PJD's Game Four Recap: Your NFC North Leaders!
What is Going On Right Now: You guys, I don't exactly know how to tell you this, but here goes. After the Minnesota Vikings beat the Detroit Lions on Sunday, 20-13, and kind of convincingly, the Vikings are now 3-1 on the season and - get this - first place in the NFC North. No, it's not the first game of the season where we have inflated our record to look better than it is. We're legitimately a quarter of the way into the NFL year and the Vikings are leading the division. Wrapping my brain around this fact is kind of like trying to wrap my brain around time travel. I just don't think I get it. Did someone do a deal with the Devil? I mean, if these are the results, I sure as shit don't mind, I'm just trying to get some clarification here. It seems legit, though. The running game was solid, the defense played well, the coaching actually made SENSE, and the dynamic players that were out on the field? Uh ... They were wearing purple for once, and doing dynamic things, not just losing dynamically. I'm kind of at a loss for it. But awesome, regardless. This football thing is always a whole lot more fun when people are winning.
Mushroom Stamp of Approval: I think you could make the argument to give this week's Mushroom Stamp of Approval to a couple of players. Maybe one or two guys from the defense, maybe even Jamarca Sanford, as frightening as that is to say. Purple Jesus had a good, but not spectacular, game, and even Kluwe did a fine, fine job out there. But I kind of wonder if any of that good stuff really would have happened if not for Percy going HAM on the Lions from the opening kick. That started all sorts of crazy momentum that carried throughout the game. And, although his other numbers weren't outstanding, he clearly was mind thrusting the Lions coaching staff and players all day long. Everything Harvin did, the Lions were like "OH SHIT, MOVEMOVEMOVE" and had to track him down. That's pretty much what Percy Harvin SHOULD be doing to defenses. It's amazing it's only taken four years to figure this shit out. And I swear to God, if Spielman doesn't take 15 minutes out of his day this season to write up a contract that says "PERCY HARVIN = ALL THE MONEY" than he should be stoned. No question. Pay Percy, and do it now.
Was That a Defense? Ummmmm ... Was that a defense out there? A real defense that tackled people, broke up pass completions, stopped a running game, and confused a not-Blaine-Gabbertt quarterback? Are we supposed to have nice things like that? I gotta say, I wasn't expecting that type of performance from our defense yesterday, or at any point this entire year. I had thought our defensive backfield was entirely too weak, our linebackers to green and slow, and our defensive line too mediocre and lacking depth. All of those things have pretty much proven to be the exact opposite. Our defensive backs can (kind of) cover, and Josh Robinson has shown he can not only tackle but suplex. Um, Harrison Smith lowering a shoulder into Calvin Johnson in the endzone? #fuckyocouch. That was awesome. And I'm even impressed with the sow LeTroy Guion has put on this year. Make mention of Everson Griffen and it's like we have a defense again. THIS IS AMAZING, PEOPLE.
The IT List: Despite the wins this year, I haven't been convinced of this team to switch the weekly "Shit List" into an "IT List." And I hope this isn't too presumptuous, but I feel it's time to switch things over. Instead of looking at the players who make me want to commit child murder every week, I figure we can switch things up when the team does well and give special attention to players who make my dick hard when we win. So here is this week's IT List, in no particular order:
- Jerome Simpson (Catch one pass all game long, basically, as long as they essentially seal victories)
- Purple Jesus (I love you)
- Alan Williams (Keep calling crazy ass blitz players at opportune times and we'll kiss on the lips)
- Marcus Sherels (You little bastard, keep being good!)
- Away Games (No Ragnar sightings! Hurray!)
- Jamarca Sanford (You've moved up a notch to +1 in my book now; don't screw it up)
Notes and Nips: Lots of other great little nibbles and bits out of this game, so let's get to it:
- Really though, Sanford made a positive impact in this game. He was caught out of position in coverage a couple of times, which is still troubling, but Smith can make up for some of that affect while Sanford brings the turn over wood, consequently giving me wood. Keep on this path and I won't demand your head.
- Christian Ponder? Only the last starting quarterback remaining who has yet to throw an interception in the NFL this season. SUCK ON THAT, HATERZZ!!
- But really, he needs to get better. Stop rolling out to your right 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage on every play, and keep your head up. He missed some wide open guys on obvious plays (the Harvin screen, anyone?!) and he's going to need to keep the offense moving against better defenses in the near future if we have any chance of truly being good.
- On defense, I think I was most surprised about the outside containment. The guys kept things bottled up really well and limited yardage because it allowed others to swarm. I think that's amazing defense, but pretty sure it's actually just called "doing your job."
- I get irrationally angry when I hear people use either "The Blair Walsh Project" or "Legatron" when referring to Blair Walsh. First, the Blair Walsh Project is a nickname he's had for probably 15 years. It's not funny anymore, and you're not the first person to come up with it. Stop it. Second, "Legatron" is pretty much just taking Calvin Johnson's nickname and giving it to a kicker. That is plain insulting. Don't be an asshole, or a thief. Come up with something your own. I admit "Care Blair" isn't very apt or funny, but my God it's a million times better than these other two. Nut up already.
- I think the coaching staff actually did well this game, which frightens me. Again, Alan Williams called a hell of a game with nicely timed blitzes, Musgrave showed some huge balls occasionally, and even the clock management was done smartly. The throw right before the two minute warning was the correct call, since the clock was stopping either way. Nice insight to call that play.
- Everson Griffen was a beast today. He had two sacks, one which ended the game, and the other which was an unblocked face crusher. They were awesome hits. Kevin Williams also knocked the shit out of Stafford when he was throwing that broken up pass to Calvin Johnson in the endzone too. A salty defense is quite enjoyable.
- I didn't like WHERE the wildcat to Harvin play was called, but it's about damn time we put him in the backfield to run. I bet he'd average 12.5 yards a carry if he was our lead back and we moved Purple Jesus to linebacker. That would be amazing.
- Speaking of linebacker, props where due to Jasper Brinkley. I didn't think he'd have it in him to do too well this season, but he made some nice tackles, and was pretty physical all game. He got burned bad against the Colts, but so did the whole team. Since then, he's looked pretty decent.
- Matthew Stafford's touchdown run pretty much just confirms that he has a tampon in his vagina hole. What a shit score.
A Victory Haiku:
"I've been on vay-cay,
Keep score under ten point spread
Helps outstanding bets."
Everyone, that was legitimately awesome. And we have a chance to do more of this next week, and maybe surpass our win total from last year already when the Tennessee Titans come to town! I would probably faint if we got four wins at this point in the season, but then also blow my hears off because I can only imagine the verbal diarrhea that Paul Allen will be spewing on KFAN if this winning streak continues. Oh well. It may be worth it. Enjoy.
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2 Like
My PONDERing Thoughts (Shirtless, of course): Pay No Mercy Percy...straight cash & gonja homie!!................I think Jamarca is doing pretty good but not great yet, he did "Asher Allen" two for sure INTs..............I Like Care Blair!!!..............I think Harrison Smith should now be referred to as "Dirty Harry" with those punishing hits!!! Go Ahead...Make My DAY, come across the middle!!!............The Marcus Sherels project seems to be working out!!..........The Albino Rhino didn't FUMBLE!!!!!.............JA & Robi need some of that pixie dust from "Magical" Griffen...........and Kluwe = AWESOME!!!
@the4norsemen Still not convinced about Jamarca. He can hit, but that's not what our safeties need to do in our archaic Cover-2. He needs to cover ground, too, and I don't think he can do that.
I am on board with Dirty Harry. T-Shirt time!
Marcus Sherels keeps proving me wrong, but I just can't get excited about him. Maybe that's my own fault.
Can we call Care Blair, ' the Confessor' ? You know, like that awesome Joe Walsh album? Sorry, I'm old.
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PAY PERCY!!! WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?!?!? AND HOLY CRAP I AM YELLING OUT OF CONTROL BUT I JUST SIMPKY CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE 3-1!!! Wowowowowowow
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I think what I'm most surprised about was that our defense was hitting....hard. And not just defenseless Calvin Johnson (you get a pass this time Greenway). Is it too soon to get a Harrison Smith or Josh Robinson jersey?
@Qommie Definitely not too soon for the jerseys. Especially Harrison. I capitalH capitalA capitalT capitalE Notre Dame like I H-A-T-E the Packers. But I gotta admit... I really like Smith. Something tells me he picked Notre Dame because the only other schools that recruited him were Akron and Central Michigan. I'd pick Notre Dame in that case, too! Big Poppa is a playa!
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Anyone catch the "Legatron" reference on sportscenter this morning? Buccigross used it in describing some kicker from yesterday (Cundiff, perhaps? I can't remember). So that nickname is officially OUT!
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@NoraTeele I missed it, but yes, that would definitely qualify as being a played out nickname, one which should be discarded for the rest of time. CARE BLAIR 4 LYFE
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@PJD @NoraTeele Legatron was also being used for Akers after he made the 63-yard FG the other week. We're better than that. He is and will always be Care Blair.
