Unless you live under a rock, you must now know that Gus Frerotte will be starting under center on Sunday the 21st, instead of Tarvaris Jackson. The reason for this move is because the offense has been “sputtering” through the first two weeks.
Sputtering? How about dropped dead?
Ever since coach Brad Childress, a.k.a. Mr. Noodle, took over the playcalling duties, everyone, even Dan Dierdorf, could call every Vikings play.
If Dierdorf can call the plays while sitting in the CBS television booth, just imagine how giddy Tony Dungy was on the Indianapolis sideline. He probably knew what Childress was “planning” before Childress himself.
I hesitate to say “planning” without giggling because I strongly doubt Childress was doing anything but randomly pointing his finger on his color-coded 5×3 index card, complete with four plays.
Obviously, I’m exaggerating a little. Childress doesn’t limit his playbook to four plays, but he is the worst coach in the league. At least, every Viking fan seems to think so. After busting at the seams in his approval and support of Jackson at the start of the season, Childress has provided less-than-ideal situations for the quarterback he was going to “mold” into the next Donovan McNabb.
After two dismal losses, the rug of support has been ripped from beneath Jackson, and I am as shocked as Bobby Wade, who said in published reports, “I was very surprised. I didn’t anticipate that.”
This move was undoubtedly made by the front office, and I was shocked at their shortsightedness. The move to bench the quarterback you pledged your allegiance to before the season is not just bad for public relations, it is bad common sense.
Certainly not uncommon in the world of football, Jackson had just assumed the role of scapegoat while his coach got off the hook.
Owner Zygi Wilf
Or did he? I doubt owner Zygi Wilf and Co. will let him get away unscathed. I would have loved to hear the verbal reprimand Childress received on behalf of his horrible play calling. That is, unless the front office didn’t see it, either.
A perfect example of how inept Childress is at managing a game was on the final drive the Vikings had against the Colts in Week Two. With the ball on their own two-yard line, Childress first chose to pound the ball up the middle with Adrian Peterson. A one-yard gain.
With just 1:37 left in this tie game, an upfield throw was inevitable, right? We need to get into field-goal range, quickly. But Childress chose to run Peterson again, this time to the left. To Peterson’s credit, he got six yards on the play. It was 3rd-and-3 on the nine-yard line.
5 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Joe Willett 9 months ago
When I got this text in school from ESPN Text Alerts, I was like, "That's hilarious." It's like if the Titans were to pull Vince Young in favor of Kerry Collins just because of the fans booing...
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Tim Seeman 9 months ago
well, to be fair joe...VY is hurt. and kerry collins is a better passer.
but if i were a viking fan...i don't know if i'd want my season riding on a guy whose claim to fame is getting a concussion after headbutting a concrete wall as a touchdown celebration
luckily, i'm not a viking fan
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Tim Coughlin 9 months ago
Tim, Joe said "if," meaning if that were the reason. Either way, it is a pretty similar situation.
Like Collins does to the Titans, Frerotte limits the team's ceiling on how good it can be, while Jackson could have become more. You might have a better idea on what to expect from these vets, but they aren't going to turn into franchise quarterbacks like Young and Jackson have the potential to do.
The fans really only have themselves to blame if they're going to boo a young starter when the backup is even worse. You gotta know what you're getting into when you do stuff like that.
Jackson wasn't even participating in full practice from what I know. He was playing through an injury. He might have refined some timing and chemistry with his receivers when healthy and started to turn the overthrows into on-target throws, at least more often. Now we may never know.
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Jason Hannah 9 months ago
I'm glad to see someone gets it. Good article.
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Sean Crowe 9 months ago
Gus Frerotte....lol.
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