Viks the most improved team

[Cooter]

Heard that earlier this week, what do ya purple fans think? I know the Pack is gonna be hurtin for a while, Sundays will be for bowhunting. Too bad to see Brett go away on a sour note - I hope not but think thats whats gonna happen. Just glad to grow up watching him kick butt. Good luck to you guys with the new coach.

[Ole #1]

I'm a big fan of the purple but I've been a big fan of Favre too. I think he'll do just fine this year, but I'm not sure about the rest of the team.

I think we are the most improved and even though it's only on paper, the D we've added in free agency will improve our team. Thanks for the good words, not many packer fans like you.

I'd rather be bowhunting anyway

[FI Guide]

True on paper the vikes look like super bowl contenders but wait football isnt played on paper. They will be better but the D must surprise us all to go really far. Also Brett Favre, as a viking fan, I hate him, but he is one of the best QB's ever. Watch for him to give Aaron Rodges a few tips and the pack wont be bad a QB for awhile.

[Down to Earth]

I think on paper the Vikings have improved the most, at least on defense, which is where they needed it the most. What also remains to be seen is if the loss of Moss will have any impact on the offensive side of things. Also can Bennett finally stay healthy for the whole season? The rest of the North I think improved as well, except for Green Bay, who kinda remained status quo at best. To be honest, I think the Vikings should win the division, but it would not surprise me if the Lions ended up on top. A lot will depend on the development of Harrington, though unlike years past I think Garcia is a formidable back up and I don't think Marriuci will delay in putting him under center.

[Eric Wettschreck]

New coach????

Out here in the sticks it takes like 4 weeks to get the news. Did I miss something?

[ozzie]

I only can wish that we had a new coach..Then I would be really excited about this season!!!!!!!

[Pig_sticka]

I think the new coach was for the Timberpups but maybe not. Either sunday will be my favorite day to order a pizza and have a cold one, or it will be the day to find a fishing spot and hear about the slumpin vikes on monday.

Will be very fun anyway seeing this team try and mold into what could be a very high caliber team.

[crappieflop1212]

Quote:

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To be honest, I think the Vikings should win the division, but it would not surprise me if the Lions ended up on top. A lot will depend on the development of Harrington, though unlike years past I think Garcia is a formidable back up and I don't think Marriuci will delay in putting him under center.

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Harrington has improved every year, but his qb rating last year ended up at 77.5. Not very impressive. Garcia ended up at 76.7. It could be done though. No more excuses for harrington.

[james_walleye]

All i can say is at least the vikings finally went out and did something about their problems. They went out and spent some $$ too bring in some good players. No its not a guaranteed super bowl ticket but it has got too help. There really isnt anything more that we could have asked for this past offseason. They did what they had too do, and time will tell if its enough too get too the promised land. Some people think the D will need time too gel. Im not in that camp. NFL defense is about responsibility. All Pat Williams has too do is eat up that middle, no need too gel with anyone. Smoot will cover recievers, and do it very well. Every linebacker position has been upgraded. Every starting LB from last year is now a backup, thats a good thing. We may even see a linebacker cover a tight end or back out of the backfield this year, something that didnt happen last year. Lot less chance of seeing LB's out of position on run and pass plays. That was a constant problem last year. Darren Sharper, past his prime, but a serious upgrade too the D backfield. His game will have a huge impact on the D. Hes got smarts, and unlike last year with the pack, he will actually have skilled players along side him in the backfield. With cover guys like Smoot and Winfield and now a nickel guy such as Brian Williams covering the oppositions 3rd reciever you will see that Sharper will have the freedom too use his smarts and become a ball hawk at safety. Just sit back and read the QB. Lots more INTS for this defense this next season. Guarantee he gets at least one off of Favre too. Cant you just see it, pressure up the middle, Favre feels the heat, misses just a bit high, and whos their waiting, an old packer friend. Oh did i forget too mention that it was old badger state boy who applied the pressure? Yeah that was Erasmus James on the stunt putting some serious heat on.

[crappieflop1212]

Your right J-W. The Vikes have done the best they can, while leaving some extra cap room to get get their picks signed. I can't begin to tell how excited I am about the upcoming season. It is going to be a blast.

[packman]

NOW IM NOT EXACTLY A VIKES HATER BUT REMEMBER 6-0 , 5-1 , THE LAST TWO SEASONS THE PROBLEM ON THE VIKES STILL HASNT BEEN SOLVED. TO THE PACKERFANS HAPPINESS YOU STILL HAVE TICE, THE AMOUNT OF COACHING ERRORS ARE NUMEROUS MIKE TICE IS NOT A NFL COACH AND THE LAST 3 YEARS HAVE PROVED IT YA THE PACK DIDNT ADD THE AMOUNT OF PLAYERS TO THEIR TEAM BUT HAVE YOU NOT WATCHED THE REDSKINS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SPENDING MONEY DOESNT WORK. NOW WHAT ARE THE VIKES GOING TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE 6 DEBACKS IN AGINST THERE OFFENSE WITH NO MOSS YOU WILL SEE SINGLE COVERAGE AND NOT BE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL BECAUSE OF THE WISONATER. CONFADENCE THATS WHAT TEAMS WILL HAVE AGAINST THE VIKES PASSING GAME NOWING THAT THE BEST WIDE OUT IS NOT ON THERE SIDE.

AND MY LAST THING DO YOU NO WHAT 0 - 4 IS FOR THE VIKES THEIR RECORD IN THE SUPER BOWL

ENOUGH SAID

GO PACK

[MJR]

I think we will see who is the most improved team after a few games are played. But the Vikes have to be up there. Tice is fine the players didn't execute which I guess could fall on Tice.

The Redskins spent money on old names not talent, the vikes have picked up talent.

6-0 and 5-1 starts aint bad, how did the vikes last couple of games go last year anyway?

6 dbacks in against the vikes and we will run the ball as we have been doing the last few years, I bet we will be in the top 10 running in the NFL Again this year as will the passing game. I'd rather have the wizzonator than the wifebeater.

0-4 in Superbowls wasn't that in the 70's? How were the Pack in that decade? Did they manage a winning season?

Other notable 0-4's

Farves TD to Int ratio in his last game against the Vikes.

Lions will finish ahead of the Pack this year.

[sunnyj]

Quote:

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I think we will see who is the most improved team after a few games are played. But the Vikes have to be up there. Tice is fine the players didn't execute which I guess could fall on Tice.

The Redskins spent money on old names not talent, the vikes have picked up talent.

6-0 and 5-1 starts aint bad, how did the vikes last couple of games go last year anyway?

6 dbacks in against the vikes and we will run the ball as we have been doing the last few years, I bet we will be in the top 10 running in the NFL Again this year as will the passing game. I'd rather have the wizzonator than the wifebeater.

0-4 in Superbowls wasn't that in the 70's? How were the Pack in that decade? Did they manage a winning season?

Other notable 0-4's

Farves TD to Int ratio in his last game against the Vikes.

Lions will finish ahead of the Pack this year.

---

and you were able to say all of that with your caplock turned off

[james_walleye]

Hey packman if past history meant anything than that superbowl between the pack and broncos shouldnt have even been played right? Elway cant win the big one? Oh yeah it was played, and thats how much past history has too do with this season.

0-4 in superbowls? Come on, superbowl losses in the 70's having an impact on what happens this season? Thats bush league.

The redskins are one example of a team going out and spending money too improve. Any team that makes that next jump goes out and spends money and brings in players too fill some holes. Happens every year.

Oh yeah and if the packers play 6 D backs against the vikes, i could run the ball against it. Remember the vikings still have their O line together, and have a healthy Mike Rosenthal back. And the packers still have done nothing too improve their defense. And they lost how many pro bowl lineman? 2 teams going in opposite directions, pretty plain too see for most people. I dont see any way anyone could look at the vikes and pack and not see that the vikes have made themselves better and the pack did nothing too help themselves. Remember this isnt the patriots who seemed too have no holes. The patriots can get away with not adding too much too their team and still be good this year. This is a packer team whos defense might even be worse than last season. And its a vikings team whos added a lot of quality players.

MJR it looks pretty possible that the pack may end up the doormat of the whole NFC north. Everyones improved, the pack has slid back.

[Down to Earth]

Quote:

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The Redskins spent money on old names not talent, the vikes have picked up talent.

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MJR,

Did you happen to read Ruesse's column in the Star Tribune today? Interesting column how it will be the Vikings turn this year to flop. Gave examples of this years Twins, along with last years Gophers and T-Wolves. He also pointed out that with the exception of Smoot all of the other players they aquired on defense declined in production from the previous year. Personally I don't think I quite agree with him, but we will have to see how things pan out once the season starts. He may end up being right.

[Pig_sticka]

Smoot and Harris will not be on the decline, and Pat should have another stop or 2 in him. Cowart I haven't watched enough to analize. But the younger players that played last year will have one more year under their belt with the pros, and will be very solid backups or starters this year. We have drafted defense now every year for a long time, and they are all starting to learn the game so hopefully a few of them can step up. So the few players we added that might be on the decline might either produce very well for the next year or more, and if nothing else they will be able to help along our young players to get better. Williamson has alot of very great guys to follow in the WR group. Sure they aren't super stars yet but all our WR's have already gone through years of training, playing and learning. Taylor can be a superstar also under the right QB, and Dante has the talent to make anyone a star, just depends if he uses his potential.

Moss is a big hurt but our recievers have the smarts and talent to overcome Moss. But dont forget we didn't just lose Moss and gain nothing, we did gain Harris and Williamson for him. Now maybe our coaches and consentrate no winning not what will keep Moss happy.

Did the Vikes improve this year. You better believe it. Will they win the superbowl, probably not but you never know. It will be fun watching them try though. I am all set to have the pizza delivery on speed dial and a few drinks on hand to chill and watch the games.

[packman]

ANSWER THIS HAVE THE VIKES EVER ONE A BIG GAME? NO EVEN IN 98 WHEN BY FAR THE BEST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE. THE PACK ARE STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT. I KNOW THEY DIDNT ADD MUCH BY THEY DID WIN THE CENTRAL AFTER THE VIKES TANKED IT. I LIVE RIGHT ON THE BORDER AND EVERY YEAR ITS THE SAME THING THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND THE VIKES ARE SUPER BOWL BOUND AND THEN BY MID SEASON GOING DOWN HILL. WHEN THE VIKES WIN THE SUPER BOWL THEN I WILL TAKE MY LICKS OTHERSWISE WIN THE BIG ONE AND THEN TALK THE TALK UNTILL THEN ITS CHAMPAIGN DREAMS.

[james_walleye]

Dude this is my last response too you if you cant come up with better reseasoning for why the packers will be better than the vikings than stuff that happened in the 70's, or in 1998. How many people are even left from the 1998 team? Come on man. You are a real homer if you think the pack is the team too beat in the north. Im not even saying its the vikings, it definately could be the lions if that offense gets together. And like i said the bears may have even done enough too climb over the packers.

[eyehunter]

All I can say is that if the Packers play as well as their fans can spell, the Vikings don't have anything to worry about....

[packman]

NICE COMEBACK WHY DONT YOU SAY TO ME WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AND THEN TALK dump OH WAIT AMINUTE YOU "CANT"

[packman]

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TEAM TO BEAT THE PACK HAVE WON THE DIVISON HOW MANY YEARS IN A ROW? UNTIL THEY ARE BEAT YOU CAN GO 6-0 AND 5-1 ALL U WANT NOCK THEM OFF AND I WILL EAT MY WORDS. BUT I KNOW IT HURTS TO THINK THAT THE PACK ARE BETTER THEN THE VIKES BUT THEY HAVE PROVED IT.

[Pig_sticka]

hit caps lock one time

[Down to Earth]

You know I have to agree with 'packman' on that point. Until someone else wins the NFC North, you have to say they are the team to beat. True on paper it may not look that way, but the game still needs to be played. We'll see how things play out in the preseason and during the first half of the season. By then the tables may have turned and it may be the Vikes, or possibly the Lions as the team to beat in the NFC North.

Andy

[Down to Earth]

Here is the article from Reusse. Though it isn't all strictly Vikings related I posted the whole article as it is a good read, interesting, and he makes some valid points.

Patrick Reusse: Twins are latest Twin Cities team to be a four-star flop

Patrick Reusse, Star Tribune

June 23, 2005 PATR0623

The Twins went through eight consecutive seasons when they were under .500. This produced only indifference, not outrage. Then, the franchise rebounded and won three consecutive American League Central titles.

So what if it was the modern-day version of the American Association? Local fans were satisfied to see the Twins put up another of those cute AL Central pennants and go on with life, maybe dropping into the Dome a couple of times per season, if they didn't have anything better to do.

The Timberwolves went through seven consecutive seasons in which they lost in the first round of playoffs. To fall from that to not reaching the playoffs would not have caused an acrimonious reaction from the team's lackadaisical band of followers.

The Gophers football team has not shared a Big Ten title since 1967. After decades of training, the Gophers being a non-contender and possibly heading off to a pre-New Year's bowl game in Nowheresville was something we had come to accept as satisfactory.

The Twins, the Timberwolves and the Gophers couldn't leave well enough alone. They had to go out and get everyone hyped up.

It started last August, when coach Glen Mason said on the Gophers' formal media day that he was tired of his team not getting what it deserved in the Big Ten's allotment of bowl games.

And then he suggested his team could take care of any perceived injustice by getting "to the one where they can't throw you out."

That one would be the Rose Bowl -- and there was Mason, smirking a bit, suggesting 2004 could be the season. "All I'm saying is we have a chance," he said.

The Gophers finished eighth in the Big Ten.

The Timberwolves finally advanced in the playoffs -- through two rounds -- before losing to the L.A. Lakers in six games in the Western Conference finals in the spring of 2004.

They arrived in training camp in October in Collegeville, Minn., and bragged openly that a repeat would not be a success ... that only an NBA title could satisfy this veteran team.

The 2004-05 Timberwolves finished ninth in the West and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

The Twins reported to spring training and patted themselves on the back on a daily basis. The World Series was mentioned routinely, as if it was a reasonable expectation for a team that was getting ready to break out a new infield.

On the eve of Opening Day, center fielder Torii Hunter said: "This could be the best team we've had. It's going to be one of those years where people are going to go, 'Wow!'

"I'm tired of just winning the division and losing in the first round. Of course, we have to stay focused on winning the division, because Detroit made some changes and Cleveland is getting better. We can't take anything lightly."

Fielding. Hitting. Lately, pitching. Those are the only items manager Ron Gardenhire's 2005 Twins have taken lightly.

And, one more item taken lightly: the Chicago White Sox.

Football Gophers. Four-star flops. Timberwolves. Four-star flops. Twins. Four-star flops.

You would think our major sports entities would have learned by now: Stop telling us how good you're going to be. Just shut up and play.

Nope. Mike Tice and pals have watched a couple of minicamps and they can't stop telling us how good the 2005 Vikings are going to be.

Five weeks before Mankato, you can get the Purpleheads to talk Super Bowl without much prodding.

Based on what? Apparently, defense. Those five new veteran starters are going to make all the difference.

Here's the reality: One of those five starters, cornerback Fred Smoot, 26, had basically the same production in 2004 as in 2003. His tackles were 57 in '03 and 59 last season, and his interceptions were four and then three. The rest dropped off. Safety Darren Sharper, 29, went from 82 to 70 in tackles and five to four in interceptions. Nose tackle Pat Williams, 32, went from 81 tackles to 53. Outside linebacker Napoleon Harris, 26, went from 107 tackles to 61. Middle linebacker Sam Cowart, 30, went from an average of nine tackles per game to an average of three.

The Vikings have rebuilt their defense with a wave of veterans gaining age and losing production. Somehow, this has the public frazzled with optimism.

Have you learned nothing, people, from those other prominent occupants of Minneflopalis -- from the Pasadena-bound Gophers, the NBA Finals-bound Wolves, and the World Series-bound Twins?

[ozzie]

The pack won, or as packman has it "one", the NFC North last year great but then they lose to the vikes in the first round of the playoffs. It all means nothing cause it is a new season and both teams record for this year are 0-0. Comeback at the end of the season and then let us know what you think of your beloved butt packers!!!!!