lol, watch this

[Hunter Morrow]

"Greg Jennings is getting open 20 times a game. Read the defenses and throw him the ball already!"

What, you don't think 1/3 for 9 yards is a good stat line?

If Rodgers was passing to Jennings with those wide open looks, Jennings would have been doing a fine Calvin Johnson impersonation.

[Mothman]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/minnesota-vik ... vs-Cowboys

interesting

Wow, I found it frustrating to watch that so I can only imagine how the coaches must feel, not to mention Greg Jennings and Adrian Peterson.

For everybody who laughs or scoffs when Leslie Frazier talks about execution problems, that video illustrates exactly what he's talking about. Frazier and Musgrave aren't great coaches but when the #1 receiver is getting WIDE open and the QB isn't seeing him or is throwing late, off target, etc. that's an example of a player failing the system, not vice versa. The double team "blocks" they showed in that video were pathetic and again, those are execution problems on plays that could work but are failing because players simply aren't doing their jobs. I remember watching that play where Rudolph blocked outside instead of blocking the safety and just shaking my head. I see choices like that from Vikings blockers every week. The mistakes this team is making every week just keep adding up and costing them games.

Thanks for the link, Boon.

[Funkytown]

Someone picked the Vikings to win this game?



But, yes, that was disgusting. That one missed throw to Jennings near the end zone was the one time that I remember fans actually booing. They were surprisingly nice to Ponder, but that pass deserved boos.

[PurpleKoolaid]

And yet Ponder, in Fraizer's world, is our best option? If that's true, he saw a lot last week that literally no one else on earth saw.

[soflavike]

Mr. 60% completion ratio mostly completes 1-5 yard passes before garbage time. Once the game is out of hand, then he makes a couple of longer passes to make sure he goes over 150 yds passing. He's turrible (channeling Charles Barkley).

[S197]

For everybody who laughs or scoffs when Leslie Frazier talks about execution problems, that video illustrates exactly what he's talking about. Frazier and Musgrave aren't great coaches but when the #1 receiver is getting WIDE open and the QB isn't seeing him or is throwing late, off target, etc. that's an example of a player failing the system, not vice versa.

Totally agree. However, when a QB is constantly missing reads like Ponder has been, why is he still on the field? Spielman came out this week and set the record straight, Frazier sets the depth chart and so it's Fraizer who despite lack of execution, keeps Ponder ahead of a guy like Cassel. That's an example of a coach failing his team.

It simply makes no sense at all what's going on right now. If we're not going to fire anyone mid-season, at least start benching guys if they cannot execute.

[Mothman]

Totally agree. However, when a QB is constantly missing reads like Ponder has been, why is he still on the field? Spielman came out this week and set the record straight, Frazier sets the depth chart and so it's Fraizer who despite lack of execution, keeps Ponder ahead of a guy like Cassel. That's an example of a coach failing his team.

It suggests to me that we didn't get a complete picture from Spielman and that he could actually be telling the truth when he says Frazier has the support of management. As I see it, there are only one or two reasons for Cassel to be so completely out of the QB picture when he's the most experienced Qb on the team and only Vikings QB with a win this year:

— They believe he's as good as gone when the season ends. In other words, they feel there's no chance he has anything to offer them beyond this season.

— Ponder is under contract and they either want him to improve enough to be a viable backup next year (since he's the only QB under contract) or to be tradeable. The latter seems unlikely but it could be what they're thinking.

I know there are people who will disagree with me but I don't believe Leslie Frazier is stupid or incompetent. He showed he was willing to start Cassel over Ponder when he played him against Carolina. Maybe he was disillusioned enough by that performance to just drop Cassel to the bottom of the depth chart but I doubt it. Spielman said Frazier sets the depth chart but if I remember correctly, he also said he gives Frazier his views on the QBs (or something to that effect).

In a nutshell, what I'm trying to get to with all of the above is the possibility that Frazier has been assured his job is safe and he's "playing ball" and trying to continue developing Ponder and Freeman. Dropping Cassel to the third spot not only means starts for Ponder but additional practice reps for Freeman.

It's the only logical explanation I can find and I think it adds up pretty well.

Another possibility is that they're tanking games for draft position but I don't believe that. YMMV.

[VikingLord]

The really sad part of that video is this is the way it's been with the 2013 version of the Vikings since the preseason. They just look like they show up to the games with zero preparation, almost as if they haven't even practiced.

And while the video didn't show it, for a guy making what, $17 million this year, maybe Jared Allen should stop mouthing off about how bad the defense is and, I don't know, make a play now and then. Rodgers was able to escape pressure several times because of Allen's failure to stay disciplined in his rush. He got his hat handed to him by what, a rookie 6th round left tackle? At home? Nice job there Jared.

[Hunter Morrow]

Yeah, that raw rookie non-starter took Allen not only to school, but grade, middle and high school, college, landed him a good internship,
tutored him for the GRE and got him through graduate school. I can't even remember a good tackle he made in that Green Bay game.

I love Allen but he is the king of the garbage time sack. The KING of the great play against the garbage team.
When it matters? Not so much calf-roping going on.

[im4mnvikes]

Alot of good ideas about what the Vikings are trying to do with the different personnel moves but:
The more I hear the more I don't think they know what the #### they are doing

[SterlingANJ]

These guys are good calling the shots, hoping the same for Ponder in the heat of the moment during these games!

[The Breeze]

Yeah, that raw rookie non-starter took Allen not only to school, but grade, middle and high school, college, landed him a good internship,
tutored him for the GRE and got him through graduate school. I can't even remember a good tackle he made in that Green Bay game.

I love Allen but he is the king of the garbage time sack. The KING of the great play against the garbage team.
When it matters? Not so much calf-roping going on.

Allen's numbers were 0 for the Packer game. No tackles, no sacks no nothing. $17mill, at home vs the Pack against a rook in a contract year. Then seen mouthing something to the effect of: 'this is the worst defense i ever played on'.....then publicly called out his teammates.

What the eff?

Play Griffen now. I wouldn't let Gerald on the field for Dallas.

[IrishViking]

I can do that, hold my beer.


Actually... I'll hold it... it'll help me do that.

[PurpleMustReign]

It suggests to me that we didn't get a complete picture from Spielman and that he could actually be telling the truth when he says Frazier has the support of management. As I see it, there are only one or two reasons for Cassel to be so completely out of the QB picture when he's the most experienced Qb on the team and only Vikings QB with a win this year:

— They believe he's as good as gone when the season ends. In other words, they feel there's no chance he has anything to offer them beyond this season.

— Ponder is under contract and they either want him to improve enough to be a viable backup next year (since he's the only QB under contract) or to be tradeable. The latter seems unlikely but it could be what they're thinking.

I know there are people who will disagree with me but I don't believe Leslie Frazier is stupid or incompetent. He showed he was willing to start Cassel over Ponder when he played him against Carolina. Maybe he was disillusioned enough by that performance to just drop Cassel to the bottom of the depth chart but I doubt it. Spielman said Frazier sets the depth chart but if I remember correctly, he also said he gives Frazier his views on the QBs (or something to that effect).

In a nutshell, what I'm trying to get to with all of the above is the possibility that Frazier has been assured his job is safe and he's "playing ball" and trying to continue developing Ponder and Freeman. Dropping Cassel to the third spot not only means starts for Ponder but additional practice reps for Freeman.

It's the only logical explanation I can find and I think it adds up pretty well.

Another possibility is that they're tanking games for draft position but I don't believe that. YMMV.

I almost always agree with you, Jim, but here is a case when I am complete opposite.
Christian Ponder has been in the league for a long time now, and has not gotten any better than when he first started that game against GB a few years back, in fact, he has regressed further than any other QB I have ever seen. I believe he has the talent, but I put a lot of his regression on the coaches because they should be able to help him. I have never heard anything that suggests that Ponder is a slacker or sloucher, so to me, it means he is working hard at what he does... he just hasn't been able to do it during games. The thing is, Ponder isn't the only one who has regressed in Frazier's tenure. Chris Cook... Josh Robinson... I'm worried about Matt Kalil. He is a shell of what he was last season, and it sickens me to know/think that the coaches we have in place now could be leading to his regression as well.

[Delaqure]

O

I almost always agree with you, Jim, but here is a case when I am complete opposite.
Christian Ponder has been in the league for a long time now, and has not gotten any better than when he first started that game against GB a few years back, in fact, he has regressed further than any other QB I have ever seen. I believe he has the talent, but I put a lot of his regression on the coaches because they should be able to help him. I have never heard anything that suggests that Ponder is a slacker or sloucher, so to me, it means he is working hard at what he does... he just hasn't been able to do it during games. The thing is, Ponder isn't the only one who has regressed in Frazier's tenure. Chris Cook... Josh Robinson... I'm worried about Matt Kalil. He is a shell of what he was last season, and it sickens me to know/think that the coaches we have in place now could be leading to his regression as well.

This is how I feel too. Every single week we see massive failure in execution on both sides of the ball. There is either no improvement or there is regression. Coaches have to take some serious ownership here. If you have a single player or two not do well you can blame the players but when we have week after week of abysmal play by numerous players coaching has to play a major role in that.