Minnesota Vikings: 11 Players That Can Make or Break the Vikings Season

Right now is the best time of the year. The humidity of summer has drained away to the cool of early fall. Every NFL team is 0-0 and tied for first place. The specter of last season is a distant memory and the hope of a new season has everyone tingling in anticipation.

With Donovan McNabb, Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin, the Vikings have an extremely talented trio on the offensive side of the ball that could rival any other trio in the NFL. When the defense takes the field, the Vikings have an equally talented trio in Jared Allen, Chad Greenway and Antoine Winfield.

The difference-makers for the Minnesota Vikings will be the complementary players that will surround these play-makers for the Vikings. 

Here are 11 players that will have the biggest impact on the Vikings success in 2011.

Linebacker Erin Henderson

For the undrafted linebacker heading into his fourth season with the Vikings, Erin Henderson replaces Ben Leber as the starting weak-side linebacker. When Henderson takes the field against the San Diego Chargers, it will be his first career start.

Leber, who averaged 41 tackles and 13 assists over the past five seasons for the Vikings, was not offered a contract for the 2011 season will start for the St. Louis Rams.

For Erin Henderson, it will be an opportunity to line up alongside his brother, E.J., five years his senior.

Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe

After having career highs in receptions and touchdowns in 2009, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe took a step back in 2010. This most likely correlated to the difference in performance of the quarterbacks that led the Vikings these two seasons. 

For Shiancoe, who has played in every game since being drafted by the New York Giants in 2003, it will be important to develop some chemistry with quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Based on what we've seen so far this preseason, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave plans to use a lot of multiple tight end sets with a quick-rhythm passing game. This should bode well for Shiancoe to make a lot of catches this season. 

Defensive Tackle Remi Ayodele

With the Vikings not offering defensive tackle Pat Williams a contract following the 2010 season, the famous "Williams Wall" is gone.

Lining up alongside Kevin Williams this season will be five-year veteran Remi Ayodele. The Vikings get 10 years younger with this move. 

Ayodele, an undrafted free agent signed by the New England Patriots in 2006, has been with the New Orleans Saints the past three seasons, starting all 16 games in 2010.

How effective he can be against the run will be crucial for the Vikings to be successful this season.

Cornerback/Punt Returner Marcus Sherels

In 2010 Marcus Sherels, a University of Minnesota product, was signed to the Vikings practice squad as an undrafted free agent. 

He was activated for one game last season and looked to be a long-shot to make the team when training camp opened, but Sherels was able to beat out wide receiver Jaymar Johnson for the last roster spot as the team's punt returner.

In the exhibition season, Sherels had eight punt returns for 42 yards and also returned an interception for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.

Right Guard Anthony Herrera

If the Vikings are to be successful in 2011 it will start up front with the success of the offensive line.

Anthony Herrera, after missing the final six games of 2010 with an ACL injury, returns as the Vikings' starting right guard.

With the release of offensive linemen Ryan Cook and Chris DeGeare, the Vikings are putting a lot of stock into the belief that Herrera will be as effective as he was before the injury.

Left Guard Steve Hutchinson

Left guard Steve Hutchinson failed to make the Pro Bowl in 2010 after seven consecutive trips, the last time being 2002 (his second year in the league).

It was also the first time since 2002 Hutchinson failed to play in all 16 games. He missed five games last season due to a broken thumb. Hutchinson is returning after having offseason knee surgery.

Hutchinson, who turns 34 in November, will need to show he can still play at a Pro Bowl level if running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Donovan McNabb are to be successful this season.

Running Back Toby Gerhart

The plan for the Vikings is to pound the ball on the ground this season.

This means second-year running back Toby Gerhart will need to be ready to step up and contribute in 2011 when he spells Adrian Peterson.

Last year in Week 12, in Leslie Frazier's first game as the Vikings head coach, Gerhart had the most extensive action of his rookie season. Against the Washington Redskins, he carried the ball 22 times for 76 yards—a lowly 3.4 yards per carry.

With a full year under his belt, Gerhart should have a better feel for the speed of the NFL game and increase his production.

Cornerback Chris Cook

With the plan to move cornerback Antoine Winfield over the slot receiver when the Vikings go to the nickel package on defense, second-year cornerback Chris Cook will need to demonstrate he is able to cover NFL receivers. 

Coming off injuries to both knees last season, Cook was only able to play in six games last season. 

For the Vikings' 2010 second-round draft pick, the limited action means Cook comes into the season pretty much as a rookie.

The Vikings will need Cook to be ready. With Cedric Griffin coming off consecutive seasons with a torn ACL, and Winfield in his 13th season, Cook could see plenty of action.

If he is up to the task, all will be well, if not, it will be another long season with too much Asher Allen in the defensive backfield.

Cornerback Cedric Griffin

Cornerback Cedric Griffin was limited to only two starts last season before suffering his second ACL injury in a little less than a year.

In the NFC Championship Game against the Saints in January of 2010, Griffin tore the ACL in his left knee. After a successful rehabilitation he would return to the starting lineup in Week 3 of the next season, but in Week 5 game against the Jets in November, he would tear his right ACL.

In the preseason, Griffin was limited to action in only two games. If he has another setback with either knee, it will be another long season for the Vikings' defensive backfield.  

Wide Receiver Bernard Berrian

The bad news is that Donovan McNabb only had one touchdown pass in the preseason.

The good news is that Bernard Berrian was on the receiving end.

The better news may be that is was a 49-yard bomb demonstrating that Berrian may be ready to become the downfield threat the Vikings need.

This is a money-year year for Berrian. After restructuring his contract, Berrian is set to become a free agent for the 2012 season.

If he wants to continue to play in the NFL, he will need to improve over last season when he caught only 28 passes with no touchdowns—his poorest performance since his second year in 2005. 

Field Goal Kicker Ryan Longwell

Perhaps the best potential indicator of the Vikings success in 2011 will be Ryan Longwell's scoring total.

In 2010, while Longwell had the highest percent conversion in field goals of his 14-year career at 94.4 percent, he also had the lowest scoring total in his career.

This is all the result of the Vikings constantly finding themselves forgoing field goals last season because they were in desperate need of touchdowns.

Longwell's scoring total will directly correlate with the effectiveness of both the defense and the offense.

If the Vikings defense is effective, and the Vikings offensive is even moderately effective in moving the ball, they may be content in kicking the occasional field goal.

Include the rule change that moves the kickoff back to the 35-yard line, and this looks to be a season where Longwell gets back on track.