Vikings Insider: Team didn't pass consistency test

The quarterback's glaring erratic play sticks out the most, but the special teams and defense also had crucial breakdowns.

By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune

Last update: September 14, 2008 - 11:58 AM

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Brad Childress frequently talks about shaping the environment when it comes to addressing his players. Simply put, this means conveying a unified message.

In the aftermath of the Vikings' 24-19 loss at Green Bay on Monday night, Childress kept that message succinct. The Vikings coach didn't dwell on missed opportunities or costly mistakes, although he certainly would have been justified.

Instead, he focused on one thing: consistency.

It is something Childress has preached since the Vikings arrived in Mankato in late July. Childress' philosophy of never getting too high or too low means that consistency is everything.

"He always talks about the fact he wants to know what to expect from his players when they are on the field," receiver Bobby Wade said. "He talked about that in camp when it comes to competing and trying to find the guys, the 53-man [roster] that he wanted to be on the field. He wanted to know what he was going to get from each individual on a consistent basis."

On Monday, Childress didn't get nearly enough consistency from any of his team's three phases.

Examples included Tarvaris Jackson's 16 yards passing in the opening half; Greg Jennings' 56-yard catch over cornerback Charles Gordon in the second quarter; Will Blackmon's 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter; and Ryan Grant's 57-yard run in the fourth quarter that led to another Green Bay score.

Finally, there was Jackson's poorly thrown pass that sailed over tight end Visanthe Shiancoe's head and was intercepted by Packers safety Atari Bigby to essentially end the game.

"That's been the thing from the beginning of training camp," Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "I've said it all along. What we're looking for in Tarvaris is to play consistent football. [Whether it's] from the first play of practice, or the first play of a game to the last play of a game."

While Childress makes consistency a focus, he isn't ready to pass judgment on where this team is at when it comes to that area.

"I just think it's way too early to color it any way," he said. "We've played one game of one year. We've played, if I'm correct, 6.25 percent of our schedule. For me to tell you about consistency on 6 percent of our schedule ... I could make numbers lie and all that kind of stuff. It's just the body of work. You ask me Game 8 and I'll let you know."

But doesn't it go deeper than that?

The Vikings have played only one game this season but they have played 33 regular-season games since Childress took over in 2006. One could argue the level of consistency should be established with players who have been on Childress' roster for an extended period.

Childress doesn't view it that way.

"Every year stands on its own merits and whenever you have new bodies and new faces and you're shuffling different lineup cards in and out of there, it's not a consistent lineup," he said.

Wade said that Childress has made the same thing clear to the players and that each season "you need to come and re-establish yourself."

That means the 2008 Vikings will get a second, and very important, chance to show the ability to be consistent today against the Colts. If that fails to happen, a Vikings team that many expected to be a playoff contender will be 0-2 for the first time since Mike Tice's final season as coach in 2005.

"[Consistency] definitely makes championship teams," veteran safety Darren Sharper said. "It goes to the old saying, you beat the teams you're supposed to beat and you knock off some teams that some people think you can't knock off. That's playing consistent football and that's what championship teams do."

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com