- Motivation
- Artis Hicks
- Defensive Backs
- Pressure
- What Manner Of Offense
- Dual Sets
- Sidney Rice
- Right Guard
- The Deets
- Roster Moves
- Hall Of Fame Semifinalists
WHAT I’LL BE WATCHING
Some of the things I’ll be keeping an eye on today.
Who knows what kind of a Vikings team will show up today?
The season is all but statistically lost but there’s always pride. And if the Vikings cannot pull out a win today against a Washington team that is missing both primary running backs, possibly their starting wide receiver, they’ll be missing safety LaRon Landry and they got a whole mess of players battered and bruised.
The Skins defense is the worst in the league, literally. They are giving up more than 400 yards per game and, as I just mentioned, will be without LaRon Landry, their blitzing and run-stopping safety.
Washington is 5-5 and have lost their last two home games; they’ve beat Green Bay and Chicago but lost to Detroit by a 25-37 score.
Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles demolished them and they barely pulled out an overtime win against a 5-4 Titans team that was playing a rookie quarterback in the fourth quarter and OT. Washington has all the looks of a team on the skids.
If the Vikings play against Washington the way they’ve played all season, we’ll know the problems we have are deeper than the head coach.
The former Vikings utility offensive lineman now plays for Washington, is listed on the injury report but will likely play. I’ll be watching longingly, considering how badly the Vikings line has played this season, how short-handed we are now, and how desperately we could’ve used Artis Hicks this season.
Asher Allen will start at corner but rookie Chris Cook is inactive today.
Will Donovan McNabb pick on Allen today? Will Allen respond? How will the Leslie Frazier-led Vikings protect Allen?
Will Madieu Williams look utterly helpless again? Will anyone–ANY. ONE.–catch an interception if they have a chance?
Will we see more pressure brought to bear on McNabb, be it via our front four or through blitzes?
What exactly will the offense look like when it’s run by Darrell Bevell and Brett Favre rather Childress‘ kick-ass offense we’ve all come to know and loathe?
Will we finally see a pick-your-poison dual back set with Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart in the same backfield?
After being targeted 10 times last week, what will Sidney Rice‘s role in a presumably opened-up offense look like?
With Anthony Herrera gone for the season, who will step up as his replacement? Will Ryan Cook take control or will we see rookie Chris DeGeare take charge?
Or none of them?
Kickoff for today’s game is at Noon CST and will be broadcast on Fox with Dick Stockton providing the play-by-play, Charles Davis (whoever the hell he is) providing color commentary and Charissa Thompson will serve as your sideline “reporter.”
You can listen to the game locally on KFAN-AM 1130 or KTLK 100.3 FM. Paul Allen calls the action and Pete Bercich is your analyst. Greg Coleman is the sideline reporter. Mike Mussman anchors the pre-game show, begining at 10:00 a.m. CT.
The Vikings put guard Anthony Herrerra on injured reserve last week, promoted tackle Patrick Brown from the practice squad to take his place, and signed defensive back Cary Harris to the practice squad.
Three former Vikings are among the semifinalists for this year’s Hall of Fame class: Wide receiver Cris Carter, running back Roger Craig, and defensive end Chris Doleman.