Archive for September, 2011

Lets face it. The team is 0-2 right now. The optimist would say that it’s too soon to give up on the season, we beat Detroit and then beat depleted Kansas City and we’re right back in the mix at 2-2. Don’t you know Donovan McNabb has been to the playoffs 7 times in his career before and including a year he started 0-2? The pessimist would say that at even at 0-2 the probability of making the playoffs are about 1 in 8, Detroit is favored at the Metrodome this weekend, Detroit’s new and young high flying offense will [...]

Second Verse. Same as the first.   After the Week 1 Purple domination of the first half, followed up by the 3 Mile Island 2nd Half, we said the playoff bound Purple needed to be more consistent and execute.  I also expressed to, you good people, that I was not thrilled about the offensive play-calling. However, good people, you may remember that I said I will give Bill Musgrave some leash because only a fraction of the offense has been installed.   Week 2 came and went and we need to…be more consistent, execute, and give our guy in the [...]

My five lingering questions after one last look at Sunday’s meltdown loss: 1. Did Freg Pagac lose faith in his secondary? Contrary to my initial impression, the Vikings did actually blitz a fair amount in the second half. But the blitzing came to an abrupt end after one specific play: Preston Parker’s 51-yard reception to set up the Buccaneers’ third quarter field goal (which could’ve been a third quarter touchdown, except that the Bucs were called for an illegal shift). Pagac brought the heat on that play, but Josh Freeman stood in and delivered to Parker who ran through an [...]

Monday morning Tyrell Johnson was arrested for DWI and spent a couple of hours in jail. On Wednesday the safety apologized for the incident saying, “I’m very blessed and fortunate that no one got hurt because of my mistake and selfishness.” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier had little to say about Tyrell’s misbehavior, stating only that the Vikings would handle the matter “internally,” and announcing that Johnson will indeed play on Sunday against the Lions. So that’s that. Johnson will not be cut as many guessed. We’ll wait to see what discipline the league imposes on Johnson down the road. Like [...]

Percy Harvin was on the field for only 45% of the Vikings‘ offensive snaps on Sunday, a number many people found alarmingly low, especially in light of the team’s second half struggles. Leslie Frazier however disputes the notion that the Vikings are misusing the dynamic Harvin, saying in his Wednesday press conference that Bill Musgrave is “taking the right approach” with the receiver. “[We're] just trying to use [Harvin] the right way,” Frazier told reporters when asked about the growing Percy Ratio controversy. Harvin was a huge contributor in the first half Sunday when the Vikings rolled up a 17-0 [...]

Kevin Williams may not like the fact that he has to play the next two games for free, but at least he gets to play. On Tuesday the Vikings officially reinstated Williams from the suspended list, and to make way for him on the roster, waived DE Adrian Awasom. Because of accumulated games played with both the Giants and Vikings, Awasom is not eligible for the practice squad. Williams presence will certainly help bolster a defensive line that has faded in the second half of both Vikings losses. However, for the first time in many years, Kevin will not line [...]

So as not to be accused of anything defamatory or otherwise illegal, I will restrict myself to the facts in this situation as we know them and not jump to any potentially damaging conclusions. Last night, someone named Marcellous Tyrell Johnson was arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol in Hennepin, County (via Darren Wolfson) and booked for DWI. Mr.  Johnson spent a few hours in the slammer before being released at 5:28 AM on Tuesday. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but the Vikings also happen to have a player on their team named Marcellous Tyrell Johnson. You all know him [...]

And now on to part 2 of today’s epic 10 points: 5. Lorenzo Booker is a Mucking Foron Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a team is when stuff starts going wrong and each individual guy decides he wants to be the hero. Lorenzo Booker? Take a knee dude. This isn’t the preseason anymore – you’re out there to do the smart thing, not the thing that will get you attention. While we’re on the subject of kick returners: Why isn’t Percy out there? Yes I realize if he runs the kick back that takes him out of [...]

The Vikings are 0-2 after another second-half meltdown, this one worse than the first. Let’s break it down… 1. About Those Effort Comments… There’s one sure-fire way to make fans even more angry after a loss where you blow a 17-point halftime lead, and that’s to suggest you didn’t try hard all the way to the gun. Percy Harvin dropped perhaps the most controversial comment along these lines, saying, “You can chop it up as whatever you want. We’re just going to say we didn’t play hard all the way to the end of the game.” So when did the [...]

Another week, another loss. What a disappointment to be 0-2 now. Somehow this loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will bite us in the ass down the road if this team strives to make the playoffs. Here’s who faired well today and who stunk. UP Adrian Peterson He simply is the best running back in the game. Adrian darted down the field for 120 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns. He now holds the Vikings record for most rushing touchdowns with 53, so it’s not inconceivable at the age of 26 he could hit the century mark when [...]