When your quarterback is Tarvaris Jackson and you’re thin at half-a-dozen important positions, it’s unlikely you’ll be the team to beat in any league. Even if you happen to reside in the less-than-frightening NFC North.
However, all things being equal, the Minnesota Vikings should make some noise this coming National Football League season. After all…
The Vikings made an outstanding off-season acquisition by getting defensive end Jared Allen, the league’s sack king, from the Kansas City Chiefs for a couple of first-round picks. It was a good deal for the Vikings, a team that believes it can win right now. First round picks are obviously important, but if a team can acquire a player who can help it win right now, it’s a deal that has to be done. As most NFL coaches know, there might not be a next year, at least if you don’t win now.
The Vikings also acquired unrestricted free agents Bernard Berrian from the Chicago Bears and unrestricted free agent Madieu Williams from the Cincinnati Bengals. Throw Berrian into the mix with Sidney Rice and Bobby Wade and the Vikings receiving corps is solid. Toss in Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson at runningback and there might not be enough footballs in the Twin Cities to make everyone happy.
The offensive line of Jim Kleinsasser or Visanthe Shiancoe at tight end, Ryan Cook at right tackle, Anthony Herrera at right guard, Matt Birk at centre, Steve Hutchinson at left guard and Bryant McKinnie at left tackle is well above average and the kick and punt return teams are passable.
On defence, the front seven is very good with Jared Allen at left end, Pat Williams at left tackle, Kevin Williams at right tackle, and Ray Edwards at right end. The linebackers are Ben Leber at WILL, E.J. Henderson at MAC and Chad Greenway at SAM. However, lose one starter and the whole thing could come apart. The Vikings defensive front seven — healthy — is very, very good. It’s so thin and unproven, however, that injuries could rip it apart
The defensive secondary is led by Darren Sharper at strong safety, with Madieu Williams at free safety and Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin on the corners. Marcus McCauley will see a lot of time in nickel and dime packages.
On the surface, and on paper, this team is pretty good. The key to the Vikings’ 2008 season, however, is health. If Tarvaris Jackson is healthy (he was 8-4 when he started last year), if Adrian Peterson stays healthy and if the defence stays healthy, the Vikings will challenge the Giants, Bucs, Seahawks and Redskins in the NFC.
If injuries strike down the important players on this team, the Vikings will find themselves battling Detroit for .500 and a trip to Giants Stadium to get smoked in the opening round of the playoffs.
Thousands of Winnipeggers head to the Twin Cities for Vikings football every year and I must admit, it’s been a few years since I liked my regional team at the start of a season.
But I do like a healthy Minnesota Vikings team. In fact, I like them to challenge in the NFC.
Injuries? Well, then it could get ugly.
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