Zygi Wilf Finally Fires Chilly

After my team’s players come out (anonymously) to the media for the sole purpose of expressing their dissatisfaction with their divisive head coach, I would do exactly what Zygi Wilf did.  That is, I would wait two more weeks for the team to lose two more games by a combined 58-16 (and move completely out of playoff contention) before making the coaching change.

Brad Childress, fired ten games after signing a contract extension with the Vikings

By waiting until the team hit 3-7, Wilf ensures that there is not “production” pressure on interim head coach and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.  That is, at 3-7, Frazier will feel more comfortable knowing that there is no real hope for making the playoffs (Vikings would likely have to win out and finish 9-7) and will be able to simply manage the team and set into place his M.O. in Minnesota.  There are no indications thus far that Frazier is a lock for the permanent head coaching position and with big names like Cowher and Gruden expressing interest in getting back to coaching in the NFL, it’s unlikely that Frazier will keep his head coaching job.  Though I’m not quite sure why his defensive coordinator job is such a safe bet; the Vikings once-feared defensive line has produced no pass rush this year and big money talent like Pat and Kevin Williams along with DE Jared Allen have been grossly underperforming.  Jared Allen is on pace for about 9 sacks this season (compared to 14+ each of the last three years) and the defense as a whole is giving up 22.6 points per game – 19th in the league.

I’m just glad that for the rest of the season the attention in Minnesota will be taken off of Brad Childress and Brett Favre and back on some of the major problems the Vikings players were happy to have overshadowed by the diva squabbling.  To all the ESPN analysts: I know it’s a story that sells but Favre isn’t the big bust this year!  Sure, it would be nice if he were to show up with vintage Favre magic but that’s not a reasonable expectation.  All Favre can offer is better talent at quarterback than Tarvaris Jackson – and he does.  I don’t care how many picks he throws, he will continue to be the better quarterback so long as Tarvaris Jackson and Joe Webb are the best alternatives.  Let’s talk about some big stories.  How about a receiver core as decimated as the Colts’.  Percy Harvin hasn’t played at 100% yet this year and is doubtful to play at all next week with an ankle injury, Sidney Rice missed the first 10 games of the season after receiving for 1300+ yards last year and finding pay dirt 8 times, and veteran deep threat Bernard Berrian has seen limited play due to injuries and has only caught 18 passes as of week 11.  So, Brett Favre is throwing the ball to devastatingly talented receivers like Greg Camarillo, Greg Lewis, and Hank Baskett.  Really, devastating.

Greg Camarillo cannot be your ace in the hole

I realize that Peyton Manning has been able to “make do” with a ton of offensive injuries but he still has his go-to receiver in Reggie Wayne.  Favre and Rice were a budding duo when Rice sustained his injury, now he has no go-to guy.  Another story that needs some attention is the Vikings offensive line.  In his last 4 years with the Packers (’04-’07) Favre was sacked an average of 18 times per season.  In his first with the Vikings, he was sacked 34 times and their on pace for to exceed that number this year.  Yes, the fault for a sack falls partly on the O-line and partly on the quarterback.  Often poor “pocket presence” is to blame.  If you think Brett’s pocket presence is lacking, then you must be one of his offensive lineman.

Perhaps Frazier will hone in on these real issues and let the media salivate over Favre drama all they want while the team as a whole gets to shaping up.  12-4 last year, the Vikes can be a real contender next year if they start sniffing out the weak parts and stop letting the media dictate what aspects of the team get attention.  Get the spotlight back on starts like Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, and the Williams Wall – and get back to the 2011 playoffs.