Comments on: Jared Allen to Vikings

By: Smart

Smart — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:54:21 +0000

Yep, every year the Vikings think they will win it all and they never do. Reminds me of the Red Sox a few years ago. No matter what they did, they would always blow it. Of course, things did change and they usually do.

By: sfhayes

sfhayes — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:52:35 +0000

I’m thrilled that the Vikings gave up so much to get Allen. He’s been arrested twice for DUI. One more and he’s in real trouble. He says he’s a changed man, a family man. I hope he is. But did anyone else notice that he had his final contract — and his signing bonus — end in “69,” which also happens to be his number? Is he in high school? What a tool.

By: PackerBelle

PackerBelle — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:54:33 +0000

The Vikings have looked like division winners multiple times and not even come close to winning it. They have a habit of choking – and not just due to bad coaching. Adrian Peterson I think is a very good RB. But I don’t know if he is as good as the hype says he is. He had some great games – and some really crappy ones. And especially after the injury in Green Bay he didn’t seem to have the same spark. Plus the more the Vikings use him, the higher the risk of injury to him. And his running style does lend itself to getting injured. Plus with Tavaris Jackson they probably still won’t have much of a passing game so you can focus on the run.

The defense is probably going to be scary. But the Packers have shown they can contain good pass rushers. Favre was not sacked much last year and that was despite going against Jared Allen, the Seattle Seahawks and the NY Giants. Plus with our 4 and 5 receiver sets they can’t cover everyone which gives Rodgers some action. If we can have the same protection from the O-line and some better blocking for the run game I think we will be fine.

I don’t think we’ll be back to 13-3 and we may not win the division. We have a tough looking schedule and a new QB. But I think we still have a very good shot at winning the division.

By: MC

MC — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:22:04 +0000

It’s early, but the Vikes have the look of a division winner right now. Barring injury, Adrian Peterson will likely be devastating and now the defense looks like it’s poised to become elite.

If there’s any consolation for us Cheeseheads, it’s that Brad Childress is still the head coach and bound to f**k a few things up.

But the other thing I’m worried about is if the Pack’s’ 13-3 season was a mirage, like the Bears’ 13-3 record in 2001.

We’ll see, I guess.

By: awhayes

awhayes — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:19:38 +0000

Packerbelle – good thoughts. You’re right, we did contain Allen nicely, along with Patrick Kerney and the Giants D last year. And, I would add that the Vikes may also be somewhat screwed looking forward for giving up 3 picks in this year’s draft. I hope you’re right and the Vikes start out 5-3 or 6-2 like they often do only to crumble down the stretch, miss the playoffs and leaving the team and fans with a general feeling of awfulness.

We may still do OK against them especially given Rodger’s mobility (though I suspect he will be told to reign that in a bit due to his Paul Molitor-like injury history). It’s hard for any of our opponents to have to defend 4.5 legit receivers at once (plus a good receiving back and tight end). However, I remain concerned that the Vikes having a defense with very few holes could give them extra confidence overall and for a franchise with a collective, diagnosable self-esteem problem, this could spell trouble.

By: PackerBelle

PackerBelle — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Scares me a bit too, but when the Packers played KC last year Allen only had 0.5 sacks and two(?) tackles despite having 6 tackles over the previous two games. So I think our O-line can handle him. If we can keep the Giant’s defense from any sacks when they killed the Patriots and Brady in the SB they should be able to keep the Vikings in check. Especially since Aaron Rodgers is fairly mobile and we have a bunch of great receivers. They are scary but I’m kind of hoping that the Vikings choke like they always seem to do. And if so, they are screwed for a long time based on the number of large contracts they have given out this off-season which leaves them with not a lot of cap room.