The Vikings: cause for concern or not?
Posted on August 29th, 2008 – 10:28 AMBy Michael Rand
We have a “Star Tribune sports planning meeting” expected to last roughly 12 to 14 rounds in not too long. But we wanted to throw out a basic question: The Vikings went 1-3 in the preseason, which everyone knows doesn’t count toward a team’s official record. But for those who follow the team: are you concerned about a team that was reportedly set to contend for a division (if not conference) title, or do you think all will be well when the lights go on at Lambeau on Sept. 8?
33 Responses to "The Vikings: cause for concern or not?"
Vikings are screwed. Sports Illustrated predicted a 13-3 record and a trip to the NFC Championship game. That means you have to go opposite of what they say. Which leads me to believe they will finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
We have a “Star Tribune sports planning meeting” expected to last roughly 12 to 14 rounds in not too long.
Holy crap! Sid and Reusse are going to box each other? Loser has to retire?
“expected to last roughly 12 to 14 rounds”
Drinking on the job is not a good idea Mr. Rand. Especially since you have to cover the HS kids tonight.
Defense looked okay, leaning towards weak against the run. (Ray Edwards, we’re looking at you.) The offense looked terrible, both on the ground and in the air, and Tarvaris resumed his fragile ways, which could lead to the only-marginally-competent Gus Frerotte.
So yes, I’m worried. 8-8 is starting to sound good.
I’d be worried if I cared more…
/Still more interested in Gopher Football
fantasy draft? try to steer Sid away from blowing it and drafting Pinky McNamara, Tony Levine, and Marquel Fleetwood in the first three rounds.
We have a “Star Tribune sports planning meeting” expected to last roughly 12 to 14 rounds
“…ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to our new internet columnist, Jay Mariot—-”
(Assembled staff flee conference room.)
Not worried. Did anyone think T-Jack (apologies for using that) was going to come out and blow us away this preseason with his awesomeness? I certainly didn’t.
There was little encouraging about this preseason, but I think we all know better than to read too much into it. We’re not going to need much time on Sept. 8 to find out if we should be worried or not.
I don’t know Dave, some capitals are bigger than others on that sign — that hints at some knowledge of punctuation.
+1 for the find Dave, -5 for bringing back politics.
Dave: far be it from me to defend Republicans, but despite the ALL CAPS, it appears that every word on the sign is spelled correctly. She even surmounted the “you’re/your” challenge. No way is she an AV denizen.
Oh it wasn’t the spelling, just the finish of “FIRE CONGRESS!”
Jama: I understand, it wasn’t meant to be a political statement. It just reminded me too much of “FIRE CHILLY!”
Excelunt poynt
FIRE GONCRESS!!!!!
Will this be Michael’s last post of the day? I’d imagine there’s a good chance that Scroggins brought his moonshine and the Sports Dept. is now 3 sheets to the wind.
It’s Michael Jackson’s 50 Birthday Today!
Maybe I’m the only bitter one here, but is there anyone else forced to work today that secretly hopes some gigantic sports story breaks, requiring all the sports staff to abandon their shenanigans and haul ass back to work (if that’s what you can even call it)?
Signed,
Jealous Funhater Forced to Work
Is the AZGopherFamily okay? What about the AZGopherHouse
Will this be Michael’s last post of the day? I’d imagine there’s a good chance that Scroggins brought his moonshine and the Sports Dept. is now 3 sheets to the wind.
I want a drunken post. Who’s with me?
I am totally with you. What the hell are we supposed to do all day if we don’t get any more posts? Work? NO!
Jealous Funhater Forced to Work -
You need to let go of your jealousy and learn to forgive the sports staff for their “shenanigans” as you called them. Your unfocused rage toward fun is misplaced, just because your job sucks and they are not here to entertain you. Instead, you should entertain yourself by watching re-runs of The Office on Hulu.
“I want a drunken post. Who’s with me?”
I’d like it even more if that drunken post was written by me. God do I hate work right now.
Good advice re: The Office, Dear Abby. In a desperate attempt to avoid Hilary’s speeck the other night, I happened upon the episode where Jim dresses like Dwight, then Dwight dresses like Jim. “Black bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.” Darn near peed myself.
Breaking sports score:C-Dog 4, Dad 0, third inning (front yard teeball). A-Dog is playing in the mud.
Jama: Those winds last night kept waking me up, at one point I thought I heard a COW fly by.
In honor of the King of Pop, here’s something from my second-favorite time wasting website, Mental_Floss:
(sigh) jama- are you drunk yet? I’m bored at work and need entertainment.
“There is also an undeniable fair-weather factor among Vikings fans, and the team needed corporate help to sell out its games last season for the first time in a decade.”
Good riddance Seifert. He’s risking losing “one of us” status, if you ask me.
RE: AZGopherStorm
Tempe-based RandBall correspondent Tim, brother of RandBall’s Stu, reports that the power just came back on at the Fry’s supermarket where he does his shopping and banking.
More reports as they come in.
the power just came back on at the Fry’s supermarket where he does his shopping and banking.
Another reason why I don’t trust banks, one little breeze and the power goes out. My piggy bank doesn’t have that problem…
I hope Tim didn’t buy any warm potato salad. The weather bastards were just giddy to have something to report. We had enough wind to wake AZGopherTot, leading to a significant lack of sleep on my part. Making me less sweet and likable than usual, I’m sorry to say.
With all the press covering Jackson (and can we pleeeze start off by saying he is a “B” league qb, adequate at best), this team’s progress depends on busting Peterson loose, something they have been miserable at doing so far this preseaon. And that depends not only on Peterson who seems to be running with far less ferocity (maybe because of fear which would be understandable for those of you with with knee injuries) but likely because everybody but the opposing team’s ball boy is in his face on every obvious running down. And Chester the Molester is no substitute for Peterson, anyway.
And neither line is living up to Star billing. The D line is still very good, but the new kid on the block, the HIGHEST paid D line player in the NFL, has looked pretty ordinary so far, to tell you the truth, proving that a high revving motor only means something if the wheels are on the ground. His aren’t.
And the O line is just plain too big to deal with today’s faster and smaller rushers, rushers who twist and turn and get by 6′8″, slow as doughball monsters, to bury Peterson when he gets the ball.
Conclusion: The Vikings may yet become a good team but they must jettison pig poundage all around since this is a speed gaame (and particcularly Sharper where 1/2 the high school safeties in America have better speed).
This team is running on early expectation and as far as I know, expectations have never scored a single point. They may or may not be better than last year, but that says little since even if they make the playoffs (a 50/50 chance at the most optimistic) does anyone really believe they can move further on in those playoffs against the far better teams in the league with this pasted together crew with a journeyman at qb ? If so, bet on the lottery, since you believe in magic…
