Quarterback
Locks: Christian Ponder; Joe Webb;
On The Bubble: Sage Rosenfels; McLeod Bethel-Thompson;
Analysis: Ponder and Webb showed a lot of potential last season. They each guided the team to one win each and showed flashes of brilliance while they were at it. Seeing as Ponder is the higher draft pick and slightly more polished, he will begin the season as the starter with Webb backing him up. If he falters however, look for Webb to try and take advantage of the opportunity to prove he can lead. The real battle at the quarterback position, however, will be for the No. 3 spot. Sage Rosenfels has the edge due to his experience as a veteran, but McLeod Bethel-Thompson has a strong arm and if he flashes enough, he could end up sticking around.
Runningback
Locks: Adrian Peterson; Toby Gerhart;
Likely Safe: Jordan Todman;
Long Shot: Derrick Coleman;
Out: Caleb King;
Analysis: Peterson wants to come back as soon as he can, but he should take a lesson from Vikings draft choice Greg Childs about trying to come back from an injury too quickly. Peterson should definitely sit out the pre-season and since the first two games are against Indianapolis and Jacksonville, he would probably be better off just sitting those two out and making sure he is okay when Minnesota faces Super Bowl contender San Francisco. Gerhart flashed a lot last season so he should do well filling in for AP and Jordan Todman has been impressing the Vikings staff with his abilities so he will provide depth behind Gerhart and later Peterson. Caleb King’s situation which necessitated his release was sad because he flashed a lot for the Vikings in pre-season last year and could have provided more valuable depth.
Fullback
On The Bubble: Ryan D’Imperio; Matt Asiata; Jerome Felton; Lex Hilliard;
Analysis: D’Imperio wasn’t flashy but showed a lot of potential last season and Asiata reportedly impressed the coaches in pre-season before getting hurt. Felton had been on the Vikings radar last season, but they were unable to bring him in until now. Lex Hilliard can play both fullback and halfback, but he never flashed much while in Miami. With a draft choice being spent on H-back Rhett Ellison, chances are the Vikings are no longer alarmed about Jim Kleinsasser’s retirement and will just see if anybody stands out. With this in mind, the guess is that Felton and Hilliard will probably not be impressive enough for the Vikings to abandon their youth movement, and so it will come down to Asiata and D’Imperio. If Asiata stays healthy, he probably gets his turn at fullback on the regular roster while D’Imperio spends the 2012 season on the practice squad refining his game.
Wide Receiver
Lock: Percy Harvin;
Likely Safe: Michael Jenkins; Jerome Simpson; Greg Childs; Jarius Wright;
On The Bubble: Devin Aromashodu; Emmanuel Arceneaux; Stephen Burton; Bryan Walters;
Long Shots: Kerry Taylor; Kamar Jorden;
Out: Kris Adams;
Analysis: Harvin carried the Vikings passing game last year almost single-handedly. He is better in the slot position though. Jenkins gets another year due to his experience and so helps stabilize the receiving corps. Simpson has wowed Christian Ponder with his abilities, so once his three game suspension is over he will probably become Ponder and Webb’s deep threat. Childs was one of the best receivers in the nation before getting hurt and if he is truly healthy again and back to form, he could surprise a lot of people. Wright provides depth behind Harvin and could develop into the same kind of weapon that Harvin is. The battle will be for the No. 6 receiver spot. Aromashodu has speed, but did not show very much consistency last season. Arceneaux was a star in the CFL, but his opportunities were limited last season. Burton is a former draft pick with good body control, but still needs some work. Walters was a pickup from the Chargers and has showed some abilities, but needs to show more in order to make his way on to the roster. The guess here is that Harvin, Jenkins, Simpson, Childs and Wright will lock up the first five spots while Arceneaux gets the No. 6 spot until Simpson comes back from suspension and then Arceneaux joins Burton on the practice squad for 2012.
Tight End
Locks: Kyle Rudolph; John Carlson;
Likely Safe: Rhett Ellison; Allen Reisner; Mickey Shuler Jr.;
Analysis: Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is running a tight end-heavy offense, so do not be surprised if the Vikings keep five tight ends on their active roster. Yes, you read right: FIVE. Rudolph and Carlson are tall athletic pass-catchers who will probably be Ponder and Webb’s main receiving targets in the offense next season. Ellison was drafted to fill the H-back role vacated by the retiring Jim Kleinsasser, so barring a complete breakdown in camp, Ellison will get a spot. Reisner and Shuler are both players that the Vikings staff have been very high on and with injuries always a real possibility, the team probably will want to hang on to them too just to make sure they have a deep corps of tight ends available just in case injuries strike.
Offensive Tackle
Locks: Matt Kalil;
Likely Safe: DeMarcus Love;
On The Bubble: Phil Loadholt;
Long Shots: Patrick Brown; Darrion Weems; Tyler Holmes; Levi Horn;
Out: Jose Valdez; Kevin Murphy;
Analysis: Kalil filled a huge need at left tackle, but the question now is on the right side. Loadholt struggled mightily last season and the reason he is most likely on the bubble is because many have been referring to Loadholt in a very similar fashion to the way they referred to Bryant McKinnie before his release last season. The pressure will especially be on Loadholt if DeMarcus Love continues to progress as he did last season. Overall, do not be surprised if Love beats out Loadholt for the right tackle spot if Loadholt continues to struggle. It probably will not happen, just do not be surprised if it does.
Guard
Likely Safe: Charlie Johnson; Geoff Schwartz; Joe Berger;
On The Bubble: Chris DeGeare;
Long Shot: Austin Pasztor;
Analysis: Johnson was over-matched at left tackle last year and now faces another daunting task, namely replacing All-Pro Steve Hutchinson at left guard. He is better suited for guard, but replacing an All-Pro could be the trick that dooms his Vikings tenure if he does not perform it to coaches and fans satisfaction. Berger played very well for spot duty last season, but needs to continue to play at that high level if he wants to get the right guard job. Schwartz was a smart free agent signing and a versatile player who, if he does not win a starting job, will probably stick around because he can provide depth at guard and tackle. DeGeare is the wildcard. He started at times his rookie year, but was overweight last season and so spent that year on the practice squad. If he whips himself back into shape and shows consistency, he could make a run for the right guard spot or push Johnson on the left.
Center
Lock: John Sullivan;
Likely Safe: Brandon Fusco;
Long Shot: Quentin Saulsberry;
Analysis: Sullivan has adequately replaced the departed Matt Birk and will remain a starter, but he could be staring at his eventual replacement in the tough-nosed Fusco who showed a lot of potential in spot duty last season.
Defensive End
Locks: Jared Allen; Brian Robison; Everson Griffen;
Likely Safe: D’Aundre Reed;
On The Bubble: Anthony Jacobs; Nick Reed;
Long Shots: Eric Latimore; Ernest Owusu;
Out: Kevin Cyrille;
Analysis: Allen is coming off a year to remember career-wise and Robison proved to be an excellent replacement for the departed Ray Edwards. Griffen is one of the most athletically talented players in the league and the team has to find ways to get him on the field when their defense is playing, whether it is at defensive end or linebacker. D’Aundre Reed flashed a lot last pre-season and so has the inside job to be Allen’s main backup if he continues to play as well as he did. Jacobs and Nick Reed are intriguing prospects, but will probably end up on the practice squad due to the team’s depth on the defensive line.
Defensive Tackle
Locks: Kevin Williams; Christian Ballard;
Likely Safe: Letroy Guion; Trevor Guyton;
On The Bubble: Fred Evans;
Long Shots: Chase Baker; Tydreke Powell; Terrell Resonno;
Analysis: Despite his age, Williams is still a star for the Vikings defense and should be given the dignity John Randle never was, namely that of retiring as a Viking. Ballard flashed a lot last season and will probably be the heir when Williams calls it a career. Guion at nose tackle is an intriguing experiment, but Guyton might actually end up being the starter there because of his strength and disruptiveness. Evans has had a lot of chances to prove himself and this could be his last shot. One undrafted guy to watch is Powell because he is an actual nose tackle.
Outside Linebacker
Locks: Chad Greenway; Erin Henderson;
On The Bubble: Solomon Elimimian;
Long Shot: Tyler Nielsen
Analysis: Greenway is the star of the linebacker corps and rightly so. He can blitz, intercept passes and play well in space. If he can stay healthy, he could be staring at more Pro Bowl appearances down the road. Erin Henderson had a good year last season in his first opportunity as a starter but it remains to be seen if that was because of his improved abilities or because of former coordinator Fred Pagac’s style of defense. Solomon Elimimian was a hard hitter in the CFL, but can he translate that to the NFL? If he does, he could push Henderson for playing time. Nielsen was an undrafted free agent but has reportedly impressed the coaching staff and may get an opportunity to stick around.
Middle Linebacker
Likely Safe: Jasper Brinkley;
On The Bubble: Audie Cole; Larry Dean; Tyrone McKenzie; Marvin Mitchell;
Long Shot: Corey Paredes;
Might Be Back: E.J. Henderson
Analysis: Brinkley has played well in the middle when given the opportunity back in 2009 and 2010, but he missed all of last year with an injury and may need some time to get back into the flow of the game. That being said, he may not be ready to take over the starting job this season. Cole was a nice draft pick, but needs time to get acclimated to the pros and definitely should not be starting if the team can help it. Dean showed Jesse Tuggle-like skills last season as an undrafted free agent, but needs to prove to the team he is more then just a special teams player. McKenzie had a promising career ahead of him before suffering a bad injury. Now he has to prove he has fully recovered and can be the player he once showed flashes of being. Mitchell was a solid backup in New Orleans, but has never shown the ability to be anything but a backup. If the Vikings are worried about the position heading into training camp, do not be surprised if E.J. Henderson gets brought back on a one year deal until the Vikings can draft a replacement next season.
Cornerback
Locks: Antoine Winfield; Chris Cook;
Likely Safe: Josh Robinson;
On The Bubble: Chris Carr; Zackary Bowman; Asher Allen; Brandon Burton; Marcus Sherels; Nicholas Taylor;
Long Shots: Reggie Jones; Bobby Felder;
Out: C.C. Whitlock;
Analysis: This was the Vikings weakest spot last year and no wonder. The hope is that this season, by returning to the Tampa-2 scheme under new defensive coordinator Alan Williams, the team can play to the strengths of their players in the secondary. Winfield’s career is winding down and he has announced that he will retire when his contract expires, so to keep him in the best position to make a difference, the Vikings probably want to see him playing the slot mainly. Cook has to prove himself again, but he was showing flashes of being a shutdown corner before his legal troubles derailed him. Robinson was the fastest player at the NFL scouting combine and if he can turn that speed into an asset at the corner position, then he could prove to be a nice complement to Cook. Depth spots will be the name of the battle in pre-season. Carr played well as a nickel and dime back with the Ravens, but needs to prove he can still do so here. Bowman looked to have a promising career with the Bears before imploding. To stick here he must re-discover the form that made him a starter on the Bears defense. Allen has had plenty of opportunities to prove himself and has not done so adequately enough. This could be his last shot. Burton is a tall corner with upside who got playing time in a very unfavorable situation last year. He has a longer leash then some of the others here, but still needs to improve his game. Sherels was a pre-season star last year and contributed some big plays on special teams during the regular season, but due to the newcomers and the fact that Sherels needs some more time to refine his defensive playing skills, he may end up on the practice squad until Winfield retires. Taylor is an intriguing prospect as a former basketball star, but he may be too raw to contribute right away. He probably joins Sherels on the practice squad and gets another year under his belt before seriously challenging for a role on the regular defense.
Safety
Lock: Harrison Smith
Likely Safe: Mistral Raymond; Robert Blanton; Jamarca Sanford;
On The Bubble: Eric Frampton;
Long Shot: Andrew Sendejo;
Analysis: Smith fills a gaping hole in the secondary that has not been adequately filled since Darren Sharper’s departure. He can play either the strong or free safety positions and probably will find out which position he will play at based on who wins the job to start alongside him. Raymond is probably the frontrunner to start alongside Smith because of his athletic abilities. He played well at free safety last season and seemed to have a knack for finding the ball in turnover situations. Blanton is a converted corner who played with Smith in college and has impressed the coaching staff with his abilities, but he may be a bit too raw to start at this point. Sanford is the de facto starter alongside Smith heading into training camp and he will get a chance. While he wasn’t overly impressive in a starting role last season, Sanford did show a knack for coming up with turnovers and if he continues that trend he could win the spot just by that uncanny ability. Frampton will probably stick around because he is such a solid special teams player.
Special Teams
Locks: Chris Kluwe; Cullen Loeffler;
On The Bubble: Blair Walsh;
Out: Ryan Longwell;
Analysis: This has been the team’s true strength the last few seasons, but it probably will be tested this year. Loeffler is a welcome sight back from his injury because his replacement last season, Matt Katula, was awful. Kluwe, the Twitter warrior, is as solid as they get at punter (and, by the way, has every right to voice his opinions under the United States Constitution’s First Amendment). The question will be at kicker. The Vikings are to be commended for having Ryan Longwell’s best interests at heart in their decision to release him long enough ahead of training camp for him to find a new team, but is rookie Blair Walsh ready? That is a question that must be haunting the Vikings. If Walsh falters and Longwell is still on the free agent market, do not be surprised if the Vikings do what they did for so many years with Gary Anderson and invite Longwell back one year at a time until they find a long-term replacement.
Final Analysis
Head Coach Leslie Frazier and new General Manager Rick Spielman wanted a younger team and they have got one. How fast will this team jell? Only time will tell. It was probably wise for the team to do a longer training camp because of all the new players on the roster, but it remains to be seen if it will be enough to get them to seven or eight wins in the regular season. Do not expect playoffs this year, but the team will probably show flashes of greater things to come.
Week 1 Starter Predictions
Quarterback: Christian Ponder
Runningback: Toby Gerhart (Adrian Peterson upon return from injury)
Fullback: Matt Asiata
Deep Threat Receiver: Greg Childs (Jerome Simpson upon return from suspension)
Possession Receiver: Michael Jenkins
Slot Receiver: Percy Harvin
Left Tackle: Matt Kalil
Left Guard: Charlie Johnson
Center: John Sullivan
Right Guard: Geoff Schwartz
Right Tackle: Phil Loadholt
H-back: Rhett Ellison
No.1 Tight End: Kyle Rudolph
No. 2 Tight End: John Carlson
Right Defensive End: Jared Allen
Under Tackle: Kevin Williams
Nose Tackle: Trevor Guyton
Left Defensive End: Brian Robison
Weakside Linebacker: Erin Henderson
Middle Linebacker: Jasper Brinkley (E.J. Henderson if he is re-signed)
Strongside Linebacker: Chad Greenway
Pass Rushing Linebacker: Everson Griffen
No. 1 Cornerback: Chris Cook
No.2 Cornerback: Josh Robinson
Nickel Cornerback: Antoine Winfield
Dime Cornerback: Chris Carr
Strong Safety: Harrison Smith
Free Safety: Mistral Raymond
Placekicker: Blair Walsh
Punter: Chris Kluwe
Long Snapper: Cullen Loeffler
© 2012 The Subsidiarity Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be re-published, re-broadcast, re-written or re-distributed without written permission from blog author.
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