Jags, Vikings could soon turn to rookie QBs if struggles persist

**jmcdon00** · 09-21-2011, 11:26 AM

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/69...olina-panthers

Jags' Blaine Gabbert to start at Carolina

**Marrdro** · 09-21-2011, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by BloodyHorns82

Well, statistically speaking only 12% of teams make the playoffs after starting 0-2. That number drops to around 2% after starting 0-3.

I wonder how much lower it would be if you played in the same division as the previous season's Super Bowl winner, finished the previous season with 6 lowly wins and fourth place in your division, starting a new QB, and an entirely new coaching staff. Me thinks not very good at all.

I'm not very optimistic at our playoff chances right now...probably somewhere between slim and none. And I'm pretty sure I just saw Slim leave town with his head hung in shame after our last loss.

I hear ya my friend. You know me. I tend to be a bit optimistic for the most part.

For this team I just see two issues that should be easy to overcome....

a. Timing between Dnabb and the WR's. It did get better from the first to the second week. Heck we actually seen them try to go deep a bit to both Berrian and Orash.

b. DT play. Most on here believe that issue will be fixed when K-dubb comes back. I will go along with that for now, but fear that is gonna be a harder one to fix. Lets not forget, there is still the issue with his foot and truth be told, he isn't a 0 tech guy, which I believe is what this team is missing.

Maybe he will provide a bit better play at the 3 tech which will help Remi at the 0 technique.

Long story short, still going with a 10-6/11-5 record.

**midgensa** · 09-21-2011, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by BloodyHorns82

Well, statistically speaking only 12% of teams make the playoffs after starting 0-2. That number drops to around 2% after starting 0-3.

I wonder how much lower it would be if you played in the same division as the previous season's Super Bowl winner, finished the previous season with 6 lowly wins and fourth place in your division, starting a new QB, and an entirely new coaching staff. Me thinks not very good at all.

I'm not very optimistic at our playoff chances right now...probably somewhere between slim and none. And I'm pretty sure I just saw Slim leave town with his head hung in shame after our last loss.

We were one of those 0-2 teams in 2008 ... and the Giants won the Super Bowl after an 0-2 start in 2007 ... it happens more now than it did in the past.

I am not saying it is likely. I agree that I don't feel good about our playoff chances right now. But I definitely don't think we are terrible like many around these parts would have you believe. I don't know enough about the coaches to know if they can turn it around, but it was evident to me at points in the first two games that we have enough talent to turn it around with the right adjustments.

That last loss is a hearbreaker, but a win over the Lions would really put us heading in he right direction. So I hold out slim hope.

**Marrdro** · 09-21-2011, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by midgensa

We were one of those 0-2 teams in 2008 ... and the Giants won the Super Bowl after an 0-2 start in 2007 ... it happens more now than it did in the past.

I am not saying it is likely. I agree that I don't feel good about our playoff chances right now. But I definitely don't think we are terrible like many around these parts would have you believe. I don't know enough about the coaches to know if they can turn it around, but it was evident to me at points in the first two games that we have enough talent to turn it around with the right adjustments.

That last loss is a hearbreaker, but a win over the Lions would really put us heading in he right direction. So I hold out slim hope.

Excellent post.

**BloodyHorns82** · 09-21-2011, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by midgensa

We were one of those 0-2 teams in 2008 ... and the Giants won the Super Bowl after an 0-2 start in 2007 ... it happens more now than it did in the past.

I am not saying it is likely. I agree that I don't feel good about our playoff chances right now. But I definitely don't think we are terrible like many around these parts would have you believe. I don't know enough about the coaches to know if they can turn it around, but it was evident to me at points in the first two games that we have enough talent to turn it around with the right adjustments.

That last loss is a hearbreaker, but a win over the Lions would really put us heading in he right direction. So I hold out slim hope.

I agree there is always a chance, but since 1991 only 12% of teams have made it and yes that includes our 2008 Vikings who benefited from a much weaker division than the 2011 Vikings. I don't think we are as bad as some people are saying but while the competition has gotten better we have taken step or two backwards...and I think that is the main issue.

**Freakout** · 09-21-2011, 02:50 PM

I would rather have Ponder starting. Although once I read him saying that he was still over thinking and adjusting to the speed of the game it gave me pause. Still it is a chicken or the egg situation and I don't feel either view is wrong.

What I do know is McNabb is a year rental at best. If Ponder is the future it would be in our best interest to find out sooner rather than later.

I had no delusion in thinking we had a Superbowl team this year. At our best we get bounced in the 1st round and the worst is we are looking at a future top 5 draft pick.

**gabe_menendez** · 09-21-2011, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Marrdro

I hear ya my friend. You know me. I tend to be a bit optimistic for the most part.

For this team I just see two issues that should be easy to overcome....

a. Timing between Dnabb and the WR's. It did get better from the first to the second week. Heck we actually seen them try to go deep a bit to both Berrian and Orash.

b. DT play. Most on here believe that issue will be fixed when K-dubb comes back. I will go along with that for now, but fear that is gonna be a harder one to fix. Lets not forget, there is still the issue with his foot and truth be told, he isn't a 0 tech guy, which I believe is what this team is missing.

Maybe he will provide a bit better play at the 3 tech which will help Remi at the 0 technique.

Long story short, still going with a 10-6/11-5 record.

Its so refreshing to see someone with optimism, cant handle negative nancys.. Seriously SKOL Vikes!

**BloodyHorns82** · 09-21-2011, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by gabe_menendez

Its so refreshing to see someone with optimism, cant handle negative nancys.. Seriously SKOL Vikes!

I'm fine with being optimistic but being blindly optimistic is just as dumb as being overly negative.

To think the Vikings are going to finish out the season 11-3 is, to me, being blindly optimistic. I respect Marr and his opinion but seeing this team go 11-3 is absolutely crazy. I'll shave my head completely bald, pierce both eyebrows. and get a tattoo of two dogs fucking if that happens.

With the outlook as bleak as it is right now, I'd tread lightly with tossing out the negative nancy card. At this point there is a very fine line between negative nancy and realist.

Personally even though I don't think this season is going to be a success, I don't feel all that negatively about it. Yeah it sucks our team isn't going to do that well but it's still fun to watch football and our team can only go up from a .000 winning percentage! Honestly I think we're a few years out. Lets face it, 09' was our year just like 98' was. Those types of seasons don't come around very often and unfortunately for us Vikings fans we couldn't get it done then. We don't seem to have magical years with mediocre talent like the banged up 10-6 packers squad of 2010, or the Giants of 2008.

**gabe_menendez** · 09-21-2011, 05:00 PM

I can see us going 10-6

**ejmat** · 09-21-2011, 05:06 PM

I'm not terribly pessamistic about the season. Fact is they played pretty well for 2 quarters of each game. if they can somehow play the entire game I see them doing pretty good. hell even if they played well for 3 quarters they'd be alright.

0-2 simply sucks especially seeing the talent this team has. What I hate seeing is our OL acting like turnstyles at the MSP. It's sickning to see the QB have to hurry each and every throw. It's been happening for years but this year is worst than in the past. Just my 2 cents.

A couple of quick notes. Sorry I've not posted lately. Been working a lot and barely have any free time. Also, wanted to say hello and welcome back to CMacD.