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  • 01/05/2011, 12:29PM ET

Silver lining for the Minnesota Vikings

Golden Grillz (119-119-22) vs Rudedog: Thankful (407-344-108)
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The Vikings season is over, and what do they have going for them next year?

The obvious would be the addition by subtraction (Childress, Favre, and Randy Moss), but the off the field stuff is not as vital as the on the field, aka bottom line. Which is why instead of HC Frazier, I'm going with Adrian Peterson.

As long as if the Minnesota Vikings have AP, they have a chance to win. Best proven in 2008 when, TJack was the QB, and the Vikings still made the play-offs.

AP makes the WHOLE team better. But he only plays RB, how can he make the D better you ask?

By keeping the D off the field with a clock eating grinding running game.

Running the ball also reduces the turnovers. Making it harder for the opposing Offense to score, and easier for the D.
- Yes AP has had a fumbling problem in the past, emphasis on the past though.
07: 4 fumbles
08: 9
09: 7
10: 1... that's right 1!

He helps the passing game, causing opposing Ds to put 8 in the box and opening passing lanes.

I could be the HC for this team, and win. It's simple hand the ball to AP... All Day. This is why he's a bigger silver lining than Leslie Frazier.

(Which name is more girlish? Adrian or Leslie?


There isn't a lot of hope for the Vikings right now. They started with a "go for broke" mentality coming into this year and it failed miserably for them. Now, with lots of free agents and a couple of young key position players, it may be time to start over.

However, something that gives me hope as a Vikings fan is Leslie Frazier as head coach. I was an avid hater of Brad Childress from the moment he was hired. He never had a good football mind. His decision to undercut his authority by begging Favre to come back and then belittled his teammates by making them get Favre a year later.

Frazier is different. In his press conference, he already ruled out Favre and noted that there would be changes "from top to bottom."

With Frazier as head coach, the Vikings played much more motivated ball, including a huge win over the Eagles. He also said in his press conference that his emphasis will be on running the ball, which is something the Vikings got away from with Favre as QB. You can have the greatest RB in the world, but if the head coach isn't running the ball, it does you no good.

And Leslie is a girlier name, hands down


So they might have a large group of free agents. This actually works in the Vikings favor:

- Pending labor dispute, players might be willing to sign for less just to ensure they get a contract.

- $ coming off the books for Favre and other players will give them some flexibility for signing players fitting Frazier and co. mold.

With that said, the upcoming draft is a pretty weak RB draft. With typically only washed up RBs hitting the FA market. This makes having an elite back like AP already in place to build on that much more important.

This could be a who came first the chicken or egg debate. Who's more important having a HC that will call run plays, or having a RB for the HC to call run plays? They work hand in hand.

AP though isn't the average RB to hand the ball off too. He was considered elite before this season, and now he seems to have resolved his fumbling issues, he's the silver lining for next season.

Coaches can be geniuses, but if they don't have proper players to execute, they won't win. The greatest example of this is Belichek in Cleveland.

Frazier has the player in place.


This is a chicken-egg debate, but I think that Frazier is the brighter spot.

Look at some of the names he's getting to Minnesota. Josh McDaniels and Mike Singletary both are interviewing for positions. He has the respect of those around him. He's already named his defensive coordinator, but if he could get Singletary to accept the job as linebackers coach? That'd be huge.

Same goes for McDaniels. I'd assume he's interviewing McDaniels for the offensive coordinator position as Frazier has expressed some hesitancy with the West Coast offense the Vikings ran under Childress.

It's more than simply the players with Frazier. He's bringing in big name coaches. He has the respect of everyone in the league - players and coaches alike.

While Adrian is the best running back in the league, without someone like Frazier calling the reigns, he'd be no where. What if Adrian was on a team that was 70-30 pass? Like the Eagles? What good would he do?

As a Vikings fan, I'm very excited to see what Frazier does. He's saying the right things and he's making some headlines. He's the bright spot of this Vikings squad


Here's a scenario for you. Say tomorrow Adrian Peterson went Barry Sanders (Ricky Williams, Jim Brown, etc.) and said he was quitting football. You would be pretty upset, say the Vikes are going to suck next year, and probably some other words FN won't let me type here.

Now lets say Frazier went like the Pitt coach and went Ike Turner on his wife. The Vikes have no choice to fire him. Disregard the spousal abuse portion (but trying to come up with a reason he would suddenly leave). Would you say the season is lost for the Vikings? No. Why? Because you'd have to assume the next HC wouldn't be too dumb to not hand the ball off to AP.

AP is a bigger component for the team because he's the bottom line. He's the player on the field.

Now you bring up the excuse if AP was in Philly. Every good HC will tailor his team to his strengths. Even Andy Reid would realize he needs to change some of his play calling for AP to get more touches.

AP is the most important part of the Vikings, and therefore is the silver lining.

Good TD.


Forfeited Turn

Comments (43) Add A Comment

January 5, 2011  12:33 PM ET
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more girlish is the name of Rocky's lady friend

YO ADRIIIIAAAANNN

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Comment #3 has been removed
January 5, 2011  02:08 PM ET
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QUOTE(#3):
Originally posted 01:42 PM ET  01.05 by baron.

I guess there's no silver lining.:)

I wouldn't rule out Webb for the long term just yet. QB's don't always have to be high draft picks or veterans. They all get a start some where.

Comment #5 has been removed
January 5, 2011  02:25 PM ET
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The silver lining for the Vikings might be their draft position. They're sitting in the range where Cam Newton is currently expected to be drafted.

January 5, 2011  02:33 PM ET
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QUOTE(#5):
Originally posted 02:25 PM ET  01.05 by baron.

They need to go get a veteran presence as a QB or take one in the draft, IMO.

If the Vikings had an ounce of intelligence, they'd do both. Kerry Collins is set to be a free agent. Sign him to a 1-year deal with an option for a 2nd and draft a high-rated QB to study under him.

Of course, being a Packer fan I hope they throw millions at JaMarcus Russell and trade Peterson for a bag of corn chips.

January 5, 2011  02:34 PM ET
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QUOTE(#6):
Originally posted 02:25 PM ET  01.05 by RP-29

The silver lining for the Vikings might be their draft position. They're sitting in the range where Cam Newton is currently expected to be drafted.

If they draft Cam Newton, I might shoot myself. He has bust written all over him and is exactly what the Vikings DON'T need

January 5, 2011  02:35 PM ET
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QUOTE(#2):
Originally posted 01:05 PM ET  01.05 by baron.

A ton of free agents and no long term solution at QB.Welcome to the NFC North cellar Minnesota!

The Vikings had a "go for broke" mentality coming into this year, kinda changed their mind, which then killed themselves for the future

Comment #10 has been removed
January 5, 2011  02:43 PM ET
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Female Viking employees will no longer get lewd texts from Brett Favre?

January 5, 2011  02:47 PM ET
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QUOTE(#8):
Originally posted 02:34 PM ET  01.05 by Rudedog: Thankful

If they draft Cam Newton, I might shoot myself. He has bust written all over him and is exactly what the Vikings DON'T need

I don't know about bust. Two big things Newton has that other first round busts didn't is work ethic and postive charisma.

If put it the right situation, I think Newton could be an NFL superstar. With the dynamic offensive weapons the Vikings already have in place, they might be a good match.

January 5, 2011  02:49 PM ET
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QUOTE(#9):
Originally posted 02:35 PM ET  01.05 by Rudedog: Thankful

The Vikings had a "go for broke" mentality coming into this year, kinda changed their mind, which then killed themselves for the future

I wouldn't say they killed themselves. They did throw away some picks for the Moss fiasco, but they will free up some $ with Favre getting off the books.

January 5, 2011  02:50 PM ET
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Brett Favre won't be back next year, that's the silver lining.

January 5, 2011  02:50 PM ET
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QUOTE(#12):
Originally posted 02:47 PM ET  01.05 by RP-29

I don't know about bust. Two big things Newton has that other first round busts didn't is work ethic and postive charisma.If put it the right situation, I think Newton could be an NFL superstar. With the dynamic offensive weapons the Vikings already have in place, they might be a good match.

Don't forget a Dad desperate to cash in... so 3 things.

January 5, 2011  02:51 PM ET
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QUOTE(#14):
Originally posted 02:50 PM ET  01.05 by adowns11586

Brett Favre won't be back next year, that's the silver lining.

I'd agree with you realistically, if they had someone capable of filling the void.

January 5, 2011  05:44 PM ET
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"I was an avid hater of Brad Childress from the moment he was hired. He never had a good football mind."

I got my first glimps of him as OC of the Badgers. I wasn't impressed then, I wasn't impressed by him in Philly, and I wasn't impressed by him in Minnesota. He had absolitely zero imagination.

January 5, 2011  05:46 PM ET
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QUOTE(#8):
Originally posted 02:34 PM ET  01.05 by Rudedog: Thankful

If they draft Cam Newton, I might shoot myself. He has bust written all over him and is exactly what the Vikings DON'T need

I agree. I'll send a letter to Ziggy begging him to move the team moves to LA if they draft Newton.

January 5, 2011  09:30 PM ET
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They have one of the best RB's in the League, some unreal talent at WR, a very good TE, a Top 10 run D and a Top 10 pass D.

Really? They just need a QB....

 
January 5, 2011  09:41 PM ET
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QUOTE(#19):
Originally posted 09:30 PM ET  01.05 by DJRoxalot

They have one of the best RB's in the League, some unreal talent at WR, a very good TE, a Top 10 run D and a Top 10 pass D.Really? They just need a QB....

Unreal talent? If Sidney Rice leaves, they have Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian on contract. Ray Edwards, Erin Henderson, and Chad Greenway are all free agents. They need to do more than just get a QB

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