Minnesota Vikings 4 Months out-Offense
First of all, great news today from Hennepin County in agreeing to the sales tax to fund a new Twins stadium in Downtown Minneapolis. If it can get approved at the Capitol, finally the 10 year struggle will be over.
Here is how I see them position by position
QB- Daunte Culpepper I consider to be the 4th best Quarterback in the NFL behind Brady, Manning, and Mcnabb. Will he be as good without Randy Moss, we shall see, I doubt it. But Culpepper I still see competing for a Pro-Bowl Berth. He will be helped by having Kleinsasser and Mike Rosenthal back to prevent as many blitzes. I see a season of about 32 td passes, 4 rushing touchdowns, with about 4000 yards through the air. I see his interception total going from about 11 to 15. I see Brad Johnson as a back-up capable of doing ok in a game or two, but the Offense would greatly suffer without Daunte anything beyond that.-The Vikings have the best QB play in their division.
RB- This position is obviously in the Air. I think Mike Tice is leaning towards Micheal Bennett, due to his big play potential. Bennett actually for such a speed back is pretty-tough, he lacks great vision though. Mewelde Moore is my favorite back due to his toughness, vision, and pass-catching ability. When Moore gets the ball good things seem to happen. He reminds me of Preist Holmes, and I heard he had a terrific run at mini-camp this weekend. Onterrio Smith is a hard-runner, with decent speed, and abover average vision. He seems to be the best back at wearing a Defense down. I see Ciatrick Fason having a limited role for now. Moe Williams role shouldn't change that much, except I think we will see more of Mewelde Moore on third down.- I would put the Vikings as having similar running back situations to the Bears, and Lions but behind the 1-2 punch of the Packers. They don't have a clear number 1 back, so they could be number 1 in the division or number 4 if nobody steps up.
WR- I think Travis Taylor will surpise, by this I am not saying 1500 yards, but him becoming the number 2, and having 800 yards would not surpise me. I guess he was the most impressive player at this weekends' mini-camp. Marcus Robinson will get injured sometime, but if not is a more than capable number 2 receiver. Troy Williamson looks to be a 3 or 4 at this stage in his career. Nate Burleson should do OK as a number 1 receiver due to his route-running ablity, and decent size. This is a trait that Peerless Price and Alvin Harper did not have. Kelly Campbell is up in the air.- I think the Vikings are probably right behind the Lions here, and the Packers though if Donald Driver loses a step as some speculate than the Vikings could be the best in this division. But I would put them third now.
TE-Jim Kleinsasser is one of the best blockers in football when healthy, Jermaine Wiggins is a good number two tight-end. The other roster spots are up for grabs.-The Vikings have the Best TE's in their division.
OL- Having Matt Birk and improved G play will help a ton in running the ball. Having Birk out combined with Dixon wearing down really weakened the Vikings running game last year. Rosenthal will help too, as will an improving Bryant McKinnie, who I expect to have his best season in Minnesota. Basicallly Birk makes the running game go, and he needs to be healthy or the Vikings will become one-dimesional. The problem is Matt Birk with his three hernias, I am not sure will be. The Vikings have the best O-line in thier division, since the Packers lost both their G's.
DL- The Vikings will have the best D-line in thier division. I look for Kenechi Udeze to have a better second season. I think Kevin Williams will emerge as the best defensive player in the NFC, as Pat Williams will occupy space. I think Darrion Scott will be a very good two down run defender, and they have good back-ups in Erasmus James and Lance Johnstone who can rush the passer, although I don't think either of them can do that well against real good LT's and Spencer Johnson who I think will be a very good third tackle. I think this will be thier best D-line since they traded Chris Doleman after the 1994 season and Hank Thomas left via-free agency. Although none of the other D-lines in the division are all that good.
LB- It wouldn't shock me if EJ Henderson beats out Sam Cowart at MLB. Henderson needs to play more disciplined, if he does it is a huge boost for the Vikings D. Cowart though would be an improvement just in the discipline he brings to the position. I actually think Napoloen Harris will be ok at a 4-3 linebacker, where he doesn't have to be as disiciplined on the Outside. He will be better than Claiborne when Claiborne was banged-up, but not as good as Claiborne when he was healthy. Raonall Smith is the favorite on the weak-side. He played the best game from a Vikings LB in years against Tennessee last year, but then got injured. If he stays healthy, they will be clearly improved. If not which I expect he will not, then Donatarrious Thomas will have to improve.-The Vikings aren't as good as the Bears, the Packers and Lions both have thier issues here.
DB- This is where the Vikings will be sweet. To have Ken Irvin as thier 4th corner, will be huge. Smoot and Winfield can both cover at a pro-bowl level, allowing their linebackers to blitz, The Safety's I still have questions about. I question Darren Sharper's range, and physicalty though I would probably be better than Brian Russell. I also think Wille Offord should start and Corey Chavous should be on the bench. I think you need a physical presence at the safety position that neither Chavous or Sharper offers, and Offord although not having great cover skills, will provide that. I think Dustin Fox based on mini-camp reports could surprise. Well the Vikings are clearly superior here to the Packers, and neither the Bears or Lions have a pair of corners to match the Vikings.
Special Teams- Here is the weak area. It looks like Aaron Elling will be the kicker, and I don't think he is too bad, but I don't have a ton of confidence making a 40 yarder on the road with the game on the line either. Darren Bennett is adequate, and they don't lack a return threat. The Vikings have the worst specialists in the division, although the Bears don't impress me a ton either.
Division Break Down
1. Vikings- The Packers have made a step back, as Wahle and Rivera are huge losses on the O-line, and they don't have anyone to replace them. Also Brett Favre will probably keep losing a step. The Vikings seem to have the most talent on both sides of the Ball. They look like a 10-6 team.
2. Lions- They don't really impress me with thier d all that much, by this I mean they could be in the bottom third, where as I see the Vikings in the middle. They have a lot of Offensive weapons but no one to really get the ball vertically down the field at QB, and I don't know if Kevin Jones will open things up as much as they think. 8-8
3. Packers- They have done nothing to improve their Defense. Which wasn't very good, neither was the Vikings but they did add some pieces, and the Vikings D wasn't that bad with a healthy Antoine Winfield. There Offense will take a step back without those guards, but they will still be good enough to finish at 8-8.
4. Bears- They have done nothing to improve their O-line. I think Muhammand had a fluke year last year, and will disappoint, and they have no number 2 receiver. There D isn't good enough to carry them to much better than 6-10
Here is how I see them position by position
QB- Daunte Culpepper I consider to be the 4th best Quarterback in the NFL behind Brady, Manning, and Mcnabb. Will he be as good without Randy Moss, we shall see, I doubt it. But Culpepper I still see competing for a Pro-Bowl Berth. He will be helped by having Kleinsasser and Mike Rosenthal back to prevent as many blitzes. I see a season of about 32 td passes, 4 rushing touchdowns, with about 4000 yards through the air. I see his interception total going from about 11 to 15. I see Brad Johnson as a back-up capable of doing ok in a game or two, but the Offense would greatly suffer without Daunte anything beyond that.-The Vikings have the best QB play in their division.
RB- This position is obviously in the Air. I think Mike Tice is leaning towards Micheal Bennett, due to his big play potential. Bennett actually for such a speed back is pretty-tough, he lacks great vision though. Mewelde Moore is my favorite back due to his toughness, vision, and pass-catching ability. When Moore gets the ball good things seem to happen. He reminds me of Preist Holmes, and I heard he had a terrific run at mini-camp this weekend. Onterrio Smith is a hard-runner, with decent speed, and abover average vision. He seems to be the best back at wearing a Defense down. I see Ciatrick Fason having a limited role for now. Moe Williams role shouldn't change that much, except I think we will see more of Mewelde Moore on third down.- I would put the Vikings as having similar running back situations to the Bears, and Lions but behind the 1-2 punch of the Packers. They don't have a clear number 1 back, so they could be number 1 in the division or number 4 if nobody steps up.
WR- I think Travis Taylor will surpise, by this I am not saying 1500 yards, but him becoming the number 2, and having 800 yards would not surpise me. I guess he was the most impressive player at this weekends' mini-camp. Marcus Robinson will get injured sometime, but if not is a more than capable number 2 receiver. Troy Williamson looks to be a 3 or 4 at this stage in his career. Nate Burleson should do OK as a number 1 receiver due to his route-running ablity, and decent size. This is a trait that Peerless Price and Alvin Harper did not have. Kelly Campbell is up in the air.- I think the Vikings are probably right behind the Lions here, and the Packers though if Donald Driver loses a step as some speculate than the Vikings could be the best in this division. But I would put them third now.
TE-Jim Kleinsasser is one of the best blockers in football when healthy, Jermaine Wiggins is a good number two tight-end. The other roster spots are up for grabs.-The Vikings have the Best TE's in their division.
OL- Having Matt Birk and improved G play will help a ton in running the ball. Having Birk out combined with Dixon wearing down really weakened the Vikings running game last year. Rosenthal will help too, as will an improving Bryant McKinnie, who I expect to have his best season in Minnesota. Basicallly Birk makes the running game go, and he needs to be healthy or the Vikings will become one-dimesional. The problem is Matt Birk with his three hernias, I am not sure will be. The Vikings have the best O-line in thier division, since the Packers lost both their G's.
DL- The Vikings will have the best D-line in thier division. I look for Kenechi Udeze to have a better second season. I think Kevin Williams will emerge as the best defensive player in the NFC, as Pat Williams will occupy space. I think Darrion Scott will be a very good two down run defender, and they have good back-ups in Erasmus James and Lance Johnstone who can rush the passer, although I don't think either of them can do that well against real good LT's and Spencer Johnson who I think will be a very good third tackle. I think this will be thier best D-line since they traded Chris Doleman after the 1994 season and Hank Thomas left via-free agency. Although none of the other D-lines in the division are all that good.
LB- It wouldn't shock me if EJ Henderson beats out Sam Cowart at MLB. Henderson needs to play more disciplined, if he does it is a huge boost for the Vikings D. Cowart though would be an improvement just in the discipline he brings to the position. I actually think Napoloen Harris will be ok at a 4-3 linebacker, where he doesn't have to be as disiciplined on the Outside. He will be better than Claiborne when Claiborne was banged-up, but not as good as Claiborne when he was healthy. Raonall Smith is the favorite on the weak-side. He played the best game from a Vikings LB in years against Tennessee last year, but then got injured. If he stays healthy, they will be clearly improved. If not which I expect he will not, then Donatarrious Thomas will have to improve.-The Vikings aren't as good as the Bears, the Packers and Lions both have thier issues here.
DB- This is where the Vikings will be sweet. To have Ken Irvin as thier 4th corner, will be huge. Smoot and Winfield can both cover at a pro-bowl level, allowing their linebackers to blitz, The Safety's I still have questions about. I question Darren Sharper's range, and physicalty though I would probably be better than Brian Russell. I also think Wille Offord should start and Corey Chavous should be on the bench. I think you need a physical presence at the safety position that neither Chavous or Sharper offers, and Offord although not having great cover skills, will provide that. I think Dustin Fox based on mini-camp reports could surprise. Well the Vikings are clearly superior here to the Packers, and neither the Bears or Lions have a pair of corners to match the Vikings.
Special Teams- Here is the weak area. It looks like Aaron Elling will be the kicker, and I don't think he is too bad, but I don't have a ton of confidence making a 40 yarder on the road with the game on the line either. Darren Bennett is adequate, and they don't lack a return threat. The Vikings have the worst specialists in the division, although the Bears don't impress me a ton either.
Division Break Down
1. Vikings- The Packers have made a step back, as Wahle and Rivera are huge losses on the O-line, and they don't have anyone to replace them. Also Brett Favre will probably keep losing a step. The Vikings seem to have the most talent on both sides of the Ball. They look like a 10-6 team.
2. Lions- They don't really impress me with thier d all that much, by this I mean they could be in the bottom third, where as I see the Vikings in the middle. They have a lot of Offensive weapons but no one to really get the ball vertically down the field at QB, and I don't know if Kevin Jones will open things up as much as they think. 8-8
3. Packers- They have done nothing to improve their Defense. Which wasn't very good, neither was the Vikings but they did add some pieces, and the Vikings D wasn't that bad with a healthy Antoine Winfield. There Offense will take a step back without those guards, but they will still be good enough to finish at 8-8.
4. Bears- They have done nothing to improve their O-line. I think Muhammand had a fluke year last year, and will disappoint, and they have no number 2 receiver. There D isn't good enough to carry them to much better than 6-10
posted by Stew at 9:34 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home