Minnesota Vikings: 10 Way-Too-Early Predictions for 2012

It’s Jan. 3. The Minnesota Vikings’ season has been over for two days. But it’s never too early to start talking about 2012. And that’s exactly what this slideshow will do.

At 3-13, the Minnesota Vikings were the third-worst team in the NFL—based upon record.

The secondary was terrible. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder played like a rookie. Running back Adrian Peterson is out for an unannounced period of time with an ACL and MCL tear.

What veterans will be brought back? What veterans have played their last game in a Minnesota uniform?

We don’t know how those questions or statements will evolve in 2012.

But let’s look to 2012 nonetheless.

Four New Back-Seven Starters on Defense

Minnesota featured the 26th-best pass defense in 2011 (251 yards per game). Quarterbacks facing Minnesota completed 68.2 percent of their passes, which was second worst.

And those numbers were padded by the final contest of the season in which Minnesota battled a Chicago team that featured Josh McCown as its quarterback and passed for over 117 yards only once in the final four contests of 2011.

Minnesota should feature new starting cornerbacks in 2012 from the 2011 version. Cedric Griffin will be gone. Antoine Winfield won’t be a starting cornerback.

Who will start at corner? Chris Cook could, if he’s even on the roster.

Jamarca Sanford should be back at strong safety but the other safety position needs dire help. And the Hendersons, middle linebacker E.J. and outside linebacker Erin, shouldn’t be on the 2012 Minnesota squad.

Jared Allen Breaks the Franchise Sack Record

The man who was Minnesota’s lone superstar throughout the entire 2011 season will be back in 2012.

Defensive end Jared Allen came up a half-sack short of tying the sack record set by former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and settled for just setting Minnesota’s single-season record for sacks (22).

But what made Allen’s record impressive was that he did it with very little pass-rush talent around him. Besides fellow defensive end Brian Robison, no Viking starter had more than five sacks.

With Everson Griffen expected to play a larger role in the 2012 Minnesota defense, defensive tackle Kevin Williams eligible for all 16 games and changes to the linebacking corps, there should be more talent around Allen in 2012.

Allen will be 30 years old when the 2012 season kicks off. He’ll still be in the prime of his NFL career. With more talent around him and the talent he has still there, why can’t he break the record?

Antoine Winfield Will Be a Safety

I mentioned earlier that Antoine Winfield won’t start as a cornerback. But he should still be on this team and start as a safety.

Prior to the commencement of the 2011 campaign, I felt that Winfield should move to safety. And I believe that to be truer than ever.

Despite his age (35 when 2012 season starts) and injury problems the past two seasons, Winfield still has plenty of talent. He’s as sure-handed of a tackler as there is in the NFL. He’d be great help in run support from the safety position. And while his hands have never been stellar (something you want out of a safety), he is a leader and a good cover man.

His days as a starting cornerback are numbered, but let him showcase his talents to benefit himself as well as the Minnesota franchise by placing him at the safety position.

Percy Harvin Will Have 1,200 Yards Receiving

Like the rest of Minnesota’s receivers, Percy Harvin had to battle with the merry-go-round that was Minnesota’s quarterback position this year: Donovan McNabb to Christian Ponder, to Joe Webb, back to Ponder, then again back to Webb.

As has been seen in places like Green Bay, New England, New Orleans and Indianapolis, having a connection between the quarterback and receiver is crucial to the success of both players.

As the expected quarterback for Minnesota in 2012, Ponder will have his first full offseason to work with Harvin and the other Minnesota receivers, which will benefit Harvin greatly.

Harvin had 967 yards in 2011 with the merry-go-round system. With a solid connection built between Ponder and he, expect bigger things in 2012.

Joe Webb Records Five Receiving Touchdowns

It was on display throughout the final four games of this season: Joe Webb is a phenomenal athlete that makes plays.

Minnesota needs to get him onto the field more often and get the ball into his hands. His talent gets wasted standing on the sideline as Minnesota’s No. 2 quarterback.

Now is the time to move him to the wide receiver position. At 6’4” and 220 pounds, Webb has the body to be a wide receiver. He has the quickness, speed and agility—something the Detroit Lion defense knows all too well after he carved it up for 109 rushing yards from the quarterback position.

Move him now. Don’t wait. Do it now.

The sooner the move gets made, the sooner Webb can practice running better routes and working with Christian Ponder so the two can create a connection. Webb’s height and athleticism make him an ideal receiver, one that can go up for the jump ball in the red zone and run past defenders.

Make it happen, Minnesota.

No Move to 3-4 Defense

There are rumors about the Vikings altering their defense from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 base. That’s exactly what they’ll stay: rumors.

The greatest incentive for Minnesota to make the move is to get Everson Griffen onto the field as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4.

Beyond that, Minnesota would have to blow up the front of its defense—which is its greatest attribute. Brian Robison (6’3”, 259 pounds) would be too small of a defensive end in the 3-4 scheme. Kevin Williams is too small of a defensive tackle (311 pounds) to be that space-eater up the middle.

Minnesota’s defense had plenty of flaws to it in the 2011 form. But changing to the 3-4 in 2012 would cause more harm than it would do good.

Everson Griffen Will Start at Outside Linebacker in the 4-3

Everson Griffen has proven himself to be a playmaker. He’s one of Minnesota’s three best pass-rushers and he spent most of the season on the sideline.

That has to change in 2012.

Minnesota should start Griffen as an outside linebacker in 2012. There are concerns about his size (273 pounds) making it difficult for him to be a successful linebacker.

But that’s why you tell Griffen now that the job is his to lose. Set him up on a dietary plan that’ll help him slim down to around 250 pounds so he has the mobility and agility necessary to be a linebacker in a 4-3 defense.

Kyle Rudolph Will Have 50 Catches

Kyle Rudolph was Minnesota’s second-round draft pick in 2011. He was taken despite the fact Minnesota already had a veteran established at the tight end position in Visanthe Shiancoe.

Why?

Because Rudolph was the best player available at that point in the draft. Rudolph was a first-round talent that fell into the second round.

With Shiancoe not expected back in purple in 2012, that means Rudolph will be in charge at tight end. He will have an entire offseason to work with Ponder and get better acclimated with Minnesota’s offense.

Given Rudolph’s skill set—strong hands, speed and build (6’6”, 258 pounds)—Minnesota should expect more than the 26 receptions, 249 yards and three touchdowns it got from him in 2011.

Three New Starters on the Offensive Line

The offensive line is either problem 1A or 1B for the Vikings to fix this offseason, depending upon whom you ask.

Either way, it’s clear change is needed.

John Sullivan is the long-term answer for the Vikings at center, as their willingness to sign him to a five-year contract extension shows. He was Minnesota’s best offensive lineman this season.

But beyond that, all four linemen could go.

Phil Loadholt’s performance from the right tackle position was uninspiring. Since his 2009 rookie campaign, he’s had two regressive years. But given his youth, he should be back at the position in 2012.

Steve Hutchinson, given his age (34) and proneness to injury the last two seasons, has rumors surrounding him relative to the “R” word (retirement).

If he doesn’t retire, Minnesota should consider parting ways with the former Pro Bowl left guard. He’s no longer the perennial Pro Bowl player he was when Minnesota signed him to a seven-year contract in 2006.  

Right guard Anthony Herrera battled injuries throughout the season and his talent level doesn’t warrant Minnesota dealing with him in 2012.

Charlie Johnson’s performance at left tackle was uninspiring and should earn him a spot on the free-agent market. But Minnesota is interested in him as a guard, which I am OK with. He has a frame (6'4", 305 pounds) better suited for that position. Give him a shot in 2012, but not at tackle.

2012 Record: 7-9

Minnesota should see an improvement in 2012 from its 2011 form but the Vikings will still be at home come mid-January.

The defensive back seven needs a massive makeover.

The offensive line needs fixing and Christian Ponder needs to show more progress to make the franchise believe it finally has a quarterback it can build the franchise around; given that Ponder will have an offseason then that must happen.

If those two things occur, then the offense should be in good shape as long as running back Adrian Peterson doesn’t miss more than the first month of the season.

There are definite playmakers on the roster as it stands now and that are expected back in 2012. We do not know what free-agent moves or draft selections Minnesota will make—both of which could massively alter this record projection—but I like Leslie Frazier as a head coach and think he can progress this team in 2012.