National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

With key offseason acquisitions like defensive end Jared Allen and receiver Bernard Berrian, the Minnesota Vikings had the kind of 2008 expectations worthy of a Super Bowl contender. As it turns out, the first half of this season didn’t quite go as planned. But coming off one of their most complete games of the season, a 28-21 win over the Houston Texans, the Vikings are back to .500 and close to playing the kind of football they expected of themselves in training camp. I interviewed Vikings cornerback (and 2nd leading tackler) Cedric Griffin from the team’s weight room after practice today.

• 0:12 – Week 9 win over Houston was one of the best Vikings performances
• 0:42 – Limiting Texans receiver Andre Johnson to just four catches
• 1:20 – Welcoming veteran safety Madieu Williams to the secondary
• 2:00 – Packer week, Cedric and coach Childress have never beaten Green Bay
• 2:48 – Facing QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ multiple formations
• 3:40 – Interceptions (and returns) aren’t happening this season … yet
• 4:20 – Cedric’s hit on Saints receiver Billy Miller last month a YouTube favorite
• 5:02 – Vikings coaching staff awards Grape Crush soda for biggest hits
• 5:41 – The increasingly difficult task of playing defensive football in the NFL
• 7:02 – Facing fines and possible suspensions for playing “tackle” football
• 8:02 – Re-evaluate the rules and process of punishment in the offseason?

Links: Vikings.com, NFL Players, NFL.com

Note: My apologies for the snap, crackle, pop coming from Cedric’s phone.

[display_podcast]

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

EMQB Interview: Cedric Griffin

After missing two and a half months with an injured neck, Minnesota Vikings safety Madieu Williams will make his debut with the Vikes this Sunday against the Houston Texans. Madieu developed a nerve problem in his neck early in training camp and has been out of commission since. And while defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier called the injury “scary,” Madieu never doubted his return to the football field:

“The truth of the matter is I was walking, so I didn’t think it was career-threatening to any degree. I knew that I’d be able to play. I just didn’t know how long I’d be out.”

Of course, it’s uncertain what to expect. The Vikings aren’t saying whether Madieu or rookie Tyrell Johnson will start. And they also don’t know how much Madieu will play. They just know that he’ll play. It’s unrealistic to expect a whole lot from him initially. With the sensitivity of such an injury, even though he’s shown no ill effects, Madieu will be closely monitored to see how he reacts in this game.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Madieu Williams Set For Vikings Debut

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

The Minnesota Vikings have been very active early in this free agency signing period, adding three projected starters in the first two days.

• The Vikings found a replacement for free agent All-Pro FB Tony Richardson by signing Thomas Tapeh from Philadelphia. Thomas is a native of Minnesota and was a running back for the Golden Gophers in college at the University of Minnesota. I think T2 is a great pickup, but I feel it’s a mistake to let Tony Richardson go. He was a big reason the Vikes had the best running game in the NFL last season. Thomas will not only have to plow a path for Adrian Peterson (like he did for Brian Westbrook), he’ll have to occasionally catch the ball, something TR did quite well when asked to.
• Minnesota added 26-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals free safety Madieu Williams. Madieu is very solid at his position with good cover skills (he came into the NFL four years ago as a cornerback). He had 74 tackles, two picks and two sacks in 13 games last season.
• The Vikings wooed and won over former Chicago Bears WR Bernard Berrian who was considered by many the second best wideout in this free agency class behind Randy Moss. B2 had a breakout season in ‘07 with, by far, the best numbers of his four-year career — 71 catches for 951 yards. Minnesota desperately needs help at the receiver position. They finished dead last in receptions last season. Now with Bernard on one side and the exciting Sidney Rice on the other — plus speedy WR/KR Aundrae Allison — the Vikings have a young and talented group to help take the pressure off the ground game.

Minnesota has not yet addressed their need for a defensive end who can apply pressure on the quarterback. They wanted to bring former Bengals DE Justin Smith in for an interview but he negotiated with the 49ers and never left San Francisco. Titans DE Antwan Odom is a great candidate. Despite his injury history, I still like Jevon Kearse, who is also available. Jags DE Bobby McCray is also out there. Sure the Vikes have a herd of players that could fill this pass-rushing role. They’ve addressed the need in previous Drafts, but none have proven, for one reason or another, that they are capable of the role yet — namely Erasmus James, Ray Edwards and Kenechi Udeze (who is now battling leukemia). The verdict is still out on Jayme Mitchell and Brian Robison.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Minnesota Vikings Active in Free Agency, Bernard Berrian Fills Need at Wide Receiver