Recalibration Time In Vikingland

 

The injuries to Donavan Jackson and Josh Oliver have apparently set the Vikings' run game back to a tenuous level, where what we can count on from it may be below what we need. My optimism for the team was largely rooted in the running backs being able to open up the passing game, with anything Murray got us on the ground being an X-factor that would push us over the top. It was critical that Murray stay healthy, so he could get comfortable and grow into the Offense.  Murray is injured again and will miss games for the second time in six games.  It doesn't look like my formula for the Offense to establish itself is going to work. Unfortunately, it is time to recalibrate, coach. Crisis Mode yet again, KOC. It sucks when things look good on paper if you can avoid the injury caveats, but that is what you get on game day. 

KOC Got On MY Bad Side VS. The Colts

 

I haven't been a critic of KOC's coaching in a long time. But yesterday I thought his first two decisions were coaching malpractice and got the team off on the wrong foot from the jump. We were at home, after a bye. The Vikings' D is the strength of the team. You put them on the field first in that situation 1,000 out of 1,000 times. Let the crowd be as loud as they had been yearning to be. The Colts ' offense and Danny Dimes wouldn't have stood a chance. Secondly, you have a rested running back with completely fresh legs. Give him the damn ball, not Jones. 1,000 times out of 1,000 times. Jones shouldn't have played much at all. The fact that Jones got four snaps in a row and didn't get a first down made my ears steam. So the balloon gets popped instead of exploding from built-up pressure, and the Colts immediately score their only TD. So stupid;

I just can't get over either of those decisions because they were so bad. He had an easy button right there, and he chose to press the "I'm a moron" one, both times. They are the wrong decisions even if they work out. Coach "harshed my mellow" bad yesterday. Worst coaching job by him in a long time.

This post is an edited version of my comment on the 10/26/26 episode of Purple Insider, I think.

Raising A Green Flag For The #1 Seed

 

I've seen what I was hoping to see from Kyler Murray. It is not a matter to me now of "if he works out" because it works. Kyler is Him! He is every bit as special a talent as Super Sam Darnold. Kyler is capable of leading this team to the #1 Seed in the NFC. He has the intelligence and ability to run KOC's offense effectively. KOC has proven he can elevate the play of veteran QB's. I think Kyler was written off as an oddity that people didn't know what to think of with his up-and-down performances. His recent injury history led people to write him off as a bust. Kyler showed in the Saints game that he still has his wheels and a live arm. KOC's coaching should raise both Kyler's floor and ceiling, making his lows far less bad and lifting his play to new heights. 

If the team comes back healthy out of the bye and stays that way in November, I predict we will have a great month. The schedule can be a team's best friend or worst enemy.  So far, the schedule has been in the Vikings' favor, and I think that will continue with the team getting a tune-up game before we face the Lions in Michigan. The Lions also have a bye this week and have a tough division game at home vs. the Packers before they play us. After the Lions, we get the Bills in Minneapolis, who play the Ravens before us. After the Bills, we get Green Bay in Green Bay after they play the Patriots in New England. To this point, I think we have it easier than our opponents in the week before we play each of them.  Then we face the 49ers in Mexico on November 22nd. We will just have to see what the rosters on both teams look like at that point. The 49ers have been injury-plagued just like the Vikes so far. It is possible that it will be a matchup of unbeaten teams. I guess we will soon see if my optimism is rooted in reality. 

Bass Club Clash on Seprent Lake, My Plan and Rods I'm Bringing

From when I last fished for the Cup in 2023

The Plan: 

It is Challenge Cup/Bas Club Clash time, and once again I am on the squad. This will be my second time fishing the Clash on Serpent Lake. The first time was in 2021; I was partnered with Ranger Smude. My heart wasn't in it that day, and I just caught a couple of keepers. I have fished the lake a good number of times now. My boater, Ranger Arnie, says he caught some good fish while pre-fishing.  The plan is to catch them on big fish-moving presentations, and if that doesn't work, I'll soak a crawtube or a jig. It would be nice to finish in the money for once. Most of my days in the Clash tournament have been sub-par.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Zillion (Big Hair/Chicken)

7'4" H Tatula XR (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Spinnerbait)

7'3" MH St. Croix LTB (Jig)

7' H Avid (Crawtube) 

7' MH Tatula Elite (Lipless, Topwater)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC)(Jig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Chatterbait)

Vikes 4-0, Full Steam Ahead.

 Fans pissing and moaning about a 4-0 team just prove to me that they can't see the forest for the trees. The offense has run into some unexpected injury headwinds, but the D and Special Teams have picked up the slack and kept the plane on course. I figured it might take a few games for Kyler to acclimate to KOC and for KOC to Murray. Having Kyler get injured for a couple of games was a blow. Having Jets get injured was a blow. Having Mason and now Donovan getting injured is a blow for the run game. What we have gotten is good enough. The Offense with Kyler needs more time on task. The returns from the Miami game are quite positive from my perspective. He was starting to see it and fling it. Penalties were what kept Kyler from getting into a rhythm and getting first downs in the first half. By the end of the game, Kyler was settled in, and the Offense was dominating. All the people crying about lack of TDs need to take a pill and relax. TJ could have gotten in if he needed to, and it is a safe assumption there will be several next week. I'm quite sure the Offense is aware they need to put up 6's instead of 3's. The D hasn't put up any 6s this season either, and I am sure they are hungry to get into the endzone themselves. I think the team is fixing to erupt in New Orleans.

SKOL!

Bass Snatchers Gull Lake Preview and Rods

The Plan:

When we pre-fished on Monday, it was cloudy and breezy. Snatcher Darren caught a few fish, but the bass were not on the chew for the most part. Darren pre-fished on Wednesday as well, and the bass weren't chewing then either.  I fished Platte on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If how I did on Thursday is any indication, the Fall feedbag binge is now on. I expect they will be biting well in the overcast, wind, and rain if we get some. I am going to lean hard on moving baits and hope that comes up aces.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Jigs, Chicken Jig)

7'4" H Tatula (Spinnerbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog/Toads)

7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7' H Avid (FC) (Crawtube)

7' MH Tatula Elite (Big Topwater, Traps, Wakebaits/Minus One's)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jigs, Chatters)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Chatters)

The 2026 Packer Massacre In Minneapolis

 

The 2026 season started on some rough notes. Kyler got picked quickly and was soon knocked out of the game with a concussion. The Packers came ready to play, while the Vikes came out a bit sluggish. The Packers made some big plays and got lucky when Isaiah Rodgers dropped a poorly thrown deep ball. Because of the drop, Love was able to gash my squad again, and they scored their second TD before halftime to go up 19 to 10. I thought that, with the Vikings down by 9, the Packers getting the ball coming out of halftime, and Wentz at QB, it was unlikely the Vikings had the offensive firepower to catch up.  But then the D stepped up, getting stops and turnovers. The Vikings' offense took advantage of opportunities, and it turned into a rout. The 2026 Packer Massacre in Minneapolis.

Packer fans who failed to acknowledge their team's known shortcomings were stunned. Today has been delicious as I have listened to their laments.  They should be concerned. Starting 0-2 is a realistic possibility for them. Everybody else in the Division won yesterday, and weaknesses in their unit were exposed.

But enough about the Packers. The Vikings D is legit. It looks like Dallas Turner will become the player that B Flo groomed him to be. Can't wait for the Turner/B Flo v Caleb Williams matchup in Week 2.

Will 1, And It Work?

 

Football season is here, and I am guardedly optimistic about the Vikings' chances of having a really good year. The two big keys to that happening are Kyler being healthy and the Vikings' run game transformation being a thing.

Kyler's Health:
Kyler has tended to get beat up and injured throughout his career. For the past couple of years, the Vikings' O-line has been injured and beat up. The Vikings' O-line and Kyler are coming into the season healthy. My hope is that experience has taught the guys enough to avoid most situations where injury is a likely outcome. If the O-Line struggles with injuries again this year, it is likely that sooner or later Kyler will as well. Fingers crossed and knocking on wood!

Pound, Pound, and Slash/Pound, Pound, and Cut, Ya:

I am hoping that the hiring of Frank Smith marks a shift in KOC's pass-first and always philosophy. Frank Smith is a running game guru. Our O-Line is healthy. Jordan Mason is a very good running back. I think KOC is ready for a change in the results he has been getting. To me, the inputs add up to my thinking that the Vikings will try to be a bully-ball team that uses the run to control the clock and set up the pass.  I could be out to lunch on this hunch. We'll see.

Thoughts on the start of the season:

You never know what you are going to get to start the season. Everybody has rust to shake off and chemistry to develop. KOC has generally been a winner in the season opener and in the month of September. Starting off with two games in the division gives them a chance to get a leg up or dig a pretty big hole. Game One versus the Packers at home is huge for both teams. I think the Vikings will beat the Packers, but I'm nervous. Love is streaky, and when he gets hot, he's amazing.  It's the first game; you just never know what you are going to get.

  
SKOL!

Snatcher's Blind/Lake Alexander Preview and Rods

 

The Plan: 
I drew Snatcher Chuck, and we got lucky and pre-fished the lake that was drawn for the blind. There may be some Snatcher skullduggery that plays into my "luck" in the past three blind tournaments, but I'm not totally sure. The lake fished tough, but we did get some hints if the fishing is off. Better to have hints when and if the fishing is off I say. Conditions will be somewhat similar to the day we pre-fished. Coming a day after thunderstorms and windy, but with quite a bit less overcast. The sun is supposed to fire up the smallmouth. And the days are getting short, so the bass could be firing all over the lake.

The rods I'm bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (FC)(Texas Rig, Jigs)

7'4" H Tatula (Frogs/Toads, Spinnerbait, buzzbait)

7'3" MH St. Croix LTB (Drop Shot)

7' MH Tatula Elite (Big Topwater, Traps)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC)(Jigs, Chatterbait)

6'9" H Tatula (Braid) (Chatterbait)

6'8" M St. Croix Avid (Topwater, Jerkbait, Traps) 

5'6" St. Croix Premier (Flukes, Dingers, Ned)

Cha-Chig!

 

A solid line-up at Lake Champlain got me the win in the Bass Boat Central Group.

I was also pick-perfect in the Pick 'em Game.

Snatcher's Pelican Lake Preview and Rods

 

My Thoughts:

For the 3rd straight tournament, I will not be getting out to pre-fish. We only have 10 guys fishing this one, which I think makes it the smallest field in a Snatcher Tournament ever. My boater, Theo, did get out pre-fishing at least once and felt good about what he found. When we fished here two years ago in August, it fished really well, with only one guy not getting a limit. Snatcher Theo, my boater, prefers to fish "out". I will bring one frog rod just in case. Hopefully, it won't be too windy.

The Rods I'm Bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Jig)

7'4" H Tatula (Frogs, Toads, Topwater) 

7'4" H Zillion (Chicken)

7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Texas Rig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs, Chatters, Swimbaits, Dark Sleeper)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater)

6'6" MH GLX (Jigs, Tubes, Ned Rig, Neko Jig, Dark Dark Sleeper)

Snatcher's at the Gull/Crow Wing River Tourny Preview and Rods

My Thoughts:

My "I can't catch a limit" nemesis, a river tournament. When we were here two years ago in early September, Smitty's Co caught a nearly 18lb limit on a frog, if I'm not mistaken. Rivers are unpredictable beasts that can leave even seasoned guys like Smitty scratching his head. If the rice is lying on the water, I have the weapon of bass destruction for the job.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Jigs,Punch)

7'4" XH Zillion (Frogs)

7'4" H Mod Zillion (Jigs,Punch)

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frogs)

7'4" H Tatula (Toadz, Frogs)

7'4" H Tatula (Toad,Frog)/7'3" MH Tourny Bass (Carolina Rig)

6'9"H Tatula Elite (Jig)

6'9"H Tatula Elite (FC)(Jig,Punch)

 

Snatcher's Big Birch Tournament Preview

 

My Thoughts: Neither I nor my boater pre-fished. I can't remember if that has ever happened before. Maybe once or twice.  So I'm going in totally blind on a lake I haven't been to since my first year in the club, 2008, when I finished second-to-last, and my boater didn't place well. I liked the lake, though. It has clear water, smallmouth bass, and quite a bit of slop. We will not specifically target smallmouth, but my boater says he knows some rock/weed areas.  Hopefully, the slop will play. Looks like the winds will be on the reasonably mild side, just like they were for the first tournament of the year. If the tournament I fished in 2008 is any indication, 3lbers are hard to come by unless you are committed to sight-fishing smallies all day. Can anyone knock off Tuma in this one? Not likely. I would be happy if I could get a bag of 2lbers.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4"H Tatula Elite (Chicken Jig, Frog)

7'4"H Tatula (Frogs/Toads, Topwater)

7'4"H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7' H Mojo Bass Dock Skipper (Jigs,Chatter)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jigs, Chatter, Fluke)

6'8"M Avid (Topwater, Jerks)

6'6"MH GLX (Texas Rig, Dark Sleeper, Ned, Dinger,Fluke)

Spin:

5'6" Avid MH (Fluke, Dinger, Ned))

2008 Results:

Snatcher's Platte/Sullivan Tournament Preview And Rods

 

My Thoughts: 

Thanks to 2026 being the year MN bassheads were liberated from a closed bass season, I got the Trophy in the water quickly, and it has been game on for me ever since on Platte/Sullivan. As bites have come and gone, I have been able to understand why a bite left or stayed good, and with an OK amount of success, have been able to figure out where the fish had departed. In the past, I may have felt lost and probably just didn't spend the time necessary to track them down. I am confident that Ranger Arnie and I will be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The Plan: 

We are going to start in an area where Arnie caught them the first day he was out pre-fishing. I think it is a solid area and I am talking an area. I have three primary areas in mind that I think we should spend most of our time on, and where we start is a good one. We have eight boats fishing in this tournament. It will be interesting to see whether any other boats head to our starting area and, if they do, where they choose to attack first. I have some backup areas that, if we don't get to them, I'm fine with it because that means we caught 'em where I thought they should be. 

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Zillion (The Chicken)

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Toads, Ploppers)

7' MH Mod Mojo Bass (Crankbaits, Topwater, Wakebaits)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs,Chatters, Plopper, )(Braid)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs,Chatters, Flukes)(FC)

5'6" MH Avid (Fluke, Dinger)

Trophy In the Water For 2026

 

Several others were at the Grumpy Old Man Hole this morning, but the bullheads were not. So instead of catching nothing and looking dumb, I decided my time would be better spent getting the Trophy ready and putting it in the lake today. It turns out fate knew what it was doing, and I crushed them the next couple of nights on Sullivan. It is nice to have all options available early.

Rock Dock In(4/14/26)

Dock In

 

Boat Ramp Fixed

Beautiful Night

I didn't catch anything at Rock, but did talk with an old acquaintance who was out walking her dog. However, I did score a slabber bullhead at the Grumpy Old Man Hole.