Two weeks and counting for Vikings

By Mike Schoemer  |   Wednesday, July 09, 2008  |  Comments( 9 )

Minnesota Vikings
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In only 14 short days, the Vikings will descend on Mankato, Minn., to begin the 2008 season with training camp. All of the offseason moves, the hype and the questions come down to a few short weeks of two-a-day practices. Then, under two months after camp began, the Vikings will take to the field to kick off the regular season.

Of course, Minnesota’s biggest questions entering a year in which one so-called prognosticator picked the squad as Super Bowl champs revolve around the starting quarterback.

However, everyone has heard all heard about Tarvaris Jackson’s shortcomings, and most are also aware of the strides he's made on and off the field in Eden Prairie.

With that said, here are five non-Jackson-related question marks for the Vikings heading into the season.

1. How good is this defensive line, really?

The truth is, it’s going to be one of the best in the NFC. However, much of that will hang neither on the Williams Wall -- DTs Kevin and Pat Williams -- nor Jared Allen’s grasp of the defense. Rather, the success for Minnesota might come from the other side, where Ray Edwards’ back is the biggest question for a solid Viking defense that figures to be much improved. Minnesota needs a healthy Edwards, who was among the team leaders in sacks each of the last two years. Otherwise, the double teams will focus on Allen and Kevin Williams, leaving the Vikings' pass rush looking no different than it has the past two seasons – anemic.

2. Is the Matt Birk situation going to be a factor?

The short answer is no. Most of that is because Birk, a Pro Bowl center, is by all accounts (unless your name is Randy Moss) is one of the classiest guys in the NFL. He’s been in this situation before (under then-coach Mike Tice and then-owner Red McCombs), and he knows how to handle that mentally. If he doesn’t get a contract offer during the season, he’ll still play his way through 2008. After that, what happens is anyone’s guess. Birk, who just welcomed his fourth child and owns a successful restaurant in the Twin Cities, might actually be prone to hang it up after this year. But the bottom line is, both sides seem comfortable, not confrontational, with the current situation. And Birk has had conversations with head coach Brad Childress about the arrangement, which is something Daunte Culpepper never did, assuring his exit from the Vikings.

3. Can Adrian Peterson keep it up, or is he doomed to a sophomore slump?

Peterson won’t surprise anyone this season, that’s for sure. But look at his stats, and then look at the amount of time he missed as a rookie. In the team's first game against the Green Bay Packers, Peterson was benched, supposedly because of blocking concerns. In the second game against the Pack, he was injured early in the second half. He missed games after that injury, yet remains as the heir apparent to LaDanian Tomlinson as the best runner in the game. The only way Peterson is going to slump is if he sustains an injury. Otherwise, he will benefit from a retooled Vikings offense and he should match his total numbers from last year.

4. Will the Vikings’ schedule prove their undoing?

This might be the $25,000 question that everyone seems to be ignoring. Minnesota, in terms of strength of schedule, has one of the toughest in the NFL, and probably the toughest in the NFC.
Opening on the road in Green Bay, whether Brett Favre is in street clothes or under center, will be a tall task. And the home opener against Indianapolis (again, with or without Marvin Harrison) could spell two straight losses. However, if Minnesota can get to its bye (Week 8) with a 3-4 or 4-3 record, the team could be on the fast track to the playoffs. The October and November schedule looks fine, and the stretch into December where Minnesota plays Chicago, Detroit, Arizona and Atlanta should be a time to make hay. And in the NFC North, 9-7 should get you a division title.

5. So how does Minnesota avoid becoming the latest sexy pick to fail?

After falling in the NFC championship game to the Bears at the end of the 2006 season, New Orleans was the trendy pick last summer to take the NFC. However, a horrid start by their offense (including the loss of Deuce McAllister) was too much for Drew Brees & Co. to overcome. By the end of the season, the Saints were one of the scariest teams in the NFC; still, they missed the playoffs.

As a team, the Vikings have a few things going for them that New Orleans did not. Proven depth at running back is one. A solid defensive line is the other. New Orleans got as far as it did in 2006 by scoring points. When it couldn’t score in 2007, the defense was in no position to hold teams down. Minnesota’s schedule doesn’t feature, outside of Indy, a lot of high-powered offenses. If the offense struggles, the Viking defense can keep the game close against teams like Jacksonville, Tennessee, Carolina, Houston and others. That’s the biggest advantage the Vikes have versus other trendy picks, including the Saints, Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks (circa 2006).

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About Mike Schoemer

• Currently serving as managing editor of the award-winning Monticello Times after promotion in September of 2007. • Took the helm of the Edina, Minn., community newspaper, The Edina Sun Current in September 2006 in the heart of an election year. • Promoted to the Managing Editor of the ...
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CommentsComments: 9  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
RedskinFan21ST		11:42 PM
07/09/2008
If Tarvaris Jackson can live up to the expectation that his head coach Brad Childress has for him and if they can get some decent ...
No.2
bardley80		07:52 AM
07/10/2008
Jackson is the most pivotal player for the Vikings this year. If he's bad again and clearly not ready, they're in trouble. If ...
No.3
09:34 AM
07/10/2008
The WR got better this offseason with Berrian, but I think a big part of Jackson sucess is going to be the play of his tightends. ...
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