NFL team previews — NFC Central
By Kent Youngblood
As published in print Aug. 21, 2000
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Vikings WR
Randy Moss
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Near the end of training camp, the Vikings received a visit from Sean Salisbury. He was
the quarterback when the Vikings qualified for the playoffs in 1992, Dennis Green’s
first year as head coach. Salisbury was the first in a long line of quarterbacks who have
moved through the Vikings’ revolving door. Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Brad Johnson and
Jeff George are some of the others.
Salisbury was standing on the sidelines, watching Daunte Culpepper practice.
"Let’s put it this way," Salisbury said. "Daunte and Ryan Leaf
— Daunte, for on-the-field stuff, and Leaf, for off-the-field stuff, are going to be
the two most-watched players in the preseason. Everybody wants to know what they’re
going to do."
Unfortunately, it won’t stop in the preseason for Culpepper, the man anointed the
starter by Green, even though he has just seven regular-season snaps under his belt.
It has already become a cliché repeated over and over like a mantra by anyone watching
the team, but it’s true: The Vikings, still loaded with offensive talent and perhaps
in position to improve their defense, will go only as far as Culpepper takes them.
It’s that simple.
The Vikings can talk all they want about Culpepper being surrounded by talent, which he
is. That he doesn’t have to win games by himself, simply not lose them. That the
Vikings’ offensive system has proved through the years that it can integrate new
quarterbacks relatively seamlessly.
"We have consistency," Green said. "It’s the same system we put in
in 1992, which means a lot of players know it. You come into our system, a lot of guys
already know what they’re doing."
But when the regular season starts, everybody will be watching what Culpepper is doing.
He worked hard in the offseason, on both his body and his mind. He has put in the hours,
embraced the challenge and done his best to ignore the pressures placed upon him.
Can he do it? The immediate future of the Vikings depends on it.
Top of page
| Quarterbacks |
Grade C+ |
| Culpepper had moments in camp when he looked like a 265-pound
weapon of the future, throwing the ball well and adding the element of the run to the
Vikings’ QB position, something it hasn’t had in a while. There were also times
when Culpepper took too long to make his reads and couldn’t deliver the ball to his
highly touted receivers. All of this is to be expected, of course, from a first-time
starter. But know this: Culpepper will put in the work necessary to succeed. New offensive
coordinator Sherman Lewis has tweaked Green’s offensive system in a key way. In West
Coast style, he has incorporated more short throws to the tight ends and running backs.
Lewis believes shifty and speedy Robert Smith could be in line for some big gains if given
the ball out of the backfield. The Vikings believe 280-pound FB Jimmy Kleinsasser —
one of the talks of training camp — can be effective as well. All of this is designed
to put more pressure on the defense while taking it off Culpepper. The short throws are
high-percentage passes, tailor-made for a first-time starter. Culpepper may be a great
quarterback down the road. But can he do it this year? That question may not be answered
until we see how he responds to his first true adversity once the season starts. Culpepper
has to prove he can be accurate on the deep throws and make his reads quickly. Bubby
Brister has always looked better in game situations than in practice. Still, he came on
strong near the end of camp and appears to be ready to step in if needed. Brister
doesn’t have Culpepper’s arm, but he has adjusted to the offense well and makes
good reads. The history of this team suggests Brister will get a chance at some point this
season, though Green would be loath to bench Culpepper, a young man in whom the team has
so much invested. Todd Bouman wasn’t given many snaps in the preseason while the team
worked Culpepper and Brister. But Bouman knows the offense well, and he can’t be
discounted as an option if Culpepper is hurt or ineffective. Top of page |
| Running backs |
Grade A- |
| When healthy, Smith is one of the most dangerous running
backs in the league. He is coming off three straight 1,000-yard seasons and is within
reach of Chuck Foreman’s franchise rushing record this year. It may also be
Smith’s last with the Vikings given the salary-cap crunch they expect to find
themselves in next year. Smith is quick and explosive, and he may be even more dangerous
if he proves to be effective as a receiver out of the backfield. The only question is
whether he can stay healthy. The team spent much of the preseason trying to find the next
Leroy Hoard — the man used in short-yardage and goal-line situations — and it
appears they’ll fill the job by committee. Moe Williams, who should be Smith’s
top backup, is being pushed by rookie Doug Chapman, a scoring machine at Marshall.
Kleinsasser has become a dominating lead blocker, and he may expand his role as a
short-yardage back. He will also be used more in the passing game. Top of page |
| Receivers |
Grade A- |
| If one of the tight ends can step forward and become a
threat, this may be the best groups of receivers in the game. Cris Carter continues his
march toward the Hall of Fame. He led the league with 13 TD receptions last year. One of
the greatest red-zone receivers ever, Carter has already begun to click in that area with
Culpepper. Look for Carter’s scoring to continue, and look for Culpepper to look to
Carter on third down, another of the receiver’s specialty areas. In his second
season, Randy Moss led the NFC in receiving yards. He and Carter form the best 1-2 punch
in the league. The team believes Matthew Hatchette will be a more effective No. 3 receiver
than the declining Jake Reed was last year, but the Vikings won’t use as many
three-WR sets as in the past. Look for Troy Walters, a very, very quick 5-7 rookie, to
provide a speedy change of pace on third down. The TE position was up in the air heading
into training camp. Andrew Jordan had a good camp. The Vikings plan to rediscover the
tight end this year. Top
of page |
| Offensive linemen |
Grade B |
| For the first time in years, the unit has questions with new
starters at left guard and center. Still, this group has the potential to be very good.
OLT Todd Steussie was a Pro Bowler two years ago, but he gave up eight sacks last year. He
has since readjusted his stance, shown a kick-butt attitude and had a great camp. Look for
Steussie to climb back to the top tier of offensive tackles. ORT Korey Stringer was the
team’s most consistent lineman last year; he may vie for Pro Bowl status this year.
New C Matt Birk is going to experience some first-time-starter mistakes, but he is bigger
and stronger than the departed Jeff Christy, and the team is convinced people will forget
about Christy before the year is over. The biggest questions involve left guard. Can
Corbin Lacina hold up over the course of the season, especially with a sprained medial
collateral ligament in his right knee? Will Brad Badger and Chris Liwienski shine while
sharing time with Lacina? ORG David Dixon is big and strong, but he’ll have to take a
step up this year. In years past, Randall McDaniel was so good on his own at left guard
that the Vikings were able to help Dixon with the center. Top of page |
| Defensive linemen |
Grade B- |
| Defensive coordinator Emmitt Thomas wants his defensive line
to stunt and attack more. But who will rush the passer from the outside? The Vikings spent
all of camp trying to decide who their best defensive ends were, but it appears they will
have to use a DE-by-committee philosophy. The team needs veteran Bryce Paup to step up as
a situational pass rusher. John Burrough will have to stay healthy, and Talance Sawyer
will have to continue to improve as the starting right end. It won’t be long before
rookie Chris Hovan starts taking several snaps at left end. Tackle, on the other hand, is
a strength. John Randle is back inside, where he is at his best, full time. Tony Williams,
the starting nose tackle, appears ready for a breakthrough season. Hovan had a steady
camp, and rookie Fred Robbins flashed some ability but still needs some intensity. Top of page |
| Linebackers |
Grade B+ |
| Thomas has made some changes, all designed to help his young
corners. The three linebackers have been shuffled, with the bigger Kailee Wong moving to
the middle, Ed McDaniel to the weak side and Dwayne Rudd to the strong side, where his
ability to cover the tight end one on one will free up the safeties to help the corners
more. This starting group has the chance to be very, very good. Some think Rudd is wasted
on the strong side, but look for Thomas to use him as a blitzer quite often. Wong had a
very strong camp and provides more bulk in the middle than McDaniel did. McDaniel once led
the league with 19½ tackles for loss from the weak side, where he began his career. An
instinctive player who works well in space, McDaniel isn’t superfast, but he’s
very quick, especially when slicing through the line to make a tackle. He’s back in
his ideal position. The question is: Who will be the top backup? Craig Sauer was injured
through much of camp. Top
of page |
| Defensive backs |
Grade C+ |
| Thomas wants his corners to play more bump-and-run coverages
to try to turn the receivers inside, where the help is. If he’s freed up by
Rudd’s ability to cover the tight end, SS Robert Griffith could be in position to
make a lot of big plays. He is one of the best in the league at his position and is on the
verge of receiving acknowledgement for it. FS Orlando Thomas says he’s completely
healthy for the first time in years. Emmitt Thomas has put him in more of a center-field
role. That’s what Orlando Thomas played as a rookie in ’95, when he picked off
nine passes. The biggest question is at cornerback. Kenny Wright has most of a year’s
worth of starting experience under his belt, and he has the size for the position.
WR-turned-CB Robert Tate had a wonderful camp, using his team-best speed to make several
big plays in practice. He’ll be tested this year, but he’s tough. Some in the
organization think he could be one of the season’s biggest surprises. Depth at corner
has been a problem. The team spent the entire camp trying to find an adequate nickel back.
Look for rookie Tyrone Carter, Roderick Mullen or Keith Thibodeaux to get looks there. Top of page |
| Special teams |
Grade A- |
| This unit is a team strength. Punter/kickoff specialist Mitch
Berger is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. PK Gary Anderson played last year amid
some personal problems that caused him to lose weight. He’s back in shape and looked
wonderful in camp. RS David Palmer is coming off a knee injury, but he should be ready to
return to action. If Palmer falters, there are several candidates to replace him,
including Walters. Top of
page |
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