Thread: Past Vikes D lacked heart.

A great article from about a month ago talking about what has been wrong with the Vikes D the last few years. I thought it a good read when I saw it, but since that was BP (Before Purplepride for me) I thought I would post it now. When it came to Gut Check time, they Checked Out. They lacked fire, heart, whatever you want to call it.

An interesting read, and one that I hope turns out to be true as a Vikings fan.

Heres the link assuming I know how to do this right: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-offseasonnotes032805&prov=yhoo&type=lgns



Lets hope he is right.

I think our entire team, not just our defense, lacked alot of mental toughness the past few seasons. There were many games we could have won if the offense scored more than 3 points or if the defense allowed less than 21 points in the second half.

"ItalianStallion" wrote:

I think our entire team, not just our defense, lacked alot of mental toughness the past few seasons. There were many games we could have won if the offense scored more than 3 points or if the defense allowed less than 21 points in the second half.

Yeah, mental toughness is a big issue. The collapses the last two years the second half of the season is proof of that. There's no reason to go 6-1 and then go 2-7 or whatever it was...a team good enough to start 6-1 should at least win half of their final games. I think this new Vikes squad with more maturity and defense and a more mature coach will have the toughness it needs. Plus, I think winning the Green Bay game in the playoffs will help a lot too.

Is it mental toughness or defensive leadership that we need. I think that it is more that we need a defensive team leader who can make the reads and calls, now that we have the talent. When we brought in Beikert in 2003 the D improved, hopefully Cowart or Harris have the smarts and leadership.

Here is a link to some minicamp video and pictures from KFAN:

http://www.kfan.com/vikings/minicamp2005/42905.html

I thnk our D we play much more inspired this year.

Yep.I remember reading that awhile ago.But thats the past baby,this is now.That purple sledge is comming down!!Hey that ainmt to bad a name for our new defense,PURPLE SLEDGE ! I kinda like that LOL

"DarrinNelsonguy" wrote:

Here is a link to some minicamp video and pictures from KFAN:

http://www.kfan.com/vikings/minicamp2005/42905.html

I thnk our D we play much more inspired this year.

why is tice on crutches?

Before I even read it and attempt to let them brainwash me, I'll say this. Our Defense lacked talent, period.

If that was the case (that the ENTIRE Defense lacked heart) our entire coaching staff is to blame!!

How can that many young, eager, overachieving (Russell) football players NOT have heart?

Coaching.

Tice tore a ligament in his ankle...said it was an injury that flared up from his playing days.

Napoleon harris called all the linebackers and said "Let's do this", wow, thats some heart right there. LBs right now are our weakness, if they can pull it out and become our strength, it's a rap...