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Offseason update: Minnesota Vikings
By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com
(June 4, 2007) --
This is what I like about the Minnesota Vikings' offseason moves:
They resisted the temptation to use the seventh overall pick of the draft on Brady Quinn, a quarterback who would need developing, and stuck to the plan of continuing to develop 2006 quarterback selection Tarvaris Jackson while also having him compete with Brooks Bollinger for the starting job.
The Vikings wisely spent their first-round choice on a player who could prove to be a dominant, game-changing force right away -- running back Adrian Peterson.
The former Oklahoma star has tremendous power to be highly effective on inside runs but also can turn the corner while barreling over smaller defenders on the perimeter. Peterson, who has spent part of his offseason workouts returning kicks, is a constant threat to go the distance with the ball. And the best part for the Vikings is that they won't have to rely solely on him for the strong rushing production necessary to help take pressure off of Jackson or Bollinger. They still have a solid alternative in Chester Taylor, who should be much fresher toward the end of the season than he was at the same point a year ago when carrying the load solo began to take its toll.
Second-rounder Sidney Rice, a former South Carolina standout, has the talent to quickly emerge as a dynamic playmaker at wide receiver.
The Vikings desperately need that to happen given how much Troy Williamson, another South Carolina product, struggled last season.
Rice has the size (6-foot-3-plus, 197 pounds), speed, athleticism, leaping ability and hands to make spectacular catches. He does, however, need to work at refining his skills to be more consistent and polished in all aspects of his game.
The Vikings got some help for their woeful pass coverage by signing free-agent safety Mike Doss, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.
Doss is recovering well from a severe knee injury. He has participated, albeit on a limited basis, in offseason workouts. At the very least, Doss offers additional depth at safety, but he could end up providing more if his knee cooperates and he makes a splash in his playing opportunities.
Third-rounder Marcus McCauley (cornerback, Fresno State), fifth-rounder Aundrae Allison (wide receiver, East Carolina), and sixth-rounder Rufus Alexander (linebacker, Oklahoma) are capable of making solid contributions in the short term while eventually becoming solid starters.
The versatile McCauley will compete to become the Vikings' nickelback as a rookie but could ultimately end up at safety.
This is what concerns me:
The departure of defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who became head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, could have a significant negative impact.
Tomlin's replacement, former Indianapolis Colts assistant Leslie Frazier, has a thorough understanding of the scheme and was a student of Tony Dungy. But Tomlin's energy and charisma made him extremely popular with players that now must make a transition to a new coordinator.
The Vikings did not do enough to address their lack of an obvious No. 1 receiver.
Rice could emerge to fill that role, but he still is a rookie and the team needs at least one other receiver that would command respect from opposing defenses for being a constant big-play threat. Williamson certainly wasn't that guy last year. Free-agent newcomer Bobby Wade, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, primarily runs short and intermediate routes from the slot.
Kevin and Pat Williams continue to give the Vikings one of the best defensive-tackle tandems in the league; they were the primary reason the team allowed an NFL-low 61.6 rushing yards per game in '06.
But Minnesota's pass rush still leaves plenty to be desired. Unless right end Erasmus James makes a full recovery from a serious knee injury (a true sense of his progress won't be known until training camp), the Vikings don't figure to be a whole lot better in their ability to apply consistent pressure on the quarterback.
Chicago has better coaching and a much better secondary, better LB corps, WR and TE. For the $ MN has invested in the OL, it's arguable that it's not much, if any better than Chicago's.
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