Read between the lines. When a head coach offers up only one nugget of positivity during the opening of his weekly press conference — the rookie punter having his best game — it means his team got obliterated and nothing good came from it.
That’s exactly how coach Leslie Frazier opened his news conference today following Sunday’s 35-10 home loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The insulting loss gets worse with word of the injuries. Frazier confirmed that linebacker Desmond Bishop suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season (See the tweeted from Bishop below). Defensive back Xavier Rhodes “should be OK” after suffering a sprained ankle. Safety Harrison Smith left the game with turf toe and will undergo an MRI later today.
Frazier addressed some mind-blowing statistical data that shows just how bad the Vikings have been defensively.
Updated stats: Vikings rank 31st in total defense, 30th in scoring defense, 29th in pass defense and 31st in third-down defense.
— Chip Scoggins (@chipscoggins) October 14, 2013
Vikings defense is giving up 49 percent conversions on third down (33 of 67). They were at 44 percent in that awful 2011 season.
— Chip Scoggins (@chipscoggins) October 14, 2013
“We are definitely giving up too many points at this point, and we’ve gotta work to definitely get that number down in order to be a winning football team,” he said.
QUARTERBACK DECISION
Frazier says he wants to pick a starting quarterback before the team gets back together for practice on Wednesday. He said he plans on talking with Josh Freeman about how comfortable he is with the offense, and Freeman’s answer will play a role in determining who the starter will be.
#Vikings coach Leslie Frazier says the plan is to settle on a QB by Wednesday, know who's going to lead the team this week.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 14, 2013
Frazier noted that Freeman is capable of learning the offense relatively quickly.
“We saw that last week watching and working with him — just seeing how he picked things up,” said Frazier. “He’s intuitive. He’s a guy that can grasp information and process it as well.”
The Vikings will take Tuesday off and we’ll be all over the QB decision if Frazier announces one later this week.
BISHOP REACTS TO INJURY ON TWITTER
I'm a firm believer that the universe always even things out… Never too high/never too low.. That's how I know my future burns bright!!
— Bishy Belichick (@Desbishop55) October 14, 2013
But with all that said, its back to the drawing board for me. I've Been here before & it's a hard & humble path but I'm embracing every step
— Bishy Belichick (@Desbishop55) October 14, 2013
Thanks for the support tho it is and was appreciated no doubt!! God give the toughest challenges to those he know can endure.. I'll be back!
— Bishy Belichick (@Desbishop55) October 14, 2013
Ppl close to me won't agree but I feel I let u down. To my family, teammates, coaches, Vikings organization, fand & mostly myself..I'm sorry
— Bishy Belichick (@Desbishop55) October 14, 2013
