Like What I'm Hearing........But

[Wallof Sleep [enjin:6687465]]

Nah, my job requires attention to detail. So if i see something, i dont forget. My point was its preseason, lets hold off on saying anything either way until the season starts.

[TheGrey08]

I've always just used preseason to see flashes from guys, but always take it with a huge grain of salt b/c they use such vanilla schemes/plays that it doesn't compare to regular season. Really hard to judge the offense that way.

[Coolbreeze44]

Here's the original post in this thread:

It seems like there is no shortage of good news and good vibes coming out of Vikings camp so far. The positives are many: Adrian Peterson being totally healthy and ready, Jared Allen prepping for a monster year, Cordarrele Patterson appearing to be a real find in the first round. The problem is that none of the good vibe is coming from most important element on the team - the quarterback position. I've been on record as saying this is going to undermine all the good that is going on with the team. Rick Spielman has seemed to deliver on almost every front with the exception of quarterback. The fact is without improved quarterback play this team cannot move forward. I've seen nothing to suggest that the Vikings can expect to have a top 15 passing offense. And without that the Vikings have proven you can be good, but that you can't expect to contend for a title. So never mind that our roster outside of QB is very good, Rick has failed at this point to solve the biggest hurdle.


Anybody going to disagree with that now?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I was actually in "hopes" we went after a player for QB two seasons ago, Phillip Rivers. We just did not have the staff involved to even entertain the idea. I know he has struggled the last few years...bad O line, limited WR core at times and a ever injured RB in Matthews...but I always liked his competitiveness and ability to sling. He is still younger, healthy, has a huge arm, and wants to win. If he was a Viking, now with Jennings, Patterson potential, Rudolph, and AP....this team could seriously contend in my opinion.

Definitely. Do you think the Chargers would have taken the picks we gave up to get Patterson? Might have had to include Ponder but I think something could have been done this offseason.

Chargers fan here. With the NFL being such a QB driven league, Philip Rivers still has a high price tag on him. Tampa Bay, Cleveland and even the Vikings are a legit QB away from making moves in the playoffs. Those teams aren't the only ones that know that. San Diego's GM Tom Telesco knows that too. Chances are, if TT felt like it was time to rebuild the offense entirely, I see him trying to get at least a first-rounder in the deal for Rivers. Vikings gave up a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th round pick for the No. 29 pick in the draft. I feel like Rivers would command more than that.

Also, they would NOT take Ponder in the deal. TT and Mike McCoy would want to draft their own QB to groom and establish. Taking back Ponder makes no sense for their future or their salary cap.

**Rivers to MIN could be looked at this off-season if San Diego misses the playoffs by more than a game.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I don't disagree, cool, that Ponder is "a" problem...I just don't agree that he is "the" problem. When a defense gives up 34 points, it's difficult to not point at the defense as the biggest problem. Our linebackers made Reggie Bush look like Barry Sanders. Sounds like Kalil had a poor game too. I'm hoping for a bounce back in Chicago, but I'm not optimistic. AP just isn't the same without Felton, and Ponder isn't good enough to run an offense when AP isn't dominating.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Not good to start out 0-2 in the division, but it wasn't realistic to expect to win in Chicago or in Detroit with Williams and Felton out. I play baseball Sundays here in LA so I have only been able to see the 4th quarter of the first two games, but I can't help but feel a little encouraged after today's game. Like everyone I have been worried about Ponder, but he looked fine in the final quarter today. That's a game we could have won, and there's no shame losing in Chicago on a last second pass by Cutler.

Obviously they need to win decisively against the Browns next week, and then follow up with a win over the Steelers in London. I don't think we will be favored against the Steelers, but I think we are the better football team. The rest of our schedule is so tough that anything worse than 2-2 coming back from London makes the playoffs nearly impossible.

I haven't seen enough of the first two games to be much of an expert here, but basedon what I have seen and a review of the stats, I am most concerned about our pass rush and our linebackers locating the tailback on the short routes.

I think we beat the Browns by two touchdowns next week.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Philip Rivers was dealing today. 400+ yards and 3 TDs. Beat the Eagles in Philly. Gimme dat! 1-1 and could/should be 2-0.

Titans next week. Bolt Up!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Back at the start of this thread, I suggested that our biggest problems were on defense, not offense, and specifically at linebacker and cornerback. Yes, the offense was dreadful today, but we just gave up 35 points to Carolina! This was an opponent that was only averaging 12 points a game (if you throw out their Giants game), and we gave up over 30 for the 4th time in five weeks.

I'm afraid that we have the slowest linebackers in the league...totally unable to cover any running back on pass patterns. And our cornerbacks are a joke. Yes, Antoine Winfield couldn't make the Seahawk's roster, but he was the glue to our secondary, and maybe to our entire defense last year.

You can spend all the time you want talking about Ponder/Cassel/Freeman, but you can't ignore the fact that this team is going nowhere giving up over 30 points a game. They should have a top 6 pick in next year's draft, and they better be looking at a defensive player. It's more fun to talk about QBs, but we're not going to find anyone in the draft that is going to outscore what this defense gives up. D-Fence!

[Monster]

Look there were alot of distractions so maybe thats why this was so bad (its still a terrible loss and no excuses just saying it a reality though), but this bad loss highlighted the stuff you said and more that are issues with this team. The problems we have are really not a huge surprise except how bad the line performed today it seems liek we had no idea how to pick up a blitz although a ouple timess Carolina brought the house the garage and a couple sheds, but yeah...

The team despite the record and all that is not in total shambles, but yeah CB and we need at least 1 more LB I think Henderson might be fine on the outside, but I just don't think he is the man in the middle. Rhodes is the only CB I have any faith in keeping except I'd be fine with Sherels as a dime back he has been actually sort of impressive. We need big nose tackle and maybe a guard on the O-line which has not been very good this year. You need a QB in this league but we have other problems also that are pretty significant and also it seemed we were outcoached on both ends of the ball. I agree the defense needs some help and the biggest problem right now is at CB. Robinson has been really terrible. At least the WRs actually look like a real NFL caliber group for the first time in years. Thats some significant progress.

[Coolbreeze44]

Didn't we just use two number one picks on defense? Let's hope Freeman is the real deal so that we CAN pick a linebacker #1.