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Diner morning news: Childress & the Vikings

Coach’s future depends on the passing game. Michael Lombardi

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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.

Brad ChildressAPVikings 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.

Tarvaris JacksonAPQuarterback 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.

Brett FavreAPWill 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.

Comments

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packerhq.net
Jun 22, 2009
06:18 PM

Daniel brings up a important point, the vikings making it on old packer players. Who drafted your kicker Danny boy ????
If the Vikings win a Super Bowl it will be with washed up packer players( couldn't do it on your own)...heck of a thought isn't it Dan maybe you should quit while your ahead.

Berg
Jun 22, 2009
06:33 PM

Why isn't anyone talking about the fact that Favre going to the Vikings is not only completely destroying an already tarnished legacy, but he's alienating the fan base that has lionized him for 15 years? Favre playing for the Vikings is like John Elway coming out of retirement and playing for the Raiders. Favre should fade away and wait for his HOF invite. And the Vikings should learn how to draft and/or trade for QB's.

Rodney
Jun 22, 2009
07:38 PM

LOL Daniel, take away the two wins the Vikings had against the Lions and they were 8-8 again. Take Favre, just like you took Childress, see how well that worked out.

Norseman
Jun 22, 2009
08:08 PM

I cannot agree with you more on the quote, "Offensive Guru" that the proclaimed and in my eyes the much maligned Brad Childress. Brad Childress, has one person to thank for still having a job and that is Adrian Peterson and his breakout rookie season. They started out 3-and 6. (He should have lost his job for that fact alone having that talented of a defense and having those 2 RB's) Then suddenly he realized he had a talented duo in the backfield and cut them lose. They won 6 straight games on the legs of AP and Chester Taylor. Needing to win one of the last two games to put them into the playoffs, the "offensive genius" only rushed the ball 15 times against Redskins and 22 times against the Broncos losing both games. His offensive scheming is just that; offensive and horrendous. Some of you may attempt to point out the AP was just coming off his knee injury but he had already been back for 4 weeks, mind you not at 100% but the he was back and the defenses were keying on him. Someone else had to be open somewhere.

Only his ability to draft miserably and trade away all kinds of picks to move up to get players who have done nothing in the NFL or the Vikings has been worse. I understand that trade for Chester Taylor and Jared Allen. I was all for losing those picks! But trading up for projected 7th round pick into the 3rd round for Tavaris Jackson and again trading up into the 3rd round Ryan Cook, before any other C drafted? That’s just to name a few…
Mike, bottom line you are so right not unless McNabb is coming with him….

mike deed
Jun 22, 2009
08:19 PM

what happened to ray's column?

Jason
Jun 22, 2009
08:23 PM

HaHa, love the packer fans with their excuses. If this happened and that happened we'd be good and the vikes would be bad. Fact is, the pack was embarrassing last year.....and only won 4 games if you take away the detroit gimmies. Rodney, your logic is pretty flawed. If we turn the lions wins into losses for the vikes, you gotta do that for the pack....so we're looking at 8-8 vs. 4-10. Still embarrassing.

You know it's bad when New Orleans beats you by 22.

PackerHQ.net, you made a good point......for me. If the Vikings can be successful with all the players the packers weren't successful with, doesn't that just make the pack look incompetent? Nice try though.

What you guys fail to see is that it was the pack who didn't want Brett Favre. Once they passed on him, it's Favre's right to play anywhere, with anyone. The only one who destroyed his legacy it Ted Thompson. I hope he torches the pack this year and leads the queens to the playoffs.

10thcavalry
Jun 22, 2009
11:05 PM

Childress was the offensive coordinatior for Barry Alvarez. Despite the head coach wanting a fairly simple power game, Childress' offenses were just that. Offensive. The lack of imagination in planning and play calling was obvious to even the unlearned like myself. Aside from that, he was nothing but Mr. Cliche. Saw him and talked to him at a ton of fund-raisers. Every boring cliche that any coach ever said, he knew. There were a lot of happy campers in Mad City when he moved on. It is a disgrace to see him rated higher than Mcarthy as an NFL coach.

Golden Eagle
Jun 23, 2009
12:32 AM

Favre has one or two more years in him. Especially if he has a back like Peterson. He's gonna win one more. Yes, the big kahuna. The SB.

Jack
Jun 23, 2009
10:22 AM

Golden Eagle, the only Favre gets another SB ring is if he's holding a clipboard for someone else. He's spent the last decade destroying post season runs with consistently terrible performances.

Only through force of his perpetual semi-retirement has he avoided review of his actual late season play, which has been nothing short of disastrous for any team he's been a part of since the 90s.

Randal
Jun 23, 2009
02:33 PM

Birk wanted very badly to sign an extension in the summer of 2008 (note Childress was head coach), he skipped OTA's and talked a lot to local media, trying to drum up support for the Viking to sign him. The Vikings did not want to spend that much on a Center with diminishing skills. Birk felt hurt and that is the biggest reason for leaving in 2009.

Daniel
Jun 23, 2009
03:50 PM

Errrr... looks like i don't need to respond to that ridiculous logic PackerHQ and Rodney because Jason has already said my exact response.
Nevertheless... @PackerHQ- I do believe you drafted our kicker buddy, i believe you also let him go in free agency because you drafted a worse kicker... that makes sense?!?!

@Rodney... you can laugh out loud all you like, although why im not too sure?!?! You won (-lions) 4 games last season... 4.... yep 4.... not 5.... just 4.... wow 8 wins sounds good doesn't it?
Yes we did take Childress from the Eagles?? What's your point?? I wasn't aware you could magically create a human being from thin air?? Anyway... since Childress came we've won 2 more games every season so it's worked out pretty well actually. 6-10, 8-8, 10-6, 12-4?
Hows taking McCarthy from the 49ers, sorry... creating Mccarthy from thin air working out for you?? 13-3, 6-10, 0-16? Oooohh worrying trend.
Ps. We will take Favre thankyou very much.

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