What and where will the Vikings make changes in 2009?

Less than 24 hours after their season ended at the Metrodome in a 26-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild-card game, the 2008 Vikings convened for the final time at Winter Park.

[bigrigger]

With the Vike's sitting on there hands Denver jump in front of us and picked Cutler we got T-joke,remember! Cutler has carried his team on his shoulders, t-joke has carried a clipboard! The next draft we had a 1300 yard rusher, instead of drafting Brady Quinn for some competion for QB, we drafted AP who sits when the game is on the line! childress's benches his best player at crunch time, His stubborness kept him for pulling T-joke from the game sunday. childress did not give our team a chance to win!

[Taz in Duluth]

Don't really see how any named players can help this team. If your coaching sucks, there's only so much the players can do. This year, they did what they could to make a worthless coach look somewhat good. After having the fans chant "Fire Childress", is it any wonder why only 55% of season ticket holders purchased the playoff tickets? Well Zigy, you may want to start wondering how many will purchase their season tickets next year.

[ColoradoVikingFa n]

Too bad that Childress doesn't top the list for changes in 2009. And the only "milestone" in the NFL is a Super Bowl win. Their North Division championship and subsequent playoff collapse has bought them nothing but a ticket to join the rest of the league's wannabes at home watching the real contenders play for the trophy.

[40for60]

Steady improvement
Any successful business owner would be quick to point out that in a competitive business climate, constant improvement is key.
Where most go wrong IMO, is when the uninformed are summoned to start making decisions that should be handled by the CEO. This phenomenon is clearly in play out in the free market, where bad corporate decisions are made more and more by the shareholders. It's not about building a good solid business model, it's about making as much money as you can as fast as you can, according to the shareholders.
Does anyone see the difference?
Plug the Vikings into that little business model and you can see Ziggy sticking by his coach, because he thinks it's the RIGHT thing to do, and he is not going to be swayed by amateur arm chair QB's that only focus on a Super Bowl TODAY.
I am not saying that Chilly is the best coach out there for this team, but I give credit to Ziggy for following his beliefs against tremendous criticism, and letting Brad sink or swim before making a change. Hello people, Brad is swimming so far, but if he starts treading water, or starts gasping for air, then I think Ziggy will make a move.

[JAK 12376]

40for60 makes the only sensible comment so far.
And Zygi chose Childress because Childress holds those same exposed values. They've working to reconstruct this franchise and seem to be on the same page so far. If Childress had just had better fortune with Jackson, all of these complaints would be moot. Hopefully he'll learn from this and I think he will. The production on the field is improving.

[The hard truth]

40for60 is prudent and thoughtful, and, sadly, right on the money: almost. Sometimes a business owner looks at the long view and sees limitations that justify ignoring steady, incremental progress in order to make a great leap in product development. Childress is a liability as talent manager, game manager, and the public face of the team. He's the perfect model of the kind of executive who should be kicked upstairs. Andy Reid knew where to warehouse him; it's time Mr. Wilf does the same. But noisy rabble hardens the resolve, and Viking fandom is full of noisy rabble. So Wilf is taking the hard course and justifying it as having a steady hand. What he doesn't understand is that Minnesota fans are not clones of New Jersey fans or New York fans. This is OUR team, and we currently do not like it. And we won't like it until Childress is gone. Until Wilf realizes this he will see empty seats and be left scratching his New Jersey head and looking for stadium real estate in Los Angeles.

[Pigskin]

Nice article, I for one say the Vikings success next year will hinge on weather they do in fact make a move in the draft to trade up and snatch Bradford or Stafford if in fact they do come out this spring. Sanchez is another guy worth trading up for. The Vikings must draft a franchise QB, the leftovers that float around from team to team NEVER solve the real issue at hand. QB and only QB will make this team better.

[oxboro]

40for60 wrote:

Steady improvement
Any successful business owner would be quick to point out that in a competitive business climate, constant improvement is key.
Where most go wrong IMO, is when the uninformed are summoned to start making decisions that should be handled by the CEO. This phenomenon is clearly in play out in the free market, where bad corporate decisions are made more and more by the shareholders. It's not about building a good solid business model, it's about making as much money as you can as fast as you can, according to the shareholders.
Does anyone see the difference?
Plug the Vikings into that little business model and you can see Ziggy sticking by his coach, because he thinks it's the RIGHT thing to do, and he is not going to be swayed by amateur arm chair QB's that only focus on a Super Bowl TODAY.
I am not saying that Chilly is the best coach out there for this team, but I give credit to Ziggy for following his beliefs against tremendous criticism, and letting Brad sink or swim before making a change. Hello people, Brad is swimming so far, but if he starts treading water, or starts gasping for air, then I think Ziggy will make a move.

with injury shortened careers and free agency, the window to win in the NFL is very short, thats hwy you see teams go up and down quickly..the vikings defense is in place now..we dont have time to wait for Childress to get over his stubborness and get a QB..With a half way decent QB they Vikes could have mad a run at the super bowl this year..not saying they would have won it , but other than QB the pieces are in place

[Bob]

The Vikings had their QB of the future in Tyler
Thigpen but they cut him and hoped to sign him
to their practice squad. However, KC saw enough
potential in Thigpen to sign him and play him. I
question the Vikings ability to judge talent. They
tried to pull a fast one and got snookered by KC.
It's obvious now, they should have cut Bollinger and
kept Thigpen. Now, they have to draft a QB or
hopefully find a good experienced one.

[FLVikesFan]

Someone please tell me how Ryan Cook could possibly be plagued by missed tackles...

[fire b childress]

first thing is fire childress. he has proven he cannot coach game after game. the only thing that makes him look decent is the defense and a.p.
to the wilfs. I hope you make it to every home game for I do not forsee a sell out except for the packer game.
admit you made a mistake and get a real coach who knows what the hell they are doing.

[Franklin Adams]

40for60 wrote:

Steady improvement
Any successful business owner would be quick to point out that in a competitive business climate, constant improvement is key.
Where most go wrong IMO, is when the uninformed are summoned to start making decisions that should be handled by the CEO. This phenomenon is clearly in play out in the free market, where bad corporate decisions are made more and more by the shareholders. It's not about building a good solid business model, it's about making as much money as you can as fast as you can, according to the shareholders.
Does anyone see the difference?
Plug the Vikings into that little business model and you can see Ziggy sticking by his coach, because he thinks it's the RIGHT thing to do, and he is not going to be swayed by amateur arm chair QB's that only focus on a Super Bowl TODAY.
I am not saying that Chilly is the best coach out there for this team, but I give credit to Ziggy for following his beliefs against tremendous criticism, and letting Brad sink or swim before making a change. Hello people, Brad is swimming so far, but if he starts treading water, or starts gasping for air, then I think Ziggy will make a move.

I agree with much of what you say. That said, the top needs as I see them are draft a qb with first round pick, trade up if possible. Draft or sign quality free agents at O line (right tackle and center), wide receiver (we need another one with speed), and cornerback. What do you think? And which college qb would you want?

[ColoradoVikingFa n]

40for60 wrote:

Steady improvement
Any successful business owner would be quick to point out that in a competitive business climate, constant improvement is key.
Where most go wrong IMO, is when the uninformed are summoned to start making decisions that should be handled by the CEO. This phenomenon is clearly in play out in the free market, where bad corporate decisions are made more and more by the shareholders. It's not about building a good solid business model, it's about making as much money as you can as fast as you can, according to the shareholders.
Does anyone see the difference?
Plug the Vikings into that little business model and you can see Ziggy sticking by his coach, because he thinks it's the RIGHT thing to do, and he is not going to be swayed by amateur arm chair QB's that only focus on a Super Bowl TODAY.
I am not saying that Chilly is the best coach out there for this team, but I give credit to Ziggy for following his beliefs against tremendous criticism, and letting Brad sink or swim before making a change. Hello people, Brad is swimming so far, but if he starts treading water, or starts gasping for air, then I think Ziggy will make a move.

Well, 47 years and ZERO championships does show a commitment to patience.

[buddy grant]

To all the Childress fans and especially 40 for 60, I have two words:Rick Wagoner. He was criticized for three or four years by insiders and auto experts for not seeing the current problems and singlehandedly destroying GM. He stubbornly refused to listen to his own execs about the need to make important changes. He is the man at the top making all the decisions and stayed his own course despite obvious signs that change was needed. Childress and Wilf are no different. Stubborn and ignorant. Childress has had three years to work with TJ and he has failed every important test. Chilly will remain because Wilf doesn't know any better but Childress is a terrible coach and will never get this team to a Superbowl.

[mark t]

Wilf is naive and foolish to keep perhaps the worst head coach in the NFL. Childress should be fired for several reasons. His team lacks discipline. He failed to bring in a franchise QB while wasting three years on TJ. His game management is a joke. In the 2nd half the Eagles made adjustments at half time to shut down Peterson and put pressure on TJ. Childress did nothing! I haven't seen a more overmatched coaching staff in Minnesota since Steckel. If we stick with Chilly we will never see a championship here.

[Gen Burkhalter]

40for60 wrote:

Steady improvement
Any successful business owner would be quick to point out that in a competitive business climate, constant improvement is key.
Where most go wrong IMO, is when the uninformed are summoned to start making decisions that should be handled by the CEO. This phenomenon is clearly in play out in the free market, where bad corporate decisions are made more and more by the shareholders. It's not about building a good solid business model, it's about making as much money as you can as fast as you can, according to the shareholders.
Does anyone see the difference?
Plug the Vikings into that little business model and you can see Ziggy sticking by his coach, because he thinks it's the RIGHT thing to do, and he is not going to be swayed by amateur arm chair QB's that only focus on a Super Bowl TODAY.
I am not saying that Chilly is the best coach out there for this team, but I give credit to Ziggy for following his beliefs against tremendous criticism, and letting Brad sink or swim before making a change. Hello people, Brad is swimming so far, but if he starts treading water, or starts gasping for air, then I think Ziggy will make a move.

Hey 40, always the patient, rational, non-emotional, balanced view. I agree with you that the NFL is a business. For some owners being profitable is the foremost goal and if in the process they win a Super Bowl well that's just icing on the cake. For other owners winning the Super Bowl is the only reason to own a team. That s the our problem. We don't have that owner. I think Zygi's goal has always been to get the public to pay for a very nice piece of real estate for him. Not a bad goal for him but not a great goal for the fans.

My question to you is do you think Klink (and TJ because they seem to be joined at the hip) can eventually deliver us a Super Bowl win? I don't see it no matter how much time we give him. His style of football (3 yards and a clod of dirt) became obsolete in the 50's. I think we're screwed!

[Gen Burkhalter]

One other thing. I forgot to mention that Klink isn't even good at his antiquated style of football.

[Brian]

Childress's game management is deplorable. The special teams are a disaster, 4th down conversion attempts need to increase, the opponent gets better field position or points when the Vikings punt. How the Wilf's can watch this coaching display objectively and not at least consider replacing him gives me serious reservations on their ability to bring a Super Bowl winner to Minnesota.

[ColoradoVikingFa n]

CT Viking Fan wrote:

<quoted text>
Don't confuse understanding why Wilf is doing what he's doing with being a Childress fan. Childress has plenty of faults but he is still more qualified to make football decisions than you, me, and anybody else contributing to this blog. Wilf is just a billionaire businessman...what could he possibly know about anything? It's ALWAYS best to let the mob rule. History's best decisions were always made that way. Just look at the proof.

And that ladies and gentlemen, concludes today's sermon. Copies on sale in the lobby.

[Brian]

The talent this team has (6 Pro Bowlers) and the division it plays in leaves the results of this season as an abject failure. This team should have won at least 12 games. A Conference Championship game appearance at minimum. The in game decisions all pointed to a fear of losing and lack of faith in the teams ability to succeed. Not giving Gus an opportunity after T-Jack demonstrated an inability to play at the appropriate level again points to poor team/game management. Childress doesn't demonstrate any belief in his team and in return the players don't demonstrate any confidence in his leadership. ZYGI!!!!!! Fire this Coach!!!! If you want continuity keep Frazier has your HC and just let Chilly walk.