Minnesota Vikings Season Preview

The NFC North Division is known as the "black and blue" division and it's appropriate. When a team faces an NFC North team they expect hardnosed defense and a pounding ground game. However, last season the NFC North did not live up to the "black and blue" nickname. The only team that lived up to the name was the Minnesota Vikings who had a top ten defense (even with missing their Pro Bowl quality middle linebacker) and had the top running back in the league. The Lions, Packers, and Bears all had solid running backs last season but all three were poor defensive teams. The Vikings won the division last year; the Bears followed one game behind, the Packers were not close to .500, and the Lions had the worst season in the history of the league. So, who's the favorite in the NFC Norse?

Minnesota Vikings (2008: 10-6, NFC North Champs)

The Vikings are the clear favorite in the NFC North with the signing of first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback, Brett Favre. The Vikings were carried on the backs of Adrian Peterson and the defense. The only thing that seemed to be holding them back was the lack of quality quarterback play.

Quarterbacks: The addition of Brett Favre fills the largest hole in the Vikings roster and instantly makes them a contender for the NFC championship. Still, there are questions and risks. First Favre is nearly 40 years old and durability can be an issue for any player of that age much less one that has a rotator cuff tear. However, Favre's doctor insists that it is an old injury and he's been playing with it for years and currently it's not causing him significant pain. Vikings players have been commenting on the zip on his throws and that they don't think he's lost much, if any.

If Favre goes down with injury the Vikings have Sage Rosenfels as there backup. Rosenfels has to be disappointed with the signing of Farve considering he was assured when he was traded to the Vikings that he'd have the opportunity to compete for the starting job. While Rosenfels has not been overly impressive in training camp he does appear to be a very nice player to have as a backup. In his preseason start against the Colts he looked capable of moving the ball and looked like a leader. You can bet that he'll be very motivated should he get the chance to start.

Tarvaris Jackson, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Here is a player that has had not one, but two other quarterbacks brought in to replace him. The Vikings may keep four quarterbacks but there has also been some talk of trading Jackson in favor of keeping John David Booty. The thought may be that Booty has more upside and may develop more and that is typically the type of player that gets the 3rd quarterback spot.

Running Backs: The Vikings are set at running back with the fantasy football stud Adrian Peterson as the starting running back and Chester Taylor as the backup. Albert Young and Ian Johnson are battling it out for the 3rd spot on the roster. Albert Young seems to have the advantage so far. I believe that if either Adrian Peterson or Chester Taylor were not on the roster both Young and Johnson would make great backups. Adrian Peterson should approach 2000 yards this season. Naufahu Tahi is a lock for the starting fullback position.

Wide Receivers: Bernard Berrian is clearly the team's top receiver going into the season. Berrian led the league in yards per catch among wide receivers with 40 or receptions at 20.1 yards per catch. I feel that his low number of receptions and yards is directly related to the quarterback situation on last year's team. Look for Berrian to have much better numbers with Favre tossing him the ball.

It looks like this year's first round pick, Percy Harvin, is in a battle for the 2nd WR spot on the roster. It may not matter much if he's the 2nd or 3rd WR since he will be used in many different roles including kick returns, wildcat formations, and as a running back. With Favre on the roster I would expect to see less of the wildcat formation that we would have without him. All indications coming from Vikings camp is that Harvin is very impressive and so explosive that he will change how people scheme against the Vikings offense. Harvin has potential to win the Rookie of the Year award given the situation that he was drafted into.

Sidney Rice is one of the other WR in the mix for the 2nd spot. Rice was hampered with injuries last year and even when uninjured has not performed to expectations. This could be a do or die year for Rice because patients may be getting thin. He has the physical tools to be a good wide receiver with great size and good speed but he has not brought it all together yet. This being his 4th season he must step up the production.

Bobby Wade led the team in receptions last year and should be in competition for one of the starting jobs, though it's more likely that he'll be the 3rd WR. Darius Reynaud and Jaymar Johnson appear to be the next two on the depth chart.

Tight End: Visanthe Shiancoe was a much maligned player at the end of 2007 because of his underachievement. He dropped key passes, didn't make plays, and only had 27 receptions last year. He was signed for 5 years and 18 million dollars after being a backup for the Giants and was expected to become the "pass catching" tight end. Fortunately, Shiancoe picked up the pace in 2008 and was performing at a high level at the end of the season. According to reports he has worked very hard in the off-season and has looked great at camp. With the addition of Brett Favre (who has a history of liking to throw to tight ends), Shiancoe's numbers should jump.

Offensive Line: The Vikings offensive line is anchored by All-World guard Steve Hutchinson. Bryant McKinnie and rookie Phil Loadholt add nearly 700 pounds of beef to the ends of the line. McKinnie has at times played like an All-Pro tackle and at other times just average. 2009 is a contract year for McKinnie, so I expect that he'll be more motivated than ever to play hard. Phil Loadholt has come in as a rookie and supplanted Ryan Cook for his tackle position. Loadholt has been noted for his willingness to be coached and his work ethic to this point in the preseason. John Sullivan takes over Matt Birk's spot after he left for the Ravens as a free agent in the off-season. Sullivan has not played a single down in the NFL yet but all signs indicate that he's doing well.

While Hutchinson, McKinnie, and to a lesser degree Herrera are the core of what should be a dominant offensive line, inexperience could be their downfall. Loadholt and Sullivan have developed better than expected through camp. However, having two players who have not played a down between them start on the offensive line could be a problem. This will be a position to watch for the Vikings this year.

Defensive Line: The Vikings defensive line may be one of the best in the league with All-Pros Jared Allen, Pat Williams, and Kevin Williams. The "Williams Wall" looks to be staying intact with only one hearing in there banned substance trial that is likely to go their way. The Vikings starters combined for an impressive 28 sacks and 5 forced fumbles last season. They were also a key part of the team's top 5 defense against the run. Depth could be an issue; Brian Robison is injury prone and the rest of the backups are just adequate.

Linebackers: A very solid unit returns and this time they'll have their best linebacker in the lineup, E.J. Henderson. Henderson missed most of last year with a foot injury leaving a large hole right in the middle of the line-backing corps. Henderson is expected to be a Pro-Bowl caliber player this season. Chad Greenway led the team in tackles last year with 115 (Henderson has 27 in a little over 3 games) and had the most sacks among the Vikings linebackers. Greenway improved his pass coverage skills over the course of last season and became a threat in the blitz. Ben Leber is the veteran of the bunch and very solid all around player in his own right though he does not seem to get the credit he deserves. Rookie Jasper Brinkley has been impressive on the special teams side of the ball and shown some promise as a linebacker as well. Heath Farwell is back after a season ending surgery and is the special teams stud of the team. With those five spots probably spoken for Erin Hederson (E.J.'s younger brother) and David Herron are left fighting it out for the last spot on the roster.

Defensive Backs: All-Pro Antoine Winfield is the leader of the defensive backs and maybe the best tackling defensive back in the league. Cederic Griffin is the starter on the other side and established himself as a quality corner last season. Griffin may not make the Pro-Bowl but don't be surprised if his name gets mentioned. Marcus McCauley has not lived up to expectations and like Sidney Rice may be on thin ice; particularly with rookie Asher Allen who appears to be winning the nickel back spot. There is a chance the McCauley could be cut.

The starting safeties will be Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams. Williams is a quality veteran though, he may not be as good as advertised when the Vikings signed him last year. Tyrell Johnson is a second year player who had a good first season getting seven starts while Williams was out with injury. Darren Sharper left in off-season and the Vikings were impressed enough with Johnson to not look for a replacement. Rookie Jamarca Sandford will contribute on special teams and as a backup safety.

If there is any weakness in the Vikings Defense it's going to be the safeties. Johnson needs to be more aggressive when tackling and Williams has not shown to be a play maker as of yet. However, both are solid to slightly above average at their positions.

Special Teams: The special teams unit last season was among, if not, the worst in the league. They were so ineffective that they may have cost the Vikings a few games due to touchdowns and field position given up. There is nothing worse than going down the field and scoring a touchdown then having the other team run one back for a touch down on the kickoff or into good field position. The Vikings lost the battle of field position all season last year due to poor special teams play. Brian Murphy takes the reigns as special teams coach this year and he gets back Heath Farwell, one of the best special teams players in the league. In addition to Farwell Murphy will get some talented rookies including Jamarca Sanford and Jasper Brinkley who should be immediate upgrades.

The kickers as a whole were good last season and figure to be as good this year. Veteran Ryan Longwell made all six of his field goals of 50 or more yards and made all of the field goals of 30 yards or less. His kickoffs were average at best. Longwell has good accuracy but does not have a cannon for a leg and only registered 6 touchbacks last season. I believe this made a terrible special teams unit even worse. Perhaps they will use the punter, Chris Kluwe, for more kickoffs this season. Chris Kluwe ended the season ranked seventh in punting average but the rest of his stats are tainted by the league leading 624 yards and 4 touchdowns given up due to poor punt coverage.

The Bottom Line: This is a pivotal year for the Vikings. For coach Childress anything less than a NFC Championship game appearance may cost him his job. Key players on the defense are getting up there in age, the window is getting smaller. All the money and draft picks given up to get Jared Allen, Bernard Berrian and Madieu Williams weight heavy on the Brad Childress. If he can't get it done with this roster, he may not get another chance to try. The Vikings may have the most talented roster in the league and a Super Bowl appearance would not be a too outlandish to predict.