tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post110556207412117339..comments2023-10-30T09:37:03.456-05:00Comments on Vikes Geek: Same Old, Same Old?vikes geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1105724858826084642005-01-14T11:47:00.000-06:002005-01-14T11:47:00.000-06:00I appreciate the victory over the Packers as much ...I appreciate the victory over the Packers as much as anyone and I'd love to join the lovefest, but I see many of the same issues in the win over the Packers that arose in two previous losses to the Packers and in previous losses to Chicago and Washington. The Vikings still lack a sense of urgency on offense at critical junctures in games and also appear content to rely on offensive game plans that they have broadly telecast throughout the season. What makes this nearly comical is that the problems--at least on offense--appear quite correctible. I hope the bulb goes off, but it has not yet.<br /><br />But I will give you this much--Go Vikes!<br /><br />Is that better?<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1105724320685445892005-01-14T11:38:00.000-06:002005-01-14T11:38:00.000-06:00My apologies for the comment on the blocked field ...My apologies for the comment on the blocked field goal. Sort of. I did not have radio or television access to the game on Sunday and had only a half-hour shortened reel of plays and text play-by-play off of which to assess the game. If Morten slipped, I can excuse (in part) the miss.<br /><br />But why is Morten even in a position to slip on what should be a no effort chip-shot of a kick? Is it because he now needs to wind up just to get the short kicks through? More important--and this goes to the crux of my column--why were the Vikings even in a position of having to attempt a chip-shot field goal? I can live with Morten's miss. But the series of plays that set up the miss symbolizes the Vikings' playcalling history the past two seasons. If the Vikings continue to plod down this path of predictability, it will cost them in the end.<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1105721651431110572005-01-14T10:54:00.000-06:002005-01-14T10:54:00.000-06:00VG, I know it's easy to be a pessimist. I'm guilt...VG, I know it's easy to be a pessimist. I'm guilty of it all too often, as Minnesota sports fans are notorious for being fair weather fans. But really, would it be that horrible to at least give our vikings an under-handed complement for winning a playoff game in Lambeau Field?! In nearly every win by every team, there are obvious faults to their game. That's the nature of sports. Believe it or not, when they win you are actually allowed to focus on what they did RIGHT. For one column, at least. Sorry if this comes off as a bit negative, I enjoy your site and will continue to do so. I'm just on an optimist kick right now... [until the Vikes lose, that is] ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1105652246339327082005-01-13T15:37:00.000-06:002005-01-13T15:37:00.000-06:00"Thus, although it is difficult to fathom how a 27..."Thus, although it is difficult to fathom how a 27-yard field-goal attempt can get blocked"<br /><br />Possibly because the kicker slipped while kicking the ball, causing him to pull the ball right into the line. No kicker could have made that field goal after slipping like that. Also, about the 47 yard field goal that was not attempted: while I agree that we should not have punted, we shouldn't have attempted the field goal either. In those conditions, Andersen for sure would have fallen short, and it's very likely Cortez would have as well. Even Ryan Longwell, probably better than both Andersen and Cortez, missed a normally easy kick, so kicking a 47 yard field goal, which would be iffy even in the Dome, would not be a very intelligent thing to do. The right thing to do would have been to go for it, despite the long yardage, because our punter had a very good chance of booting it into the end zone, resulting in a 10 net yard punt (although to his credit, Bennett did not do that).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com