Place your bets! Who will start at QB vs. Packers?

[bucketmouth64]

Ponder named starter. I hope that o-line will give him time. Matthews might have a hayday with Loadholdt and Ponder might be running for his life. I wonder if someone will say to Ponder after a sack "welcome to the nfl, which means not for long". I think 3 step drops, timing patterns, screens, or slants might be in play for passing game. He won't have much time to sit back and go thru his progressions. Hope AP has a good game which could open up some passing patterns.

[zamboni]

Leslie is way too conservative. I don't think he can coach at this level. Bad hire by the Vikings.

We live in a place that doesn't apparently do job interviews when it comes to sports team coaches. They always hire within or give the job to the first guy they talk to. Interview 5 guys and give the job to the one best suited for it.

[hunter76]

Get rid of our pathetice offensive coordinator Musgrave as well. This guy is terrible. Throw in our offensive line as well.

[pikestabber]

Get rid of our pathetice offensive coordinator Musgrave as well. This guy is terrible. Throw in our offensive line as well.

I can agree to the O-line, but not Musgrave. His Falcons squad had the MOST points in the NFL last year. He came here under the assumption he had an O-line to work with (and boy was he wrong). No OC could work with what the Vikings have right now (and I would take one Musgrave over 50 Bevells). 99% of plays would be a touchdown if everyone executed perfectly...when no on executes, our offensive goes nowhere or backwards. It's easy to blame coaches, and many times they are at fault, but when the talent isn't there, it just isn't there. Belichick and his OC couldn't win with this team the way they are built right now...

I say rebuild the line and let this system take a better hold, then look out... There are a lot of points to be scored once we have a couple new linemen and couple new receivers (assuming our QB position gets solidified with Ponder). Musgrave loves the two (or three) tight end set, and that is one position we are deep at. We just need more up front help and at least one legitimate deep threat to compliment Harvin. And with Ponder's lightning release and (so far) good down field vision, we can start to hit some crossing routes and maybe chuck a deep ball or two before a sack or scramble happens...McNabb, while good at not throwing picks, was great at throwing check downs and balls in the dirt...which is why he didn't throw picks. He just didn't have any down field vision and seemed, overall, like he just didn't care if we won or not, and those are two unforgivable QB traits.

For the sake of my sanity, I am scrapping weeks 1-6 and starting over with a rookie QB who will have one heck of trial by fire come Sunday. A new ten week season to see what this kid can do... Skol, Vikes!

[SkunkedAgain]

I'm with pikestabber. You can't throw out the baby with the bath water. What has the OC done wrong? Let me guess - the play calling is too predictable, right? Well if you had an turnstile O-line and a QB that was mailing it in, wouldn't you give the ball to your Pro Bowl RB most of the time and hope that he gets the yards? You know that McNabb wasn't going to get them, and the fans have booed when McNabb is given the reins to gain yards. General Patton wouldn't have been able to get this offensive offense on track.

[Nick Kuhn]

Yep. I like that Ponder looks downfield. With 8 in the box it should make for some easier reads for a QB coming into the league, especially the deep routes. Hopefully they compliment one another. Ponder completes some downfield passes to back off a safety. Then Peterson's 1 and 2 yard runs become 5 yard gains: making 3rd down very manageable for the young QB.

[FISHINGURU]

This year was a mess with the lockout thats why we even got McNub to begin with, with a normal offseason I think Ponder would have been named starter since day 1.

I didn't mind the move to get McNub because of that reason, I just never understood why we gave up a pick for him when he was about to get released anyway.

[RiverFish]

Only problem is that the WR core really does not stretch the field and allow those deep balls to be thrown. Berrian just does not have the talent.

[FISHINGURU]

They stretch the field more then you think, either McFlabb doesn't see them or he doesn't have time.

You can see watching film and listening to the players they are wide open, during the games they've shown a few of our recievers wide open streaking down the field for give me TD's.

[RiverFish]

The Vikes do not have a legitimate down field WR.

[FISHINGURU]

I hear ya that they don't have a real #1 I been saying that for years right along with they never had a real #1 corner. With that said Percy Harvin is a legitimate downfield threat.

[luckycrank]

And when will that be. 2 weeks? 6 weeks? Next year? 2 years?? He needs to play. He's going to get hit whether its this week or in 5 weeks.

Amen brother ! this isnt mamsy pamsy land its the NFL or BBL ( BIG BOYS LEAGUE ) your gonna get hit weather its THE PACK the BEARS or who ever, might as we'll get it used to it , they'll be there next year, strong as ever and year after that and so on , this team needs to know where it lies at the end of the season , maybe he'll suprise you. Or he maybe an extra set of lead shoes on the Field, from what I seen in the 4th qaurter he deserve a start. Im not ready to say he has no shot at winning against green bay not likley , but not impossible I remember a rams game years ago haters said not a chance, and we came out 42/gooseegg so stranger upsets happen just ask detroit

[flipper]

Packers 38

Vikings 10

[Stcloudangler]

Packers only favored by 9 pts... maybe time to cash in my worthless 401k?

[PurpleFloyd]

The only chance the Vikings have ( And I will consider holding GB to less than 45 as a moral victory) is to run out of the 2 TE set and pound the ball directly at Matthews as well as using the TE's to create a mismatch against the secondary. We are not going to go deep against them or anyone else except maybe a random play here and there but we can pound the heck out of them and run right at their ends and LB'rs.

[creepworm]

The Vikes do not have a legitimate down field WR.

Aromashadu has the speed, if Berrian would get benched.

[Born2Fish]

I have a sneaky feeling that Aromashadu might have a big day against the pack.

[Steve Foss]

I'm always hoping for a Pack domination, and on paper that's a done deal.

BUT!!!

It's the Packers and Vikings. That's enough to make it competitive and exciting, and McStupidgrin on the bench and Ponder on the field will change things.

I think it's going to be close.

[Chad Peterson]

I'm always hoping for a Pack domination, and on paper that's a done deal.

BUT!!!

It's the Packers and Vikings. That's enough to make it competitive and exciting, and McStupidgrin on the bench and Ponder on the field will change things.

I think it's going to be close.

I have agree with you Steve. These teams know each so well, anything can happen. It will be close now that Ponder is under center. Packers 24 Queens 20.

Sniffer

[Scott K]

I just dont see our defense holding the Packers to under 50 points. Mr Rodgers will have a hay day with our secondary. I think the Vikings offense will click a little, I will say Ponder will have 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, pass for 250 yds, 2 int's, and be sacked 4 times. AP, will get 100+ yds.

Rogers will have 400+ yds 5TD's, 1 int, and take 2 sacks. Final score, Pack 52 Vikes 24.

I hope I am wrong, but our defense dosnt stand a chance against the Packers passing game.

[LMITOUT]

Pack win, 2-0.

[Scott K]

Pack win, 2-0.

I will bet my estimate is closer then yours

[SkunkedAgain]

I think that it's quite simple to figure out the Viking's offensive woes...they keep taking WR rejects from the CHICAGO BEARS!!! The Bears have one of the worst receiving corps and have for years. When they peel another off of their scrap heap, the Vikings are salivating for the rotting WR corpses - Aromoashadu and Berrian

[RiverFish]

I think that it's quite simple to figure out the Viking's offensive woes...they keep taking WR rejects from the CHICAGO BEARS!!! The Bears have one of the worst receiving corps and have for years. When they peel another off of their scrap heap, the Vikings are salivating for the rotting WR corpses - Aromoashadu and Berrian

Like I said no deep threat, you have to stretch the field in the NFL.

[Big Dave2]

I'm always hoping for a Pack domination, and on paper that's a done deal.

BUT!!!

It's the Packers and Vikings. That's enough to make it competitive and exciting, and McStupidgrin on the bench and Ponder on the field will change things.

I think it's going to be close.

You're always worrying for no reason! Packers will win by no less than 3 TDs.