Vikings’ stupid
mistakes disappointing
Patrick Hodgson
It was just a brief time ago when NFL experts were classifying the Minnesota
Vikings as Super Bowl contenders. At the time the prediction seemed as rational
as picking the 49ers to not make the playoffs.
Yet the Vikings find themselves
with a disappointing 1-3 record despite the plethora of high-profile free-agent
signings in the offseason, once again proving that having a good team on paper
does not mean having a good team on the field.
The season is a disappointment for the benevolent fans who spend their hard-earned
wages to see the Vikings play in the Metrodome, but we should have seen the signs
of an anticlimactic season from the start.
First of all, they traded Randy Moss.
Sure the guy is antagonistic and sometimes detrimental to his team, but his ability
to take over a game is not easily matched.
Moss expands the field and demands double teams, which ultimately results in
the opposite side of the field opening
up. When the Vikings decided he wasn’t worth the aggravation anymore, all
of these beneficial things went out the door with him.
I am not sure what Minnesota
was thinking when they replaced Moss with Koren Robinson and Travis Taylor. They
both didn’t live up to expectations.
Although their first-round pick, Troy Williamson, was a nice draft choice, he
is simply not ready to step in and give you a 1,400-yard or 15-touchdown season.
You think Daunte Culpepper doesn’t miss Moss? The man is throwing almost
four interceptions per a game and fumbling around like a rookie.
Stephen A. Smith and Woody Paige put it best when they said he was lost out there
without Moss. In fact, Culpepper is off to the worst start of his career just
a year after almost throwing for 40 touchdowns and 5,000 yards. The missing ingredient
seems
to be Moss.
The Vikings had supposedly improved their defense by obtaining former Pro Bowlers
Darren Sharper and Fred Smoot. Sharper’s production, particularly his ability
to cover receivers, has been declining over the last five years. That is why
the Green Bay Packers let him go so easy.
It wasn’t the money, because his asking price was not expensive. Smoot
is only a competent cornerback, even though he would tell you he is the second
coming of Deion Sanders.
Having Smoot as the shut down corner was a mistake because
he is often found looking at the back of the cleats of receivers such as Terrell
Owens, Marvin Harrison and Moss.
What would have been a more substantial move would have been to go after the
best cornerback in the game, Champ Bailey, or even Charles Woodson, who is having
conflicts over his contract.
And then there is Head Coach Mike Tice. Why is he still the head coach with the
team’s embarrassments in the playoffs, the gambling and, most importantly,
the record. Heck, Tice should be fired his comment that the team would be better
without Moss.
When the season reaches its close, expect Mike Tice to be relieved of his duties
and for the Vikings to miss the postseason. At least Minnesota can save money
on playoff tickets this winter.
|
