CHILLY talks about QB situation

Childress addresses quarterback situation

January 8th, 2009 – 12:44 PM by Chip Scoggins

Vikings coach Brad Childress just conducted his season-ending press conference and naturally the quarterback situation was the No. 1 topic.

Childress said he felt like Tarvaris Jackson took a step forward this year, but he said the team will look around to see what is available either in trade, draft or free agency. Here is some of Childress thoughts on his quarterback situation:

“It’s really kind of a whole offseason study,” he said. “I’m not going to pass judgement right at this particular point. I think you owe it to everybody here in the organization, just like we always have, to turn over all the rocks and see what you have there. I would also say there’s point with Tarvaris of continuing to evolve as a quarterback. While you’d like that process to happen immediately, it doesn’t always happen immediately. But there’s not anything we’re going to leave unturned in terms of free agency, draft. And that goes until after the draft. 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.”

(What does Tarvaris need to do to take next step?) “For everybody, it’s standard of performance. What can you consistently expect to put out there? You saw that as we led up to the last game. Unfortunately, we weren’t consistent [against the Eagles]. We weren’t able to put ourselves in good enough position – and that’s team wide — to be able to win. But you want consistency. That’s the thing you’re looking for. Not that there’s never a blip, not that somebody doesn’t play bad because they’re trying to rip your head off every time back there.”

We’ll obviously have a lot more in Jackson and the QB situation online and in the paper tomorrow.

Here are few other notes:

– Right guard Anthony Herrera had surgery on his shoulder on Wednesday. Tackle Artis Hicks will have surgery to repair his triceps on Friday. Childress said a few other guys might need surgeries to clean up some areas.

– Childress said no decisions have been made about whether the team will attempt to bring back center Matt Birk, safety Darren Sharper and tight end Jim Kleinsasser.

– Childress said all of his assistant coaches are under contract and that he expects all of them return, except possibly defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who interviewed with Denver on Wednesday and is scheduled to interview with the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

– Childress said he met briefly with backup quarterback Gus Frerotte before he left for St. Louis. Childress said he understands that Frerotte is frustrated and doesn’t agree with Childress’ decision to start Jackson in the final three games. But Childress said Frerotte is a ”team guy.”

We’ll post a few more items from Childress’ press conference later in the day,.