Diner morning news: Childress & the Vikings

QUOTE: “I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.” -- Albert Einstein, “Transformation : Arts, Communication, Environment”

When J.J. Redick was entering the NBA draft, the one skill he possessed that was universally agreed upon by coaches and scouts was his ability to shoot the basketball. “Deadly three-point shooter” were often the words used to describe his game; limited in defense and athletic talent for the pro game were the negatives. However, since entering the NBA, the one thing that Redick has not been able to do very well is shoot the ball. He plays defense better than expected, passes the ball better, has better court awareness and a better overall game. So he has become J.J. opposite -- no shooting, but all the other things are better.

APVikings head coach Brad Childress

Watching Redick during the playoffs, I was reminded of Brad Childress, the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. When Childress was in line for a head coaching position, there were 10 jobs open in the NFL; almost one-third of the teams were looking for a new coach. Childress was hot, he was being flown around in private planes, and he had multiple teams interested in his services. He had the perfect notebook, the perfect schedules already in place, the perfect staff he would hire, the perfect interview method and the perfect offensive pedigree. He was a “perceived” offensive guru – or, like Redick, was this perception wrong? (Side note -- not self-serving -- but the Hotel was also looking for a coach at this time because we always seemed to be looking. Anyway, I was on the phone with an executive of an NFL team who had an opening, and he asked me if we were going to pursue Childress. I told him unless Donovan McNabb was coming with Brad, we didn’t have an interest; his offense guru title was grossly overrated.)

Childress took over the Vikings in 2006, installing his new offense, which is west coast-based in theory and fundamentals. That team struggled to score, finishing 26th in points scored despite having a turnover/takeaway of plus-four. The Vikings struggled to throw the ball, but they could run effectively behind a very good line and new free-agent signee Chester Taylor. In 2007, they added the great running back Adrian Peterson to their offense behind a very good line and improved their scoring rank to 15th. But once again, quarterback troubles followed (or was it a too-vanilla scheme?) and they could not throw effectively, resulting in an 8-8 record and no playoff appearance.

In 2008, the quarterback shuffle continued, the great running game continued, and the Vikings made their first playoff appearance under Childress, finishing 10-6. But they were still unable to throw effectively and made too many mistakes with the ball, increasing their giveaway total to 27th in the NFL. They can’t handle the blitz and have the worst passing game against the blitz in the league. What’s most telling is how bad they are in the passing game, in spite of having the best running game: They ranked 28th in the NFL in gaining four yards or more passing on first down. What happen to the theory of establishing the run to be able to pass effectively? It doesn’t seem to work in Minnesota.

APQuarterback Tarvaris Jackson

One thought about why they can’t throw the ball effectively lies in their inability to develop a top-level quarterback. Childress chose Tarvaris Jackson in his first draft, hoping he could transform him into the Vikings’ version of McNabb. But Jackson struggled, and Gus Frerotte was brought in – and their passing game suffered for another year. Now the solution to their passing game woes is focused on Brett Favre.

Favre might be attempting to do his best Billy Chapel impersonation, coming back at the age of 40 for one more moment of glory. Yet unlike Chapel, who ended his mythical career pitching a no-hitter in Yankee stadium at age 40, Favre will have to play well in all 16 games. He will have to keep his tired body vibrant, energetic and healthy. As we know, in the movie “For the Love of the Game,” Chapel had to fight his broken-down body. Will this happen to Favre? My 23 years of experience in the NFL tells me that Favre will not stay healthy all season.

Another reason the Vikings are bad in the passing game lies with Childress. Like J.J. Redick, Childress has not been able to do the one thing he was hired to do -- install an explosive passing game. In fact, many players who leave the Vikings for other teams call their offense high schoolish -- “day-one install” (day-one install means it’s generic, very bland, the first day of camp, hence day one). My comment in the Sunday Post yesterday about players being unhappy with all the uncertainty over Favre is just one more complaint about the lack of leadership from Childress. It’s been reliably told to me that one of the main reasons for the departure of Pro Bowl center and lifelong Viking Matt Birk was his lack of belief in the Childress regime.

APWill Favre be leading the Vikings in 2009?

Childress may have been flown into Minnesota on a private plane (with another one waiting to take him to Green Bay), but he must prove he can develop a passing game, not just show up with pretty interview notebooks. And if he does it with a 40-year-old quarterback, what does the future hold in 2010? I suspect that Childress’ future as a head coach is tied to this year. He must find a way to energize the passing game, which is why Favre is more valuable to him than any other player.

Favre is Childress’ life raft because, like J.J. Redick, Childress cannot find his shot.

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