez that was a lot. By both teams. I mean, combined, we had more penalties than Green Bay in the one game refs called penalties on them last year (18 was it? at Soldier Field)
Oh no. lol knowing the Raiders this is not the End.
Unless Hue figures out a way to get the players smarter. Sometimes I think this is a negative effect of the “bully” mantra that Hue is trying to establish.
I think the raiders have the ability to make the wildcard, but to me its still a long shot. We are not a playoff caliber team yet, but I feel that the Raiders are close.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
The last first round pick was McKinnie.....
Hutch was acquired about five years ago. Loadholt second round. Other than that, mid to late rounders via the draft.
Nowhere has the all in philosophy of 2009 had more of an impact than on the O line. Recurring injuries to Herrera and Sullivan, McKinnie’s stellar offseason regimen, and a lack of organizational long term vision have led to this situation.
It was the game I was hoping for:
Keep it competitive, but lose. I know, I know, never root for a loss… but we’re rebuilding. There’s no one out there who can say otherwise. We need so much help in the draft it’s not even funny and some of our stalwarts are simply getting too old.
The Cheerleaders were looking hot today!
I like that slutty-cammo look.
by chaosg on Nov 20, 2011 5:09 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Lol
Just got that. Nice
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 5:34 PM CST up reply actions
A couple of things.
Ponder looks really good running though with an improved OL hopefully he’ll be able to not HAVE to do that in the future. (one of his slides left a lot to be desired.)
I know Frazier hasn’t had a huge amount of games to go by but right now my opinion of him is “ho hum”.
And did anyone hear anything about Heyward-Bey’s condition? That was kind of scary.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
They said on the halftime show on CBS, that he would be going home on the plane
with the rest of the team.
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!!!
prob too early, but ponder looks like rich gannon to me
..which aint bad..but i doubt he will ever be next troy or peyton..as has been mentioned..
"Did you ever think how rediculous phones would look if our ears were nowhere near our mouths?" - Steven Wright
by BranFavrenton on Nov 20, 2011 10:52 PM CST up reply actions
Secondary
didn’t allow more than 200 yards! That’s like throwing for 7 touchdowns for the secondary!
by PurplePrideforLife! on Nov 20, 2011 5:26 PM CST reply actions
NEEDED
1 Good General; Manager (Zygi get the TUNA and a few ofther folks to help you pick a good GM)
1 Good Coaching Staff both sides of the ball
14 Very good players at the following positions
- & # 2 WR, OLT, ORT, 1 Guard, (Center is OK if we use the backup) Ponder Can he throw and accurate long ball that does not take forever to get there? If not then he is not a #1 but a QB, #2 WEB as the arm can he be coached up
Defense we are pretty much set. All we need are 2 tackles a middle linbacker, two outtside linbackers, 2 corners a strong safety and a free safty.
(Somebody look it up when was the last INT by D that was not Jared?)
They always seem to making plays on the ball after the whistle has blown never before
This team did not improve at all from last week only the opponent got weaker.
Greenway
Gets blocked 1-1 way to easily. He does not dominate.
What Singletary doing on the staff? Have we seen improvement in anything?
KWill looked pretty good today
I think he will come back with a vengence next year after he gets his foot problems fixed this offseason.
He hasn't dropped his drawers in the locker room yet.
Give credit where credit is due.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
About the Line issues and the Webb-cat:
Ponder wound up being the Vikings’ leading rusher today with Adrian Peterson being out, and it’s not like he was running to make plays or running because that’s how the play was designed
I’d love to see some option runs with Ponder and AD/Harvin/Webb. Hopefully AD just has an ankle sprain.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 5:38 PM CST reply actions
You can analyze all you want.
This is just a very bad football team with very little talent outside 4 guys our so. Simple as that.
by Jepp The Viking on Nov 20, 2011 6:02 PM CST reply actions
We could say that, but we'd be very uninformed.
You don’t need 22 first and second rounders to have a good team. The best coaches and personnel can get the best out of every player and teach them discipline. We are a very poorly coached, undisciplined team this year. Hopefully, familiarity between our players and coaches will grow, we can work through these kinks this year, and kick some ass next year with some shiny new toys to work with all around.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 6:13 PM CST up reply actions
Agreed
The team lacks discipline as exemplified by the number of motion and offsides penalties, fumbles and special team mistakes. I have the same hope that you have for next year; that Frazier, Musgrave. Pagac and Singletary mesh with the players and develop some mental toughness, discipline and determination.
A simple start to the offseason......
replace any player with 4 or more years of NFL experience who has suffered at least one major injury to a lower extremity causing them to miss at least half a season. Then go from there.
I thought our D did pretty well
Without all those turnovers we could have wone
rabble rabble rabble
I wonder how many times this year
we have been the only losing team in the NFC North?
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Weeks 1, 4 and 11
So 3 times.
Christian Ponder: Super Bowl 50 MVP for the Minnesota Vikings
Thank you!
Would have thought it was a couple more. (wow I hope your by-line is correct!)
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
No problem
Also, I hope my sig is correct too. Unfortunately, I worry that may be too late for AP.
Christian Ponder: Super Bowl 50 MVP for the Minnesota Vikings
I'd like to retract my opinion put forth in my fan post leading up to this game...
The whole game really delivered the message but that one play where Ponder got sacked/pressured by like every Raider defender within 5 yards of the LOS really convinced me we need O-line more desperately than secondary, although secondary is still a major issue.
And on an unrelated note, why is that whenever Viking fans say something about terrible officiating we get “shut up queen fans, your team just sucks” as a response but when other people complain about the same terrible officiating that we would complain about, it’s acceptable. It just kinda pisses me off.
I firmly believe in building from the trenches, outward.
Get some OL to help protect your franchise QB, who I believe is the most important position on a team. Secondary should be the second thing to worry about imo. I recommend getting a ball hawking safety.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
i agree
i love Harvin but, i thought the Vikes should have drafted Michael Oher instead. It really bothers me seeing Oher, McKinnie,and Birk playing on the same line in Baltimore.
by memphis viking on Nov 20, 2011 6:32 PM CST up reply actions
I know right
They have one lineman we should have never let go.
Another one we could’ve gotten in the draft,with Harvin being the possible Opportunity Cost.
and one who it just got to a point where he had to go.
Oher was the very next pick as I recall.
Baltimore traded up to get him.
I’d be sitting on pins and needles wondering is “Oher going to drop to us. Is he going to be available?” I was beside myself with glee when he was sitting there for us to pick, and we walked up to the podium. Then I heard, “With the [blah blah blah] the Minnesota Vikings pick Florida [something or other] Percy Harvin.” I was floored. What about all the statements about the Vikings focusing on character, and here’s a guy who screwed up a drug test at the combine. What on earth is going on? Another “play maker” over a top notch tackle on the line. Egads!
Well, I have to admit I was stunned by how good Harvin is. He’s amazingly tough and a ton of fun to watch. In 2009, I had no regrets, but then the migranes started, and I got a bit worried. He started missing games, and then that creeping concern came back that maybe we should have taken Oher.
Basically, I flipped when the Vikings took Harvin. Then I flip flopped for a year or two about which would have been the better move. Now I’m decidedly on the side of the fence that say Percy Harvin is the bomb. I’d like to have them both, but given the choice, I’d choose Harvin even as bad as our left and right tackles are these days. From what I hear, Oher’s not that hot on the left side, but he’s one of the best on the right. Harvin is without a doubt one of the best and most versatile offensive players in the league. And as I said before, I just can’t believe how hard it is to tackle him.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
"Stopping offenses on a short field constantly isn't easy"
But the Vikings don’t do it at all. During the game they showed a stat that said that the Vikings have allowed a score on every opponents’ drive this season that started inside Vikings territory. Another way they’re leading the league, in a bad way.
Special teams tackling
is starting to get on my nerves as well. Hurrible!
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Why is Florida State and the Minnesota Vikings starting to look like the SAME DAMN FOOTBALL TEAM!!
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 6:19 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Les Steckel
was 3-11 (i think) in his first and only season. (got time to explain that comment so I can save Googles resources – can’t think of it off hand) also Antiques Roadshow is awesome.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
ta and then we sucked the season after we let him go
rabble rabble rabble
by Justine Hicks on Nov 20, 2011 6:33 PM CST up reply actions
If you Wiky him
he seems like a pretty time fine man but will go down in Vikings lore as the worst coach ever.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
damn fine man - geez
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
I think that it was just proof that the Vikes sucked. I mean Grant returned and we still didn't have a winning record
rabble rabble rabble
by Justine Hicks on Nov 20, 2011 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
By saying that
then you think we should be patient with Frazier?
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Im saying I hope this not the 80s Vikings
rabble rabble rabble
by Justine Hicks on Nov 20, 2011 6:42 PM CST up reply actions
He and Chilly
Supposed disciplinarians. Frazier- under disciplinarian. Guess there’s a fine line and the better coaches find it I guess.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
I think we only won like a third of our games until we got coach grant
rabble rabble rabble
by Justine Hicks on Nov 20, 2011 6:33 PM CST up reply actions
Doomsday scenario-------
Tebow shatters single game rushing record against Vikings while AP watches, wearing walking boot.
My scenario
Tebow throws 300-400 yards on our secondary while Ponder is out with an injury because of our O-line
WEB --- PONDER
Can Ponder throw the long one with some zip? I am afraid he cannot. If this is so we should be spending time with WEB and PONDER not just PONDER.
I could be wrong
but don’t remember the Vikes going deep even once today.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
The reason
3 reasons we do not have the long ball
1) Not enough time to throw
2) only WEB has the abiltiy to throw long with zip and the staff knows that
3) no WR capable of running fast other than Percy
WR
When I say WR I assume that the guy can catch is a given.
Of course the scouting staff of the VIKES may not agree with that
When was there time?
The QB needs some time in the pocket so the receivers can get downfield. There were defensive linemen in the backfield almost immediately on a lot of plays.
One of my favorite comments during the game
was when the announcers were talking about Ponder and said something to the effect of “who’s playing in Denver? Tebow?”
On the good news front--------
the Vikings recent record in primetime should not get worse. It won’t improve much either, due to lack of said primetime games.
LF FAIL
OK the year is not over and it is only 1 year but LF FAILURES
knee jurk reaction to McKinney with no replacement
Not so sure about Parcells.....
they aren’t exactly lighting it up in Miami after he showed them the way.
He has to clean up chilly's 5 year mess
I say if he got 5 we can at least give him 2 before we grab our torches and pitchforks
^^This^^
We all can see the Oline is the main problem. Lets see if Frazier does anything to fix that during the O-season….and I think he will.
Frasier and the gang were handed a mess. Lets give them more than 1 season to fix it…IMO!
I'm glad you are optimistic
But I don’t really see anything in Frazier that makes me excited about his 1) Game management/decisions 2) Playcalling/offensive schemes 3) Defensive scheme in any way, shape, or form.
He can fix and improve personnel but so far he has failed to execute with the talent he was handed or brought in.
I think he’s trying to emulate Bud Grant in his sideline stoicism but he just doesn’t seem at all passionate about being better than other teams, he’s more like wanting to be equal with them.
by liveforadrenaline on Nov 21, 2011 10:35 AM CST up reply actions
Frazier has made a few small mistakes as HC.
but I wouldn’t fire him quite yet….It;s not like he’s pulled a Falcons (M.Smith) by going for it on his own 30yrd line. :)
Frazier is a first year HC, mistakes are going to happen.
There’s an argument discussion of whether or not Frazier should have been hired as the HC,
but the Vikings did hire him, so Frazier should be given at least 2 off-season’s to turn the team around…IMO!
Me personally, I would like to see Speilman get fired.
I don’t think he has any idea of how to build a football team.
He’s not sure of which direction to take the team, and he sucks at drafting past the 1st-round….This is much of the reason why the 2011’ Vikings are in the situation they’re currently in!
I'm thinking we should
move Cammi to safety…He seems to make a lot of td saving tackles for a wide out he’s sneaky fast and can get to the ball
A successful coach needs a patient wife, loyal dog, and great quarterback - and not necessarily in that order.
-- Bud Grant
Like the thinking
but imo he’s just too slow.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Let free up some of Glover's free time -
STOCK MARKET REPORT -
we suck!
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
With Adrian playing the entire game and the refs calling a fair game it would have still been close.
I’ve enjoyed your comments in general this week and consider your fan base first rate based on your blog.
S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
"I made a trade for Seymour. ..I thought it was a great trade. Still do. [Al Davis 1/2011]
"I love to win, even against my daughters, I want to win" Hue "Action" Jackson 8/19/11
Would'a...Could'a...
No excuses, you guys outplayed us. Good game.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 7:32 PM CST up reply actions
There were a lot of phantom calls by the refs during this game...
…and a lot went against the Raiders. Defensive penalties seemed to account for 1/2 our yards… or at least helped sustain our drives.
There was one string on penalties in the 1st quarter that made the game almost unwatchable. Two of the four calls were total phantom calls (nothing happened). And one of the other calls should have been a no call. And then the refs screwed up and turned 3rd down into 4th down.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
The 2005 draft and the Tarvaris Jackson love affair.......
are the two biggest team setbacks in the past 10 years. Favre was a one hit wonder, and could be considered a setback, considering it seems NO ONE learned from him about heart, attitude, having fun, combining it all, and winning. Jared has similar traits, but he brought them with him.
Let's go occupy Wall Street Mel
I’ve got two bags of marshmallows. (Young just picked off)
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
I was kidding
we’re like minded on this I’m quite sure. Shouldn’t have brought it up.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Hey, btw...
you see where a couple OWS leaders have been staying in a $700 per night hotel? You just can’t make this stuff up.
A certain somebody
needs to quit being pacifist and put his foot down.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
And not get Ponder, we made the right choice.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions
Then whyd
You say it?
Ponder to Harvin for 6!
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Nov 20, 2011 8:12 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Ha!
I’m pretty sure they could put that new word in Websters and have a picture of our corners and safeties
by liveforadrenaline on Nov 20, 2011 8:30 PM CST up reply actions
Philly gets the ball right back!
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
I don't think it's time to burn the place down and start completely over
We do have some good young pieces in place, but we need to start from the inside out: O-line and then BPA after that. I am on board of giving LF and the rest of the coaches another year and see what they can do with an offseason to work with. I thought the biggest thing that was going to hurt us this year was a lack of offseason with a new offense, blocking schemes and players who didn’t have chemistry with one another.
Gobble gobble everyone! Have a great holiday.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Jay Cutler may have a broken thumb on his throwing hand
it was just reported.
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
Cutler may need surgery on his thumb on his throwing hand,could be season ending
Bears are f***ed if this is the case
Next week Vikings CRUSH the Falcons!
"I saw a wino eating grapes and I was like, dude, you have to wait!" - Mitch Hedberg
I don't know
White,Jones,and even Douglas is probably gonna give our secondary major problems,plus,Tony G too
C'mon man, have a little faith
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 10:34 PM CST up reply actions
Looks like a gymnast...
…about to do a cartwheel followed by a one of those double twirlly spinny things followed by a well executed “stick the landing” finish at the line.
I have faith that’s what happened.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Considering the field position
The vikes D played pretty solid and kept the team in the game. The secondary is atrocious, obviously, but I thought EJ and Greenway played pretty well today. Probably the linebacker corps best game all year. And Erin was out too impressively enough.
Ponder took a step backwards. This is the 2nd game were his bad turnovers were the difference between the W and the L.
I strongly disagree with your view of Ponder
This was the O-Line’s worst game, and their play directly relates to Ponder’s. It’s impossible to say he wouldn’t have thrown any INT’s if he had a good, consistent, protection; but it is a fact that he wouldn’t have thrown two of those had he been standing in a clear pocket.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 10:26 PM CST up reply actions
some help
The 2nd pick was bad but the 1st pick should have been broken up by the reciever.
It seems like on offense our recievers do not help out the QB much other than our rookie TE.
On D it looks as if getting an INT is not even ever thought about, except by Jared.
Yes, it's the receivers too
but it’s not their job to break up passes, it’s their job to get open and catch passes. With ANY time in the pocket and ANY separation by anyone not named Percy Harvin, Ponder could easily be threading the needle and could have easily taken us down the field one more time for the win.
I lay no blame at the feet of Ponder, especially since he’s just a rookie.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 10:58 PM CST up reply actions
It is their job
Any good receiver is supposed to protect the ball if he isn’t going to make a catch.
But regardless those INTs were 100 percent Ponder. Bad reads and poorly thrown balls. He is a rookie so we can’t be too hard on him. But also one or two of those sacks were on him….holding onto the ball too long. I got hope for him, he still impresses, but his accuracy is not very consistent especially the mid to long ball. Needs to improve that otherwise we will be running the mcnabb “no chance in hell you are throwing it over 10 yards” offense again by the end of the season.
We're still in disagreement
He hasn’t held the ball to long on any play this year! QB’s should have at the very least, 2.5 seconds to stand in the pocket before throwing or stepping up/rolling out. There is no way in hell he got that time during this game, therefore your view that he held the ball to long is based on our poor O-Line; which is like saying a receiver should have jumped higher than he can for a pass.
In no world does McNabb get put back in.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 11:39 PM CST up reply actions
Of course not
I don’t wanna see mcnabb wearing a purple jersey unless he is selling them. :)
If Ponder doesn’t start making some longer throws nobody is ever gonna respect our deeper threats just like when mcnabb was in. Almost all Ponder’s longer throws are INTs or incompletions. I think he’ll improve its just that my optimism has been tempered after this game.
Oh yeah. That oline does suck, no doubt
I disagree with you agreeing with me : )
One more thing:
It’s just fact that longer balls are harder to throw accurately, add that in with him throwing the pass with a defender in his face or rolling out, and it’s a damn hard pass.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 21, 2011 12:01 AM CST up reply actions
For what it's worth, I do think it's fair to say that the jury is out on Ponder.
He hasn’t played well so far. There are plenty of legit excuses. The biggest excuse of course is that he’s a rookie. Next the O-line stinks. Third his receivers aren’t very distinguished.
That said, Ponder has made a bunch of errors all on his own. He’s gotten lucky on a number of near interceptions too. His stats would be worse but for a couple of screens that went for 20 yard TDs. And as other have said, his long ball is generally awful (though yesterday’s pass to Shank was a beauty).
On the positive side, Ponder seems like a good guy, and he’s far more mobile than I expected him to be. And I think we can all be hopeful that with more experience, he’ll get better.
I don’t know at this stage whether he’s going to be a great QB or a QB who’s primarily a back up and then out of the league in 5 or 6 years. He’s had some moments of brillance but just as many (if not many more) instances of poor throws and poor decisions. We’ll see how things develop, but it’s good that he’s getting the experience this season. I think we’ve all got our fingers crossed hoping for the best.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
by kcskol on Nov 21, 2011 10:16 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
his first pass was a bomb
it was on the money and 84 almost had a td …. with our ole’ line let the defensive bulls right through like a maddador .anyone miss birk yet ?
by skol viking on Nov 21, 2011 11:50 AM CST up reply actions
Jenkins was wide open on that play.
And yes, I do miss Birk. Didn’t think I would but also believed the hype that Sullivan was ready… and good. Darn.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
INT
When was the last PICK by our D that was not Jared can anyone remember?
Hopefully you guys get good news on AD.
Even Packers fans can appreciate how ridiculously awesome Peterson is. Hopefully it’s nothing serious, as we’re hoping about our own RB.
Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.
Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog
Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?
Starks?
I missed the game, what happened?
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 11:10 PM CST up reply actions
Knee got twisted pretty bad
Right now they’re just saying “knee sprain,” MRI tomorrow. Starks doesn’t seem to think it’s too serious, but then again, that’s what we usually hear right before someone goes on IR.
Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.
Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog
Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?
by Packers3485 on Nov 20, 2011 11:14 PM CST up reply actions
I hope it isn't serious. Starks runs with a spark
Also because Ryan Grant has shoes of cement. Why is he still on the team???
From what I’ve seen, he isn’t all that bad. Definitely a good #2 back.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 20, 2011 11:22 PM CST up reply actions
People are pretty much split 50/50 on Grant
I’m on the side that thinks he’s still got something left in the tank. The other half has pretty much been calling for him to be cut even before they saw him play this year.
Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.
Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog
Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?
by Packers3485 on Nov 20, 2011 11:22 PM CST up reply actions
It seems like to me
I bet Ted Thompson could dig up an undrafted FA that could do the same thing Grant does. He seems to be pretty good at that.
Did anybody else notice that we were practically telling the Raiders defense our offensive play calls?
I was correctly guessing our plays simply by the personnel package 3/4ths of the time, told my dad what I was reading from them, then he started guessing by that. Then the formations made it obvious.
Harvin in the backfield? Not going to surprise anyone, unless we DON’T give him the ball. We might as well put a flashing arrow over his head and scream that “Hey! Defense! This guy’s gonna run it!”
Gerhart in the backfield? Unbalanced I form (strong or weak), normal I, or Singleback? Unbalanced I meant we were going to run it behind Kleinsasser, I-form meant play-action pass, Singleback meant drop-back pass.
The only reason we were at all competitive in this game is that the refs were helping us so much. Half those calls against the Raiders were BS.
Ok, I think I’m done venting for now… Whew.
Good observation
And if you can see it you know other teams can.
I wondered why last week against the PACK the flee flicker was so well covered, we probably telegraphed that too.
If what you say is tru Musgrave and his ’little sheet" offense needs to be BOOTED out of here at the end of the year.
Musgrave's playcalling is limited due to time
Putting a new offensive system is hard enough, but with less time to do it due to the lockout and a rookie QB who’s never seen an NFL defense, the playcalling is going to be limited. It takes a full year for a team to adjust and be comfortable with their new system, making them learn another one next season would just prolong our teams development offensively.
"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Nov 21, 2011 1:10 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I respectfully disagree
There is a difference between an offensive system and limited playcalling.
Plays that are designed poorly can be either simple or complicated, and we have an abundance of plays that don’t work simply because they are part of a system that doesn’t work. For instance, in the beginning of the season we were using a 1980’s version of the west coast offense that pretty much any team has learned how to defend against, and McNabb couldn’t execute due to crappy passing anyway.
Now we are throwing things up against a wall in hope and prayer that they work, with no real system.
Are we a west coast team (like GB)? A spread team (like NE?) A pass-heavy team (like Indy with Manning), a run-heavy team? A balanced team?
The only given is that we aren’t executing anything well, because, like was mentioned, we telegraph which offense we are running on each play.
Stay tuned!
by liveforadrenaline on Nov 21, 2011 10:56 AM CST up reply actions
True.
Half those calls against the Raiders really were BS. What I can’t get over is that the refs have dominated two games this season. One in Carolina and this one against the Raiders. It’s as if the refs are guessing at what’s happening — particularly on holding calls. We suffered a bad holding call on Jenkins when Harvin went in for a TD. It’s almost like the refs get a bonus for each penalty they call.
On the other stuff, I’d just comment that the old Harvin end around play has worked very well this season. It was about time someone stopped it.
And truthfully, I can’t really blame Musgrave for the fact that the O-line is in awful shape, his receivers are average at best and he’s got a rookie playing with four games of experience under his belt.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
so the head 2 head hit on defenseless wr was a bs call ?
that was the one call the raiders coach was down right livid . you could see red in face .
by skol viking on Nov 21, 2011 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
The "defensless receiver" part of this is not true
and the head 2 head appeared to be partial, to me. The receiver had taken 2 steps and was making moves. I think it was a marginal call because I don’t think the head to head part was square or intentional. The call could go either way.
You could almost take your pick of the penalties on that series...
There were 5 penalty in eight plays.
1. Vikings 10 yd holding call on Hutch. Pretty questionable call. Hutch had an arm outside of his guy but the penalty was pretty much only called because his guy fell down when diving to tackle Peterson. Maybe it was a penalty, but I thought it was bogus.
2. Raiders 15 yard roughing the passer call on Tommy Harris on 3rd and 7. I thought the call was bogus for a couple of reasons. 1) It didn’t look like Ponder got hit in the face mask, it looked like he got by an arm across the neck; 2) Harris was engaged at the time and getting spun by Berger so there was virtually nothing Harris could do under the circumstances. If a Viking had pushed Harris into Ponder, there wouldn’t have been a call for a late hit. Some thing goes in this case IMO.
3. Raider 15 yard personal foul call on Curry. Rudolph was making his move up the field when he got hit and therefore Rudolph can not be considered a defenseless player. It was a terrible, terrible call.
4. Vikings 10 yard holding call on Jenkins on Harvin’s 35 yard TD run. You can see Jenkins for the entire play, and he did not hold. Again, his man fell backwards, and I think that’s what prompted the ref to throw a flag, but the fact is that there should not have been a holding call. The ref totally blew it.
5. Raiders 15 yard face mask penalty. On the play, two defenders engaged Harvin, and he was spun to the ground. One player had a hand on Harvin shoulder. I froze the play several times to see if a hand ever touched Harvin’s face mask. It never did. Once again, the ref made it up.
Of the 5 penalties called in 8 plays, two were made up. One, IMO was unquestionably the wrong call as Rudolph was making his move up field when he was tackled, and the remaining two were at best borderline and shouldn’t have been called in my opinion.
The refs just hijacked the game at times. It was awful to watch.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
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