Minnesota Vikings
2010 record: 6-10, Last Place in the NFC North
Last playoff appearance: 2009, 1-1 in Playoffs (34-3W vs DAL; 31-28L at NO)
General Manager: Rick Spielman (5th Season)
Head Coach: Leslie Frazier – 1st full season with Vikings/NFL head coach; 3-3 overall
Offensive Coordinator: Bill Musgrave (1st Year)
Defensive Coordinator: Fred Pagac (1st Year)
Defensive alignment: 4-3, Tampa-2
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 17.6 (30th); 314.9(23rd); 193.5 PASS (26th); 121.4 RUSH (10th)
DEF: 21.8 PTS (18th); 312.6 YDS (8th); 210.4 PASS (10th); RUSH 102.2 (9th)
sweetcheeksfantasy Outlook:
If you followed the Vikings last year here’s what you learned:
1. Brett Favre played like a 40 year old QB and if the team does not have a legitimate QB option they stink. As a life long Vikings fan I knew that I should not have drank the No. 4 Kool-Aid…but did. I hated him the 15 years before joining the Vikings, but bought into him after he threw the last second TD pass against the 49ers during the 2009 season. Now realize my hatred was justified, not only did he deliver one of the most disappointing losses in Vikings Playoff history (31-28 Loss to the Saints), he also played uninspired football in 2010. If I see a purple No. 4 jersey on anyone I may punch them in the face.
2. Adrian Peterson is an absolute BEAST! and you should see more of the same this year. Peterson enters the 2011 seasons playing for a new contract. Peterson has done thing wearing the Purple that no other RB before him have done. He currently ranks 4th in team history in rushing years with 5,751 (Robert Smith – 6,818) and tied for 1st for TD runs with 52 (with Chuck Foreman and Bill Brown). Peterson is one of the most gifted and dangerous running backs in the league. Going into the 2010 season the only “knock” on Peterson was his ability to hold on the football. Peterson worked on this over the offseason and it showed. Peterson only lost 1 fumble during the 2010 regular season.
3. The Vikings defense is starting to look old. The 2010 Vikes defense was not nearly as dominate as the unit that led the team to the 2009 NFC Championship. With the possible retirement of Pat Williams and lingering four game suspension of both him and Kevin Williams a door should be opened door for some competition between the Vikings young defensive linemen.
The trade for Donavan McNabb has solidified the biggest question coming into the season. McNabb is coming off a career worst season, and has something to prove. Frazier did his home work before pulling the trigger on the deal (which is a good thing). McNabb takes over an offense that has a few question marks…Is there a #1 receiver on the roster?; How good is this offensive line?; What does McNabb still have in the tank?
Overall the NFC North may be the toughest division in the NFL this year. The Packers should be a lock to retain their Division title, but the rest of the pack (Bears, Lions, and Vikings) appears to have improved. I don’t know that the Vikings are the “best” of the rest, but think if they play well they should have a great chance of locking down a Wild Card birth.
Projected Starters:
QB- Donovan McNabb
RB- Adrian Peterson
FB- Ryan D’Imperio
WR- Bernard Berrian
WR- Percy Harvin
TE- Visanthe Shiancoe
OT- Charlie Johnson
OG- Steve Hutchinson
C- John Sullivan
OG- Chris DeGeare
OT- Phil Loadholt
DE- Brian Robison
DT- Remi Ayodele
DT- Kevin Williams
DE- Jared Allen
OLB- Chad Greenway
MLB- E.J. Henderson
OLB- Erin Henderson
CB- Antoine Winfield
S- Tyrell Johnson
S- Husain Abdullah
CB- Cedric Griffin
K- Ryan Longwell
P- Chris Kluwe
Fantasy Performers:
1. Adrian Peterson, RB
2. Percy Harvin, WR
3. Donovan McNabb
4. Bernard Berrian, WR
5. Visanthe Shiancoe, TE
6. Devin Aromashodu WR
7. Kyle Rudolph (R), TE
8. Ryan Longwell, K
2011 Schedule:
Week 1 – Sep 11: @ Chargers, 4:15 PM EST
Week 2 – Sep 18: vs Buccaneers, 1 PM EST
Week 3 – Sep 25: vs Lions, 1 PM EST
Week 4 – Oct 02: @ Chiefs, 1 PM EST
Week 5 – Oct 09: vs Cardinals, 1 PM EST
Week 6 – Oct 16: @ Bears, 8:20 PM EST
Week 7 – Oct 24: vs Packers, 4:15 PM EST
Week 8 – Oct 30: @ Panthers, 1 PM EST
Week 9 – Nov 6: BYE
Week 10 – Nov 13: @Packers, 8:30 PM EST
Week 11 – Nov 20: vs Raiders, 1 PM EST
Week 12 – Nov 27: @ Falcons, 1 PM EST
Week 13 – Dec 05: vs Broncos, 4:05 PM EST
Week 14 – Dec 11: @ Lions, 1 PM EST
Week 15 – Dec 15: vs Saints, 1 PM EST
Week 16 – Dec 24: @ Redskins, 1 PM EST
Week 17 – Jan 01: vs Bears, 1 PM EST
Free Agent Acquisitions:
WR- Devin Aromashodu (CHI)
DT- Remi Ayodele (NO)
WR- Michael Jenkins (ATL)
OT- Charlie Johnson (IND)
Free Agent Losses:
S- Husain Abdullah (ARI)
DE- Ray Edwards (ATL)
QB- Tarvaris Jackson (SEA)
WR- Sidney Rice (SEA)
CB- Frank Walker (TEN)
S- Madieau Williams (SF)
Re-signed:
OT- Ryan Cook
DT- Fred Evans
S- Eric Frampton
LB- Erin Henderson
PK-Ryan Longwell
Trades:
QB- Donovan McNabb from WAS for a 2012 – 6th round draft pick and a conditional 2013 6th round draft pick.
2011 Vikings Draft Review: To be completely honest, when the Vikings selected Christian Ponder with their first pick of the 2011 draft I felt like I stepped into a pile of dog poo, but after reviewing his bio and stats I may have been swayed. I would have liked to see the Vikes trade up and Ponder may have been somewhat of a stretch at 12 overall, but he also may be the most NFL ready. If Ponder takes the starting job week one his success…and health may depend on his O-Line. One of the biggest questions will be “Can he stay healthy?” He suffered a shoulder injury his junior year dealt with elbow injuries through his senior year. The selection of Kyle Rudolph provides Ponder (or whoever wins the starting QB job) a great safety net. Rudolph is a great complement to the aging Visanthe Shiancoe. Most publications have dubbed him as a “Rookie to Watch” this year. He has a large frame, excellent release technique, and above average ball control…everything you are looking for in a game changing TE. The Vikings also bolstered their defensive line with the selections of Christian Ballard. A once dominate group the Vikings defense show signs of aging during the 2010 season. Ballard is the perfect high up-side interior lineman the team will need if Pat Williams decides to retire. Overall the Vikings had a string draft; their success will most likely depend on the play of Ponder (unless they land a veteran QB through free agency).
Overall Draft Grade: B
Picks in 2011 NFL Draft:
Rd 1, Pick #: Christian Ponder QB- Florida State
Grade: B +
Rd 2, Pick #: Kyle Rudolph TE- Norte Dame
Grade: A
Rd 4, Pick #: Christian Ballard DT-Iowa
Grade: A
Rd 5, Pick # Brandon Burton CB- Utah
Grade: B
Rd 6, Pick # Demarcus Love OL- Arkansas
Grade: B +
Rd 6, Pick #: Mistral Raymond DB- South Florida
Grade: B
Rd 6, Pick #: Brandon Fusco OL- Slippery Rock
Grade: C
Rd 6, Pick #: Ross Homan LB-Ohio State
Grade: B
Rd 7, Pick #: D’Aundre Reed DE- Arizona
Grade: C
Rd 7, Pick #: Stephen Burton WR- West Texas A&M
Grade: B-
All grades obtained via ESPN
2010 Stat Leaders
Passing- Brett Farve- 358 (ATT), 217 (COMP), 60.6 (PCT), 2509 (YDS), 182.3 (YDS/G), 11 (TD), 19 (INT), 22 (SACK)
Rushing- Adrian Peterson- 283 (Att), 1298 (YDS), 9 (20+), 12 (TD) 86.5 (YDS/G), 1 (FUM)
Receiving- Percy Harvin- 71 (REC), 868 (YDS), 14 (20+), 5 (TD), 62,0 (YDS/G)
Kicking- Ryan Longwell- 94.4 (PCT), 48 (LONG), 0 (1-19), 7-7 (20-29), 8-9 (30-39), 2-2 (40-49) 0-0 (50+) 30 (XPM)
Returning- Percy Harvin- Kickoffs 40 (ATT), 933 (YDS), 23.3 (AVG), 1 (TD)
Greg Camarillo- Punt 39 (RET), 359 (YDS), 9.2 (AVG), 0 (TD)