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Packers’ Practice Squad Player Gurley Turns Down…

info — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 01:26:00 +0000

I know that there’s this sort of rivalry between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, but somehow their hatred seems to consistently spur treachery.

The Vikings have had a number of players make the move from Wisconsin to Minnesota over the last few years, including quarterback Brett Favre (indirectly) and kicker Ryan Longwell. So who would have guessed that a mere practice squad player would refuse to ditch the cheese and don the horns?

Packers’ practice squad wide receiver Tori Gurley has reportedly turned down the Vikings when they offered him a spot on their active roster.

“If you look statistically, their season is going to be over in three weeks,” Gurley explained. “We’re already locked to have a playoff spot. I’m learning from some of the best wide receivers in the game right now. The way our offense is clicking, the grass isn’t going to be greener on the other side. So just learning and taking it one day at a time, my opportunity is going to come.”

Despite his apparent enthusiasm about sticking with the Packers, the team still gave him a raise in hopes of keeping the practice squad player around.

It seems a bit naïve to pass up an opportunity for a promotion, but this isn’t the first time Gurley has turned down a potential suitor to stay with the Packers this season.

When it comes down to it, there were two options for Gurley: stick with the 13-0 Packers where he’ll probably remain as a practice squad roster until the end of the season or join the Vikings for their remaining three games and hang up the cleats by the first week of January.

Although it seems like the logical choice to choose the jump to someone else’s active roster, I’m sure Gurley had his reasons for staying in Green Bay. Whether it was the potential to play for a playoff team who’s clearly a favorite to make it to the Super Bowl or the possibility of being a small part of only the second undefeated team in NFL history, I’m sure he made the right decision for himself.

Packers’ starting wide receiver Greg Jennings was injured last week, which could mean a potential promotion for Gurley if Jennings doesn’t recover in a timely manner. There has also been speculation that veteran Donald Driver could be pondering retirement, which could also open a door for the young pass-catcher.

Regardless of the possibility that all of those reasons potentially outweighed the chance to be one of the better wide receivers on the Vikings’ roster, the choice is made and window has closed.

In case you are unaware, Gurley is an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina who decided to forgo his junior and senior seasons only to not hear his name called on draft day. During his two years with the Gamecocks, he caught 75 passes for 905 yards and six touchdowns.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

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There is the quick update of the day.

Saints, Vikings met in 2009 NFC title game, have…

info — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:03:54 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS – The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings couldn’t have been much closer in their epic NFC title game showdown on Jan. 24, 2010, an overtime thriller that Drew Brees and the Saints barely survived on their way to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.

Less than two years later, the two franchises could hardly be further apart.

The Saints (10-3) roll into the Metrodome on Sunday as one of the model teams in the NFC, an organization with a rock solid foundation at the three most important positions — front office, coach and quarterback.

By no coincidence, the Saints are in first place in the NFC South, two games ahead of the Atlanta Falcons and tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the second-best record in the NFC. Even with the Green Bay Packers looking like the class of the league, the Saints still have a realistic shot at a return trip to the big game.

“We’re a veteran team that’s been through a lot,” Brees said. “We’ve kind of learned the formula for winning and sustaining success.”

The Vikings (2-11), meanwhile, have fallen off the cliff ever since Garrett Hartley’s 40-yard field goal split the uprights to end Minnesota’s hopes of their first trip to the Super Bowl since 1978. Brett Favre returned for one more ill-fated run the next year, a long, miserable 6-10 season in which coach Brad Childress was fired, Favre was embroiled in a texting scandal, Randy Moss came and went in about four weeks and the Dome’s roof collapsed.

“You really can’t explain it,” Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said. “It’s crazy. The Saints, they’re still a really good football team. Drew Brees still down there, working hard, making plays. I really don’t know what’s going on. We really can’t put our finger on it.”

Start with the lack of continuity. Since that loss, the Vikings have used five quarterbacks — Favre, Tarvaris Jackson, Joe Webb, Donovan McNabb and now rookie Christian Ponder — and have had a lot of turnover on the coaching staff.

“In my mind, it seems like eons ago, seems like forever when we played them in the NFC championship game,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. “So much has transpired between that time and where we are today.”

While not as catastrophic off the field, Frazier’s first season has been even tougher on the field. McNabb didn’t pan out as the quarterback who was supposed to keep the team from a rebuilding season, the secondary was decimated by injuries, Adrian Peterson has missed the last three weeks with a high ankle sprain and Ponder has experienced the growing pains everyone expected when he took over as the starter seven games ago.

The Vikings have lost five games in a row, with the only solace to be taken that a team that waved goodbye to meaningful games more than a month ago continues to show up every week and give its opponent all they can handle, including last weekend in Detroit, when the Vikings fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter but still had a chance to win the game on the final play.

“There are a lot of reasons not to really concentrate and focus and battle,” Frazier said. “And they found reasons to battle, to focus, to believe that they could get back in that game and win that game.”

Still, moral victories aren’t giving much comfort to a veteran team that remembers what it feels like to be so close.

“Me and Kevin (Williams) were laughing about it today, saying, ‘We’ve got to do something. We’ve got to turn it around. That can’t be the only memory of being close to the Super Bowl that I tell my grandkids about at some point,’” defensive end Jared Allen said.

The Saints are looking to add another chapter to a book that already includes one fairy tale finish.

Brees is playing as well as he ever has, threatening the single-season passing record and seemingly getting stronger as the season has progressed. He has topped 320 yards passing in four straight games, with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions during that span.

New Orleans has won five in a row and six of seven to keep the Falcons (8-5) at arm’s length and keep pace with the 49ers for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Jimmy Graham has emerged as one of the dominant tight ends in the game and linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been back in the middle of the Saints defence for the last two games after missing four weeks with knee surgery earlier in the season.

“For us it’s been a journey,” Brees said. “We’ve been able to win a lot of games and put ourselves in pretty good position within our division and playoff wise. It hasn’t been easy by any means. We’ve had to fight through some adversity. We’ve had to fight through some injuries at key positions and certain things.

Saints coach Sean Payton, who has been in place with Brees for the last six seasons, said continuity has been the biggest key to New Orleans’ sustained success.

“When you look at ownership, GM, head coach, players on our team, the staff, there’s been a very stable program where I think everyone understands how hard it is, how difficult it is, the challenges we face in winning games and getting to the post-season,” Payton said.

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Explosive Cobb must learn not to hurry

info — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:31:36 +0000

Green Bay Packers’ Randall Cobb (18) leaps into the crowd after an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, in Green Bay, Wis.

Because what makes him explosive is also causing him to make potential game-turning mistakes, Green Bay Packers rookie returner Randall Cobb plans on taking a page out of John Wooden’s playbook.
Be quick, but don’t hurry.
For the second time in three games, Cobb muffed a punt against the Minnesota Vikings, a miscue that led to the Vikings’ lone points Monday night in a 45-7 Packers victory. Cobb made the same mistake Oct. 23 against the Vikings in Minneapolis, and that fumble also led to a Minnesota touchdown. Cobb also lost a fumble on a kickoff at Carolina on Sept. 18, helping the Panthers to a 13-0 first-half lead.
So while Cobb had two explosive plays on Monday night – his 80-yard punt return for a touchdown to give the Packers’ their first points of the game, and a 55-yard kickoff return immediately after the touchdown he’d gift-wrapped for the Vikings – Cobb plans on slowing himself down just a tiny bit Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It comes down to just the focus on my part,” said Cobb, who burst onto the scene with a franchise-record 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Packers’ season-opening win over New Orleans on Sept. 8. It’s not my technique. I catch the ball fine; I get off the spot fine. It’s looking to the return before I actually catch the ball. It’s something that I have to focus more on — and if that slows me down as far as getting off the spot, then that’s something I just have to take.”
The Packers, who hadn’t returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 2000 and hadn’t returned a punt for a TD since 2008 before Cobb’s returns, are thrilled with the new dimension Cobb has brought them. Improving in the return game had been among coach Mike McCarthy’s goals in the wake of the team’s Super Bowl championship in February, and Cobb has delivered.
But on a team that emphasizes ball security — the Packers entered Week 11 tied for second in the NFL with a plus-11 turnover differential — fumbles cannot be tolerated, special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum said.
“He is a dynamic player, a very talented young man. (But) the two muffed punts and turnover on the kickoff return, we’re going to remove that from his game,” Slocum said. “He has to get that done. (On Monday night), he made a big play and he was anxious to do it again. He lost sight of one of the core fundamentals – making sure that ball is caught before you take off. One of the things he does very well is catch the ball and move immediately off the spot. He didn’t do that well on that particular play.
“The guy is determined to be good. He’s diligent in his work habits. He’s accountable. I expect him to improve.”
That much was evident from the way Cobb ran on the kickoff following his gaffe, but he acknowledged it didn’t make up for his fumble.
“I beat up on myself and I’m my biggest critic. It’s not like I’m out there trying to make mistakes. But when I do, I want to come back stronger and better,” said Cobb, who ranked second in the NFL in kickoff return average (30.0) and 11th in punt return average (11.1) entering this week’s games. “It’s like a quarterback having a bad pass, a receiver having a couple drops, a lineman not setting as far back in pass protection as they usually do — it’s not something that happens every single time, it’s just something that I have to eliminate as many as I’ve had.”
What makes Cobb dangerous as a punt returner is how quickly he transitions from catching the ball to exploding upfield. According to Cobb, because other returners pause longer after catching the ball, he is able to use that split-second advantage to find open running lanes before they close.
“The advantage of catching the ball and getting off the spot and moving is, I mess up every single person that’s trying to cover — their angles,” Cobb said. “That’s one thing I’m pretty good at. Because when they’re covering, they’re covering where the ball’s coming (down) and where they see me set up and catch the ball. So the faster I can move off that angle, the easier it is to create windows.
“Taking that extra .2 seconds to secure the catch, it’s not going to change that much. It’s just a matter of me practicing focusing a little bit more to make the catch and secure the catch first.”

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Oakland Raiders Vs Minnesota Vikings: Fan’s Look…

info — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:55:00 +0000

The Oakland Raiders have battled it out with the NFC division Minnesota Vikings just 13 times over a half century in the NFL. Oakland hasn’t faced the Vikings in their home territory since 2007, and as they get ready to head to chilly Minneapolis for the game on Sunday, November 20, here is a look at the highlights from their past games.

Raiders fan, Dr. Death
Kathy Samoun (w/permission from Dr Death)

In the only post season game the Raiders and Vikings have played, the two teams faced each other in Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977. Neither team had won a Super Bowl to date, and Minnesota has still never captured the ultimate victory or won the NFC Championship title, much to the chagrin of Vikings fans everywhere.

Going into the game, the Raiders were 13-1, while the Vikings were 11-2-1. The Minnesota team was highly favored, with the many veterans who had been to the Super Bowl with former teams in the past, the Raiders had just four.

But the Raiders had the likes of the great Kenny Stabler, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, tight end Dave Casper, guard Gene Upshaw, and many more who would later go on to be enshrined in football’s Hall of Fame. Of course, their head coach was John Madden, my favorite of all time.

Of course, we know that the Raiders went on to win their first Super Bowl that day, and John Madden remarked, “Super Bowl XI was ours and 10 years from now or 20 years from now Super Bowl XI will still be ours. I’ll never take off the Super Bowl ring. It’s something I will always cherish.”

Looking back a decade from now, do you think we’ll be looking back with some of the same thoughts on our current young players? I wouldn’t be surprised to see many of these guys end up becoming another on the long list of names that are considered the Raiders’ greatest.

Oakland is 9-4 in the series with the Minnesota Vikings, including the Super Bowl victory. The Raiders lost the last time they met at the Mall of America Field in 2007, but eight years ago today, on November 16, 2003, they were victorious in the game in which the two teams met in Oakland.

During that game it was the Vikings who made numerous mistakes with Daunte Culpepper(notes) at the helm. The Minnesota quarterback threw three interceptions to Oakland’s third-string quarterback’s one. Rick Mirer was able to lead the Silver and Black to a victory of 28-18, with the help of Jerry Porter(notes), Tyrone Wheatley and other stand out players.

We’ll have to wait and see how our new quarterback, Carson Palmer(notes), does against the Vikings’ rookie quarterback, Christian Ponder(notes), but my bet is that we’ll be starting a new and lengthy winning streak against Minnesota on Sunday. Knock on wood, I know that none of us can take a win for granted! Go Raiders.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett .

Minnesota Vikings falling fast

info — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:04:43 +0000

Eden Prairie, Minn. – Less than two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings were one play away from the Super Bowl, with a talent-rich roster that made them the unquestioned class of the NFC North.

Fast forward to 2011, and they are limping through a second straight miserable season, with the gap between them and the rest of the division widening by the day.

The Vikings lost 45-7 at Lambeau Field on Monday night to drop to

2-7. They have lost nine straight games to division opponents, including a combined score of

84-17 in trips to Chicago and Green Bay this season.

They lack depth and have question marks at every position besides running back and defensive end and appear destined to finish in last place in the North for the second straight season. That hasn’t happened since the NFL went to the division format in 1967.

For a proud franchise with a history of being competitive, the plummeting is a difficult reality.

“Just disgusted,” defensive end Jared Allen said Monday night. “I mean 45-7, are you kidding me? I haven’t lost this bad since I don’t know when. I don’t know. We’ve got some issues we’ve got to get cleaned up. We’ve got to play better.”

To make matters worse, the Vikings lost cornerback Antoine Winfield to a season-ending clavicle injury. Winfield will have surgery this week, further decimating a secondary that was already short-handed.

Cornerback Chris Cook is not with the team while he works through legal issues stemming from domestic battery charges and safety Husain Abdullah’s status for Sunday’s game is in doubt because of a concussion.

Frazier said the Vikings plan to bring in some players for workouts to fill the void, including veteran cornerback Benny Sapp.

Through nine games this season, the Vikings appear to lack playmakers in the secondary and at receiver and badly need upgrades at defensive tackle and every position on the offensive line. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder has shown signs of promise, but his rough showing against the Packers – 16 for 34 for 190 yards and one interception – indicates it’s too early to say if he is the long-term answer or not.

“Any loss is tough, but when you go out and lose like this, it is tough,” Ponder said with emphasis. “We can’t forget that we were neck-and-neck with them two games ago.”

Minnesota’s fall coincides with the rise of the other three teams in the NFC North, making it one of the most daunting divisions in the league. Green Bay (9-0) is the defending Super Bowl champion with a quarterback playing so well it doesn’t figure to be dropping off anytime soon.

Chicago (6-3) made it to the NFC title game last year and thrashed the Vikings 39-10 at Soldier Field on Oct. 16. Detroit (6-3) has scuffled of late but finally seems to be shedding the label of division doormat.

“There’s concern anytime you lose in the fashion we lost last night and even in the Chicago game,” Frazier said Tuesday. “You’ve got to figure out some things and try to get some things turned around and close the gap on those two divisional opponents.

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Fan’s Look: Oakland Raiders Get Ready to Face the…

info — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:17:00 +0000

The Oakland Raiders are on top of the AFC West at 5-4, and Raider Nation is on top of the world, at least until this weekend. That’s when they’ll battle it out with the Minnesota Vikings, on Sunday, November 20, in Minneapolis. The Vikings are 2-6, and get ready to face the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin on Monday night, November 14.

Michael Bush, Raiders
Wikimedia Commons

I’m not going to jinx this game by saying it will be an easy win, though it should be. This season has been a wild roller coaster ride for the Silver and Black, and their fans. They’ve won games that no one thought they could, and they’ve lost when it should have been an easy victory.

The Vikings have really struggled this year, but they still have two of the best players in the NFL, running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Jared Allen(notes), either of whom I’d love to have play for Oakland, but that’s another story.

With the Raiders being a part of the AFC, and the Vikings part of the NFC, the two don’t face each other often, but they have had some very memorable games in the past, including Super Bowl XI, in which Oakland won their first championship title on January 9, 1977.

The Silver and Black will have to go into Mall of American Field with the attitude that they’ll be battling it out with a tough team, and not take it for granted that the Vikings will roll over in defeat. We’ll see how Minnesota does against Green Bay tonight, and I’m sure coach Hue Jackson will be keeping an sharp watch on that one.

The likely scenario is that the Vikings will take a sound beating by the 8-0 Packers, and have just six days before they meet up with the Raiders; whereas, Oakland will have had nine days of rest, definitely a big plus. Another check mark on the positive side, is that the Raiders were able to gain a lot of confidence in that great game in San Diego, and it looked like our newest quarterback, Carson Palmer(notes), really got it together and found his rhythm with the team.

It’s still too early to know whether both the injured wide receiver Jacoby Ford(notes), or running back Darren McFadden(notes) will be in Sunday’s game. If Ford is out, let’s hope that McFadden will be back at 100% or close to it.

The biggest challenge will be stopping Adrian Peterson. I’m counting on our defense to come through again like they did on Thursday, and for the team to keep their penalties at a minimum. If that happens, we should be looking at a 6-4 record on Monday morning. If they can keep this momentum going, the Silver and Black will stay on top of the AFC West, and at least capture the division title for the first time in nearly a decade.

Just win baby!

Packers’ leaky defense could give Vikings, Ponder…

info — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:34:05 +0000

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Going into tonight’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, the feeling is becoming familiar for the Green Bay Packers: Another week, another win, another uneasy feeling about the state of the defense.

The reigning Super Bowl champions are the NFL’s only undefeated team at 8-0 and have won a franchise-record 14 straight games going back to last season, including playoffs. It has been so long since the Packers actually lost a game that defensive players now seem to be stewing about substandard performances in victories the same way they might after a loss.

That certainly was the case after the Packers’ Oct. 23 victory at Minnesota, where Green Bay allowed rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to play with poise in his first career start and gave up 175 yards to Adrian Peterson.

“Last time, we didn’t feel like we played as good as we could have played in Minnesota,” defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said. “We feel like we could have put it away, and then we kind of let them back in the game. ‘AP’ rushed for 175 yards. We felt sick after we even won that game. So this is a good opportunity for us to right our wrongs.”

Going into the second game between the two division rivals in less than a month, the Packers are giving up 299.6 yards passing per game this season, second-most in the NFL behind New England. They nearly coughed up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win at San Diego.

The Packers remain dominant on offense behind Aaron Rodgers. And while their defense does lead the NFL with 16 interceptions and has been good enough to win all eight games so far, the porous nature of their pass defense means they can’t take anybody for granted.

“If you look at it, it’s kind of good,” Pickett said. “We’re feeling sick and we’re 8-0. We definitely know we’ve got a lot of room to grow, and we know we’re going to get there. Especially as a defensive unit, we have segments of great games, but we have yet to put a complete game, the way we want to play, out there. We know it’s coming, and we’re going to just keep fighting til we get there.”

Ponder helped Minnesota beat Carolina two weeks ago for his first career win — the Vikings had a bye last week — and he sees no reason why the Vikings can’t make it a game Monday night.

“That’s kind of what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. Obviously my two mistakes I had last game, you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given. I think as the offense if we do things right we can be pretty good.”

And Ponder says he can play better than he did in his first career start.

“The biggest thing is we kept it close, which should give us the confidence that we can hang in with those guys,” Ponder said. “Completion percent around 40 percent’s not good. Two turnovers isn’t good. So, there’s a lot to fix there. But still, with a 40 percent completion rating with two interceptions and we still had the ability to win the game, I think that’s a good sign.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has no concerns about Ponder’s poise going into a prime-time road game.

“To come out there in your first start against the defending Super Bowl champions and play as well as he played and to make some of the plays that he made in the fourth quarter, just gives you the idea that he can handle adverse situations, he can handle being on the road and playing well like he did against Carolina,” Frazier said. “I don’t foresee him being in a situation on Monday Night where you go, `Oh, this is not a good situation for Christian.’ I just don’t foresee that.”

The Packers still will be most worried about stopping Peterson, who says the Vikings are comfortable with Ponder at quarterback.

“I really think the sky’s the limit for him with what he has shown in the past two weeks before the bye,” Peterson said. “I feel like we can do some really good things. We just can’t keep doing things that hurt us. Offensively, defensively, make sure we’re eliminating some penalties and make sure we take advantage of the opportunities that present (themselves).”

Peterson is plenty impressed with Rodgers, who threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns with an 80 percent completion rate on Oct. 23.

“I feel like he’s the best quarterback in the league,” Peterson said. “I’ve always like Rodgers, even before he blew up. I could see the potential in him, just how he played, the attitude he played with. His passion shows. So it’s not really surprising to me.”

The Vikings’ defense will welcome back cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four games because of a neck injury. Defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL with 12 1/2 sacks and Rodgers was sacked four times by San Diego, some of which were the result of good downfield coverage.

Still, stopping Rodgers will be a tough test for the Vikings. Linebacker E.J. Henderson made it sound like he’d rather be facing Brett Favre.

“He’s pretty hot right now,” Henderson said of Rodgers. “Even Brett in his (heyday) when we used to play the Packers he was still good for a couple three interceptions here and there. I definitely think he’s playing at a high level, we all know that, we know what a challenge it’s going to be for us Monday to come out and slow him down but we’re looking forward to it.”

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Vikings-Packers II Preview: A Fan’s Predictions

info — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 03:43:00 +0000

I seriously think the football gods set up this weekend to torture Minnesotans. As if a Gophers-Badgers game isn’t bad enough, the Minnesota Vikings have yet another face off against the Green Bay Packers. And this time, the Vikes won’t have the home field advantage.

The Packers are currently at 8-0, and many enthusiastic fans are predicting a 16-0 season and another Super Bowl victory. This week, the Vikings’ big job is to wipe that smug smile off the Packer Backers’ faces.

There are a few signs of hope for Sunday’s game. First, there’s Christian Ponder(notes). I really wish Leslie Frazier would have gotten Ponder in the game several weeks ago, because the Vikings might have had more than two wins by now. My Packer-loving friends like to point to the fact that Christian Ponder is nowhere near Aaron Rodgers(notes) in playing ability. Still, watching a Vikings game led by Ponder is far less embarrassing than watching one with Donovan McNabb(notes) as starting quarterback.

Another promising development: better use of running back Adrian Peterson. Everybody knows Peterson can rush, but he also makes a great receiver. Peterson’s abilities were not fully utilized during the first few weeks of the football season. He complained about this in a recent interview: ” Sometimes I don’t get the ball and I’m like grrr I was wide open.” But when the Minnesota Vikings played the Carolina Panthers, Peterson had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers when they hosted at the Metrodome three weeks ago, but they did not lose by much. In fact, for a brief period, they were actually leading the Packers. If they can pull it together this week, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t hand the Pack their first loss of the season. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe says it best: “[The Green Bay Packers] need a loss, don’t they? They need one. We’re going to see what we can do about that.”

Born and raised in Minnesota, S. Gustafson has remained faithful to the Vikings through their many ups and downs.

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Packers 8-0, defense could give Vikes a chance

info — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:20:10 +0000

November 11, 2011

CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Going into Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, the feeling is becoming familiar for the Green Bay Packers: Another week, another win, another uneasy feeling about the state of the defense.
The reigning Super Bowl champions are the NFL’s only undefeated team at 8-0 and have won a franchise-record 14 straight games going back to last season, including playoffs. It has been so long since the Packers actually lost a game that defensive players now seem to be stewing about substandard performances in victories the same way they might after a loss.
That certainly was the case after the Packers’ Oct. 23 victory at Minnesota, where Green Bay allowed rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to play with poise in his first career start and gave up 175 yards to Adrian Peterson.
“Last time, we didn’t feel like we played as good as we could have played in Minnesota,” defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said. “We feel like we could have put it away, and then we kind of let them back in the game. ‘AP’ rushed for 175 yards. We felt sick after we even won that game. So this is a good opportunity for us to right our wrongs.”
Going into the second game between the two division rivals in less than a month, the Packers are giving up 299.6 yards passing per game this season, second-most in the NFL behind New England. They nearly coughed up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win at San Diego.
The Packers remain dominant on offense behind Aaron Rodgers. And while their defense does lead the NFL with 16 interceptions and has been good enough to win all eight games so far, the porous nature of their pass defense means they can’t take anybody for granted.
“If you look at it, it’s kind of good,” Pickett said. “We’re feeling sick and we’re 8-0. We definitely know we’ve got a lot of room to grow, and we know we’re going to get there. Especially as a defensive unit, we have segments of great games, but we have yet to put a complete game, the way we want to play, out there. We know it’s coming, and we’re going to just keep fighting til we get there.”
Ponder helped Minnesota beat Carolina two weeks ago for his first career win — the Vikings had a bye last week — and he sees no reason why the Vikings can’t make it a game Monday night.
“That’s kind of what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. Obviously my two mistakes I had last game, you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given. I think as the offense if we do things right we can be pretty good.”
And Ponder says he can play better than he did in his first career start.
“The biggest thing is we kept it close, which should give us the confidence that we can hang in with those guys,” Ponder said. “Completion percent around 40 percent’s not good. Two turnovers isn’t good. So, there’s a lot to fix there. But still, with a 40 percent completion rating with two interceptions and we still had the ability to win the game, I think that’s a good sign.”
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has no concerns about Ponder’s poise going into a prime-time road game.
“To come out there in your first start against the defending Super Bowl champions and play as well as he play and to make some of the plays that he made in the fourth quarter, just gives you the idea that he can handle adverse situations, he can handle being on the road and playing well like he did against Carolina,” Frazier said. “I don’t foresee him being in a situation on Monday Night where you go, ‘Oh, this is not a good situation for Christian.’ I just don’t foresee that.”
The Packers still will be most worried about stopping Peterson, who says the Vikings are comfortable with Ponder at quarterback.
“I really think the sky’s the limit for him with what he has shown in the past two weeks before the bye,” Peterson said. “I feel like we can do some really good things. We just can’t keep doing things that hurt us. Offensively, defensively, make sure we’re eliminating some penalties and make sure we take advantage of the opportunities that present (themselves).”
Peterson is plenty impressed with Rodgers, who threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns with an 80 percent completion rate on Oct. 23.
“I feel like he’s the best quarterback in the league,” Peterson said. “I’ve always like Rodgers, even before he blew up. I could see the potential in him, just how he played, the attitude he played with. His passion shows. So it’s not really surprising to me.”
The Vikings’ defense will welcome back cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four games because of a neck injury. Defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL with 12 1/2 sacks and Rodgers was sacked four times by San Diego, some of which were the result of good downfield coverage.
Still, stopping Rodgers will be a tough test for the Vikings. Linebacker E.J. Henderson made it sound like he’d rather be facing Brett Favre.
“He’s pretty hot right now,” Henderson said of Rodgers. “Even Brett in his (heyday) when we used to play the Packers he was still good for a couple three interceptions here and there. I definitely think he’s playing at a high level, we all know that, we know what a challenge it’s going to be for us Monday to come out and slow him down but we’re looking forward to it.”

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Monday is a Big Day for Vikings’ Ponder

info — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:16:00 +0000

Three weeks ago, Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder(notes) was baptized by fire when he got his first NFL start against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

The Packers, who were then and still are undefeated, came at him with everything they had and gave him a sample of what elite NFL football tastes like. Despite forcing him into throwing two interceptions (and potentially more that were dropped by Packers defenders), Ponder managed to keep the Vikings in the game. Although they ended up falling short by a score of 27-33, it was an impressive NFL debut by a quarterback that many thought the Vikings overdrafted at No. 12 overall.

His numbers might not have been Newton-esque, but his poise and unrelenting drive to give his team every possible opportunity to win the game were remarkable for a rookie. Ponder took responsibility for his mistakes, but didn’t dwell on them and went out with confidence on the next drive as if the previous one never happened. He showed an unwillingness to lay down when the Vikings fell behind by a couple touchdowns and didn’t stop until the final whistle blew.

“He’s been so unflappable in the two starts he’s had that I have a feeling whatever we tell him, he’s still going to be able to handle the situation,” Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said.

Now, with a 1-1 record as an NFL starter under his belt, Ponder will face off against the Packers again after a bye week that should have the Vikings well rested and ready to play. Although the Green Bay secondary will again pose a daunting challenge to the young gunslinger, he’s ready to prove that he’s matured since their previous meeting.

“That’s what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. My two mistakes last game – you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given.”

Although there’s nothing wrong with a little confident, too much can be a bad thing, especially for a rookie NFL quarterback. A big part of Ponder’s struggles last game stemmed from his overconfidence and lack of discipline when making throws into coverage. If he can cut down on this bad decisions and pick and choose his targets with more care, the Vikings could stand a chance at winning Monday’s game.

If Ponder can start his career as the Vikings starter with a 2-1 record, including a win against the Green Bay Packers, the team might have discovered its new franchise quarterback. The Vikings haven’t had an upper-level passer since Daunte Culpepper(notes) in the mid-2000s, so a new quarterback who can lead them to victory consistently is long overdue. For now, Ponder is just enjoying the opportunities he’s getting.

“Growing up as a kid you’re always watching Monday Night Football,” Ponder said. “It’s always a dream to get out and play. You hear nothing but good things about playing at Lambeau Field and how awesome an experience it’s going to be.”

Enjoy the mystique of it while you can, Christian. When it’s Monday night and you have the entire Packers defense and a sea of green and yellow bearing down on you, it’ll be more like a nightmare than a dream.

All we can do for now is hope that you come out of there unscathed with a victory in hand.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and is the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter.

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Ponder gives lift to Vikings malaise

info — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:06:41 +0000

Six weeks into the season, the Minnesota Vikings were going nowhere fast.

Donovan McNabb wasn’t giving them the steady, capable play at quarterback the team was counting on, the defense was giving up chunks in the running game like it hasn’t in more than a decade and new coach Leslie Frazier was having difficulty coming to grips with what was coming increasingly obvious to most around the franchise — this was going to be a rebuilding year.

Veterans were grumbling, fans were booing and a malaise had set in around the team’s headquarters as everyone braced for a long and painful season.

Three weeks later, the Vikings head into the bye week still at 2-6 and nowhere close to contention in the competitive NFC North. But the fog has been lifted, ever since rookie Christian Ponder took over at quarterback. He is 1-1 in his two starts, but more importantly has provided an energy and an optimism that has changed the team dynamic.

“I’ve seen glimpses along the way of what we could be, and it seems that we’re really gaining a type of confidence and playing at a level that you need to play at on a more consistent basis,” Frazier said. “So it gives me a lot of hope for our future with our remaining eight games and beyond. We’re definitely heading in the right direction.”

Ponder took over in the fourth quarter of a 39-10 loss at Chicago on Oct. 16. Frazier named him the starter for the rest of the season after that performance. The 12th overall draft pick out of Florida State is only completing 52 percent of his passes, but he’s added a downfield element to the passing game and had some success on third down that just wasn’t there when McNabb was under center.

“I’m just going out and trying to do my best and hopefully that brings confidence to the guys and they have confidence in me and what I’m doing,” Ponder said. “But I’m just trying to go out and make plays.”

Despite throwing two interceptions in his first start against Green Bay, Ponder never gave in and rallied the Vikings in the fourth quarter only to come up a little short in a 33-27 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions. He then threw for 236 yards and a touchdown to help the Vikings to a 24-21 win at Carolina, their first road victory of the year.

It’s far too early to make a blanket judgment, but the initial signs are positive that the Vikings have finally found a quarterback they can build around for the future. After years of using aging veterans — from Randall Cunningham to Jeff George to Brad Johnson, Brett Favre and McNabb — as short-term solutions to the most important position in the sport, it’s conceivable that those days are behind them.

Now, they at least have hope, which is a start. And you have to start somewhere.

“Just young exuberance, a lot of energy and he’s getting out there trying to make plays and trying to help us win,” receiver Michael Jenkins said of the rook. “So everybody is feeding off of that.”

It’s not like Ponder is the only thing the Vikings have going for them these days. Adrian Peterson leads the league with 798 yards rushing and nine touchdowns and Jared Allen has 12½ sacks, putting him on pace to break the single-season sack record.

But it’s also clear that the team has numerous areas to address, from spotty offensive line play to the lack of a true downfield threat at receiver and a secondary that has been decimated by injuries to Antoine Winfield, the suspension of Chris Cook after he was arrested on domestic assault charges and the inability of their safeties to be playmakers against the run or the pass.

“We know we have a lot of things we have to work on and improve and this gives us a chance to kind of step back, evaluate things, yet give our players a chance to rest and hopefully get some guys back physically to 100 percent,” Frazier said.

Winfield is expected back in the lineup when the Vikings return to action on Nov. 7 at Green Bay. The week off should also help receiver Percy Harvin, who has been dealing with a rib injury most of the season.

Whatever happens the rest of this season, as long as Ponder continues to show progress and assert himself as a leader on this team in transition, the rebuilding effort won’t be as daunting as was initially feared.

“I love this game. I love being in this position,” Ponder said. “It’s been a dream come true for me. It’s the best job in the world to be honest with you. I’m loving being here. I’ve worked really hard to get here, so I’m just savoring everything.”

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Rookie wake-up call: Ponder helping to lift…

info — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:05:08 +0000

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Six weeks into the season, the Minnesota Vikings were going nowhere fast.

Donovan McNabb wasn’t giving them the steady, capable play at quarterback the team was counting on, the defence was giving up chunks in the running game like it hasn’t in more than a decade and new coach Leslie Frazier was having difficulty coming to grips with what was coming increasingly obvious to most around the franchise — this was going to be a rebuilding year.

Veterans were grumbling, fans were booing and a malaise had set in around the team’s headquarters as everyone braced for a long and painful season.

Ponder took over in the fourth quarter of a 39-10 loss at Chicago on Oct. 16. Frazier named him the starter for the rest of the season after that performance. The 12th overall draft pick out of Florida State is only completing 52 per cent of his passes, but he’s added a downfield element to the passing game and had some success on third down that just wasn’t there when McNabb was under centre.

Now, they at least have hope, which is a start. And you have to start somewhere.

It’s not like Ponder is the only thing the Vikings have going for them these days. Adrian Peterson leads the league with 798 yards rushing and nine touchdowns and Jared Allen has 12 1/2 sacks, putting him on pace to break the single-season sack record.

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That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

After Two Games, Ponder Appears to Be Right…

info — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:36:00 +0000

Christian Ponder(notes) of the Minnesota Vikings celebrated his first career NFL win yesterday with an impressive performance against the Carolina Panthers. Ponder was 18 of 28 passing for one touchdown and no interceptions, leading the Vikings to only their second win of the 2011 campaign.

The fact that Minnesota has looked respectable in Ponder’s first two career starts cannot be overlooked. Of course, no true Vikings fan could ever be pleased with a loss to the Packers, but for a rookie quarterback to put his team in a position to win against the reigning Super Bowl Champions, one has to have hope that his development will lead to success for the franchise in the near future. Although Carolina was certainly no football powerhouse, Cam Newton(notes) has been one of the best performing quarterbacks in the NFL this year. Ponder stepped up to the challenge in both games, and fans should take notice.

Donovan McNabb’s(notes) play through the first several games of the season left Minnesota fans looking for something more. The Vikings have the league leader in sacks in Jared Allen(notes), the league’s leading rusher in Adrian Peterson, and one of the league’s worst records at 2-6. Something didn’t quite add up, and Christian Ponder’s insertion into the starting lineup has provided fans a look at the future of the Vikings as well as hope that this year might not be totally lost just yet.

Christian Ponder is still a young kid by NFL standards; he is 23 years old and likely to stick with the Vikings as long as his performance allows. Donovan McNabb, despite being a great NFL quarterback in his prime, has now aged to where he might still be able to find success in the NFL, but only in the right schemes.

One thing is for certain: Rookie quarterbacks will make rookie mistakes. We have seen a few from Ponder, especially in his first game. But the positive thing to take away from the situation is that his second game was better. In a year where the playoffs are pretty unlikely barring a major collapse by Detroit or Green Bay and a monumental run by the Vikings, maybe improvement each week is asking for enough.

Jack Grunpe has been a lifelong Minnesota citizen, and avid fan of the Minnesota Vikings.

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Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings: Christian…

info — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:13:35 +0000

Read More: Donovan McNabb (QB – MIN), Christian Ponder (QB – MIN), Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers

One of the many quarterback changes was the replacement of Donovan McNabb for rookie first round pick Christian Ponder. Ponder is off to a great start, making the Vikings team as a whole look much better. The Vikings have a 14-7 lead over the defending Super Bowl champions, but it may not last long.

Ponder is 5 for 8, 108 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Minnesota seems to have struck the balance between passing and rushing with Adrian Peterson that they were expecting from McNabb. If this first quarter is any indication of Ponder’s future, McNabb may not be wearing purple after this season.

The one thing the Vikings have lacked besides employing a mistake free secondary, has been a consistent signal caller. If Ponder continues to develop positively, this could be the start of something great for the Vikings who find themselves in a fierce NFC North division.

That’s all the news for today.

The Five Most Embarrassing Plays in Minnesota…

info — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:13:00 +0000

I love my Minnesota Vikings, but I have to admit the team can be tough to watch at times. After all, perhaps no other NFL team has produced as many embarrassing moments. Here is my list of the five most cringe-worthy plays in Viking history:

5. Gary Anderson’s Missed Field Goal (NFC Championship, January 17, 1999)

The Vikings were leading the Atlanta Falcons 27-20 with under five minutes to play when Minnesota kicker Gary Anderson lined up for a 38-yard field goal. A trip to the Super Bowl seemed inevitable: Anderson had made all 39 of his field goal attempts during the season, and he was ready to make it a two-possession game. But then the unthinkable happened, and Anderson’s kick missed wide left. The Falcons took the momentum, and rallied to a 30-27 overtime win.

4. The Randy Moss(notes) Moon (NFC Wildcard game, January 9, 2005)

Leave it to the controversial Randy Moss to turn a highlight into an embarrassment in this game against the rival Green Bay Packers. After catching a 34-yard touchdown pass from Daunte Culpepper(notes), Moss chose to celebrate by pretending to pull off his pants and moon the crowd at Lambeau Field. While the Vikings would win the game, Moss would never live this spectacle down.

3. Freeman’s Monday Night Miracle (Week 10, November 6, 2000)

The Vikings and Packers had gone to overtime on a rainy Monday night. With Green Bay controlling the ball, Brett Favre(notes) tossed a long pass to Antonio Freeman. Freeman fell down on the slippery field as the football deflected off of Minnesota cornerback Cris Dishman, though Freeman somehow caught it while lying down. As Dishman was busy prematurely celebrating, Freeman got up and scored to give the Packers the win.

2. The Hail Mary (NFC Divisional Playoffs, December 28th, 1975)

This is the game that coined the term “Hail Mary pass,” although it came at the Vikings expense. Minnesota led the Dallas Cowboys 14-10, but the Cowboys had one last chance against the vaunted Viking “Purple People Eaters” defense. With less than 30 seconds remaining, Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach threw a desperate pass from midfield. Wide receiver Drew Pearson—who later admitted to committing offensive pass interference on the play—caught the ball and scored the winning touchdown. After the game Staubach commented, “It was just a Hail Mary pass; a very, very lucky play.”

1. The Wrong Way Run (Week 7, October 25, 1964)

Never mind the Vikings; this play is a candidate for the most embarrassing play by any NFL team. Minnesota great Jim Marshall recovered a San Francisco 49ers fumble, and proceeded to run it 66 yards into the end zone, where he triumphantly chucked the ball into the stands. The only problem is he had run the wrong direction, giving the 49ers a safety. “My first inkling that something was wrong was when a 49er player gave me a hug in the end zone,” said Marshall. Luckily for him, Minnesota still went on to win.

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