Brad Childress Needs To Change Coaching Style, Decisions For Viking Success

As the combine has now wrapped up, NFL teams are eyeing and tussling for position in the upcoming NFL Draft. For Vikings coach Brad Childress, this is his fourth draft with the squad, and he knows full well what's on the line.

The Vikings have improved the past three seasons since Childress' arrival, but many claim that to the talent he's acquired for the team and not his coaching. Considering the decisions on the field, one must wonder.

The Vikings went 6-10 in 2006, 8-8 in 2007, and became NFC North Champs for the first time in eight years with a 10-6 record in 2008. At this point, though, the 10-6 record could be related to the talent of the team rather then how they were coached.

Childress' Weaknesses

• Tarvaris Jackson

Since this saga began, Childress would have been considered a better coach if not for his desire to groom Tarvaris Jackson into a franchise QB. This has made Childress look laughable and the Vikings more like a peewee squad rather then a pro team trying to make a championship.

Not to say that Jackson doesn't have a future, but the Vikings have limited time to search for a QB rather then take seven years to groom him into the QB they need. By the time he matures, half the team will have changed and Childress will appear the fool some Vikes fans believe him to be.

If not for the arrival of Adrian Peterson in 2007, the Vikings would be nowhere near the playoffs. With Peterson's arrival, Jackson immediately improved, but still offered inconsistent play. With Chester Taylor, Peterson, and Jackson in the lineup, the Vikings did bolster a backfield with amazing speed and a three-headed attack that confused and disgruntled opponents.

The problem with that sequence is that people learn how to guard such techniques if all you do is run the ball. Enter Bernard Berrian. Berrian arguably was the pleasant surprise that wasn't a surprise in 2008 and helped give the Vikings a passing attack that fans haven't seen since Randy Moss was traded.

On that note, you bring in a Gus Frerotte to back up the ailing Jackson. In light of Jackson's failure after 0-2 start in '08, Frerotte came in as the 15-year vet and led the team to an 8-3 record with him as their starter, despite throwing 15 interceptions. Upon receiving a back injury late in the season, Jackson came in as backup and never relinquished the job.

The Vikings made the playoffs and Jackson was the starter against the Philadelphia Eagles. Minnesota lost 26-14.

• Conservative Play-Calling

Yes, Minnesota is known as a conservative state in general, but one is to wonder why Childress transfers that into his play-calling. With the amount of talent he has on his team, it's a wonder how they do as well as they do.

Childress plays scared of Jackson's ability to throw the football, or lack thereof. As such, the Vikings don't pass that often out of fear of what may happen. Childress is infamous for not testing defenses with the passing game.

A prime example of this would be in the wild card round of the playoffs against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. With the final minutes remaining, Childress opted to play low with draws and 10-yard pass plays regardless of being down by two scores, knowing that the Eagles were playing a prevent defense and that sending it deep would put the ball up for grabs, especially with Jackson at the helm.

Regardless, the Vikings needed to take a shot to have a chance at winning it. Childress opted for the safe route and failed. For this reason alone, Vikings fans are displeased with Jackson's performance and the coaching staff merely states they are "non-committal" on a starting QB for 2009.

Childress' Goals to Avoid Getting Fired

• Get a Starting QB Your Team That Fans Can Rally Around

With Sage Rosenfels currently on the Vikings roster, I don't know if Childress is playing stupid thinking his fans and critics aren't going to see through the fact that he's a slightly younger Gus Frerotte, rather then the franchise QB they've been needing and desiring.

With that said, Sage has about a 20 percent chance of proving his worth and being what Minnesota needs. On that note, I wouldn't doubt the ownership is going to want Minnesota to put their name out there for a bigger-name QB that fans love to watch and who can put points on the board without giving up big plays.

Jay Cutler seems to be the hot topic about now. If you were to hurt Sage's feelings by grabbing a bigger name to compete with him for the job, the public would forgive you in the long run if it's the answer to a problem Childress has battled for the past three seasons.

• Start Getting Aggressive on Play-Calling

Airing it out and making big plays will not only scare the opposing team to play up on Peterson, but will open up the chances for the Vikings in the long run. It will also give the Vikes a chance late in games to climb back into it.

Besides, Adrian Peterson can't bail the Vikings out every time they need a big play. He's being watched too much now and the offense needs to find something to take the heat off him.

If nothing else, at least Childress won't seem like a pansy when he's down by a couple scores and loses it by babying the ball until time runs out.

• Most of All: Win

Mama always said that winning fixes everything. Even if Childress doesn't fulfill the two other goals, yet completes this one, it won't matter what his other moves were.

If the Vikings can get at least where they got last year and make the playoffs, Childress won't be going anywhere. A 10-6 record or better and a spot in the playoffs should be the immediate goal. Anything less would prove to be too testy and Childress could find himself out of a job come this time next year.

Making It or Losing Out

Brad Childress needs to make money for his team and that means getting his fans' attention. He can go about this by winning or grabbing a big-name QB that will provide the best chance of winning.

If Childress loses three or more games off the bat, expect him gone by Week 8 of the season if he doesn't turn it around immediately.

With how he's improved every year since he came, you can't exactly throw the book at him until he reaches the ceiling for the team, whether that's a 10-6 record or 16-0. Wilf won't get rid of him unless he undersells and underplays his product.

If his coaching methods change a bit, fans may be drawn by that alone. If he can turn Rosenfels into a passing machine and open up AP's ground game, that may drive fans to see something new and different with the Vikings.

Overall, Childress needs to quit playing like someone's life is on the line and just play ball. In the end, it is just a game.