One Man's Opinion

[B. Grant]

I am a documented supporter of Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, and thus, the staff he has assembled. I am also a big non-fan of second guessing, as that is just plain to easy to do, and lacking in fairness. At the same time, I see a concern with this team's offense that I long for Leslie and his staff to address: I believe the offense lacks an identity, and a common "modus operendus" based on the personnel they have. Yesterday was a glaring example, in my opinion.

I believe this collection of offensive players, which will admittedly change before next season, needs to become a running game force for which other teams must adjust defensively. Repeating what I said on the blog, yesterday was a day to pound the Saints on the ground. Use clock, wear down the opposing defense, keep the opposing offense away from our practice-squad defensive secondary, and hope for a couple breaks. If there appears to be one thing this OLine can do with some level of respectability, it is block straight ahead. The combination of Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, and Percy Harvin give the Vikings a dangerous cluster of backs. With the threat of an occasional Christian Ponder bootleg, a defense can be presented with a significant problem. Run on first and ten, run on second and seven, and run on third and five. Mix in an occasional flare pass to Gerhart, a shovel pass to Peterson, and a reverse to Harvin. But primarily, just run, and mostly straight ahead. Make it your identity, and make teams prepare for it. Then... the play action pass will be there, and those DLinemen will have to check for the run before going hell bent into these less-than-stellar O-linemen. Those linebackers will be closer to the line, starting their drops just an instant later, a very critical instant.

But instead, we try to pass protect for a rookie QB with a weak Oline as we try to throw to one high-level receiver who got more attention yesterday than a US president at a state fair. I really thought Musgrave was going to bring that run identity to this team, which I thought was Leslie's reason for hiring him, but it has not transpired. Admittedly, it takes a huge commitment, and it will not always succeed. But it isn't fair to ask this rookie QB to throw for enough yards and points to outscore the Saints with the kind of cast that surrounds him. The mark of good coaching is to use the existing personnel to the best advantage possible. It sometimes feels like we are determined to expose our own weaknesses. When a team is faced with a third and five, it is no greater failure to get stopped a yard short than it is to throw an incomplete pass.

I'm in your corner Leslie. But let's get our existing personnel playing to what strengths we do have.

[Fran the Man]

As a "Documented supporter of 'Frazier," it looks like you threw him directly under the bus Coach.
As you said, "The mark of good coaching is to use the existing personnel to the best advantage possible." yet he has consistently NOT done this.

I guess I'm just flat scared to death that Frazier isn't the guy and dread having to face the time it will take to find the one who is. I'm an old guy and I need to see my team win the big one (I've seen them lose 4, as I know you have too) before my time here is through.

So get 'er done Frazier, or step aside and let someone else do it!

[FragileFreds]

Interesting post

[Big Johnny]

I vote that our resident Coach here takes the reigns from Denzel or at least be a close adviser. So what do you say Coach, you up for the job? Obviously crazy eyed Singletary isnt helping one damn bit.

[c.carterhof]

Good post. I believe that Musgrave should stay on if Frazier does. It would be best for Ponder.
I'm not sold on Leslie, or any of the coaches for that matter. It was an ugly game, only thing I can guess is they wanted to see what the kid could do. But, that doesn't make sense. You gotta give him the best chance to succeed, that didn't happen.

We don't know if Les is the right man for the job, yet. And I understand it would be shortsighted to can him at this point. But I want to see some WINS dammit! 2-12? Six losses in a row? Vikes have not lost this many, or this many in a row since...since 1984. When ironically we had another Coach named Les. And Coach...you had to bail us out. I'm with Johnny, think you could give it one more go?
Please...Mrs. Carter would appreciate it. I have not been very pleasant to live with...

[B. Grant]

No guys, this is Leslie's team, and I still think he has good things in store for us. In spite of the 2-12 record, this isn't anything like the Les Steckel year, and it is unfortunate that Denzel is going through that comparison. Nice man that Steckel certainly was and is, he took an entirely wrong approach and lost the team after about, oh, I don't know, game #2, maybe? I never would have imagined Scott Studwell hating football, but Les managed to accomplish that. The current Viking squad doesn't need anything but some experience and some more talent. A coaching philosophy is not at the heart of the problem here.

And cart, whatever gains you might see with Mrs. Carter would be offset by my setback with Mrs. Grant. The last time I retired after a couple comebacks, she gave me the "this is it" look. You guys know what I'm talkin' about. Besides, I like being home for supper every night, unless I'm in my Lund.

[Purple Faithful]

No guys, this is Leslie's team, and I still think he has good things in store for us. In spite of the 2-12 record, this isn't anything like the Les Steckel year, and it is unfortunate that Denzel is going through that comparison. Nice man that Steckel certainly was and is, he took an entirely wrong approach and lost the team after about, oh, I don't know, game #2, maybe? I never would have imagined Scott Studwell hating football, but Les managed to accomplish that. The current Viking squad doesn't need anything but some experience and some more talent. A coaching philosophy is not at the heart of the problem here.

And cart, whatever gains you might see with Mrs. Carter would be offset by my setback with Mrs. Grant. The last time I retired after a couple comebacks, she gave me the "this is it" look. You guys know what I'm talkin' about. Besides, I like being home for supper every night, unless I'm in my Lund.

I'll have to disagree. Steckel's team didn''t start mailing it in until the end. Vikings were 2-2 that year early & remember, Tommy Kramer blew out a knee. Enter: Archie "sack-matic" Manning. 11th game is when we started getting blown out regularly..... http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1984.htm

[adammwarwas]

Coach, thank you for entertaining the masses in my absence. Sorry guys, had a major lack of time the last few days.

AS you know, I am a big supporter of the running game... have long complained when Peterson doesn't get 20+ carries. With Gerhart coming into his own and Harvin's running proving to be solid, I see little reason why we shouldn't hand off the ball 35 times a game.

With that being said, Bill Walsh knew what the modern era had in store for football. That's why his (true) west coast offense was actually based off of passing to set up the run, despite the fact that many think the reverse is smarter (like Childress). Pass to set up the run, and then wear down the opposing defense with a talented run game.

Of course, in order for this (or any scheme) to be successful, the talent has to be there. Running at such a high percentage is sure to result in three-and-outs, which will wear down are already unconditioned and untalented defensive secondary. Passing the ball exposes the failings of our offensive line and the mistake prone rookie QB behind them. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.... until this roster is improved and healthy, anyways.

Hope to get some posts up again starting tomorrow everybody.

Cheers!

Adam

[CalVkg]

coach, i agree with ya for the most part. after 14 games we know what we've got

it started to become apparent early this season that our coaching staff wasn't very good, after all, they're rookies, they don't have an established identity, and there are no real strong personalities to present one, but if it takes some time, it might emerge as a more solid, true and reliable identity, and that would come from les. the jury's still out on that, imo. i like les even though he's made a lot of mistakes and needs to ramp up his learning curve, he'll be back. les is kinda quiet, but he's fair, honest, the guys respect him, and they'll play for him. musgrave is weak, not a leader, don't think much of him, and it's mostly on him that there's a lack of offensive identity, but, unfortunately, he'll prolly be kept on another year for ponder's sake, and maybe he should be the developmental guy, the QB coach, not OC; and pagac, well, if his guys don't trust his calls, and his HC has to take over his job, then he should be gone. don't think much of singletary as a coach, either, just look at san fran

i think we'd run it more if we could, but we can't, we come up short too often. we're just not very good and not in a position to impose ourselves consistently to establish the run or the pass. i'm not surprised at how bad we are, well, maybe a little at our record, because i do think we're a little better than 2-12 looks, but i said so last year at this time that we'd suck for a couple of years, and next year won't be pretty, either. i'm just hoping we can form a foundation to build upon. that's about it. teams go in cycles and this team's at the bottom. viking dark ages. so that's my opinion, but do you know what they say about opinions? they're like azzholes, everybody's got one and everybody thinks everybody else's stinks

big changes can be reached for when things are this bad, so maybe they'll get a GM. maybe they'll even move. don't get your hopes up, it's not worth it. just gotta endure. man, don't wanna see us stagnate down here, though. hard to believe it's been 51 years. really hard. you'd think we'd have won one championship by now, law of averages and all. i've had childhood friends from MN who've given up long ago on the vikes, too much heartbreak. i can't. i could honestly puke

[Stubby]

All the coaching talk is centered on the offense. At 21.5 pts/game the Vikings are in the middle in scoring average. They could have been a lot better but there were many ill timed and ill planned plays that showed that Musgrave like Ponder was a rookie. I can see the flashes of potential and will give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that he will improve play calling next year.

What I can't support is keeping Pagac. I still find it odd a former tight end, became a linebacker coach and eventually moved up to DC. Vikings D is second to last in points allowed. Yes the entire secondary plus their backups ended up visiting the doctor. However it was the starters and his scheme and play calling that gave up huge leads in the first three games. Frazier as former DC and a former quality DB simply can't allow a coach who can't cut it as a DC to remain. He has may friends out there and it is time for him to work his rolodex and make some calls to land someone who can run a defense so it doesn't collapse game after game.

[adammwarwas]

I'm not sure I follow Stubby. Musgrave gets a pass becuase he is a rookie OC, when he actually isn't a rookie OC at all... but Pagac gets killed even though he actually is a rookie coordinator?

[CalVkg]

I'm not sure I follow Stubby. Musgrave gets a pass becuase he is a rookie OC, when he actually isn't a rookie OC at all... but Pagac gets killed even though he actually is a rookie coordinator?

i stand corrected. i see musgrave was an OC before. hmm. just not very good at it. doesn't he seem real weak in his pressers? lacks confidence, imo

[Stubby]

I'm not sure I follow Stubby. Musgrave gets a pass becuase he is a rookie OC, when he actually isn't a rookie OC at all... but Pagac gets killed even though he actually is a rookie coordinator?

Doh! Forgot he had background as both pro and college OC. Was thinking about it being his first year with team and implementing his playbook while Pagac has been with the team and was supposedly well versed on cover 2. When looking up Musgrave's past I found interesting tidbits. From his time with Carolina "However, as an inexperienced coordinator, Musgrave had faltered at times, been criticized in the media for choices in playcalling" . He also later bombed as Jags OC with two seasons of very low offensive output.

Since you pointed it out and made me think, neither should keep their jobs.