Vikings decision-makers: Coach Leslie Frazier

Updated: September 12, 2012 - 11:33 AM

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier

Photo: Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

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The best news for Leslie Frazier heading into his second full season as Vikings head coach: Neither owner Zygi Wilf nor GM Rick Spielman has given him a victory total he needs to reach to retain his job. Instead, as Wilf noted during training camp, Frazier will be judged on his ability to keep the team consistently competitive while showing proof that the young players are buying into the system.

Of course, another disastrous season with only three or four victories will push Frazier toward that coaching guillotine. But the 53-year-old coach can't see that happening, not with the chance he had through a normal offseason to mold the team the way he wanted it.

Frazier consistently has asserted that the lockout-shortened offseason of 2011 was a tremendous handicap for a first-time head coach with two new coordinators. "That's not an excuse; it's just the reality of the situation," he said. "We missed that opportunity to really shape our team in the offseason. There were so many things I couldn't see just because of how muddy the whole offseason was. There wasn't a lot of clarity for me personally."

Now, Frazier feels that clarity is there. He knows the players he has and what kind of team he wants to create.

Is he right for this job? That's a question Wilf and Spielman will have to answer. Give them until at least December to formulate an educated opinion. At that point, it should be obvious whether the Vikings are making notable progress on their climb back toward relevance.

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Full Scoreboard

Philadelphia - LP: K. Kendrick	2	FINAL
Washington - WP: J. Zimmermann	5	FINAL

Baltimore - WP: C. Tillman	10	FINAL
Toronto - LP: S. Nolin	6	FINAL

Minnesota - LP: S. Deduno	0	FINAL
Detroit - WP: A. Sanchez	6	FINAL

Atlanta	5	Suspended
NY Mets	5	Suspended

Chicago Cubs - LP: S. Feldman	4	FINAL
Cincinnati - WP: B. Arroyo	7	FINAL

Cleveland - LP: J. Masterson	1	FINAL
Boston - WP: J. Lackey	8	FINAL

NY Yankees - WP: D. Phelps	9	FINAL
Tampa Bay - LP: R. Hernandez	4	FINAL

Pittsburgh - LP: A. Burnett	1	FINAL
Milwaukee - WP: M. Estrada	2	FINAL

Miami - LP: R. Webb	3	FINAL
Chicago WSox - WP: N. Jones	4	FINAL

LA Angels - WP: J. Vargas	5	FINAL
Kansas City - LP: L. Hochevar	2	FINAL

Oakland - WP: P. Neshek	6	FINAL
Houston - LP: J. Veras	5	FINAL

San Diego - LP: E. Stults	2	FINAL
Arizona - WP: B. McCarthy	5	FINAL

St. Louis - WP: L. Lynn	7	FINAL
Los Angeles - LP: C. Capuano	0	FINAL

Texas - WP: J. Grimm	9	FINAL
Seattle - LP: J. Saunders	5	FINAL

Colorado - WP: T. Chatwood	5	FINAL
San Francisco - LP: T. Lincecum	0	FINAL

Full Scoreboard

Indiana	97	FINAL
Miami	93	FINAL

Full Scoreboard

Ottawa	2	FINAL
Pittsburgh	6	FINAL

Indiana	79	FINAL
San Antonio	64	FINAL

Date/Opponent	Time	W	L	Score
2013 preseason
Aug 9 - vs. Houston	7 pm
Aug 16 - at Buffalo	6 pm
Aug 25 - at San Francisco	7 pm
Aug 29 - vs. Tennessee	7 pm
2013 regular season
Sep 8 - at Detroit	Noon
Sep 15 - at Chicago	Noon
Sep 22 - vs. Cleveland	Noon
Sep 29 - vs. Pittsburgh (in London)	Noon
Oct 6 - Bye
Oct 13 - vs. Carolina	Noon
Oct 21 - at. NY Giants	7:40 pm
Oct 27 - vs. Green Bay	7:30 pm
Nov 3 - at Dallas	Noon
Nov 7 - vs. Washington	7:25 pm
Nov 17 - at Seattle	3:25 pm
Nov. 24 - at Green Bay	Noon
Dec 1 - vs. Chicago	Noon
Dec 8 - at Baltimore	Noon
Dec 15 - vs. Philadelphia	Noon
Dec 22 - at Cincinnati	Noon
Dec 29 - vs. Detroit	Noon