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JCD · 10-02-2006, 06:57 PM

Vikes are a good 2-3 years off from even mentioning a SuperBowl.

On offense, we need:
1) QB. Johnson is looking bad. Jackson is a big unknown. Even if Jackson proves to be a legit NFL caliber starting QB, he will need another year or two before he is up to par.

2) RB. Taylor is decent, but not a franchise back. No team is going to go the distance with him as a featured player. Moore nor Fason have proven to be any better.

3) WR. HUGE need. Williamson doesn't have the hands to be a #1 WR. Taylor and Robinson are 3rd or 4th WRs on a play-off team. We need both a legit starting WR (and drafting one will take a year plus to develop) plus a slot guy should we let M-Rob and Taylor walk.

4) RG. Hicks is a sub-par warm body. A back-up caliber guy. We have nobody in the system pressing him to start. Herrera is as good as it gets.

5) RT. Johnson is still a mistake-prove turnstyle. Perhaps the light will go on and he will develop into a servicable starter yet this year, but 1/4 of the way down he hasn't shown it yet.

6) C. Birk is a UFA and fair chance he walks. Cook has yet to even play a down, NO WAY he is ready to start at C next season.

7) TE. Wiggins is a poor fit for the WCO as well as long in the tooth. Kleinsasser is a 2nd blocker-type. An athletic WCO is needed.

Basically, we have the 2nd WR, LT and LG filled. That is it.

On defense,

1) OLB. Henderson is too slow for the Cover-2. Thomas is too dumb. We need somebody to play opposite Greenway. Leber is proving to be a VERY, VERY bad 5-mil-per investment.

2) CB. Smoot has been terrible in the new system. Even if Griffin is ready to start, that means we then need a legit nickleback.

3) DE. Losing James exposed our lack of depth. We are getting pressure inside, but not finishing plays. We need a pass rushing presense, particularly on passing dows (another Johnstone-esque 3rd down specialist would suffice).

Defense is better off than offense, but still a few pieces short of a worthwhile unit.

So 10 of 22 starting positions need to be addressed. Even if we continue to be aggressive and spend cash, that is still 2 great off-seasons worth of work. Complicating matters, it isn't like the pieces we do have are sure to be staying put. Both Pat and Kevin Williams will need new contracts by then (and Pat may no longer be an impact performer).

More to a point, ever since the Redskins game, Childress and company have looked very poor as coaches. Yes, there is a learning curve for new coaches, but these guys STUNK this weak. On the road against a small and suspect front-7 while facing one of the better CB duos in the league? What does Childress do? Pass the fricken ball 44 times to our sad-sack collection of receivers and have Johnson's noodle arm try to win us the game. HORRIBLE plan. Tomlin was just as bad. Losman looked like an All-Pro out there when all he had to do was drop back and lob the ball in the vicinity of whatever WR Tomlin had a LB covering on that particular play. So far, we are not even certain to have the caliber of coaches neccesary to even contemplate a SuperBowl, much less provide them the roster capable of winning it.

10-02-2006, 06:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
JCD All-Pro Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 856 vCash: 2000	Vikes are a good 2-3 years off from even mentioning a SuperBowl. On offense, we need: 1) QB. Johnson is looking bad. Jackson is a big unknown. Even if Jackson proves to be a legit NFL caliber starting QB, he will need another year or two before he is up to par. 2) RB. Taylor is decent, but not a franchise back. No team is going to go the distance with him as a featured player. Moore nor Fason have proven to be any better. 3) WR. HUGE need. Williamson doesn't have the hands to be a #1 WR. Taylor and Robinson are 3rd or 4th WRs on a play-off team. We need both a legit starting WR (and drafting one will take a year plus to develop) plus a slot guy should we let M-Rob and Taylor walk. 4) RG. Hicks is a sub-par warm body. A back-up caliber guy. We have nobody in the system pressing him to start. Herrera is as good as it gets. 5) RT. Johnson is still a mistake-prove turnstyle. Perhaps the light will go on and he will develop into a servicable starter yet this year, but 1/4 of the way down he hasn't shown it yet. 6) C. Birk is a UFA and fair chance he walks. Cook has yet to even play a down, NO WAY he is ready to start at C next season. 7) TE. Wiggins is a poor fit for the WCO as well as long in the tooth. Kleinsasser is a 2nd blocker-type. An athletic WCO is needed. Basically, we have the 2nd WR, LT and LG filled. That is it. On defense, 1) OLB. Henderson is too slow for the Cover-2. Thomas is too dumb. We need somebody to play opposite Greenway. Leber is proving to be a VERY, VERY bad 5-mil-per investment. 2) CB. Smoot has been terrible in the new system. Even if Griffin is ready to start, that means we then need a legit nickleback. 3) DE. Losing James exposed our lack of depth. We are getting pressure inside, but not finishing plays. We need a pass rushing presense, particularly on passing dows (another Johnstone-esque 3rd down specialist would suffice). Defense is better off than offense, but still a few pieces short of a worthwhile unit. So 10 of 22 starting positions need to be addressed. Even if we continue to be aggressive and spend cash, that is still 2 great off-seasons worth of work. Complicating matters, it isn't like the pieces we do have are sure to be staying put. Both Pat and Kevin Williams will need new contracts by then (and Pat may no longer be an impact performer). More to a point, ever since the Redskins game, Childress and company have looked very poor as coaches. Yes, there is a learning curve for new coaches, but these guys STUNK this weak. On the road against a small and suspect front-7 while facing one of the better CB duos in the league? What does Childress do? Pass the fricken ball 44 times to our sad-sack collection of receivers and have Johnson's noodle arm try to win us the game. HORRIBLE plan. Tomlin was just as bad. Losman looked like an All-Pro out there when all he had to do was drop back and lob the ball in the vicinity of whatever WR Tomlin had a LB covering on that particular play. So far, we are not even certain to have the caliber of coaches neccesary to even contemplate a SuperBowl, much less provide them the roster capable of winning it.