Smash Articles
14
Playoff Teams
Rule Changes
17 Game
Season
Low Lights
-
-
-
-
-
-
| |  
Midway
This Viking's franchise could learn a great deal from the battle of Midway ...
especially after our performance versus the Fudge-Packers in front of
our home crowd. Maybe the most important aspect in the "Battle of
Midway" was in who led it. The battle
was led by Cruiser Commander Marc A. Matcher who was instructed to play it
like he saw it ... and not to depend on what he thought someone else would do.
In other words ... call your own shots.
In listening to Brett Favre in his glee in being able to review the contest between the Vikings & the Fudgies, he stated that it would be a
difficult assignment for Kirk Cousins without a running game. The
translation here being not that the Vikings couldn't run the ball, but rather
that they could not run the ball well, which would lead to them abandoning the run
game for all purposes. Once that happened it was clear to all that the
Vikings would lose. Why? Well if Kirk Cousins is the best play action passer in
the league & he's without a run game, then it stands to reason that it's in
the bag for Favre's Fudgies. As it turned out ... he was exactly
correct. So what did A. A. Ron's crew do? They dialed up a slew of
first half play action passes followed by a steady dose of run the ball down our
throats in the second half. In other words, take the Vikings preferred
game plan ... and ram that down the Vikings throat. After all, it stands to
reason that our defense would be well prepared to play that game practicing
against that particular brand of offense. Unfortunately after seven three
& outs, the defense was too depleted to even care.
So, what does the Midway comment have to do with this Viking franchise winning
games ... well ... you can never do what you are expected to do. People become reliant upon it. Yes,
in that game you did have Kirk Cousins out in the pattern
... but ... you missed that opportunity.
So, was the Fudgies contest Kirk Cousins fault ... well yes ... and of course
... no. This Vikings franchise failed because they allowed Kirk Cousins to do
exactly what he wanted to do ... what he likes to do ... rather than directing what
needed to be done. In our five losses this year, Kirk Cousins averaged
19 receptions for 35 attempts averaging 216 yards passing, recording 0.66 (0.33
lost) fumbles per game, with 0.8 interceptions, tallying a time of possession of
23.73 minutes (39.5%) per game. So, in all those lovely stats just
presented, which ones were the most important. Well after the Fudgie Bowl
II it
became obviously clear ... Time of Possession by recording First Downs. Now look at the play by play once again and count up the total
number of three & outs and be prepared for The Volcanic Viking Vomit - The
three V's of the NFL.
So, who is responsible for this disaster? Could it lie at the inexperience
of what is being called the next NFL Head Coach Kevin Stephanski ...
hardly. As our offensive coordinator he's still just cutting his
teeth. Might it be Gary Kubiak - our Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Adviser
... well yes & no ... as "The Call" most likely has been out of
his hands ... whereas he could have that Marc Mitscher role ... to make the call
in the midst
of our next disaster. No, it falls at the feet of our lovable grumpy Head
Coach Mike Zimmer who hasn't yet learned his lesson ... in The Decision of
Command. Said another way, I'm not asking you to run the ball, as I simply
don't care what the result of any play or set of plays might be. In other
words, we already have the wholesale market on three & outs already cornered
doing what we are doing. I'm telling you that we are going to run the ball
... again ... & again ... & again. DO I HAVE TO DIG UP HERB
BROOKS WHISTLE???? Why? No run game ... no
offense. No offense ... lose the game. Could it be that
simple?
The very best reason why you should not replace Head Coach Mike Zimmer is so
that we don't have to relive all his mistakes, and the same exact mistakes of
his predecessors, over again because we replaced him with someone new that
will be allowed to make the same mistakes. With all due respect to our head
coach, that simplicity covers just the tip of his ice berg but that sentiment is
traversed throughout the nation. Coach Zimmer is so much more than an off
hand comment or someone in the cage slingin' crap at the
Nation.
I absolutely love Kirk Cousins as he's clearly my guy now. He's but a
moment from what he was born to be ... ditching his own personal critical
tripe. Just like Xavier Rhodes
... in my mind ... he's a pure Pro Bowl talent & his guile is both
evident & clearly back to form. On the opposite, the combination of
Harris & Waynes can shut down just about anyone. The fore told demise
of this secondary ... well ... me thinks thou dost protest to much. Kirk's Cousins is
not disciplined in that his very impressive skill sets allows him to do things that he should
not be doing. Was I alone thinking that we desperately needed
Tom Brady's very efficient short passing game (outlet passing to the side line doesn't
count) to slow down that Fudgie rush to counter our lack of run game. Kirk
Cousins in the pocket SPOT or in the shot gun SPOT too often leads to disaster. In
other words, we can ill afford to play our game into their hands. Is
it too much to move that SPOT? The ladies seem to like it when you do.
Do you think that we can learn something from that?
At some point Mitscher is going to be allowed to say ... screw it ... we are
going for two ... and it won't be regulated to the end of the game. Said
another way, we aren't going to do it like everybody else anymore. Once
you take on that attitude ... everything changes.
Is there a change in the NFC power structure? No! Our first
opponent will be are hardest to defeat.
In regard to the Spielman-Zimmer combination, in this years 2018 draft there
appears to be at least two Pro-Bowl lineman & a 3rd offensive line starter
& a perennial long snapper. Also snagged were a starting wide receiver,
tight end & running back including an outstanding special teamer and two
critical role players. That is at least a ten player haul. Anyone that thinks breaking
up this team is a good idea needs to have his head examined. Either they
got lucky or they have finally learned from all those mistakes. Don't
throw the baby out with the bath water.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: December 31, 2019
|
