Vikes/Lions post-game thoughts

[Arma]

Ponder will keep everyone quiet for a week. So ya, enough on that subject. Our defense came to play in the first half...second half well the Lions got their rythme going, but thankfully our offense (well AP) made sure they were never within a sniff of winning. So ya, great game against a tough divisonal opponent. Honestly teams that are pass heavy don't scare me, its the run heavy teams that makes me scared now.

[mosscarter]

lets see how ponder plays against the bears defense in 2 weeks then we can say he is back on track.

[losperros]

Maybe he needed the work, although his speed has been there all along so it's pretty hard to understand why Stephen Burton would be up so much, no matter how well Burton blocks. he has hands of stone and he's no downfield threat.

I guess that's why I'm kind of ticked off about this situation with Wright. The Vikings need a downfield threat. It's not Simpson right now because he's playing hurt. Why not Wright?

This is beginning to feel a little too Childress-like to me. Nobody pigeon-holed a player or situation more than Chili. I can picture Chili thinking Wright is fast and not a big guy, so he must be a backup to Harvin. Forget about Wright being a WR throughout all of his college career. Not a RB/receiver hybrid but a WR - period. Forget that Wright was a downfield threat for the Razorbacks. Oh, and most importantly, Burton is a WR that can't catch but he can run block.

[losperros]

lets see how ponder plays against the bears defense in 2 weeks then we can say he is back on track.

For that matter, let's see how the entire Vikings team, including their D, can play against the Bears in two weeks.

[Demi]

For that matter, let's see how the entire Vikings team, including their D, can play against the Bears in two weeks.

Or let's not.

[Demi]

I'll take 6-4 at the BYE. Looking back though, the winnable losses to Indy and the Skins is really frustrating. We could conceivably be 8-2.

And a couple missed 50+ yard FGs from our rookie kicker and we'd be 4-6.

[J. Kapp 11]

I still get upset at the playcalling. In the redzone, I'm not sure we threw the ball into the end zone even once. THAT is a problem.

Um, sure we did. First TD pass to Wright.

[CalVike]

I'll take 6-4 at the BYE. Looking back though, the winnable losses to Indy and the Skins is really frustrating. We could conceivably be 8-2.

And a couple missed 50+ yard FGs from our rookie kicker and we'd be 4-6.

Good point. It was a miracle to beat one win Jacksonville at home so these things even out.

[CalVike]

I'll take 6-4 at the BYE. Looking back though, the winnable losses to Indy and the Skins is really frustrating. We could conceivably be 8-2.

And a couple missed 50+ yard FGs from our rookie kicker and we'd be 4-6.

This sort of thought process doesn't make much sense to me.
We're also one Vinatieri FG and a fluke RGIII TD run away from possibly being 8-2.

Do you think players on the 2007 Patriots said, "Yeah, we're 16-0, but if it wasn't for a McNabb INT in the 4th quarter of week 12, we'd be 15-1"

Did you read the post to which he was responding? He made exactly the same point you did, just in reverse.

[Rus]

Um, sure we did. First TD pass to Wright.

To expound on that, not all quarterbacks and offenses are the same. This offense is radically different than Cunningham to Moss/Carter. The ball doesn't need to be thrown into the end zone when you have a quarterback that mostly works best getting the ball to guys who can take it upfield. I'd say that forcing this offense to work the wrong way has ended up in it making all its worst plays this season, too. That play worked, but that was because it was like what, 7 yards? I don't feel as comfortable with Ponder trying to place it in the back of the end zone to any of these receivers from 20 out.

On another note, while the defense held up early, it wasn't so fun to watch Stanford pick it apart in the second half. If the offense hadn't continued delivering, this may not have ended up looking good. The defense definitely has holes and there are just some things that it can't stop anymore. Up against teams that can do those things, it's awful.

[CalVike]

I guess that's why I'm kind of ticked off about this situation with Wright. The Vikings need a downfield threat. It's not Simpson right now because he's playing hurt. Why not Wright?

This is beginning to feel a little too Childress-like to me. Nobody pigeon-holed a player or situation more than Chili. I can picture Chili thinking Wright is fast and not a big guy, so he must be a backup to Harvin. Forget about Wright being a WR throughout all of his college career. Not a RB/receiver hybrid but a WR - period. Forget that Wright was a downfield threat for the Razorbacks. Oh, and most importantly, Burton is a WR that can't catch but he can run block.

I heard post game that one reason Wright was delayed was the sprained ankle he suffered in the Aug 30 final pre-season game. It does not explain why they waited on him till mid-November given Simpson's injury as you say. But in my mind an injury is not indicative of Childress-like obstinance. Just an unfortunate circumstance. I am just glad they unleashed him today. If Carlson can stay healthy, he and Wright just greatly increased the number of offensive weapons.

[losperros]

I heard post game that one reason Wright was delayed was the sprained ankle he suffered in the Aug 30 final pre-season game. It does not explain why they waited on him till mid-November given Simpson's injury as you say. But in my mind an injury is not indicative of Childress-like obstinance. Just an unfortunate circumstance. I am just glad they unleashed him today. If Carlson can stay healthy, he and Wright just greatly increased the number of offensive weapons.

Since Wright recovered from the injury early enough that he could and should have been played earlier than today, then I have to go back to the rigid thinking by the coaching staff that Wright is merely a backup for Percy Harvin. That's definitely Childress-like closed-mindedness on their part, in my view. I'm hoping that Musgrave and Frazier now feel that they can play both Harvin and Wright at the same time.

[CalVike]

Since Wright recovered from the injury early enough that he could and should have been played earlier than today, then I have to go back to the rigid thinking by the coaching staff that Wright is merely a backup for Percy Harvin. That's definitely Childress-like closed-mindedness on their part, in my view. I'm hoping that Musgrave and Frazier now feel that they can play both Harvin and Wright at the same time.

You may be right but it seems speculative to me, which is fine, that's what we do. I'll offer a speculation of my own. If the coaches were holding out Wright as merely a Harvin backup, it may have something to do with Harvin's public whining and demand of a trade in the off-season.It was stated by all it was not about Contract. Harvin saw limited snaps last year and saw two stud WRs from Arkansas drafted in his free agent year along with a big TE FA signing. What if Harvin's pouts caused them to design myopic game plans targeting Percy more than the ideal amount and held back Wright to keep Percy happy. I hope my paragraph of speculation is the most ridiculous conspiracy theory spouted on this board in some time.

[DanAS]

To me, the keys were that Ponder actually looked like an NFL quarterback for the first time in a while, the receivers were getting some separation, and somehow, the Lions receivers were getting covered enough of the time. The other crazy thing was that our line was creating running lanes. When AD gets a running lane, it's not even a fair fight.

I don't expect to see the offense look anywhere close to this against the Bears, but hey, one can always hope, right?

[PurpleMustReign]

Um, sure we did. First TD pass to Wright.

Oh. Ok... Once. Kyle Rudolph on the team and we make one pass to the End Zone to Jarius Wright. I guess my point is THROW IT TO THE END ZONE.