Gus Frerotte named starter

[Flanwagon]

ESPNews reports the Minnesota Vikings have named QB Gus Frerotte their starting quarterback for the rest of the year.

[Phish fan Do or die!!!!!]

Well, well welll. Say good bye to the TJax era.  Just dropped Rice too.  Picked up Gage, who I think is still a better option. 

Kane, do you like this move??  I would think you would.

[Loiosh]

It's an upgrade over Jackson, but Frerotte hasn't played much in about 3 years.  I wouldn't expect great things from him at this point.  Minnesota really needed to upgrade the QB position this past off season and didn't do it.  It didn't have to be a Brett Favre, but they needed someone to push Jackson in the pre-season and for just this situation.

[War Eagle]

Big news considering that Childress and QB coach Kevin Rogers were comparing him to a young Donovan McNabb after the 2006 draft 

Looking forward to hearing what Kane has to say on this thread....

Interesting blogs from last season on this topic:

http://vikingscountdown.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-to-do-with-tarvaris-jackson.html

http://www.seans-sports.com/?cat=15

[dak11]

Looking forward to hearing what Kane has to say on this thread....

He'll probably say that with some added or removed stats, Ferrotte's been a good QB over his career.

He'll also add that he knows for sure that the Vikings never contacted the Packers asking about Farve.

[kanemochi]

Well, well welll. Say good bye to the TJax era.  Just dropped Rice too.  Picked up Gage, who I think is still a better option. 

Kane, do you like this move??  I would think you would.

I'd have liked it better if they announced Jackson was on a short leash and then gave him a legitimate chance to do something the first half of the Carolina game...and if he looked bad....then yank him....

Last week, he had some bad throws but for the most part the passing game problems were due to very bad play calling and no help from the receivers. (he only got 9 pass attempts the entire first half of the game...talk about establishing a rythem...and 3 of those were dropped by Berrian and Shianco...and the last two were when the Viikings got the ball back with only 21 seconds left to play and they had no choice but to either take a knee or air it out....(and they were both beautiful lasers for 20+ yards)

In pre-season, when Jackson was healthy and he and Frerotte were playing against the same defenses...there was never any question which one gave the team the better chance to win....Frerotte can't scramble at all, and his decision making and ability to get rid of the ball appeared to be a lot slower...so if the pocket breaks down...he's toast.

However, unlike Brad Johnson a few years ago....Frerotte does still have a pretty good cannon and if he gets some time in the pocket he can deliver the ball anywhere on the field.

Who knows maybe this move will make the O-line step up and give him better protection than they gave Jackson.  Sometimes just making a change at QB is enough of a spark...whether the QB is actually better or not....

If it helps the team, then I like it....but I have my doubts.

The question is, when the receivers start dropping everything Frerotte throws at them, and the play calling is so terrible that defenses know when a passing play is coming and defend it well....who will they blame then?  Like I said earlier this week...Jackson has become too easy a target...everything that goes wrong whether he had any control over it or not, gets blamed on him...when in fact he was not the biggest problem with the offense.

The silver lining I see is that my prediction early in the year of Aundre Allison being the player to come out of no-where may be a lot closer to becoming reality....

On the backup squad, Allison is Frerotte's go to guy...and they have nice chemistry...plus Berrian and Rice are both hobbled by injuries.

If he has a huge game this week...nobody on this board can say they never heard of the guy.

[kanemochi]

Looking forward to hearing what Kane has to say on this thread....

He'll probably say that with some added or removed stats, Ferrotte's been a good QB over his career.

He'll also add that he knows for sure that the Vikings never contacted the Packers asking about Farve.

dak...I'll continue to pray for you....Hopefully someday you will get a life and not have to spend every waking moment trying to put words in my mouth.

[mmether]

good call on allison - i liked the way allison looked last week - seemed like their #1 guy and i didnt even know who he was (didnt see kane's earlier posts) - he wont be stellar or anything - but could be servicable for fantasy purposes - stay tuned ...

plus berrian is banged up

the vikings had to make this move for the team's sake - the players know they can win now with some decent qb play (they had the colts easy if they had any kind of passing game)
another loss, especially in that fashion, and the season could be lost ...

 - im not sure they blamed jackson, in fact i think they admit that he was pushed too soon and too fast - maybe a year watching will help - sounds like they still consider him to be a part of their future

[Phish fan Do or die!!!!!]

I am hoping that Miami takes the Vikes lead and rolls with Henne.  We aren't going anywhere, may as well let the rook pay his dues now.

[mmether]

he will soon enough IMO

the difference in arm strength was pretty clear last week

[dak11]

dak...I'll continue to pray for you....Hopefully someday you will get a life and not have to spend every waking moment trying to put words in my mouth.

Thanks, I can use the help though maybe I should just try sleeping more.

The first comment was more a joke then anything you've said in the past about Frerotte. But, if your reply is directed at my comment about Farve, I can search plenty of posts where you claim they never contacted the Packers.

[BHO]

I told you it was time to bench this fool....watch Minny's offense shine now....even with Frerotte!!

[2112]

I am hoping that Miami takes the Vikes lead and rolls with Henne.  We aren't going anywhere, may as well let the rook pay his dues now.

he looked good last week... very decisive and looks like he can make all the throws. in the short amount he was in there i was impressed.

[Loiosh]

I told you it was time to bench this fool....watch Minny's offense shine now....even with Frerotte!!

Frerotte is not the answer either.  I'll go on record and say that you will see an improvement in the pass offense for Minny, but it will still be subpar by NFL standards.  

Next year's QB is not on the roster right now.  Looking at the potential free agents (see the contract year player list on the pre-season home page), the pickings are pretty slim: Warner, Garcia, Losman, maybe O'Sullivan if he isn't resigned by the 49'ers.  Warner is getting a bit old to build a team around and I'm not sure he'd fare well in a WCO, but he's probably the most interesting on the list.  Anyone know who the draft eligible QBs are for next year?

[FrankWhite]

The team will be a lot better without Jackson... that guy is the poor man's Michael vick.

If Gus can spread the field at all, they will make things easier for AD.

I think Michael Wilbon on PTI made a good point yesterday, when he asked why the Vikings didn't go after Chad Pennington...

They just need a somewhat accurate QB to open up the running lanes.