 | 2009 Season Preview: Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota running game and the run defense are top-shelf, the stars on the team are primed for continued greatness, and the team has responded well to the challenge that Brett Favre presents.
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| Minnesota Vikings Draft History
Rick Spielman replaced Fran Foley shortly after the 2006 NFL Draft.
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| 2008 Season Preview: Minnesota Vikings
It’s refreshing to see a team like the Vikings, one that is built around running the ball and stopping the other team from doing the same. They have the personnel to make it work, and the passing game is going to be better than most people expect.
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| Don’t Believe The 'Sota Hype
There are three benchmarks that must be met for a team to be considered overhyped. First, they must be a non-playoff team from the previous year. Second, the team must make a splash in free agency. Finally, the team must have a very good draft as determined by scouts and analysts.
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| A Successful Vikings' Draft?
The Vikings addressed almost every need during the draft and didn't have to reach at all.
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| Who Should Minnesota Draft?
The first need of the Vikings is obviously defensive end. A huge hole was created after the loss of Kenechi Udeze.
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| Vikings Pre-Draft Summit
The Vikings got themselves a perennial Pro Bowler in Adrian Peterson last year, but they need more help in this year’s draft in order to win the NFC North.
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| Grading The Deal: Vikings Steal Berrian From Chicago
Bernard Berrian will hopefully give the Vikings enough punch to take the pressure off of their running backs.
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| We Got Robbed
Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Bill Belichick, in all their offensive glory, might turn 2007 into the year of the 19-0 Pats, but we were just a few weeks away from anointing it the season of Adrian Peterson.
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| 2007 Season Preview: Minnesota Vikings
Barring a late preseason move to bring in a veteran starting QB (a la Kelly Holcomb or Billy Volek), this is a team with a playoff-caliber running game, elite run defense, decent pass defense, and exciting young talent that has absolutely no shot at surpassing 6 wins.
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| 2007 Draft Review: Minnesota Vikings
Adrian Peterson was a great decision, and holding the pick gave them better value later on. The next four picks all could start by the end of the season, though all carry a higher “bust” risk than most teams like from those slots.
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| Win Or Lose: Vikings Are The Most Exciting Team In The NFL
Will the fans stay loyal if the Vikings only embarrass themselves during football games? Fans are accustomed to a good laugh at the team’s dispense on and off the field. To take a part of that away could leave Vikings’ fan feeling unfulfilled.
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| 2006 NFL Team Preview: Minnesota Vikings
There is talent on the Vikings, but I’m not sold on how it all comes together, especially on defense. They weren’t as awful as their bad start in 2005, but not near as good as their mid-season string of victories would indicate. Their last 4 games of 2005 they went 2-2, thumping playoff-bound Chicago but losing to weak Baltimore.
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| The Real Life Playmakers
The Minnesota Vikings...This should be the show! Better than real life drama, the Vikings have shown over the years that the Dallas Cowboys extracurricular activities pale in comparison to that of the men in purple.
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| A Problem With Numbers
So Vikings fans, brace yourselves. The team might not be that great this season, as they adjust to new schemes and new responsibilities. But in the end, it’ll be for the best and who knows, in a year or two, you might even get over that hurdle and make it back to the big game. If not, sorry, but hey at least you have someone to blame. After all, it’s Randy’s fault.
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| The Real Steal
After fourth round pick Onterrio Smith dubbed himself “S.O.D.” for “steal of the draft" in 2003, it is now clear that the Minnesota Vikings actually got the real steal of the 2003 draft, albeit a much quieter one, with their selection of receiver Nate Burleson.
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| “No Mas”
Trading Moss for Napoleon Harris, the number seven pick (Troy Williamson) and another late round choice (Adrian Ward) will never go down as one of the franchise’s worst trades.
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| Improved Defense?....Not So Fast
While a lack of continuity has hurt the Vikings badly in the Tice era and they have needed a coordinator to stick around and develop with his players, defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell under performed to such a degree in 2004, it’s tough imagining him cultivating a top-tier defense.
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| Vikes Ready For Moss-Less Season
After trading the most dominant reciever in the NFL to the Oakland Raiders this past off-season, the Minnesota Vikings are out to prove that they are still a dangerous team to face. A team with a highly explosive offense that can run up the scoreboard very quickly.
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