Five Things We Learned From The Vikings

This was one of my five things to watch for going into the game, and in the second half we saw some pass rush, and not to mention Jared Allen strip sack that led to a Brian Robison 61 yard fumble return for a touchdown. Yet once again the Vikings only had one sack and need to rack up the pressure if they want to bail out their secondary. I will give them a passing grade for the game because they only allowed one touchdown in the second half, and Matt Forte rushed for 90 yards. But the Vikings need their defensive line to step up in order to to achieve their first win this Sunday.

For the second game in a row for the Vikings, they start with a touchdown on their first touch of the ball. Patterson is explosive and yet he was on the field less then JOE WEBB for the second straight game!. Patterson is a bigger version of Percy Harvin, and is wearing the number that Randy Moss donned when he was in Minnesota. Everyone has been brain washed into thinking Patterson is too raw to be on the field as a starter, but when you give up three draft picks for Patterson the coaches NEED to get him on the field. Patterson is a game changer, and is a explosive threat that the Vikings have lacked since Harvin left; and Moss. We learned that Vikings are too scared to release Patterson.

No leadership, horrible play-calling. It wasn't just defense or offense coaches, it was BOTH. The Vikings last offensive series they had a first and goal and lacked the dagger mentality where a touchdown seals the game, instead they settled for a field goal, when Christian Ponder was playing with confidence. Now on defense the last series was way to lenient. The coaches lost this game, and it was the coaches that restricted Patterson, it was the coaches that were to predictable. What we learned this Sunday was that the coaches lack leadership, and lack smart play calling. If the rest of the season is going to be like the Bears game, then expect a new coaching staff come next year.

After the game we heard about a lot finger pointing going around in the locker room. With Antoine Winfield gone, the defense has no leader. Chad Greenway could be a leader but Greenway has looked horrible so far this season. Harrison Smith is a stud on D, but is only a second year player so might lack the pedigree in order to be a leader. Can a d-linemen be a leader? Jared Allen is a pro-bowler but his position might lack his ability to be a leader. When Winfield walks back into Winter Park then a leader would be found, but that might never happen so what we learned this Sunday was their is no leader on defense.

I won't talk about Christian Ponder this week because Ponder played pretty okay this Sunday. Erin Henderson needs to move back to the outside. Erin has given his best at the middle but can't play that position. It is time to move Desmond Bishop back to his normal position which is the middle. Back-to-back weeks the Vikings linebackers have looked lost and confused out there. I am not saying Bishop is the answer but it is time to give him a try. What we learned this Sunday is that the Vikings need to find a answer at the middle linebacker position, because Erin Henderson is not the answer.