EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The quarterback for the 2009 Minnesota Vikings? It’s not exactly Tarvaris Jackson’s job to lose.
Coach Brad Childress isn’t willing to declare, though, that Jackson has lost the chance to be their starter.
Throughout his hardly revealing remarks four days after Minnesota was beaten by Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs, Childress was noncommittal Thursday about what the team will do to address the biggest weakness during his three years in charge.
“It’s really kind of a whole offseason type of study,” he said. “I’m not going to pass judgment right at this particular point. … Turn over all the rocks and see what you have there.”
Free agent? Trade? Draft? Stick with the status quo?
“You see who’s out there, and, by the same token, Tarvaris is going to be here and we’re going to continue to get him better,” Childress said, praising Jackson’s progress but also pointing out his inconsistency and performance against the Eagles.
The Vikings have gone from 6-10 to 8-8 to 10-6 and division champions under Childress, with offensive production moving in the same positive direction during that time. But the lagging passing attack has hindered further advancement, and the state of the NFL doesn’t necessarily allow for another healthy dose of patience with Jackson’s development.
Childress didn’t at all indicate he’s lost faith, however.
He argued Jackson took too much of the blame for the 26-14 defeat last Sunday and declined to place the quarterback position above any other in terms of the internal evaluation and strategizing that will take place later this month. Jackson was benched after two bad games and played much better in December, upon taking over when Gus Frerotte broke bones in his back.
As for the development of the head coach himself, well, Childress sidestepped a question on self-evaluation.
He acknowledged later that in-game communication can improve, when asked about several instances this season where decisions were slow to reach the huddle. Wide receivers Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade each criticized the second-half playcalling against Philadelphia as being too conservative.
“Just being prepared from top to bottom,” Wade said Monday, elaborating on his frustration. “I give the Eagles all the credit, because they are a postseason team who knows how to win.”
Childress said he believed there was enough aggressiveness in the game plan, and that players could have executed the calls better.
“That comes down to us as a staff and the 11 guys on the field,” he said.
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