Friday Q & A

Q- Why does Mike Tice still have a job?

A- Luck, and Timing. The Vikings couldn't really fire Mike Tice last year when his contract expired Jan.1 since they had a game to play Jan.2. I wouldn't have been opposed after the Vikings were in the midst of another late-season collaspe. But the Jan.2 game at Washingston probably sealed Tice's fate. The win at Green Bay which was by far the Vikings best game in the second half of the season, probably gave Tice another chance. It also helped that Red McCombs really didn't want to invest in a big-time Head Coach, from what I heard Scott Linehan would have been named the Head Coach, but was instead allowed to walk. The reason, he has a job after this horrendous 1-3 start is that their is really no-one on the staff who is capable of stepping up to assume head coaching duties. A lot of the problems caused by sub-par assistants wouldn't be rectified either.

Q-What will you do when Mike Tice does get fired?

A-Well assuming the current state of affairs stays the same. Buy an Ice-Cream Cake.

Q-Who would be the leading candidates once Mike Tice gets fired?

A- Well as Pro Football Weekly has been suggesting Scott Linehan would move to the top of the list. Ed Donatell-The Def.Coordinator of the Falcons, Kirk Ferentz-Head Coach Iowa Hawkeyes, Brian Billick-If he was let go by the Ravens, other candidates I look at having an outside shot: Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Tedford-Head Coach California, Brad Childress-Off.Cord Philadelphia Eagles.

-Q- Can't the Vikings turn it around since the NFC North is so bad?

A- I am starting to doubt it since the Vikings are the worst team in the Division, they are incompentent on both Offense and Defense. They have been outscored in the First Half of Road Games 51-0. Should I count on them winning at Chicago where they haven't won since 2000. The Lions and the Packers both showed moxie in losing tough games on the r0ad to better teams. The Vikings have showed nothing. The lockerrom seems to be in turmoil as evidenced by this weeks spat between players who thought Mike Tice was quiting on them. Team Chemsitry as someone said this week has gotten Worse without Randy Moss. My analsyis of that trade was 100 percent correct, although Troy Williamson could become a player in 2 years, you still set the franchise back a few years when talking about a Championship. The Vikings could win some games at home, but they couldn't beat anyone on the road this is looking like a 5 win team. I think Detroit will probably win around 7 games, and the Bears and Packers might win about 6.

Q- What personnel changes should the Vikings make?

A-Well starting Melvin Fowler and Adam Goldberg looks to be steps in the right direction along the O-line. I would start Troy Williamson since the Vikings wide-receivers seem to lack the explosiveness to get open right away. Having Moe Williams in as a third-down back will help, since Mewelde Moore can't pass-block at all. Keith Newman has simply really outplayed Napoleon Harris at SLB. Harris is as bad in Pass-Coverage as Mewelde Moore is at pass-blocking.

Q- How much will New Coaches Jerry Rhome and Foge Fazio help out.

A-While I will not deny that Rhome is a good-offensive mind as far as this staff goes. I have never seen it where a Coach walks in off the street and starts calling plays in the middle of the season. Although, Rhome does know the system so that should help a lot. Also, can things really get worse. This way, Steve Loney can work with the O-Line. Foge Fazio could help their linebackers who look totally confused. Also Foge always would get a decent amount out of what he had, that is far more than I can say about Ted Cotrell so far this year.