Purplestick

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Speaking from my heart

I was so excited for the Minnesota Vikings season like I always am and yes I know I would not be attending games unless something crazy happens. This would have been my 20^th season as a Vikings season ticket holder. I had not missed a Training camp since 1994 and again I knew it was coming so no shock.

The fact no going to camp was hard to swallow even though I know my health comes first and that is this is the first year since 1994 I do not know the players and I don’t mean personally just the fact able to watch them. I always enjoy watching practices and predicting the 53 man squad. Oh well I read twitter and watched as much sports shows as I could especially the NFL Network but still not the same as seeing players every day.

The first game of the season and its home vs the Green Bay Packers and it would be my first Packer game missed in 20 years. I came into the game with this thought knowing much of the defense from the past is gone so we would be young. I was excited to see the Vikings make the trade for Yannick Ngakoue but also know Danielle Hunter is out for three games minimum. How would this translate for pressure on Aaron Rodgers was my question to myself?

If we don’t get any pressure on Rodgers we could be in serious trouble knowing we are so young at the corner position. The game as I watched it was everything I worried about and more. It is so painful to watch an elite quarterback just shred the defense. The pass rush was nonexistent for the whole game.

I remember last game vs Green Bay last year and how the Packers defense dominated the Vikings offensive line. I am wondering how this year we would fare as the line is basically the same and again my fears come true as the Vikings set an all-time record in time of possession with just a little over 18 minutes. It was stomach wrenching to watch from start to finish.

I know when I do go to games I enjoy watching all of the game and I mean I can watch for whatever I want to see. I witness Kirk dropping back and in my opinion he does not have the ability to feel the rush as evident again when Cousins is sacked in the end zone for a safety.

Ok, I chalk it up to its one game with 15 left and yes there were a ton of mistakes but when the team watches the film my hope is things can began to be fixed. I am a hardcore Vikings fan so I get extra hyped for the Packers so it was a tough week after knowing the Vikings were manhandled from start to finish.

Next up the Indianapolis Colts and yes the first road game of the year with the chance to get to 1-1 on the year. I know the fact that teams that start the year 0-2 only 12 percent of the teams do make the playoffs.

It was last week the first drive the Vikings scored a touchdown with scripted plays and again the Vikings go down the field and settle for a field goal after using scripted plays.

This game was so painful to watch for so many reasons as I always try to be positive but honestly I see very, very little to be positive about.

The things I will say are all from my heart and I am sure many of you will agree. I will start with the play of both lines. The defensive line for the 2^nd week in a row got very little pass rush on a 17 year veteran Phillip Rivers who is very limited on movement. I know the Vikings got one sack but I thought the Colts offensive line absolutely manhandled the Vikings defensive line way too much. It seemed every time a Colt running back got the ball he gained 2-3 years before even being hit. I saw initial hits on the backs but credit the Colts they fought all game long with getting the extra yards.

The Vikings offensive line gave Cousins no protection and very few times holes opened for Alexander Mattison and Dalvin Cook. One thing being down but double digits does take the running game out of it a little. I know the Vikings are 1^st and long and down big and they are trying to run the ball. This is my question to myself. Why?

I cringe every time Cousins drops back as I fear the worst and again in the game Cousins s taken down for a safety which I know is questionable as was he in or out? It doesn’t matter the fact that multiple Colts had him and that is so hard to watch.

The Vikings are averaging the first two games about 19 minutes of time of possession and this is totally unacceptable to me.

The play of Kirk Cousins is horrific to watch as I know he doesn’t get the time but seeing him force balls just compounds matters.

I am a huge Adam Thielen fan but I think Cousins is as well as it seems all he wants to do is throw to Adam in double coverage. I know the radio show after mentioned it as well that it seems he has no trust in anyone else.

I know the first drive when Cousins threw the ball out of the back of the end zone when I wished he would put a little more loft and put it up to Kyle Rudolph as he did to beat the Saints in the playoffs last year.

I am a fan who is no bigger or better than anyone else just writing this from my perspective. I know no mini camps, and it has been an unusual offseason but it appears the Vikings did nothing. All 32 teams had the same issues but my beloved Vikings who I love to death look like they have not played football a day in their lives.

There are still 14 more games and chances to get better but the first two weeks have left me very concerned. I know last week if there would have been fans the Vikings would have been booed right off the field at halftime so in this case maybe no fans was good.

I watch the games and of the 22 players the only ones I have seen that stick out are Eric Kendricks and a little Harrison Smith.

I will continue to watch my favorite team nut pray they find some answers because a very good Tennessee Titans team is coming rolling into US Bank next Sunday.

That’s all for now

SKOL VIKINGS

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Vikings have very favorable weather schedule

We knew the Vikings opponents just not dates and times but that changed Thursday night with the three hour ESPN’s schedule release show. Yes we knew bits and pieces as the day went on with social media leaks and at 6:30 teams were allowed to make the schedule available to the public.

This is a year where the schedule is laid out we just don’t know if fans will be in the stands including myself who is facing having my 20^th year as a season ticket holder maybe having to wait to next season.

As far as the Vikings schedule I am a big fan of the layout beginning with the historical week one home matchup vs the Green Bay Packers. It’s historical because they have never played in Minnesota in the first week.

I look at the break downs of times and the Vikings are scheduled to have twelve 12:00 start times, two 3:30 starts and one Sunday night and one Monday night.

I also look at the weather or at least potential weather and I see twelve of the sixteen games are played in domes and the four outdoor are at Seattle, Green Bay, Chicago and Tampa Bay.

The season starts with the Viking facing in the first four weeks three teams from the AFC South (Indianapolis, Tennessee and Houston.)

The season also starts for the Vikings facing four of the 2019 NFL playoff teams in the first five weeks (Green Bay, Tennessee, Houston and Seattle.)

I look at each month starting in September with home vs Green Bay then at Indianapolis and home vs Tennessee so it’s extra important to start off the season with 2 of 3 wins minimum.

We then look at October where it’s tough going to Houston then to Seattle for Sunday night and end with a home game vs Atlanta and then it’s the bye week.

The first seven games overall sees 3 games at home and four games on the road so it’s a tough start to the season.

The month of November starts strange as the purple travels to Lambeau Field to face the Packers. The reason I say strange as the Vikings will have played the Packers twice and have not even seen the Bears or Lions as of yet.

The Vikings come home to face the Lions then off to the Windy City to face the Chicago Bears on Monday night football. I feel this three game stretch is huge being it’s NFC North teams and a chance to make a move in the standings.

This month the Vikings play five games so after Chicago they come home for a three game home stand with Dallas and Carolina to end the month.

It’s now December and the first game is the 3^rd home game vs the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team then travels to face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Vikings return to US Bank for the last home game of the year, the Chicago Bears. It’s strange because it’s seems like every year the last game of the year is always Chicago but not this year.

The final two games are on the road as the team plays on the road at New Orleans on Friday December 25^th at 3:25. Yes Christmas day and ESPN has said it’s one of the top 10 scheduled games of the season in all of the NFL.

The season ends with a trip to Detroit to face the Lions in hopefully a meaningless game.

I look at November and December and the only potential cold weather game is in Chicago on Monday night football in week 10. The Vikings travel to Tampa Bay in December so that won’t be a cold weather game.

I love the schedule and I hope to see the games in person but if I can’t I love not to having to worry about a game in the frozen tundra of Green Bay or any other cold climates.

This is the year for the Minnesota Vikings.

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Purplestick: A look at the Vikings opponents high draft choices...

Purplestick: A look at the Vikings opponents high draft choices...: The NFL draft is over and yes each team knows their schedules just do not know times or dates. I thought it would be fun to look at the V...

A look at the Vikings opponents high draft choices

The NFL draft is over and yes each team knows their schedules just do not know times or dates. I thought it would be fun to look at the Vikings schedule and look at their opponents high prized draft choices.

I will start with the home schedule as we see Green Bay Packers come to town with the most talked about shocking first round pick of Quarterback, Jordan Love. Yes, I know Love will not see action but it sure will be fun to talk about.

The Detroit Lions drafted with the third pick Jeff Okudau who is a cornerback from Ohio State. It would be fun to see our first pick, Justin Jefferson go against Okudau. Jefferson from LSU and Okuda Ohio State will be a rematch of their college days. The Lions also took in the second round running back from Georgia, D’Andre Swift who was a top three running back coming out of college.

Chicago Bears did not have a first round pick but in the second round they took tight end, Kyle Kmet out of Notre Dame so this will be nice to see how our linebackers match up with him.

Atlanta Falcons come to town with first round pick, AJ Terrell cornerback from Clemson so we will get to see how our wide receivers fare against Terrell.

Carolina Panthers bring their first round pick, Derrick Brown defensive tackle from Auburn. The Vikings interior line will get a good test.

Jacksonville Jaguars had two first round picks both defense with CJ Henderson cornerback from Florida and K’Lavon Chaisson linebacker from LSU. The Vikings will see two SEC players which I believe this conference makes players as pro ready as it gets.

Tennessee Titans bring their first round pick, Isaiah Wilson offensive tackle from Georgia. I will love to see Danielle Hunter make him look silly every play.

Dallas Cowboys bring their first round pick, CeeDee Lamb wide receiver from Alabama. It has been said that Lamb was not figured to still be on the board at 17 so they may have gotten a steal. This young man is very talented and will be a great challenge for our new young cornerbacks. The Cowboys also took Trevon Diggs, safety from Alabama and yes that is Stefon’s brother.

The road games I won’t mention again Green Bay, Chicago or Detroit since I hit them up on the home schedule.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers we already know they have Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski but their first round pick is offensive lineman, Tristan Wirfs who is one strong and athletic man so our defense ends will get a good work out. I also add they added former Gophers Antoine Winfield Jr and Tyler Johnson. I want Johnson and Winfield to have great careers just not this day in Tampa.

New Orleans Saints after the Vikings shocked them in the playoffs in overtime saw the Vikings destroy the interior of the Saints defense so they took with their first round out of Michigan center, Caesar Ruiz.

Indianapolis Colts did not have a first round pick but in the second round they took Wisconsin running back, Jonathon Taylor.

Houston Texans did not have a pick until the third round and with that they took Ross Blacklock, defensive lineman and his claim to fame is his dad played for the Harlem Globetrotters and now coaches them.

Seattle Seahawks typically have a very good defense and their stadium id one of the loudest in the NFL so what do they do? They take linebacker, Jordan Brooks to add into an already very good defense.

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

SKOL!!