The Offseason's Impact on the 2009 Minnesota Vikings Playbook

After every season, the front office and coaching staff of all 32 NFL teams must examine each position and decide what changes need to be made. These changes will ultimately determine how the team's playbook will look for the next season.

The Minnesota Vikings were rather quiet this offseason and the overall look of the team is not too different from 2008.

Still, there were a few personnel changes that could potentially improve the playbook.

Lets take a look at them.

Offensive Playbook

The Vikings have established themselves as one of the best running teams in the NFL. They trust Adrian Peterson to continue to carry that load next year, but it was important that they brought someone in who could force teams to fear someone other than him.

Enter Percy Harvin.

The Vikings raised some eyebrows when they selected Harvin with the 22nd overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He tested positive for marijuana in February at the NFL Combine and draft experts predicted it would cause many teams to pass on him.

Head coach Brad Childress has spent a majority of his three years with the Vikings attempting to instill discipline in his team; it seemed that Harvin's recent troubles would make him too risky to bring him to Minnesota.

Obviously, the Vikings decided the potential reward was worth the risk.

During his career at the University of Florida, Harvin was the epitome of a play maker. In his three year career he piled up 1,929 yards receiving on 133 catches. While this may not seem like much for a wide receiver, the fact that he also rushed for 1,851 yards shows the caliber of player he is.

The Vikings see the potential he brings to the team and will use him to open up their playbook.

In past seasons, it has not been hard to predict if the Vikings would run or pass on a drive. The typical pattern consisted of a run on first down, another run on second down, and a pass on third down if they had not yet placed themselves within a few yards from another first down.

Following this pattern may have worked at times, but it is also a good way for a team to wear down their running backs. As it stands, Peterson is already considered to be injury prone and last year he rushed the ball 363 times. Harvin's presence in the playbook gives the Vikings an opportunity to lift some of the weight off Peterson.

With Harvin on the roster, look for the Vikings to become more creative with their offensive playbook. They still have the luxury of their powerful running game, but now they have a player that the defense knows is a threat to burn them at any moment.

Harvin can be used as a slot receiver; the Vikings know he can make something happen after the catch. The playbook will likely have plenty of plays where the quarterback will look to get Harvin the ball on routes across the middle so he can have plenty of room to explode.

Harvin can also play from the backfield. Imagine the defense lining up and seeing Peterson and Harvin in a pro set formation. This may not be something the Vikings do right away, but the playbook will undoubtedly have a few plays where both players are in the backfield.

In addition to seeing Harvin used as both a wide receiver and running back in the 2009 playbook, it would not be surprising to see him get a few attempts at running reverses. He is fast and elusive; having him come from the receiver position on a motion and take the ball on a reverse would give him plenty of room to work with.

The Vikings offense should be more explosive with Harvin on the team. As long as the coaching staff can use him the right way, he will prove to be worth the first round pick that brought him to Minnesota and the front office will be praised for taking the risk.

Defensive Playbook

The Vikings did not bring in any big name players on the defensive side of the ball, but they dodged a bullet when defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was not offered a head coaching spot from any of the teams he interviewed with.

The Vikings had to deal with the departure and replacement of former defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin in 2007 and having to replace Frazier this year would have likely taken the focus away from improving the defense.

As the team continues to run a cover 2 scheme, they will do so with a new strong  safety. Veteran Darren Sharper signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent and now the Vikings will look to second year player Tyrell Johnson to take over.

Johnson saw significant playing time last season due to the injury of free safety Madieu Williams; this should help him as he transitions into an every game starter.

Since the cover 2 depends on the safety positions, the Vikings defensive playbook should have formations where Johnson will have help on his side of the field. He is still a young safety, so it is important that he is eased comfortably into his starting role.

The defense will also benefit from the return of E.J. Henderson from a toe injury that sidelined him most of last season. Henderson was having a great year before his injury and his return will bring more blitz packages to the playbook this season.

One shift that the Vikings will hopefully not have to worry about, but should definitely be prepared for, is the potential loss of defensive tackle's Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for four games. Both players are still waiting on rulings that will determine if they will serve four game suspensions for using a banned substance, bumetanide.

Currently, both players anchor the defensive line and are responsible for the league's best defense against the run.

Even when the Vikings lost Pat Williams at the end of last year due to injury, their run stopping suffered. If both of them missed four games, the Vikings would be forced to use backups Ellis Wyms and Fred Evans. While both are serviceable players, their talent does not equal that of the "Williams Wall".

Such a loss would hurt the Vikings ability to free up DE Jared Allen coming off the end. The cover 2 works best when the front four are applying constant pressure, so the playbook would have to be tweaked to ensure they still reach the quarterback.

This may mean having more delayed cornerback blitzes with Antoine Winfield, a play that worked to perfection against the Panthers and Saints last year.

Special Teams

This was definitely the weak spot for the Vikings last season. They gave up a record seven returns for touchdowns; it goes without saying that they need to improve on both kick-off and punt coverage.

Last year's special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro left for St. Louis during the offseason. The Vikings chose to promote assistant Brian Murphy to take over the special teams.

Murphy will hopefully make many improvements in 2009. It is up to him to determine which players will give the team the best possible special teams unit. He will receive a boost with the return of special teams captain Heath Farwell from a season-ending injury last year.

Despite these changes, the majority of last season's coaching staff will be returning; consequentially, all three areas of the Vikings playbook will be schematically similar to last year.

The Vikings will make those changes to the playbook that are necessary to ensure themselves the best chance of success in 2009. Realistically, that may be accomplished by not changing much at all.

A stout running game on offense combined with the ability to stop the run on defense has long been considered the perfect recipe for success in the NFL. Undoubtedly, the Vikings have both of those traits.

As long as the coaching staff can build off those strengths, the 2009 playbook should be strong enough to support the Vikings efforts to defend the NFC North title.