Minnesota Vikings -
2014 the Vikes lost RB Peterson for the season after week 1 for reasons we all know and by the end of week 3 rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater took over for injured Matt Cassle. Teddy had a decent year despite having his right side of the offensive line decimated by injury and left tackle Matt "turn style" Khalil giving up tremendous pressure on third down. Also the Vikes had big time injuries at the tight end position along with receiver Corderrelle Patterson take a major step backwards from his rookie season. Defensively the Vikings were solid and plan to build on relatively young athletic defense.
The 2015 season AP is back, injured guard Matt Fusco their best offensive lineman is back and moved to left guard along side Matt Khalil. Rookie OL TJ Clemmings is slotted in to start right guard along side Loadholt. The line should be serviceable but Khalil needs to improve big time and who know what the team will get with Clemmings. The Vikings biggest problem last year on offense was lack of weapons, FA WR Charles Johnson did a tremendous job and now they add speedy yet maligned WR Mike Wallace to go deep, Cordarrelle Patterson who was flat out lousy last season has been working all off season on routes and Vikes trying to instill some plays to get him in the wide open as he still a mega talent, Peterson is back and Rudolph at TE is healthy for the time being. (just a matter of time before he goes down)
It's obvious the team's success will depend on Teddy Bridgewater, will he continue on a productive rookie season or will he have a sophomore slump? I thought he showed a lot of poise, he was under a lot of pressure and he didn't have stability on the offensive line or with his weapons, this offense could be deadly provided they stay healthy. Peterson and Wallace are a good duo that makes a ton of sense. Especially if AP goes off.
Defensively
The Vikes defense is young and above average, their biggest weakness was the MLB position and they attempt to address that with Kyle Kendrick team mate of Anthony Barr who was all over the field before season ending injury. The secondary has two should be pro bowlers in S Harrison Smith and CB Xavier Rhodes who is a top notch cover corner. They can be picked on at the other safety position and and at the nickle corner as Robinson the nickle has trouble making a play when the ball is in air. They add in Trae Waynes and Terrance Newman to help bolster those weaknesses and Robinson's status is up in the air with a partial pectoral tear. Up front the Vikes can really get after the QB and they play an attack get after the QB scheme which should create some turnovers but they must improve on Run D as teams were gouging them at times last year. Remember Rodgers didn't beat the Vikings last year, it was Eddie Lacy as he ran them over twice.
Summary -
If the Vikings stay healthy a wild card berth is imaginable. 9 - 10 wins is very attainable, a sub .500 season would be deflating. The biggest keys will be the health of the O line and AP, will Teddy continue his progress and will MLB Kendrick emerge as a steal of the draft? The Vikes are well coached and with this being the staff's second year I expect them to be in it til the end.
Green Bay Packers -
Well it finally happened in my life time the Packers choked Viking's style, at least they do have Championships to fall back on.
Offensively- This should be the best offense in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in football and and the offensive line has really emerged and have stayed healthy. Last season the Packers got a 5th round steal in C Corey Linsley and they have no weakness on that side of the ball. Davante Adams at slot receiver really rounds out a solid trio of receivers. They may lack a little depth if injured but with Rodgers it won't matter that much. Eddie Lacy is a solid bruising back and is excellent catching the ball. Like I said the offense has no weakness.
Defensively - They aren't great but they don't have major liabilities at LB like they did last year. Looks like they are going to keep Matthews at MLB and rightfully so, he really can plug the run which had been the Packer's biggest weakness in past seasons. The key might be defending the pass, CB Casey Hayward had a stellar rookie season but has been plagued by injury since, if he keeps healthy and returns to form the secondary rounds out solidly for coverage. Another key is how much does Peppers have in the tank? They got to get pass rush from somewhere. BJ Raji is back to play DT and it will be interesting to see what if anything he has left as my game plan would still be to try and bulldoze that Packer front.
Summary -
Packers have the best offense in the NFC and it should be explosive. They don't have to play top 10 defense, they just have to be steady and I see no problems with that. Expect the Packers to be MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE this season especially with McCarthy not calling the plays anymore. Rodgers is hungry and I expect 12 - 13 wins with a very good chance that the Lombardi Trophy comes back to GB.
Bears and Lions later
2014 the Vikes lost RB Peterson for the season after week 1 for reasons we all know and by the end of week 3 rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater took over for injured Matt Cassle. Teddy had a decent year despite having his right side of the offensive line decimated by injury and left tackle Matt "turn style" Khalil giving up tremendous pressure on third down. Also the Vikes had big time injuries at the tight end position along with receiver Corderrelle Patterson take a major step backwards from his rookie season. Defensively the Vikings were solid and plan to build on relatively young athletic defense.
The 2015 season AP is back, injured guard Matt Fusco their best offensive lineman is back and moved to left guard along side Matt Khalil. Rookie OL TJ Clemmings is slotted in to start right guard along side Loadholt. The line should be serviceable but Khalil needs to improve big time and who know what the team will get with Clemmings. The Vikings biggest problem last year on offense was lack of weapons, FA WR Charles Johnson did a tremendous job and now they add speedy yet maligned WR Mike Wallace to go deep, Cordarrelle Patterson who was flat out lousy last season has been working all off season on routes and Vikes trying to instill some plays to get him in the wide open as he still a mega talent, Peterson is back and Rudolph at TE is healthy for the time being. (just a matter of time before he goes down)
It's obvious the team's success will depend on Teddy Bridgewater, will he continue on a productive rookie season or will he have a sophomore slump? I thought he showed a lot of poise, he was under a lot of pressure and he didn't have stability on the offensive line or with his weapons, this offense could be deadly provided they stay healthy. Peterson and Wallace are a good duo that makes a ton of sense. Especially if AP goes off.
Defensively
The Vikes defense is young and above average, their biggest weakness was the MLB position and they attempt to address that with Kyle Kendrick team mate of Anthony Barr who was all over the field before season ending injury. The secondary has two should be pro bowlers in S Harrison Smith and CB Xavier Rhodes who is a top notch cover corner. They can be picked on at the other safety position and and at the nickle corner as Robinson the nickle has trouble making a play when the ball is in air. They add in Trae Waynes and Terrance Newman to help bolster those weaknesses and Robinson's status is up in the air with a partial pectoral tear. Up front the Vikes can really get after the QB and they play an attack get after the QB scheme which should create some turnovers but they must improve on Run D as teams were gouging them at times last year. Remember Rodgers didn't beat the Vikings last year, it was Eddie Lacy as he ran them over twice.
Summary -
If the Vikings stay healthy a wild card berth is imaginable. 9 - 10 wins is very attainable, a sub .500 season would be deflating. The biggest keys will be the health of the O line and AP, will Teddy continue his progress and will MLB Kendrick emerge as a steal of the draft? The Vikes are well coached and with this being the staff's second year I expect them to be in it til the end.
Green Bay Packers -
Well it finally happened in my life time the Packers choked Viking's style, at least they do have Championships to fall back on.
Offensively- This should be the best offense in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in football and and the offensive line has really emerged and have stayed healthy. Last season the Packers got a 5th round steal in C Corey Linsley and they have no weakness on that side of the ball. Davante Adams at slot receiver really rounds out a solid trio of receivers. They may lack a little depth if injured but with Rodgers it won't matter that much. Eddie Lacy is a solid bruising back and is excellent catching the ball. Like I said the offense has no weakness.
Defensively - They aren't great but they don't have major liabilities at LB like they did last year. Looks like they are going to keep Matthews at MLB and rightfully so, he really can plug the run which had been the Packer's biggest weakness in past seasons. The key might be defending the pass, CB Casey Hayward had a stellar rookie season but has been plagued by injury since, if he keeps healthy and returns to form the secondary rounds out solidly for coverage. Another key is how much does Peppers have in the tank? They got to get pass rush from somewhere. BJ Raji is back to play DT and it will be interesting to see what if anything he has left as my game plan would still be to try and bulldoze that Packer front.
Summary -
Packers have the best offense in the NFC and it should be explosive. They don't have to play top 10 defense, they just have to be steady and I see no problems with that. Expect the Packers to be MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE this season especially with McCarthy not calling the plays anymore. Rodgers is hungry and I expect 12 - 13 wins with a very good chance that the Lombardi Trophy comes back to GB.
Bears and Lions later
