Packers-Vikings Game Day

[J. Kapp 11]

Here's more on the fake crowd noise.

Although some teams are permitting reduced capacity attendance at their stadia when the season starts on 10th September, the pre-recorded crowd noise is being made available to all NFL franchises to play on a continuous loop via their PA systems.

The league has, however, laid out strict guidelines around the use of the artificial crowd noise. In a memo issued to all teams, the NFL stipulates that any club attempting to manipulate the crowd noise will be subject to fines, suspensions or potential lost draft picks.

The audio must be played at 70 decibels (dB), no higher or lower, and start from kick off. Noise levels will be monitored by the NFL throughout the game to ensure that crowd noise does not go above or below that level.

In part, the NFL memo read: ‘NFL Football Operations will monitor stadium audio throughout every games to ensure compliance with the policies. Decibel readings will be taken from the sidelines by the league-appointed game day assistant.’

So it's pretty clear ... the louder fan noise we heard on the various broadcasts was a result of how the network mixed the audio, not anything the stadium's audio guy was doing.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Here's more on the fake crowd noise.

Although some teams are permitting reduced capacity attendance at their stadia when the season starts on 10th September, the pre-recorded crowd noise is being made available to all NFL franchises to play on a continuous loop via their PA systems.

The league has, however, laid out strict guidelines around the use of the artificial crowd noise. In a memo issued to all teams, the NFL stipulates that any club attempting to manipulate the crowd noise will be subject to fines, suspensions or potential lost draft picks.

The audio must be played at 70 decibels (dB), no higher or lower, and start from kick off. Noise levels will be monitored by the NFL throughout the game to ensure that crowd noise does not go above or below that level.

In part, the NFL memo read: ‘NFL Football Operations will monitor stadium audio throughout every games to ensure compliance with the policies. Decibel readings will be taken from the sidelines by the league-appointed game day assistant.’

So it's pretty clear ... the louder fan noise we heard on the various broadcasts was a result of how the network mixed the audio, not anything the stadium's audio guy was doing.

Hmm yeah must be. Because it sounded like a church at our game but these other games sound like Seattle is playing at home lol

[Texas Vike]

Interesting, Kapp. I found this in another forum (Reddit):

The Announcers [of Giants vs. Steelers] mentioned the piped in crowd noise - and I did some searching -
The STADIUM has the ability to ALTER the noise and actually put in some team specific chants. They (Stadium) can also insert cheers and boos. And vary the volume up to 70 Db.
So - Did the US BANK Stadium sound team let the Vikings down? Are the secretly Packer fans? Or just IDIOTS???? (I am going with Idiots)

Thread can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesotavikin ... _steelers/

[J. Kapp 11]

Interesting, Kapp. I found this in another forum (Reddit):

The Announcers [of Giants vs. Steelers] mentioned the piped in crowd noise - and I did some searching -
The STADIUM has the ability to ALTER the noise and actually put in some team specific chants. They (Stadium) can also insert cheers and boos. And vary the volume up to 70 Db.
So - Did the US BANK Stadium sound team let the Vikings down? Are the secretly Packer fans? Or just IDIOTS???? (I am going with Idiots)

Thread can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesotavikin ... _steelers/

I'm not sure how accurate that is. The NFL's memo is pretty clear. They send the canned crowd noise, and that's what you can play. According to their memo, you can't play anything else. It can't be more OR LESS than 70 dB -- just a continuous loop of 70 dB -- which completely contradicts what this poster on a message board says.

But honestly, it doesn't even matter. The entire point of this is the 70 dB, not whether there can be extra cheers or boos. Again, that's about the loudness of a vacuum cleaner. It might as well be silent in there. If you could bump it up to, say, 100 dB (still not THAT loud) when the opposing team has the ball, that would be a little different. But the NFL, in its infinite lack of wisdom, has chosen to eliminate home-field advantage. Do you guys remember in the NFC Division game against New Orleans last year when Kirk Cousins' voice cracked at least 20 times during that game while he called signals? That was all because of how loud it was in the dome. THAT'S a true home-field advantage ... and that made it a helluva road win for the Vikings.

I found it interesting to listen to Brett Favre on his Sirius XM show on NFL Radio this morning. His broadcast partner asked him about the lack of crowd noise at NFL games, and Favre opined that it was a minimal factor. He basically said you hear it at the beginning of the game, and it might amp you up after a big play, but you don't really notice it other than that. He only talked about it in terms of "revving players up." It stunned me that a guy who played QB for 20 years in the NFL would completely overlook the fact that visiting QBs can communicate clearly with the rest of the offense. Or that visiting QBs can use a hard count and draw the defense offsides ... both being things he could NEVER do if there was a real home crowd.

[S197]

Can we give all the players on the sidelines vuvuzela's?

[S197]

Can we give all the players on the sidelines vuvuzela's?

[J. Kapp 11]

Can we give all the players on the sidelines vuvuzela's?

That would be amazing!

[Tark]

The team simply didn't play well. The offense was terrible outside of the first drive and 4th quarter when the Packers had such a commanding lead they softened up. I can't tell if Kirk doesn't trust the WRs to win their match-ups or if they simply weren't getting open at all but either way that passing game was terrible.

Of course the sample size on offense was limited because the defense was so much more terrible they didn't get much of a chance to prove themselves. The 4th quarter gives a little hope but it's kind of hollow for me. In a game like this with the score so out of hand by the 4th Greenbay was content to let the Viking offense run out the clock and then theirs would do the same.

The defense was as bad as I feared in the off-season. Certainly something I'm not thrilled to be right about. The CBs are young and getting taken advantage of. The defensive line was a concern *before* Hunter was out because the middle is soft. Rodgers had all day to throw and running lanes were wide open. There's just really nothing good to say about the defense.

The Vikings took a step back talent-wise in the off season and it shows. Some of it bad luck (Pierce) and salary cap casualties (Waynes). Diggs for Jefferson (basically) is still an unknown but I'm assuming for at least 1 year it'll be a downgrade. Hunter is out for an unknown amount of time.

I know one game in is a little early to be so gloomy about it but that was *bad*. Really, really bad. Enough to make me think already it's a rebuilding season. But hey, maybe that spanking was enough to wake the team up and they'll rebound.

I dont think it's a rebuilding season at all. Teams like Jacksonville are "rebuilding". Had a few talented players left on their roster and traded them or released them. Stripped their roster down. As I've said above, this team is just very inexperienced right now. There is plenty of talent on this team still. It's just between Ngakoue being new to the fold, Jefferson, Gladney and Dantzler being rookies, etc. things are going to look a lot different. You cant expect these guys to walk into the building and fill the shoes of Diggs, Waynes, Rhodes, Griffen, etc. on day 1. Ngakoue will sooner than later but it takes time with rookies. Especially given there was no preseason.

Where I think Zim went wrong yesterday was NOT playing these rookies enough. If someone like Waynes, Alexander, Diggs, etc. were on this team still and Gladney, Dantzler or Jefferson were sitting the bench, I 100% understand. But the fact that it's Bisi Johnson, Mike Hughes and Holton Hill, that right there is inexcusable. I can already tell you day 1 that those 3 draft picks are already better players than the 3 that were on the field. And some hardly played. I would even make the argument of Cleveland and Elflein. Across the league there were so many rookies starting, playing significantly and being involved early and often. And we have our 4 top draft picks playing no more than what seemed like 20% of the snaps (cant find snap counts anywhere yet). I know Cleveland didnt even suit, Jefferson hardly played until the 2nd half, and Gladney wasnt in until about 4 minutes to go in the game. Dantzler played the most but I felt like he was out a lot in that 2nd half.

I agree with Cliff and think you’re mincing words. You rebuild with inexperienced players mixed in with established players.I’m with you on playing the best talent including the youngsters to get some OJT.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I dont think it's a rebuilding season at all. Teams like Jacksonville are "rebuilding". Had a few talented players left on their roster and traded them or released them. Stripped their roster down. As I've said above, this team is just very inexperienced right now. There is plenty of talent on this team still. It's just between Ngakoue being new to the fold, Jefferson, Gladney and Dantzler being rookies, etc. things are going to look a lot different. You cant expect these guys to walk into the building and fill the shoes of Diggs, Waynes, Rhodes, Griffen, etc. on day 1. Ngakoue will sooner than later but it takes time with rookies. Especially given there was no preseason.

Where I think Zim went wrong yesterday was NOT playing these rookies enough. If someone like Waynes, Alexander, Diggs, etc. were on this team still and Gladney, Dantzler or Jefferson were sitting the bench, I 100% understand. But the fact that it's Bisi Johnson, Mike Hughes and Holton Hill, that right there is inexcusable. I can already tell you day 1 that those 3 draft picks are already better players than the 3 that were on the field. And some hardly played. I would even make the argument of Cleveland and Elflein. Across the league there were so many rookies starting, playing significantly and being involved early and often. And we have our 4 top draft picks playing no more than what seemed like 20% of the snaps (cant find snap counts anywhere yet). I know Cleveland didnt even suit, Jefferson hardly played until the 2nd half, and Gladney wasnt in until about 4 minutes to go in the game. Dantzler played the most but I felt like he was out a lot in that 2nd half.

I agree with Cliff and think you’re mincing words. You rebuild with inexperienced players mixed in with established players.I’m with you on playing the best talent including the youngsters to get some OJT.

Then what is a team like Jacksonville and Washington doing? That type of rebuilding and the vikings type of "rebuilding" are two COMPLETELY different things. Washington and Jacksonville have zero established players. They did at one point and have either traded them away or released them. Jacksonville with Fournette and Ngakoue. Washington with Trent Williams and Adrian Peterson. Look whats left on their rosters. There is very little veteran experience thats worth nothing more than a position fill. And they are loaded with inexperience.

This Vikings team still has plenty of talent and experience. Along with a good chunk of inexperience and it's more than we are use to which is why I think people want to slap the rebuilding tag onto it. This is simply a team that had to reload in areas that were previously a weakness to begin with.

For example:

-Our CBs have dropped off over the past few years. Mainly Rhodes more than anyone. They let him go. Reloaded with Gladney and Dantzler.

-Linval's play started to dip. They let him go. Reloaded with Pierce

-Diggs was being a cry baby and unhappy. We trade him away. Reloaded with Jefferson.

-They decided not to re-sign Griffen for more than they thought he was worth. Reloaded with Ngakoue.

I mean those are the big 4 areas of change. Unfortunately Pierce opted out but it was just about a guarantee he was going to be a force in the middle and better than Linval was at this stage in his career.

But to the point, there is 100% a difference between rebuilding and the current state the Vikings are in

[Tark]

I agree with Cliff and think you’re mincing words. You rebuild with inexperienced players mixed in with established players.I’m with you on playing the best talent including the youngsters to get some OJT.

Then what is a team like Jacksonville and Washington doing? That type of rebuilding and the vikings type of "rebuilding" are two COMPLETELY different things. Washington and Jacksonville have zero established players. They did at one point and have either traded them away or released them. Jacksonville with Fournette and Ngakoue. Washington with Trent Williams and Adrian Peterson. Look whats left on their rosters. There is very little veteran experience thats worth nothing more than a position fill. And they are loaded with inexperience.

This Vikings team still has plenty of talent and experience. Along with a good chunk of inexperience and it's more than we are use to which is why I think people want to slap the rebuilding tag onto it. This is simply a team that had to reload in areas that were previously a weakness to begin with.

For example:

-Our CBs have dropped off over the past few years. Mainly Rhodes more than anyone. They let him go. Reloaded with Gladney and Dantzler.

-Linval's play started to dip. They let him go. Reloaded with Pierce

-Diggs was being a cry baby and unhappy. We trade him away. Reloaded with Jefferson.

-They decided not to re-sign Griffen for more than they thought he was worth. Reloaded with Ngakoue.

I mean those are the big 4 areas of change. Unfortunately Pierce opted out but it was just about a guarantee he was going to be a force in the middle and better than Linval was at this stage in his career.

But to the point, there is 100% a difference between rebuilding and the current state the Vikings are in

Good points, but not 100% Nothing ever is. As I noted "You rebuild with inexperienced players mixed in with established players" so maybe we disagree on the definition of "rebuilding" Not a problem.

[Cliff]

Then what is a team like Jacksonville and Washington doing? That type of rebuilding and the vikings type of "rebuilding" are two COMPLETELY different things. Washington and Jacksonville have zero established players. They did at one point and have either traded them away or released them. Jacksonville with Fournette and Ngakoue. Washington with Trent Williams and Adrian Peterson. Look whats left on their rosters. There is very little veteran experience thats worth nothing more than a position fill. And they are loaded with inexperience.

This Vikings team still has plenty of talent and experience. Along with a good chunk of inexperience and it's more than we are use to which is why I think people want to slap the rebuilding tag onto it. This is simply a team that had to reload in areas that were previously a weakness to begin with.

For example:

-Our CBs have dropped off over the past few years. Mainly Rhodes more than anyone. They let him go. Reloaded with Gladney and Dantzler.

-Linval's play started to dip. They let him go. Reloaded with Pierce

-Diggs was being a cry baby and unhappy. We trade him away. Reloaded with Jefferson.

-They decided not to re-sign Griffen for more than they thought he was worth. Reloaded with Ngakoue.

I mean those are the big 4 areas of change. Unfortunately Pierce opted out but it was just about a guarantee he was going to be a force in the middle and better than Linval was at this stage in his career.

But to the point, there is 100% a difference between rebuilding and the current state the Vikings are in

Good points, but not 100% Nothing ever is. As I noted "You rebuild with inexperienced players mixed in with established players" so maybe we disagree on the definition of "rebuilding" Not a problem.

I think the way you're looking at it is the team actively trying to rebuild vs. a planned rebuild. The Vikings were forced into a rebuild. They lost starters all over the place. Some by choice, some for salary cap reasons, Diggs wanted out. The worst part about this "rebuild" is that it wasn't on purpose. At least not to this extent.

They reloaded this player and that player and that player and this player. Does the entire team have to change before it's a "rebuild"? Does it have to be intentional?

[StumpHunter]

Good points, but not 100% Nothing ever is. As I noted "You rebuild with inexperienced players mixed in with established players" so maybe we disagree on the definition of "rebuilding" Not a problem.

I think the way you're looking at it is the team actively trying to rebuild vs. a planned rebuild. The Vikings were forced into a rebuild. They lost starters all over the place. Some by choice, some for salary cap reasons, Diggs wanted out. The worst part about this "rebuild" is that it wasn't on purpose. At least not to this extent.

They reloaded this player and that player and that player and this player. Does the entire team have to change before it's a "rebuild"? Does it have to be intentional?

The problem is, when it isn't intentional, you don't get all of the positives that come with a rebuild. The Vikings held onto players that have no role with the team next year and will be in a bad way capwise once again in 2021 because of it.

They extended a QB who would be going into a year where there was little chance he would have success, and who's price tag would probably be around 6 million per year if he were released today.

They traded away what is looking like a top of the 2nd round pick for a guy who we cannot afford to keep unless he sucks this year.

Sometimes it looks like Rick has 0 thought for the future of the franchise and only looks at what needs to happen to win the most games in the coming season, even at the expense of future seasons. That is fine if you are fighting for a SB, it is not when you are fighting to get bounced out of the first round of the playoffs, or worse, not make the playoffs at all.

[S197]

Good points, but not 100% Nothing ever is. As I noted "You rebuild with inexperienced players mixed in with established players" so maybe we disagree on the definition of "rebuilding" Not a problem.

I think the way you're looking at it is the team actively trying to rebuild vs. a planned rebuild. The Vikings were forced into a rebuild. They lost starters all over the place. Some by choice, some for salary cap reasons, Diggs wanted out. The worst part about this "rebuild" is that it wasn't on purpose. At least not to this extent.

They reloaded this player and that player and that player and this player. Does the entire team have to change before it's a "rebuild"? Does it have to be intentional?

That this wasn't on purpose or foreseen is the most worrisome part.