2007 Minnesota Vikings Picks & Predictions
May 22, 2008
The Vikings had the best defense in the NFL against the run last season, but the worst against the pass. Find out if improvement is on the way and thus a jump in the standings in Dave Price’s 2007 Minnesota Vikings predictions.
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The Brad Childress era got off to an impressive start with two wins over 2005 playoff clubs, but the success was very short lived with just two wins in their last 10 games. The Vikings’ defense is loaded with Pro Bowl-caliber talent and it showed last season as they boasted the league’s best run defense. But an offense lacking powerful weapons and a poor pass defense failed to keep the team competitive. The fruits of the defense’s labor earned coordinator Mike Tomlin one of the most prestigious coaching jobs in the NFL this offseason but cost Minnesota a rising star and a respected locker room leader. Now the pressure falls squarely on Childress. As the head man he is going to have to show adeptness as an evaluator of personnel and as an offensive mind as he continues to implement the system that made him a success while helping build an annual contender in Philly.
The Vikings invested quite a bit of mula on the offensive side of the football last season, and in fairness, running back Chester Taylor and offensive guard Steve Hutchinson were not the root of the team’s problems. However, the offense was an unadulterated disaster, ranking 23rd in total yardage, 26th in scoring, 26th in first downs, and 28th in third down efficiency. It didn’t take long before it was clear that Quarterback Brad Johnson needed to move on and he was made a scapegoat and released this offseason, ensuring a change under center and more growing pains for the Purple. Fair or not, top draft pick Adrian Peterson will be looked upon as the savior. With a solid offensive line, a power run game just might be the direction the Vikes need to move in.
The Vikings’ defense was terribly good versus the run, coming within spitting distance of the NFL’s all-time record for fewest yards allowed before Steven Jackson’s 142 rushing yards in Week 17. In fact, several opponents simply surrendered on the ground, opting instead to hoist it up on every down. That, along with an ineffective pass rush, earned Minnesota the league’s worst pass defense, despite an otherwise solid secondary. Mike Tomlin’s departure paved the way for the team to bring in another Tampa-2 disciple in Leslie Frazier, who coached defensive backs for the Super Bowl champion Colts last season. The interior defense gets the job done, but some speed on the outside to get some pass rush is clearly what this team is still lacking. If Brian Robinson can make some noise as a rookie from the defensive end spot, the Vikes should be among the best defenses in the NFL. Combine a top notch defense with a solid ground attack and you have got yourself a team that can win some games. There’s only one more thing that Minnesota needs: time. Expect a couple more seasons before the Purple sees the playoffs.
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