Minnesota Vikings: Five Things They Must Do To Make the Postseason
The Minnesota Vikings enter into the 2010 NFL season with a great deal of issues that could potentially thwart their quest for another postseason berth.
WR Sidney Rice will have surgery on his nagging hip; a surgery procedure, and injury, that could sideline him all the way to November. Percy Harvin is a huge question mark with his continuous migraine issues, and Brett Favre’s health is always a concern at the ripe old age of 40.
But hang on a second. Isn’t this actually par for the course?
C’mon guys, did anyone really think Sidney Rice was going to be the type of receiver he turned out to be in ’09 just because Favre was there?
Wasn't everyone paying more attention to Harvin’s track record for off-field issues at draft time?
Did the team actually think that running Adrian Peterson less, was really going to work?
As we, and the Vikings, enter into the 2010 season there are just as many questions in 2010 as there were in 2009. But that doesn’t mean this team can’t make it back to the postseason. There are just a couple of things the Vikings need to focus on, and that’s what I intend to take a look at.
So, without further ado.
5. The Obvious: Embrace The Running Game.
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This isn’t just a focus on running Peterson as much as possible, rather, a focus on utilizing his skills in the absence of the other offensive weapons.
Peterson will conceivably be an every down back for the first time in his Vikings’ career, and that is just as dangerous of a weapon as some of the missing pieces.
Peterson will assume a much more expansive role for two reasons: 1. Because word is out of camp is that rookie Toby Gerhart isn’t ready to fill in as a third down back, and the more obvious, the injury situation to Sidney Rice.
But for Peterson, the name of the game is ball protection.
Peterson had a career high six lost fumbles in 2009 and he will need to protect the ball more if the Vikings are the utilize his skills as a runner and a receiver; a specific skill set that hasn’t emerged yet….yet!
4. Let Favre Be Favre
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If you’re a Green Bay fan, then you can answer this question very easily: What happens when you take weapons away from Favre, and relegate him to one or two receivers, a high quality running back, and a bruising tight end?
RESULTS!
No matter what this guy has to work with he can, with time, make more things happen than any other QB in the league right now; so let him be who he is.
Yes he is 40. Yes he has naturally lost…a half step. But this is a proven leader that can re-manage a game when the time calls for it, and the time is now.
Favre will not only have to deal with the absence of Rice, but also the physical issues of Harvin. But a good QB makes the team around him better.
Bernard Berrian (29 years of age) was initially thought to be a viable deep threat when he was signed, but it didn’t really materialize in 2009, but the opportunity is now there with Rice being out.
Ex-Dolphin cast off Greg Camarillo was brought in recently to fill in as a potential slot receiver, or if nothing more, an over the middle compliment to TE Visanthe Shiancoe.
While the biggest knock to Camarillo is his lack of speed, his 50 catches for 552 yards is more than enough ground work for Favre to work with.
But allowing Favre to do his magic, is just as paramount to each of these players stepping up in a time that matters most.
3. Game Management
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Any Vikings’ fan will tell you, there were plenty of times where the game management was really out of whack in 2009 when it came to Chilly.
There were curious clock issues, significant miss-communication in play calling, and a plethora of times where Chilly was viewed as being too conservative.
This team has talent no matter how you cut the cheese, but Childress has to have FULL confidence in that in order to successfully survive 16 games—specifically as a member of the NFC North, with the Packers as their current shadow.
That means making bold decisions in lieu of conservatism; allowing your marquis QB to take more game control, and understanding that there is an entire team at your disposal Mr. Childress.
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2. No More Gun SIinging
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The Vikings lost to the Steelers, Cardinals, Panthers, and Bears (once) in 2009, and in those contests there were as many accumulated yards offensively as there were yards given up by the defense.
Just because you have Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson, doesn’t always mean you are going to continuously pull off that miracle come from behind victory.
The Panthers’ game in Week 15, specifically, was a good example of this.
But this philosophy also comes back, to a degree, to game management. Recognizing the inequities through each quarter and adjusting is far better than resting on the laurels of a current great, and a great in the making.
Now I am not saying, per say, that the Vikings did this exclusively in their losses, but the feeling was certainly there, especially in the postseason upset at New Orleans.
In war, most successful field Generals understand that using brute power isn’t always the best option when you have the ability to utilize cunning tactics; something the coaching staff may want to think about when entering this season.
1. Just Believe
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Anyone remember the 1992 season where everyone thought after two prior dismal years the Vikings actually had a chance at a Super Bowl shot?
Or how about the 1998 season where the Vikes went 15-1 and were considered a shoe-in for a Super bowl win? Or, for that matter, last season where many viewed the Vikings as a huge Super Bowl contender?
What did these three seasons have in common?
In each of these three seasons the team had an apparent issue with having that “thing” that acts as the final catalyst to raising a team from dominance to greatness.
Again I cannot as a mere football fan, say for sure, but the air was certainly there.
This team must realize that they have more than enough talent to compete for a Super Bowl title, and not be so concerned with the initial crosses they have to bear as they get prepared to enter this season.
It's one thing to actually make it to the Super Bowl; but in that eleventh hour…that one moment in sports history where a collectively great team becomes the absolute best team, is a whole different beast.
That is the product unwavered confidence.
If the 2010 Minnesota Vikings can realize just how good they really are, no matter who is on that field, only then will they finally rise above the layers of ashes they have left behind them and become the Champions they really were all along.
I hope everyone enjoyed this piece, and feel free to check out some of my other work here.
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