Overall Assessment Of The First Game

**COJOMAY** · 08-14-2006, 10:32 PM

Summed up in a few words, not great -- not bad!
Things I liked:
+ I loved the lack of penalties by the Vikes. They showed good disclipine. That was a problem last year.
+ I thought the first team defense was great. I particularly liked the rush from the outside. Lineback play looked pretty soild.
+ TJ was a pleasant surprise. I was especially surprised by his running ability. This kid is gonna be good. Well heck, he's good now.

Things I didn't like:
+ I was disappointed in the offensive line blocking. I expected so much more from the running game.
+ The punt and kick return blocking stunk.
+ Cross O'Sullivan off the list.

All in all, I was impressed with several things and I think with some more work the Vikes will prove to be a formatible team. I'm not so worried now if BJ goes down although it would still be a big problem. To me they look like what I expected and I still think they will be about a 9-7 or 10-6 team this year.

**BadlandsVikings** · 08-14-2006, 10:45 PM

1 O'Sullivan sucks
2 Jackson should be #2 QB
3 A win would have been nice, but I was impressed how Childress didn't want to wear people out by going into ot.
4. Cornheiser sucks.
5. Who hasn't heard about the boat yet? [img width=91 height=67]http://bestsmileys.com/hitting/2.gif[/img]

**Freakout** · 08-14-2006, 10:49 PM

I agree with everything you said.

Jackson impressed me.
I had a feeling he could be good but he looked like a 2nd year player out there.

Ray Edwards sack was very nice, Offord came up with the TD saving tackle, and whoever #57 was probally gave himself a big chance at making the team.

**vikes4lyfe** · 08-14-2006, 10:51 PM

Jackson was great there. He should be the #2 QB.

**mnjamie** · 08-14-2006, 10:51 PM

"Freakout" wrote:

I agree with everything you said.

Jackson impressed me.
I had a feeling he could be good but he looked like a 2nd year player out there.

Ray Edwards sack was very nice, Offord came up with the TD saving tackle, and whoever #57 was probally gave himself a big chance at making the team.

McKenzie ... University of Minnesota product.
Showed alot more energy tonight than he ever did playing for the Gophers though ....

;D

**shockzilla** · 08-14-2006, 10:53 PM

1 O'Sullivan sucks - Agree 100%. Buh-bye.
2 Jackson should be #2 QB - Agree 100%.
3 Much-improved discipline.
4. Cornheiser sucks - Agree 100%.. As a matter of fact, the whole broadcast team sucks. Boring as HELL!
5. Got REALLY sick of hearing about all the off-field issues with the Purple last year. Over. And Over. And Over. And Over.
6. Nice to see Childress challenge that Mewelde Moore non-fumble.
7. First-team defense looks REALLY good.

**Purple_Hope** · 08-14-2006, 10:54 PM

I expected more from the run as well. O'Sullivan made me laugh out loud a few times. #57 (McKenzie?) and a lot of the other young defensive 2nd and 3rd stringers looked good. Tavaris looked awesome. I was impressed.

**PurplePeopleEaters** · 08-14-2006, 10:55 PM

Here's my list:

Positives:
- Tarvaris Jackson- The kid plainly tore it up tonight. It may be against 2nd and 3rd stringers but I was quite impressed. My friend who knows nothing about the NFL remarked that we will probably see him in a year or two as a starter.

-Defensive Line- Great penetration. Aaron Brooks didn't know what had hit him.
-Secondary- Good game for the secondary as well. When our starters were in, Brooks had no where to get the ball apart from the one Moss catch. Dwight Smith looked great.
-Ben Leber- I've doubted this guy a lot but from what I saw I was really impressed. Props to Ben.

Negatives:
- Special Teams- Kluwe and Longwell were OK but our coverage and return game (other than Kasper) was horrible. Not a bright spot..
-Mewelde Moore- What happened to him? He was lower on the depth chart it looked like that Ciatrick and couldn't run against 3rd stringers. Nice...
-JT O'Sullivan- Better than Shaun Hill but sorry man, you're gonna get cut. Good effort though especially avoiding the sacks and such.

**COJOMAY** · 08-14-2006, 10:55 PM

Crips, for all they talked about Moss I think Corn-holer is as in love with him as Madden is with Favre. The bad things is, we gotta go through this again the opening regular season game!

**whackthepack** · 08-14-2006, 10:56 PM

I was most disappointed in the 1st string O-line play, I expected some better run blocking.

I thought both Chester Taylor and Fason were flat and unimpressive and I thought the best back of the evening was MeMo and I hope that Chester starts exploding off the ball a bit.