2011 NFL Predictions: Projecting the Minnesota Vikings' Offensive Stats

The Minnesota Vikings have a huge task in front of them if they are to stay out of the basement of the NFC North in 2011.

The offense will feature a new quarterback, wide receiver and left tackle who need to mesh with the rest of the offense. On the bright side—if there is a bright side—is that the entire offensive unit is new to first-year offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave (with the exception of Michael Jenkins who played in Atlanta last season where Musgrave was the quarterbacks coach). 

With so many changes for the Minnesota Vikings heading into 2011, fans need to temper their expectations and show some patience while the team figures out how to piece together their offense.

Here's an early prediction as to how those pieces will come together and perform in 2011.

Wide Receiver: Bernard Berrian

Bernard Berrian may have the most to prove this season.

In his first season with the Vikings in 2008, Berrian led the team with 964 yards and seven touchdowns—both careers-highs.

Since then, his numbers have been on the decline.

Berrian agreed to restructure his contract in order to get the Vikings under the salary cap and can become a free agent after the season.

With the departure of Sidney Rice, Berrian becomes the No. 1 wideout by default. In a salary-driven season, Berrian will pick his game up, but it will take time to develop some chemistry with new quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Prediction: 50 receptions for 725 yards and six touchdowns—provided he plays the whole season.

Wide Receiver: Michael Jenkins

Michael Jenkins comes to the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent after playing seven seasons in Atlanta. 

The most receptions Jenkins has ever caught in a season was 53 in 2007. Last year, as the Falcons finished with the best record in the NFC, Jenkins was fourth on the team with 41 catches.

A big target at 6'4", offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave sees Jenkins as downfield threat. In a training camp interview last Wednesday, Musgrave said, "He's fast at the top end. He has the size to go up and get it."

The Vikings have assigned Jenkins No. 84; let's hope he wears it longer than the four games the previous Vikings wide receiver who wore it!

Prediction: 35 receptions for 525 yards and four touchdowns.

Slot Receiver: Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin is no doubt the best receiver on the team and arguably the best playmaker on the offense.

Whether he lines up in the slot, in the backfield or is put in motion, he is a force to be reckoned with, creating matchup concerns for the defense.

In only his third year, Harvin is stepping up as one of the team leaders.

Following the team's walk-through Saturday morning, Leslie Frazier was asked about the leadership Harvin brings. "There's no way I would have predicted over the lockout that Percy would have come in taking a leadership role that he has," Frazier said. "When we had the physicals set up for last Sunday, Percy was one of the first guys to show up. Wow, this is what you want from one of your star players."

Look for Harvin to quickly become Donovan McNabb's favorite target.

Prediction: 80 receptions, 960 yards and 10 touchdowns, including at least one touchdown on a kickoff return and one more rushing touchdown.

Tight End: Visanthe Shiancoe

After catching a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2009, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe only caught two last season. A tight end with the ability to get downfield, look for another solid season from Shiancoe. 

Over the last three seasons, he has averaged 48 receptions and 560 yards.

Prediction: 45 catches, 530 yards and four touchdowns.

Rookie Tight End: Kyle Rudolph

The Vikings selected Kyle Rudolph in the second round with the 43rd pick in the draft. From the Vikings' training camp news release, they tout Rudolph as the nation's top tight end in college football in 2010.

At 6'6", Rudolph will provide a huge target for Donovan McNabb. He's not going to make anyone miss once he catches the ball, but he does appear to have some ability to get down the field. He owns the second longest reception in Notre Dame history. 

With no offseason minicamps or OTA's, look for the Vikings to take their time easing Rudolph into the game plan.

Prediction: 20 receptions, 240 yards and one touchdown.

Running Back: Adrian Peterson

To suggest Adrian Peterson had an off year would be absurd. While he had his lowest rushing total in his four seasons, he still finished with 1,298 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Following the 2009 season, Peterson faced criticism for his fumbling with 16 fumbles over the previous two seasons.

Going into the 2010 season, he focused on making an improvement. Last year he had only one fumble in 283 carries. 

Now the knock is Peterson needs to improve his catching ability to become an every-down back in order to stay on the field on third-down passing situations.   

Look for Peterson to have a dominant season rushing the ball, adding a few catches to his game.

Prediction: 1,530 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground; 48 receptions and 500 yards with another two touchdowns receiving.

Quarterback: Donovan McNabb

I admit it, I am not on the Donovan McNabb bandwagon. It's nothing against McNabb, he's had a fantastic career leading the Eagles to the NFC Championship game an incredible five times.

It's just that since the 1993 season when the Vikings signed a washed-up Jim McMahon as their quarterback, they have been trying to find a shortcut to the Super Bowl.

With the exception of the five seasons Daunte Culpepper was the starting quarterback, the Vikings have paraded in a bevy of veterans to take the reins of the offense. After McMahon, there was Warren Moon for two seasons, Randall Cunningham for a little more than a season, Jeff George, the return of Brad Johnson, Gus Frerotte, Brett Favre and now McNabb.

I would prefer that the Vikings would look to develop a quarterback, and that is the plan for Christian Ponder, but with the compressed time frame to open the 2011 season, this is the right direction to go. Look at the injuries Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has suffered, and Stafford has started only 13 games over the past two seasons.

McNabb is looking to make a comeback from the worst season in his career with Washington when he threw more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (14)—the only time this has happened in his 12-year career.

The key to his success will be how well the offensive line can protect him.

Prediction: 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for close to 3,000 yards.

An Offense This Good, It's Got to Mean the Playoffs, Right?

The Vikings will have a tough test in 2011. Their opponents had a 132-124 record in 2010, making this the the 10th toughest schedule in the NFL.

In order for the Vikings to make the playoffs, they need to improve their record within the division; they went 1-6 last season with the single win coming against the Lions.

Prediction: With a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and a compressed time frame to get ready for the season, the Vikings will go 8-8—an improvement, but no playoffs.