tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post110235771272053106..comments2023-10-30T09:37:03.456-05:00Comments on Vikes Geek: Been There Done Thisvikes geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102490076636857832004-12-08T01:14:00.000-06:002004-12-08T01:14:00.000-06:00I will certainly have more to say about the kickin...I will certainly have more to say about the kicking game at the end of the season, but, at this point, it is clear that Tice has yet to identify the future of the Vikings' kicking game.<br /><br />Darren Bennett was intended to be a veteran who could punt under difficult circumstances. In his prime, Bennett was one of the best. Today, he simply is not dependable. It is telling when he is praised for a 50-yard punt indoors. That's the norm for most indoor punters when distance matters.<br /><br />Morten Andersen is also clearly past his prime and well down the valley. Tice contends that the Vikings trust him from 40 in. Huh? Whom do the Vikings trust from 40 out? What happended Sunday from 37? This was a mistake from the beginning. And by beginning, I mean when Tice, et. al. refused to abandon their box-type mindset that told them--and we have this from Tice's mouth prior to the draft--that he could not "waste" a second round pick on a place kicker such as Nate Kaeding. I wonder if San Diego views its selection of Kaeding as a waste?<br /><br />I don't even know what to make of Elling. He goes from terrible to bad to serviceable on kickoffs to the injury list. At the time of his injury, his deep kick looked pretty good, but what about field goals? Tice said that Elling was the 40+ man for field goals, yet he never attempted a field goal in 2004. Is this just more of Tice trying not to damage the fragile psyche of yet another player?<br /><br />We need a kicker but where will be find one? Probably free agency. There should be some decent kickers on the heap this year. And by "decent" I mean merely better than what we have, not great.<br /><br />It is amazing that the Jaguars can find a booming kicker like Scobee and the Vikings continue their refusal to admit that they simply erred in not re-signing Mitch Berger. The one million they saved on that deal has cost them several games in the standings and even more money signing washed up vets mid-season to take over for injured players. <br /><br />I agree that Brian Williams could be good, but he clearly needs some coaching on technique. Williams is consistenly taking the wrong angle to the ball and on tackles and never looks back for the ball. He also gives a 10-yard+ cushion on every pass play. Why? He looks like he is doing the same thing all the time which suggests that he is following instructions. Chavous has been a non-entity this year and Russell is the Waswa Serwanga of the 2004 Vikings (or is that on Derek Ross?).<br /><br />I agree about the linebackers and absolutely agree, as I have noted in the past, that much of the blame for the Vikings' poor linebacking corps--and the entire defense--is on Red for refusing to bring in free agent linebackers with sufficient experience. The Vikings signed Claiborne because he was relatively cheap, but they knew he was a bust in Detroit. Ergo, the Vikings deserve only criticism for that pickup. But that criticism pails in comparison to that which the Vikings' front office deserves for entering the season with this sorry corps of linebackers. If Smith ever recovers from his concussion, he might do some good things. Henderson might also do some good things down the road, as might Nattiel. But check out the linebacking corps of the good defenses. They are loaded with veteran players--particularly at MLB. That's how it works. You gain experience outside and move inside later--unless you are Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. The Vikings are playing Willie Offord--a safety!--at linebacker, despite claiming to have "one of the deepest linebacking corps in the NFL." How sad is that?<br /><br />In the best of worlds, two things would happen with the Vikings. First, they would have a full complement of competent players on both sides of the ball. Second, we would get to see how Tice would handle this talent. As it is, it is difficult to tell where the flaw rests. Is it with coaching? Is it with personnel? The argument that it is coaching is that Tice has so little experience as a head coach and Cottrell was fired last year for not getting it done with the Jets (a team that happens to have one of the top defenses in the NFL this year using mainly the same personnel that Cottrell had). On the personnel side, well, all the above. <br /><br />But replacing Tice is tricky because it requires finding someone willing to work under the conditions that Tice is forced to work--bad players at key positions on defense, an ownership that is unwilling to sign the talent necessary to improve the defense, and an ownership that is unwilling to pay for a veteran coach. This all weighs in Tice's favor, because it means that his replacement must be either an unknown entity or a some good, though not "star" coordinator. Probably someone like Scott Linehan. And that doesn't really ensure season-ticket renewal. But the continual mistakes on both sides of the ball--false starts, misuse of timeouts and challenges, bad clock management particularly in the two-minute drill, missed tackles, poor angles on the ball/ball carrier, failure to look back on the pass--all go to coaching. These are eminently correctible mistakes and, yet, every week, Tice laments their reoccurrence. That sounds like the pot calling the pot black. And that bodes ominously for Tice.<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102412855145134892004-12-07T03:47:00.000-06:002004-12-07T03:47:00.000-06:00As to what changes the Vikings should make. . .
...As to what changes the Vikings should make. . . <br /><br />I undoubtedly will run several columns on this topic at the end of the season. But here's a preview.<br /><br />Assuming Tice does not pull a miracle out of his hat, it is probably time for a change in the coaching staff. Tice is a nice guy, cares about the team, appears to understand the fans' concerns, and makes an effort to respond to those concerns. That is a vast improvement over Denny Green. But, like Denny's personality or not, his results were better than have been Tice's. No Denny never fielded a competent defense, but neither has Tice. What Denny did do, however, and what Tice has been unable to do, is milk the offensive resources to their potential. You can blame the players, the youth of the team, whatever, it still comes down to, as Tice would say, X's and O's. And the Vikings have not overcome their defensive liabilities by taking advantage of their offensive potential. Had they done so, the Vikings would still have a bad defense, but fans would at least feel as though the head coach had a handle on the strength of the team.<br /><br />I also would not hesitate cutting ties with nearly every defensive player not playing on the defensive line--and I would throw in Kenny Mixon, who is one DUI away from a season-long suspension. The only players of worth on defense at this point are Kevin Williams, Lance Johnstone, Steve Martin, Antoine Winfield, and Spencer Johnson. I would keep Kenechi Udeze a bit longer, despite his slow start in the NFL, as I think he has potential.<br /><br />Linebackers? Out with the bathwater (though I might give EJ Henderson a shot at outside linebacker). Corners? Ditto. Safeties? Do we have any? Ditto.<br /><br />At the end of the season, I will look at the free agents to be and tab those that the Vikings--with their $30 million plus salary cap room--should target next season. We don't need stars, but we do not competency. And we ought to be able to buy two competent corners and two competent linebackers for $15 million or so per year. I would not count on the draft for much, particularly given the Vikings' track record in "spotting talent" in the draft. What a steal Donterrious Thomas was in the second round, right? Much too good to pass up on in favor of the never-miss Nate Kaeding.<br /><br />Oh, and it may be time to invest in a new trainer.<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102411826949819162004-12-07T03:30:00.000-06:002004-12-07T03:30:00.000-06:00Amen. But I disagree on one point. I've read the...Amen. But I disagree on one point. I've read the script and, as of now, it says Vikes finish at 8-8. Their one victory? A win against the hapless Seahawks (and we dislike our defense? That is some sorry excuse for D in Seattle. Good-bye Mike).<br /><br />I was convinced three weeks that the road games at Chicago, Detroit, and Washington would be difficult for the Vikings to win. Tice has shown zero ability to prepare the team when the going gets tough and this is particularly evident when the team is playing on the road. It was more evident in Chicago against a good defense and Detroit and Washington have good enough defenses to sink this ship. It would not surprise me if the Vikings lost three of their final four games, including the game at home against Green Bay.<br /><br />8-8 might still qualify the Vikings for the playoffs--and I will probably watch the game--but does anyone really care what happens? Inevitably, the Vikings will face a real team and they will lose. They simply are not good enough to beat teams that do not implode.<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102387655923085152004-12-06T20:47:00.000-06:002004-12-06T20:47:00.000-06:00Hey Vikes Geek, Couldn't agree more! To expound a...Hey Vikes Geek, Couldn't agree more! To expound a bit on your apt assessment of Tice and that unit that plays opposite the offense (sorry, I can't bring myself to call them the "D" word), what of the horrendous time management? Week in and week out calling time outs to get the right plays, personal, etc. Why is this an issue EVERY week? What of the 4-5 false starts EVERY game? What of the questionable replay requests by Tice? What of the continual disasters on special teams? What of the underachieving and poorly coached defense? Ladies and Gentlemen, we were duped! We were led (falsely) to believe the 2004 version of the Vikings was a good team. They in fact, are not. They lack heart, quality coaching, and good excuses after losses to very beatable teams. Indeed, they did lose close games to very good teams (packers, colts, and eagles). However, these are the teams to beat to achieve credible status in this league. The fact that they are 7-5 is testimony to an occasionally brilliant offense and an incredibly schizophrenic NFC. We can almost predict the rest of the season: rebound win against the Seahawks, lackluster play and a loss at Detroit, rebound win against Packers on X-mas eve, disappointing loss to an over-matched Redskin team with nothing play for and nothing to lose. Unfortunately, at 9-7, the vikes will make the play-offs (with the same satisfaction the Gophers football team must feel about their "bowl-bid") and quietly bow out on the road to a team that is deserving of the playoffs. The season will be proclaimed a success, with a record over .500 and a playoff birth, but, brother, WE KNOW BETTER.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102377328000305922004-12-06T17:55:00.000-06:002004-12-06T17:55:00.000-06:00Again, as I constantly state, I don't know much ab...Again, as I constantly state, I don't know much about football. So... what would you do to fix the team given the situation Tice finds himself in?<br /><br />I mean, what coaches would you add/fire players add/fire, how would you go about convincing the fans that next year they should see the team etc...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com