With the Vikings loss to the Cowboys today, the midseason point has been reached.
Unfortunately for Minnesota, the team leaves Dallas at the halfway mark of the year with just one win.
Leslie Frazier spoke to the media today after the 27-23 loss to the Cowboys, and appeared even more beaten down than usual. Here’s the highlights of what he had to say.
“Guys fought hard for four quarters, just couldn’t find a way to finish a ballgame.”
On his decision to punt on the Cowboys’ 35 late: “Thought about going for it there, considered kicking a field goal. If you’re not totally confident you can get it, the field position you give the opponent (would hurt).”
On Blair Walsh: “The extra point, the first one he’s missed, surprised him, surprised all of us. Knowing where he is physically, he says he’s there now, but it (health) definitely played into my mind on (not kicking) the field goal.”
On the loss: “They all hurt.” Said this three times back-to-back-to-back.
On his role in defensive playcalling: “I felt like throughout the week I needed to make sure the coaches felt my presence and the players as well from a defensive standpoint and do whatever I could to help us play better than we’ve been playing. Still fell short today.”
On going for it on fourth down early: “Down three, chance to tie it, felt like we needed to get a touchdown not a field goal. That was the mindset, we needed a touchdown, a field goal wasn’t enough.”
Have you taken over defensive playcalling? “Not taken over, but making suggestions, think about this here, think about this there.”
On Adrian Peterson: “It helps when we’re converting third downs and he can stay on the field. He had a big day for us.”
Do you want to get back to giving it to Peterson 20-25 times a game? “No doubt.”
On Christian Ponder: “Did some good things, there’s some plays you need to do a little better on, you have to make good decisions in key situations.”
Will Christian start Thursday? “I don’t see why we would make a change. Sometimes after ballgames you can make emotional decisions, but I don’t see nothing that would tell me that he shouldn’t start against the Redskins.”
On being 1-7: “That’s what we are.”
On the players: “It’s definitely frustrating when you prepare as hard as they’re preparing. They work so hard to come in and get a win, I’m sure they’re scratching their heads after this ballgame.”
On Phil Loadholt’s concussion sustained today and if he could be ready for Thursday: “It would be very very difficult for him to pass the NFL protocol on a short week. I don’t know very many guys that do.”
Here’s the full presser if you’d like to hear everything Frazier had to say.
