Vikings Carlson on 2012 season: 'It was a debacle"

[dead_poet]

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_234 ... source=rss

With the additions of veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson there could be few passes thrown his way again this season.

Then again, he was an integral part of passing drills Tuesday during minicamp, catching several passes in tight coverage.

[The Breeze]

debacle
 
de·ba·cle
[dey-bah-kuhl, -bak-uhl, duh-]
1.
a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout: The revolution ended in a debacle.
2.
a complete collapse or failure.
3.
a breaking up of ice in a river. Compare embacle.
4.
a violent rush of waters or ice.

Origin:
1795–1805; < French débâcle, derivative of débâcler to unbar, clear, equivalent to dé- dis-1 + bâcler to bar ≪ Latin baculum stick, rod

Synonyms
2. disaster, ruin, fiasco, catastrophe, calamity.

[dead_poet]

Weird, the thing at the end about his "nickname." (queue the sarcasm!)

[The Breeze]

Weird, the thing at the end about his "nickname." (queue the sarcasm!)

He even said it sounded like a joke being played on him. He sounds pretty even keeled. I hope this guy is healthy and in form...this offense is loaded and Ponder needs to deliver. Otherwise, we could have a giant embacle on our hands.

[Mothman]

In terms of receiving production, the word certainly seems to fit Carlson's 2012 season. I'm hoping he has a much, much better 2013 and I really hope Musgrave has some good ideas to make use of 2 TE sets to pressure opposing defenses. If Carlson can stay healthy and play up to his potential, putting he and Rudolph on the field with Jennings, Peterson and another receiver could really create some matchup problems and pay dividends. If Carlson and Simpson could both step up and deliver like they have in their best seasons, it might help transform the passing game into something very formidable.

[Mothman]

He even said it sounded like a joke being played on him. He sounds pretty even keeled. I hope this guy is healthy and in form...this offense is loaded and Ponder needs to deliver. Otherwise, we could have a giant embacle on our hands.

LOL!

regarding the "loaded' offense: they need to deliver for Ponder as much as he needs to deliver for them. One of the reasons he was so inconsistent last year was because players like Carlson and Simpson failed to deliver.

I actually think one of the bigger keys to this upcoming season is for the overrated o-line to step up in pass protection (they aren't overrated as a run blocking unit but their success in that area seems to draw attention away from their deficiencies in pass protection). However, if a player like Carlson raises his game and and starts getting open more frequently, Ponder needs to find him. These guys all have the capacity to make each other better and frankly, I think that's the only way it works.

[The Breeze]

In terms of receiving production, the word certainly seems to fit Carlson's 2012 season. I'm hoping he has a much, much better 2013 and I really hope Musgrave has some good ideas to make use of 2 TE sets to pressure opposing defenses. If Carlson can stay healthy and play up to his potential, putting he and Rudolph on the field with Jennings, Peterson and another receiver could really create some matchup problems and pay dividends. If Carlson and Simpson could both step up and deliver like they have in their best seasons, it might help transform the passing game into something very formidable.

I agree, and IMO a large part of the stepping up process is synching these guys up and developing a knack for reading blitzes and all being on the same page as Ponder. He seems to get blitzed with impunity, at least in the division, and the continuity with his receiving core could pay big dividends this season in that respect.

[Mothman]

I agree, and IMO a large part of the stepping up process is synching these guys up and developing a knack for reading blitzes and all being on the same page as Ponder. He seems to get blitzed with impunity, at least in the division, and the continuity with his receiving core could pay big dividends this season in that respect.

Well said. I agree and I hope this is an area where the continuity of having Rudolph in his third season, Carlson, Simpson and Wright all entering their second year with the team and the addition of a smart veteran like Jennings will make a difference.

[The Breeze]

regarding the "loaded' offense: they need to deliver for Ponder as much as he needs to deliver for them. One of the reasons he was so inconsistent last year was because players like Carlson and Simpson failed to deliver.

Yeah didn't mean to imply that it was all on Ponder.....but if those two guys specifically are healthy it should help make things go for him.

I actually think one of the bigger keys to this upcoming season is for the overrated o-line to step up in pass protection (they aren't overrated as a run blocking unit but their success in that area seems to draw attention away from from their deficiencies in pass protection).

Ain't that the truth. Boggles my mind when I see the time Brady and Flacco have to throw. But it does work in concert with handling the blitz. When QBs consistently burn a blitz it doesn't come as often and they get more time. I think if Sullivan is healthy this line will make a big step in pass protection just due to the fact that they are more familiar with each other.

These guys all have the capacity to make each other better and frankly, I think that's the only way it works.

Indeed.....

[Mothman]

I actually think one of the bigger keys to this upcoming season is for the overrated o-line to step up in pass protection (they aren't overrated as a run blocking unit but their success in that area seems to draw attention away from from their deficiencies in pass protection).

Ain't that the truth. Boggles my mind when I see the time Brady and Flacco have to throw. But it does work in concert with handling the blitz. When QBs consistently burn a blitz it doesn't come as often and they get more time.[/quote]

True, but that requires blitz pick up and receivers recognizing the situation and reacting accordingly or at least being where they're supposed to be. The QB has to read the blitz and make the the right choice but even in those blitz situations, the offense has to function as a unit to be successful.

I think if Sullivan is healthy this line will make a big step in pass protection just due to the fact that they are more familiar with each other.

I hope so! I'm not sure that will be enough but my fingers are crossed (which makes it hard to type).

Jim

[PondertoJennings]

Id use Carlson as the blocking TE and on third downs. Kyle Rudolph is the teams starting TE and he deserves to be. More weapons on offense equals more catches and I hope more td's for Kyle.

[The Breeze]

Teams stopped blitzing like maniacs when Adrian started railing them on bad guesses

Good point. It's only June...but with AD at 100% and the new faces in camp, I'm getting seriously geeked out for football already. There is some real potential here this season.

[Mothman]

If Carlson and Simpson truly did underachieve last season, (and it wasn't just what they were capable of), when you look at our roster, our offense is really riding that fine line between being so-so and being completely loaded. If things go right we could be ripping some major damage to defenses this year!

Agreed... if things go right. Lets hope they do!