Rich Gannon : Vikes favorite to win NFC North

[pbmax]

With due respect to Rastak, the Vikings have won the offseason buzz rankings each year since 2000. And every year they prove it meaningless.

Although Cleveland may take the title from them this year. In previous years, their only competition was the Cardinals.

The paper champions of the NFL....go Queens.

That's right. Anything can happen once the season starts.

Favored in May doesn't mean very much. But the sports guys have to choose someone.

[b bulldog]

Harv, we'll get a chance to see who is correct very early in the season on this one.

[Fritz]

John David Booty is probably the answer right now at QB in Edina or Eden Prairie or wherever they are now.

Trying to "improve" Tavaris Jackson is like trying to improve Kyle Orten or Tim Couch.

or Rex Grossman.


Watch. Jon Kitna and the Lions offense will go downhill fast without Mike Martz.

It will be very odd seeing a Martz offense in S.F.

Ah, Motife. Please do not let any of the Lions' players know that. They are very, very busy this offseason - strenuously letting reporters know that last year's offensive slide was solely due to Martz, and the reporters are dutifully repoting that never before have they seen players so glad to get rid of an assistant.

There is a huge, huge bus in Detroit. Let's see who Rod Marinelli has thrown under it so far:

His Defensive coordinator - the guy that ran the Jets' D. Name slips my mind. Some call from Packerrats for him to get hired here when MM came in. Henderson?

Hif offensive coordinator, Mike Martz.

Yet Marinelli constantly talks about "taking responsibility." Hmm. He hired these guys, and he fired them both. Woner if there's anyone else he can fire after this season. My guess is that since Kitna was a huge Martz supporter, after this season Marinelli will ditch Kitna and let the media and team assume that it was Kitna's fault the Lions sucked this year.

[Rastak]

Okay, I thought I'd give you guys my take on what the Vikings have done. They sure as hell needed to improve their WR corps and trading Williamson did that right off the bat. I'm disppointed of course, the dude was really quick both off the line and when he caught the ball. I wish he would have done the latter once in a while. Berrian is good but not top 10, but obviously a big upgrade from what was there. Rice is fun to watch and I expect he'll be a big factor in 2008.


On defense I expext Allen, Robison and the Williams sisters (as Harv correctly called them!) to kick some major ass in 2008. I believe the Vikings upgraded their safety position and should benefit from some younger CB's getting better.


Ok, now the big thing. The man we all love to either rag on or hate. Tarvaris Jackson. I have no clue what he'll do in 2008. As a person who watched every snap of the season for the Vikings, I can say he definately improved at the end of the season. His QB rating was about 83 in the last half. Is that good? Ummmm, no. Better than it was though. He played a very good game against Denver, I watched it twice. He isn't a great QB now, I admit that. He was screwed by others mistakes more than his own the last few games which is why the team upgraded the WR by getting rid Williamson. No stupid jump passes and he ran the 2 minute offense quite well.

One last thing I'll say....I have watched at least 4 or 5 sure TD's dropped the last year and a half. The guy will improve and if he has guys who catch the ball, his numbers will look alot better. I still wonder on some things myself, he isn;t very accurate long and he throws the ball too hard on short routes. He moves well in the pocket and he made some great throws on some mid range passed later in the season. That's where he can use that arm strength.

[mngolf19]

I am right with you Ras. If even the throws that Williamson dropped last year are caught by him or anyone, they likely win min 2 more games. Just having guys that will catch the ball that is thrown will make a HUGE difference.

[The Leaper]

The Packers certainly took a step back...losing a HOF caliber QB like Favre, even in his fading twilight, hurts. However, the young kids around Favre the last two years have gained a ton of confidence and experience that will prove key for allowing Rodgers to produce immediate results.

The Vikings did not hurt themselves this offseason. Getting Allen was a nice move...with the behemoths in the Viking interior DL, Allen doesn't need to be a beast against the run. He'll be allowed to do what he does best...get after the QB. However, the Vikings lack depth and have no leadership at the QB position.

Both teams should be in contention to win the NFC North right down to the final weeks of December. Both are 9-10 win teams IMO. I don't see how anyone can label either the Vikings or Packers as prohibitive favorites to win their division at this point. I think the Packers probably have a slightly greater chance to succeed (i.e. fewer weaknesses) but the Vikings have a slightly higher ceiling of potential (i.e. stronger strengths). Neither's edge is all that convincing.

[The Leaper]

I am right with you Ras. If even the throws that Williamson dropped last year are caught by him or anyone, they likely win min 2 more games. Just having guys that will catch the ball that is thrown will make a HUGE difference.

The question I have is whether or not anyone at the WR position for the Vikings has the raw physical talent to get open for passes like those which Williamson dropped. Can the Viking WRs get consistent separation? They seem like a rather pedestrian lot IMO.

To me, the lack of weapons often is the cause for a young QBs tendency for inconsistent play more than anything else. That is one reason I feel good about Rodgers...he's got high end talent to work with, which is a major plus for any QB but especially for a young guy with limited experience.

[mngolf19]

I am right with you Ras. If even the throws that Williamson dropped last year are caught by him or anyone, they likely win min 2 more games. Just having guys that will catch the ball that is thrown will make a HUGE difference.

The question I have is whether or not anyone at the WR position for the Vikings has the raw physical talent to get open for passes like those which Williamson dropped. Can the Viking WRs get consistent separation? They seem like a rather pedestrian lot IMO.

To me, the lack of weapons often is the cause for a young QBs tendency for inconsistent play more than anything else. That is one reason I feel good about Rodgers...he's got high end talent to work with, which is a major plus for any QB but especially for a young guy with limited experience.

Berrian will be asked to run Williamson's routes. He's shown he can do that at least at an avg rate. And can definitely catch better. Rice will likely be the biggest improver as he improved greatly over the year at least when he was healthy. Those guys can get open. And if teams are going 8 in the box again, I can't see any reason why they shouldn't get open.

[Tony Oday]

The biggest concern for the Vikes should be the OL this year. I mean you have an older Birk (who wants to stay however they arent extending him) 4 felonies charged against McKinnie and an unproven right side...

With a crap QB (sorry Ras but he is terrible) and some second tier WR (man think about that this used to be the strength!) this line HAS to step up however it doesnt look like it will happen.

[cpk1994]

The biggest concern for the Vikes should be the OL this year. I mean you have an older Birk (who wants to stay however they arent extending him) 4 felonies charged against McKinnie and an unproven right side...

With a crap QB (sorry Ras but he is terrible) and some second tier WR (man think about that this used to be the strength!) this line HAS to step up however it doesnt look like it will happen.

McKinnie's 4 felonies may help the Vikings if his replacement is better than a turnstile in pass pro.

[Rastak]

The biggest concern for the Vikes should be the OL this year. I mean you have an older Birk (who wants to stay however they arent extending him) 4 felonies charged against McKinnie and an unproven right side...

With a crap QB (sorry Ras but he is terrible) and some second tier WR (man think about that this used to be the strength!) this line HAS to step up however it doesnt look like it will happen.

McKinnie's 4 felonies may help the Vikings if his replacement is better than a turnstile in pass pro.

So now 1 == 4? Is this new math?

[wist43]

I see the Vikings as the favorite... they can run the ball, they can stop the run, they have a pretty solid overall defense - Allen should help the pass rush.

Jackson doesn't have to be the difference maker for them - Rodgers does, and he's not a difference maker. Their systems, and the personnel they have plugged into those systems, gives the edge to the Vikings.

Green Bay is status quo, or worse across the board... Lee will be picked on until he proves he can play. Rodgers will be worse than Favre. Harrell is looking like a very shaky pick at this point, the OL is shaky, and both Corners are a year older.

The Vikings should be the favorite.

[Bretsky]

I see the Vikings as the favorite... they can run the ball, they can stop the run, they have a pretty solid overall defense - Allen should help the pass rush.

Jackson doesn't have to be the difference maker for them - Rodgers does, and he's not a difference maker. Their systems, and the personnel they have plugged into those systems, gives the edge to the Vikings.

Green Bay is status quo, or worse across the board... Lee will be picked on until he proves he can play. Rodgers will be worse than Favre. Harrell is looking like a very shaky pick at this point, the OL is shaky, and both Corners are a year older.

The Vikings should be the favorite.

Our WR's are better
Our TE's may be better
The younger OL should theoretically improve
Lee will be better than Jarrett Bush.......or hopefully will
Our safeties should be at least as good
Our DL is not as good without Cory Williams....but we get Jolly back
Our QB is not as good, but the homer in me says he's far better than Jackson


I don't think we should figure the Vikings moves compared to our lack of them allows them to gain five games.

[packers11]

The Vikings will never be a favorite unless T.Jackson shows something... He looked like complete shit in my book and stats do not tell the whole story...

Most of the games I saw him he would dump it off to A.P. and his stats would get padded...

Now maybe that defense can haul ass and boost the vikings (ie. the superbowl bears with rexy at the helm) but I don't see enough playmakers on that Defense like the Bears had...

Vikings will probably fall right under the Packers with 2-3 less wins, and might make the wildcard...

[Iron Mike]

Our DL is not as good without Cory Williams....but we get Jolly back

And now that Jason Taylor's done with his dancing gig..........