Last year I thought we would be much worse after the losses but Denny said that the Vikings would be better than 1999. This year he is saying the same thing but I wonder?

What we've lost; 1) Starting left tackle. Stues had been penciled in at LT from the day he was drafted. Tice said he never had to think about left tackle, he knew it was taken care of.

2) Starting RB. Smith was a true warrior last season. He didn't miss a game and I think it was arguably the best season a running has had in Minny in about 30 years.

3) A young 3rd wr. Hatchett may or may-not have been ready for the big time but he was young and had a lot of years ahead of him.

4) Starting Sam linebacker. Rudd had skills! It is debatable if he was getting better or if 98 was as goodas he would be but he surely teased us with his pure physical skills.

5)Starting DT. Jonny Randle is sure to be a hall of famer, the question is how much did he have left in the tank? He just didn't produce at tackle any longer and at end he seemed to always take the outside pass rush. Was it John that had slipped or was it lack of help?

What we've gained;

1) RB, Chapman or Bennett, either would be okay but I think it is a step back. Smith had great vision and made moves in the open field that allowed him to go the distance. Smith was also a fantastic blocker and picked up the blitz very well.

2) Jake Reed, an upgrade for sure, IF he can stay farely healthy, but in the long run it leaves a whole in the receiving core that will only get bigger with Carter's retirement around the corner. 3)Gabe Northern, could be addition by subtraction. I like his bigger size and hope that he is a better tackler than Rudd. 4) 2 rookie Corners and Shaw, DB Coach, How can our cbs be worse than last years debacle in New York. Fresh bodies and maybe a vet still to come has to be better than what was fielded last year! 5)New DL bodies, Johnstone, Howard, Smith, Worthen, and more of Robbins. Although Randle will be missed, I feel the Dl has the potential to be better. If not this year, then next. 6)Special teams players, it is yet to be seen if Walsh is going to return, but if one or two of Chuckwurah, Antonio Wison, Cedric James, or Shaun Paga can make the active roster as a special teams ace that would be an upgrade over a pretty good unit fielded last year. 7) Badger at LT, this may save us a few 5 yard penalties but at what cost? The Vikes take a step back here, hopefully Denny has a plan, he usually does. 8) CAP ROOM, This could be our winfall for 2001. We get out of the trouble that seems to have held us back for 3 years. All the big contracts of players no longer with the team will be gone by the end of this season. Who knows, we may be in the same boat next off season with the contracts of Moss, Birk and others up. The year after that I think Duante's will be up.

-- Randy (rf54@aol.com), May 24, 2001

Answers

It's hard to believe the 'D' could be any worse. i think we will be solid on offense but not as good with the loss of Robert and Steussie. Overall i think 8-8 maybe 9-7 with that schedule. Then again I did'nt think we would even make the playoffs last year. Ask me again in August. GO VIKES!!!!

-- Tom (BMatheus@aol.com), May 24, 2001.

Some additional factors to the betterment or detriment of the 2001 Vikings.

Plus Factors:

Daunte Culpepper, Robert Griffith, Kailee Wong and Matt Birk are all playing for new contracts. All should be leaving it on the field week in and week out.

Carter is in his swan song season, I think he will stop at nothing to try to win that ring.

Culpepper is going to be in firm control of the offense. Last season he was perhaps a bit awestruck in the huddle looking around and seeing Carter, Moss and Smith and I think he forced things a bit to try to keep them all happy. This season he should be the one determining who gets the ball not vice versa.

Willie Shaw is going to give the DB's an identity. Unlike his predecessor, our DB's should be if nothing else aggressive and confident.

Big K is going to get more touches with the removal of Smith from the distribution equation. His size, strength, speed ratio is probably the best in the league and that is saying a whole lot. I expect to see a lot of Big K catching the dump passes and leaving poor little DB's and LB's staring up at the roof of the dome.

The Stadium Push is at its critical mass. This is ground zero for the stadium push, if this is truly a motivation factor for Vikings management and not just an excuse to skip town, they will pull out all the stops to try to have a successfull year.

Minus factors:

Randy Moss is already starting to be a big problem. Unlike the aforementioned players who are out to prove their worth, Moss already thinks he has and if he feels he is being dissed look for him to pout on the field.

For the first time in years we have a real lack of depth on our Offensive Line. The starters should be solid with the pending signing of Lacina, but beyond the marginal Badger we have no one of note. Withrow has potential but he has yet to show it on the field.

Richard Solomon has moved over to coach perhaps the one player most in need of coaching. Kailee Wong has the physical tools, and at times shows he is competent, but spends plays at a time making bad decisions and hesitating rather then reacting on reads and instinct. I suspect Solomon will have little if nothing to offer Wong which will rectify his problems as a MLB.

Is Dennis Green going to be able to motivate his players to yet another expert defying playoff run? How many times can you lead an army to a slaughter before they wise up and stop marching to your orders?

Overall I think this is the final year in this current Viking regimes window of opportunity. Yes, it has stayed open a bit longer then most would have suspected, but if they do not get it done now, someone is going to have to take the fall. Whether that will result in Green's dismissal, a player purge, a move of Moss or a team sale or relocation is yet to be seen. I would love to see Cris Carter get a chance to make the game winning catch in late January though, and I am going to hope against my better judgement that this year it can finally come to be.

IZ

-- Iz (izmorrow@yahoo.com), May 24, 2001.

Good analysis, guys. I think we're looking at 9-7. Of course, injuries (or a lack of) are unpredictable and could lead to a swing of a couple of games in either direction. The Vikes' good fortune in avoiding major injuries last year, while the rest of the league were dropping like flies, went a long way in helping the Vikes.

BTW, Culpepper still has three years left on his contract.

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), May 25, 2001.