After procrastinating for a few days, I finally got around to this one. The Vikings came into the game determined to get their first victory of the season after putting up disappointing performances against the formidable Saints and Dolphins. Meanwhile, the Lions arrived at the Metrodome feeling somewhat confident, coming one touchdown catch away from a win against the Bears in Week 1 and almost beating the Eagles in Week 2. The game started out slow for the Vikes, but things started to heat up in the second half and Minnesota came out on top, 24-10.
Once again, the Minnesota offense looked like a one-trick pony. The first two drives were especially worrying. The Vikings sabotages themselves during the second one with penalty after penalty, eventually leading to a punt. The rushing game was more than effective, but quarterback Brett Favre was as conservative as ever. Number 4 completed 23 of 34 passes for 201 and a touchdown, but he also gave away two interceptions. It is apparent that Favre is not comfortable with the offense or his aging arm, as he only completed one pass over 20 yards Sunday. The Vikings took very few shots down the field, and it's obvious their quarterback is still missing his favorite target, receiver Sidney Rice. Favre's current pass-catcher of choice, Visanthe Shiancoe, was injured during the game, and the quarterback ended up turning to explosive weapon Percy Harvin. The two looked to have a nice connection, and even hooked up on a 24 yard throw. Harvin had injury concerns coming into the season, and he was dinged up on a few plays. However, he remained in for the duration of the game, quelling some of the doubts over his toughness. For the second week in a row running back Adrian Peterson was the MVP, rushing for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Despite Favre's inefficiency, he was still able to run through defender after defender. Peterson's highlight, without a doubt, was his 80 yard dash to the end zone in the third quarter. Make no doubt about it, folks. Adrian Peterson is back and better than ever.
The Vikings defense was it's same old stingy self, only surrendering 63 rushing yard on 19 attempts. The pass rush has still yet to make it's presence known, only managing one sack from spot rusher Brian Robison. For a significant part of the game it seemed as if the lineman just could not touch Shaun Hill, making him look like Michael Vick mixed with Vince Young on some plays. This really has to worry the Vikings, seeing as they face elite quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers in three of the next four games. If the Vikings can't figure out a way to get to the mighty Shaun Hill, they may give up 1200 yards passing in those three future contests. And while the pass defense is not as bad as it was say, three years ago, the Vikings are still far way from the sack numbers they put up last season at this time. It wasn't all bad news for the pass defense, however, as Antoine Winfield and Ben Leber each had an interception off of Detroit quarterback Shaun Hill. The running game, as is usually the case, was not a threat for the defense and was stifled on most attempts. Detroit running back Jahvid Best put up a humble 26 yards on seven carries and end up leaving the game later with a toe injury. The defense did it's job in this game, and the Vikings' offense was finally able to take advantage of the opportunities it was given.
It was another ugly Lions-Vikings game, and like most of the previous Sundays between these two division rivals, the team from Minnesota came off the field the happy one. The game only looked close for the first two quarters before Adrian Peterson brought a dose of reality, all but assuring the outcome. Team and fans alike had better enjoy this win, as things do not get easier from here. The Vikings face a murderer's row of teams, starting with the New York Jets two Mondays from now. If this team is going to go anywhere, these next four games might tell us how far.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Twins and the Playoffs
Well, the Minnesota Twins are going to the playoffs for the second straight season and the third time in the last five years. It became official Tuesday night as the Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 6-4 and the second-place Chicago White Sox lost to the Oakland Athletics. Champagne was flowing across the state of Minnesota as the Twins celebrated their clinching of the division with several games left in the season.
I am extremely optimistic coming into this postseason. I said before in my first post about the Twins, and I will say it again: this truly looks like a team of destiny. The team, which has been without superstar first basemen Justin Morneau since early July, has ridden on the shoulders of Joe Mauer, Jim Thome and Carl Pavano all season and appears to really have no weakness. Even without Morneau's power in the lineup, there has been enough run production and hits in vital moments to allow pitchers such as Pavano, Francisco Liriano and staff newcomer Brian Duensing eat innings and win games. And let's not forget about closer Matt Capps, who has been stellar since his midseason arrival. The hitting has been clutch, and the pitching has been on nothing short of lockdown. Most important of all, Ron Gardenhire should be in the running for Manager of Year has been the (mostly) cool and composed captain of the baseball club.
Like most postseasons the Twins are involved in, the New York Yankees look to be the biggest threat any success Minnesota will have. The Twins have been knocked out of the playoffs by the Yanks three times in since 2003, and they have won a total of two games in those series. New York has a superb, veteran pitching staff and a lineup filled with perennial All-Stars such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. As good as the Twins have been this season, I still have a bad, bad feeling if the Yankees end up being the team Minnesota has to face in the first round. They have been the kryptonite to our own Superman, leaving him exhausted, beaten and on his knees, leaving him wondering what happened when it seemed like nothing to could stop him before. However, there are still two other teams the Twins could face in the postseason as well, these being the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers, and they too look to be worthy adversaries. Both teams have young and extremely talented pitching staffs with potent bats to support them, even though Texas currently happens to be without outfielder and MVP candidate Josh Hamilton at the moment. The Twins enjoyed moderate success against the Rangers this season and were a little under .500 against the Rays. Although these are very skilled teams, I have confidence the Twins can out-pitch them, especially if they keep their foot on the gas for the duration of the regular season. To conclude, the Twins should still be afraid of facing New York the most and have no reason to coast into October.
While I do believe this team will do big things this year, they still need to remain focused and stay prepared. It seemed like all the excitement at the end of the 2009 season sapped Minnesota of it's energy, which lead to the Twins being swept in four games off the bat. With over a week left to work out any kinks and problems, there is no simply excuse for such a showing this time around.
I am extremely optimistic coming into this postseason. I said before in my first post about the Twins, and I will say it again: this truly looks like a team of destiny. The team, which has been without superstar first basemen Justin Morneau since early July, has ridden on the shoulders of Joe Mauer, Jim Thome and Carl Pavano all season and appears to really have no weakness. Even without Morneau's power in the lineup, there has been enough run production and hits in vital moments to allow pitchers such as Pavano, Francisco Liriano and staff newcomer Brian Duensing eat innings and win games. And let's not forget about closer Matt Capps, who has been stellar since his midseason arrival. The hitting has been clutch, and the pitching has been on nothing short of lockdown. Most important of all, Ron Gardenhire should be in the running for Manager of Year has been the (mostly) cool and composed captain of the baseball club.
Like most postseasons the Twins are involved in, the New York Yankees look to be the biggest threat any success Minnesota will have. The Twins have been knocked out of the playoffs by the Yanks three times in since 2003, and they have won a total of two games in those series. New York has a superb, veteran pitching staff and a lineup filled with perennial All-Stars such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. As good as the Twins have been this season, I still have a bad, bad feeling if the Yankees end up being the team Minnesota has to face in the first round. They have been the kryptonite to our own Superman, leaving him exhausted, beaten and on his knees, leaving him wondering what happened when it seemed like nothing to could stop him before. However, there are still two other teams the Twins could face in the postseason as well, these being the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers, and they too look to be worthy adversaries. Both teams have young and extremely talented pitching staffs with potent bats to support them, even though Texas currently happens to be without outfielder and MVP candidate Josh Hamilton at the moment. The Twins enjoyed moderate success against the Rangers this season and were a little under .500 against the Rays. Although these are very skilled teams, I have confidence the Twins can out-pitch them, especially if they keep their foot on the gas for the duration of the regular season. To conclude, the Twins should still be afraid of facing New York the most and have no reason to coast into October.
While I do believe this team will do big things this year, they still need to remain focused and stay prepared. It seemed like all the excitement at the end of the 2009 season sapped Minnesota of it's energy, which lead to the Twins being swept in four games off the bat. With over a week left to work out any kinks and problems, there is no simply excuse for such a showing this time around.
Monday, September 20, 2010
MIA @ MIN recap
If you thought last week's loss was disappointing, then you were in for treat in Week 2. The Vikings were looking for someone to take their frustrations out on after the opening week heart-wrencher against the New Orleans Saints, and they had to have been feeling confident coming into a game against a team, the Miami Dolphins, with a young QB and a still ambiguous defense. However, the Vikings looked anything but composed, throwing away several opportunities to take the lead late into the game and eventually losing by a score of 10-14. The Vikings were given many chances to win this game and gave them right back with incomplete passes, missed blocks and interceptions.
Turnovers were the story of Sunday's game, as the Vikings scored 14 points while only managing to use punter Chris Kluwe twice. Most Minnesota Vikings fans will place the blame of Sunday's loss squarely on quarterback Brett Favre. Much like the New Orleans game, Favre seemed to be forcing passes all over the field, with three missed passes ending as costly interceptions. The Minnesota quarterback struggled to establish any sort of connection with a receiver, with the exception of tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and running back Adrian Peterson. On several plays it looked like Favre was trying to throw farther than his 40-year-old body would let him, with one of his deep balls ending up in the hands of Dolphins defensive back Jason Allen. Chronic underachiever Bernard Berrian was targeted five times and only caught the ball twice for 24 yards. Favre was also sacked three times and lost the ball in the end zone for Miami's second touchdown of the day. If there was a bright spot to be found in the passing game, it was Favre's consistent chemistry with Shiancoe. He looks to be Favre's favorite target as the season wears on and has already caught 10 passes this year for 162 yards and a touchdown. However, the biggest offensive positive from Sunday's contest was running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson continues to run like a man motivated after last year's criticism over fumbling issues. He had 145 yards and a touch down on 28 yards and gave the Minnesota crowd multiple flashbacks to his rookie year, hurdling a defender during one play and plowing through defenders on several others. If Peterson can continue playing like he did Sunday, the Vikings will have a chance to win every game on the schedule, regardless how their aging quarterback does. Much like the first two years of Peterson's career, the Vikings may find themselves relying on the running game to put points on the scoreboard and keep the defense off the field.
It's really a shame Brett Favre couldn't take advantage of the opportunities they were given, as the Minnesota defense only allowed 226 yards of total offense, with 40 of those coming on a long Ronnie Brown run. The defense, also much like the first game of the season, kept the Viking close to the Dolphins, giving up one lone touchdown on Miami's first drive. However, the defense eventually buckled down, forcing the Dolphins to punt six times and giving up zero points the rest of the game. Defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Jared Allen each got their first sacks of the season, and standout linebacker Chad Greenway led the team with 8 tackles. Greenway has been the best defensive player for the Vikings this season and will be a point of conversation for fans around the league as he is in the final year of his rookie contract. The defense should only improve as cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and rookie Chris Cook work themselves into the Minnesota secondary. And that improvement will definitely be welcomed. The Vikings may have to put their hopes on this unit if the offense still struggles while Brett Favre attempts to build some sort of repertoire with his wide receivers.
Under normal circumstances, an average Minnesota Vikings fan would pass over a home game against the maligned Detroit Lions without much, if any, hesitation. However, the showings the past two weeks have given Minnesota fans and coaches alike a reason to worry, even against a team that hasn't made the postseason since 1999. The passing game, something the Vikings utilized so often in 2009, has looked completely out of sync, and Brett Favre has yet to give the people in the Land of 10,000 a reason to be excited after coming out of hiding for the third time in three years. If the Vikings aren't careful, game-breaking running back Jahvid Best and the Lions may put them in the basement of the division, leaving fans and the media clamoring for the grizzled quarterback to return to his tractor and home in Mississippi.
Turnovers were the story of Sunday's game, as the Vikings scored 14 points while only managing to use punter Chris Kluwe twice. Most Minnesota Vikings fans will place the blame of Sunday's loss squarely on quarterback Brett Favre. Much like the New Orleans game, Favre seemed to be forcing passes all over the field, with three missed passes ending as costly interceptions. The Minnesota quarterback struggled to establish any sort of connection with a receiver, with the exception of tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and running back Adrian Peterson. On several plays it looked like Favre was trying to throw farther than his 40-year-old body would let him, with one of his deep balls ending up in the hands of Dolphins defensive back Jason Allen. Chronic underachiever Bernard Berrian was targeted five times and only caught the ball twice for 24 yards. Favre was also sacked three times and lost the ball in the end zone for Miami's second touchdown of the day. If there was a bright spot to be found in the passing game, it was Favre's consistent chemistry with Shiancoe. He looks to be Favre's favorite target as the season wears on and has already caught 10 passes this year for 162 yards and a touchdown. However, the biggest offensive positive from Sunday's contest was running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson continues to run like a man motivated after last year's criticism over fumbling issues. He had 145 yards and a touch down on 28 yards and gave the Minnesota crowd multiple flashbacks to his rookie year, hurdling a defender during one play and plowing through defenders on several others. If Peterson can continue playing like he did Sunday, the Vikings will have a chance to win every game on the schedule, regardless how their aging quarterback does. Much like the first two years of Peterson's career, the Vikings may find themselves relying on the running game to put points on the scoreboard and keep the defense off the field.
It's really a shame Brett Favre couldn't take advantage of the opportunities they were given, as the Minnesota defense only allowed 226 yards of total offense, with 40 of those coming on a long Ronnie Brown run. The defense, also much like the first game of the season, kept the Viking close to the Dolphins, giving up one lone touchdown on Miami's first drive. However, the defense eventually buckled down, forcing the Dolphins to punt six times and giving up zero points the rest of the game. Defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Jared Allen each got their first sacks of the season, and standout linebacker Chad Greenway led the team with 8 tackles. Greenway has been the best defensive player for the Vikings this season and will be a point of conversation for fans around the league as he is in the final year of his rookie contract. The defense should only improve as cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and rookie Chris Cook work themselves into the Minnesota secondary. And that improvement will definitely be welcomed. The Vikings may have to put their hopes on this unit if the offense still struggles while Brett Favre attempts to build some sort of repertoire with his wide receivers.
Under normal circumstances, an average Minnesota Vikings fan would pass over a home game against the maligned Detroit Lions without much, if any, hesitation. However, the showings the past two weeks have given Minnesota fans and coaches alike a reason to worry, even against a team that hasn't made the postseason since 1999. The passing game, something the Vikings utilized so often in 2009, has looked completely out of sync, and Brett Favre has yet to give the people in the Land of 10,000 a reason to be excited after coming out of hiding for the third time in three years. If the Vikings aren't careful, game-breaking running back Jahvid Best and the Lions may put them in the basement of the division, leaving fans and the media clamoring for the grizzled quarterback to return to his tractor and home in Mississippi.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
2010 Minnesota Twins: Team of Destiny?
Let me preface this by saying: I have always been extremely hard on the Twins. Several years of first round exits in the playoffs have left me bitter, assuming that they will end up leaving their bats at home and losing to the Yankees somewhere down the road.
However.
This team looks different to me. Playing their first year in a beautiful, new stadium, the Twins have straight up dominated most of the opponents they have faced since the All Star break, which is, coincidentally, the most important part of the season. The pitching has been stellar, and the Twins as a team have not given up more than five runs in a game since September 2nd, when they lost to the Detroit Tigers in extra innings. Carl Pavano, Francisco, Liriano, and Brian Duensing have given a the Twins a great set of pitchers for the postseason, and even Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey have come back from bumps in the road. Pavano has been the ace of the staff, staying late into games and allowing the Twins to rest their relief pitchers. Blackburn looked to be a lost cause midway through the season, but has came back several great outings, throwing a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in his last start. The midseason acquisition of Matt Capps, which I more than frowned on at the time, has given the Twins a consistent presence in the bullpen and allowed the team to move former closer Jon Rauch to a set-up role, where he, along with Jesse Crain, have given the Twins above-average relief pitching. The Twins should feel extremely confident about their pitching staff heading into the postseason.
The Twins' hitters haven't blown opponents off the scoreboard, but they have given the pitchers enough runs to allow them to win games. The Twins would normally be missing the presence of oft-injured slugger, but 40 year-old Jim Thome has all but erased all anxiety over losing the fragile first basemen. Thome has come in the clutch more than once for the Twins with several game winning home runs and should be considered the offensive MVP of the team, even with only playing every other game or so. Catcher Joe Mauer has also provided ample support, albeit with a lot less homers than last year. Even without the home runs, Mauer, who is still batting .324, has stayed healthy for most of the season and shown fans why the Twins gave him a nine-digit extension before the start of the year. It seems like Mauer rarely goes a game without getting one or two singles. Outfielder Delmon Young looked to be a legitimate AL MVP candidate earlier this year, although he has slowed down considerably. He has still reached a career high in home runs and RBIs and finally given the Twins some optimism after performing below expectations in his first two seasons here in Minnesota. While Denard Span has also slowed down this year, other hitters such as Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel have sufficiently supported Twins' pitchers this season. Orlando Hudson has done a nice job holding down second base and has provided a decent bat hitting second in the order. One would think the Twins' hitters would have struggled without a former MVP and fan favorite in their lineup, but night in and night out they have given their pitchers enough runs to put a W on the board and another game over division rival Chicago White Sox.
If you have not watched the Minnesota Twins all season, start now. This team has dominated any opponent it has faced recently, and they could stay on this hot streak for a long time. I have a feeling this team will finally do big things this postseason, and that there will be more than one celebration on Target Field this year.
However.
This team looks different to me. Playing their first year in a beautiful, new stadium, the Twins have straight up dominated most of the opponents they have faced since the All Star break, which is, coincidentally, the most important part of the season. The pitching has been stellar, and the Twins as a team have not given up more than five runs in a game since September 2nd, when they lost to the Detroit Tigers in extra innings. Carl Pavano, Francisco, Liriano, and Brian Duensing have given a the Twins a great set of pitchers for the postseason, and even Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey have come back from bumps in the road. Pavano has been the ace of the staff, staying late into games and allowing the Twins to rest their relief pitchers. Blackburn looked to be a lost cause midway through the season, but has came back several great outings, throwing a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in his last start. The midseason acquisition of Matt Capps, which I more than frowned on at the time, has given the Twins a consistent presence in the bullpen and allowed the team to move former closer Jon Rauch to a set-up role, where he, along with Jesse Crain, have given the Twins above-average relief pitching. The Twins should feel extremely confident about their pitching staff heading into the postseason.
The Twins' hitters haven't blown opponents off the scoreboard, but they have given the pitchers enough runs to allow them to win games. The Twins would normally be missing the presence of oft-injured slugger, but 40 year-old Jim Thome has all but erased all anxiety over losing the fragile first basemen. Thome has come in the clutch more than once for the Twins with several game winning home runs and should be considered the offensive MVP of the team, even with only playing every other game or so. Catcher Joe Mauer has also provided ample support, albeit with a lot less homers than last year. Even without the home runs, Mauer, who is still batting .324, has stayed healthy for most of the season and shown fans why the Twins gave him a nine-digit extension before the start of the year. It seems like Mauer rarely goes a game without getting one or two singles. Outfielder Delmon Young looked to be a legitimate AL MVP candidate earlier this year, although he has slowed down considerably. He has still reached a career high in home runs and RBIs and finally given the Twins some optimism after performing below expectations in his first two seasons here in Minnesota. While Denard Span has also slowed down this year, other hitters such as Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel have sufficiently supported Twins' pitchers this season. Orlando Hudson has done a nice job holding down second base and has provided a decent bat hitting second in the order. One would think the Twins' hitters would have struggled without a former MVP and fan favorite in their lineup, but night in and night out they have given their pitchers enough runs to put a W on the board and another game over division rival Chicago White Sox.
If you have not watched the Minnesota Twins all season, start now. This team has dominated any opponent it has faced recently, and they could stay on this hot streak for a long time. I have a feeling this team will finally do big things this postseason, and that there will be more than one celebration on Target Field this year.
Friday, September 10, 2010
MIN @ NO Recap
Even though it was the first game of the season, the Vikings put on an underwhelming performance Thursday night. For some reason, I was expecting some sort of shoot-out but as is usually the case when I get this feeling, it was a close defensive struggle. It looked like things were going well for the Vikes at halftime, but they just could not get things started in the second half.
The offense that came out after halftime was not the same one that entered that locker rooms after 30 minutes of play. The Saints did not have an answer for running back Adrian Peterson during the first two quarters, and he seemed to be reeling off five and six-yard gains with no resistance. However, coach Brad Childress and the rest of the coaching staff seemed to shy away from using Peterson in the second half and decided to opt for an airborne approach for the duration of the second half, which was surprising, considering the Vikings were never down by more than five points the rest of the game. The passing game looked flat-out rusty, with Visanthe Shiancoe appearing to be the only receiver quarterback Brett Favre had chemistry with. Favre spent the last two quarters appearing to try to win the game by himself, overthrowing targets and putting balls on the grass. The Vikings' quarterback missed on several throws to Percy Harvin, Greg Camarillo and Bernard Berrian. Berrian himself did not have the best night, either. He dropped several passes and looked flat-out lost on several routes. One can only hope that Favre will be able to establish a better connection with his receivers throughout the season, especially since his favorite target, Sidney Rice, will likely be gone for the next six to eight weeks. A big concern coming into the game was the protection of Favre, and he only ended being sacked once, although he was hit on several other plays, with one of them leading to an interception by linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Left tackle Bryant McKinnie left the game with an injury, and second year tackle Philip Loadholt moved to his position. The pressure seemed to be getting to Favre all night, and several holding and false start penalties were called throughout the evening. Overall, the offense looked like a unit playing it's first game of the season with a quarterback who came to to the team in mid-August. The passing game was rusty, but Peterson looked like the same All-Pro superstar we've come to expect. The Vikings will have all weekend and the next week to work out its kinks in time for the Dolphins game.
The defense, especially young cornerback Asher Allen, was having troubles with coverage all night. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was expected to have a huge game against the decimated Vikings secondary, and he attacked the Vikings with mid-range slants and curl routes. The secondary seemed unable to keep up with the short passes, and starting cornerback Asher Allen was fooled on a few plays. Even though he never completed a pass longer than 29 yards, Brees only had nine missed passes to his name. Much of this success could be credited to the pressure up front, and Jared Allen and his cohorts were invisible for most of the game. The pressure from the Vikings defensive line was just not there, and Brees just sidestepped the pass rush on several plays. Cornerback Antoine Winfield made several nice tackles, but even he was fooled by receivers on a few plays. The run defense was equally underwhelming. Saints running back Pierre Thomas was able to rush for an astonishing (for the Vikings) 71 yards on 19 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter. Tackles Pat and Kevin Williams were manhandled by the Saints stellar guards, Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans, and let Thomas get to the linebackers and multiple plays. In the end, it was a typical night for a Minnesota Vikings defense: short passes everywhere and a quarterback with a rating over 100. Had the offense been able to support them with more than 9 points, this section would likely have had a more positive overtone.
Vikings fans were looking for revenge for the NFC Championship game, and they left the game feeling disappointed and frustrated. After so much success last season, many expected seamless play on offense and a defense with several sacks and a few interceptions, even if was just the first game. What came on the field was a flat passing attack and an inconsistent defense. The Vikings, especially Brett Favre, definitely tried hard to win this game, maybe too hard. Nonetheless, this was only Week 1 of 17, and the Vikings have a few extra days to prepare for Miami next Sunday, a team with a less-established quarterback and a terror at wide receiver.
The offense that came out after halftime was not the same one that entered that locker rooms after 30 minutes of play. The Saints did not have an answer for running back Adrian Peterson during the first two quarters, and he seemed to be reeling off five and six-yard gains with no resistance. However, coach Brad Childress and the rest of the coaching staff seemed to shy away from using Peterson in the second half and decided to opt for an airborne approach for the duration of the second half, which was surprising, considering the Vikings were never down by more than five points the rest of the game. The passing game looked flat-out rusty, with Visanthe Shiancoe appearing to be the only receiver quarterback Brett Favre had chemistry with. Favre spent the last two quarters appearing to try to win the game by himself, overthrowing targets and putting balls on the grass. The Vikings' quarterback missed on several throws to Percy Harvin, Greg Camarillo and Bernard Berrian. Berrian himself did not have the best night, either. He dropped several passes and looked flat-out lost on several routes. One can only hope that Favre will be able to establish a better connection with his receivers throughout the season, especially since his favorite target, Sidney Rice, will likely be gone for the next six to eight weeks. A big concern coming into the game was the protection of Favre, and he only ended being sacked once, although he was hit on several other plays, with one of them leading to an interception by linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Left tackle Bryant McKinnie left the game with an injury, and second year tackle Philip Loadholt moved to his position. The pressure seemed to be getting to Favre all night, and several holding and false start penalties were called throughout the evening. Overall, the offense looked like a unit playing it's first game of the season with a quarterback who came to to the team in mid-August. The passing game was rusty, but Peterson looked like the same All-Pro superstar we've come to expect. The Vikings will have all weekend and the next week to work out its kinks in time for the Dolphins game.
The defense, especially young cornerback Asher Allen, was having troubles with coverage all night. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was expected to have a huge game against the decimated Vikings secondary, and he attacked the Vikings with mid-range slants and curl routes. The secondary seemed unable to keep up with the short passes, and starting cornerback Asher Allen was fooled on a few plays. Even though he never completed a pass longer than 29 yards, Brees only had nine missed passes to his name. Much of this success could be credited to the pressure up front, and Jared Allen and his cohorts were invisible for most of the game. The pressure from the Vikings defensive line was just not there, and Brees just sidestepped the pass rush on several plays. Cornerback Antoine Winfield made several nice tackles, but even he was fooled by receivers on a few plays. The run defense was equally underwhelming. Saints running back Pierre Thomas was able to rush for an astonishing (for the Vikings) 71 yards on 19 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter. Tackles Pat and Kevin Williams were manhandled by the Saints stellar guards, Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans, and let Thomas get to the linebackers and multiple plays. In the end, it was a typical night for a Minnesota Vikings defense: short passes everywhere and a quarterback with a rating over 100. Had the offense been able to support them with more than 9 points, this section would likely have had a more positive overtone.
Vikings fans were looking for revenge for the NFC Championship game, and they left the game feeling disappointed and frustrated. After so much success last season, many expected seamless play on offense and a defense with several sacks and a few interceptions, even if was just the first game. What came on the field was a flat passing attack and an inconsistent defense. The Vikings, especially Brett Favre, definitely tried hard to win this game, maybe too hard. Nonetheless, this was only Week 1 of 17, and the Vikings have a few extra days to prepare for Miami next Sunday, a team with a less-established quarterback and a terror at wide receiver.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Vikings Season Preview, Tomorrow's Game
I know it might look like I've procrastinated, since I'm waiting until the day before the season starts to put up my Vikings season preview, but I figure now is as good of a time as ever to put up my prediction.
THE OFFENSE
No one was excited for the return of Brett Favre as I was, and for good reason. I have never been a Tarvaris Jackson fan, and this looked to be doomed as a run-first team in a pass-first league before the grizzled veteran announced his intentions to play in the 2010 season. His un-retirement gives the Vikings an automatic boost at the position, and enables the team to spread out the field, rather than rely on All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, which they had done the two seasons previous to Favre's arrival. Even with Sidney Rice's injury and projected six to eight week absence, there should be no hitch in the passing game. Percy Harvin (when he is playing) is a blazing gamebreaker, Bernard Berrian still has speed, if not inconsisent hands, and Greg Camarillo looked to have hands of glue in the preseason games he played in. And I still haven't mentioned Visanthe Shiancoe, who had 11 touchdowns last year and was one of Favre's favorite targets in the red zone.
The running game should continue to be one of the league's best as long as superstar Adrian Peterson can cut down on his fumbles, which partially lead to the New Orleans Saints' victory in the NFC Championship Game and have been to the kryptonite to the Vikings' Superman. Peterson claims he has found a way to hold onto the ball without dropping it, and if he keeps his word, he should improve on his numbers of 2009 and continue to be a focal point of the Vikings' offense. The loss of backup running back Chester Taylor did not go unnoticed, as the Vikings selected Stanford's Toby Gerhart in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Gerhart should get plenty of the touches in the backfield, and the Vikings will try to use him as a pass catcher in the same way they used Taylor. Albert Young looks to be the third down back for the Vikings.
My biggest worry for the Vikings' offense falls on the offensive line, which did not look any better in the preseason. The biggest fear of every Vikings' fan is seeing Brett Favre get hit and not come up, and that could very well happen if the play on the line does not improve this season. Right tackle Phillip Loadholt should be more experienced after a shaky rookie year. However, Bryant McKinnie appears to be a statue on some plays, and at times looks downright unmotivated. The first game of the season should be a test of how much these two have improved, if at all, over the offseason. As long as center John Sullivan comes back healthy, the interior of the offensive line should have very few issues. The concern of the line rests on the tackles. If they can protect Favre better than they did against the Saints, this team will win more games than it loses.
THE DEFENSE
As not much as changed with the Vikings' defense, I won't spend as much time talking about them as I did the offense. The defensive line, with the return of all four starters, will continue to reign as one of the league's best. They may suffer a small decline against the run, seeing as nose tackle Pat Williams is soon to celebrate his 38th birthday, but they should not allow more than two or three 100-yard rushers this season. The Vikings have always prided themselves on their run defense, and as long as the two Williams, Pat and Kevin, are in the center of the line, running backs will continue rushing up the middle of the defense. Jared Allen is arguably the premier pass rusher in the league, so it is doubtful that the Vikings will have much concern over a pass rush this season. On the other end, Ray Edwards is one of the more underrated Vikings and posted 8.5 sacks last year.
Speaking of underrated, the Vikings linebackers will continue to thrive as one of the conference's best and most experienced. E.J. Henderson is back after a gruesome injury last season, and outside linebackers Chad Greenway and Ben Leber do an awesome job of supporting the run, although Greenway's coverage skills have been questioned at times.
The only real question mark for the Vikings is the secondary. Cornerback Cedric Griffin tore has ACL last season, and is questionable for the first game of the season. Rookie cornerback Chris Cook had a stellar preseason but, like Griffin, will miss some time because of an injury problem. This leaves the Vikings coming into the first season with Antoine Winfield, Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen. Winfield is a Pro Bowl corner, but Sheppard is still trying to fight off the "washed up" reputation and Allen was a rookie last season who seldom saw the field as a fourth cornerback. The safeties should give the Vikings little comfort as well. Tyrell Johnson struggled in coverage, and his counterpart, Madieu Williams, had his own problems with tackling.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Mainstays Chris Kluwe and Ryan Longwell return for the Vikings. Kluwe is an average punter who has had his struggles, while Longwell is still one of the NFL's premier kickers. The return game is the only thing the Vikings need to figure out, especially after the trade of Darius Reynaud to the New York Giants. The Vikings will likely try out Albert Young, Bernard Berrian, or another receiver at the position.
CONCLUSION
This success of the Minnesota Vikings 2010 season falls squarely on the shoulder of Brett Favre. If the Vikings can keep him healthy and off his back they should have little trouble winning the division. Without Favre this team will find itself likely in a bitter and tough battle with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears for division supremacy. The defense should continue to be one of the league's best as long as Favre and the offense can put points on the board, something that was not an issue last season. However, if Favre is not healthy, the defense will find itself on the field for the most of the game, and we all know what happens to teams where this is commonplace. The defense gets tired, and it gives up points. In the end, this team will go as far as Brett Favre takes it.
Season prediction: 9-7, Wild Card
I hate to say it, but I am a constant pessimist when it comes to the Vikings. I understand Brett Favre has broken the record for consecutive starts, but I also realize that all good things must come to an end. There is just this sick feeling in me that Favre, and especially his ankle, is going to be the target of every defense the Vikings face and that teams will stop at nothing to literally break the 40-year-old quarterback. The team won 10 games with Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte two years ago, so the Vikings could still go to the playoffs without Favre. However, the task would be difficult, especially with an ever-improving Green Packers in the division, a team many have chosen to go to the Super Bowl even with Brett Favre re-joining Minnesota.
GAME PREVIEW: MIN @ NO
This game, the rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game, has been on the calendars of every NFL fan since it was announced, and for good reason. Brett Favre is going up against the team that pummeled and crushed him, almost leading to his permanent retirement. The Super Bowl Champion Saints, led by Madden 11 cover boy Drew Brees, look to have another explosive offense and will try to repeat the outcome of the last game these two teams played.
The Vikings should have little trouble putting up points against the Saints' defense. The secondary is missing leader, Darren Sharper, although they do have some underrated cornerbacks in Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. Adrian Peterson ran wild on the Saints last time they met each other, and that should not change this game, as long as Brett Favre can keep the defense honest.
Drew Brees must be licking his chops at the thought of facing the Minnesota secondary, especially since it is missing Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook. Brees has no lack of weapons at his disposal with receivers Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem. Tight end Jeremy Shockey, although a few years older, is still nothing to scoff at, and can be a red zone threat. The only way the Vikings will come out on top in this game is if they can get to Brees, something that should be a little easier with the Saints' trade of tackle Jammal Brown to the Washington Redskins. Brees will be able to pass all over the Vikings if they're unable to generate a pass rush, which will lead to more points for New Orleans. This, in turn, will lead to the Vikings focusing on the passing game rather than the running game and Adrian Peterson. If the Vikings put all the time into passing the ball the Saints will only continue to blitz and do their best to get to Favre. This can't happen if the Vikings expect to win this game.
Game prediction: 24-21, Vikings
This game between two high-powered offenses could go either way. Despite my pessimistic nature, I think the Vikings will pull this one off. It will be another close game, but I think Brad Childress and the coaching staff learned their lesson from the Championship Game, and they will do anything they can to keep Brett Favre on the field. I expect a lot of screens and check down passes to Adrian Peterson and the other backs. If the Vikings lose this game, it will because they were unable to keep the Saints defenders away from Favre. Pay attention to this theme; it will be a common one throughout this season.
THE OFFENSE
No one was excited for the return of Brett Favre as I was, and for good reason. I have never been a Tarvaris Jackson fan, and this looked to be doomed as a run-first team in a pass-first league before the grizzled veteran announced his intentions to play in the 2010 season. His un-retirement gives the Vikings an automatic boost at the position, and enables the team to spread out the field, rather than rely on All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, which they had done the two seasons previous to Favre's arrival. Even with Sidney Rice's injury and projected six to eight week absence, there should be no hitch in the passing game. Percy Harvin (when he is playing) is a blazing gamebreaker, Bernard Berrian still has speed, if not inconsisent hands, and Greg Camarillo looked to have hands of glue in the preseason games he played in. And I still haven't mentioned Visanthe Shiancoe, who had 11 touchdowns last year and was one of Favre's favorite targets in the red zone.
The running game should continue to be one of the league's best as long as superstar Adrian Peterson can cut down on his fumbles, which partially lead to the New Orleans Saints' victory in the NFC Championship Game and have been to the kryptonite to the Vikings' Superman. Peterson claims he has found a way to hold onto the ball without dropping it, and if he keeps his word, he should improve on his numbers of 2009 and continue to be a focal point of the Vikings' offense. The loss of backup running back Chester Taylor did not go unnoticed, as the Vikings selected Stanford's Toby Gerhart in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Gerhart should get plenty of the touches in the backfield, and the Vikings will try to use him as a pass catcher in the same way they used Taylor. Albert Young looks to be the third down back for the Vikings.
My biggest worry for the Vikings' offense falls on the offensive line, which did not look any better in the preseason. The biggest fear of every Vikings' fan is seeing Brett Favre get hit and not come up, and that could very well happen if the play on the line does not improve this season. Right tackle Phillip Loadholt should be more experienced after a shaky rookie year. However, Bryant McKinnie appears to be a statue on some plays, and at times looks downright unmotivated. The first game of the season should be a test of how much these two have improved, if at all, over the offseason. As long as center John Sullivan comes back healthy, the interior of the offensive line should have very few issues. The concern of the line rests on the tackles. If they can protect Favre better than they did against the Saints, this team will win more games than it loses.
THE DEFENSE
As not much as changed with the Vikings' defense, I won't spend as much time talking about them as I did the offense. The defensive line, with the return of all four starters, will continue to reign as one of the league's best. They may suffer a small decline against the run, seeing as nose tackle Pat Williams is soon to celebrate his 38th birthday, but they should not allow more than two or three 100-yard rushers this season. The Vikings have always prided themselves on their run defense, and as long as the two Williams, Pat and Kevin, are in the center of the line, running backs will continue rushing up the middle of the defense. Jared Allen is arguably the premier pass rusher in the league, so it is doubtful that the Vikings will have much concern over a pass rush this season. On the other end, Ray Edwards is one of the more underrated Vikings and posted 8.5 sacks last year.
Speaking of underrated, the Vikings linebackers will continue to thrive as one of the conference's best and most experienced. E.J. Henderson is back after a gruesome injury last season, and outside linebackers Chad Greenway and Ben Leber do an awesome job of supporting the run, although Greenway's coverage skills have been questioned at times.
The only real question mark for the Vikings is the secondary. Cornerback Cedric Griffin tore has ACL last season, and is questionable for the first game of the season. Rookie cornerback Chris Cook had a stellar preseason but, like Griffin, will miss some time because of an injury problem. This leaves the Vikings coming into the first season with Antoine Winfield, Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen. Winfield is a Pro Bowl corner, but Sheppard is still trying to fight off the "washed up" reputation and Allen was a rookie last season who seldom saw the field as a fourth cornerback. The safeties should give the Vikings little comfort as well. Tyrell Johnson struggled in coverage, and his counterpart, Madieu Williams, had his own problems with tackling.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Mainstays Chris Kluwe and Ryan Longwell return for the Vikings. Kluwe is an average punter who has had his struggles, while Longwell is still one of the NFL's premier kickers. The return game is the only thing the Vikings need to figure out, especially after the trade of Darius Reynaud to the New York Giants. The Vikings will likely try out Albert Young, Bernard Berrian, or another receiver at the position.
CONCLUSION
This success of the Minnesota Vikings 2010 season falls squarely on the shoulder of Brett Favre. If the Vikings can keep him healthy and off his back they should have little trouble winning the division. Without Favre this team will find itself likely in a bitter and tough battle with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears for division supremacy. The defense should continue to be one of the league's best as long as Favre and the offense can put points on the board, something that was not an issue last season. However, if Favre is not healthy, the defense will find itself on the field for the most of the game, and we all know what happens to teams where this is commonplace. The defense gets tired, and it gives up points. In the end, this team will go as far as Brett Favre takes it.
Season prediction: 9-7, Wild Card
I hate to say it, but I am a constant pessimist when it comes to the Vikings. I understand Brett Favre has broken the record for consecutive starts, but I also realize that all good things must come to an end. There is just this sick feeling in me that Favre, and especially his ankle, is going to be the target of every defense the Vikings face and that teams will stop at nothing to literally break the 40-year-old quarterback. The team won 10 games with Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte two years ago, so the Vikings could still go to the playoffs without Favre. However, the task would be difficult, especially with an ever-improving Green Packers in the division, a team many have chosen to go to the Super Bowl even with Brett Favre re-joining Minnesota.
GAME PREVIEW: MIN @ NO
This game, the rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game, has been on the calendars of every NFL fan since it was announced, and for good reason. Brett Favre is going up against the team that pummeled and crushed him, almost leading to his permanent retirement. The Super Bowl Champion Saints, led by Madden 11 cover boy Drew Brees, look to have another explosive offense and will try to repeat the outcome of the last game these two teams played.
The Vikings should have little trouble putting up points against the Saints' defense. The secondary is missing leader, Darren Sharper, although they do have some underrated cornerbacks in Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. Adrian Peterson ran wild on the Saints last time they met each other, and that should not change this game, as long as Brett Favre can keep the defense honest.
Drew Brees must be licking his chops at the thought of facing the Minnesota secondary, especially since it is missing Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook. Brees has no lack of weapons at his disposal with receivers Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem. Tight end Jeremy Shockey, although a few years older, is still nothing to scoff at, and can be a red zone threat. The only way the Vikings will come out on top in this game is if they can get to Brees, something that should be a little easier with the Saints' trade of tackle Jammal Brown to the Washington Redskins. Brees will be able to pass all over the Vikings if they're unable to generate a pass rush, which will lead to more points for New Orleans. This, in turn, will lead to the Vikings focusing on the passing game rather than the running game and Adrian Peterson. If the Vikings put all the time into passing the ball the Saints will only continue to blitz and do their best to get to Favre. This can't happen if the Vikings expect to win this game.
Game prediction: 24-21, Vikings
This game between two high-powered offenses could go either way. Despite my pessimistic nature, I think the Vikings will pull this one off. It will be another close game, but I think Brad Childress and the coaching staff learned their lesson from the Championship Game, and they will do anything they can to keep Brett Favre on the field. I expect a lot of screens and check down passes to Adrian Peterson and the other backs. If the Vikings lose this game, it will because they were unable to keep the Saints defenders away from Favre. Pay attention to this theme; it will be a common one throughout this season.
An Introduction
Hello everyone!
With this being my first post, I figured I should give a bit of an introduction. My name is Tony, and I attend college here in Minnesota. I am in my fourth year and am majoring in journalism with a minor in speech communication. I came to the college as a sports management major and, although I still harbor an intense love for sports, decided to change my focus to journalism, since I felt that sports management seemed to be more on the business side of things rather than writing, which I seem to enjoy. With the major in journalism I figured I should get some kind of blog or journal up on the internet to express my thoughts, so here is my first try.
I was born in a smaller town here in Minnesota, and moved to several other towns before settling in Willmar, Minnesota. I tried my hand at athletics all the way through my sophomore year of high school, and I ended up deciding that watching sports, not playing them, was right for me. My high school had several successful athletic programs, and that certainly made things more enjoyable as a student.
My favorite professional sports teams are the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Tampa Bay Lightning (I'll get to it later). However, I am going to spend most of my time here sharing my thoughts about the Vikes, Twins, and Wolves, with the possibility of a few Wild-related posts later into the hockey season. I started watching the NHL around this time last year, and instead of going with the hometown Wild, I decided to choose a random team, and that team happened to be the Lightning. I'll admit I'm not the most knowledgeable hockey fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I really love watching the sport, and I figured I would get into it eventually since I do live in the State of Hockey.
Anyways, that's all I got for now, and I hope you guys (and gals) enjoy my blog!
With this being my first post, I figured I should give a bit of an introduction. My name is Tony, and I attend college here in Minnesota. I am in my fourth year and am majoring in journalism with a minor in speech communication. I came to the college as a sports management major and, although I still harbor an intense love for sports, decided to change my focus to journalism, since I felt that sports management seemed to be more on the business side of things rather than writing, which I seem to enjoy. With the major in journalism I figured I should get some kind of blog or journal up on the internet to express my thoughts, so here is my first try.
I was born in a smaller town here in Minnesota, and moved to several other towns before settling in Willmar, Minnesota. I tried my hand at athletics all the way through my sophomore year of high school, and I ended up deciding that watching sports, not playing them, was right for me. My high school had several successful athletic programs, and that certainly made things more enjoyable as a student.
My favorite professional sports teams are the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Tampa Bay Lightning (I'll get to it later). However, I am going to spend most of my time here sharing my thoughts about the Vikes, Twins, and Wolves, with the possibility of a few Wild-related posts later into the hockey season. I started watching the NHL around this time last year, and instead of going with the hometown Wild, I decided to choose a random team, and that team happened to be the Lightning. I'll admit I'm not the most knowledgeable hockey fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I really love watching the sport, and I figured I would get into it eventually since I do live in the State of Hockey.
Anyways, that's all I got for now, and I hope you guys (and gals) enjoy my blog!
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