Tag: Minnesota Vikings (Page 20 of 61)

      Do the Vikings still have an issue in their secondary?

      August 27, 2010 /
      MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 13: Antoine Winfield #26 (L) and Jamarca Sanford #33 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrate a play against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 13, 2009 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

      Merry training camp season, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the Vikings’ secondary concerns.

      There’s growing sentiment that the offensive line is the Vikings’ biggest question mark heading into the 2010 season and for good reason. Neither Steve Hutchinson nor Bryant McKinnie played well last year and some pundits believe that Phil Loadholt looks the part, but has a long way to go to be consistently productive.

      But keep in mind that Hutchinson has dealt with back issues for the last couple of years and also had a shoulder injury that limited him last season. McKinnie had his own injury concerns (he played with plantar fasciitis for most of the year) and that was only Loadholt’s first year. Considering the Vikings added two new starters to the O-line, it makes sense that they struggled a bit – especially in run blocking.

      Hutchinson and McKinnie are reportedly healthy and if both Loadholt and center John Sullivan make strides in their development, the offensive line should be fine. Their secondary on the other hand…

      It seems like the Vikings have had the same issues in their secondary for about a decade now. Even in 1998 when they went 15-1 and lost in the NFC Championship Game their biggest weakness was arguably their secondary and despite their best efforts over the years, they can never seem to get the right mix of players back there.

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      External Sports, NFL

      Fantasy impact of the Sidney Rice news

      August 24, 2010 /

      In case you haven’t heard, Sidney Rice will be out until midseason after undergoing hip surgery. Obviously, this is a big loss for the Vikings, but what about the fantasy implications?

      Let’s start with Rice himself. He’s going to miss the first half of the season and that assumes his recovery goes to plan. Rice is no more than a late-round pick. Stash him on your roster if you have the space and hope that he makes it back for the stretch run.

      This news theoretically bumps up Harvin’s stock a bit, but with his migraine issues, there’s no guarantee he’s going to play 16 games either. He’s been going 6.10 over the last week, and while I’d rather have Santana Moss at this point, Harvin is not a bad pick in the 6th or the 7th. But don’t draft him unless you have a high tolerance for week-to-week uncertainty. That’s just how it’s going to be with Harvin, at least for this year.

      Bernard Berrian seemingly gets the biggest bump of all the Viking players, and a 29 years old, he has plenty of football left to play. But Berrian is not Rice, so don’t expect anything more than fantasy WR3-type numbers. He’s currently going in the 14th, but I’d start to think about him in the 10th. And remember, he could be pushed back to the bench midseason if Rice comes back.

      I’d also bump up Visanthe Shiancoe a bit more. I already liked him as a mid- to late-round sleeper after he posted TE5-type numbers over the last half of the ’09 season. Favre loves to throw to his tight end, especially around the goal line, and with Rice out, he’ll lean on Shiancoe even more.

      As for Favre himself, this will probably hurt his numbers. He has a tendency to throw the ball up for grabs, and Rice excelled at using his length and leaping ability to go up and snag the ball out of the air. I’d expect fewer yards, fewer TDs and more picks. That’s just the nature of the beast.

      The last guy to consider is Adrian Peterson. With Rice out, the defense will be able to crowd the box a bit more, but he’ll likely get more carries with the Vikings taking a more conservative approach offensively. His ypc will probably dip a bit, but more carries could offset this. I would still draft him in the top 4.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, News, NFL

      Sidney Rice out until midseason – are the Vikings in store for a fall?

      August 24, 2010 /
      NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Sidney Rice #18 of the Minnesota Vikings makes a reception against Randall Gay #20 of the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won 31-28 in overtime. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

      It’s only one player – a receiver, mind you. And even though this particular receiver caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns last season, he’s still only a receiver.

      The Vikings can get by without Sidney Rice, who has elected to undergo hip surgery and is expected to miss half of the regular season. They still have Adrian Peterson, a solid offensive line, an excellent defense and an above average linebacker corps. And even though Rice was a huge part of their offense last season, Brett Favre has a habit of turning previously no-named receivers into Pro Bowlers.

      Just look at Rice himself.

      But even though the Vikings made it to the NFC Championship Game last season with practically the same roster, does anyone else get the sense that this team is in store for a freefall this year?

      Favre is another year older and is coming off ankle surgery. Rice is out until midseason. Percy Harvin’s migraines are already holding him back. Peterson presumably still has fumbling issues. Versatile backup Chester Taylor is in Chicago. The secondary still has question marks. Etc.

      Oh yeah, and Brad Childress is still in charge.

      Even before Rice was hurt, I liked the Packers’ chances more than I did the Vikings. Assuming their offensive line holds up, they seem to be a more complete football team right now than the Vikings, whom everyone will be gunning for this season after they ripped apart the competition last year. That’s not to say that Minnesota isn’t a playoff contender because it is. I just don’t get the sense that this team is built to hold up for an entire 16-game season.

      Again, Rice is only one player and I’m certainly not suggesting that because he’s out that the Vikings will crumble. But does anyone have more confidence in them right now than the Saints, Cowboys or Packers? I could see the Vikes racing out to a decent start but fading down the stretch. And I have zero faith in Childress to keep everything together.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, NFL

      Percy Harvin collapses at Vikings’ practice

      August 19, 2010 /
      CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 20: Percy Harvin #12 of the Minnesota Vikings against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 20, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      Vikings’ beat writer Chip Scoggins writes that receiver Percy Harvin collapsed at the team’s facility today at practice and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

      Harvin, who has suffered from severe migraines, was not on the field for the start of practice. He was seen talking to head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman outside the locker room at Winter Park and then jogged onto the field to watch practice. A few minutes later, Harvin vomited and then fell to the ground.

      He came out for special teams practice and started having problems when he looked into sky catching punt.

      Vikings coach Brad Childress on Harvin’s migraines: “That one hit and it hit hard. Always scary for all of our guys when you see teammates struggling.”

      The Vikings ended practice early and even held a team prayer, so the situation is obviously serious. Harvin missed the last two weeks of camp due to migraines and more than likely, this episode had something to do with his headaches.

      Migraine sufferers are often sensitive to light and sound. The headaches can also cause nausea, vomiting and sometimes affect the person’s vision. As a frequent migraine sufferer myself, I know first hand that they can be crippling and I hope that Harvin is okay.

      One of the bad things about migraines is that they’re incredibly hard to predict. You can avoid triggers like certain foods and drinks, but they can often come on due to strenuous activity or even a change in weather. This isn’t like when you break a bone and you know it’ll heel in 6-8 weeks. The Vikings can’t assume that Harvin will be ready to play in a couple of days, as he could have another attack at any time. (He missed the Vikings’ win over the Bengals last year due to migraines, as well as some practice time during the playoffs.)

      Again, hopefully he’s okay and he’ll be able to continue everyday activities soon.

      External Sports, NFL

      Report: Brett Favre thinks Brad Childress is clueless

      August 19, 2010 /
      NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Head coach Brad Childress of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

      According to a report by Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, one of the reasons Brett Favre contemplated not returning this season was because of Vikings’ head coach Brad Childress.

      Multiple sources told Cole that Childress doesn’t have much respect from his players, particularly from Favre. “Brett thinks Childress has no clue about offense,” a Vikings player told Cole.

      The sources told Cole that the mere existence of Childress was one of the reasons Favre might not have returned this season. Favre told some of his teammates in early July that he was probably going to return, Cole reports, but then his interest went down after Childress visited him July 19.

      “Brett just doesn’t trust him,” a player told Cole.

      It’s been a widespread rumor that Childress doesn’t have respect from his players and this report strengthens that case. While it’s important to remember that this was an anonymous source within Minnesota’s locker room and therefore it should probably be taken with a grain of salt, this news runs parallel to other reports that have stated that players aren’t fans of Childress.

      Here are a couple of nuggets to chew on:

      – Favre and Childress went toe-to-toe on the sidelines last year in a very public shouting match, so it’s not surprising to read that Brett doesn’t trust his head coach.

      – It’s been widely speculated that the reason long-time center Matt Birk left Minnesota last year to sign with Baltimore was because of his disdain for Childress, who put together a tacky press release upon Birk’s departure.

      – Childress has taken flack for the way he has handled the Favre situation as it pertains to Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

      Yesterday I wrote an article titled, “Two reasons why Brett Favre and the Vikings won’t win a Super Bowl.” One of the two reasons I listed was Brad Childress, who I feel as though will never be a Super Bowl-winning head coach and who will always hold the Vikings back.

      Apparently I’m not alone in that sentiment.

      External Sports, NFL

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