Rice has chance to excel for Vikings

By John McMullen  |   Sunday, June 29, 2008  |  Comments( 11 )

Minnesota Vikings
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If you happened to mention the University of South Carolina while passing through Minnesota over the past few years, you probably were shot a dirty look.

If you are wondering why, look no further than former Gamecocks receiver Troy Williamson.

Last season, Tarvaris Jackson began his first go-around as a starting quarterback in the NFL looking at veteran Bobby Wade and one of the Vikings' all-time embarrassments, Williamson, on the outside. Not exactly a comfortable feeling, eh?

While Wade is a bit underrated, he lacks great size and speed, making him more suited for the slot position in a three-receiver set. As for Williamson, cue Comic Book Guy from "The Simpsons" when talking about him -- "Worst draft pick ever."

While there is no truth to the rumor that New York City invited Williamson to town on New Year's Eve to ensure the ball would drop, and he hasn't signed that much-ballyhooed five-year deal as the pitchman for Butterfinger, he certainly wore out his welcome in Minneapolis.

With all due respect to Leo Hayden, Williamson -- the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft -- gave new meaning to the word "bust" in Vikings lore. The receiver finished his third NFL season in 2007 with 18 receptions for 240 yards, and a quarter of those yards came on a 60-yard touchdown reception in Chicago during Week 6.

It would be easy to rip on the old regime in town for taking a guy who simply couldn't catch the football to replace the generation's best receiver, Randy Moss. But Williamson actually had decent hands when he arrived in Minnesota and got progressively worse as his fragile mental makeup took over.

In his last game as a Viking, Williamson dropped a sure touchdown pass against Denver with no defenders within 10 yards of him. In fact, Williamson barely got a hand on what was a perfect pass from Jackson. He followed that with another mind-numbing drop on what would have been an easy first down when Jackson hit him between the numbers. Coach Brad Childress mercifully pulled the plug after that and benched the enigmatic receiver. He would never wear purple again.

A change of scenery was in order and the Vikings shipped the receiver to Jacksonville in exchange for a seventh-round pick during the offseason.

Williamson's presumptive replacement? Sidney Rice out of -- you guessed it -- South Carolina.

Most recognize that Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson is a pretty special player and the Vikings belted a home run when they selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft. Fast forward a year, and it's now becoming more evident that Rick Spielman and company legged out a triple when they snagged Rice instead of troubled former Southern Cal star Dwayne Jarrett with their second-round pick.

Rice's numbers -- 31 receptions for 396 yards and a team-best four TDs in 13 games -- weren't eye-popping during his rookie season, but he proved to be the exact opposite of Williamson.

The lanky wideout has great size, deceptive speed and tremendous hands, not to mention the ability to throw the ball downfield on the receiver option. The 22-year-old has been seen tossing the ball 65 yards in the air during practice, prompting jokes that he is the Vikings' best signal-caller.

In 2008, the Vikings expect a lot more from Rice. Most NFL coaches feel you see the most improvement from a player between his first and second seasons, and Childress would like Rice to seize a starting position on the opposite side of big-money free agent acquisition Bernard Berrian.

You can't expect Rice's numbers to explode until the Vikings get more consistent play from Jackson or somebody else at the quarterback position. But he already has turned into Minnesota's best option on third down and its most imposing big-play threat. Now, with Berrian on board and Wade manning the slot, Rice should see plenty of single coverage and get the chance to excel.

And this time, a Gamecock is actually on the verge of winning over the people of Minnesota.
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About John McMullen

John is the managing editor of The Phanatic Magazine, the assistant managing editor of The Sports Network and the co-host of the highly rated 'Johns on Sports' radio show on WTBQ in New York. Every Saturday from 6:30-9 p.m. (et) you can hear John along with his co-host, John Gottlieb, talk to the ...
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CommentsComments: 11  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
RedskinFan21ST		12:36 AM
06/30/2008
Hopefully Rice can help out this Vikings passing game that has been struggling the past few seasons and with there solid defense ...
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No.2
LET'SGOBUFFALO		07:57 AM
06/30/2008
Rice is a decent wide reciever, but he's no Randy Moss. The problem with the Vikings passing attack, is the passer. Jackson ...
No.3
bardley80		09:20 AM
06/30/2008
Rice has a chance to be an All-Pro at some point in his career. I think his odds would go up if John David Booty throws to him ...
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