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The Brett Favre saga, drama, soap-opera, whatever you would like to call it is now over, but the Vikings are still in quarterback flux. So what else is new?
Ever since Daunte Culpepper went down with his devastating knee injury in 2005, the Vikings have not had a solidified No.1 quarterback. The saying is, “the Vikings are a solid quarterback away from a Super Bowl”. The signing of Sage Rosenfels isn’t exactly what the Vikes faithful had in mind. As of now, Tarvaris Jackson is the Vikings’ starting quarterback, which is making some fans cringe and wondering why they gave up a draft pick for Rosenfels.
They still have their defense though, which is fantastic against the run, but makes you want to look away every time the football is thrown. The disparity in numbers almost makes one sick to their stomach, especially if you’re a fan. They allowed 292.4 yards per game last season; 215.6 of those yards came through the air. So they went and grabbed veteran safety Madieu Williams, who was injured for the first seven games of the season, from Cincinnati and let veteran safety Darren Sharper go on his way. They have high hopes for sophomore safety Tyrell Johnson who showed signs of promise in his rookie season. The question still remains if this secondary can resemble a block of cheddar rather than sliced swiss. Either way you slice it, the Vikings were a playoff football team a year ago with no true quarterback and a very porous secondary.
The next factor in line is the Williams’ and whether or not they can avoid suspension. The trial has already been postponed from last season which allowed them to play through the remainder of the season and playoffs. If they manage to avoid suspension, then the Vikings defensive wall is in tact and will be as dominant as any in the league yet again. If they are suspended for any amount of time, they would like it to be in the first portion of their schedule, which is as soft as they come; at Cleveland, at Detroit, vs. San Francisco, vs. Green Bay, at St. Louis. The Favre question is finally answered and now they wait for the Williams’ question to be answered. After a ruling is made, we then can get a better picture of how well this Vikings team really could be in 2009.
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks: The Vikings gave up a draft pick for Sage Rosenfels, but he hasn’t been named the Vikings starter heading into training camp. That honor, if you want to call it that, belongs to third year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson showed signs of both good and bad proportions. The good was that he completed just under 60 percent of his passes, threw nine touchdowns vs. two interceptions during the regular season, and had a passer rating of 95.4. The bad was that he only threw for more than 200 yards twice in six starts, which means the coaches trust really isn’t there and neither is much experience for this upcoming season. The Vikings are 0-5 when Jackson attempts 30 or more passes in a game. If the Vikings hope to make it to the playoffs and make a deep run, they will need to win games by the arm of Jackson. He will have to make teams respect both the run and the pass by throwing when teams stack eight men in the box. Sage was less than stellar in Houston when starter Matt Schaub went down with an injury. He managed six touchdowns vs. 10 interceptions in six starts. The silver lining here would be that he completed almost 67 percent of his passes. He will assume the back-up role for the moment, but he may be called upon if things get shaky for Jackson early in the season. Last year head coach Brad Childress took heat from the fans to bench Jackson and start Gus Frerotte after only two games and he did just that. John David Booty is just happy to still be on the team. The news that Favre was staying retired had to be music to his ears; he gets to stay on the team as the third string quarterback and he gets to keep his number. Sean Glennon will enter training camp as the fourth string quarterback.
Running Backs: The Vikings have arguably the best running back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson. He led the NFL in rushing last season with 1,760 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns and a 4.8 yards per rush average. He is explosive, powerful, and can shrug off tacklers like steam does wrinkles. His only downfall thus far has been his fumble issue. He had nine fumbles last year and lost four of them. With an offense that relies so heavily on the run game, this cannot happen this season. He only had 21 receptions this past season and the Vikings say they will get him more involved in the passing game to keep defenses more honest. He will be the focal point of the offense in 2009 yet again. Peterson’s backup, Chester Taylor, comes into another Vikings season playing second fiddle. He is a solid backup who can give Peterson breaks of short or long periods if necessary. His hands are considered better than Peterson’s and the numbers prove it. He caught 45 passes to Peterson’s 21 while scoring twice. He is a good third down back that can give the Vikes a passing option. He had 101 attempts for 399 yards and four touchdowns last season and you can expect similar production from him in 2009. He is in the final year of his contract so it should be interesting to see if he ends up testing the free agency waters or signing an extension with the Vikings at seasons end. Then you have the undrafted free agent who stole Americas’ hearts by proposing to his girlfriend after his teams’ huge upset of Oklahoma (and Adrian Peterson) in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. He is a workhorse that will do anything he’s told and figures to be an asset to the team for the fact he can play several positions. Since he is a rookie, he will likely see most of his playing time this season on special teams. Once he develops, he should turn into a solid NFL player. What position he ends up playing remains to be seen. Albert Young is a second year player out of Iowa who did not get a single carry in 2008. The Vikings signed him shortly after the Titans were showing interest. He will likely be limited to the practice squad this season, barring an injury to Peterson, Taylor, or Johnson.
Wide Receivers: Bernard Berrian is the Vikings biggest deep threat. Now if he can only get a quarterback that can get it to him downfield. He only had 48 catches last season, but he averaged 20.1 yards per catch. This just reiterates the big play potential this man has. He has yet to top the 1,000 yard receiving mark in his career and will be itching to do so in 2009. He posted solid numbers, even though the Vikes relied mainly on running and controlling the clock; 964 yards and seven touchdowns. He doesn’t get many catches, but he makes the most out of them when he does and we should expect nothing less this season. Sidney Rice is a large target at 6’4” and 202 lbs. He is still a work in progress though, catching only 46 passes in three years (15 of those coming last season). He did catch four touchdown passes last season, showing excellent red zone target potential. They drafted the Florida playmaker Percy Harvin who had arguably the most upside of any player in the 2009 draft. Harvin is fast and a pure athlete. He likely will be used at the slot position, considering his size and speed, where he can cut across the middle of the field, catch the ball on the run, and utilize his playmaking abilities in space. Bobby Wade will also get some time at the slot, where he showed promise last year leading the team in receptions with 53. He is experienced and is coming off one of his best seasons, mainly due to how he fits into the Vikings offensive scheme. The Vikes also signed former Bengal Glenn Holt from free agency which adds depth to their receiving corps. With the Vikings throwing the ball so little, though, it is really hard to judge how well these receivers will perform in 2009 after seeing so few passes come there way in 2008.
Tight Ends: Visanthe Shiancoe got over his early season drop woes to have a career year. He caught 42 passes for 596 yards and seven touchdowns. He is turning into the pass-catching tight end they thought he would be when they signed him in 2007. Toward the end of the season he was the bailout man and seemed to find space by utilizing crisper route running than he had displayed in the past. He should build on his success of last season now that he has seemed to solve his drop problem. Jim Kleinsasser makes his presence known in a different way and that’s being physical. He has turned into one of the better blocking tight ends in football. He isn’t known for his pass catching ability, only making 164 receptions in his 11 year career, but he has a nice size frame for a blocking tight end. At 6’3” and 272 lbs, he has the size and strength to put any defenseman on their butt. He will assume the role of blocker while peppering in a few catches here and there. Garrett Mills is a work-in-progress tight end. He got to see action in the first seven games of the 2008 season, but then only appeared in one game for the remainder of the year. He will get to see the field if Shiancoe needs a breather or gets injured. Nick Walker is an undrafted free agent who will be fighting for a spot on the practice squad.
Offensive Line: The Vikings boast one of the premier offensive lines in football. Bryant McKinnie and Pro-Bowler Steve Hutchinson will anchor the left side of the offensive line. They have been the key blockers for Adrian Peterson, and the Vikings love running the ball to the left side for good reason. McKinnie will be on a short leash after the “Love Boat” scandal and his brawl down in Miami. One off-field slip up will likely force a hefty suspension and cause Drew Radovich to step in. Radovich hasn’t played in an NFL game in his short career, which could lead to devastating results if he is forced to step in for an extended period of time. John Sullivan will be the replacement for Matt Birk who was signed through free agency by Baltimore. Sullivan will have big shoes to fill in place of Birk who has been a force at the center position for years. He matches Birk’s size, both standing at 6’4” and weighing in just over 300 lbs., so the hope for the Vikings is that he has matured enough as a player to mimic what Birk has done for them in past years. He is still young and inexperienced, but the potential is there. Anthony Herrera has proven to be a fine asset at the right guard position. He has allowed the Vikings to run the ball to the right side more than they did two years ago when Peterson was a rookie. He is a big bruiser who can man up with just about anyone in the league. Right now rookie Phil Loadholt is the starter at right tackle and for good reason. Ryan Cook was shaky at times last season, especially against quicker defenders. Loadholt not only brings size to the table, but athleticism as well. He is a massive 6’8” and weighs in at 332 lbs. He has great footwork which allows him to stay in front of defenders, even ones that are supposedly quicker than he is. The Vikings are hoping that he will be the missing link on the right side of the line, allowing more plays for their rushing attack. If their line stays healthy, then they should be one of the most feared offensive lines in football.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line: Just like their offensive line, the Vikes’ defensive line is rock solid. Three out of the four linemen went to the Pro-Bowl. It starts with Jared Allen at right defensive end which proved to be one of the best, if not the best, trades the Vikings have made. Allen is a magnificent physical specimen who loves to be physical. He has supreme speed and strength combination which allows him to blow by defenders or use more of a bull rush tactic. His arsenal of moves along with his agility and athleticism is what allows him to be so successful year after year. He finished the season fifth in the league in sacks with 14.5 and should reach, if not break, that number again this year. Next we have the “Williams Wall” which is made up of Pat and Kevin Williams. This duo of tackles is hands-down the best in the league. They have allowed the Vikings to be the number one rushing defense over the past three seasons, allowing only 76.9 rush yards per game this past season. They both appeared in the Pro-Bowl and rightfully so. They are still waiting to hear what is going to happen with their court case. The worst case scenario would be that they are suspended for four games and the best case scenario would be that the courts rule in favor of the Williams’ and therefore no suspension would be handed down. They are the anchor of the defensive line, so any missed time would hurt the defense greatly. Last, but not least, is Ray Edwards at the left defensive end position. Although he is not as fast or boast the skills of Allen, he can still be very effective. He totaled five sacks, one forced fumble, and 54 tackles last season which are exceptional numbers, they just appear average when you happen to be playing next to three Pro-Bowlers. Edwards gets the job done any way he knows how and is a workhorse. He missed one regular season game and the playoff game against the Eagles due to a knee injury, but will be ready for training camp. As long as this unit stays healthy they will be amongst the elite again this year.
Linebackers: The linebacker core starts with its centerpiece, EJ Henderson. Henderson had a fast start to the 2008 season, but that was abruptly cut short after he dislocated two toes in his left foot in week four against the Titans. The injury caused him to miss the rest of the season and required surgery to repair them. He has rehabbed well and should be back to his normal beastly self this season. Henderson has all the necessary skills and talent to be in the top tier of linebackers in the league. He is extremely fast both laterally and vertically to team with great instincts. Assuming he is back to full health he will make this defense, which was outstanding last season, even better this year. Chad Greenway has been improving every year and fans should expect him to take his game to the next level this season. Greenway is very fast and strong which allows him to get into the backfield quickly. He had 5.5 sacks, 115 tackles, and three forced fumbles last season. His ability to read plays and disrupt them is one of his best assets. He has always had a high football IQ, but now he is learning how to use it to his advantage. He should shine this season at the outside linebacker position. Ben Leber controls the right side of the linebacker corps. He’s not as big and flashy as Henderson and Greenway, but he knows how to use what he has and can get the job done. He has the best hands of the linebackers on the Vikes, picking off two passes last season. Like Greenway, he has been improving year after year and with Henderson now healthy he should reap the benefits. If teams think they can pick on the right side because he is the “weakest” of the linebackers, they may want to think twice. He is a ball hawk and does a great job of reading the quarterbacks eyes. He had seven pass deflections last season, displaying quickness and superior closing speed. This linebacker corps will be scary in 2009 and should be a feared group.
Secondary: The Achilles heal of the Vikings is their secondary. They have been amongst the leagues’ worst pass defenses for years. They ranked dead last in 2006 and 2007, but showed signs of improvement in 2008 ending the season ranked 18th against the pass. There still is much work to do though. The lone bright spot in the Vikes’ secondary is Antoine Winfield. He and the Vikings were having a tough time coming to terms on a contract extension and it was looking grim for awhile during the offseason, but a deal got done and he signed a five year deal that includes $16 million in guaranteed money. With that out of the way, the Pro-Bowl corner can go back to what he does the best and that is causing problems for opposing receivers. He uses speed and strength to knock receivers off routes and stay stride for stride with them on deep balls. He is a do-it-all corner who can blitz off the edge, defend passes, stop the run, and knock a player silly. He had 95 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), and four forced fumbles. He will continue his menacing ways in 2009. Cedric Griffin, who plays opposite Winfield at corner, also got a contract extension this offseason. He is one of the hardest hitting corners in the game. He isn’t as good as Winfield against the pass, but he is effective. And like Winfield, he is also an outstanding run stopper. He can also fly to the ball, totaling 91 tackles in 2008. If he can step up his pass defense, the Vikings will have two Pro-Bowl corners on defense. Madieu Williams will enter his second season as the Vikings free safety. He missed the first seven games last season due to a neck injury, but when he returned after the bye week he showed that he can be a big part of the Vikings’ improving secondary. Williams is fast, athletic, and can close in opponents and hit them hard. He had 42 tackles and two interceptions last year in just nine games, and that was coming off a serious neck injury. Now that he has recovered he will be itching to show Minnesota fans what he is capable of doing and why they picked him up off free agency. Sophomore strong safety Tyrell Johnson showed he was worth his second round pick status last season. He displayed a substantial amount of promise and filled in nicely for Williams when he was injured. He didn’t have incredible numbers in 2008, but they were respectable for a rookie at that position; 31 tackles and one interception. His rookie season is now behind him as he looks forward to becoming a more disciplined player. He got burned a few too many times for fans liking last season, but has been working hard this offseason to improve his speed and ball defending skills. Look for him to turn some heads this season as he earns his first full-time starting gig.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The speedy Aundrae Allison will likely be the special teams star again this season. Allison returned punts and kicks last season while filling in as a receiver when needed. Rookie Percy Harvin, who is faster, will likely get some cracks at returning punts and kicks as well. If Harvin’s big playmaking ability translates to the NFL like Vikes fans hope, then he may become the full-time return man while also playing receiver. Ryan Longwell assumes the role as kicker, going 29 for 34 on field goal attempts last season. The veteran kicker only seemed to have problems kicking from 40-49 yards out. He went six for six on attempts 50+ yards, so if he can lock down the 40-49 yard range then he should be one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL in 2009. The real problem for the Vikings, though, is on their punt and kick coverage unit. They gave up the most punt and kick return touchdowns in the league. They will need to bring more speed in to counteract the speed of opponents which is what gave them fits last season. If they can solve their coverage problem, then the unit as a whole should be solid.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS OFF-SEASON TRACKER
Additions
QB Sage Rosenfels (trade, HOU)
FB Nehemiah Broughton (FA, DNP in '08)
WR Glenn Holt (FA, CIN)
LB Kenny Onatolu (FA, CFL in '08)
CB Karl Paymeh (FA, DEN)
Drafted
WR Percy Harvin, Florida
OL Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
LB Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
CB Asher Allen, Georgia
FS Jamarca Sanford, Mississippi
Undrafted Free Agents
RB Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State
WR Vinny Perretta, WR, Boise State
SS Colt Anderson, S, Montana
RB Kahlil Bell, RB, UCLA
OC Jon Cooper, C, Oklahoma
LB Robert Francois, LB, Boston College
QB Sean Glennon, QB, Virginia Tech
DB Devon Hall, S, Utah State
DT Antoine Holmes, DT, N.C. State
DT Tremaine Johnson, DT, LSU
OG Andy Kemp, G, Wisconsin
OT Bobby Lepori, OT, Fresno State
WR Nick Moore, WR, Toledo
TE Nick Walker, TE, Alabama
Re-signed
FB Naufahu Tahi
TE Jim Kleinsasser
DE Otis Grigsby
DE Jayme Mitchell
DT Jimmy Kennedy
DT Fred Evans
LB Heath Farwell
CB Charles Gordon
CB Benny Sapp
Departures
QB Gus Frerotte (cut)
RB/KR Maurice Hicks (cut)
OC Matt Birk (FA, BAL)
LB Vinny Ciurciu (cut, NE)
LB Adam Seward (FA, IND)
SS Darren Sharper (FA, NO)
PROJECTION
The uncertainty at the quarterback position is what is keeping the Vikings from being a unanimous pick to win the NFC North. They won the division last season with Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson at the helms, but the Bears vastly improved with the addition of Jay Cutler. The worry here is that they may have to rely too heavily on Adrian Peterson and their defense. If they would happen to lose Peterson or a key defensive player to injury, then that might spell doom for the purple and gold. If they should stay healthy, though, it will be a fist fight between them and the Bears. In that case, the Vikings stand a very good chance because of their younger defense, which has proven that it can win games; similar to the way the Bears defense did when they made their Super Bowl appearance in 2006. The prediction for the Vikings is 10-6.
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