Vikings’ Johnson sharp in final preseason tuneup

By Krupka  |   Friday, September 01, 2006  |  Comments( 4 )

Minnesota Vikings
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With the four-week preseason schedule over at long last for the Minnesota Vikings, it's finally nearing the time to begin the rigors of the regular season. While preseason success means almost absolutely nothing, but the Vikings' starters still managed to look very good throughout.

If there is anything that can truly be taken out of the preseason, it would be that the "Tampa 2" defense looks to be successful in Minnesota, but more so, the alleged downgrade at the quarterback position after trading Daunte Culpepper can be disproved. Sure, there isn't plenty of depth behind starter Brad Johnson, but boy did the veteran look terrific.

In his final preseason contest, Johnson shredded the solid Dallas Cowboys defense to the tune of 11-of-13 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown. Not too shabby, huh? The Vikings and Cowboys, by the way, couldn't settle any on-field exhibition differences, as the game ended in a 10-10 tie after neither team budged on the scoreboard during the overtime stanza.

Including his strong effort Thursday night, Johnson finished the preseason with a 75.6 percent completion rate (34-for-45) for 333 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. So the idea that the Vikings' offense would be worse without Culpepper can be put to rest, at least for the moment.

While it's only preseason, the numbers are staggering. The proficiency and calmness that the 14-year veteran ran the offense with was impeccable. He is the perfect fit for the West Coast Offense, and the ideal mentor to another passer that impressed during the exhibition schedule, rookie Tavaris Jackson.

Nobody is going to confuse Johnson with a strong-armed gunslinger anytime soon, but he does possess the intangibles, smarts and ability to protect the football necessary for success. He can also make all the throws needed in head coach Brad Childress' offensive system. In a somewhat similar version of the offense Johnson is running now, he helped lead the Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002-2003.

If the signal caller continues on the same pace, it could mean big things for the Vikings this season. Certainly, Johnson can lead a team all the way, as is evidenced by the title ring currently in his possession.

Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

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CommentsComments: 4  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Dave		11:59 AM
09/01/2006
The Vikings defense over-compensated for the run at the cost of the pass. The Cowboys threw for 418 yards and 521 yards of total...
No.2
ChaChi4a20		02:28 PM
09/01/2006
Well, one thing for sure it shows that you can have a 1000 yards of offense and if you put up 10 points, the "D" did their job....
No.3
alex flick		12:59 PM
09/02/2006
the vikings also were playing thier 3rd and 4th string defenses to try to give them a shot at making the team. you cant put too...
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