By Joseph Gunther
The Green Bay Packers had their way with the Minnesota Vikings defense the second half and portions of the first half during a 42-10 Thursday night game at Lambeau Field.
The Vikings had forced the Packers to get three-and-out on four of six drives to begin the game, but a few big plays and uncharacteristically bad tackling allowed the Packers to score 42 points through three quarters. They were most disappointed by the team’s demeanor at half time.
“The mood was almost like some people had checked out,” Vikings starting defensive end Brian Robison said Friday. “I’m just going to be blunt and say it can never be that way. This is a team that I’ve always felt like all along has fought and scratched no matter what type of adversity we have faced and I felt like we didn’t have that (Thursday) night.”
The Vikings are still trying to come together and play team defense under new head coach Mike Zimmer and defensive coordinator George Edwards’ system.
“Bottom line is you go out there and do your job, you might not get the sacks and stuff like that, you might not get the interceptions, you might not get the tackles for loss,” Robison said. “But if you’re doing your job you give our team the best chance to win the ballgame, and that’s really all that matters in this league, how many ballgames you win and lose.”
Robison was asked about the inconsistent play through five games this season.
“You summed it up,“ he said. “We’re not consistent, and not playing consistent gets you six, seven, eight wins, which gets you nothing in this league. So we have to do a better job of making sure that every person is doing their job every single play and trying to to strive for perfection, and if we’re not doing that we’re cutting ourselves short.”
The Vikings must regroup with the Detroit Lions coming to TCF Bank Stadium this week. The Lions are currently tied for the division lead with the Packers. The Vikings and Chicago Bears are tied one game behind them.
Johnson arrested
Defensive tackle Tom Johnson was arrested early Sunday morning and booked on one count of trespassing and one count of disorderly conduct. They are misdemeanors. Johnson posted the $78 bail and was released later that morning. He is scheduled in court on Oct. 17.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 288-pound 30-year-old was told to leave Seven steakhouse several times and refused. According to the police report, he resisted officers and they used a chemical irritant to force him out of the building. When that happened he remained uncooperative and police used a stung gun on him.
He signed a one-year deal with the Vikings during the offseason and he has become a regular part of the team’s rotation, especially in its nickel package.
Lions may be without offensive stars
The Lions may sit wide receiver Calvin Johnson for Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said during his Monday press conference that he considered not playing Johnson against the Buffalo Bills. The All-Pro wide receiver played and aggravated it in the third quarter.
Caldwell did not give an update on running back Reggie Bush’s injured ankle. He suffered the injury during the loss to the Bills and did not return. There other running back Joique Bell did not play against the Bills because of a concussion suffered against the previous week. He still has not been cleared, but Caldwell said he is hopeful to have Bell back this week.
Practice squad roster moves
The Vikings signed quarterback Chandler Harnish, wide receiver Donte Foster and safety Pierre Warren to the team’s practice squad and released quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson from the squad Tuesday.
Harnish was signed to the active roster for Thursday’s game, but was released over the weekend. Foster was signed as an undrafted rookie and began the season on the Vikings practice squad. He was released when the team signed Harnish to practice last week. Warren was released from the New Orleans Saints practice on Sept. 18. He was an undrafted rookie from Jacksonville State in Saints training camp.
Bethel-Thompson spent the last two weeks on the Vikings practice squad. He was signed when Matt Cassel suffered his season-ending foot injury.
For more Vikings news and updates, visit Vikings Central.
Joseph Gunther is an avid fan of Minnesota sports, including football, hockey and baseball. He covered a wide variety of sports while attending Hastings College in Hastings, Neb. While at Hastings College, he was a part of the first collegiate media group to broadcast a national tournament via television, radio, internet and newspaper at the 2004 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament. He grew up in the Twin Cities playing three years of varsity football in high school. Joseph is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
