Vikings' Season Over? A Few Things That Could Save It...

We're six weeks into the 2011 NFL campaign, and the Vikes find themselves renting space at rock bottom. Having barely managed to get into the win column, it's becoming more evident that the 2011 Vikings are simply not very good. Coming to that conclusion can be a bit puzzling considering the amount of talent the team truly has.

You know the checklist: No. 28, No. 69, No. 12, No. 52… heck, you could easily throw in another few who are previous Pro Bowlers, and see that the team is hardly different than the one who was a single play away from the Super Bowl two years ago. Point is, even with all that talent, the 2011 Vikes pretty much stink.

On the flip side, though, we're talking about the NFL… and crazy things happen. In a league where the 2009 Titans almost made the playoffs after an 0- 5 start, it' somewhat plausible to imagine an instance where a veteran team like the Vikings could magically put some wins together. In order for that to happen, though, the Vikings need to make some seriously bold moves.

While some of those moves should (and hopefully will) include roster changes, different play-calling, better quarterback protection, it's clear to see that this team needs to make some major changes if they want to save this season from becoming an epic disaster. With that, here are the three biggest changes that need to happen in Viking nation.

Honorable Mention: Bernard Berrian... Still?

OK…. we can admit one thing, he had a pretty decent game against the Bears. To recap, five receptions for 54 yards, and one embarrassing drop. Read any message board or ask any Viking fan, however, and the same sentiment that's been floating around for a few years now remains: It's time to put Bernard Berrian to pasture.

It's not that far fetched to say that tonight was the best game Berrian has had since his inaugural season in purple, and let's face it, what does that tell you? Even though the outcome essentially would have been the same tonight, Berrian bobbled another costly pass thrown his way that blew any chance of giving the Vikings some early momentum.

McNabb tossed a perfectly placed pass right into Berrian's hands that any NFL receiver would have caught. Lack of concentration? Lack of confidence? Lack of interest? Only Berrian really knows why he has become the most unreliable player on the Vikings roster.

It's quite possible that when Frazier and Co. look at their depth chart, Berrian is simply the best choice out of a group of less than stellar receivers. It's quite possible that he's the better choice than anything else they have to put on the field come game day. Even with that, though, you've got to imagine that there are other receivers on the team who'd love to have a chance to step up and make some big plays. 

Frazier and Musgrave Need To Mix Up the Offense

When Bill Musgrave was brought in as the Vikings new coordinator, fans and media alike figured we'd see a much more dynamic offense than the previously labeled "vanilla offense" made famous by previous coach, Brad Childress. Thus far, that expected "dynamic" has been replaced with a much predictable, as vanilla, 2011 offense.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they've been a bit limited with McNabb at the helm, or maybe the talent around Peterson, Harvin and Rudolph simply isn't good enough to get anything going. Whatever the reason may be, the offense hasn't looked nearly as good as fans expected it would this season.

It's common knowledge that they have the best back in the NFL, and a handful of other dynamic playmakers. It's unfortunate, however, that they can go almost unnoticed when the common play for the Vikings has been an inordinate amount of three and outs. Fingers can be pointed at many different areas as to what the main cause of the lack of variety in the offense has been. Regardless of what the answer to that riddle is, they need to do something with the play-calling, and they need to do it fast.

Take a Look at Some Free Agents

It would be foolish to assume that coaches aren't always considering new ways to go about improving their team. However, when you look at the Vikings' personnel, and then take a look at a few of the players who are jobless, you have to wonder why they don't consider taking a shot on a few crafty veterans looking for a team. 

To start, he's probably not the most popular choice in the history of the NFL, but why not take a shot on a guy who goes by the name of T.O. and is currently sitting on his couch updating his twitter account? In the past, coaches and fans would worry that Owens would divide a locker room and essentially hurt what was already a good thing.

In this situation, you have a locker room of veterans who didn't let the debacle that was the acquisition of the 2010 Randy Moss ruin their chemistry; (or lack thereof) and you have a group of receivers that are as bad as they come. It's not even that the players they do have (aside from Berrian) are that bad, it's that they simply don't have enough quality receivers to give the Vikings any real downfield presence. Is it too insane to think that simply the presence of a still talented Owens would open things up a bit for Peterson? I think not.

Another jobless veteran who is currently at home is Darren Sharper. He is older, and he has had some injury issues of late, but he would bring a lot of experience and big-play ability that they currently do not have. Aside from that, he's a former Viking who the fans loved and would more than likely welcome back with open arms. He's also known as a guy who leads the defense and gives the team some chemistry. Can you think of another crafty veteran who fits that bill better than Darren Sharper?

Sure, free agents are usually team-less for a reason, but when you have a team as bad as the Vikings are now, new personnel could certainly do them some good.

"Ponder Watch" or "Ponder Time"?

If Sunday night taught us anything, it's that it's officially time to put Mr. McNabb to pasture. With that, I think it should be mentioned that McNabb truthfully hasn't even played that bad this season. The flip side of that coin, though, says that he hasn't played all that good either. If you're reading this, you've probably witnessed the under-thrown balls, the lack of mobility and what has appeared to be a lack of fire to even want to win football games. Add those things together and it's not hard to come to the conclusion that it's time to make a change.

When you have a team that is basically headed nowhere, a quarterback of the future sitting on the sideline and a rabid fanbase that needs some form of excitement in what is already a lost season, Christian Ponder could be the one spark that could make this season still enjoyable on Sundays. Aside from that, the Vikings currently find themselves at 1-5 with the NFL juggernaut Packers waiting for them their next two out of three games.

Throw in a decent Panthers team and it's highly conceivable to think that the Vikings will be 1-8 when Week 11 rolls around. Then, aside from the Broncos, the rest of their games are hardly winnable. Point being, it's likely that when it's all said and done, the Vikings could end up with the worst record in the NFL, and we all know what that means: A bunch of Andrew Luck talk coming out of Minneapolis.

If the Vikings are to start Ponder for the rest of this season, they would get a good look at what they have in the already believed to be NFL-ready Christian Ponder. If Luck is as good as everyone says he is, however, what would the Vikings inevitably do? Take a chance on a once in a generation quarterback, or go with Ponder and the second best player in the draft?

These are certainly questions that are likely to come up if the Vikings continue down this dreaded path. However, it's easy to see that playing McNabb would do little to nothing for the future of the Vikings and do nothing more than hurt the chances of answering said questions if they do arise. Ladies and Gentleman, "Ponder Watch" is officially over, it's Ponder time.