Vikes Coach, QB, Without a Clue

The CBS talking heads are wondering why Tavaris Jackson is being booed in the Metrodome. They’re not watching the same game, right?

If the Vikings have a quarterback, the game is out of reach in the first half. One, perhaps two, of those field goals are touchdowns. Jackson throws for 7 yards in the first quarter to go with the 6 yards in the first half of the Green Bay game last week. Jackson pads his stats with a couple of throws in the last minute of the first half. That surprises the Colt's defense and the Vikings kick a late a field goal. It’s 9-0 at the half.

A couple more field goals in the second half make it 15-0, and the throwing stats are deceptively good. The problem is that the misses come on wide open opportunities at the worst time. To add insult to injury, he doesn’t show any ability to run, turning up in one case, and in a couple of others, passing up the opportunity to run for a first down in favor of another wild throw downfield.

Regardless of a few completions, the Colts don’t respect the passing game, and load up against the run. Running back Adrian Petersen, after a 118-yard first half, is contained in the second. The Vikings defense spends more time on the field and starts to fade. The Colts take advantage and score. And score again. Tied.

The Vikings do nothing after the middle of the third quarter.

The Colts have a Manning. The Vikings have Jackson. That’s not all that’s wrong with the Vikings, but it’s enough today. Vikings 0 and 2 in 2008.

Worse, Adrian Petersen, potentially a great running back, is being abused; his career will likely end in injury.

Vikings’ head coach Brad Childress has not demonstrated in any way that he is up to the task. The delusion that Tavaris Jackson is an NFL quarterback is only the most obvious of Childress’ coaching foibles.