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Here's some positivity. Good notes on the secondary--although they still ranked them below Cleveland. I threw the Vikings stats on here for RastaK--I had a feeling the Vikings secondary probably didn't great out nearly as well as most Purple Rubes would say. They were practically glowing about the play of Darren Sharper though.
12. Green Bay
Ask Al Harris if his shoulders are sore. They likely are  from carrying the Green Bay secondary last year. For most of the year, Green Bay was the best defense in the league against opposing number one receivers. In Week 4, for example, Harris kept Steve Smith to an absurd 12 yards on two catches. But his stats declined late in the year because he was so tired from being a one-man army.
To give Harris some help, GM Ted Thompson made a big splash in the free agent market, bringing the highly-touted, but sometimes underperforming Charles Woodson to Lambeau Field. Although not the superstar that he was a few years ago, Woodson should be a significant upgrade, and Ahmad Carroll should be better in the nickel role. The addition of Marquand Manuel helps an already decent safety core. The other starter, Nick Collins, ranked sixth out of 75 safeties by stopping 67 percent of passes during his rookie season.
15. Minnesota
The Vikings have a better secondary than they put on the field last year, and yet most of the starters remain the same. Cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot both had sub-par years last year. Winfield ranked 73rd among 83 cornerbacks with a 46 percent Stop Rate, and was tied with Quentin Jammer for most touchdowns allowed. Is this the same man that previous Viking owners hired a private plane to steal away from the New York Jets? Smoot was better, but far from the caliber of player who signs a six-year, $36 million contract. Smoot's Stop Rate of 48 percent ranked him an expensive 65th.
On the other hand, Darren Sharper was everything the Vikings could have asked for. Sharper provided excellent cover skills as well as good run stopping ability. His nine picks ranked him second only to Deltha O'Neal and Ty Law, and there were no touchdowns where game charters listed him as the defender in coverage. Safety Tank Williams was supposed to play opposite Sharper, but a broken kneecap will cost him the season; Dwight Smith, waived by New Orleans, will replace him. Like Williams, Smith is strong against the run, weak in pass coverage. The Vikings drafted hard-hitting Cedric Griffin in the second round. He played both cornerback and safety at Texas and adds versatility.
12. Green Bay
Ask Al Harris if his shoulders are sore. They likely are  from carrying the Green Bay secondary last year. For most of the year, Green Bay was the best defense in the league against opposing number one receivers. In Week 4, for example, Harris kept Steve Smith to an absurd 12 yards on two catches. But his stats declined late in the year because he was so tired from being a one-man army.
To give Harris some help, GM Ted Thompson made a big splash in the free agent market, bringing the highly-touted, but sometimes underperforming Charles Woodson to Lambeau Field. Although not the superstar that he was a few years ago, Woodson should be a significant upgrade, and Ahmad Carroll should be better in the nickel role. The addition of Marquand Manuel helps an already decent safety core. The other starter, Nick Collins, ranked sixth out of 75 safeties by stopping 67 percent of passes during his rookie season.
15. Minnesota
The Vikings have a better secondary than they put on the field last year, and yet most of the starters remain the same. Cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot both had sub-par years last year. Winfield ranked 73rd among 83 cornerbacks with a 46 percent Stop Rate, and was tied with Quentin Jammer for most touchdowns allowed. Is this the same man that previous Viking owners hired a private plane to steal away from the New York Jets? Smoot was better, but far from the caliber of player who signs a six-year, $36 million contract. Smoot's Stop Rate of 48 percent ranked him an expensive 65th.
On the other hand, Darren Sharper was everything the Vikings could have asked for. Sharper provided excellent cover skills as well as good run stopping ability. His nine picks ranked him second only to Deltha O'Neal and Ty Law, and there were no touchdowns where game charters listed him as the defender in coverage. Safety Tank Williams was supposed to play opposite Sharper, but a broken kneecap will cost him the season; Dwight Smith, waived by New Orleans, will replace him. Like Williams, Smith is strong against the run, weak in pass coverage. The Vikings drafted hard-hitting Cedric Griffin in the second round. He played both cornerback and safety at Texas and adds versatility.
Oh, BTW there Greg. Thanks for signing me and my daughters hats at Family Night! 
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