Comments on: The Vikings: cause for concern or not? http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/ Exploring the soft underbelly of sports Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:29:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Paul Peter Paulos http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49291 Paul Peter Paulos Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:28:36 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49291 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... 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…

]]> By: AZGopherGirl http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49247 AZGopherGirl Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:39:28 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49247 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. 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.

]]> By: Dave MN http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49240 Dave MN Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:51:00 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49240 <i>the power just came back on at the Fry’s supermarket where he does his shopping and banking. </i> Another reason why I don't trust banks, one little breeze and the power goes out. My piggy bank doesn't have that problem... 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…

]]> By: Stu http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49239 Stu Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:43:28 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49239 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. 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.

]]> By: StraightCashHomey http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49238 StraightCashHomey Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:42:02 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49238 "There is also an undeniable fair-weather factor among <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview08/columns/story?id=3549100" rel="nofollow">Vikings fans</a>, 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. “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.

]]> By: The Hootie http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49237 The Hootie Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:34:13 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49237 (sigh) jama- are you drunk yet? I'm bored at work and need entertainment. (sigh) jama- are you drunk yet? I’m bored at work and need entertainment.

]]> By: danonymous http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49236 danonymous Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:06:46 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49236 In honor of the King of Pop, here's something from my second-favorite time wasting website, Mental_Floss: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/17959 In honor of the King of Pop, here’s something from my second-favorite time wasting website, Mental_Floss:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/17959

]]> By: Merx http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49235 Merx Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:59:21 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49235 Jama: Those winds last night kept waking me up, at one point I thought I heard a COW fly by. Jama: Those winds last night kept waking me up, at one point I thought I heard a COW fly by.

]]> By: fasolamatt http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49234 fasolamatt Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:37:55 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49234 Breaking sports score:C-Dog 4, Dad 0, third inning (front yard teeball). A-Dog is playing in the mud. Breaking sports score:C-Dog 4, Dad 0, third inning (front yard teeball). A-Dog is playing in the mud.

]]> By: AZGopherGirl http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49233 AZGopherGirl Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:24:26 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/randball/2008/08/29/the-vikings-cause-for-concern-or-not/#comment-49233 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. 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.

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