Childress refutes charge of 'disarray'

The head coach took issue with a report in which an unnamed player criticized the team's sideline communication late in the playoff loss.

By CHIP SCOGGINS and JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: January 8, 2009 - 11:29 PM

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Coach Brad Childress had little reaction Thursday to a Yahoo.com report this week that quoted an unnamed Vikings player who said the sideline was in "total disarray" late in their 26-14 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

"I didn't feel any disarray going on at any point in time," Childress said. Asked if he was surprised that a player said that, Childress said, "By a report that said a player said? I wouldn't even know if that was conjecture when it's a report that said 'a player said.' That's not very specific."

The Vikings appeared to have some communication breakdowns as far as getting plays called from the sideline, which is an area that Childress said will be addressed.

"That's part of self-analysis," he said. "That's a part of staff analysis. That's talking about in-game communications. Some of those areas can improve."

Several players also took exception with the belief that the sideline was in disarray late in the game.

"That surprised me," safety Darren Sharper said. "Any sideline is going to be very intense, but I did not see it be more intense or in disarray than any other time. That happens all game but I didn't see it be even more intense than other games when things are not going well. They are talking about the offensive side, so I was not over there. But, no, I did not see anything at all."

Said wide receiver Bobby Wade: "As far as an anonymous player stating that, I don't agree with that at all. I feel like the game was called the way it was called, and it was handled the way it was handled for a reason and that's the reason why we aren't playing this weekend. That's the ultimate result."

Wade and wide receiver Bernard Berrian seemed to question the offensive approach and lack of second-half adjustments. Berrian said after the game that he wished the offense had attacked the Eagles secondary more down the field.

"Definitely we wish we could have attacked them a little bit more," he said. "But we can only do what's called. We have to go out there and run the game plan."

Wade said he didn't think the Vikings made enough halftime adjustments.

"I thought one of the big adjustments offensively was personnel as far as formations," he said. "We worked on a lot throughout the week as far as putting certain formations on the field. At halftime [the Eagles] made some adjustments to that and that's when you noticed the change in things not working as efficiently."

Wade said he thought the system and game plan were solid, but that the Eagles were well prepared and benefited from their postseason experience. Childress said the Eagles simply played better than the Vikings in the second half.

"We had our chances," Childress said. "Adjustment wise, I know [Wade] would have liked to have more balls his way. I know he would have liked to throw it into softer coverage. But once again we thought we were being aggressive attacking what they did. Now, we were able to execute what we were attacking with? We weren't always able to do that. That comes down to us as a staff and the 11 guys on the field."