Andy Dufresne said:
Here's a quick breakdown. It adds up to frustrating years ahead for Vikings fans:
Quarterback
Obviously a disaster. With Favre retiring and Jackson likely leaving via free agency, you’re left with a converted QB to WR to QB at the top of your depth chart.
Running back
AP is the best in the game but is injury prone (yeah, I said it). Gerhart looks every bit the limited white guy running back.
Wide receiver
I love the guy but, how can you count on Percy Harvin? Can Rice come back all the way from injury? If so you’ve got something there. But Camarillo is nothing but a role player and Berrian was the worst FA signing in Vikes history
Tight end
Shiancoe is all right but Kleinsasser is just an extra lineman and at the end of his career.
Offensive line
McKinnie is still my least favorite Viking and has, once again, regressed this year. Hutchinson is nearing the end. The center play has killed them again this year and they started a 5th round rookie at the other guard spot for a big chunk of the year. Loadholt is an okay right tackle. The depth is terrible.
Defensive line
Allen and Kevin Williams are studs. Ray Edwards will likely leave in free agency. The depth is okay.
Linebackers
Greenway’s a stud. E.J.’s comeback was miraculous, but his play wasn’t as great as it seems. Leber’s play seems to have fallen off.
Secondary
The main problem for the Vikes the last three years was completely ruined by injury and exposed by opponents. Winfield can’t play forever and Griffin will be coming off his second reconstructive surgery. Chris Cook is a walking injury – just like he was in college. The depth is abysmal as is the play they’ve gotten from their safeties.
Coaching staff
Not a believer in Leslie Frazier as a head coach. There’s a reason he’s been turned down by so many teams after interviewing – and it’s not about race. Bevell still is and always has been out of his league as an offensive coordinator.
My $0.02 as a "local" who has bled purple since the 1970s:
QB - Obviously, a trainwreck. We won too many games this year to likely get a "franchise" QB out of the deal, and outside of Philadelphia possibly moving Kolb, it appears that our only options for getting a "franchise" QB will be more of the same (delaying the inevitable need to get a young QB we can ride).
RB - AP injury prone? Nah. And Gerhart has looked pretty darned good IMHO for a guy that got into mini-camps and what-not late (classes/graduation at Stanford). Young is also a fine RB3. Not starting material, but probably as good as what Green Bay has been rolling out there after Ryan Grant went down.
WR - Rice and Harvin will make for a formidable duo in the future, if they can get Rice to re-sign. If Rice leaves? Lots more eight-in-the-box for ADP for the next few seasons.
TE - Shiancoe is fine/solid, but I'd really like them to go out and get another young playmaker who can help stretch the field. ESPECIALLY if they cannot re-sign Rice.
Offensive Line - The position I'm worried about being a :trainwreck: even more than QB! If you think that QB has been neglected the past few years, just look at how the team HASN'T really taken care of its depth/talent at offensive line since the Hutchinson signing. Loadholt is gonna start for them for a while, and Sullivan might come around if he can ever learn to snap the darned ball in shotgun! Other than that? It gets even more scary.
Defensive Line - I actually think Robison will be a nice replacement for Edwards in 2011 (after Edwards probably signs elsewhere). Edwards is a talent that will be hard to replace, but Robison has a nice motor and seemed to turn it up a notch in 2010. I'm more worried about getting more push after the snap at Pat Williams' spot if he retires or signs elsewhere.
Linebacker - Other than having a serious baller/playmaker at safety, the Vikings defense needs another playmaker at linebacker. Greenway is excellent IMHO, and Henderson's return from that horrific leg injury is amazing! That said, they need another "Greenway" (but even better than Greenway) who can cover sideline to sideline and is a ball-hawk...always making the tackle or being right around the pile when making tackles.
Secondary - See Linebacker.
Seriously though, add Griffin back to the mix at CB and get a top 5-10 safety inserted into that secondary, and I think the defense instantly becomes a lot stronger. More of a pass rush in 2010 would have helped protect their lack of depth this year, but injuries to the secondary AND an off-year related to a pass rush really did the Vikings in this season.
Coaching Staff - I have mixed feelings about Frazier. I don't see a lot of better options out there...or at least better options who will want to come to Minnesota. I think the Vikings could do a lot worse than Frazier...but I agree he's probably not the long-term solution.
@ tagging Peterson with injury prone. Might as well talk about all the fumbles he had this year. Oh, right.) QB, O-line, secondary, run D, there are problems everywhere, even WR w/ the injuries and questions that Percy's migraines give.
@ tagging Peterson with injury prone. Might as well talk about all the fumbles he had this year. Oh, right.)
