Vikings counting on Jackson's growth

**Zeus** · 08-10-2007, 01:31 PM

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7108172?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5

[size=12pt]Vikings counting on Jackson's growth [/size]

Alex Marvez
FOXSports.com, Updated 1 hour ago
STORY TOOLS:

MANKATO, Minn. - Vikings personnel chief Rick Spielman sits in a dark meeting room on the seventh floor of an aged Minnesota State University dormitory with a remote clicker in hand.

Asked by FOXSports.com to provide an in-depth video analysis of Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, Spielman has chosen to review cut-ups of his performance in the Vikings' 2006 season-finale against St. Louis. The selection of that game seems curious, seeing that the Vikings were trounced, 41-21, in a loss that provided a fitting end to a 6-10 campaign.

But to his credit, Spielman's choice actually makes perfect sense.

Minnesota opens its preseason Friday with another home contest against the Rams. And while Jackson isn't expected to play more than a few series against what will assuredly be a non-descript St. Louis defensive scheme, the game gives Vikings brass their first opportunity to gauge Jackson's progress in the almost nine months since he last played against another team as a rookie.

"You can look at a defense on the field, write it up, X and O it, and show it on tape," Spielman said. "But until things are flying around a million miles an hour, does his mind scramble or does the game slow down for him?"

The answer is critical in whether the Vikings will rebound in Brad Childress' second year as head coach.

=Z=

**COJOMAY** · 08-10-2007, 01:34 PM

The answer (Jackson's ability to win) is critical in whether the Vikings will rebound in Brad Childress' second year as head coach.

Duhhhhhh!

**Marrdro** · 08-11-2007, 02:37 AM

I liked this quote.

"One thing about him is that it doesn't seem like things bother him," said Spielman, who became Minnesota's vice president of player personnel one month after Jackson was drafted. "If he does make a mistake, he has the mentality where it doesn't affect him the rest of the game.

Everyone is hoping for great this year.
I am just hoping he does a good job at managing the game and doesn't try to be great.

Less than 90 seconds into the first quarter, Jackson had an interception returned 38 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Ron Bartell when trying to connect with wide receiver Billy McMullen on a sideline pattern. Jackson should have thrown to running back Mewelde Moore, who was open on a flare route on his backside.

**MetalMike-LoudVike** · 08-11-2007, 06:52 PM

Last nite Jackson was throwing the ball on the opposite side of the defender to me that looks like a start of growing into a better QB

**DaVizzles** · 08-11-2007, 08:59 PM

We need a god damn veteran QB....Holcomb,Brooks etc.

**StillPurple** · 08-12-2007, 12:35 AM

Yes, I don't want to put our entire offense into the hands of an "unknown quantity" and then hope he "develops". What kind of NFL team talks like that ? They might get a PROVEN performer like Peyton Manning or Vince Young out of a major college program that went to and won major bowl games against big-time schools, but not a guy who had mediocre numbers at I-AA Bama State !

Why should we risk our future on a huge question mark
? (in fact, I think I will start just calling T-Jack that "Question Mark").

By the way, if we need a QB who can't read a defense, is confused at the line of scrimmage, and fumbles, I heard Culpepper might be available !

**DustinDupont** · 08-12-2007, 01:53 AM

"StillPurple" wrote:

Yes, I don't want to put our entire offense into the hands of an "unknown quantity" and then hope he "develops". What kind of NFL team talks like that ? They might get a PROVEN performer like Peyton Manning or Vince Young out of a major college program that went to and won major bowl games against big-time schools, but not a guy who had mediocre numbers at I-AA Bama State !

Why should we risk our future on a huge question mark
? (in fact, I think I will start just calling T-Jack that "Question Mark").

By the way, if we need a QB who can't read a defense, is confused at the line of scrimmage, and fumbles, I heard Culpepper might be available !

STILLPURPLE IS A HATER

**HornedHat** · 08-12-2007, 02:40 AM

"StillPurple" wrote:

Yes, I don't want to put our entire offense into the hands of an "unknown quantity" and then hope he "develops". What kind of NFL team talks like that ? They might get a PROVEN performer like Peyton Manning or Vince Young out of a major college program that went to and won major bowl games against big-time schools, but not a guy who had mediocre numbers at I-AA Bama State !

Why should we risk our future on a huge question mark
? (in fact, I think I will start just calling T-Jack that "Question Mark").

By the way, if we need a QB who can't read a defense, is confused at the line of scrimmage, and fumbles, I heard Culpepper might be available !

Whether you want to or not is academic. It is in T-Jacks hands. Might as well get used to it, and ride the train. He isn't going to be Joe Montana. He can develop into a very good QB, given the experience. He has more upside than Brooks, Drew or 'dude from Carolina'; so, he is the man. Maybe Holcomb can come in and give us more this season, but Holcomb will still be Holcomb next year. Unless you think that a Holcomb will be enough to take us to the Super Bowl this year, there is no point in delaying T-Jacks development. Let's just get used to the idea that the SB is probably unrealistic this year, and concentrate on getting him ready for next season's run for GLORY. Look for him to be improved by the end of the year. If he turns out to be a bust, we'll likely know by the end of this season. Chill will have to figure a new angle to save his job, provided the rest of the team is good (and I think it is). Then you can start looking at other QBs available.

**midgensa** · 08-12-2007, 03:17 AM

"StillPurple" wrote:

Yes, I don't want to put our entire offense into the hands of an "unknown quantity" and then hope he "develops". What kind of NFL team talks like that ? They might get a PROVEN performer like Peyton Manning or Vince Young out of a major college program that went to and won major bowl games against big-time schools, but not a guy who had mediocre numbers at I-AA Bama State !

Why should we risk our future on a huge question mark
? (in fact, I think I will start just calling T-Jack that "Question Mark").

By the way, if we need a QB who can't read a defense, is confused at the line of scrimmage, and fumbles, I heard Culpepper might be available !

Yeah ... all those proven performers from big-tiem schools are great in the NFL. That Ryan Leaf guy ... great ... and Akili Smith, Tim Couch, Heath Shuler, David Klingler, Andre Ware, Joey Harrington, Cade McNown, Rick Mirer, Todd Marinovich, Jeff George, Chuck Long, Todd Blackledge, Kelly Stouffer and Art Schlicter. All FIRST ROUND picks from BIG-TIME SCHOOLS that played in Bowl Games and such.
Meanwhile, players like Randall Cunnigham, Brett Favre, Mark Brunell, Marc Bulger, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Jake Delhomme, Tony Romo, Jeff Garcia, Trent Green, Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Schaub all came out of college with pretty little hype and seem to have made homes just fine (and won a few Super Bowls too boot).
Don't give me this Big School pooh if you cannot back it up. You want to talk about issues Tarvaris has that is fine, but don't make crap up as if the draft is not a crap shoot and you cannot find good QBs from smaller programs (or at least good QBs that came in the league without much hype). Diamond's in the rough are out there and we have to hope T-Jack is one. If he isn't ... it does not mean that small schools cannot produce ... it just means in this case it did not. Guess I wish we could go back and draft Cade McNown over Daunte since Daunte went to such a crappy school and Cade went to UCLA ... he surely would have gotten us a S.B. win. Douche.