Last Year:
Some surprises are pleasant. Others?not so much. Like when Max (Jamie Foxx) makes a deep connection with Annie (Jada Pinkett Smith) in the action thriller Collateral, or when the Minnesota Vikings started 6-0, that was an amiable surprise. But when Max finds out his next cab customer is a contract killer, or when the Vikings finished 3-7 while being stripped of all their dignity in Arizona, that was not as jovial. Like Max?s apparent battle of confidence with Vincent (Tom Cruise), the Vikings were too confronted by alter egos, starting hot, and finishing not. To suppress those lingering skeletons, Minnesota needs to be assertive and play a full season of consistent, confident football.
What we Learned from Last Year:
At the bum end of the 2002-03 season suspicions were raised in regards to Daunte Culpepper?s role as a franchise quarterback but all the question marks were put to rest when Culpepper set career high?s in TD/INT ratio, and completion percentage this past season. Daunte did less leg work, and focused more on his arm work. Being one of the more gifted quarterbacks in the league, the book on Culpepper was that he tried to do too much for his team, when all he really needed was get the ball in the hands of his teammates.
Last off-season several teams suffered key injuries to vital players and the Minnesota Vikings were not excluded from that cluster. The Vikings lost starting running back Michael Bennett, who averaged a stunning 5.1 yards per carry in 2002, but they didn?t skip a beat as Onterrio Smith and Moe Williams subbed in adamantly (take notice Miami). While Williams saw the bulk of the first team reps, it was Smith who posted the potential laden numbers with a whopping 579 yards rushing on only 107 carries.
The immense offensive line disclosed little weakness and was once again a large factor in the smooth runnings of the attack. Mixed with a potent running game, the Minnesota Vikings tapped into their offensive potential, but they didn?t near the possible peak.
Evaluating the passing offense is a two-sided coin. Sure, Randy Moss was once again exceptional, and Culpepper?s 3500 yards were excellent, but as compelling as those facts are, the Vikings? offense had no other receiving threat opposite of Randy Moss. Running back Moe Williams finished second in team receiving behind Moss, and the combined receptions of second and third receivers Kelly Campbell and Nate Burleson didn?t even half Randy Moss? catches. They were ranked first in the league, but I?m hard to please.
The defensive story read a little differently. Though the statistics in general advanced, sometimes numbers don?t tell the entire tale. Sack totals significantly improved and results were immediately visible with the 7th most takeaways in the league, but just like the rest of the team, the defense lacked heart.
Minnesota appears to have all the constituents to run for the Super Bowl, but every time the words started to roll off your tongue they experience a lip biting setback like a blowout to the 1-7 Chargers, or a 28-18 loss to a decimated, Rick Mirer-led Oakland Raiders.
Maybe it?s the coach who is not sufficiently inspiring, or maybe the overall team lacks chest, but if they suffer another heart attack like last season some major changes will ensue.
What Has Changed?:
Body slams to the team?s roster were not necessary because, in essence, they were one down away from making the playoffs, but tinkers were still made.
The lion?s share of modifications came on the defensive side of the ball.
A front four that was pinned for the 3-count only a few years ago has been steroided to one of the best in the league. Chris Hovan headlines the group with Pro Bowl accolades, and last year?s rookie Kevin Williams gave him outstanding support. Even WWE athlete Brock Lesnar has jumped ship to the Vikings defensive line in attempts to make them the next best thing. On the outsides, veteran Kenny Mixon has been rock-solid in his two seasons with Minny, but the use of a first-round selection on USC standout Kenechi Udeze demonstrates the team?s interest in a feared end.
With all the sacks the Vikes enjoyed last year the word ?opportunistic? was used to describe a defense that bent and broke, but managed to trigger turnovers aplenty. With the positive prospects of abundant contributions from rookies Kenechi Udeze, Dontarrius Thomas, and sophomore E.J. Henderson, the word good may be more frequented as the description for the D.
A secondary which picked 22 passes, will welcome another bright young corner in Antoine Winfield. His adept shutdown skills should allow an improving defense to get more aggressive. Management has done an admirable job reconstructing what once was a very weak team.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings will try to continue last year?s accomplishments when they boasted the most productive offense in the league. Two important amendments have been made to the offense in the form of Marcus Robinson and Michael Bennett.
As dumb as it sounds, Bennett?s return may go unnoticed when you consider that the running backs last year combined for 1350 yards and 10 TD without him. What he does offer, that neither Moe Williams nor Onterrio Smith can bout, is his track-star speed. A crack can represent rural parts of Alberta to Bennett as his blazing quickness is rivaled by few athletes in the whole league.
Marcus Robinson is expected to add a genuine second receiving option next to Randy Moss, but it?s not certain whether he?s capable of that. Playing along side a string of deprived quarterbacks in Baltimore, Robinson had a strong showing in the second half of last season with 451 yards, and 6 touchdowns while only starting 5 games. With the exception of one season, Robinson?s career has been mired by injury and mild productivity. Randy Moss would adore facing less attention, but more importantly, if Robinson can fit the bill it will allow speedster Kelly Campbell to work against the third cornerback of the opposing team.
In a perfect world, this offense could easily average 400 yards a game and have satisfactory assistance from the defense, but as the Vikings verified last season, numbers are not the determining factor.
The question is: are the Vikings going to wrestle like the Heart Break kid Shawn Michaels or do they have some Bret the Hitman Hart?
O/U 8.5:
Knock, Knock. Who?s there? The Lions, Bears, and Packers. The Lions, Bears and Packers who? The Lions, Bears, and Packers are all improved this season and will look to pants the Vikings out of a playoff spot once again. Mentally, the Packers are still the class of the division until someone rips that rug from under them, so Minny, the ball is in your court. They play: DAL, @PHI, @HOU, @NO, TEN, NYG, @IND, JAX, SEA, and @WAS.
Fantasy Sleeper:
With a lineup in the Vikings backfield just itching to snake a carry away from Mr. Bennett, and add to that his absence from a chunk of last season, those facts may motivate many a fantasy player to shy from the fellow. His talent is limitless, and although Mike Tice is anxious to feed him handoffs, Moe Williams usually gets the red-zone calls. Nonetheless Bennett is a solid number 2 running back and should have a fantastic year barring any fitness setbacks.
Some surprises are pleasant. Others?not so much. Like when Max (Jamie Foxx) makes a deep connection with Annie (Jada Pinkett Smith) in the action thriller Collateral, or when the Minnesota Vikings started 6-0, that was an amiable surprise. But when Max finds out his next cab customer is a contract killer, or when the Vikings finished 3-7 while being stripped of all their dignity in Arizona, that was not as jovial. Like Max?s apparent battle of confidence with Vincent (Tom Cruise), the Vikings were too confronted by alter egos, starting hot, and finishing not. To suppress those lingering skeletons, Minnesota needs to be assertive and play a full season of consistent, confident football.
What we Learned from Last Year:
At the bum end of the 2002-03 season suspicions were raised in regards to Daunte Culpepper?s role as a franchise quarterback but all the question marks were put to rest when Culpepper set career high?s in TD/INT ratio, and completion percentage this past season. Daunte did less leg work, and focused more on his arm work. Being one of the more gifted quarterbacks in the league, the book on Culpepper was that he tried to do too much for his team, when all he really needed was get the ball in the hands of his teammates.
Last off-season several teams suffered key injuries to vital players and the Minnesota Vikings were not excluded from that cluster. The Vikings lost starting running back Michael Bennett, who averaged a stunning 5.1 yards per carry in 2002, but they didn?t skip a beat as Onterrio Smith and Moe Williams subbed in adamantly (take notice Miami). While Williams saw the bulk of the first team reps, it was Smith who posted the potential laden numbers with a whopping 579 yards rushing on only 107 carries.
The immense offensive line disclosed little weakness and was once again a large factor in the smooth runnings of the attack. Mixed with a potent running game, the Minnesota Vikings tapped into their offensive potential, but they didn?t near the possible peak.
Evaluating the passing offense is a two-sided coin. Sure, Randy Moss was once again exceptional, and Culpepper?s 3500 yards were excellent, but as compelling as those facts are, the Vikings? offense had no other receiving threat opposite of Randy Moss. Running back Moe Williams finished second in team receiving behind Moss, and the combined receptions of second and third receivers Kelly Campbell and Nate Burleson didn?t even half Randy Moss? catches. They were ranked first in the league, but I?m hard to please.
The defensive story read a little differently. Though the statistics in general advanced, sometimes numbers don?t tell the entire tale. Sack totals significantly improved and results were immediately visible with the 7th most takeaways in the league, but just like the rest of the team, the defense lacked heart.
Minnesota appears to have all the constituents to run for the Super Bowl, but every time the words started to roll off your tongue they experience a lip biting setback like a blowout to the 1-7 Chargers, or a 28-18 loss to a decimated, Rick Mirer-led Oakland Raiders.
Maybe it?s the coach who is not sufficiently inspiring, or maybe the overall team lacks chest, but if they suffer another heart attack like last season some major changes will ensue.
What Has Changed?:
Body slams to the team?s roster were not necessary because, in essence, they were one down away from making the playoffs, but tinkers were still made.
The lion?s share of modifications came on the defensive side of the ball.
A front four that was pinned for the 3-count only a few years ago has been steroided to one of the best in the league. Chris Hovan headlines the group with Pro Bowl accolades, and last year?s rookie Kevin Williams gave him outstanding support. Even WWE athlete Brock Lesnar has jumped ship to the Vikings defensive line in attempts to make them the next best thing. On the outsides, veteran Kenny Mixon has been rock-solid in his two seasons with Minny, but the use of a first-round selection on USC standout Kenechi Udeze demonstrates the team?s interest in a feared end.
With all the sacks the Vikes enjoyed last year the word ?opportunistic? was used to describe a defense that bent and broke, but managed to trigger turnovers aplenty. With the positive prospects of abundant contributions from rookies Kenechi Udeze, Dontarrius Thomas, and sophomore E.J. Henderson, the word good may be more frequented as the description for the D.
A secondary which picked 22 passes, will welcome another bright young corner in Antoine Winfield. His adept shutdown skills should allow an improving defense to get more aggressive. Management has done an admirable job reconstructing what once was a very weak team.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings will try to continue last year?s accomplishments when they boasted the most productive offense in the league. Two important amendments have been made to the offense in the form of Marcus Robinson and Michael Bennett.
As dumb as it sounds, Bennett?s return may go unnoticed when you consider that the running backs last year combined for 1350 yards and 10 TD without him. What he does offer, that neither Moe Williams nor Onterrio Smith can bout, is his track-star speed. A crack can represent rural parts of Alberta to Bennett as his blazing quickness is rivaled by few athletes in the whole league.
Marcus Robinson is expected to add a genuine second receiving option next to Randy Moss, but it?s not certain whether he?s capable of that. Playing along side a string of deprived quarterbacks in Baltimore, Robinson had a strong showing in the second half of last season with 451 yards, and 6 touchdowns while only starting 5 games. With the exception of one season, Robinson?s career has been mired by injury and mild productivity. Randy Moss would adore facing less attention, but more importantly, if Robinson can fit the bill it will allow speedster Kelly Campbell to work against the third cornerback of the opposing team.
In a perfect world, this offense could easily average 400 yards a game and have satisfactory assistance from the defense, but as the Vikings verified last season, numbers are not the determining factor.
The question is: are the Vikings going to wrestle like the Heart Break kid Shawn Michaels or do they have some Bret the Hitman Hart?
O/U 8.5:
Knock, Knock. Who?s there? The Lions, Bears, and Packers. The Lions, Bears and Packers who? The Lions, Bears, and Packers are all improved this season and will look to pants the Vikings out of a playoff spot once again. Mentally, the Packers are still the class of the division until someone rips that rug from under them, so Minny, the ball is in your court. They play: DAL, @PHI, @HOU, @NO, TEN, NYG, @IND, JAX, SEA, and @WAS.
Fantasy Sleeper:
With a lineup in the Vikings backfield just itching to snake a carry away from Mr. Bennett, and add to that his absence from a chunk of last season, those facts may motivate many a fantasy player to shy from the fellow. His talent is limitless, and although Mike Tice is anxious to feed him handoffs, Moe Williams usually gets the red-zone calls. Nonetheless Bennett is a solid number 2 running back and should have a fantastic year barring any fitness setbacks.
