Henderson, MN Forums General Bleeding Purple Vikings Talk

Thinking Skeddy and Bnag getting ready for the Coors Light Baggo Challenge,

I see it starts at noon. Waaaay too early for me.

Fun factoid: I once nailed a "hole-r" from about 20 yards at Josh Spellman's graduation party with a Rick Barry free throw style 2 handed shot. I was in the zone.

Lots of restaurant quality offensive linemen still left. BUILD THAT WALL!

Some are saying the VIkings get an A in the draft - I did like the RB and Offensive lineman picks. The WRs are said to be "explosive" - the DT from Iowa was a wrestler for a while which is said to have really improved his game. I'm just thinking what if Henderson had wrestling back in the day - Spellman would have been even better than he thinks he was. (What?)

Can't take waiting for Bnag to blog anymore - it's the start of training camp for Cripe's Sake! And the last one in Mankato - feel sorry for the Albatross. Where to start? Well, last year was 8 & 8, so let's start with that in mind and we'll maybe do a little compare and contrast. As always, keep in mind that injuries are big reason why some things don't play out as planned. See Teddy's knee.

Offense: QB: will be about the same, if not worse if Barn Ford gets hurt. Casey Kasem does nothing for me, unless it's the voice of Scooby Doo, the one with Jerry Reed in it singing "Pretty Mary Sunlight" - that was AWESOME! Big Al thinks Taylor HideTheKey will be something - not sure about that but Big Al forgot more about football than most know. I just worry how smart can HideTheKey be if you put your foot through a glass door because you don't have the key. Come on - that's stupid. O-Line: Has to be better. The new OTs do nothing for me but are better than how last year spilled out. TE: About the same. WR: I'm thinking has to be a little better. RB: Can't be worse than last year but not buying Alvin Cook is the second coming of Jim Teddy Brown. Overall comparison of the offense, offense can't be worse than last year and has to be better. Has to be.

Defense: DL: Pretty decent bunch and expect about same this year from last. I've got Danielle Hunter having a huge year. (Seems like one of those names were you either have to get tough or die - see Johnny Cash song, Boy Named Sue.) LB: Same if not worse - Barr was off a bit off last year and Kendricks is pretty good. Other than that - it's No Names - which is concerning. Maybe someone will step up here but I'm not convinced. DB: Same if not worse - not sure there is an upgrade here from last year unless some maturity helps, could be. Overall comparison for defense - same as last year.

Special Teams: Rod Chester's Finest, Mr. Marcus Sherels surely can't be as good as last year. That is said every year but I believe it this year. Corduroy Patterson is gone like the parties at The End of The World, and with that said, I can't see anyone doing better than he did. Overall comparison - worse.

Now with all that said, I see about the same record as last year. Remember last year, games were won by good defense and good special teams. I don't see the special teams winning any games this year but the offense should be a little better which should nullify the difference between last year's Special Teams compared to this years. Optimistically, 9 - 7 record but more likely 8 and 8 again. Could be the end of the Mike Zimmer era. Or just maybe, 11 and 5 and the beginning of the domination of the NFC North! SKOL!!!!!!!!!!

Restaurant quality input Norton.

I have yet to rub the crystal Fun Size Snickers candy dish (don't have a crystal ball....in fact, I think the dish is Pyrex), but I'm sniffing 10-6 and a Wild Card.

It's your last chance to head on down to Mankato and get Chuck Foreman's autograph at training camp. Don't forget to remind him of the time he lost a fumble to the Bears safety Doug Plank while carrying the ball like a loaf of bread.

Preseason game 1 is in the books - not sure there is much there for Vikings fans to be all giddy about. The 1st string defense looked like a sieve on run defense. Starting CB gets hurt on the first play - ouch. The 1st string O line didn't look very good. I did think Casey Cassum looked pretty good as a backup QB - HidetheKey not so much. We got a glimpse of the second coming of Teddy Brown, what's his name? Alvin Cook. He didn't have anything worth noting in the run game. I will say he has some nice hands - WR like hands. Reminds me of Ricky Young a little (who? google it!). Big battle for Chad Greenway's old spot at LB - the media is bragging up 42, didn't see much there. I thought 50 was the best LB on the field by far, minus the dropped INT. Besides the backup QB, about the only other person that jumped out on offense was 13. Oh yes, and Michael Floyd looks like he can run some great routes, some great separation but we will have to wait until game 5 to see that due to his suspension. Hopefully he behaves himself with that time off. Up next are the Seahawks with Russell Wilson, Pete Carol, and Jim Zorn - should be a good test of the Vikings O line too.

Well then. Pretty impressive win, donchyathinkso? Amazing what able-bodied offensive linemen will do for an offense, let's hope that sustains throughout the season.

Adrian Peterson was caught on camera giving his head coach some lip service. He said after the game he was just telling coach "we need to run the ball right up their "donkeys". Ahh, I believe your team was down a couple TD's at the time Adrian. The clock is against you. You're not going to make up that deficit by gaining 2 yards a play. The pass-happy Saints are not a good fit for Peterson.

Super Bowl preview next week as the Vikes travel to my former stomping grounds in Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. I might be making a couple phone calls to former co-workers out there after quarterback Brad Stanford slices 'em up.

Skolburgers!

Let's see how well the O line does away with a bunch of noise. But ya, Barnford looks good, Alvin Cook looked good - most rookie RBs it takes a while. A lot of the completed passes were like, just barely. Barr has a bad knee. Just saying, throttle it back a little. Now if they blow out the Steelers, then ya, get your Super Bowl tickets. Home Boy.

Hello Brian & Norton! No comments after the Monday night game? You guys disappoint me...