Well Vikings fans, it is official. The Minnesota Vikings are the worst team in the NFL.
While this fact may not be news to most of you, it is fairly apparent that the rest of the NFL world has completely given up on the Vikings and rightfully so. Minnesota has the second worst record in the NFL (tied with Carolina and St. Louis), however they possess some of the best talent in football on both sides of the game, and still look wildly inefficient and non-competitive week in and week out. How is it possible that a team can possess a perennial NFL rushing leader in Adrian Peterson, AND the NFL’s sack leader in Jared Allen and still manage to lose 80% of their games? The answer may seem complicated, but the heart of the matter lies with the coaching staff. A coaching staff that has somehow manage to un-motivate nearly every player in the locker room not named Ponder, Allen, or Peterson.
It can’t all be Leslie Frazier, can it? While that answer is pondered, look at the facts. This team has somehow “developed” one of the worst secondaries in the NFL despite Frazier being a secondary “guru” after winning the Superbowl with the Chicago Bears as a cornerback in 1985. The benefit of the doubt will go to Frazier since that position has been completely ignored since Chris Cook was drafted several years ago. The Vikings are hurting badly at secondary and there is no way to stop the bleeding. They need a complete overhaul, and the only player capable of staying (Antoine Winfield) is too slow for corner and needs to be moved to safety.
It’s time for Percy to figure it out. Ever since he emerged from Florida, Percy Harvin has been touted as some “elite” player with an amazing skill set. He is supposed to be some sort of a superweapon on the field capable of winning games with his fleet feet and incredible talent. So far, all I’ve seen is an oft-injured prima donna who cannot succeed without the success of his teammates. While his migraine issue has been seemingly resolved, Harvin caught his first receiving touchdown of the season yesterday. It is week ELEVEN. A little late for a number one receiving option to break that goose egg. It would be nice to see some more production before touting him as the answer to our WR issues. Face it, since Randy Moss left (the first time) there has been a void at the position that has yet to be filled.
Frazier was frequently praised by football minds around the league when he decided to part ways with Bryant McKinnie following an undedicated offseason in which McKinnie entered the season nearly 50 pounds overweight. The answer to fill his void was Charlie Johnson. All the while Max Starks left Minnesota and calmly waited until Pittsburgh finally took him back. Looks like Starks won out and Minnesota is left with an Indianapolis cast off that can’t protect Christian Ponder’s blind side. Sounds like progress.
It isn’t fair to blame everything on the administration, but it is also tough to blame the players fully either. The stock of the team was placed in Donovan McNabb’s chubby hands. While supported and embraced at first, it appears that Mike Shanahan was right, at least when it came to McNabb’s potential to continue as a top tier QB. Now Minnesota is stuck with a 2-8 record, a bevy of aging superstars,a promising rookie quarterback, the best pure running back in all of football, and a shred of an offensive line tasked with blocking for him. This is gonna be fun.
Skol!
