I am a big Coach Leslie Frazier supporter and believe he should be coach of the year in 2012. I have talked to many people who do not like the fact that he shows emotion on the sideline. I seem to remember another coach who walked the Vikings sideline and did not show emotion named Bud Grant. I am not saying Frazier is in Grants boots yet, just stating the coaching style.
The Vikings had a coach who seemed to be pretty vocal in Brad Childress who is not around anymore. I never like to see anyone in the world get fired but in this case a change was needed.
The first year Frazier took over the team got 6 wins but Frazier only coached the tail end of that season. In 2011 in his first year in charge had the unfortunate season that provided 3 wins tying a franchise low with Les Stekel.
In 2012 coming into training camp the team lost over 20 players from the previous season either by leaving by free agency, retirement. That was concerning and then cutting veteran kicker Ryan Longwell and keeping the kid, Blair Walsh.
Coach Frazier has had to make some tough decisions such as cutting 1st round pick Bryant McKinnie in 2011 camp. It set a real tone I believe to show the team that you need to perform or you may not be around.
Frazier has had to deal with the media when it came to Christian Ponder’s poor passing performance yet Frazier stood behind Ponder when there seem to be doubters. The last home game and hearing the boo birds when Ponder’s name was announced as a starter was concerning. The play of Ponder against Houston was so nice to see and maybe a confidence builder for the future.
The team now has a chance to make Vikings history with the biggest turnaround from one season to the next when they beat the Packers. It is unreal going from 3 wins and with over 20 new players and this is what we are facing, history. A win and we are in.
The fact that there are over 20 new players is not so much the big story rather the age of these contributors. There were 10 draft choices this year and 8 made the team. Greg Childs was lost in training camp for the year. These draft choices are huge. A starting left tackle in Matt Kalil, Pro Bowl bound Blair Walsh, safety Harrison Smith are just some of the names. I look at other draft choices such as tight end Kyle Rudolph who is 2 touchdowns away from tying the Vikings tight end record of 11 touchdowns.
The game last Sunday against Houston 17 of the 22 staters were draft choices. That is 77 percent. The offense had 8 draft choices starting and the other 3 that were not draft choices were free agents: Jerome Simpson, Michael Jenkins and Charlie Johnson. The defense had 9 draft choices with only Antoine Winfield and Erin Hernderson as non Vikings draft choices. Erin did make it the hard wayt coming in a Vikings rookie free agent and made the team.
Coach Frazier has shown confidence in these youngsters and it is paying off now and the future is looking brighter.
I read a tweet by NFL insider Chris Mortenson who mentioned Colts coach Bruce Arians for the coach of the year but do not forget Leslie Frazier’s name.
On the NFL Network show Coach Frazier’s name was mentioned again for this honor. It is so nice to hear Coach Frazier’s name mentioned in the national media.
I am only a fan and do not have control on who win the honor but if it was up to me Coach Frazier wins hands down. I like to know that even if he does not win he is at least recognized by the media for a job well done.
It will be a battle with Coach Arians who has the Colts in the playoffs after winning 2 games all year. Head Coach Pagano takes a leave of absence to deal with his medical issues and Arians steps in. It is a great story.
Denver’s Coach John Fox, what a year for them. Peyton Manning signs in the offseason after having neck surgeries and no one knew for sure how he would do. Manning is up for comeback player of the year along with Adrian Peterson. Denver’s defense is playing lights out.
Colts’ Arians, Broncos’ Fox and Coach Frazer all three very deserving but again I am pulling for Frazier to get this award.
Thank you Coach Frazier for sticking to your guns and what you believe in. It is paying off.
Thanks for reading
Purplestick
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