Brad Childress: What Have You Done For Me Lately?

If I had my way, Chilie would have coached his final game for the purple and gold.  Where’s this genius offense he spoke of when he came to the Twin Cities two seasons ago? Maybe he left it back in Philly. 

During the Chicago game this past weekend, I doubted any possibility of a comeback, solely on the fact that we would not have enough offensive plays to call that the defense hadn’t seen.

We had to use them all during the first half while our special teams muffed every possibility of gaining momentum, a crucial aspect in an attempt to win on the road, especially at Soldier Field.

Two weeks ago, the first “Fire Childress” chants of the season were heard during a pitiful win against the lowly Lions. During the third quarter of that game, with the offense struggling as usual, Childress opted to kick an extra point to pull within one point of Detroit.

SERIOUSLY!? 

In what world is Brad living in that being behind one point is any different than being behind two points (upon a failed conversion attempt) late in a game with a sputtering offense?

I believe I received about 10 texts at that very moment from fellow loyal Purple Backers questioning every football thought in Childress’ tiny, ugly, bald little head.

If a coach does not trust himself to call a play to gain only a few yards to TIE the game, what kind of trust can his fans have of him to coach nine more games, and to victory, which is what so many of the Vikings fan base were feeling this year. 

Win after win, on the legs of All Day, running behind Pro Bowl offensive linemen, with a pass rush that would remind people of the days of the Purple People Eaters.

Alas, the defense is just as horrid. Jared Allen has added his talents and it’s shown a few times this season, certainly not to anybody’s expectations, however. The secondary, something the front office supposedly helped by making crucial signings in the offseason, has not looked one bit better than last year’s awful group.

Childress, in his stubbornness, will not stray from his devised plan to somehow win games with dumps and in routes and running up the middle.  Maybe one time a game we get the ball out to AP on the outside, where is he able to make defenders miss and gain a good chunk of yards. But that’s it! 

Childress doesn’t go back to that kind of game plan, where he could entice the defense to come up and stop that kind of play, and put it over the top to Berrian, the man who is supposed to stretch the defense. 

In one game we went to him down field a few times, and only because the Saints defense was putting EIGHT men at the line to stop the run.  If we didn’t pass on those kinds of defensive formations, well, you could put a dagger in the heart of that offense.

Coming into the season, the Vikings were atop every list as far as the NFC North, and even on some in regarding representation of the NFC in the Super Bowl. Since the team hit the field that first night in Green Bay, it’s been the exact same thing, followed by more of the same, and a little extra same thrown on top. 

That same thing I refer to is the most unimaginative offense I have ever seen by a professional football team. I mean, seriously, put Peterson in shotgun and run him, it seems to be working for Miami, and their running backs are nowhere near the abilities of Adrian Almighty.  

Spread the defense out and line up with 5 receivers, even if the tight end Shiancoe has to be one of them due to our depleted receiving corps.

Get Peterson the ball out in space and give him blockers. 

Run a screen when the defense is bringing the house on every play. 

Throw it up to Berrian one on one and at least hope for a pass interference call. 

GO FOR TWO WHEN YOUR TEAM IS ****ING DOWN BY TWO!