Offseason update: Minnesota Vikings

[wist43]

Top to bottom, Minnesota is as talented as Chicago... If the Vikings had a QB, they'd be the favorite.

I must have missed the part where Chicago was #31 against the pass this past season. 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.

I don't think they are close at all in talent.

Talent is one thing... putting it all together into cohesive units on the field is another.

The Vikings have always been a poorly run organization... I regard them as one of those teams that it doesn't really matter how much talent they have... they'll never win it all, b/c there's something missing w/in the organization itself.

Lack of character, lack of vision, lack of something... whatever it is, they can't put it all together on the field. But talentwise??? Right now, with the exception of QB, I think they stack up pretty well with the Bears.

To tell you the truth, I think that pathetic excuse for a stadium has something to do with it... horrible place to watch a game. Going there to watch a game is akin to going to the dentist.

[Zool]

To tell you the truth, I think that pathetic excuse for a stadium has something to do with it... horrible place to watch a game. Going there to watch a game is akin to going to the dentist.

It is the single worst venue I've been to. I cannot wait until the Twinks new stadium opens. I will actually go watch games that dont involve the Brewers. I am hard pressed to bring myself to a Twins-Brewers game next week cause the "homer dome" is such a dump.

[Cheesehead Craig]

To tell you the truth, I think that pathetic excuse for a stadium has something to do with it... horrible place to watch a game. Going there to watch a game is akin to going to the dentist.

It is the single worst venue I've been to. I cannot wait until the Twinks new stadium opens. I will actually go watch games that dont involve the Brewers. I am hard pressed to bring myself to a Twins-Brewers game next week cause the "homer dome" is such a dump.

I'm going as my neighbor and some other friends are going. I'm the only Brewer fan among the bunch.

The place is very aptly named the Big Inflatable Toilet by the locals.

I too cannot wait for the new park as well as like you, I very likely will go to a game that doesn't involve the Brewers.

[The Leaper]

Top to bottom, Minnesota is as talented as Chicago... If the Vikings had a QB, they'd be the favorite.

I don't see that. The Viking run defense is pretty good, but their secondary was one of the most pathetic units I've seen in awhile...and we just got through seeing a rather pathetic group in Green Bay a couple years back. The Bear defense doesn't have many weaknesses when everyone is healthy/not suspended. They have more talent and more playmakers.

On offense, the Vikings may have as much talent as the Bears after this year's draft...but that talent has no experience. Jackson is a huge risk to me...he could potentially be a great QB if he puts everything together, but that rarely happens.

The Vikings also do not come close to the Bears in terms of special teams. Longwell is a fading kicker who is a liability on kickoffs, even in a dome, and the Vikings do not possess a dynamic return man like Hester.

Sorry Wist...I can't say how I see how the Vikings have talent comparable to the Bears. The Vikings had a nice draft this year, but they still have numerous gaping holes on that team.

[MadtownPacker]

Out of curiosity, did one of them F*** your wife or something? Disliking some team and hoping they move are different things.

We all have our teams to hate but I never actually hope they move or fold.


Think about it, it's a friggen game. There are LOTS of Packer fans in the world, would I really want them all to have broken hearts becasue the team folded or moved? NO. Why would you want that? I ask that question because I'm really curious......

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Why you gotta bring up someones family? I dont mind and often enjoy someone talking shit about me but when they bring up my people it makes me think very low of that person.

[Spaulding]

Wist, not trying to live in the past but how does Minnesota figure as an always poorly run organization?

Sure they've had their recent issues but without living in the past, the 70's was a pretty good decade for them and the 80's weren't all that shabby either. Even the 90's had their regular season moments before the playoff debacles but to suggest they've always been poorly run is a gross mis-statement.

And talent means nothing unless it leads to on the field results. Minnesota has a young unproven quarterback and a 2nd year military minded head coach.

I don't see good things for them under Childress unless he changes his approach as I would think today's pampered players don't respond well to his coaching style.

[HarveyWallbangers]

It is the single worst venue I've been to. I cannot wait until the Twinks new stadium opens. I will actually go watch games that dont involve the Brewers.

Agreed.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't think they are close at all in talent.

Agreed. Chicago has nice balance--outside of their QB.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I am hard pressed to bring myself to a Twins-Brewers game next week cause the "homer dome" is such a dump.

I'm going as my neighbor and some other friends are going. I'm the only Brewer fan among the bunch.

I too cannot wait for the new park as well as like you, I very likely will go to a game that doesn't involve the Brewers.

Superfan and I will be going to the Friday night game with a couple of friends. Which game(s) will you be going to?

[Zool]

Sounds like I might be there Friday and Sunday. Sunday for sure, and me and a Twinks fan from work might be heading up for the Friday night game.

My man crush on JJ will continue from close proximity.

[wist43]

Top to bottom, Minnesota is as talented as Chicago... If the Vikings had a QB, they'd be the favorite.

I don't see that. The Viking run defense is pretty good, but their secondary was one of the most pathetic units I've seen in awhile...and we just got through seeing a rather pathetic group in Green Bay a couple years back. The Bear defense doesn't have many weaknesses when everyone is healthy/not suspended. They have more talent and more playmakers.

On offense, the Vikings may have as much talent as the Bears after this year's draft...but that talent has no experience. Jackson is a huge risk to me...he could potentially be a great QB if he puts everything together, but that rarely happens.

The Vikings also do not come close to the Bears in terms of special teams. Longwell is a fading kicker who is a liability on kickoffs, even in a dome, and the Vikings do not possess a dynamic return man like Hester.

Sorry Wist...I can't say how I see how the Vikings have talent comparable to the Bears. The Vikings had a nice draft this year, but they still have numerous gaping holes on that team.

Their talent is spread over different positions, but I think it's at least comparable.

That said, the Bears have most of their top end talent concentrated on the defensive side of the ball, so it all comes together on the field as a dominant unit.

The Vikings on the other hand have their top end talent more spread out.

OL: Birk, Hutchinson, and McKinnie are much better than what Chicago can throw out there. Although, Kruetz is as good it gets at C.

RB: Chester Taylor is a very good back IMO. Throw in Peterson, and I'd definitely take those two guys over Benson.

WR: Both teams have problems.

DL: Chicago's line is one of the best in the league, but they lack depth inside - as was shown to be the case when Harris went down; Johnson is talented, but he's an idiot and is suspended; Anderson, Ogunleye, and Brown are all good pass rushers and generally very active against the run.

Kevin and Pat Williams are absolute studs in the middle against the run... Kevin Williams is as a good a DT as there is in the league. Outside, the Vikings have swung for the fences in the draft a few times and missed. James might have been the answer, but I fear he's going to have a disappointing career due to being injury prone.

LB: No contest - Chicago wins this one hands down... although I think Leber is underrated, and Henderson improved last year. Greenway is an unknown, although I didn't like him much coming out. If Briggs gets the boot, then Chicago's LB'ing corp becomes: Urlacher, and a bunch of other guys.

DB: Antoine Winfield is the best CB on either team IMO, and I hold McCauley in pretty high regard. If he can straighten his head out, he'll be a steal; Sharper is OK, but inconsistent.

Vasher is very good cover corner, but not very physical; Tillman is a pretty good all around corner.

ST's: Chicago hands down.

When you break it down, I see them as being pretty close in overall talent... Minnesota simply doesn't have it concentrated on one side of the ball the way Chicago does.

[Merlin]

I still think Childress is their biggest weakness. He's been in the NFL, but he acts like a collge guy. Other than Vermeil and a few others, I don't think his approach will work.

I remember thinking we got the wrong guy at the start of last year, but I don't think Childress ( I can't remember any of his cool nicknames just now) will make it.

I totally agree with this. Jackson looks more like a Michael Vick type QB. Too quick to run and he doesn't read the defense or doesn't go through his progressions well, not sure which yet. The upshot is that Jackson can throw the ball and has some touch, something Vick will never accomplish. I think it's going to be a long season for the Vikings. I wouldn't be surprised to see Childress canned before the end of the season. Their defense against the run should be towards the top of the league and they should have a solid running game. Other then that, no QB threat to throw and a suspect secondary will make for a below average team.

Talent-wise "on paper" the Vikings do stack up with the Bears. But then again, the Vikings have always looked good "on paper". How many "paper championships" have they been predicted to win pre-season now? 20? 30?

[Cheesehead Craig]

I am hard pressed to bring myself to a Twins-Brewers game next week cause the "homer dome" is such a dump.

I'm going as my neighbor and some other friends are going. I'm the only Brewer fan among the bunch.

I too cannot wait for the new park as well as like you, I very likely will go to a game that doesn't involve the Brewers.

Superfan and I will be going to the Friday night game with a couple of friends. Which game(s) will you be going to?

Both Friday and Saturday night. Not sure where we are sitting as someone else bought the tix. Likely we're in around section 228-229, which is the 3rd base/Twins side. That's the usual place.

[HarveyWallbangers]

We're in section 136 for the Friday night game.

[Cheesehead Craig]

That said, the Bears have most of their top end talent concentrated on the defensive side of the ball, so it all comes together on the field as a dominant unit.

The Vikings on the other hand have their top end talent more spread out.

OL: Birk, Hutchinson, and McKinnie are much better than what Chicago can throw out there. Although, Kruetz is as good it gets at C.

Per Football Outsiders, the Bears OL did a better job both run and pass blocking than the Vikes did. (9 vs 14 run and 5 vs 22 in pass)

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol.php

CHI 1, MN 0

RB: Chester Taylor is a very good back IMO. Throw in Peterson, and I'd definitely take those two guys over Benson.

No argument here.

CHI 1, MN 1

WR: Both teams have problems.

While this is true, the Bears WR are quite a bit better than the Vikes. I'm not saying that the Bears have all that great of talent, but it is markedly better than the Vikes have. I don't think there is any question here.

CHI 2, MN 1

DL: Chicago's line is one of the best in the league, but they lack depth inside - as was shown to be the case when Harris went down; Johnson is talented, but he's an idiot and is suspended; Anderson, Ogunleye, and Brown are all good pass rushers and generally very active against the run.

Kevin and Pat Williams are absolute studs in the middle against the run... Kevin Williams is as a good a DT as there is in the league. Outside, the Vikings have swung for the fences in the draft a few times and missed. James might have been the answer, but I fear he's going to have a disappointing career due to being injury prone.

Agree here. MN has 2 superstuds at DT, but the Bears have a better overall line.

CHI 3, MN 1

LB: No contest - Chicago wins this one hands down... although I think Leber is underrated, and Henderson improved last year. Greenway is an unknown, although I didn't like him much coming out. If Briggs gets the boot, then Chicago's LB'ing corp becomes: Urlacher, and a bunch of other guys.

Yep.

CHI 4, MN 1

DB: Antoine Winfield is the best CB on either team IMO, and I hold McCauley in pretty high regard. If he can straighten his head out, he'll be a steal; Sharper is OK, but inconsistent.

Vasher is very good cover corner, but not very physical; Tillman is a pretty good all around corner.

Winfield is the best. But given the 31 pass ranking of the unit, I have to go Bears here. Good secondaries just don't get murdered like this.

CHI 5, MN 1

ST's: Chicago hands down.

CHI 6, MN 1

You forgot about the QBs. As much as everyone makes fun of Grossman, he's still better than anything the Vikes have. It's similar to the WR situation.

CHI 7, MN 1

When you break it down, I see them as being pretty close in overall talent... Minnesota simply doesn't have it concentrated on one side of the ball the way Chicago does.

From the individual breakdown, it's pretty clear that Chicago has more talent overall.