Drew Magary is a Washington D.C.-based Vikings fan, and his screams can be heard across the beltway and beyond every Sunday. He is an Editor-at-large for Deadspin (whatever that means) and a key contributor to Kissing Suzy Kolber. He also has a book out, which may or may not contain actual facts. Every week, we trade e-mails about the Vikings game. Here is the result:

RandBall: Well, we have seen the blueprint: run the ball efficiently, get competent quarterback play that includes chain-moving throws on third down, and let the defense do the rest. I think the offense can be even better than it was yesterday, which makes me somewhat optimistic about the big picture. The long-term question, though, is whether those two opening losses — especially the one against the Colts — will be too much to come back from in a tougher-than-expected conference.

Drew Magary: I agree with you on the first point. Despite the absolutely horrible first half play-calling, I thought Frerotte and the defense showed real life after the Winfield TD. Before that play, the whole team just seemed to be wandering around aimlessly. Then Winfield stripped the ball, and it was like, “Oh hey! We’re playing football!” I also thought the 19-play FG drive in the second half was brilliant. Even though it didn’t end in a TD, that’s exactly what the Viking O needs to do: get first downs, give the D some rest, and just grind the other team down. I don’t think the opening two losses are so horrible. They’re only a game behind Green Bay now, so obviously they can make up ground. Though I have no doubt that they would have beaten the Colts last week had Childress pulled T-Jack.

RB: They simply cannot throw that seam route directly over the middle to Shiancoe anymore. The ball is knocked loose at least 50 percent of the time, and that’s an interception/fumble waiting to happen. On the touchdown he caught, he was in less traffic. If they can use his speed and size to create mismatches away from contact like that, he could still be useful.

DM: I wish they’d use Mills more. He’s got much surer hands. Maybe he’s not quite the blocker Shiancoe is, but on a 3rd down I’d rather be throwing down the seam to Mills, who strikes me as far more reliable. He always catches the ball, and he’s tough to bring down.

RB: Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, E.J. Henderson and Antoine Winfield were beasts. No other way to say it. If they play at that level or close to it for the entire season, the Vikings will not give up very many points.

DM: I thought Henderson was brilliant, but then sort of disappeared after the half. But you can see how mildly competent quarterbacking has really helped the defense. They got tons of rest off the field goal drive, then just destroyed the Panthers after that. Awesome to behold.

RB: Blitzes from defensive backs: my love knows no bound. Discuss.

DM: I love them too, except when the back doesn’t get there in time and an 80-yard TD ensues. Otherwise, they’re crazy fun.

RB: Gus Frerotte: should have been starting since week 1. There’s just a different feeling when he’s out there. Discuss.

DM: Agreed. I think Frerotte will give you the occasional boneheaded pick. But he can read the defense and make a few decent throws, which is all the team really needs. Also, and this is important, he has real pocket awareness. If there was an end two inches behind T-Jack, he didn’t sense it. Frerotte does. He also held onto the ball on a few sack/strip plays, which was huge. My only beef: he never throws the ball away. That ain’t good.

RB: Packers looked mediocre against Dallas. Bears are better than expected but still 1-2. Lions are beyond terrible. This division is still wide open.

DM: Agreed. My God, the Lions are bad. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like it.

RB: Peterson and Taylor split carries just like I said. Did it kill your fantasy team, or did you have the good sense to stay away from them?

DM: I started Purple Jesus. 70+ yards ain’t bad. But I did keep Ronnie Brown on the bench. That was … dumb.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 am and is filed under Monday Meltdown, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.