Offseason Moves

[tdk1984]

Acquisitions:
G Steve Hutchinson (SEA), LB Ben Leber (SD), K Ryan Longwell (GB), QB Mike McMahon (PHI), RB Tony Richardson (KC), DE DeQuincy Scott (SD), RB Chester Taylor (BAL), CB Ronyell Whitaker (TB), G Jason Whittle (NYG), SS Tank Williams (TEN), FS Dwight Smith (NO)

Departures:
RB Michael Bennett (NO), WR Nate Burleson (SEA), WR Kelly Campbell (MIA), SS Corey Chavous (STL), LB Sam Cowart (HOU), G Toniu Fonoti (TB), C Melvin Fowler (BUF), DE Lance Johnstone (OAK), LB Raonall Smith (STL), CB Brian Williams (JAX)

Thoughts? Grades? Where did Minny do well? Where did they mess up?

[ATLFalcons]

My Questions

1. Can Brad Johnson hold up the whole season?

2. Will the receivers produce?

3. Can they win the division?

This team will have a strong running game, with running backs who get the job done and the best fullback in the game. The defense is solid, but if the offense can't score they'll end up in last place in the NFC North.

[football junkie]

Yes Brad Johnson can stay healthy and productive over the course of a full season. But this team is deep at QB with Mike McMahon, J.T. O'Sullivan, of NFL Europe fame, and of course the future starting QB Tarvaris Jackson.

The receiving corp looks like a mess. If Troy Williamson and Marcus Robinson can keep it together things might be okay. But carrying career underachieves like Koren Robinson and Travis Taylor certainly isn't going to help out Troy or Marcus -- unless the Vikings are trying to show their starters how not to be.

It would have been nice if the team could have picked up one of the good young TEs in this year's draft. Mercedes Lewis would have been ideal. Why?

Well new Head Coach Brad Childress likes to run a lot of two tight end sets. He did it all the time as the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia -- one to block and one to act as a receiver. This team doesn't have an L.J. Smith on it and Mercedes Lewis could have filled that role nicely. Jermaine Wiggins will have to do for now. But he's already 31 and how much gas does he have left in the tank?

Can the Vikings win the division? Yes, but only because the NFC North is probably the worst division in all of football -- even worse than the NFC West which as least has Seattle, St. Louis and a rising team in Arizona.

The NFC North was dominated by the 11-5 Chicago Bears last season. The Bears still have an intimidating defense. The Bears still have Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson to rush the ball. But they also have Brian Griese, Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton to be turnover machines at QB. The Bears are no sure bet.

The Lions bite with false teeth these days.

The Packers have brought back Brett Favre for "ONE MORE TIME" around the NFL -- which probably means they win about four games. It all depends on just when Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport get injured, I'm thinking by week two both will be on the PUP list.

As for the Vikings' supposedly strong running game, surely you don't speak of Chester Taylor or Mewelde Moore? Taylor couldn't even keep his job last year with the Ravens when Jamal Lewis hadn't been able to practice all year -- due to being in jail. You think he's going to run all over the Bears? I don't think so. The Packers also acquired this kid named A.J. Hawk in the draft. When Taylor meets Hawk, one of them is going to go flying backwards and it isn't going to be A.J.

It's also probably not that good of an idea to count on 34-year-old Tony Richardson for much. He was vastly over-rated in KC and you don't exactly have Al Saunders to plan the offense or Priest Holmes or Larry Johnson for Richardson to "block" for.

With all that said I think Brad Childress can whip this team into shape. 8-8 this year, probably a lot better next season.

[tdk1984]

Personally, I don't think O'Sullivan will be around past the end of the pre-season. He looked terrible against Oakland, and since we only need 3 QB's and we currently have 4, O'Sullivan is the most expendable. By the way, Jackson will be the #2 QB on the depth chart I think.