State of the Team - Q1

disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 19992 Location: Brownbackistan

If the season ended today, the Vikings would be the #3 seed in the playoffs, facing the Cowboys the first round. They'd be the only representative from the NFC North.

http://www.nfl.com/playoffs/playoff-picture?module=HP11_cp

I think that's worthy of a B grade. Wink

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Thx to Uncle Buck!

Klomp · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:15 am Post subject:

And now knowing what we know, let's look at the second quarter

10.07 vs Tennessee
Lets not sugarcoat anything, the Titans are one of the worst teams in the NFL. We should win this game...as long as we don't fall into a trap.

10.14 at Washington
This game will definitely be more difficult than the Titans game. However, I still think we have a very good chance of coming away with a win in our first grass game of the season.

10.21 vs Arizona
This is shaping up to be our most difficult game of the first half, something no one expected going into the season. However, the Cardinals are still winless in 7 Metrodome appearances.

10.25 vs Tampa Bay
Thank goodness we won't have to travel anywhere for the short week! From what I've read, the Bucs have started this year similar to how we started last year. Fast starts, but slow finishes. The Bucs capitalized on that last year against us, but hopefully we can return the favor in our first Thursday night game at the Dome since 2000. Crowd will be rocking!

Now I'm not saying we'll be 7-1, but I wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibility either. I'd say 6-2 or maybe 5-3.
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2013 Adopt-a-Viking: FB Jerome Felton -

ktarinze · Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 927

I'd give it a B+. Didn't expect us to be doing this good so far.
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All in for the underdog vikings making a push this season.

LostRoadStone · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 1001

I have to give hem an "A".

Even the most optimistic fans only had the Vikings going 2-2 in the first four games, and those wins were predicted to be against Jacksonville and Indianapolis, with losses happening against San Francisco and Detroit. Well, we won the two toughest teams on the schedule so far, and we beat arguably the best team in the NFC convincingly.

The offense looks like a unit full of youth and inexperience, and they are still trying to find their rhythm. But the defense has surpassed all expectations that anyone had. We've held our opponents to an average of 18 points per game. That's outstanding considering that the vast majority of people were expecting to see something closer to 28 PPG.
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ArcticNorseman · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 1432 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

I gave the team a B for its 1st quarter grade.

They played two games exceptionally well after starting with two shaky games. I predicted a 2-2 start, so this is gravy.

I am not surprised Musgrave and Ponder are clicking, but I am surprised they're as efficient as they are. A lot of that has to do with the O-Line, and by all accounts, for a new group, they're playing solid ball.

The defense is where they should be Top-10. True, no one really knew how well center corps would develop with Guion, Brinkley and Smith all being new starters. With the overall talent and blend of experience, I like their progress and they definitely have lived up to the billing projected by the coaching staff.

Continuing to the 2nd quarter, consistency and injury-free should produce at least another B. However, I look for this team to evolve, just like every other team in the NFL is trying to do. This next 4 games are critical to driving to a winning record.

I'm not going to get carried away with "the Vikes will definitely win the NFC North" at this point. There's just tooooooo many games remaining.

Realistically, the Vikes will play one or two bad games; however, I believe they run a 4-0 record in the 2nd quarter.

Yes, that would put them at 7-1 at the halfway point . . . but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see those last 8 games as real challenges. I just hope prayers are answered that the Vikes go at least 3-3 in the division.

Purple Faithful · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 2688

lol, Vikes are 3-1 & could be 0-4. Record is record, they get an "A". a win is a win is a win. Now, they will have to count on teams actually preparing to play the Vikes defense & special teams, so the offense will have to hit pay dirt more in the future, i would assume, but the bears have lasted entire seasons with only defense & special teams (the 13-3 year of smoke & mirrors) , so who cares. ride it, guys.
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Remember when the Vikings passed on Dan Marino because we had Tommy Kramer? ahhh, good times.
2012 Viking Fan:
Draft like Jimmie Johnson=bad (2 QB's)
Draft like Jerry Jones=good (take an OT top10)

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66652

Frazier: "We've all seen teams that have gotten off to good starts, and they're nowhere to be found when December rolls around. We don't want to be one of those teams. We know we have a lot of work to do. All of us have been around long enough to know there are no champagne bottles popped in September, so we have to be smart. In that second quarter, it starts to separate. You start seeing the teams that are for real and those that are pretenders. We want to be a team that is for real."

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_21689190/veterans-have-kept-vikings-focused-through-3-1
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vikingsrule · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:06 am Post subject:

lumberjackchris · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 3127

Hey guys, didn't want to stat a new thread and figured this could go here. How is Kalil doing? How did yall feel when yall drafted him? I think we were in the same situation when we draft JJ Watt. We saw him as a solid conner stone guy but not flashy (little did we know) but that's how you build a franchise. So I figured with yalls hot start Kalil had to be protecting Ponders blindside pretty well.
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^Kempes on the sick sig^

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66652

Kalil = good.

very solid player.
hasn't given up a sack.
blocked a kick.
very good teammate.
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vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66652

Allen: “It’s exciting to know that every week you have a chance. It’s exciting to know that with so many questions going into this year, it’s exciting to answer ‘OK, if we play our best, we have a chance to beat anybody in the NFL.’ And we’re pretty darn good if we play our best. That’s why you have to put trust in the front office, trust in the coach. That’s their job. My job is to prepare and do what I need to do to help our team win. After going through training camp and watching these guys, how hard they work and seeing our young guys really step up and take leadership roles and just play football, it’s been fun.”

Frazier: “Everything you’re seeing now is a byproduct of what happened this offseason with our players. They are to be congratulated for showing up and allowing our coaches to work with them and really put them through the paces so we could get this thing turned around and headed in the right direction. That’s how you change the culture.”

Ponder: “I know everyone else is surprised that we’re 4-1. What stinks is what we should be 5-0.”

http://min.scout.com/2/1228095.html
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disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 19992 Location: Brownbackistan

Not to go overboard, but if the season ended today, the Vikings would have a 1st rd bye...

http://www.nfl.com/playoffs/playoff-picture?module=HP11_content_stream
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Thx to Uncle Buck!