There are some positives about the Vikings' 1-3 record, including that they have outscored the opposition 67-59, even though there has been nothing but criticism of the offense.
Adrian Peterson leads the NFC in rushing (383 yards) and total yards from scrimmage (549). The Vikings lead the NFC in kickoff return average (26.8 yards per return) and in kickoff coverage, with opponents' average starting position on the 21-yard line. They lead the league in rushing defense (62 yards per game) and are a plus-1 on turnovers.
Coach Brad Childress said he believes the Vikings had "a fighting chance in every one of those games, home and away. [But] we're a 1-3 football team, and we're at the quarter pole."
No doubt the Vikings have not had their share of good luck, but Childress said he doesn't believe in talking about luck.
"I'm a believer that you make your own [luck], and I see a ton of good things. Unfortunately, they haven't manifested themselves in wins yet," he said.
"I've seen production in our offensive running game and being able to be physical. Which, when you play football, you better be able to have a physical front, I believe, on both sides of the football, offensive and defensive line.
"I'm starting to see some of our young kids play, from [wide receiver] Sidney Rice to Adrian Peterson to the kids we added in free agency, starting to pick it up some. And then defensively, I think they picked up where they left off last year."
Childress has confidence that Tarvaris Jackson will do a good job at quarterback.
"I just think he's got all the physical attributes and I don't doubt the mental attributes, because of how he works at it," he said. "He just needs to have that real-life experience."
Childress is hopeful Jackson, who has missed the past two games because of a strained groin, will be able to play against the Bears at Chicago on Oct. 14.
"He's put himself in the position, with his work in the training room, to be able to do that," Childress said. "I've got to get [him] out there and see him practice. It's one thing to do all those rehab moves, it's another thing to play football."
Childress said he believes his offensive line is coming along just fine.
"I just think we've been in a couple of those must-pass situations, where people are ramming it down on you because they know they can rush the passer," he said. "I know it's again fashionable to talk about the sacks. That's going to happen when you have those better athletes coming. You just hope you win your share."
The second part of the schedule is going to be tough, but Childress said he believes the Vikings can play with anybody in the league.
"It's just a matter of our guys continuing to make a concerted effort," he said. "They see it, they see how close we are, and I just think it's more important right now that we continue to build and finish the right way. As opposed to nobody's got you figured out yet and you jump out of the box early and sputter at the end."
Well, if you want to be positive, nobody has blown them out, so there is still hope for the rest of the schedule.
Jottings
Gophers wide receiver Eric Decker spent only a short time with the school's baseball team following spring practice, but some scouts saw him display his natural ability. The Twins, for one team, asked Gophers coaches for information on the Cold Spring, Minn., all-around athlete. Decker, who Gophers football coach Tim Brewster says is a future NFL player, could be drafted in two sports.
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