10 Reasons Why the Vikings Can Compete for a Super Bowl in 2011
It's no secret by now the 2010 version of the Minnesota Vikings has been a disaster. From the poor on-field play of its stars, to the dysfunction going on off of it, the Vikings have looked every bit the soap opera as a three-month run of Days of Our Lives.
The crisis reached a breaking point this week when much maligned-coach Brad Childress was let go, despite receiving a contract extension just a year ago.
For now, the 3-7 Vikings will be led by Leslie Frazier, whom many people believed was in line for a head coaching job in 2011. Whether the Vikings rally around him as the Cowboys have done with Jason Garrett, or continue to see their season collapse, is anyone's guess.
Regardless of how 2010 ends, though, Vikings fans should have faith that next season could see them right back in Super Bowl contention.
Brett Favre Will Be in Mississippi...And Stay There This Time
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In 2009, Brett Favre joined the Vikings and everything seemed to go right. He had arguably his best statistical season as he led the Vikings to a near-victory against the Saints in the NFC Championship Game.
Favre, his teammates, the coaching staff and ownership believed they could repeat their success by following the identical path.
Brett Favre came to camp late, just as he did in 2009. While he needed several teammates to "convince" him to return, there was no reason to believe the Vikings wouldn't contend for another title.
But then Sidney Rice got hurt, and then Percy Harvin had migraine issues. And then Brett Favre returned to his old form, throwing crucial interceptions left and right.
It's come to the point that Favre has become a liability to this team. As sad as it is to say, his retirement will lead to future success for the Vikings.
Adrian Peterson. Enough Said!
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While the Vikings may be struggling this year, they still have Adrian Peterson, arguably the best running back in the NFL.
Regardless of whether Favre, Tarvaris Jackson or another quarterback is at the helm in 2011, Adrian Peterson has the ability to run for the end zone no matter where he is on the field.
Leslie Frazier
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Frazier is a defensive coordinator who is well respected throughout the entire league. He was a player with the legendary '85 Bears and has been groomed to become a head coach for several years.
It was widely suspected Frazier would get a coaching gig following this season, so the Vikings are giving him a shot following the dismissal of Brad Childress.
Before everyone gets too excited, though, they should see what is going on in San Francisco. Mike Singletary was a defensive guru who had been groomed for several years and also a veteran of the Bears' 46 defense.
While it looked like he was bound to succeed, the 49ers have stumbled this year and sit at 3-7 despite playing in one of the weaker divisions in recent NFL history.
Still, it could be argued Frazier could do no worse than Childress, who appeared to respect few, while receiving the same lack of respect from players and fans alike. A much less volatile coaching situation could be the exact recipe the team ordered.
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The Vikings' Schedule SHOULD Get Easier
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One reason the Vikings have struggled more this year is due to the fact they've had arguably the hardest schedule in the league. Here are some of the teams the Vikings have played thus far:
Week 1: New Orleans (8-4)
Week 5: New York Jets (9-2)
Week 7: Green Bay (7-3)
Week 8: New England (9-2)
Week 10: Chicago (7-3)
Week 11: Green Bay (7-3)
Through 10 games, the Vikings have had to play teams with a combined record of 60-45. Given how much parity there is in this league, that's a pretty incredible opposition record.
Add to that they still have tough games against the Giants, Eagles and another division game with the Bears.
In 2011, the Vikings will have games against the AFC West as well as fellow third-place teams in the NFC. Most likely, the team will have a much easier schedule next year.
A Healthy Receiving Group
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There was perhaps no bigger breakout star in the NFL last year than Sidney Rice, who was Brett Favre's go-to guy. Rice played in just his first game last week and still does not look completely healthy.
Add this to the ongoing migraine issues of Percy Harvin and recent injuries to Bernard Berrian. If all these receivers can remain healthy like they did in 2009, it will undoubtedly help the team moving forward.
The Defensive Line Is Heating Up
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One of the main reasons the Vikings succeeded last year was the ferocious play of their defense. Jared Allen was a league leader in sacks, yet until recently, has had nowhere near the same impact this year.
Lately, the defensive front has looked like they could return to form, which it has to in order to contend again for a Super Bowl.
They Play in the NFC
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It's clear there is much more competitive balance in the NFC than in the AFC.
In the AFC, you have a near-guaranteed four playoff spots taken up by the combination of New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and San Diego, with other teams like the New York Jets and Tennessee consistently competing.
Who besides Philadelphia could you say that about in the NFC? In just two years, the majority of the NFC teams have tasted some part of the playoffs.
This will give the Vikings a much better opportunity to have a quick turnaround and have potential playoff success the following year.
Toby Gerhart Is Starting to Emerge
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If there is one bright spot to this season, it has been the improved play of rookie running back Toby Gerhart. With Chester Taylor, arguably the best backup running back in the NFL, taking his talents to Chicago, the Vikings drafted Gerhart to fill his shoes.
Despite his incredibly strong season at Stanford the year before, he struggled mightily to start the year, whether it was running the ball or picking up blocking assignments.
The good news is he has become a much more effective runner while his blocking has become better since Week 1.
If he can continue this upward swing, the Vikings will have found a worthy replacement for Taylor, whose great third-down offense was crucial to the Vikings' 2009 success.
No Randy Moss Circus
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When Randy Moss was traded to the Vikings, it seemed like a perfect marriage. Brett Favre was looking for more weapons for an injury-depleted receiving corps. Randy Moss was a receiver who felt like he wasn't getting the number of opportunities a No. 1 receiver deserved.
So how better to solve the problems for both by finally uniting two players that appeared eager to play with each other for years?
What looked to be promising blew up in everyone's face, with the Vikings players quickly growing tired of Moss's diva-like antics. Still, the way Brad Childress dismissed Moss himself caused uproar in the locker room and the front office, which is never a good thing.
The good news is, this type of sideshow is unlikely to happen again next year, as the team will have learned its lesson.
Trade for Kevin Kolb
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This is the single best way the Vikings can recover.
Whether Brett Favre retires or not, it's clear these are the last games he will play in Minnesota. This will leave the Vikings with several options: allow Tarvaris Jackson to start, sign a veteran, draft a rookie, or trade for a QB.
I feel the latter approach is best. It's unlikely the Eagles will allow Michael Vick to walk away, yet they surely will not be willing to pay two quarterbacks over $10 million.
Therefore, Kevin Kolb, who looks like he can be a very successful quarterback, would be the perfect option for the Vikings.
If Leslie Frazier stays as coach, the Vikings will likely employ a similar offense as the Eagles do right now. But even if it's a new staff, Kolb is still young and, frankly, inexperienced enough to learn a new offense.
While it would likely cost the Vikings a first-round draft pick, it would be worth it to acquire a potential franchise quarterback.
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