Vikings ready for Raiders

The Minnesota Vikings have been preparing for the Oakland Raiders all week and are more than ready. The Oakland Raiders have an 8-3 all-time series lead over the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota will be without stud running back Adrian Peterson this week, who suffered an LCL tear last week against Green Bay. Peterson is projected to be out one week, but most realist believe 2-3 weeks. Although the LCL is the easiest muscle to repair in the knee, only a one week absence is unlikely.

Without Peterson in the line up, the Minnesota Vikings are turning to last seasons starter and top performer Chester Taylor. Last year Taylor rushed for 1,216 yards on 303 carries for an average of 4.0 yards per carry. Taylor's longest run was for a 95 yard touchdown, and his receiving yards were 288 yards on 28 receptions for an average of 6.8 yards per reception. Taylor also had 6 touchdowns and three fumbles. This season, Chester has rushed for 5.0 yards per carry by rushing for 304 yards on 61 carries. Taylor has only one touchdown and has lost one fumble. Although Taylor has a lot less carries than last season, he is still a huge threat to any team, and a great runner in the Viking backfield.

The Vikings will also have Mewelde Moore in the backfield. Moore has been a great back up since his inception in Minnesota. Moore now in his fourth season as a Viking, and has averaged 5.8 (2004), 4.3 (2005), 5.5 (2006), and 7.1 (2007) yards per carry. Moore has great speed, and should be used frequently in this weeks game to give Taylor a rest. The Vikings will also use full backs Tony Richardson and Naufahu Tahi.

Richardson is in his 13th season in the NFL and second with the Vikings. Richardson began his career in Kansas City and ended up in Minnesota in 2006. In his career, Richardson averages 4.0 yards per carry, and is looking for his first touchdown since 2002. He also has averaged 7.4 yards per reception in his career. This season, Richardson has only four carries for 10 yards, and 4 receptions for 23 yards, averaging 2.5 yards per carry and 5.8 yards per reception.

Naufahu Tahi is in his second season in the NFL. Tahi came to Minnesota through Cincinnatti via a trade at the 2006 NFL Draft. Tahi did not play last season, but has six games under his belt this year. Tahi has 2 carries for 6 yards, and no touchdowns. He also has 1 reception for 7 yards.

Minnesota is starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. This season Jackson is struggling like a raw rookie should be. Jackson has been put in the unfortunate situation of trying to lead his team to victory, but is basically in his rookie season. Jackson played in only four games last season and started the last two. Jackson has a 46.4% completion rating, and a 50.6% passer rating. Jackson has been forced by his coaches to not scramble, but linger in the pocket and try to pass the ball to an open receiver. Tarvaris is a very mobile quarterback and is being utilized very poorly. When allowed to run, Tarvaris has an average of 5.0 yards. On the season, Jackson has ran the ball 13 times for 65 yards, but has been injured a few times. Minnesota needs to teach this young man to slide before he gets hit, and his rushing yards will increase, while his injuries decrease.

Minnesota's receiving corps in probably the weakest in the league. With rookies Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice, and three year veteran Troy Williamson, Jackson has no one who is consistently catching the ball. Although the fault does not lay in the hands of just the receivers, there have been a lot of dropped passes that should be caught. Bobby Wade leads the way for the Viking receiving corps. Wade has 26 receptions for 313 yards and no touchdowns. Wade has an average of 12.0 yards per reception, and his longest reception of the season is 40 yards.

Sidney Rice is second on the team with 18receptions for 212 yards. Rice has an average of 11.8 yards per reception and two touchdowns. Rice's longest reception of the season is for 40 yards as well. Visanthe Shiancoe has 17 receptions on the season for 178 yards and one touchdown. Shiancoe has an average of 10.8 yards per reception, and his longest of the season is 25 yards. Finally, Troy Williamson is ranked seventh on the team in receptions with 9 on the season. Williamson does have a touchdown, which he actually caught for a 60 yard strike. Williamson is ranked behind running backs Adrian Peterson (15rec/220 yards), Chester Taylor (10rec/133 yards), and wide receiver Robert Ferguson (15rec/161 yards). Williamson has been a big disappointment since being drafted in the first round in 2005.

In order for the Vikings to win this game, Chester Taylor needs to touch the ball 25 times or more. Taylor's average yards increase as he warms up in a game. Taylor will thrive this week on once again being the teams leader in the backfield. Then Tarvaris Jackson, Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice, Robert Ferguson, and Troy Williamson must step up their game. Jackson must scramble to give himself a little more time to throw the ball, and Rice, Wade, Ferguson, and Williamson need to get open faster and catch the ball this week. Fewer dropped passes will increase their reception yardage as well. Finally, the Minnesota Viking offensive line must block for Jackson and give him more time in the pocket. The left side of the line with Matt Birk, Steve Hutchinson, Bryant McKinney and Jim Kleinsasser all do their jobs in blocking. However the right side of the line in Artis Hicks, and Ryan Cook need to block much better. When the opponent's defense is coming through he line, it's usually the right side letting them through.

Then there is the defense. The Viking rushing defense is superb and ranked third in the NFL. However, the pass defense is very weak in the secondary for some reason, and ranked 32nd in the NFL. The Viking pass defense must step it up like they did two weeks ago against San Diego. This Viking pass defense has shown the ability to slow teams down and stop the big plays. This is a must for the Vikings this week for a win.

This will be a very close game. The Vikings and Raiders are both playing for pride, as both teams are out of the playoff race. Minnesota needs to show some signs of life, and play up to their potential. Both teams are very tough, but have struggled all season. The Viking players and fans are equally excited to play against former teammate Daunte Culpepper.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!

Williamson Reprieved

Below you will find an article I came across on prosportsdaily.com about the decision from Brad Childress overturning team policy and paying Troy Williamson for missing a game due to his maternal grandmother's death.

The death of a family member effects us all differently, and the unthinking Childress and his Minnesota Vikings higher ups have been making some poor decisions as of late. To fine a person who was grieving the death of a loved one who raised this man since childhood in wrong.

Troy Williamson's grandmother raised him since he was a young child and was about as close to a mother as you can get. After the funeral, Troy went and visited his brother Carlton, who has been in a Georgia hospital in a coma from a serious car accident last month. Williamson is a family man first, and even said, "I'd throw this football thing away for my family." Troy is a stand up guy, who loves his family and football.

Coach Childress's decision to pay Williamson came on Saturday morning after a week of national attention was rising. Coach Childress had a meeting with his leadership council, which includes guys like lineman Steve Hutchinson, cornerback Antoine Winfield, full back Tony Richardson, defensive tackle Pat Williams and others. The council spoke at length and decided the right thing to do was pay Williamson. In turn, Troy Williamson has decided to donate the money to a charity to be named later in honor of his grandmother.

Please take some time and let everyone know what you think of this matter. Please give your opinion on this matter, and help discuss what should happen in the future. The article is listed below:

The Vikings reached a truce Saturday with receiver Troy Williamson, overturning team policy and agreeing to pay him the game check they withheld last week. Williamson, in turn, said he would donate the money to charity in memory of his maternal grandmother -- whose death caused Williamson to miss the Nov. 4 game against San Diego.

The decision capped several days of increasing national attention on the issue. But coach Brad Childress said the impetus for the decision was a "very candid" meeting with a select group of veteran players, as well as discussions with owner Zygi Wilf and his family.

Childress informed Williamson and the team of the decision Saturday morning.

In a statement released through agent David Canter, Williamson said last week's pay of $25,588.24 would go to a charitable foundation to be determined. He thanked the "thousands of supporters who spoke up for me on my family's behalf" and added: "My wish is that the issue is over, and that I can now go about being a football player and [put] this matter behind me."

Williamson left the team for nine days, from Oct. 29 to Nov. 6, after Celestine Williamson's death. During that period, he also spent time with his brother Carlton, who has been in a Georgia hospital and in a coma since a serious car accident last month.

Like most teams, the Vikings do not offer players extended bereavement leave; indeed, NFL players do not typically miss games for personal reasons. As a result, the Vikings refused to pay Williamson last week because of what Childress termed a "business principle."

On Saturday, however, Childress said: "It's more important to get it right than to be right."

Childress meets every Friday afternoon with his player leadership council, a group that includes cornerback Antoine Winfield, fullback Tony Richardson, defensive tackle Pat Williams, offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson and others. In their most recent meeting, Childress said, "Those guys were able to be very candid with their conversations.

"They were thoughtful, productive and positive," Childress added. "We spoke at length about it. The intent of the leadership group is to have productive discussion and to serve as a conduit to the rest of the team. The big thing we talked about is that everyone grieves differently."

In an interview last week, in fact, Williamson said: "I'd throw this football thing away for my family."

He added: "I know it's a business and I know [the Vikings have] got other obligations when it comes to them and their family also. I know how I feel towards mine."

Williamson accompanied the Vikings to Green Bay on Saturday. He said in his statement that he will have no further comment about the issue