2010 RECORD: 6-10-0
(4th in NFC North)
HEAD COACH: Leslie Frazier
Offense: The Vikings lost Brett Favre (to retirement) and Tarvaris Jackson, along with wide receiver Sidney Rice, left via free agency for Seattle.
Minnesota signed Donovan McNabb for the quarterback position. They also drafted Christian Ponder (Florida State) and have Joe Webb on hand as well.
The starting job is McNabb's to lose after the 13-year veteran threw for 3,377 yards along with 14 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in 2010 while playing for the Washington Redskins.
Running back Adrian Peterson (1,298 yards, 4.6 ypc average and 12 TD) returns for his fifth season after another stellar season in 2010. Toby Gerhart (322 yards) is the backup. Jeff Dugan is the fullback.
The wide receivers are Percy Harvin (71 catches, 868 yards, five TD), Bernard Berrian (28 catches), tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (47 receptions, two TD) and new arrivals Michael Jenkins (41, 505, two TD with Atlanta) and Devin Aromashodu, who played sparingly with Chicago last season.
The offensive line will have John Sullivan at center with Anthony Herrera and John Hutchinson at guards. The tackles are Thomas Welch and Phil Loadholt. Ryan Cook is also ready up front.
Defense: The Vikings' fierce pass rush was nearly non-existent in 2010 and it showed at times as opposing quarterbacks were able to be more relaxed in the pocket.
The team's 31 quarterback sacks ranked 20th overall, but Defensive End Jared Allen had 11 sacks to lead the team. Along with Allen, the Vikes have Brian Robinson (end) and tackles Kevin Williams and Romi Ayodele.
The linebackers are E.J. Henderson (middle) and outside backers Chad Greenway and Erin Henderson. The secondary will see Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin at the corners and safeties Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson and Jamarca Sanford. Chris Cook is also on hand to provide depth.
The Minnesota defense played pretty well in 2010, allowing 313 yards per game, which ranked 8th in the NFL. The run defense (102 yards allowed) and pass defense (211 yards per game) each ranked in the top ten as well.
OUTLOOK: The Vikings will have a whole new look in the passing game as Favre and big play wideout Sidney Rice are gone.
McNabb must show he can still do it as many doubters surfaced last season when Rex Grossman took over in Washington late in the season.
With Harvin, Jenkins, Shiancoe and a healthy Berrian, McNabb has plenty of targets to choose from. Peterson will have to do more of his brilliant work again in 2011 if Minnesota is to improve on a consistent basis.
The Vikings ranked 29th in scoring (281 points) last year thanks in large part to a terrible passing attack. The running game averaged 121 yards per game, which was 10th overall in the NFL.
Provided the Vikings can avoid injuries to key personnel on both sides of the ball this season and get a spark back in the passing game, they can rise right back into the thick of the NFC North division race.
There are many questions looming with all the changes in talent on the field, plus a new Head Coach in Leslie Frazier, who took over last year on an interim basis when Brad Childress was fired.
The Vikings can be a .500 or better team in 2011, but they have to prove it in perhaps the toughest division in football. Look for a 7-9 finish as the Vikings look to keep the roof from caving in this season.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at San Diego
Week 2- vs. Tampa Bay
Week 3- vs. Detroit
Week 4- at Kansas City
Week 5- vs. Arizona
Week 6- at Chicago
Week 7- vs. Green Bay
Week 8- at Carolina
Week 9- BYE WEEK
Week 10- at Green Bay
Week 11- vs. Oakland
Week 12- at Atlanta
Week 13- vs. Denver
Week 14- at Detroit
Week 15- vs. New Orleans
Week 16- at Washington
Week 17- vs. Chicago
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