The Gopher
09-26-2005, 08:54 PM
http://img127.echo.cx/img127/2909/vikings5sg.png
The Minnesota Vikings seem to be a completely different team in week 3, than we saw in weeks 1 and 2. Daunte looked sharp, and in rythem with his new favorite WR Travis Taylor. Troy Williamson joined in on the party and gave a sneak peak at what we can expect from him in the future. It seemed that everything clicked for the Vikings today, and the lightbulb went on in their collective heads.
Mewelde Moore Rushed for 100 yards, and gave the Vikings a consistant amount of yardage on seemingly every carry. He made a believer out of me this week. I always viewed myself as a Bennett supporter, one of the few left before this season. But a chain of events has made it apparent that Bennett just isn't the back for the Vikings. in Week 2 Bennett showed flashes of his big play ability, but that was quickly overwhelmed by his inability to hold onto the football. Enter Mewelde Moore. No Fumbles, and a 5 YPC average. He has been nothing but solid when healthy for the Vikings, as a rookie, and now as a sophmore. From here on out, it will be Moore's job to lose.
Daunte finally showed us what we have been missing this year, a quarterback with TALENT. i'm quite willing to forgive his mistakes in weeks 1 and 2 if he is back into form. Chalk it up to growing pains, and the slate is wiped clean. Let's see if Daunte can show us some consistancy in week 4. With Burleson for the next couple of weeks...Daunte has shown the ability to read the defense and go through his progressions. A commitment to the deep ball seemed to emerge this year, as Taylor and Williamson both scored on long passes, and Marcus Robinson went 50 or 60 yards on one reception due to an excellent toss by daunte and great run after the catch. Daunte was reported as "offended" by a sportswriter hinting that Daunte was having trouble reading a defense. He reminded that sportswriter that he has been playing QB since 7th grade, and knows how to read a defense.
The Defense was solid, even in the absence of Darren Sharper, Chavous and Offord Stepped up in the secondary and nearly shut Brooks down completely in the first half. Offord showed good instincts and on many occasions brought big hits that knocked the ball out of opposing recievers hands. I'm definately encouraged by his play, and i believe it makes Chavous expendable for cap considerations in the offseason. I'd definately like to see a combination of Sharper and Offord in the secondary sometime this season. One thing i didn't like Was Dontarrius Thomas' play... he was very prone to overpursuing in this game, especially when Ernie Conwell burned him for a 30 yard pick up. It seems linebacking is still the biggest weakness of the Vikings Defense, but it is definatley improved over the dismal performance we saw last season.
But let's take a step back here, we finally saw a win, but it's against the Saints, a team that we have always had great success against in the past. Hopefully the Vikes can keep the momentum next week vs the Falcons.
The Minnesota Vikings seem to be a completely different team in week 3, than we saw in weeks 1 and 2. Daunte looked sharp, and in rythem with his new favorite WR Travis Taylor. Troy Williamson joined in on the party and gave a sneak peak at what we can expect from him in the future. It seemed that everything clicked for the Vikings today, and the lightbulb went on in their collective heads.
Mewelde Moore Rushed for 100 yards, and gave the Vikings a consistant amount of yardage on seemingly every carry. He made a believer out of me this week. I always viewed myself as a Bennett supporter, one of the few left before this season. But a chain of events has made it apparent that Bennett just isn't the back for the Vikings. in Week 2 Bennett showed flashes of his big play ability, but that was quickly overwhelmed by his inability to hold onto the football. Enter Mewelde Moore. No Fumbles, and a 5 YPC average. He has been nothing but solid when healthy for the Vikings, as a rookie, and now as a sophmore. From here on out, it will be Moore's job to lose.
Daunte finally showed us what we have been missing this year, a quarterback with TALENT. i'm quite willing to forgive his mistakes in weeks 1 and 2 if he is back into form. Chalk it up to growing pains, and the slate is wiped clean. Let's see if Daunte can show us some consistancy in week 4. With Burleson for the next couple of weeks...Daunte has shown the ability to read the defense and go through his progressions. A commitment to the deep ball seemed to emerge this year, as Taylor and Williamson both scored on long passes, and Marcus Robinson went 50 or 60 yards on one reception due to an excellent toss by daunte and great run after the catch. Daunte was reported as "offended" by a sportswriter hinting that Daunte was having trouble reading a defense. He reminded that sportswriter that he has been playing QB since 7th grade, and knows how to read a defense.
The Defense was solid, even in the absence of Darren Sharper, Chavous and Offord Stepped up in the secondary and nearly shut Brooks down completely in the first half. Offord showed good instincts and on many occasions brought big hits that knocked the ball out of opposing recievers hands. I'm definately encouraged by his play, and i believe it makes Chavous expendable for cap considerations in the offseason. I'd definately like to see a combination of Sharper and Offord in the secondary sometime this season. One thing i didn't like Was Dontarrius Thomas' play... he was very prone to overpursuing in this game, especially when Ernie Conwell burned him for a 30 yard pick up. It seems linebacking is still the biggest weakness of the Vikings Defense, but it is definatley improved over the dismal performance we saw last season.
But let's take a step back here, we finally saw a win, but it's against the Saints, a team that we have always had great success against in the past. Hopefully the Vikes can keep the momentum next week vs the Falcons.