Ask the Daily Norseman!
by Christopher Gates on Oct 16, 2009 5:49 AM EDT
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PrintHey there, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Gonzo, the head blogger at SBNation's Vikings site, The Daily Norseman.
Sorry for being a bit late on the draw for this. I'm putting this here as an opportunity for you folks to ask myself and my co-writers (and any of our other regulars that might want to jump in) questions about the Minnesota Vikings leading up to our game this Sunday.
Just leave your questions here, and we'll effort to answer them in as timely a manner as we can. Thanks!
The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!
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At the time of the favre signing
what was you feeling?
Ray Rice is so agile. He's a whole new breed for agile you need a new word to describe his agility... UBER-AGILITY!
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 16, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions
Pretty split actually
You had a few “OH MY GOD THE TRAITOR BLAH BLAH!”
You had a few “Favre craps ice cream and sleeps in bed sheets made of $100 bills!”
We now see how potent our offense has become with and ACTUAL QB behind our weapons. To the tune of 30 points per game or so….
FYI-I’m not a co-writer, just a ’’regular’’ Gonzo mentioned.
by Jepp The Viking on Oct 16, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, what Jepp said
It was kind of split. . .some people had a really hard time with the signing, and some folks had basically accepted it as an inevitability after having to see and hear all the Favre stuff since the moment the Jets released him shortly after the Draft.
There are still a few pockets of resistance here and there, but I think most of the fans have come around at this point.
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!
by Christopher Gates on Oct 16, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
5-0 makes it a lot easier to stomach
if you were 0-5, the bandwagon would be empty. What happens if he has another “Jets” season and goes 6-2 in the first half then starts the second half 0-4?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 16, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I was against it...
…but mostly because of who Brett was OFF the field. I always knew he was a great quarterback, but the constant will-he-or-won’t-he of the past few years wore on me way too much.
Obviously I like what he’s done so far, but my guard is still up. I’ve seen too many season-crippling interceptions from Favre to just welcome him with open arms.
BTW I’m Eric, one of the co-writers at DN.
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 16, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Yo, Eric
Welcome to The Beatdown. You guys are really civil and knowledgeable and as I said earlier, the comparisons between te teams is amazingly similar!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 16, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Very cute
Shouldn’t you be bugging the Houston fans!?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 17, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
When will you die?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 17, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
How do you guys view our Ravens
As the team that was at one point 3-0 and tearing it up offensively, or the one that has now lost two in a row and you are very confident you will make it three?
aka 'Rexx'
Easily our toughest test yet.
3 wins VS. Browns/Rams/Lions. Squeeker VS. 49ers. And a beat down that was nowhere near as close as the score indicated VS. the Pack. I’m excited to play a good team. I think we win late ’cuz the dome is insane to play against.
by Jepp The Viking on Oct 16, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the Ravens
Are a very solid football team. The front seven is still extremely good with Ngata (who I love), Ray Lewis, Suggs, and the rest. The secondary isn’t quite what it once was, as near as I can tell. . .Ed Reed is an absolute beast, don’t get me wrong, but the play of the Ravens’ CBs hasn’t been terribly good thus far.
Offensively, I like Joe Flacco and the running back group you guys have.
The Ravens are, at worst, the second-best team the Vikings have played this season (depending on how favorably one would view the Niners). I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is our toughest game to date.
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!
by Christopher Gates on Oct 16, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Offensively, we are better than the Niners
and while P. Willis is a beast and a younger version of Ray (wearing #52 as well), I like our d-line better than the 49ers as well. We will be a tougher test and if you play like you did against them, we might be ready to smell upset.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 16, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Vikes O-line struggled with their D-line. That was a tough game. Passing to Vernon Wells and the blocked kick returned for a TD were body blows.
Wow, the Blue Jays traded?
Vernon Wells to the SF 49ers? Crazy! Who’d they get, Vernon Davis to play center field?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 17, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Funny you said that...
..when I was coaching Little League and one of the kids’ mom, who was a teacher, said when they were playing badly, she thought the reason that was happening was, “their bran synapses weren’t firing consecutively.” So I yelled out onto the field, “Guys, make sure your brain synapses are firing consecutively!” They all just stopped and looked over and then said, “okay!”
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 17, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't like seeing the Ravens on our schedule...
But feel like the Vikings can beat them at this point in the schedule now.
I BELIEVE...
by ArizonaVikingsFan on Oct 16, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
This game is going to define lots of opinions about both teams.
I think it’s a bigger game for the Ravens since they’re hovering dangerously close to .500, but if the Vikings lose, then it will be “oh see, they’ll be 5-3 at the bye now that they’ve played a real team.” Definitely the toughest game for each team thus far though.
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 16, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, a lot of fans
saw us playing three really tough road games to start the season (SD, NE, Minn) and weren’t afraid to have us at 3-3 at the Bye week. We can lose and still regroup for a better 10 remaining games and so can you.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 16, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
What do you see as
your team’s strengths and weaknesses. What would you do to beat the Vikings if you were the Ravens?
aka 'Rexx'
I'll try, if I may
I don’t know who your #1 CB is, but put him on Percy Harvin, no matter where he lines up. Keep a safety over the top of Harvin (not Reed). Keep Ray-Ray in coverage against Shianico, except on obvious run plays. Keep Reed fairly close to the LoS to prevent huge runs by Peterson.
On the other side of the ball, spread ‘em out, send a TE over the middle behind Allen frequently. That should keep Allen honest in the pass rush. Keep a TE in as an extra blocker against the “Williams wall”. Send your speediest receiver on long slants, send your #2 on short (10 yards, give or take)comeback routes. Flacco needs to utilize a 3 step drop, play action(which won’t work if McGahee can’t get rolling, but if that happens, you’re going to need to air it out anyways). Maybe mix it up with a couple reverses(away from Allens side) and get Willis deeply involved in screen/short dunk plays.
Just some thoughts on it :)
"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum
Nah, Ray is never assigned to the TE
But the rest is looking to be dead-on.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 16, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Fine then
Big Gums Suggs on Shianico. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, can someone please tell Ray-Ray that Adrian Peterson had sex with his mother? Maybe he can do him like Mendenhall before we play them next week…
"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum
by Steel Spike on Oct 16, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Uh,...no not Suggs either
Since you’re not very well versed on our team, try to stay away from the specifics and stick with the trash talking. None of those guys usually go out in pass coverage. One of our safeties (Landry) or the other DB’s will cover the former Morgan State (Maryland) star who has made it big in the NFL. Guess Rashard will keep his mouth shut this time, huh?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 17, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
For the most part
I’m not down with the whole trash talking thing. Sure, I don’t know your players well, shoot me. I was trying to think of a fast, athletic LB you had to cover Shianico. Somebody a bit bigger than a speedy corner, so they could put a Ryan Clark type hit on Shianico.
Yeah, The Rash was asking for trouble last year, but he’s a year older, and hopefully a year wiser. I only said that because it would be awesome if Peterson were out next week :)
"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum
by Steel Spike on Oct 17, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Frankly
with Smith out, and Peterson the best RB in the league, a bit.
"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum
by Steel Spike on Oct 18, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Suggs is used in pass coverage quite often
For the most part, it is usually one of the RB in the backfield that he covers.
Limp and dangling.
Do NOT blaspheme the Purple Jesus.
Besides, AP’s shoulders can’t be broken by conventional weapons such as Ray Lewis. He has alien-like hexagonal skin. Haven’t you seen the commercial?
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 17, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Harvin
Is appearing as questionable for Sunday. How will that affect Brett’s options?
"Talk’s cheap. Let’s go play." - Unitas
I'd be real surprised
if we didn’t see Percy this Sunday on the field.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 17, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
If Percy doesn't play, it's a huge loss.
I’m fairly certain he’ll play since he’s practiced the past two days, but he has been the go-to guy on third downs and in the red zone this year. Not to mention his ridiculous speed on kick returns.
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 17, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think it would be the end of the world if Johnson got some reps
If Greg Lewis can do what he did, I’m sure either of them can do some filling in.
Lots of Heap
And outside screens and handoffs to Rice. I don’t think the up the gut stuff will work against us. As for our O- we average 30 points a game so just keep in it I guess. A few turnovers by our O and you’ll be close.
by Jepp The Viking on Oct 16, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Our big weakness
At least on defense is covering the TE, and frankly now that Todd Heap and Joe Flacco have a rapport going, Heap scares the crap out of me. The Vikings have gotten lit up by just about every TE they’ve faced this year. . .they’ve performed really well against WRs for the most part (which is a testament to the abilities of Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin), but tight ends have been tearing us up.
Offensively. . .and this may sound a bit arrogant, and if it does, I apologize. . .but I haven’t seen a whole lot of weaknesses to this point. Teams, for some reason, still choose to defend the Vikings as though they still have Tarvaris Jackson or Gus Frerotte at quarterback, and not somebody that can actually pay for making teams devote eight and nine defenders to stopping Adrian Peterson.
That said, if I were to devise a game plan for the Ravens to beat the Vikings, it would still be to make Favre beat you rather than let Adrian Peterson gash you up and down the field. . .and get the TE involved early and often on offense.
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!
by Christopher Gates on Oct 16, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A heaping pile of...Heap.
Like Jepp and Gonzo mentioned, and like I said in my article today, Todd Heap could have a field day on Sunday. We’ve left the middle of the field wide open way too often this season. Also, don’t be afraid to run the ball, especially with the three capable RBs you have. Much like the Ravens defense, the Vikings haven’t exactly been the usual brick walls against the run this year.
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 16, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
We might be smart to add
LJ Smith to the TE mix for this game.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 16, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
The more TE’s the better for any Vikings opposition. Even Randy McMichael came out of witness protection last week and caught a few passes.
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 17, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there a possibility we could convince Roger Goodell to let us both wear our purple jerseys on Sunday?
Limp and dangling.
That would be great, and
we’d agree to wear our red high school pinny’s to make us look a little different!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 16, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn't every QB that plays against the Ravens already wear a red pinny?
The refs have sure been calling it that way against you guys!
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 17, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I like you.
Fair-Balanced…….. And not a troll!!!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 17, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder when we will wear our all black alternate uniforms next?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 17, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Along with Heap
You got to get back to using the 3 headed monster!!!!!!!
Run right often with all 3 and DAMN anyone who suggests that McGahee only does
up the gut and goal line!!! Willis does it all very well and if ever you needed the
veteran smarts this is it!!!!
A bird in the hand is worth about 10.99 at KFC and makes me lick my chops
Yummy!!!!!
PS
I was channeling the thoughts of the GREAT Johnny U. all the way from the great lakes
A bird in the hand is worth about 10.99 at KFC and makes me lick my chops
Yummy!!!!!
in reading all the great questions and answers
i realized that we have a player at the top of his game who has not been mentioned.
Chris Kluwe has been brilliant so far with both hang time and kicks inside the 20 yardline.
But for now let us the fans on both sides lift our plastic cups of purple kool-aid
in a pregame toast!!!
May this game have all the awsomeness we expect and then a little more
to make it totally off the charts!!!! Heres hoping for a wild one. Good luck
A bird in the hand is worth about 10.99 at KFC and makes me lick my chops
Yummy!!!!!
You have a great punter!?
So do we! Crazy!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 17, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
It's been a fun lead-up to the game
I must say you guys here at Baltimore Beatdown as well as the bunch of you that stopped over at the DN this week have been fun to chat with. Lots of knowledgeable, reasonable fans here along with loads of mutual respect between two teams hopeful to do some damage in January.
Best of luck in ’09 to the Ravens…except for tomorrow of course. :)
by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 17, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I would love to see Baltimore go 3-1 in the NFC North
and Pittsburgh, and Cincy, and Cleveland I guess
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by thewild_viking_twins on Oct 18, 2009 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions
and the same to you
in the AFC North, and Detroit, Chicago and the Pack (oops the
Pack and Lions can’t now!).
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
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