Ok, enough with Bizarro Vikings. Let's talk Reality Vikings.
Coaching
I miss Dennis Green. Honestly. I am not the only one - many Vikings faithful harbor a hidden fondness for the Green era. Say what you will about the zany quotes and unfortunate relationship with the local press, but the man won. Every year. And with what? For the most part, a bunch of no talent B-teamers. A 97-62 record in nearly ten seasons is a respectable record. And the 1998 NFC Championship? It's a little known fact that Billick made the call to take the knee - not Dennis Green. And I don't recall Green kicking field goals - local hero Gary Anderson flubbed that one. Sure, Green wrote wacky books and sued the team for ownership, but the Vikings made headlines. They were discussed. They mattered. In the end, the majority of Vikings fans will only respect a coach that reminds them of Bud Grant: stoic, ornery, and whitebread.
Which takes us to Brad Childress, the Ned Flanders of coaching. In all honesty, anyone is an improvement over Mike Tice, the Maude to Brad's Nedward. Childress is also a churlish, secretive coach that fits nicely into the staid culture we have up here in Minnesota. I secretly hope that the nebbishness of Childress is all part of the master plan - that he has a handle on the situation. It is still too early to tell, but this is definitely the make-it or break-it year for him. No more three year plans. If the Vikings underperform this season, he will be gone.
Defense
As witnessed last year, the Vikings run defense is good. Scary good. Unfortunately, teams tend to figure this stuff out, and opponents last season reverted to rinky-dink passes. Amazingly, the Vikings found themselves powerless against these schoolyard pass schemes. It was like watching a real-life version of the unstoppable Montana to Roger Craig slant pass in Tecmo Bowl. We just couldn't defend the seemingly obvious.
It does not look any better this season. There is slight hope in the return of Erasmus James and Chad Greenway. Also, the team is young. All in all, if the coaching staff has figured out how to stop 4-5 yard passes, the Vikings defense could be a sleeper success this season.
Offense
Tarvaris Jackson - the new Vick or the new Peete? Honestly, I am getting good vibes from this guy - preseason performance wasn't bad. Nothing spectacular, but the team definitely had confidence while he was on the field. The problem is our receiver corps. If there isn't anyone to pass to, will TJack be able to scramble effectively? Early word on his mobility is a cross between Babe Laufenberg and Randall (the man) Cunningham.
There is also alot of buzz around Adrian Peterson, as if he is the second coming of Dickerson. I am not convinced about this guy - once injured, terminally injured. Ok, maybe it was his hand, but it is a talisman for things to come. Chester Taylor will be the undisputed starter by midseason.
Prediction
9-7
9-7
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