Shooter Now: In control of division, Minnesota Vikings can just...

[Fran the Man]

And by the way 40, how come you have never registered??

[40for60]

Fran the Man wrote:

<quoted text>
I can't believe I'm about to say this but I tend to agree that Childress has grown (A bit) as a head coach.
I still can't stand to hear his interviews and I wished he would stop trying to be witty and funny (Both traits that he'll NEVER master) but by and large, he has grown.
Still, I think it would be premature to extend his contract before the end of the year. Get us to the NFC Championship game and win it, then talk about an extension next spring.

I did register, just hardly ever log on. I guess that keeps someone from stealing my identity. I'm sure there are tens of thousands of packer fans who would love to steal it about now, LOL.

Klink and interview just don't go very well together, maybe that's why he is still a mystery wrapped in a riddle to most Viking fans. His PR skills are sorely lacking, but I can live with that as long as he keeps building a contending team.

Maybe the Wilfs feel the time is now? As hard as it is to say, the legend of Klink will grow with each win, maybe the real estate moguls want him tied up before any serious contender for his services starts sniffing around. I too think that he needs a stellar playoff run for future consideration, but I’m not the one signing that hefty check.
Anyway, I know that you’ve been down on Klink, and he still may end up being the weak link on this otherwise star studded football team called the 2009 Minnesota Vikings.

[Brett Favre]

For all the credit being given to Favre for Childress' success this year, let's remember something important:

For some reason, Favre is having his best year in a LONG time, and many think his best year EVER.

Before you go saying it's all because of the talent he's playing with, remind yourself that Adrian Peterson or Percy Harvin still aren't enough to keep Favre from throwing the dumb interceptions we Vikings fans used to laugh about.

He's played with plenty of talented receivers in Green Bay over the years, but he's never made as few mistakes over an 8 game stretch as he's done here in MN.

That's not Favre all of a sudden learning how to play better after 18 seasons in the league. That's COACHING. In particular, the way the coaches are using him -- where they let him open it up, and where they keep him in check.

It's not like he just shows up on Sunday and the coaches go sit up in the stands to watch him run the show.

See for yourself -- career stats here:

http://www.nfl.com/players/brettfavre/careers...

[Brett Favre]

Some of those stats:

In 17 years as a starter, Favre has averaged almost 18 interceptions per year.

He's on pace for 6 this year. And that's with 2 of 3 having been tipped by Vikings receivers.

His career completion percentage is under 62%.

Under Childress' offense, he's now 68%, a number he has NEVER maintained for a single season.

Credit can't all go to the offensive line, either. Favre has been sacked 18 times this year halfway through the season. That's puts him on pace for 36 for the whole season.

In 18 previous seasons, he has only been sacked 36 or more times TWICE.

Give these coaches some credit.

[erie-pa fan]

They do deserve credit, team and coaches are complementing one another now, Ziggy can afford to wait a bit to sign him to a extension. Let's see how the playoffs go. If we win it all Ziggy can afford to pay the extra as he now will know he has a warranty on his product, look at it like paying extra for an extended warranty on a car, lol.

[40for60]

After this scathings story, do you think MM is feeling secure in his job? Especially since the cheddarheads were laughing at us for hiring Klink and gloating about their boy McMuffin just a couple of years ago.
I'll bet they're not laughing now.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers...

[Huge Jazz]

I agree with giving the coaching staff some credit. You can't blame them for losses and then turn around and not give them credit for wins.

It's still a players league. The players have to make the plays. But the coaches are doing a much better job than when they first got here.

I will say this about Favre and his seemingly awesome play while 40 years old. When I was younger I thought I was invincible and took chances too. As you get older it's just a fact you get smarter and wiser. That's why veteren leadership is so important. Right now he's just the right mix of still having that magic arm and now the smarts to go along with it.

How long with that arm and the rest of his body hold up? That's the big question.

Hooray for the old guys!!!!!!

[Fran the Man]

Childress is indeed looking better this year.
He's still not anyway near a Belichek or any of the other top-flight coaches out there though.
He started off on the wrong foot when he first came on board and ACTED as if he were some sort of elite coach. Combine that with his stumbling, bumbling interviews and he just came off as an arrogant fool.

I would say the best thing he has done (With a LOT of help from Spielman) is bring on some incredibly talented players.
I will still hold out and say that ANY NFL-caliber coach could have this team where it is with the talent we have.
Don't get me wrong, I do see improvement, just not as much as there should be.

And this nonsense about comparing Favres stats with past years is just that, nonsense.
Lets wait until we see a couple of playoff games and get through the 2nd half of the season before we start saying this could be his best year ever.

[Lito]

Good job thus far. A Super Bowl win, that's what fans like to see. Good luck. Give Childress credit, a very good first half.

[dikencider]

In control of a division full of bums. Packers, Bears, Lions? Give me a break.

[Notanostrich]

Before we give him any - ANY - money, have him guarantee in writing (perhaps his own blood) who our quarterback is going to be over the next three years. Then we'll deal.

[Brett K]

What bothers me about Chilly is that at the end of games, he coaches scared. As far as I'm concerned, his end of game strategy cost us the Baltimore game (yes, I know they missed the kick.)

He got a lead, then took his foot off the gas like he always does and went ultra-conservative. He was basically trying to run out the clock since the first quarter. The defense was totally collapsing, Baltimore was scoring at will, and he decided to run three times up the middle and kick a field goal for a two point lead.

Everybody, including Favre, knew we needed the touchdown at that point, and he was too scared to even let him try one play to get another first down, much less the touchdown. His rationale was that it was more important to make sure they used their timeouts. But he still left them with two minutes to play with when their last two touchdown drives took less than that combined!

I think everyone in the stadium knew we couldn't prevent them from getting a field goal. They missed a kick that should be made 90% of the time. If they hadn't, we would all be talking about how his lack of common sense cost us a winnable home game.

He's an average coach who's owner has bought him above average talent.

[Fran the Man]

dikencider wrote:

In control of a division full of bums. Packers, Bears, Lions? Give me a break.

I'd love to give you a "break" but you're too far away.

Now don't forget the Ravens,'Niners and Stealers (We out played them) in your comments.

Come back around in February, and then we'll talk...