When Brad Childress was head coach of the Vikings (remember that?) he had a habit of using odd sayings that left you scratching your head. He also occasionally angered his players - Brad Johnson and Brett Favre are two that come to mind - by publicly ripping them during press conferences. And sometimes, like last summer when Ryan Longwell, Jared Allen and Steve Hutchinson went on a Favre recruitment trip, he just lied to reporters about it.
Well, Leslie Frazier isn't making those same kind of mistakes.
Check out this story in the Star-Tribune as an example of what I mean. Did Frazier actually say anything in any of those quotes?
Now I haven't heard every interview Frazier has given since becoming the Vikings head coach, but the ones I have heard, he's yet to say one thing of substance. There are no spicy quotes. And no details or specifics on players or offensive and defensive schemes. It's all generalities and baffle gab.
I find it boring. But it probably works well with the players. Frazier, as an ex-player, knows players don't like to be publicly criticized by their head coach.
He also has no interest in providing the opposition with any insights into what the Vikings are doing or any bulletin board material to get the opponent fired up.
Best to mute the sound when Frazier has a mike put in front of him. He isn't going to say anything worth listening to anyway.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Greenway down, a few more to go
We can all scratch Chad Greenway off the list of players the Vikings will need to replace in 2011. The Vikings have franchised him.
Sidney Rice could be the next guy the Vikings play tag with. They can put a transition tag on one potential free agent and it's expected to be Rice.
It also looks like Ray Edwards will be allowed to hit the free agent market, where he will likely sign with someone else.
I hope the Vikings have a good "plan B" in place if they lose Edwards.
Sidney Rice could be the next guy the Vikings play tag with. They can put a transition tag on one potential free agent and it's expected to be Rice.
It also looks like Ray Edwards will be allowed to hit the free agent market, where he will likely sign with someone else.
I hope the Vikings have a good "plan B" in place if they lose Edwards.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Upgrades at safety would be nice, but ....
The release of safeties Oshiomogho Atogwe and Bob Sanders has created some speculation the Vikings might sign one of these guys to improve a position that was very weak in 2010.
While it looks like Atogwe might re-sign with St. Louis anyway even after they released him, I won't be worrying too much about whether these guys land with the Vikings or not.
We certainly saw a lot of bad safety play from the Vikings last season, particularly from Madieu Williams, who seemingly forgot how to play football in 2010 – letting sure interceptions slide through his hands, taking impossibly bad angles on passes thrown his way, and overall tackling poorly.
Still, the Vikings have a number of weaknesses to address assuming NFL football is played in 2011. Safety is one of those weaknesses. But its hardly the most pressing one.
Consider (and I'm sure you have) that the Vikings currently need to find a quarterback of the present and the future. They may also need to find a replacement for linebackers Ben Leber and Chad Greenway, placekicker Ryan Longwell, left defensive end Ray Edwards, they may also need a number one and a number three wide receiver, a right guard, a center, and depending on the health of cornerback Cedric Griffin, a starting cornerback to team with Antoine Winfield.
Again, I'm not disputing that the Vikings safety play wasn't bad in 2010. It was. But I think it was often bad in 2009, too. But that bad play didn't hurt the Vikings too much because the team got such great performances from more vital positions like quarterback and wide receiver.
Even as things went horribly wrong in 2010, I don't remember thinking too often during a Vikings game that, "Fuck, our safeties are costing us this game. If only we had Ed Reed we'd have been 11-5!"
The Vikings have four guys under contract – Williams, Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson and Jamarca Sanford – who have all started games for the Vikings the past two seasons.
The Vikings can survive using some combination of those four, just like they did in 2009. So I'm hoping team management isn't expending a great deal of brainpower worying about the safety position.
What's more important is finding the right solutions to the more pressing roster holes.
While it looks like Atogwe might re-sign with St. Louis anyway even after they released him, I won't be worrying too much about whether these guys land with the Vikings or not.
We certainly saw a lot of bad safety play from the Vikings last season, particularly from Madieu Williams, who seemingly forgot how to play football in 2010 – letting sure interceptions slide through his hands, taking impossibly bad angles on passes thrown his way, and overall tackling poorly.
Still, the Vikings have a number of weaknesses to address assuming NFL football is played in 2011. Safety is one of those weaknesses. But its hardly the most pressing one.
Consider (and I'm sure you have) that the Vikings currently need to find a quarterback of the present and the future. They may also need to find a replacement for linebackers Ben Leber and Chad Greenway, placekicker Ryan Longwell, left defensive end Ray Edwards, they may also need a number one and a number three wide receiver, a right guard, a center, and depending on the health of cornerback Cedric Griffin, a starting cornerback to team with Antoine Winfield.
Again, I'm not disputing that the Vikings safety play wasn't bad in 2010. It was. But I think it was often bad in 2009, too. But that bad play didn't hurt the Vikings too much because the team got such great performances from more vital positions like quarterback and wide receiver.
Even as things went horribly wrong in 2010, I don't remember thinking too often during a Vikings game that, "Fuck, our safeties are costing us this game. If only we had Ed Reed we'd have been 11-5!"
The Vikings have four guys under contract – Williams, Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson and Jamarca Sanford – who have all started games for the Vikings the past two seasons.
The Vikings can survive using some combination of those four, just like they did in 2009. So I'm hoping team management isn't expending a great deal of brainpower worying about the safety position.
What's more important is finding the right solutions to the more pressing roster holes.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Good placekickers are hard to find
The Vikings have 19 unrestricted free agents this offseason. However, re-signing the majority of them (Hank Baskett? Greg Lewis? Pack your bags, boys.) is not very important.
There are a few free agents the Vikings do need to lock up. Linebacker Chad Greenway is one of them. Defensive ends Ray Edwards and Brian Robison and wide receiver Sidney Rice are some of the others.
And then there is placekicker Ryan Longwell.
I find it a bit odd that I’m not reading anything - except for this item – signaling the Vikings are concerned about losing Longwell. Perhaps that’s because Longwell had a very quiet year in 2010. He only attempted 18 field goals.
But that was a direct result of the Vikings pitiful offensive play in 2010. When they weren’t turning the ball over to their opponent, they struggled to string together enough first downs to get in position to at least allow Longwell to attempt a field goal.
Longwell still nailed 17 of the field goals he was asked to make.
That kind of accuracy has been the norm for Longwell since he signed with Minnesota in 2006. In his five seasons with the Vikings he’s made 113 of the 129 field goals he’s attempted. That is 87.6 percent of his kicks.
Longwell has also been money on what you would consider makeable field goals – attempts of less than 50 yards. On field goals in the 0-39 yard range, Longwell has made 94.9 percent of those kicks. On field goals in the 0-49 yard range – he’s made 90.4 percent of his kicks.
Basically, when Longwell has jogged on the field to attempt a field goal of less than 50 yards, and the vast majority of field goals that are attempted are less than 50 yards, nine times out of 10 he’s made them. That’s pretty good.
Because Longwell has done his job so well in Minnesota, it may seem like that kind of accuracy is normal. However, if you remember the state of the Vikings placekicking after Gary Anderson left the team following the 2002 season, its clear Longwell’s accuracy isn’t normal.
In 2003 Mike Tice tried to replace Anderson with Aaron Elling. But Elling was shaky and never gained anybody’s trust – not Tice’s, not the players and not the fans. He made 72 percent of his kicks in his one year as the Vikings placekicker. He was particularly suspect when called upon to kick a field goal of 40 yards or more – making only five of 10 kicks beyond 39 yards.
In 2004 Tice replaced Elling with 44-year-old Morten Andersen. Old Morten was much more accurate than Elling, making 81.8 percent of his field goals. Unfortunately, his range had been greatly diminished by father time. You were never sure any kick Andersen attempted over 40 yards would even make it to the crossbar. Tice even took to gambling on fourth and short if the Vikings were near the opponent’s 40-yard line rather than have Andersen attempt any field goals beyond 40 yards.
In 2005 Paul Edinger became the next guy the Vikings signed to provide stability to the placekicker position. He also failed.
Edinger made just 73.5 percent of the kicks he attempted. He was actually pretty good that year from 40 yards or more, making 11 of 15 kicks. The weird part was he really struggled with the easy kicks – the ones between 30-39 yards – making just three of eight attempts from that distance.
Then along came Longwell in 2006 and our placekicking problem was solved. Compared to how I felt about the Vikings kickers between 2003-2005, there’s a calm that now comes over me whenever Longwell kicks a field goal.
For example, when he had to kick a 54-yard field goal for the win at Soldier Field in 2007, I knew that was at the outer limits of his range. But I also knew he had made a lot of big kicks in his career. He made that one.
When he was asked to kick a last-second 50-yard field goal against the New York Giants in 2008 to win a divisional title and clinch the Vikings first playoff berth since 2004, I had no doubt Longwell would make it. He did.
And when Brett Favre was driving the Vikings for a potential 50-plus yard NFC Championship-winning field goal, I had no doubt ….ahh, let’s just forget that one.
Anyway, Longwell is headed for free agency, and the Vikings placekicking situation could get dicey without him.
There are some concerns with re-signing Longwell. He’ll be 37 when the 2011 season starts (if it starts) and his leg strength is not going to improve as he gets older. He also doesn’t get the ball deep on kickoffs and those kickoffs get shorter as the season wears on.
However, I think those are minor concerns. In the five seasons Longwell’s been a Viking, only one other kicker active during this period has made a higher percentage of his kicks – John Carney (88 percent). And there is no sign his performance is about to drop off a cliff.
I’m not sure how much money and how long a contract Longwell is looking for. I don’t even know if he’s interested in resigning with the Vikings.
But he’s probably got two or three very good years left in his leg and the Vikings have enough holes to fill on their roster this offseason. So if Longwell is open to resigning, I hope the Vikings are open to bringing him back.
Because I don’t want to lose that calm feeling I’ve had since 2006 when the Vikings attempt a field goal.
There are a few free agents the Vikings do need to lock up. Linebacker Chad Greenway is one of them. Defensive ends Ray Edwards and Brian Robison and wide receiver Sidney Rice are some of the others.
And then there is placekicker Ryan Longwell.
I find it a bit odd that I’m not reading anything - except for this item – signaling the Vikings are concerned about losing Longwell. Perhaps that’s because Longwell had a very quiet year in 2010. He only attempted 18 field goals.
But that was a direct result of the Vikings pitiful offensive play in 2010. When they weren’t turning the ball over to their opponent, they struggled to string together enough first downs to get in position to at least allow Longwell to attempt a field goal.
Longwell still nailed 17 of the field goals he was asked to make.
That kind of accuracy has been the norm for Longwell since he signed with Minnesota in 2006. In his five seasons with the Vikings he’s made 113 of the 129 field goals he’s attempted. That is 87.6 percent of his kicks.
Longwell has also been money on what you would consider makeable field goals – attempts of less than 50 yards. On field goals in the 0-39 yard range, Longwell has made 94.9 percent of those kicks. On field goals in the 0-49 yard range – he’s made 90.4 percent of his kicks.
Basically, when Longwell has jogged on the field to attempt a field goal of less than 50 yards, and the vast majority of field goals that are attempted are less than 50 yards, nine times out of 10 he’s made them. That’s pretty good.
Because Longwell has done his job so well in Minnesota, it may seem like that kind of accuracy is normal. However, if you remember the state of the Vikings placekicking after Gary Anderson left the team following the 2002 season, its clear Longwell’s accuracy isn’t normal.
In 2003 Mike Tice tried to replace Anderson with Aaron Elling. But Elling was shaky and never gained anybody’s trust – not Tice’s, not the players and not the fans. He made 72 percent of his kicks in his one year as the Vikings placekicker. He was particularly suspect when called upon to kick a field goal of 40 yards or more – making only five of 10 kicks beyond 39 yards.
In 2004 Tice replaced Elling with 44-year-old Morten Andersen. Old Morten was much more accurate than Elling, making 81.8 percent of his field goals. Unfortunately, his range had been greatly diminished by father time. You were never sure any kick Andersen attempted over 40 yards would even make it to the crossbar. Tice even took to gambling on fourth and short if the Vikings were near the opponent’s 40-yard line rather than have Andersen attempt any field goals beyond 40 yards.
In 2005 Paul Edinger became the next guy the Vikings signed to provide stability to the placekicker position. He also failed.
Edinger made just 73.5 percent of the kicks he attempted. He was actually pretty good that year from 40 yards or more, making 11 of 15 kicks. The weird part was he really struggled with the easy kicks – the ones between 30-39 yards – making just three of eight attempts from that distance.
Then along came Longwell in 2006 and our placekicking problem was solved. Compared to how I felt about the Vikings kickers between 2003-2005, there’s a calm that now comes over me whenever Longwell kicks a field goal.
For example, when he had to kick a 54-yard field goal for the win at Soldier Field in 2007, I knew that was at the outer limits of his range. But I also knew he had made a lot of big kicks in his career. He made that one.
When he was asked to kick a last-second 50-yard field goal against the New York Giants in 2008 to win a divisional title and clinch the Vikings first playoff berth since 2004, I had no doubt Longwell would make it. He did.
And when Brett Favre was driving the Vikings for a potential 50-plus yard NFC Championship-winning field goal, I had no doubt ….ahh, let’s just forget that one.
Anyway, Longwell is headed for free agency, and the Vikings placekicking situation could get dicey without him.
There are some concerns with re-signing Longwell. He’ll be 37 when the 2011 season starts (if it starts) and his leg strength is not going to improve as he gets older. He also doesn’t get the ball deep on kickoffs and those kickoffs get shorter as the season wears on.
However, I think those are minor concerns. In the five seasons Longwell’s been a Viking, only one other kicker active during this period has made a higher percentage of his kicks – John Carney (88 percent). And there is no sign his performance is about to drop off a cliff.
I’m not sure how much money and how long a contract Longwell is looking for. I don’t even know if he’s interested in resigning with the Vikings.
But he’s probably got two or three very good years left in his leg and the Vikings have enough holes to fill on their roster this offseason. So if Longwell is open to resigning, I hope the Vikings are open to bringing him back.
Because I don’t want to lose that calm feeling I’ve had since 2006 when the Vikings attempt a field goal.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
This is why I try not to read Pete Prisco
Here is a great idea for a sports column that wasn't executed very well.
CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco knows he's not going to make many football fans happy with his all-time NFL power rankings. But he could have put more thought into this one.
If you're going to rank NFL franchises, my view is the only factors that should play into those rankings are the number of titles won and the number of games won by each team.
The current stadiums teams play in, current ownership, tradition, the perceived loyalty of the fan base – all factors Prisco seems to take into account in his rankings – shouldn't make a difference.
After 50 seasons in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings don't have a Super Bowl title (although they do have one NFL title, in 1969, before the AFL/NFL merger). But they do have a winning percentage of .551. That's good for fifth-best in the 32-team NFL. Only the Packers (.559), Dallas (.576), Miami (.576) and Chicago (.579) have fared better.
Yet Prisco has the Vikings ranked as the 21st best NFL franchise of all-time in his rankings. Doesn't that seem a little low to you?
Other stuff
ESPN's Kevin Seifert is asking for your help to pick an All-NFC North team.
He doesn't have any Vikings on the team yet. I think that's pretty fair, although Adrian Peterson has to be the division's starting running back. Chicago's Matt Forte didn't have that good of a year.
Star Caps fallout
The Star Caps court case may not be over yet, but it's over for Big Pat Williams – according to Big Pat Williams.
What I find interesting about this story is that Williams says its cost him almost $1-million to fight the battle.
When Pat and Kevin Williams first launched their appeal, it's been said one of the reasons they did so was because they didn't want to lose the income being suspended four games without pay would cost them. But because the appeal took so long, Williams probably spent almost as much money on lawyer fees as he would have lost if he had just sat out the four games in 2008.
CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco knows he's not going to make many football fans happy with his all-time NFL power rankings. But he could have put more thought into this one.
If you're going to rank NFL franchises, my view is the only factors that should play into those rankings are the number of titles won and the number of games won by each team.
The current stadiums teams play in, current ownership, tradition, the perceived loyalty of the fan base – all factors Prisco seems to take into account in his rankings – shouldn't make a difference.
After 50 seasons in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings don't have a Super Bowl title (although they do have one NFL title, in 1969, before the AFL/NFL merger). But they do have a winning percentage of .551. That's good for fifth-best in the 32-team NFL. Only the Packers (.559), Dallas (.576), Miami (.576) and Chicago (.579) have fared better.
Yet Prisco has the Vikings ranked as the 21st best NFL franchise of all-time in his rankings. Doesn't that seem a little low to you?
Other stuff
ESPN's Kevin Seifert is asking for your help to pick an All-NFC North team.
He doesn't have any Vikings on the team yet. I think that's pretty fair, although Adrian Peterson has to be the division's starting running back. Chicago's Matt Forte didn't have that good of a year.
Star Caps fallout
The Star Caps court case may not be over yet, but it's over for Big Pat Williams – according to Big Pat Williams.
What I find interesting about this story is that Williams says its cost him almost $1-million to fight the battle.
When Pat and Kevin Williams first launched their appeal, it's been said one of the reasons they did so was because they didn't want to lose the income being suspended four games without pay would cost them. But because the appeal took so long, Williams probably spent almost as much money on lawyer fees as he would have lost if he had just sat out the four games in 2008.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
The future
Let's just ignore what happened on Sunday, February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas.
Unfortunately, I can't.
I can be impressed and respect what the Green Bay Packers did during this Super Bowl run, however.
They went on the road and beat three quality opponents – Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago to get to the Super Bowl. Then they beat another quality opponent, Pittsburgh, to win it. That's earning your Super Bowl rings.
But the outcome, and what it might mean for the future, is depressing if you're a Vikings fan.
Watching Aaron Rodgers nimbly avoid sacks and zip passes into tight spots to Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. Watching James Starks give the Packers a running game. Watching Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji and Tramon Williams and Sam Shields wearing Packer uniforms – all of them young and all of them not even in their prime yet – and it's hard to envision how Green Bay won't dominate the NFC North for at least the next five years.
The Vikings have some great talent – Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Jared Allen, etc., etc. But they don't have the depth the Packers have. They also don't have Aaron Rodgers.
Hall of fame
Former Vikings Cris Carter and Chris Doleman didn't get voted into the NFL Hall of Fame on February 5. ESPN's Kevin Seifert briefly gets into why Carter didn't make the cut. I haven't read any analysis outside of Viking bloggers examining why Doleman didn't make it.
I'm pretty sure Carter will be voted in someday. But he might have an Art Monk-like wait ahead of him before it happens. Maybe it even take a veteran's committee vote to get him in.
I don't think Doleman will get in for whatever reason. And I find myself not really caring if Doleman makes it in or not.
He did play his first nine seasons with the Vikings, and 10 overall. But he became a bit of a suitcase late in his career. Going to Atlanta, then San Francisco, before playing his final season with the Vikings.
He was also part of some very talented Viking teams from 1987-1990 that disappointed me greatly. So maybe I still hold that against him a little.
Congrats, Madieu Williams
And I wish Madieu Williams play on the field for the Vikings was as good as his conduct has been off of it.
Still, better to be a fine human being than a fine football player.
Unfortunately, I can't.
I can be impressed and respect what the Green Bay Packers did during this Super Bowl run, however.
They went on the road and beat three quality opponents – Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago to get to the Super Bowl. Then they beat another quality opponent, Pittsburgh, to win it. That's earning your Super Bowl rings.
But the outcome, and what it might mean for the future, is depressing if you're a Vikings fan.
Watching Aaron Rodgers nimbly avoid sacks and zip passes into tight spots to Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. Watching James Starks give the Packers a running game. Watching Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji and Tramon Williams and Sam Shields wearing Packer uniforms – all of them young and all of them not even in their prime yet – and it's hard to envision how Green Bay won't dominate the NFC North for at least the next five years.
The Vikings have some great talent – Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Jared Allen, etc., etc. But they don't have the depth the Packers have. They also don't have Aaron Rodgers.
Hall of fame
Former Vikings Cris Carter and Chris Doleman didn't get voted into the NFL Hall of Fame on February 5. ESPN's Kevin Seifert briefly gets into why Carter didn't make the cut. I haven't read any analysis outside of Viking bloggers examining why Doleman didn't make it.
I'm pretty sure Carter will be voted in someday. But he might have an Art Monk-like wait ahead of him before it happens. Maybe it even take a veteran's committee vote to get him in.
I don't think Doleman will get in for whatever reason. And I find myself not really caring if Doleman makes it in or not.
He did play his first nine seasons with the Vikings, and 10 overall. But he became a bit of a suitcase late in his career. Going to Atlanta, then San Francisco, before playing his final season with the Vikings.
He was also part of some very talented Viking teams from 1987-1990 that disappointed me greatly. So maybe I still hold that against him a little.
Congrats, Madieu Williams
And I wish Madieu Williams play on the field for the Vikings was as good as his conduct has been off of it.
Still, better to be a fine human being than a fine football player.
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