the official **** the vikings thread

Thom Yorke · 08-10-2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky

judging by the highlights of one preseason game, I'd say the receiving corps has been effectively revamped. Patterson already making an immediate impact, and Burton--whos shown flashes in the past--is looking assimilated and capable latter option. If Jerome Simpson can manage to beat his man we should a decent rounded receiving group.

Still need to see Rhodes on the field.

I caught the first quarter and a bit. Patterson looked phenomenal. He looked a lot better at running intermediate routes than I thought he would.

Cassel actually looked great as well.

It's a bit troubling that our secondary got torn apart by a bunch of backups though (yeah we had our backups in as well, but still).

Thom Yorke · 09-08-2013, 03:54 PM

Did you catch the game, Sparky? I wasn't able to see it but judging by the stats it looks like it was another bad game from Ponder. Also looks like AP got shut down outside of that one play on his first carry. Those yards and TDs look great on a statline but I care more about him moving the chains more consistently. The Vikes D probably could have used it with being on the field for close to a third of the game...

I dunno, based on how they looked in preseason, what it looks like happened in this game, and how difficult there schedule is, it could be a really long season.

Sparky · 09-08-2013, 11:39 PM

ponder made some terrible throws but didn't benefit from having virtually no running game. Our offense relies entirely on that. I'm not entirely sure why ap got shut down today, i hadn't ever witnessed this happening to him before, it was disconcerting, indeed.

Secondary didn't show up. Defensive line, minus a couple tipped balls that resulted in interceptions, didn't show up either. They may fair better with williams there to anchor them.

I didn't get to see the second half much but i saw ap fumbled it. I think it may be a regressive season. Ponder did complete a couple good throws. I think if AP could have run the ball we would have won today.

Forward To Death · 09-09-2013, 02:25 AM

Ponder made some bad decisions, but he was moving the ball at least. Considering that AP was shut down for the entire game, I'm surprised this game was decided by only 10 pts. Ofc, it would have been a lot more if the Lions didn't **** themselves so many times.

I was mostly disappointed with the defense, they looked like absolute **** today.

~~butthead aka 216~~ · 09-09-2013, 03:17 PM

nobody needs to give excuses for ponder. the run game is as much a fault as his as anyone. if he can sit back there and complete some nice throws downfield, teams wont bring 7 or 8 in the box to stuff the run.

vikes should really use atlanta from 4 years ago-ish as a template. that team was a power run game, with big time playaction. granted they dont have a roddy white but ponder is gonna have to make some plays downfield for minny to go anywhere

Forward To Death · 09-09-2013, 05:03 PM

The Vikings have a sweet receiving corps, no one's giving Ponder any excuses.

In order to run a lot of PA, you have to be able to actually complete passes. Ponder is a crapshoot at best when he's attempting at more than 10-15 yards down the field.

~~butthead aka 216~~ · 09-10-2013, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forward To Death

The Vikings have a sweet receiving corps, no one's giving Ponder any excuses.

In order to run a lot of PA, you have to be able to actually complete passes. Ponder is a crapshoot at best when he's attempting at more than 10-15 yards down the field.

its ok not great. rudoplh is a beast though. its all up to ponder tho. i mean hes playin in a dome theres no better place to throw. i realize hes young and was probably drafted too early but hes gotta get it together cause guys like AP dont have a shelf life of forever

Sparky · 09-10-2013, 09:23 AM

ponder did complete some deep throws to simpson. I think he can throw deep OK. His execution of slant and time routes is still off, I don't know if that stuff will ever improve. The decision making hasn't been getting better either, he's very easy for secondary to read.

Quote:

vikes should really use atlanta from 4 years ago-ish as a template. that team was a power run game, with big time playaction. granted they dont have a roddy white but ponder is gonna have to make some plays downfield for minny to go anywhere

I think this was the plan, which is why we got bill musgrave who was atlantas offensive coordinator and helped with ryans development.

I think of matt schaub as ponder's "ceiling."

Forward To Death · 09-10-2013, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butthead aka 216

its ok not great. rudoplh is a beast though. its all up to ponder tho. i mean hes playin in a dome theres no better place to throw. i realize hes young and was probably drafted too early but hes gotta get it together cause guys like AP dont have a shelf life of forever

I'd take Jennings/Simpson/Patterson/Wright over most teams' receiving corps, they just don't have a real passer.

He plays a lot better at home, actually. Week 1 was in Detroit.

Thom Yorke · 09-11-2013, 06:19 AM

I'd definitely consider our receiving corps sub-par, and last year when Harvin went down it was downright awful. Even with Harvin it was bad.

Jennings is good but I'm not going to consider him great until I see him do something without Favre or Rodgers. As far as #1 receivers go, he's definitely toward the bottom of the list.

Who knows about Simpson. He's already basically equaled his production from last year. He's a great athlete but I don't know how you can consider him a good #2 when you look at other teams' depth charts.

Patterson has a ton of potential and looked great in preseason, but you need to see what he can do first.

Wright was one of the bright spots from late in the year last year, and could be a good slot guy, but if Patterson emerges like we're all hoping he does, there won't really be a good spot to utilize him.

I'm sorry but Rudolph has become overrated over the last year. He's more of a beneficiary of Ponder not being able to go downfield well than anything. He's decent and has a lot of potential, but he's not a top tier tight end or anything.

I just don't see how you can objectively look at this receiving corps and consider them good or even above average. Our whole passing game is hurting and it's not only because of Ponder (although he is the main reason for it, you're right).

09-08-2013, 03:54 PM	#372 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	Did you catch the game, Sparky? I wasn't able to see it but judging by the stats it looks like it was another bad game from Ponder. Also looks like AP got shut down outside of that one play on his first carry. Those yards and TDs look great on a statline but I care more about him moving the chains more consistently. The Vikes D probably could have used it with being on the field for close to a third of the game... I dunno, based on how they looked in preseason, what it looks like happened in this game, and how difficult there schedule is, it could be a really long season.

09-08-2013, 11:39 PM	#373 (permalink)
Sparky not really Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,223	ponder made some terrible throws but didn't benefit from having virtually no running game. Our offense relies entirely on that. I'm not entirely sure why ap got shut down today, i hadn't ever witnessed this happening to him before, it was disconcerting, indeed. Secondary didn't show up. Defensive line, minus a couple tipped balls that resulted in interceptions, didn't show up either. They may fair better with williams there to anchor them. I didn't get to see the second half much but i saw ap fumbled it. I think it may be a regressive season. Ponder did complete a couple good throws. I think if AP could have run the ball we would have won today.

09-09-2013, 02:25 AM	#374 (permalink)
Forward To Death Trolier Than Thou Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,336	Ponder made some bad decisions, but he was moving the ball at least. Considering that AP was shut down for the entire game, I'm surprised this game was decided by only 10 pts. Ofc, it would have been a lot more if the Lions didn't ** themselves so many times. I was mostly disappointed with the defense, they looked like absolute ** today.

09-09-2013, 03:17 PM	#375 (permalink)
~~butthead aka 216~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: freely swimmin thru the waters of glory much like a majestic bald eagle soars thru the skies Posts: 1,463	nobody needs to give excuses for ponder. the run game is as much a fault as his as anyone. if he can sit back there and complete some nice throws downfield, teams wont bring 7 or 8 in the box to stuff the run. vikes should really use atlanta from 4 years ago-ish as a template. that team was a power run game, with big time playaction. granted they dont have a roddy white but ponder is gonna have to make some plays downfield for minny to go anywhere

09-09-2013, 05:03 PM	#376 (permalink)
Forward To Death Trolier Than Thou Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,336	The Vikings have a sweet receiving corps, no one's giving Ponder any excuses. In order to run a lot of PA, you have to be able to actually complete passes. Ponder is a crapshoot at best when he's attempting at more than 10-15 yards down the field.

09-11-2013, 06:19 AM	#380 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	I'd definitely consider our receiving corps sub-par, and last year when Harvin went down it was downright awful. Even with Harvin it was bad. Jennings is good but I'm not going to consider him great until I see him do something without Favre or Rodgers. As far as #1 receivers go, he's definitely toward the bottom of the list. Who knows about Simpson. He's already basically equaled his production from last year. He's a great athlete but I don't know how you can consider him a good #2 when you look at other teams' depth charts. Patterson has a ton of potential and looked great in preseason, but you need to see what he can do first. Wright was one of the bright spots from late in the year last year, and could be a good slot guy, but if Patterson emerges like we're all hoping he does, there won't really be a good spot to utilize him. I'm sorry but Rudolph has become overrated over the last year. He's more of a beneficiary of Ponder not being able to go downfield well than anything. He's decent and has a lot of potential, but he's not a top tier tight end or anything. I just don't see how you can objectively look at this receiving corps and consider them good or even above average. Our whole passing game is hurting and it's not only because of Ponder (although he is the main reason for it, you're right).