Dr. Z Drinks the Kool-Aid
Clearly the most brilliant NFL mind amounst the nation media Dr. Z (of Sports Illustrated) is obviously drunk on the Purple Kool Aid and has picked the Vikings to win the Super Bowl.
Why would he pick the Vikings who have been a playoff team once in the last seven year?
1 - They run the ball, they stop the run.
"Their middle triangle of tackles Kevin and Pat Williams, backed up by E.J. Henderson, is classic, and now there's a serious element added to that mix."The serious element he refers to is Jared Allen.
2 - Improved pass defense.
Pass rush begets pass defense, which begets better statistics than the Vikings had last year, one of their big failings. They finished last in yards allowed. Where's the fix there? Madieu Williams, an active free safety for the Bengals last year. Charlie Gordon, a good, quick, free-agent cornerback.3 - Some sophomore running back named Adrian Peterson
I get the feeling that I haven't convinced anybody yet. How about the league's flashiest runner in '07, Adrian Peterson, working behind, arguably, the best run blocking left side of the line in the NFL, Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson?4-Basically a gut feeling...
Well, could this be the year that Tarvaris Jackson takes the Vikings the whole way, under a coach who can do everything for the position except throw the ball? I kind of think so. There's a storybook angle here, older coach, young quarterback, as the troops rally round.I'll be honest with you here. I drink more Kool Aid than anyone I know. I have this dangling dream that this will be a special year for the Vikings. But not even I am willing to...
So en fin, do I like the Vikings to go all the way? Well, yeah, why not? A feeling of destiny, that's what I sense about Brad Childress and his baby quarterback.
What the hell,
I couldn't agree more. Dominant Defense, Best Running Back ever to hit the field and a QB who will shock the world. All of that equals the first of many Super Championships for Brad Childress and his Minnesota Vikings!
This year is going to be FUN.
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2 comments:
Hooray! A new post! I thought that Dr. Z article might lure you away from your semi-retirement.
He makes some good points, but I'm still nervous. I don't want my hopes to be high enough that I'm crushed if the Vikings somehow manage to play below expectations.
His best point is the trickle effect with Jared Allen. If Allen notches 18 sacks, then the secondary can play better, the defense can get of the field sooner, and the field position game will greatly improve. That could, in turn, help the passing offense. Jackson plays better when the Vikings aren't losing by too much. And if that's the case, then the opposition's defense should open up enough to let Peterson-Taylor find more consistent success this year.
I mean seriously, if all that happens we could be looking at a 12-13-14 win season! Crazy.
Of course, Allen could fall short of expectations (or worse, get another DUI) and/or Jackson could take a step or two BACKWARD... Anything can happen. (I'm just saying these things so as not to let my hopes soar ridiculously high)
And you weren't even factoring in Ray Edwards breaking the single season sack record!
should be a fun season.
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