What is preseason for?
Sept 1, 2017 8:20:14 GMT -6
Reignman, Oracle Bone Diviner, and 1 more like this
Post by Minniman on Sept 1, 2017 8:20:14 GMT -6
Back in the day, there were six preseason games and 14 regular season games. That was far too many games that did not count. Now there are four preseason games and 16 regular season games.
Some coaches use preseason games to evaluate talent, while others use them to tune up for the season. Over the past couple decades, the Vikings have used preseason as a sort of scrimmage. Players penciled in as starters get very little playing time - even if they are first or second year players, and the fourth game is a throw away game with third string and bubble players. The Vikings offensive line has not played much together, and now they have not played much together in preseason. The starting offense had three preseason games to have a touchdown drive, and they have failed. Since touchdown drives were few in the past few seasons, it is a major concern that the Vikings have faltered so badly in the preseason.
The Vikings, under Zimmer, do not take the opportunity for the coaches to gameplan preseason games to simulate real game week experiences. I don't know if the players get film room time to look at other teams or if they just go with basic playbook relatively blind. Gameplanning innovations of the game have bypassed these coaches and this staff. Norv Turner ran the same plays over and over each week against different teams believing that his playbook was as sacred as the Holy Bible. Shurmur has used the same plays in preseason that he used last year and that he used in his one game as a Eagles coordinator. A pass to the receiver in the flats is his goto first pass, and teams that do gameplan well are looking for it. One would believe that practicing gameplanning may be a good idea for the Vikings, as the better teams in the league do it. What kind of hubris do these coaches have to believe that they don't need to hone their own skills and practice game week situations before the season actually begins?
The Vikings have also given up their annual scrimmage with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots scrimmage one or two teams each preseason, and they are better for it. When Randy Moss was traded back to the Viking from the Patriots, he stated that the way the Viking coaches and staff approached games was far behind what the Patriots do. The Vikings have changed from Childress to Frazier to Zimmer, but the Vikings still appear to do things the old way.
The Vikings' way under Zimmer isn't enough. They need to do more in less time. They need to practice all aspects of the game during preseason. They need to be a modern team with a modern approach to the game. The Minnesota Vikings need to get with the winning program.
Some coaches use preseason games to evaluate talent, while others use them to tune up for the season. Over the past couple decades, the Vikings have used preseason as a sort of scrimmage. Players penciled in as starters get very little playing time - even if they are first or second year players, and the fourth game is a throw away game with third string and bubble players. The Vikings offensive line has not played much together, and now they have not played much together in preseason. The starting offense had three preseason games to have a touchdown drive, and they have failed. Since touchdown drives were few in the past few seasons, it is a major concern that the Vikings have faltered so badly in the preseason.
The Vikings, under Zimmer, do not take the opportunity for the coaches to gameplan preseason games to simulate real game week experiences. I don't know if the players get film room time to look at other teams or if they just go with basic playbook relatively blind. Gameplanning innovations of the game have bypassed these coaches and this staff. Norv Turner ran the same plays over and over each week against different teams believing that his playbook was as sacred as the Holy Bible. Shurmur has used the same plays in preseason that he used last year and that he used in his one game as a Eagles coordinator. A pass to the receiver in the flats is his goto first pass, and teams that do gameplan well are looking for it. One would believe that practicing gameplanning may be a good idea for the Vikings, as the better teams in the league do it. What kind of hubris do these coaches have to believe that they don't need to hone their own skills and practice game week situations before the season actually begins?
The Vikings have also given up their annual scrimmage with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots scrimmage one or two teams each preseason, and they are better for it. When Randy Moss was traded back to the Viking from the Patriots, he stated that the way the Viking coaches and staff approached games was far behind what the Patriots do. The Vikings have changed from Childress to Frazier to Zimmer, but the Vikings still appear to do things the old way.
The Vikings' way under Zimmer isn't enough. They need to do more in less time. They need to practice all aspects of the game during preseason. They need to be a modern team with a modern approach to the game. The Minnesota Vikings need to get with the winning program.
... and neither is this Chris guy.