Thread: NFC North team evaluations

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-4-615/NFC-North-team-evaluations.html

Biggest disappointment: The Vikings have one of the NFL's best placekickers in Ryan Longwell, but overall their special teams were a surprising liability this season. Opponents scored seven special teams touchdowns against them, a league record. Some of the issues could be traced to individual mistakes -- punter Chris Kluwe dropping a snap or an incorrect alignment on field goal protection -- but for the most part the breakdowns were across the board. The Vikings missed coverage demon Heath Farwell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason, and created some disarray by failing to settle on return men for either kickoffs or punts.

Biggest need: Years of heavy offseason spending has left the team fairly well stocked, but one area of concern is right tackle. Ryan Cook was rarely effective in his 15 starts, and the Vikings tried to replace him with utility backup Artis Hicks before Hicks suffered a torn triceps muscle. Cook's three-year conversion to right tackle has been bumpy and the Vikings should consider replacing him in the offseason.

I guess I am not the only yutz with this opinion. Sorry Marrdro. Ryan stays and Cook needs to see the bench. Bring on Tauscher.

NFC North team evaluations

Vikings: NFC North Divisional Champs.

Bears: Mediocre.

Packers: Shitty

Lions: Shittiest

Does anyone else find it ridiculous that only bad stuff was quoted?

"V" wrote:

Does anyone else find it ridiculous that only bad stuff was quoted?

If I quote the whole thing, Ultra is on my ass. So I quoted what I wanted to comment on. Bite me.
:-*

Edit: Did you actually read it? I didn't quote the Peterson fumbles.

"marstc09" wrote:

"V" wrote:

Does anyone else find it ridiculous that only bad stuff was quoted?

If I quote the whole thing, Ultra is on my ass. So I quoted what I wanted to comment on. Bite me.
:-*

So you don't want to comment on the good?

"V" wrote:

"marstc09" wrote:

"V" wrote:

Does anyone else find it ridiculous that only bad stuff was quoted?

If I quote the whole thing, Ultra is on my ass. So I quoted what I wanted to comment on. Bite me.
:-*

So you don't want to comment on the good?

What is there to comment on? We all know that Wilf, unlike Red, spent the money for Bernard and Allen. Both players that I really really wanted. We all know Peterson is the best back in the league, although some might argue that. We all are surprise we are 10-6 with Gus and TJ.

"marstc09" wrote:

"V" wrote:

"marstc09" wrote:

"V" wrote:

Does anyone else find it ridiculous that only bad stuff was quoted?

If I quote the whole thing, Ultra is on my ass. So I quoted what I wanted to comment on. Bite me.
:-*

So you don't want to comment on the good?

What is there to comment on? We all know that Wilf, unlike Red, spent the money for Bernard and Allen. Both players that I really really wanted. We all know Peterson is the best back in the league, although some might argue that. We all are surprise we are 10-6 with Gus and TJ.

Well, we could talk about how those guys performed vs. what was expected out of them early in the year. We could talk about Berrian being on the same page with Gus, but slowly coming around to TJ as well. We could talk about Allen's effect on the rest of the DL and Defense in general. We could talk about the difference Madieu has made in the secondary, and how we were able to see the difference between him and Tyrell Johnson. We could talk about Peterson's role in the offense, and whether a game like his last game is considered good or bad by his standards.

Wow...someone from ESPN that seems to actually have valid opinions on the Vikings!

IMO, he's right on all accounts. His mention of Farwell impressed me....we missed him greatly this year and I guarantee we wouldn't have given up 7 special teams touchdowns if Farwell were still around.

haha, Packers got a D and Lions and F (expected).. harsh


actually was a solid evaluation of all teams