On the way to 3-13.
I think my 3-13 prediction for the Vikings this season is dead on. Next five games all should be losses: Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, San Diego and Green Bay.
The only possible wins I see on the rest of the schedule are at home against Oakland and Detroit.
Yes, it's that ugly.
Brad Childress is now 7-13 as head coach and the fan base is losing faith in the braintrust every day.
Former Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Dan Barreiro and now KFAN 1130 AM in Minneapolis host wrote a great take on the Vikings situation:
http://www.kfan.com/pages/psn_danbarreiro.html [SOMEWHERE, CARL GERBSCHMIDT IS CHORTLING entry]
I'm not always a huge fan of Barreiro, but he nails this one. A must read for Vikings fans.
So while I may not be able to lay out as good a case for why the current Vikings braintrust is inept, here's my take:
1) No awareness of their talent/situation
When Brad Childress (and later GM Rick Spielman) took over in 2006 they inherited a 9-7 team that was seen as underperforming.
Suddenly there's talk now of a long-term rebuliding effort. Rebuilding? In a weak division with an above-average defense? And when the Vikings have nearly the most room under the salary cap?
I'd look at that situation and think that maybe the time to make a push was now. Get a veteran QB and some wideout help and make the playoffs in 2007.
But that wasn't how this team went. Instead it went youth .. sort of. Tarvaris Jackson at QB. Rookies at WR. An offense that's almost the complete inverse of the Cris Carter-Randy Moss era.
2) Poor roster management
Ok, so maybe Tarvaris Jackson is going to to develop into a viable NFL quarterback.
I haven't seen it so far other than a few glimpses in the 2006 preseason. But I'm willing to give the GM and coach the benefit of the doubt.
But I do know that after 13 career games Brooks Bollinger isn't a viable NFL starter.
So there's no way you can go into the season with only Jackson, who has little NFL experience, and Bollinger as your top two QBs.
Proof? The Vikes traded for a QB late in training camp (Kelly Holcomb) after coming to the same realization.
Why overpay for cheap wares when the team could have traded for Trent Green or signed Jeff Garcia at low cost.
The same could be said for the running back situation. After drafting Adrian Peterson, why not trade Chester Taylor?
And if not Taylor, why not trade Mewelde Moore? Too much talent at one position while there are holes at QB and WR.
3) Bad coaching
What's the mark of a great leader? Setting a plan and executing it. What were Childress' top priorities as coach? Ball security and execution on offense.
How's he doing?
|
2006 |
2007 |
| Penalities per game |
7.7 |
7.25 |
| Turnovers per game |
2 |
2.25 |
[Stats thanks to http://www.startribune.com/vikings/story/1468595.html]
Funny how Childress' teams are among the most penalized in the NFL. He was supposed to be the disciplinarian.
It kind of reminds me how Mike Tice always listed turnovers as his No. 1 priority and the Vikings could never hold onto the ball. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. And I'm not even getting into detail about how Childress uses Adrian Peterson, by far his best offensive weapon, only two times in the second half against Green Bay.
Plus, God doesn't like the Vikings. So they are doomed.
What? You didn't know the almighty dislikes the purple?
Well Jon Kitna said that in Detroit's Week 2 win over the Vikings that god helped him recover from a concussion and re-enter the game.
If that's true, then God must not favor the Vikings since he helped Kitna win the game.
With the coaching, personnel and god working against the Vikings, it's hard to see more than a few more wins.
