Comments on: Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings Will Check In Nice at 12-4

By: Temple3

Temple3 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:47:29 +0000

GN:

They have Bernard Berrian now.

By: GrandNubian

GrandNubian — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:04:03 +0000

You make an excellent points, especially regarding the lack of a “deep threat”, a player who can keep defenses honest and stretch the field. Until they develop or acquire a WR for that role, I agree that they should keep it simple and mix it up with power runs and play action.

That’s primarily why I say they’re a 9 win team. But hey….I could be wrong.

By: Temple3

Temple3 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:57:35 +0000

It bears mentioning that the Vikings offensive line is STACKED! One handicap the Vikings had last year was the absence of deep speed for use on play action passes. Troy Williamson is a work in progress. I think the addition of Berrian could be huge. This team needs to keep it simple.

Play action on first down using run formations (2TE, heavy alignments with Berrian on the field, etc.); Power runs to the left side on 2nd down…convert 3rd and short. They should also just work half of the field (either left vs. right or short vs. deep) until the QB gets better. Keep it simple. Let the best players on the team (the O and D lines) dominate in the trenches and go from there.

12 wins, though, is a steel hill to climb.

By: GrandNubian

GrandNubian — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:48:39 +0000

I see 9-7, especially with a QB that’s still developing. If they can’t pass the ball, teams will put 8, 9 in the box and make sure that Peterson doesn’t beat them. I like their potential upside but there’s just too many unanswered questions on offense.

By: MKRob

MKRob — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:56:00 +0000

Let’s see if Mr. Peterson will explode this year or have the “sophomore slump” this season. That is known to happen every now and then you know.

By: boney

boney — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:38:45 +0000

NFC Norris (after the old Norris Division in the NHL)

I think Minnesota wins the division at 10-6.
I think Packers ring in at 9-7
Detroit comes in at 7-9
Chicago 6-10 or 5-11

By: Black Market Index

Black Market Index — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:33:36 +0000

I think they’ll have a wild-card record that might win the division (9-7ish). Just too many “ifs” to pick them as a top-flight NFC team, yet. Jackson, being the biggest question mark on the team.

By: origin

origin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:32:55 +0000

I say 10-6 or 11-5 they will be the only team to make the playoffs in the NFC north.

By: thebrotherreport

thebrotherreport — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:02:55 +0000

I’m in that 10-6 group also.

By: michelle

michelle — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:54:22 +0000

I saty 10-6 is about right.

By: thebrotherreport

thebrotherreport — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:50:16 +0000

If T. Jackson can pick his spots, while Peterson keeps defenses honest. They have a chance to do something special.

Their front four may be the best in football. (On paper) They were good before they landed Allen.

By: Temple3

Temple3 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:49:28 +0000

Anything is possible. I am surprised that you chose not to discuss in some detail the awesome run defense that the Vikings have. I don’t love their QB just yet, but I’ll be daggone if he doesn’t make plays. He could be a paradigm flipper — the guy that no one saw coming except the GM and then everyone has to change their mind about him.

If the Vikings can figure out how to convert 3rd downs on the road and stop teams from converting on 3rd down, they could actually win 12 games. Last year, toward the end of the season, the Chargers were as good a team as there was in the league. The Vikings did pretty well in that game, so the sky is the limit next year.

Rashad:

If Peterson has a Dickerson year, you really, really, really, really do not want to be a linebacker or safety in the NFC North. This could end your career. You might actually be selling insurance and watching your ex roll out with the new flava of the month.

By: rashad

rashad — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:32:03 +0000

I see 10-6. T Jackson just doesn’t scare me enough to believe 4 losses will be it. I WILL say that I think this may be Peterson’s “Dickerson” year