A bit over half-way through week three's match-ups, we already know several things about the 2008 NFL season:
1. It's not the system in New England, it's the quarterback. Since replacing the injured Tom Brady with Matt Cassel, the Patriots have struggled. That's not entirely shocking, except that many have suggested that Brady was the beneficiary of Bill Belichik's system rather than the other way around. Sunday's resounding thumping at the hands of the heretofore hapless Miami Dolphins ought to put to rest that misguided logic.
2. The Minnesota Vikings have spent two years and gobs of money on talent to surround a player that is not the answer to their quarterback question, only to spend considerably less for a player who just might be the answer to that question. While not spectacular on Sunday, Gus Frerotte was what the Vikings needed him to be--capable and competent against a very good Carolina Panther's defense. Where Tarvaris Jackson routinely threw balls into the ground, Frerotte guided them into the waiting arms of his teammates. And where Jackson missed wildly on deep passes, Frerotte was close enough, hooking up with a not-too-speedy looking Bernard Berrian on a key play in the game. The difference between Frerotte and Jackson need be measured not simply in numbers, which were better than Jackson's numbers over two games, but also in leadership. Where Jackson seemed to be on his own planet, nearly comatose at times, Frerotte was energetic and commanding. Given Minnesota's stout defense, Frerotte might prove to be just enough to make Minnesota a contender. Not that anyone told Vikings' head coach Brad Childress so.
3. St. Louis Rams' head coach Scott Linehan will be fired after today's game. Already pathetic looking in their first two games, the Rams appear intent on showing they are one of the more putrid teams in the NFL in decades. With two minutes left in the first half, the Rams trail a team with no receivers and no real running threat by nearly three touchdowns. No chance Linehan escapes this disaster.
4. Not far behind the Rams on the crud meter are the Kansas City Chiefs. Herm Edwards might last the season, but only if tightwad owner Carl Peterson cannot find a replacement from within that will make the team modestly presentable to the fan base. It's difficult to imagine anyone doing worse than Edwards, but whomever does replace Edwards would have to rely on the team that Edwards assembled. Yuck.
Up Next: More on the Vikings' Victory over Carolina
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5 comments:
Hey, VG, it's Bill Belichick, not Brian. Were you thinking of Brian Billick? As regards the game, it was nice to see Gus perform with such poise and authority. It wasn't his fault the receivers couldn't hold onto the ball. Still, It's a little disconcerting that once again, the Vikings' offense was unable to put many points on the board, only one touchdown and two field goals. But I liked the fact that it was able to sustain some pretty long drives, something TJ seemed incapable of maintaining.
Cabrito,
They tend to run together when I think of grumpy head coaches.
I will be posting more regarding your comment later today. My short response is that it was the Vikings' best game under Childress since his first game with the team.
VG
I disagree with your assessment of Gus. The offense was awful for one half of the game, and got its act together for 2 drives in the other. They played an identical game to what they did in Green Bay. The difference was that the defense applied pressure and came up with big plays to end drives.
The receivers still dropped passes, both sides made stupid penalties, the offense line was again terrible in pass protection.
The quarterback change changed nothing for this team.
Patthew,
I have yet to offer much of an assessment on Frerotte, but it sounds like your issue is more with the coaching and receiving corps than with anything Frerotte did (or did not) do. Perhaps I've misread your comment.
The Vikings still have significant needs, most notably at number one receiver and on the offensive line. Cook is a disaster and Birk appears intent on proving the Vikings right in not signing him to a long-term deal before the season began--two critical penalties and a couple sound beatings on the line. Berrian at one is better than Wade at one with nobody other than Rice behind Wade, but Berrian is a one by default on this team.
With that said, it is a sign of where the Vikings have been recently that this game was the team's best game in some time. From my vantage point, it was a stark improvement over the predictable, run-at-all-costs, get burned on pass defense display against Green Bay. That's a compliment to both the improved pass rush--led by Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, and E.J. Henderson, and Frerotte, who, though not spectacular, also was not awful.
Room for substantial improvement? Absolutely. But also much better.
VG
VG
I was mainly referring to this:
"The difference between Frerotte and Jackson need be measured not simply in numbers, which were better than Jackson's numbers over two games, but also in leadership. Where Jackson seemed to be on his own planet, nearly comatose at times, Frerotte was energetic and commanding. Given Minnesota's stout defense, Frerotte might prove to be just enough to make Minnesota a contender."
I'm just not buying this. He was just as inconsistent as Jackson was. Throwing behind receivers, missing receivers, only leading the offense to 13 points etc. I failed to see the leadership element you speak of.
Of course Jackson is more erratic, and when he looks bad, he looks more embarassing and amateur than Frerotte. But this guy was supposed to be the future, if you're going to shelf him, the replacement better be a vast and immediate improvement. So far, this 37 year old journeyman, doesn't appear to be that guy.
I have hopes that the defense is starting to find its identity now, but I still think this is a 13-17 point offense with either Jackson or Frerotte, depending on a given defense's ability to stop the run. I guess I'm left to wonder, why bench the inconsistent quarterback with upside potential for the 37-year old inconsistent quarterback?
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