- Messages
- 5,432
- Reaction score
- 0
Powers: Vikings window to Super Bowl remains open — just a crack
Tom Powers
Pioneer Press
Updated: 09/09/2010 09:14:44 AM CDT
Alan Page talks: Bob Sansevere listens"You've got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
— Dirty Harry Callahan
That quote popped into my head while I was thinking about the upcoming NFL season. The Vikings have a good team. But there are a lot of good teams in the NFL. The question is whether they are charmed. Will they avoid further injuries? Will the football bounce their way at the right time?
Last season, the Vikings appeared to be not just a good team but a special team, one that could grab opponents by the scruff of the neck and toss them out of the way. In addition, they also had some luck. That last-second touchdown pass to Greg Lewis against San Francisco in Week 3? Come on. Brett Favre is a talented guy, but that was Lewis' only significant catch of the season.
Perhaps 99 times out of a hundred that sort of desperation pass falls incomplete. But not when a team is on a roll. Not when a team has "all the way" written all over it.
The window to the Super Bowl was wide open last season. All the Vikings had to do to climb in was to limit the number of men in the huddle to 11. Twelve men don't fit. But they couldn't do that against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC title game and, well, here we are. In 2010, the window remains open — but just a crack. It will be much harder to squeeze through. But the fact that there is even a chance should help make the season entertaining.
During the offseason, the least amount of damage occurred on the defensive side of the ball. In addition, the return of middle linebacker E.J. Henderson is a plus. Pat and Kevin Williams don't have to worry about league suspensions derailing them, either. The courts have shoved that issue to the far back burner. If Brad Childress can get the cornerback position figured out, he'll have a defense that could make the difference week after week.
And he will need a defense that can make the difference week after week, as well as a healthy dose of good fortune.
If the Vikings are hugely successful this season, the key players will not be Favre and Percy Harvin — although those guys need to do well. Instead, the Vikings will succeed behind Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, Chad Greenway and Antoine Winfield.
Last season, when everyone was justifiably enraptured with Favre and the offense, the defenders labored in relative obscurity. Allen's sacks got a lot of attention, but that was about it. The unit is a good one, especially against the run. Patching up the secondary until people get healthy is the key.
Childress keeps using the word "flux." The offensive line, receiving corps and secondary are all in flux. The No. 2 running back no longer is a proven commodity. The quarterback position is thinner behind Favre. And I find it difficult to believe Favre will have another career year at 41. That's what the Vikings are up against.
While the offense really is in flux, the defense still appears to have the makings of a championship unit. There is quality depth on the line and at linebacker. This should be the Vikings' bread and butter for 2010.
Ask yourself this question: If the '09 Vikings could square off against the '10 Vikings, which team would win? The previous team was better fortified in more areas. In fact, there doesn't appear to be one position this year that is improved over last year. However, several positions appear to be weaker.
Obviously, a lot depends on the other teams, too. Perhaps no super team will emerge in the NFC. Perhaps the overall competition will be a bit less. That would be lovely for Minnesota, too.
Best-case scenario for 2010: Defense excels and Adrian Peterson returns to form, running roughshod over the opposition.
Worst-case scenario for 2010: Cornerback position remains a problem and Favre finally breaks down. Holy buckets, that puts Tarvaris Jackson behind center with only raw Joe Webb behind him.
Another famous Dirty Harry/Clint Eastwood quote is: "A man's got to know his limitations."
In this case, I'm not so sure that's a good thing.
Tom Powers
Pioneer Press
Updated: 09/09/2010 09:14:44 AM CDT
Alan Page talks: Bob Sansevere listens"You've got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
— Dirty Harry Callahan
That quote popped into my head while I was thinking about the upcoming NFL season. The Vikings have a good team. But there are a lot of good teams in the NFL. The question is whether they are charmed. Will they avoid further injuries? Will the football bounce their way at the right time?
Last season, the Vikings appeared to be not just a good team but a special team, one that could grab opponents by the scruff of the neck and toss them out of the way. In addition, they also had some luck. That last-second touchdown pass to Greg Lewis against San Francisco in Week 3? Come on. Brett Favre is a talented guy, but that was Lewis' only significant catch of the season.
Perhaps 99 times out of a hundred that sort of desperation pass falls incomplete. But not when a team is on a roll. Not when a team has "all the way" written all over it.
The window to the Super Bowl was wide open last season. All the Vikings had to do to climb in was to limit the number of men in the huddle to 11. Twelve men don't fit. But they couldn't do that against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC title game and, well, here we are. In 2010, the window remains open — but just a crack. It will be much harder to squeeze through. But the fact that there is even a chance should help make the season entertaining.
During the offseason, the least amount of damage occurred on the defensive side of the ball. In addition, the return of middle linebacker E.J. Henderson is a plus. Pat and Kevin Williams don't have to worry about league suspensions derailing them, either. The courts have shoved that issue to the far back burner. If Brad Childress can get the cornerback position figured out, he'll have a defense that could make the difference week after week.
And he will need a defense that can make the difference week after week, as well as a healthy dose of good fortune.
If the Vikings are hugely successful this season, the key players will not be Favre and Percy Harvin — although those guys need to do well. Instead, the Vikings will succeed behind Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, Chad Greenway and Antoine Winfield.
Last season, when everyone was justifiably enraptured with Favre and the offense, the defenders labored in relative obscurity. Allen's sacks got a lot of attention, but that was about it. The unit is a good one, especially against the run. Patching up the secondary until people get healthy is the key.
Childress keeps using the word "flux." The offensive line, receiving corps and secondary are all in flux. The No. 2 running back no longer is a proven commodity. The quarterback position is thinner behind Favre. And I find it difficult to believe Favre will have another career year at 41. That's what the Vikings are up against.
While the offense really is in flux, the defense still appears to have the makings of a championship unit. There is quality depth on the line and at linebacker. This should be the Vikings' bread and butter for 2010.
Ask yourself this question: If the '09 Vikings could square off against the '10 Vikings, which team would win? The previous team was better fortified in more areas. In fact, there doesn't appear to be one position this year that is improved over last year. However, several positions appear to be weaker.
Obviously, a lot depends on the other teams, too. Perhaps no super team will emerge in the NFC. Perhaps the overall competition will be a bit less. That would be lovely for Minnesota, too.
Best-case scenario for 2010: Defense excels and Adrian Peterson returns to form, running roughshod over the opposition.
Worst-case scenario for 2010: Cornerback position remains a problem and Favre finally breaks down. Holy buckets, that puts Tarvaris Jackson behind center with only raw Joe Webb behind him.
Another famous Dirty Harry/Clint Eastwood quote is: "A man's got to know his limitations."
In this case, I'm not so sure that's a good thing.