Also adding a few special teams players like Jasper Brinkley, Karl Paymah, Kenny Onatolu, and Jamarca Sanford, and as of late, Asher Allen. Using faster players such as this seems to be producing a faster rate of closing gaps in coverage. This tactic only works if you combine these players with speedy yet powerful linebacker types who can get themselves into position to sacrifice themselves by blowing up the return wedge. If this doesn’t happen, then the blockers would simply be able to overpower these faster albeit smaller players. The results have been good, other then the punt return for TD by the Browns in week one.

Also a Philosophical change from funneling the returner towards the sideline, to a strategy where a premium is placed on protecting the sidelines by forcing the plays back inside where they can get help has paid dividends.

Of course, having better athletes’ helps as well. So far, this is how the special teams coverage units shake out statistically:

- 15th in punt coverage avg. 7.8 per. – This ranking has been dropping almost weekly since the Cleveland game. The development of punter Chris Kluwe has been disappointing. Despite a strong leg and good directional skills, he is a disappointing 19th in punting avg.
@ 43.4.Kluwe often out kicks his coverage, and would benefit from a little longer hang time.

- 9th in kick coverage @ 21.6 per – Much improved numbers considering that Ryan Longwell isn’t especially good at kicking the ball high or deep which allows an extra step or two on coverage.

Return game –

Kick-offs –

The Vikings are currently 2nd in kickoff return avg. w/ 28.0 per. This is, of course directly a result of drafting a certain wide receiver from Florida. Percy Harvin has returned 2 kick-offs for touchdowns and has broken several others for 50 +. So dangerous is Harvin that one almost expects something special on every return. The guy is a remarkable talent who seems to be getting more dangerous each week. One of the biggest cheers from Green Bay fans last week was on the kick-off where they finally managed to tackle him just short of the 30 yard line. Good Grief ! – A

Punt returns –

The Vikings currently stand at 6th in the league on punt returns w/ 10.7 per. This is despite losing Darius Reynaud to an ankle injury. The team turned to 2nd year receiver Jaymar Johnson who has been effective in replacing Reynaud. – B +

Field Goals –

Ryan Longwell is 2nd in pts. with 68. He is13 for 14 on field goals and 29/29 on extra pts. Longwell is the very definition of consistent. So far only a blocked kick returned by the 49ers for a touchdown blemishes his otherwise perfect season so far. – A -

Below are the statistical numbers for kick-offs and Punt returns -

Player Returns FC Yds/Ret Long TD
Jaymar Johnson 16 3 8.4 24 0
Darius Reynaud 7 5 17.3 36 0
Bernard Berrian 2 0 6.5 8 0
TOTAL 25 8 10.7 36 0
OPPONENTS TOTAL 17 8 7.8 67 1

Kick Return Statistics
Player Returns Yds Yds/Ret Long TD
Percy Harvin 28 860 30.7 101 2
Brian Robison 1 7 7.0 7 0
Sidney Rice 1 0 0.0 0 0
Naufahu Tahi 1 0 0.0 0 0
TOTAL 31 867 28.0 101 2

OPPONENTS TOTAL 47 101 21.6 40 0

The remainder of the Vikings coaching staff, their positions and a brief individual biography are listed alphabetically below.

Juney Barnett -
Asst. Strength And Conditioning; born January 11, 1979, Philadelphia. Defensive back Bloomsburg 1997-2000. College coach: Bloomsburg 2001, Army 2005. Pro coach: Rhein Fire (NFLE) 2004-05, joined Vikings in 2006.

Eric Bieniemy
Running Backs; born August 15, 1969, New Orleans. Running back Colorado 1987-1990. Pro running back San Diego Chargers 1991-94, Cincinnati Bengals 1995-98, Philadelphia Eagles 1999. College coach: Colorado 2001-02, UCLA 2003-05. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2006.

Karl Dunbar
Defensive Line; born May 18, 1967, Plaisance, La. Defensive lineman Louisiana State 1986-89. Pro defensive lineman Pittsburgh Steelers 1990, New Orleans Saints 1992-93, Arizona Cardinals 1994-95. College coach: Nicholls State 1998-99, Louisiana State 2001-01, 2005, Oklahoma State 2002-03. Pro coach: Chicago Bears 2004, joined Vikings in 2006.

Ryan Ficken
Quality Control/Offense; born February 20, 1980, Aurora, Colo. Wide receiver Arizona State 1998-99. No pro playing experience. College coach: UCLA 2004-06. Pro coach: joined Vikings in 2007.

Jason Glenn
Special teams assistant/player development assistant; born August 20, 1979, Humble, Texas. Safety/linebacker Texas A&M 1997-2000. Pro linebacker New York Jets 2001-04, Miami Dolphins 2005, Minnesota Vikings 2006. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2009.

Jim Hueber
Asst. Offensive Line; born August 14, 1948, Philadelphia. Center South Dakota 1966-67. No pro playing experience. College coach: Cincinnati 1974, Dodge City (Kan.) C.C. 1975-78, Wichita State 1979-1980, Temple 1981-82, Memphis State 1983, Minnesota 1984-1991, Wisconsin 1992-2005. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2006.

Jeff Imamura
Defensive Quality Control; born May 22, 1974, Lubbock, Texas. Attended Texas Christian. No college or pro playing experience. College coach: Texas Christian 1997-99, Northern Arizona 2000-02, Saginaw Valley State 2003. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2006.

Jimmie Johnson
Tight Ends; born October 6, 1966, Augusta, Ga. Tight end Howard 1985-88. Pro tight end Washington Redskins 1989-1991, Detroit Lions 1992-93, Kansas City Chiefs 1994, Philadelphia Eagles 1995-98. College coach: South Carolina State 2001, Shaw 2002-03, Texas Southern 2004-05. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2006.

Tom Kanavy
Strength And Conditioning; born April 8, 1970, Archibald, Pa. Attended Penn State. No college or pro playing experience. College coach: Miami 1993, Penn State 1993-95. Pro coach: Philadelphia Eagles 1995-2005, joined Vikings in 2006.

Derek Mason
Asst. Defensive Backs; born September 29, 1969, Pheonix. Defensive back Northern Arizona 1987-1991. No pro playing experience. College coach: Mesa C.C. 1994, Weber State 1995-96, Idaho State 1997-98, Bucknell 1999-2001, Utah 2002, St. Mary’s (Calif.) 2003, New Mexico State 2004, Ohio 2005-06.. Pro coach: joined Vikings in 2007.

Pat Morris
Offensive Line; born April 7, 1954, Cleveland. Offensive lineman Southern California 1972-75. College coach: Southern California 1976-77, 1983-86, Northern Arizona 1978, Minnesota 1979-1982, Michigan State 1987-1994, Stanford 1995-96. Pro coach: San Francisco 49ers 1997-2003, Detroit Lions 2004-05, joined Vikings in 2006.

Brian Murphy
Asst. Special Teams; born July 17, 1969, Elmwood Park, Ill. Defensive lineman Lehigh 1988-1991. No pro playing experience. College coach: Benedictine 1992, Wisconsin 1994-96, 2002-05, Baylor 1997, San Diego 1998, Lehigh 1999. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2006.

Fred Pagac
Linebackers; born April 26, 1952, Richeyville, Pa. Tight end Ohio State 1971-73. Pro tight end Chicago Bears 1974, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976. College coach: Ohio State 1978-2000. Pro coach: Oakland Raiders 2001-03, Kansas City Chiefs 2004-05, joined Vikings in 2006.

Dennis Polian
Asst. to head coach; born November 10, 1976, Bronx, N.Y. Attended Villanova and Boston College. No college or pro playing experience. Pro coach: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) 2008, joined Vikings in 2009.

Diron Reynolds
Defensive assistant/defensive line; born February 23, 1971, Aiken, S.C. Linebacker Wake Forest 1990-93. No pro playing experience. College coach: Wake Forest 1997-2000, Indiana 2001. Pro coach: Indianapolis Colts 2002-06, Miami Dolphins 2007, joined Vikings in 2009.

Kevin Rogers
Quarterbacks; born September 7, 1951, Brooklyn, N.Y. Linebacker Massanutten Academy 1969-1970, William & Mary 1971-73. College coach: Ohio State 1977-78, William & Mary 1980-82, Navy 1983-1990, Syracuse 1991-98, Notre Dame 1999-2001, Virginia Tech 2002-05. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2006.

Ryan Silverfield
Offensive asst.; born August 4, 1980, Jacksonville, Fla. Attended Hampden-Sydney. No college or pro playing experience. College coach: Hampden-Sydney 2000-03, Jacksonville 2005, Central Florida 2006-07. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2008.

Kevin Stefanski
Asst. To The Head Coach; born May 8, 1982, Philadelphia. Safety Pennsylvania 2000-04. College coach: Pennsylvania 2005. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2006.

George Stewart
Wide Receivers; born December 29, 1958, Little Rock, Ark. Guard Arkansas 1977-1980. No pro playing experience. College coach: Minnesota 1985-85, Notre Dame 1986-88. Pro coach: Pittsburgh Steelers 1989-1991, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1992-95, San Francisco 49ers 1996-2002, Atlanta Falcons 2003-06, joined Vikings in 2007.

Martin Streight
Asst. Strength And Conditioning; born June 20, 1969, Trenton, N.J. Attended Indiana (Penn.). No college or pro playing experience. College coach: Penn State 1994, Princeton 1995-96. Pro coach: Philadelphia Eagles 1995-96, Arizona Cardinals 1997-2003, Scottish Claymores (NFLE) 2003, Berlin Thunder (NFLE) 2004-05, joined Vikings in 2006.

Chris White
Asst. special teams; born June 29, 1967, Haverhill, Mass. Quarterback Colby College 1986-89. No pro playing experience. College coach: Syracuse 1990- 92, 2000-08, Arkansas State 1992-93, Holy Cross 1993-94, UNLV 1996-98, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo 1999. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 2009.

Joe Woods
Defensive Backs; born June 25, 1970, Natrona Heights, Pa. Safety Illinois State 1988-1991. College coach: Muskingum 1992, Eastern Michigan 1993-94, Northwestern (La.) State 1994, Grand Valley State 1994-96, Kent State 1997, Hofstra 1998-2000, Western Michigan 2001-03. Pro coach: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2004-05, joined Vikings in 2006.

Also, while I gave up on doing a regular mailbag feature, feel free to email me at adam@vikingsgab.com anytime with questions or comments and I’ll do my best to provide answers.

Here are some great links:

• Capital J has some interesting points on the Vikings-Packers game.
• Adrian Peterson may seem like he’s having a down year, but when it comes to stats he’s right on track.
• Mike Mayock does a great job breaking down that 4th quarter touchdown pass.  Seriously, check this one out, it’s a great segment.
• Jason Whitlock thinks Brett Favre is a “clear cut” MVP of the league.  Apparently he doesn’t watch the Colts… ever.
• The Daily Norseman has a halarious list of what different Vikings will be doing with their bye week.
• Jason Winter takes some jabs at the league’s worst teams.
• Kevin Seifert yaks about YAC in the NFC North, and the Vikes come in second.
• Grant’s Tomb talks about the rumor floating around that Percy Harvin could return punts later this season.
• If you are in favor of the Vikings getting a new stadium, then make sure to check out Minnesota Momentum.
• I think it is funny that the Vikings main splash page is telling us to vote our players into the Pro Bowl.  There are five players pictured (including Bryant McKinnie… Bwahahahaha!) but not one of them is Favre.  The slogan used is “You Vote.  They Play.”  I suppose they knew that Favre will not play at the Pro Bowl even if he gets voted in so they didn’t even bother.  However, considering that the Pro Bowl will be played prior to the Super Bowl and that the Super Bowl contenders surely will not have their best players play in a meaningless scrimmage, the Vikings slogan should be something more like “You Vote.  They Won’t Play, But They Deserve It Anyways.”
• Pacifist Viking takes a nice look at the mid-season outlook for this Vikings team.
• The Vikings Ship even has a music video for the bye week.
• Here are some interesting mid-season stats.
• While I may not agree 100%, Vikes Geek makes a solid case for the Vikings considering an upgrade of Bernard Berrian.
• A contrast between Tarvaris Jackson and Brett Favre is put into incredibly sound words.
• Viking Age has ten points to take away from the Packers game, and also some harsh words for Brian Robison and Asher Allen.

If you scroll down a few posts you’ll see that I have quarterback as the Vikings top draft need.  This is based off of the possibility of both Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson being off the roster next season.  Also, the pickings are incredibly slim in free agency at the quarterback position.

I have safety as their second biggest need.

This is based off of the performance of our current guys and the fact that this may very well be the easiest starting position on our roster to upgrade.  That being said, I don’t think the Vikings or the fans should completely give up on Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson yet.  Williams improved the passing defense significantly when he was able to return from injury in the middle of the 2008 season and Johnson is a second year player who has shown enough promise to keep around. 

While they both have missed tackles, taken poor angles, and been out of position on plenty of occasions this year one has to remember this is a team sport.  What I mean by this is that even though our linebackers are generally thought of as a solid unit, they do lack the range required for effective coverage and also the Vikings corners are all better at tackling than covering. 

In the end, I think Williams and Johnson both need to step it up a notch though.  Jamarca Sanford may be a promising young prospect, but it is time for the Vikings to at least bring in some serious competition at the safety position.

Before we look at the draft prospects at the position, I must mention that competition at safety could be brought in during free agency.  Dawan Landry of the Ravens and Nick Collins of the Packers, both only 27 years old, will headline the free agent class of safeties.  Both of these guys would be considered good enough to compete for, and likely win, a starting job in Minnesota.

Here is a look at my top safety prospects possibly entering the 2010 draft:

1. Eric Berry, Tennessee – Seldom does a safety prospect like this come around.  Eric Berry is considered a once in a decade prospect and is drawing comparisons to Ed Reed.  Consider his 2008 stats of 44 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 7 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns all with a shoulder injury.  While his production has dipped a bit in 2009, it’s not a reflection of how he is playing.  I could list off all the traits that make him great, but lets just say that he is nearly perfect in all aspects of the game.  He may fall out of the top 5, but that is only because of the value of the position he plays, not the level at which he plays it.  Berry is quite possibly the best player in this year’s draft.  I would not be sad if the Vikings gave up a lot to trade up and snag this guy.
2. Earl Thomas, Texas – While a little under sized and possessing limited experience, Earl Thomas has made the most of his opportunities.  In 2008, Thomas had 52 solo tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions.  In seven games in 2009, Thomas already has 20 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 6 interceptions.  He also has 2 touchdowns.  Thomas has some incredible speed and very solid cover skills.  The Vikings would be lucky to have him fall to them if he declares this year… and they’d give him serious consideration in the first round.
3. Taylor Mays, USC – Taylor Mays will be one of the most hyped prospects in this draft.  That’ll only get worse after he blows everyone away at the combine.  The athletic freak of nature stands at 6’-4” and 225 pounds.  Chances are good he could pull off a 4.4 forty time to boot.  Mays can really hammer a ball carrier in the open field, and this is particularly impressive when he’s tossing around college kids, but will be less effective when facing the pros.  He needs to refine his wrapping up skills as well as some pretty poor (at times) coverage skills and instincts.  Somebody will bite on Mays in the top 15 because of his incredible upside, but I do not think he is the answer to any of the Vikings safety woes.
4. Nate Allen, South Florida – Here we have one of the best free safety prospects in the draft.  The senior had a break out sophomore year, and then a down junior year (USF struggled as a whole in 2008), and is back to being very solid this year.  Through eight games in 2009 Allen has 23 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 4 picks.  Allen has very good size and speed for a free safety and should be able to get drafted early in the second round.  He helps out tremendously on run defense and is pretty solid in coverage.  Make sure to watch him play in the Senior Bowl and stop back to let me know if you think it’d be a reach for the Vikings to use their late first rounder on the kid.
5. Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech – Morgan Burnett may not be a name you know… yet.  If Burnett declares for the draft this year (he’s a junior) then I predict that he rises up draft boards ever-so-quickly.  In 2008, he managed a whopping 62 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble, 7 picks, and 1 touchdown.  Burnett’s tackle total has dipped dramatically this year, but he still has managed 4 picks in 9 games.  He has the all the measurable to be effective at either safety position, and my guess is that if he goes to the combine this year and does well then he will surpass everyone but Eric Berry on this list and become the #2 safety prospect in the nation.  He may have to ride the bench for a year or two, but sooner rather than later Morgan Burnett will be a top 10 safety in the NFL.

If only running backs not named Adrian Peterson stood perfectly still and acted like a tackling dummy.  Then life would be easier on Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway who supposedly leads the league in missed tackles.

The stat is not officially kept, but I’ve heard that STATS, inc has him as the leader in missed tackles from multiple outlets.  He is, however, sixth in the league in solo tackles made which is a big accomplishment.

I noticed that Troy Aikman made numerous references to Greenway playing Pro Bowl quality football this year, and this struck me as slightly off because I had noticed his tendency to whiff on the ball carrier.

Missed tackles are a big problem for the Vikings this year, and many big plays could’ve been less damaging if they did a better job of wrapping up.  The Vikings can take comfort in knowing that they are not alone in this respect, and that NFL tackling is at an all time low according to many league sources.

For an explanation, check out this article which outlines why the quality of tackling has declined so greatly in the NFL.  I found it to be an interesting read, and it also made me feel somewhat better that the Vikings are not alone in this struggle.

That being said, I really hope they get their act together in the second half and start bashing some skulls and playing some hard hitting defense.

The Packers might as well start talking about next year.

However, the Bears are the Vikings most formidable opponent at this point.  Currently, the Vikings hold a 2.5 game lead over the Bears in the divisional standings.  Given that the Bears make up 25% of the Vikings remaining schedule (we still have to play them twice) they have a potential to make our division lead disappear very quickly. 

Splitting with the Bears seems to be a likely scenario, which would still leave the Vikings with an advantage in the tiebreaker, as the Vikings are currently 3-0 against division opponents and the Bears are 1-1 having lost to the Packers in week one.

Needless-to-say, I think the Bears will almost need to sweep the Vikings in order to have a shot at the division.

But that would require the Bears to beat the Vikings.  Let us take a look at how likely that is through the use of stats.  Keep in mind that the Vikings have played one more game than the Bears as of this posting.

PASSING GAME – Advantage Vikings 

Jay Cutler is completing 64% of his passes and has thrown for 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this year for a rating of 80.8.  The Bears have five receivers with over 100 yards, and their leader is The Bears are currently ranked 15^th in passing.

Brett Favre is completing 68% of his passes and has thrown for 16 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this year for a rating of 106.0.  The Vikings have six receivers with over 100 yards, and their leader is Devin Hester with 454 yards and three touchdowns.  Sidney Rice has 585 yards and two touchdowns.  The Vikings are currently ranked 12^th in passing.

RUSHING GAME – Advantage Vikings

The Bears leading rusher Matt Forte has 408 yards on the year, averaging 3.5 yards per carry.  He also has 3 touchdowns.  The Bears second leading rusher is Garrett Wolfe with 120 yards, a 5.5 yard average, and one touchdown.  The Bears are currently ranked 26^th in rushing.

The Vikings leading rusher Adrian Peterson has 784 yards on the year, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.  He also has 9 touchdowns.  The Vikings second leading rusher is Chester Taylor with 123 yards, a 2.7 yard average, and one touchdown.  The Vikings are currently ranked 12^th in rushing.

PROTECTING THE QUARTER BACK – Advantage Bears

The Bears have given up 15 sacks through 7 games.  This is an average of 2.15 sacks per game, or one sack every 16 pass attempts.  Jay Cutler has scrambled 20 times for 92 yards, a 4.6 yards average, and has rushed for one touchdown.

The Vikings have given up 18 sacks through 8 games.  This is an average of 2.25 sacks per game, or one sack every 15 pass attempts.  Brett Favre has scrambled five times for -2 yards and no touchdowns.

KEEPING DRIVES ALIVE – Advantage Vikings

The Bears have converted 39.7% of their third downs, and 44.4% of their fourth downs.  The Bears have scored 18 touchdowns and 10 field goals this season.

The Vikings have converted 46.6% of their third downs, and 57.1% of their fourth downs.  The Vikings have scored 29 touchdowns and 13 field goals this season.

PRESSURING THE QUARTERBACK – Advantage Vikings

The Bears have totaled 15 sacks over 7 games.  This is an average of 2.25 sacks per game, or one every 15 times the opposing quarterback attempts to pass.

The Vikings have totaled 31 sacks over 8 games.  This is an average of 3.88 sacks per game, or one every 9 times the opposing quarterback attempts to pass.

RUSHING DEFENSE – Advantage Vikings

The Bears are giving up an average of 4.0 yards per rushing attempt against them.  They have surrendered 7 rushing touchdowns.  The Bears are ranked 16^th in rushing defense.

The Vikings are giving up an average of 4.1 yards per rushing attempts against them.  They have surrendered 2 rushing touchdowns.  The Vikings are ranked 7^th in rushing defense.

PASSING DEFENSE – Advantage Bears

The Bears are giving up an average of 6.6 yards per passing attempt.  They have surrendered 11 passing touchdowns.  The Bears are currently ranked 12^th in passing defense.

The Vikings are giving up an average of 7.5 yards per passing attempt.  They have surrendered 13 passing touchdowns.  The Vikings are currently ranked 23^rd in passing defense.

TURNOVER RATIO – Advantage Vikings

The Bears have a turnover ratio of -1.

The Vikings have a turnover ratio of +5.

RETURN GAME – No Significant Advantage

The Bears are averaging 13.3 yards per punt return, and have scored no touchdowns.  They are also averaging 26.6 yards per kick return, and have scored one touchdown.

The Vikings are averaging 10.7 yards per punt return, and have scored no touchdowns.  They are also averaging 28 yards per kick return, and have scored two touchdowns.

SPECIAL TEAMS COVERAGE – Advantage Bears

The Bears are giving up an average of 6.6 yards per punt return and 24.5 yards per kick return.  Brad Maynard is averaging 40.3 yards per punt, and has placed 15 punts within the twenty yard line.  The Bears have given up zero returns for touchdowns.

The Vikings are giving up an average of 7.8 yards per punt return and 21.6 yards per kick return.  Chris Kluwe is averaging 43.4 yards per punt, and has placed 15 punts within the twenty yard line.  The Vikings have given up one return for a touchdown.

CLUTCH KICKING – No Significant Advantage

Robbie Gould is 10 of 11 on the year for field goals hitting 1 of 2 from beyond 50 yards.

Ryan Longwell is 13 of 14 on the year for field goals hitting 1 of 1 from beyond 50 yards.

INJURIES – Advantage Vikings

The Bears bye week came and went in week five.  The Bears currently have 10 players on the injury report.  Seven of the listed players are probable.  Devin Hester and Danieal Manning are both questionable.  Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa is out indefinetly.

The Vikings are currently on bye week, and expect to be at nearly full health before beginning their final eight games.  No injury report is currently available because of the bye week, but all eyes will be on when Antoine Winfield can return to the field.

So what does all this mean?  Nothing really, they still have to play the games.  However, I would say that if the way they’ve played up until this point means anything then the Vikings outmatch the Bears significantly.

Lets hope this proves to be true, as we need to at least split our series with the Bears in order to maintain confidence heading into the playoffs.

This last offseason, the NFL created yet another rule to protect quarterbacks.  The rule was created after Tom Brady suffered a season ending injury and after Jared Allen was fined for a hit on Matt Schaub that resulted in Schaub missing some time.

The rule addressed pass rushers that are on the ground but continue to lunge towards the quarterback resulting in a low hit.

Considering a significant number of Jared Allen’s sacks came from these types of plays in 2008, one had to wonder if his production would lack in 2009.

So far that is not the case. 

Through the first half of the season, Allen leads the league with 10.5 sacks and has made numerous big-time tackles on running plays. 

Also, Allen has not been fined a single penny this year as opposed to 2008 when he racked up $80,000 worth of fines.  $50,000 of that came from two hits against Matt Schaub.

Allen recently made the top 10 list of the NFL’s dirtiest players.  The poll was conducted prior to the 2009 season and 296 players participated in the poll.  Allen was 10^th, getting 3.2% of the votes.

He and General Manager Rick Spielman also should be credited with several excellent drafts that have harvested such talent as Sidney Rice, Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway, Cedric Griffin, Tyrell Johnson, Ray Edwards, Phil Loadholt, and Percy Harvin.

Of course, there were disappointments like Marcus McCauley, Greg Blue, Marcus Johnson, Rufus Alexander, and Ryan Cook. While the jury is out on Tavaris Jackson, Asher Allen and others. Every team has these.

There have also been later round surprises like pass rushing specialist Brian Robison, 4th rounder Ray Edwards, Anthony Herrera and John Sullivan.

I remain critical of the lack of discipline displayed at times by the players. It is a pattern that I see as improving but remains a concern. The bad penalties returned in the Pittsburgh game. But going into this game, the team had the fewest penalties in the NFL.

But Childress above all else, is a man who believes in doing things the right way. The kind of coach you might want to have your son play for ( All Cross-dressing issues aside ).

Long gone are the days of the “Love Boat”. No more “Whizzonators “ , etc. He makes his players accountable for their actions and he has jettisoned the trouble makers and brought in high character free agent players such as Visanthe Shancoe, Chester Taylor, Steve Hutchinson, Ben Liber, Bernard Berrian, Jared Allen, Madeau Williams, Ryan Longwell and yes, even Brett Favre. – B +

Offensive Coordinator – Darrell Bevell - Thank goodness that Brad Childress was big enough to realize that someone else might be better suited to call the offensive plays. Chilli was the “Master” of the predictable. The ”Guru” of conservative giddiness. I’m breaking out in liver spots thinking of “ Peterson right for 1 yard, Peterson off tackle for 1 yard, and on 3rd and 8, a 4 yard pass. Anyways, Enter Bevell. His offense has grown exponentially as his weapons have. Last year he was hamstrung with the play of the QB’s. He wanted to feature Peterson, but the old “8 in the box” forced him to pass the ball…with poor results. Jackson remains a player with more potential then accomplishment. But that was before Favre. Now, is able to mix the run and the pass with equal threat implied. Throw in Percy Harvin, the vastly improved Sidney Rice, and you have the makings of an offensive Juggernaut. Currently the team is second only to New Orleans in points scored with a 30.5 average. Their average time of possession is 31.3 minutes per game and they are 4th in terms of 3rd down conversions at 46.6 %. These are numbers a team can live with.

Other offensive stats include:
- 12th – passing yds. -235.0
- 12th – rushing – 118.8
- Overall 10th in total offense

Favre tied currently 1st in touchdown passes w/ 16, 4th in completion percentage with 67.9 % and is third in the NFL in fewest interceptions by a starter with just 3.

The Vikings are 6th in rushing touchdowns with 10.

- 5th total receptions w/ 178
- 5th in 1st down in air w/ 99

The offensive line has surrendered 18 sacks, and the offense has surrendered 3 defensive touchdowns. But overall, the morale is excellent, the team works seamlessly as a cohesive unit and everyone is buying into Bevell’s system. – A –

Defensive Coordinator – Leslie Frasier – Enjoy the man while you can, because this guy has Head Coach written all over him. The team came into the season with high hopes of being a top 5 unit. Until the Winfield injury, they were playing at nearly that level. But with the tweaking of Antoine’s ankle came the realization that this is a defense that comes with a warning label. The cornerback position has a large gap between the starters and the second tier. That said, Frasier likes to let his front four put pressure on the QB. That allows him to keep the back seven in coverage. He also likes to run a lot of zones such as the infamous cover 2 that works well if you have a strong pass rush. But have you noticed how easily a good Quarterback ( Ben Rothlesberger, Aaron Rogers, Joe Flacco ) can pick it apart if they have time. You simply need to be accurate and patient and have receivers who can recognize the soft spots in the zone ). That’s why less patient QB’s ( Brady Quinn, Marc Bulger, Matt Stafford ) Struggle. Corners come up and knock the receivers off their routes and try to disrupt lanes and stop the quick slants. This makes the receivers take an extra step or two to get into the proper lane. Giving the front four more time to get to the QB. Winfield and Griffin do such a good job at this ( as does Chad Greenway on the tight end) that Jared Allen and company lead the league in sacks.

Frasier also has the luxury of having Pat Williams sitting in the middle which makes running difficult. He also has 3 very effective linebackers who can all plug holes, cover the flats and rush the QB.

Frasier does a good job of mixing in blitz packages and the team disguises stunts in a way that keeps teams off balance. Each of the last 3 games, Frasier has inserted schemes designed to keep offenses guessing. It has been so effective, that the Ravens had 3 points, the Steelers 10 and the Packers 3 points and little else at halftime. That’s coaching ! Now, this is the NFL, and you aren’t going to confuse opposing coaches very long. They are going to figure you out eventually. But to keep teams so off kilter until halftime 3 weeks in a row says something about Frasier’s strategic intellect. But that is precisely why these teams could do nothing for a half, then rip through the defense like Grant took Richmond in the second half.

Leslie Frasier has talent to work with. But Leslie Frasier is an excellent defensive coordinator, who soon will be taking his clipboard to another city to become an excellent head coach. But this is a defense that has no business being ranked 19th overall.

Currently, the Vikings are 7th vs. run at 94.8 per game and 23rd vs. pass 237.9. They have a turnover margin of + 5 and are tied for 2nd in forced fumbles w/ 11. While also being 1st in sacks with 31. ( The closest to them are the Eagles and Broncos with 23 ). – B -

Next – Special Teams

I know this is early.  We won’t truly know a prospect’s draft stock until after the season, the post season, the Senior Bowl, the Combine, the Pro Days and so on and so on and so on.  But a little speculation never hurt anybody.

Also, I am basing this off of having watched more film than the average cat, but still not enough to make sound, solid judgments that should be taken as dogma.

So, without further ado, I’d like to take a look at the prospects for the position I currently have down as the Vikings biggest draft need.

I have quarterback as the Vikings highest draft need based on the fact that both Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson could be gone after this season.  With John David Booty already gone, this means that Sage Rosenfels could be the only guy on our roster that can play the team’s most important position.

As the icing on the cake, there is little to no help in free agency when it comes to the quarterback position.  Kyle Orton and Jason Campbell are going to headlining the upcoming free agency class, and there is a good possibility that Orton doesn’t even make it to free agency before re-signing with the Broncos.

Lastly, keep in mind that with the exception of my top rated quarterback, I do not believe any of these prospects to be NFL ready, and that they will have to spend some time behind Sage Rosenfels or Tarvvaris Jackson in order to develop properly.

So here we go, my top 10 quarterbacks of this draft class, with small snippets of what I think of them.

1. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame – Right now Jimmy Clausen is appearing to be the ultimate package.  His strong arm, crazy accuracy, and ability to take snaps from under center should keep him at the top of this list until the draft.  The Vikings almost undoubtedly will have to trade up to get this kid who could be the NFL’s next Matt Ryan, in terms of success anyways.
2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma – Bradford was a top 3 prospect last year and will regret his decision not to enter the draft.  An injury has brought up questions about his toughness, leadership abilities, and drive.  Add that to less-than-ideal arm strength and no experience in a pro offense and Bradford could seriously fall.  The kid is still incredibly talented and will prove to be a great value for somebody, and the Vikings would love to see him slip to them at the bottom of round one.  I still think Bradford is a superior prospect when compared to Stafford or Sanchez.
3. Tim Tebow, Florida – There will be a lot of talk about how Tebow fits into the NFL and whether or not he can make the transition.  I have to agree with guys like Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy by saying that I think he’ll not only succeed but revolutionize the way the game is played.  Tebow has a unique set of physical skills but most importantly he has incredible character and incredible leadership abilities.  Prospects who work hard to not let themselves fail in life end up having the drive to not let themselves fail on the football field.  Say what you like about Tebow, but the bottom line he wins football games, and with Loadholt protecting the quarterback better than McKinnie, perhaps a lefty at quarterback would be a nice addition to the Vikings.
4. Jake Locker, Washington – Locker is a solid quarterback prospect who suffers from being on a bad team.  His arm strength leaves a bit to be desired, but he is not as raw as many prospects when it comes to fundamentals, making reads, and footwork.  He also has the athleticism to make plays with his feet… not just scramble for yards, but avoid the rush while continuing to look for options down field.  This would buy Percy Harvin a lot of time to get open.
5. Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State – Besides Clausen, Robinson may be the most NFL-ready quarterback prospect in this draft.  He’s smart, decisive, plays from under center, and continues to maintain a fairly high completion percentage.  His size what you look for in a quarterback, so if he can prove some doubters wrong about his arm strength then I think we see Robinson start to climb draft boards.  He seems like a perfect fit for the West Coast Offense and will be someone heavily scouted by the Vikings.
6. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas – With Mallett having a great year there will be lots of fans clamoring to see this guy get more respect in mock drafts (if he declares).  But, let’s face it, he’ll get the respect once he starts showing better mechanics and ability to make reads.  Until then, Mallett should be a guy who rides a bench for a couple of years as the team’s “project.”  He is raw, and Vikings fans will not have the patience for another project.
7. Tony Pike, Cincinnati – Here we have another candidate for fitting very well into a west coast offense.  Pike is incredibly accurate and has a serious knack for recognizing defensive schemes.  Pike is more polished than many of the candidates listed above, but he will fall into the second or third round because of poor arm strength.  While he may turn out to be a career backup, the Vikings could use a dependable decision maker in the future.
8. Jevan Snead, Ole Miss – It really saddens me to see how far my opinion of Snead has fallen over the course of 9 months.  Snead has been practically dreadful this year, with poor decision making and accuracy plaguing his attempt to be drafted in the first round.  Snead reminds me a bit of Jamarcus Russell with his cannon arm, and Snead will probably be a better NFL quarterback than Russell but that isn’t saying much.  It would be disappointing if the Vikings drafted Snead in the first round.
9. Colt McCoy, Texas – Here we have a quarterback that is known for making plays with his feet.  Unfortunately, most of those plays are long runs that highlight both great athleticism and poor decision making.  McCoy needed to learn how to buy time with his feet while looking downfield for a receiver, instead he lowers his head and takes off.  This doesn’t work on the NFL level unless you’re a supreme athlete like Michael Vick which McCoy is not.   Also, his inability to learn how to use his feet properly as a quarterback suggests he’s not too coachable, and I think there is no way Childress bites on a quarterback that should be used strictly out of the shotgun.
10. Max Hall, BYU – Hall is the smallest quarterback in my top 10, standing at only 6’ 1”.  He’s also a confusing case as he seems to be a very accurate passer, but at the same time he throws too many picks.  Perhaps he is just too confident in his ability to squeeze the ball into tight spaces.  His size and tendency to throw a pick will guarantee that Hall falls into the second day of the draft, as his upside is limited.  If the Vikings are serious about finding a franchise quarterback of the future, they need to be looking not at Max Hall, but in the top 5 of this list.

So, there’s my list of quarterbacks.  And please, please, please understand that these lists are fun but essentially worthless at this point.  Draft stock is very fluid, with players climbing and falling great distances right up to the day prior to the draft, so take this as just a mid-season evaluation.

Up next in this segment, I am going to preview what I have down as the Vikings second biggest offseason need… safety.

Instead, I wanted to give you a little friendly advice on who to cheer for during a week of Viking-less football (and, no, I haven’t taken each of your fantasy teams into account).

1. Cheer for the Redskins:  The Skins are not going to make the playoffs, but the falcons might.  One more loss for the Falcons makes it that much more likely that we would have home field advantage in the case of having to face them in the playoffs.
2. Cheer For The Cardinals:  Since we have to play the Bears twice still this year, they are now enemy #1.  Letting the Cardinals beat up on them would make the Vikings that much more likely to remain on top of the division.
3. Cheer for the Ravens:  The Vikings have already beat the Ravens, and still have to face the Bengals.  If the Ravens could abuse them badly, then perhaps the Bengals will have no confidence left when they come face the Vikings.
4. Cheer for the Patriots:  Kick back and watch Randy Moss do his thing.  What Vikings fan doesn’t enjoy that?
5. Cheer for the Bucs:  The old saying goes, “I cheer for the Vikings and whoever is playing the Packers.”  Plus nobody really wants to see the Bucs go winless, do they?
6. Cheer for the Panthers:  Right now it looks like the Saints are the biggest threat to the Vikings Super Bowl desires.  Hope that the Panthers can somehow put one in the Saints loss column and put on tape how to beat that powerhouse of a team.
7. Cheer for the Seahawks:  The Lions are not really a threat to our divisional status anymore, but watching them continue to have to draft in the top 5 and pay players who get drafted in the top 5 will be sure to keep them there for a long, long time.
8. Cheer For The Chargers:  I wouldn’t mind if the giants continue their mid-season collapse.
9. Cheer for the Titans:  Starting to see a trend?  That’s right, cheer for the AFC team to beat the NFC team.  The Niners might be in our past, but a loss to the Titans might ensure that they stay there.
10. Cheer for the Eagles and Cowboys to tie:  I dislike these teams equally and they are both a threat to the Viking sin the playoffs. 

Just playin’. 

The truth is that Mrs. Warwas and I moved to a new seaside mansion trailer with a view.  Thus, I was without internet for a short span.  But now I am back at it (after Mrs. Warwas checked on the latest romance between the stars of Twilight: Nice Moon or whatever the hell it is) and want to give some general thoughts about the Packers game.

We Won

No matter what analysis anyone has at this point, myself included, the fact is that the Vikings won and deserve great praise for their efforts.  Sweeping the Packers has never been an easy task and never will be, but going up by 2.5 games (3.5 if you factor in that we own the tiebreaker) on our greatest foes is a huge deal.  The victory pretty much knocked the Pack out of contention for the division title, barring a complete second half breakdown of course. 

So, tip your hats to the efforts of our Purple Players.  They deserve it.

It All Starts With Number Four

Perhaps nobody was more critical of the Brett Favre acquisition than I was.  So far, Favre has proven me to be incredibly wrong, and I am loving every minute of it.  While I still question the wisdom of hinging an entire season on a forty year old arm, I hope Favre continues to play how he has been.

Favre was named the NFC offensive player of the week and deservedly so.  Favre went 17 of 28 for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns.  No interceptions either.  Sheer brilliance. 

I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a Favre game as much as I did this one, and most of that had to do with knowing how Packers fans were feeling… hopeless… betrayed… sad… pure awesomeness.

Offensive Line Picking Up Steam

I noticed that our offensive line really shined on Sunday.  Sure, there was that one miscue from center John Sullivan that ended as turnover and perhaps a regrettable effort on that 4^th down try, but for the most part the line play was solid.

The pass protection was near perfect against the Packers for the second time this year.  Favre was not sacked, and seemed to have enough time on nearly every play.  While the run blocking wasn’t a dominating portion of the game, it was solid enough to get the job done.

Jeff Dugan Can Play

I like the way Jeff Dugan plays.  Watch the highlight reels and see how often he is hustling to make a block or wide open as a check down option.  Dugan did a nice job filling in for Fahu Tahi and he is one guy I am sure glad the Vikings have kept around.

Sky Is Limit For Pass Catchers

All of the sudden the Vikings offensive strength seems to be their pass catchers.  Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Visanthe Shiancoe all had solid outings and seem to really be confident this year.

It will be interesting to see how this group performs in Favre’s absence, but something tells me that this season they’ve gained the confidence needed to really bring our passing production to the next level in the second half of this season.

Adrian Quiet But Still The Best

It is hard to define Adrian Peterson’s season thus far.  It’s not a slump as he’s producing quietly great numbers.  It’s not a lack of touchdowns as he’s found the end zone already only one less time than he did all last season.

I’m not sure what is going on, but he has not taken over games like we’ve seen him do his first couple of seasons.  I’m curious to see how this season plays out for good old number 28. 

I have a feeling the best is yet to come.

Chester Taylor Is A Sudden Liability

Chester let another short pass bounce off his hands, reminding me off the Steelers game.  This one fell harmlessly to the ground, but it was very similar.  That, combined with his poor rushing average could spell the end for the running back.

He’s a free agent after this season, and the Vikings may be willing to just let him walk if he doesn’t pick up his game significantly in the second half.

The Sick One Dominates On Returns

Percy was very close to breaking off a touchdown on three separate kick returns.  Harvins full-speed-ahead approach to returning kicks is a treat for Vikings fans.  We haven’t seen such an exciting return man in purple for a long, long time… if ever.

Brian Robison might give him a run for his money though.

D-Line Lives Up To Expectations

The defensive line has absolutely killed the Packers this year.  This game was no exception.  They held Ryan Grant to a measly 30 yards on ten attempts.  Rodgers was sacked a total of six times for a loss of 29 yards.

Some people may say that Jared Allen’s stats are inflated because of how he’s abused the Packers “Baby Swiss” line this year.  I say kudos to him.  If we want him to be especially effective against anybody, it’s the Packers.

Linebackers Need To Tighten Up

I am having mixed feelings about our linebacker group this season.  Greenway is capable of making a big play every game, but just as capable of missing an easy tackle.  E.J. Henderson had a rare missed tackle this game, but has yet to provide that extra spark to the defense that was expected when he returned from injury.  I was beginning to think that the Vikings needed to think about finding a linebacker with more range than Ben Leber after this season, but he is playing incredibly solid football.

Hopefully this group can tighten things up a bit and have an improved second half to the season.

Winfield Is Missed Greatly

Antoine Winfield should be back shortly after the bye week.  That will be great, because our other cornerbacks are nothing special.  Cedric Griffin is solid but can get burned at least two or three times a game, however he rarely misses a tackle.  Karl Paymah, Benny Sapp, and Asher Allen on the other hand have shown in two of the last three games that they can not be counted on for consistency.

Bad angles, poor tackling, and suspect coverage abilities all showed up against the Packers and this is something these guys need to get fixed quickly if they plan on sticking around in the NFL.

I was especially disappointed in Asher Allen, who had a promising debut against the Steelers.  Against the Packers, however, the third round rookie was absolutely wretched as he missed multiple tackles because of just plain silly looking efforts.

Safeties Are The Biggest Concern

It appeared that Leslie Frazier tried some new schemes in this game.  He kept the safeties a little closer to the middle of the field, and blitzed an outside linebacker or nickel cornerback quite often.

That still didn’t work.

Now instead of getting beat through a deep middle seam, the safeties couldn’t cover the sidelines where Greg Jennings and Donald Driver had a field day.  Not to mention some guy named Havner (Is that the guy from No Country For Old Men?) caught two touchdowns even though he’s shaped roughly like a Mr. Potato Head.

Just watching Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams try to make plays on Sunday suggested that they lack range that allows them to get from sideline to sideline quickly enough to make a play.  Combine that with poor ball skills and a knack for taking bad angles and boom, you have a suspect pass defense.

Overall, however, the Vikings are a blast to watch this year.  I’ll be back soon with more content to curb your bye week hunger.