Minnesota Vikings: Grading Every Position Through Week 5

The Minnesota Vikings finally did something that should have come weeks ago—they won their first game of the season.

Even with the 34-10 romp over the Arizona Cardinals, there were boos coming from the home crowd at Mall of America Field. It would seem that Minnesota niceness is wearing thin when the most beloved team in the city is struggling, having given up three double-digit leads in five games.

With a new coaching staff and another retread quarterback brought on board, the odds that the Vikings would be playing for a playoff berth this season were slim. The problem is that the Vikings have too much talent to be sitting at 1-4 at this point in the season.

Minnesota has a tough stretch, with three of the next four games on the road—at Chicago, Green Bay, at Carolina and at Green Bay. If the Vikings can win even one of these games, resulting in a 2-7 record, the fans should be grateful since this team has demonstrated so far that they are more than an average quarterback away from making a  playoff run.

Here are the grades by position through Week 5.

Defensive Backfield

Against the Cardinals—and arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL—the Vikings' cornerbacks and safeties did a decent job.

Despite the three interceptions by the defensive backs in this game, they are still the weak link of the defense. They need to replicate the effort against a quarterback with more than 12 starts in his career. With Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford and Drew Brees still to face this season, they will get plenty of opportunities.

One game does not mean a turnaround.

Grade: C

Linebackers

The Vikings' linebackers, while solid, have not played like game-changers.

Fresh off a huge contract extension, Chad Greenway needs to create some turnovers to provide a spark for the defense.

E.J. Henderson needs to have another Pro Bowl-type season like last year. His little brother, Erin, has yet to demonstrate that he is a suitable replacement for Ben Leber.

Grade: C+

Defensive Line

On pace to have a career-high in sacks, Jared Allen anchors the strongest part of the Vikings' defense.

With 8.5 sacks so far this season, Allen is on pace to have a career-high in sacks. Add to that an interception and a recovered fumble, and Allen is having the best season of his career.  

This is slightly surprising since he was the only returning starter from last season on the defensive line (until defensive tackle Kevin Williams returned from his two-game suspension). 

Brian Robison has taken over at left defensive end for the departed Ray Edwards, providing a huge lift by adding another 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Currently averaging 76.4 yards rushing per game, the Vikings have the fourth-best rushing defense in the league.

Grade: B+

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the NFL. He left no doubt about that in the game against the Arizona Cardinals with touchdowns runs of four, 14 and 24 yards.

The three touchdowns on Sunday give AP the NFL lead with six rushing touchdowns, and his 498 rushing yards ranks second in the league.

About the only problem has been his inability to hit the home run this season; so far, his longest run from scrimmage is only 46 yards. 

Part-time running back Percy Harvin has added a dimension to the Vikings' offense that makes him dangerous any time he touches the ball. So far this season he is averaging 11.8 yards when he carries the ball.

Include backup Toby Gerhart, who is averaging 6.7 yards per carry, and this is easily the strongest position on the Vikings' offense.

Grade: A-

Wide Receivers

Outside of Percy Harvin, this is the weakest link of the entire Vikings team.

Michael Jenkins, the free agent signed from Atlanta in the offseason, has been a decent acquisition, as he currently leads the team with 20 receptions and two touchdowns.

The problem is, his 8.8 yards per catch is the lowest on the team of any wide receiver. 

Devon Aromashodu, another free-agent pickup from Chicago, has shown a few flashes, and his 60-yard reception against the Cardinals is the longest on the team. 

Bernard Berrian, who was deactivated against Arizona for disciplinary reasons, has only two catches on the season. He has done nothing to prove last season was an aberration when he caught only 30 passes with no touchdowns.

The presence of Harvin helps raise the bar for this group.

Grade: B-

Tight Ends

Visanthe Shiancoe figures to have a pretty good season with Donovan McNabb at the helm.

With six receptions to lead the Vikings in Week 4 against the Chiefs, Shiancoe has clicked with his new quarterback, and is currently third on the team with 11 receptions. This could have been higher if McNabb was even slightly on target Sunday against the Cardinals.

Rookie Kyle Rudolph has slowly been making an impact, but so far has only seven receptions.

Grade: C+

Offensive Line

The offensive line has done a decent job run-blocking for Adrian Peterson.

The pass-blocking could be better though, as Donovan McNabb has been sacked 11 times so far this season.

With the release of Pro Bowl left tackle Bryant McKinnie during training camp, Charlie Johnson has done a decent job at left tackle.

The guard position, with Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera, has the most experience, but both players are coming off a season where they were limited due to injuries. Herrera played in only 10 games before suffering a knee injury, and Hutchinson played in 11 before breaking his thumb.

If the offensive line can give McNabb a little more time, the results could improve.

Grade: B- 

Quarterback

When you're talking about tinkering with the mechanics of your 13-year veteran quarterback, you know you have a problem.

In the first four games, Donovan McNabb could take the blame for the loss against the Chargers when he threw for only 39 yards.

For the season, McNabb is averaging only 169.8 passing yards per game—well below his 223 yards per game for his career.

While McNabb has only thrown four touchdowns in five games, he has done a decent job of protecting the ball with only two interceptions.

The problem is not in the numbers, but in the results. McNabb needs to step up and demonstrate the ability to lead the team to victory—something he has not been able to do yet this season.

Mainly for lack of leadership...

Grade: D+

Coaching Staff

While quarterback Donovan McNabb has taken a lot of heat for the Vikings' struggles this season, Leslie Frazier and his coaching staff need to take most of the blame.

The inability to adjust and hold onto three double-digit leads going into the second half speaks volumes about the inability of offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave or defensive coordinator Fred Pagac to adjust to the changing conditions of the game.

With players like Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin on offense, or Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield on defense, there is no reason this team is only 1-4.

Grade: D+

Overall Grade

After finishing last season 6-10 and in last place in the NFC North, no one should have expected that the Vikings would be a 12-4 team in 2011.

The problem is losing three games they should have won if they could have made just one play per game. If they do that, this team could easily be 4-1 as opposed to 1-4.

But then if that were the case, the expectations would be even higher—and with the toughest stretch of the season ahead of them, no doubt the fans will be disappointed.

This way with a 1-4 record, if the Vikings can come out of the next four game with another win, it might be considered an improvement.

Overall Grade: C