Tom Powers gets it right

[losperros]

I'm not saying they're not trying to win. I'm saying that it's unimportant. They'll do what they feel gives them the best chance of winning.

Teams are (what you call) "conservative" when they're lacking in playmakers. If you don't have linebackers who can cover receivers, you play a two-deep coverage. If you don't have cornerbacks capable of man to man coverage, you play zone. If your secondary can't cover, you have to be very careful blitzing, because there will be open receivers. If you don't have receivers who go deep, you throw short and intermediate routes. If you don't have more than one or two receivers capable of consistently getting open, you run the ball more.

When you don't have playmakers, you don't make the problem worse by calling low-percentage plays. I don't think this should come as a surprise to anyone.

Interesting and well thought out perspective, Eli.

This really is a rebuilding year, as in all the parts are not there yet. I guess I can sit back and enjoy watching the work in progress or I can expect it all to be completed right now. Personally, I see no way the Vikings can currently be a championship team. I'm hoping they can build into one.

OTOH, as Vikings fans, we've all earned the right to be impatient.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

The Vikings went on the road and played a very close game against an improved Colts team. I don't know what more anyone needs just two games into a total roster rebuilding effort. A win would have been nice, but it doesn't make or break this season.

This whole season will be about developing and evaluating players, and deciding where the biggest needs are going into the offseason and the draft. It's a sixteen game exhibition season as far as the Vikings are concerned.

Well said Eli.


I know it is out of my hands but the only two problems I had with our game plan yesterday was the lack of use of Rudolph (until late) and John Carlson and when we blitzed Harrison Smith on Indy's final drive. I really would like to see Carlson out there so we can get some return on our 20 million dollar investment. Carlson, to put it nicely, has been very disappointing this far. I know he has been injured and everything but I am still curious to see what he can do.

As far as blitzing Harrison Smith, I can still see our defensive coaches still do not understand the correct time to bring pressure. You don't blitz your best safety in the final twenty seconds of the game when the opposition is obviously going to pass. In all honesty, outside of the penalties, that was the only time where I got angry yesterday.

[mondry]

So we're on year ONE of the rebuild I thought Ponder was a rookie last year? Why do I have this feeling that for the next three seasons someone will always refer to it as the beginning of a rebuild? Although i guess one could say last year's rebuild was a failure now now we're on our 2nd rebuild

I wouldn't really call last year part of the rebuilding. We still didn't have a GM, and we were STILL trying to make the playoffs. Do you think donovan Mcnabb is a rebuilding move? Sure we drafted some young guys but even the superbowl champs have to do that. You don't keep guys like EJ henderson, Hutchinson, Kleinsausser, that one DT that was awful (can't remember his name) if you're in series rebuild mode.

It wasn't until this year that they seriously started purging the old dead weight and looked ONLY at younger players who can stick around.

[Mothman]

I wouldn't really call last year part of the rebuilding. We still didn't have a GM, and we were STILL trying to make the playoffs. Do you think donovan Mcnabb is a rebuilding move? Sure we drafted some young guys but even the superbowl champs have to do that. You don't keep guys like EJ henderson, Hutchinson, Kleinsausser, that one DT that was awful (can't remember his name) if you're in series rebuild mode.

It wasn't until this year that they seriously started purging the old dead weight and looked ONLY at younger players who can stick around.

Well said. I honestly don't think it'a an important distinction. You could say the rebuild started with the drafting of Ponder or that it started with the serious commitment to "go young" this year. It really doesn't matter when the rebuild started. What matters is when it ends and the Vikes are back as a serious contender!

[Kansas Viking]

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_215 ... at-vikings
More at the link.

Jim

I disagree that alcohol is not a long-term answer, but then that's just me.

[mansquatch]

I like to look forward...

Offense:
IMO we are seeing positive results. Is anyone mad that Ponder has posted successive weeks with a QB rating over 100? I'm not. The OL is much improved,but still has a ways to go. Charlie Johnson may not be the answer at LG, but we have depth behind him. All in all, these two critical issues going into this season seem to be on the right track. The WR position outside of Harvin was known to be a major issue, and that is what we are seeing. We have hope that Simpson's return can help set this group in the right direction, which remains to be seen.

I have two concerns: AP is not quite himself and I wonder if letting him play as much as they are is risky. Time will tell. The biggest dissappointment IMO is the TE. Rudolph is putting up some nice catches at clutch times, but he also makes very untimely drops. Carlson is no where to be found. Again time will tell, but so far this group has be the biggest dissapointment on offense.

Defense:

Things are not improving...
So far the DL has not asserted itself and that is a real concern. Robison is presnently the most productive player, but I think over time this group will assert itself. However, the DL's relative under performance has exposed just how mediocre the back 7 are. Our defensive roster seems to rely on the DL to make plays. If the DL can't make the play then the unit as a whole is fairly pedestrian. I think we are going to see draft picks on this side of the ball over the next few years. They need a gamer in the back 7, BAD.

[dead_poet]

Defense:

Things are not improving...
So far the DL has not asserted itself and that is a real concern. Robison is presnently the most productive player, but I think over time this group will assert itself. However, the DL's relative under performance has exposed just how mediocre the back 7 are. Our defensive roster seems to rely on the DL to make plays. If the DL can't make the play then the unit as a whole is fairly pedestrian. I think we are going to see draft picks on this side of the ball over the next few years. They need a gamer in the back 7, BAD.

What I find interesting is the Vikings are rated #7 in rush defense and #10 in pass defense through two weeks. Granted, the opponents haven't been offensive powerhouses, but that's a least a bit encouraging. It would be super if they could keep that up throughout the year.

[mondry]

What I find interesting is the Vikings are rated #7 in rush defense and #10 in pass defense through two weeks. Granted, the opponents haven't been offensive powerhouses, but that's a least a bit encouraging. It would be super if they could keep that up throughout the year.

I'd check out turnover ratio, 3rd down conversion rate, and opposing QB completion rate for a more accurate picture. Not to mention the EYE test surely says other wise.

[Mothman]

I'd check out turnover ratio, 3rd down conversion rate, and opposing QB completion rate for a more accurate picture. Not to mention the EYE test surely says other wise.

I think the most accurate picture is the whole picture, the one that takes yards allowed, points allowed, 3rd down conversions, takeaways, sacks, etc. into account. The eye test is valuable too but as loyal Vikings fans, we're not the most unbiased viewers.

The Vikes defense has definitely been bad on third down. They're near the bottom of the league with a 47% conversion percentage.

They have 4 sacks and, if I'm not mistaken, 0 takeaways.

They're currently in the middle of the pack in points allowed, with 46 and if they could have avoided 2 or 3 big plays, they'd be much better (and 2-0). Alas, that didn't happen. They've allowed 4 TDs. Only 6 teams have allowed less so far.

As dead_poet pointed out, they're doing pretty well in yards allowed.

As a whole, they really haven't been bad. The quality of the opposition may have made a big difference though so we'll see how they do against some more potent, experienced offenses in the coming weeks. I suspect somebody will put 30+ on them in the next 3-4 weeks.

[NDVikeFan]

From what I have witnessed, unless Jerome Simpson is the 2nd coming of Randy Moss, this team is In serious trouble. I see us winning 5 games this season if that. I was hoping 7-9, maybe 8-8 to start out but IMO this team is still pretty bad. I shudder to think what the SF's and GB's of the world will do to us.

This season is all about development. Develop the young guys, get some more good draft picks next season, and hopefully land a couple of great free agents.

[mansquatch]

I think the most accurate picture is the whole picture, the one that takes yards allowed, points allowed, 3rd down conversions, takeaways, sacks, etc. into account. The eye test is valuable too but as loyal Vikings fans, we're not the most unbiased viewers.

The Vikes defense has definitely been bad on third down. They're near the bottom of the league with a 47% conversion percentage.

They have 4 sacks and, if I'm not mistaken, 0 takeaways.

They're currently in the middle of the pack in points allowed, with 46 and if they could have avoided 2 or 3 big plays, they'd be much better (and 2-0). Alas, that didn't happen. They've allowed 4 TDs. Only 6 teams have allowed less so far.

As dead_poet pointed out, they're doing pretty well in yards allowed.

As a whole, they really haven't been bad. The quality of the opposition may have made a big difference though so we'll see how they do against some more potent, experienced offenses in the coming weeks. I suspect somebody will put 30+ on them in the next 3-4 weeks.

To me the real buy line is the absence of big plays. This team is playing way too tight. We have no explosive plays on defense and few explosive plays on offense until they get desparate in the 4th quarter. This team needs some "pop" in the first 3 quarters, they do not have the talent to consistently try to play catchup in the 4th.