Why are the Vikings suddenly "winners"?

[John_Viveiros]

I voted offensive line and other. Offensive line is a bit obvious to me. Other collects a whole series of ideas. Some of it is "all of the above". I may have voted for a different Ponder line - not "ascension" but just eliminating turnovers.

But for me, repeating what I've been saying for the last year, is that we really weren't that bad last year. We played a lot of teams tough. We lost a lot of close games. My thought was that we were more of a 6-10 team than a 3-13 team. It only takes a couple guys to take a 6-10 team to 10-6 (not saying we'll get there this year, but it's no longer out of the realm of realistic hopes). Right now, we're playing with about eight significantly better starters (Winfield not injured, Harrison Smith, Josh Robinson, Kalil, Simpson, Ponder much better, Walsh, Felton). [All that speaks to Spielman's influence.]

You can do a lot if you can upgrade a third of your roster.

[thatguy]

Offensive line is a HUGE part of our success thus far. I'm not saying that we're all the sudden Superbowl favorites or anything that a dark horse playoff contender...but you can't argue with a 3-1 start against some decent teams like San Fran and the Lions. Even the Jags are no slouch with weapons like MJD and Blackmon.

Sure, we have had and will have our rough patches through this season (thus far), but we've shown 110% improvement over last year, and it's mostly due to the fact that Ponder (now more mature and better than ever) actually has some time to make the smart decisions that he's known for. It's amazing what Kalil and shifting Johnson to guard did for our line. Even Loadholt is looking more stable this year.

Win or lose going forward - hang on because it's going to be a fun ride!

SKOL

[Infinity]

I chose Ponder and AP. But if I had a third choice I would definately have chosen the o-line. Without the o-line, ponder would not be as good as he is. But AP making a huge comeback to give us hope and Ponder's ability to throw short but accurately and be able to scramble and rollout of the pocket are the bigger keys to our success this year. But I also do think Alan Williams is doing a great job with our defense.

[hibbingviking]

ponder is managing the game and the defense is playing better. 49ers and lions thought they could steamroll the vikings, but vikings defense forces teams to be patient, doesnt give up big chunks of yardage. vikings also have been better not giving up 3rd downs so easily. overall the vikings defense is rated #10, rated #9 against the run.

[beardedterror]

By chance do you post on the IGN Football boards?

No, I don't.

[jackal]

I think the Offensive line and christan ponder playing better are both two of the best reasons

I voted for offensive line becuase I feel its helping Christan do better this year and thus is a bigger
reason

[Mothman]

I think the Offensive line and christan ponder playing better are both two of the best reasons

I voted for offensive line becuase I feel its helping Christan do better this year and thus is a bigger
reason

It's just a theory but I think Musgrave might be helping both look better by playing to their strengths as much as possible.

[VikeMike]

One thing that I've noticed in most of the games so far is better play at nose tackle. That's a key in the Vikings defensive run scheme, and something wasn't present in 2011. Of you get penetration on running plays and push up the middle in the pass rush, it helps the linebackers to react to the run and helps the ends on the rush.

So, I voted for other.

But it's not just one thing, of course. The OL is playing better, and Ponder looks to be more poised (maybe because of better protection?). The safeties are definitely playing far better this year than last. And they seem to be playing more physically on both sides of the ball this year. After chaotic years in 2010 with all the problems that have been well chronicled and lock out in 2011, another factor may be the team is finally buying into what Frasier has been preaching to them, and the fact that they have some, and i stress some, more of the pieces to be competitive. Will it continue? Who knows? It's just refreshing that they appear to be headed in the right direction.

I still say that they are a work in progress and they have a lot of growing to do before they become legitimate contenders. The start of the season has been better than I had expected -- that's an understatement -- but their continued building depends a lot on something Chad Greenway spoke of after the Jags game: that the Vikings to a man must study week to week and work harder than their opponent. "They" always say that the difference between good teams and bad teams, talent-wise, in the league isn't very far apart. Preparation is always a key ingredient.

[mansquatch]

I voted other, I think the stuff listed was good, I just think it is more than one thing.

I agree Moth, I think Musgrave's ability to build an offense to the strengths of our personnel has been a highly under reported story. You don't hear about us being a "Gibbs" or "West Coast" style team. Out style is to play to the talent on the field, which is a very cool thing. It also seems that Spielman is on the same page as far as finding players to compliment what is already there.

Hard not to cite Ponder's improvment and lack of TO, that to me is the biggest reason, but only because of the fact he is QB. Plenty of other good news. For me the other bright spots are the improvement on OL, Jasper Brinkley taking a big step forward as Mike LB, and perhaps most dramatic of all, the imrpovement of our Safeties. Best of all, is that in all cases these are young guys doing well, so we should expect these trends to continue. My hat is really off to Spielman, he hit really well in the 1st round and looks to have dramatically imrpoved the two position groups that most ailed us in 2011.

If these trends continue I might have to rethink my analysis of top draft needs. Right now it looks like CB and WR will be our top needs.

[losperros]

I like it too. Here's another thing I like: in his post-game locker room speech to the team, he told the players to enjoy the victory but to remain classy. Hopefully, if his Vikings teams continue their recent success, his influence will help them handle it well and stay focused and disciplined. I thought one of the problems the Lions had last season was that once they got a taste of success, they didn't seem to handle it well at all.

According to Percy Harvin, Frazier has been saying to the team that to win this week and then lose next week amounts to nothing. Apparently, Frazier is trying to focus the team on consistency, which is something the Vikings certainly have needed to do for a while. It appears that the team is buying into it, given what the players have been saying. I find that to be an encouraging sign, especially for a young team.

[Mothman]

I voted other, I think the stuff listed was good, I just think it is more than one thing.

I agree Moth, I think Musgrave's ability to build an offense to the strengths of our personnel has been a highly under reported story. You don't hear about us being a "Gibbs" or "West Coast" style team. Out style is to play to the talent on the field, which is a very cool thing. It also seems that Spielman is on the same page as far as finding players to compliment what is already there.

Supposedly, he and Frazier worked closely together this offseason to achieve that. So far it's paying off nicely.

[S197]

I voted other, I think the stuff listed was good, I just think it is more than one thing.

I agree Moth, I think Musgrave's ability to build an offense to the strengths of our personnel has been a highly under reported story. You don't hear about us being a "Gibbs" or "West Coast" style team. Out style is to play to the talent on the field, which is a very cool thing. It also seems that Spielman is on the same page as far as finding players to compliment what is already there.

I have to disagree. His offense failed to score a touchdown last week, stalling several times in the redzone. The Vikings got the win, but I don't think his abilities are being under reported. Recall that this is a Lions defense that gave up something like 30 points (when you take away the Titans special team points) last week. I'm sure the gameplan changed some when the Vikings scored those two special team touchdowns but how much accolades should an OC get for getting his team to kick 2 field goals?

[Mothman]

I have to disagree. His offense failed to score a touchdown last week, stalling several times in the redzone. The Vikings got the win, but I don't think his abilities are being under reported. Recall that this is a Lions defense that gave up something like 30 points (when you take away the Titans special team points) last week. I'm sure the gameplan changed some when the Vikings scored those two special team touchdowns but how much accolades should an OC get for getting his team to kick 2 field goals?

We weren't just talking about one game.

Musgrave has room to improve, particularly as a red zone playcaller, but so far, he's done a lot right this season.

[S197]

We weren't just talking about one game.

Musgrave has room to improve, particularly as a red zone playcaller, but so far, he's done a lot right this season.

I agree, he has done a lot right this season but as you mention he does need to improve in a few key areas. To me, he's about average right now if I had to give him some sort of score. If he improves in the redzone and starts to stretch the field a little more, I'm sure the articles will follow.

[FailedtoOpen]

No, I don't.

Then someone stole your post and put it on another message board. http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/what- ... -466481823 That's the link if you is interested.