The Viking Age » mark tauscher

Brett Favre Goes for 3 in a Row vs. the Packers

Dan Zinski — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:39:15 +0000

The stars aligned perfectly for the Vikings in their two match-ups with the Packers in 2009. The Packer line couldn’t contend with the Viking pass rush, the Packer defense could get no pressure on Brett Favre…and, oh yeah, Favre himself had that whole sticking it to Ted Thompson thing motivating him. The result: 2 wins over Green Bay on the way to a 12-4 finish and a division title. Things may not line up so perfectly for the Vikings this year however. The pass protection has not been good, so it’s unlikely Favre will have the kind of time he did in those two games last season. And Aaron Rodgers will face a Vikings pass rush that has not lived up to its fearsome reputation so far. As for Favre himself…this year, he seems more frustrated than motivated. Of course, we expect Brett will be up for tonight’s game more than most, because it’s still the Packers, and he still wants to shove Ted Thompson’s face in it. Whether that lingering revenge-lust will translate into a more focused and effective Favre performance remains to be seen.
(more…)

7 Days of Draftsmas: Loadholt Not Being Handed the Starting Job

Dan Zinski — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:28:14 +0000

Phil Loadholt may indeed be a load, but that doesn’t mean he’s being handed the starting right tackle job, even despite Ryan Cook‘s well-documented struggles. “He’ll compete, certainly,” Brad Childress said of the second-round draftee’s status. “That will be the goal, to get him into a rotation to compete. We’ll just see how fast he can adjust to that side and everything we’re doing on offense.”

Childress declared that Cook and Artis Hicks remain the #1 and #2 right tackles for the time being. I thought before that the Vikes might make a run at Mark Tauscher or another veteran tackle, but I now believe they’re content to let Loadholt take the job if he can, and fall back on Ryan Cook if they must. They would’ve been happiest to wrest Jordan Gross away from Carolina but that plane never got off the ground.

Another interesting tackle tidbit: evidently, arm-length is indeed a big factor for the Vikes when it comes to drafting offensive linemen; at least, that’s what I infer from Rick Spielman‘s remark about Loadholt having “long arms.” I mention this because the knock against Eben Britton was that his arms were too short. So I guess Britton was never a serious prospect for us.

And one more thing: Loadholt on the chance to work with Bryant McKinnie:

He’s a big guy and a Pro Bowl player. I am excited about playing on the same line as him. I look forward to learning a lot of things from him.

First of all, he’s never made a Pro Bowl, but thanks for playing anyway Phil, and enjoy your parting gift. Second of all…gosh, I hope Phil doesn’t learn too much from McKinnie, if you know what I mean.

Non-Housh News: Vikings to Pursue Mark Tauscher

Dan Zinski — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:25:04 +0000

Lost in all the T.J. Houshmandzadeh madness has been the fact that the Vikings still don’t have a right tackle they like as their starter. The best options - Jordan Gross and Vernon Carey – came off the table early, leaving a lot of unproven or over-the-hill guys to pick through. One player who fits firmly into the latter category is Mark Tauscher, the 31-year-old long-time Packer, who may not be returning to Green Bay. The Wisconsin State Journal says the Vikings are interested in Tauscher, who (red flag alert!) is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee. Seems to me that, if the Vikes do pursue Tauscher, that would signal their desire to choose a tackle with their top draft pick, someone they can develop for a year or maybe two while Tauscher holds down the position.