January

Jan. 8, 2009   

McDermott could emerge as candidate to replace Frazier in Minnesota

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is a hot name in coaching circles these days, and some NFL sources believe he’s in line for a head job this year. Team sources have identified DL coach Karl Dunbar and LB coach Fred Pagac as two legitimate, in-house possibilities to replace Frazier should he skip town. But we hear the Vikings might consider Eagles secondary coach Sean McDermott, among others, for the job as well. McDermott cut his teeth with the Eagles while head coach Brad Childress was there, and Childress reportedly was interested in adding McDermott to his staff when he got the job, until Eagles head coach Andy Reid blocked the move. Reid has said he would not stand in McDermott’s way this time should a coordinator job become open. That remains to be seen in Minnesota. Coincidentally, McDermott started at safety at William & Mary alongside Vikings SS Darren Sharper in 1996, where they were teammates with former Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, the man Frazier replaced.

Jan. 5, 2009   

Vikings' Frazier is hot head-coaching candidate

Now that they have been eliminated from the playoffs, the Vikings must brace for the fact that defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier appears to be a hot name in various head-coaching searches around the league. The Lions, Rams and Broncos are believed to have requested permission to speak to Frazier before the Vikings’ 26-14 playoff loss to the Eagles, and there’s a good chance that Frazier could be offered one of those positions, perhaps even landing in the division. Frazier has emerged as a head-coaching candidate the past few seasons, and his work in 2008 with improved personnel was impressive. The pass defense was markedly better than in ’07, and though part of that was because of a stronger pass rush, Frazier was willing to mix up his coverages more, show different looks and trust his reserves. The Vikings might have to look for their third different coordinator under Brad Childress.

December

Dec. 31, 2008   

Vikings’ D-line hopes to have left-side duo on Sunday

NT Pat Williams says he thinks he can play against the Eagles despite recovering from a broken scapula. The Vikings looked vulnerable without Williams eating up blockers on first and second downs in the final two regular-season games. He not only is a force against the run, but he also helps tie up blockers and allows the linebackers to roam more freely. DE Ray Edwards also is a question mark for this weekend, having injured his knee in the Week 17 win over the Giants. Edwards is less of a force than Williams is, but the two line up next to each other and Edwards often sees single blocking — sometimes only against a tight end — because of extra attention paid to Williams, DT Kevin Williams and DE Jared Allen. Losing both injured players or having them at less than full strength will test the Vikings’ depth and force them to use their backups far more than they’d like.

Dec. 25, 2008   

Vikings’ Shiancoe becoming force as offense becomes second nature

TE Visanthe Shiancoe was on the verge of a bust label after last season’s frightening debut with the Vikings, and his early-season inconsistencies left many to doubt if he’d ever be a factor in the passing game. But a good turnaround, highlighted by a career best 7-136-2 in Week 16 against the Falcons, has the Vikings and Shiancoe believing he can be a seam-stretching receiver in the mold of Jason Witten or Tony Gonzalez. Although those expectations might be a bit premature, it’s clear that Shiancoe’s hard work has paid off. The coaches say he’s one of the last players to leave the field following practice and his knowledge and understanding of the West Coast playbook has expanded dramatically. He now knows how better to adjust his routes and set up defenders based on the offensive call, the quarterback’s drop and the way he’s being defended, and it has led to a much bigger role in the passing offense.

Dec. 19, 2008   

At some point Vikings will have to choose between Jackson, Frerotte

Head coach Brad Childress said that health would be the determining factor for who would start at quarterback for his team down the stretch. It appears he might be backing off that statement slightly at this point. Still citing medical concerns for Gus Frerotte, who returned to practice this week after suffering a back injury in Week 14, Childress nonetheless appeared to be leaning toward Tarvaris Jackson following his outstanding two-week production against the Lions and Cardinals. In those two games Jackson completed 19-of-27 passes with five TDs and zero interceptions. Childress named Jackson the starter for the Week 16 game against the Falcons, but it will be an even bigger decision to see who goes in Week 17 and in the playoffs, if the Vikings qualify. Performance certainly has to factor into the equation at some point, and trust might be the biggest determinant of all. This is a fluid situation that could change at any point based on one good or bad performance, likely by Jackson, or by Frerotte’s condition getting better or not improving.

Dec. 11, 2008   

Childress will stick with Frerotte for now — if he’s healthy

Updated at 10:00 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 15

Everyone in the Vikings’ facility has praised QB Tarvaris Jackson last week for his fine relief work after Gus Frerotte struggled and injured his back in the narrow Week 14 win over the Lions. Head coach Brad Childress must have sensed that he might have to lean on Jackson down the stretch because he met with his backup QB only a few days before the Detroit game to tell him as much. The timing couldn’t have been better. Jackson impressed in Week 15, too, completing 11-of-17 passes for 163 yards with four TDs and no interceptions, as Frerotte was inactive, in a 35-14 win over the Cardinals. Our sources say that Jackson has kept a low profile since his Week Three benching but that he reportedly has worked hard behind the scenes and has made a positive impression on his coaches and teammates. The possibility exists that Jackson could vie for his starting job again next season.

Dec. 8, 2008   

Lineup changes in the future?

The Vikings have braced themselves for the possibility of playing without suspended DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for weeks now, but there only has been so much they could do, personnel-wise, to help the situation now that both players face missing the remainder of the regular season.

DTs Fred Evans and Ellis Wyms could be forced to step into the starting lineup and remain there for the final three games — and potentially the first playoff game — if a federal judge upholds the NFL’s four-game suspension of the pair. Evans would take over for Pat Williams at nose tackle, and Wyms would replace Kevin Williams at the “under” tackle, or three-technique, spot.

The way we hear it, the team is more concerned about Wyms than Evans. Despite the fact that Wyms is an eight-year veteran and has started a few games in his career, the team believes that Kevin Williams’ pass-rush ability is the one trait the team can’t mimic without him. In fact, there are some who believe that Kevin Williams is the best interior pass rusher in the NFL. Wyms has filled in, mostly in nickel situations, and has four tackles and one sack on the season.

Pat Williams routinely came off the field, and Evans has replaced him for entire series at a time. Although Evans might be considered a bit of a disappointment or an enigma in league circles, the Vikings actually have been fairly pleased with him in the year he has been with the team. The other options inside are rookie DT Letroy Guion, who is quick and athletic but has been inactive for all but one game this season and recently suffered an ankle injury that could limit him; and recently signed journeyman Jimmy Kennedy, who has yet to make a serious impact at any of his stops, although he does have starting experience in St. Louis.

Certainly none of the replacements can or will command double-teams like either Williams could.

DE Brian Robison has played all four DL spots this season despite being a more natural end, but his recent knee scope could leave him limited. None of the other ends have spent much time playing inside, although Otis Grigsby likely could play a few snaps inside in a pinch if he gets healthy and returns to the lineup.

Dec. 5, 2008   

Vikings know they can’t hold back with Peterson

The Vikings followed an interesting pattern with how they gave RB Adrian Peterson carries as a rookie. In the first three games, he averaged 24 touches per game, but they cut that back to an average of 15.7 touches over the next three games. After that he got 50 carries from scrimmage in the next two (25 per game) before getting hurt against Green Bay. When he came back, they dialed back his touches again — 14.6 per game over the final five. A source close to the team said he doesn’t think the coaches will again hold back down the stretch after seeing them give him totals of 25, 33 and 30 touches in 3-of-5 games in the month of November. The coaches know that Peterson is their best player and that they already have regretted taking him out for key series to this point of the season. Expect Peterson to get what he wants: the bulk of the offensive touches in crunch time when his team needs him most.

November

Nov. 27, 2008   

Vikings mixing in more man defense with Tampa-2 system

Updated at 8:50 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 1

Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier still prefers to use the Tampa-2 defense as the base coverage for a few reasons. The team’s front four has been able to supply pressure without much help from blitzing, and other than CB Antoine Winfield, the team has lacked cornerbacks who can cover consistently in man coverage. But Frazier has shown a willingness to mix up his looks, playing a lot more man defense against the Jaguars in Week 12 — more than the team had shown in any one game this season. The result was mostly successful, as the Vikings intercepted David Garrard twice, forced him to check down several times to backs and tight ends, collected four sacks and allowed the Jaguars’ wideouts to make only one big reception. The Vikings reverted to more two-deep looks against the Bears after Devin Hester broke a long catch-and-run TD but showed some man looks early in the game.

Nov. 20, 2008   

Covering tight ends has proven to be trouble for Vikings

Tight ends have killed the Vikings this season. Last week it was Buccaneers TE Jerramy Stevens, who caught a team-high six passes for 84 yards, with several crucial grabs, including a 31-yarder to the 1-yard line that set up a touchdown. In Week Nine, Texans TE Owen Daniels caught a game-high 11 passes for 133 yards, finding the soft spots in the Vikings’ zones. Bears TEs Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark combined to catch nine passes for 133 yards and a TD in Week Seven. And Saints TE Billy Miller and Mark Campbell, neither of whom is considered a great receiver, combined for seven catches for 100 yards in Week Five. LB Chad Greenway was credited with 16 tackles against the Bucs but he often struggled to defend Stevens, and SS Darren Sharper sometimes was late to help, too. Daniels told PFW that he thinks the Vikings were so concerned with WR Andre Johnson in the Texans game that it allowed him to get some open looks. “They play a lot of cover-2,” Daniels said, “so I actually ended up getting behind Chad and in front of Sharper a couple of times and ran some routes man to man on those guys also. I still had to get open, but that’s the way they were playing.”

Nov. 14, 2008   

Gordon injury makes Vikings shorthanded on defense, special teams

The gruesome dislocated ankle injury to CB Charles Gordon will end his season and put the Vikings in a spot — two spots, actually. They must find a new nickel cornerback and a new punt returner. Although Gordon had his flaws at both spots, he appeared to be making strides in recent weeks. On defense, it appears that Benny Sapp, who caught a lot of eyes by making interceptions in training camp but also for getting burned on deep passes routinely, will take the vacancy. He likely will take the nickel spot and play in the slot; Antoine Winfield might be the best slot corner on the team, but he’s also the best outside, where the coaches would prefer to leave him. The team put in a claim on former Redskins CB Leigh Torrence, who landed with the Saints, and could promote rookie CB Marcus Walker from the practice squad but haven’t made a move for now. On punts, the job appears to belong to Aundrae Allison, who has handled punts and kickoffs in his two seasons. Bernard Berrian also can return punts but hasn’t in a few seasons.

Nov. 6, 2008   

Allen’s shoulder expected to leave him sidelined vs. Packers

Updated at 9:35 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 10

DE Jared Allen had a third-degree sprain of his right shoulder, which he suffered in the first half against the Texans in Week Nine, and yet still managed to play against the Packers in Week 10. He also managed to play a mostly good game, with a sack for a safety (in a one-point win), but he also was flagged for a 15-yard late hit on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. There was the fear that Allen had torn or partially torn a ligament in the shoulder, but it’s highly unlikely that he would have played — or that the Vikings would have let him play — if that was the case. Of course, there is extra concern with the reports that DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams each might be on the verge of four-game suspensions — which the Vikings haven’t played down much or tried to deny. The D-line has just begun playing its best ball of the season, or at least close to the level expected when the team added Allen in the offseason.

October

Oct. 30, 2008   

Vikings’ run defense could take major hit with suspensions

The Vikings have been careful with what they have said on it, but the fact remains that a troubling report is out that DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams — perhaps the best DT tandem in the NFL — could miss four games because of failed drug tests for a diuretic that often is used as a masking agent. The Vikings have had the best run defense since 2006, and the two Williams are big reasons why. If they were to miss four games, coupled with starting MLB E.J. Henderson already being out for the season, the Vikings could be in real trouble. Ahead on the schedule lie three strong running teams: Tampa Bay (Week 11), Jacksonville (Week 12) and Chicago (Week 13). Backup DTs Ellis Wyms and Fred Evans are good substitutes and can play extended snaps, but that would leave only rookie Letroy Guion, creating some real depth issues and changing the rotation and the way the team would play defense dramatically.

Oct. 24, 2008   

Vikings’ special teams under fire, but Ferraro’s job probably safe

It was revealing when head coach Brad Childress called out P Chris Kluwe a few weeks ago, considering how much Childress has gone to lengths to protect the majority of his players. The special-teams errors — no more evident than in the loss to the Bears — have been a major concern this season, which has brought heat to coordinator Paul Ferraro, though Childress continues to say people should blame him, not Ferraro, for the units’ troubles. After the bye week, some changes could take place, but there’s no indication that the team will bench Kluwe. The four punters the team brought in to work out a few weeks ago were there more to light a fire under Kluwe. The team signed him to a long-term extension before last season and expects to continue using him. The changes might come on the return and coverage teams, where a number of new faces have struggled to come together.

Oct. 17, 2008   

Thomas, Harris return to fill Vikings’ shallow LB pool

Updated at 9:59 a.m. EDT Monday. Oct. 20

The Vikings took a gut shot with the recent injuries to starting MLB E.J. Henderson (dislocated toes) and his backup, David Herron (hip). Herron might not miss significant time, but Henderson is out for the season, and the team had to turn to Vinny Ciurciu — a career special-teamer, for the most part — at the end of the Lions game in Week Six, and he started Week Seven but failed to record a tackle. The team has signed LBs Dontarrious Thomas and Napoleon Harris, both of whom had started games with the Vikings previously and are still familiar with a lot of the schemes. Harris is a better fit inside and had five tackles vs. the Bears, and he might have a chance to win a starting spot soon, by default. Though neither is considered a special player, the depth was getting dangerously thin. LB Erin Henderson, E.J.’s brother, also has been banged up, and was waived on Oct. 18.

Oct. 9, 2008   

Loss of Henderson will hurt Vikings, who will consider all options

Updated at 9:42 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 13

The Vikings’ defensive players came to regard E.J. Henderson as the unit’s leader following an outstanding 2007 season when he moved from the weak side to middle linebacker. And Henderson was off to another terrific start in ’08 before suffering a season-ending injury to his toes. In the short term, the replacement will be David Herron, who started in Weeks Five and Six and had three tackles. But it appears that the team will consider moving an outside linebacker — most likely Ben Leber — to replace Henderson at some point. Herron is primarily a special-teamer, and although he did not look out of place in the Saints game, he is neither the tackler nor the blitzer, much less the leader, that Henderson is. Herron played mostly on first and second downs, coming off in nickel packages. Leber’s shortcoming comes in coverage, but he fared well in Henderson’s absence, even in passing situations.

Oct. 3, 2008   

Childress has not lost Vikings’ locker room

Updated at 9:30 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 6

After the team fell to 3-6 last season following a 34-0 loss at Green Bay, the Vikings appeared to be a directionless team that had given up on its coach. Not true. The Vikings rallied to win five straight games, including a road win over the eventual-champion Giants, before falling from the race. And we hear that despite a 1-3 start (heading into Week Five’s Monday-night game vs. the Saints) that has included a major QB change, the players remain on point with what Brad Childress is pitching them. There appears to be no dissent in the locker room, despite the offensive struggles. The players know that other than switching QBs last year, there was no vast shift in offensive philosophy that led to the five-game winning streak, so the thinking is that eventually things will work out better — especially with OLT Bryant McKinnie returning from his suspension and QB Gus Frerotte getting into the groove of being the starter.

September

Sept. 25, 2008   

Improved DL depth allows Vikings to sub for Pat Williams more

The Vikings still rank as one of the top rushing defenses this season after finishing the past two years as the NFL’s statistically best run defense. And though their linebackers are playing very good football, most observers know that the team’s defensive line has a lot to do with its success at stopping opponents on the ground. But NT Pat Williams, long recognized as one of the league’s best run cloggers, is getting more breathers these days as he reaches an age (he turns 36 in a month) where he can’t be as effective playing 50-60 snaps anymore. So the coaches have allowed Williams to take more plays off, rotating in Fred Evans and Ellis Wyms, who have played well in relief, more at his spot. The idea is to get Williams about 35-40 snaps in a normal game, rotating him in and out by series but also removing him in certain nickel and dime packages in passing situations.

Sept. 18, 2008   

Expect Vikings to open up offense with Frerotte; Jackson's future clouded

Tarvaris Jackson

The Vikings knew they could not continue at the pace they were going with QB Tarvaris Jackson as their starter and a change had to be made. They were relying far too much on RB Adrian Peterson — 48 carries and five receptions through two games, which equates to a frightening 424 touches for a 16-game season. The coaches clearly didn’t trust Jackson to run the full complement of plays, limiting him to a series of bootlegs, rollouts and short, safe passes.

That’s one reason why head coach Brad Childress will go with 37-year-old Gus Frerotte for the foreseeable future, saying he doesn’t want to “play checkers” with his quarterbacks, as he had to last season.

Frerotte can make most of the throws in the playbook, and his experience should serve him well in the short term, where the Vikings have a tough slate ahead of them. They face the 2-0 Panthers on Sunday and have tough road games at Tennessee and New Orleans prior to divisional matchups against the Lions and Bears before the bye in Week Eight.

Expect the coaches to call more plays on which Frerotte throws to, or beyond, the sticks, instead of expecting their pass catchers to make first downs. They also want to get WR Bernard Berrian, who signed a $42 million contract in the offseason but has only three receptions (for 38 yards) to show for it, a lot more involved.

Jackson’s future is in doubt. Childress said he hasn’t given up on Jackson but that Frerotte would be his starter barring injury. A team source agreed with that sentiment, saying he doubted Jackson would get another chance this season. NFL sources are divided as to whether Jackson has a future as a starter — with the Vikings or anywhere else.

“Can Tarvaris play? I don’t think anyone knows, [with all the] dropped passes,” a player personnel director told PFW. “I would lean toward saying he cannot right now, but the throws he [was] being asked to make in the situations he [was] being asked to make them [were] not fair to anyone. Screens are being called on 3rd-and-2 and QB bootlegs on 3rd-and-8.

“They’re running boot waggles where he only has half the field to work with, and they are asking him to move around a lot. He can throw on the move, but he is best when he has his feet set. I don’t know if he can play or can’t, and that’s scary given that he’s in his third year and I’ve probably studied him as much as anyone.”

Sept. 15, 2008   

Vikings’ offense limitations apparent in Week Two

The limitations of the Vikings’ offense became apparent in the team’s crushing 18-15 home loss to the Colts in Week Two. The offense converted only 2-of-13 third downs and was held to five field goals despite a 160-yard rushing performance from Adrian Peterson. Two of those five scoring drives stalled inside the Colts’ 10-yard line, but only once did the Vikings have a realistic option of going for it on fourth down — with two yards to go from the Colts’ 9-yard line with the Vikings leading 3-0 in the first quarter. The bottom line is that QB Tarvaris Jackson and the passing game are struggling to complete passes of 7-12 yards in obvious passing situations, and that’s why they are kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns.

Sept. 12, 2008   

Vikings could be left with Johnson blocking Freeney

The Vikings already were shorthanded with the four-game suspension of OLT Bryant McKinnie, but they are left potentially very thin if replacement Artis Hicks (elbow) can’t play this week. Hicks was replaced ably by Marcus Johnson, who had not played left tackle in the NFL previously. Johnson did a nice job on Packers DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila but will have a more daunting foe if Hicks is out: Colts DE Dwight Freeney. Johnson primarily has played right tackle and guard in his four pro seasons and hasn’t faced a pass rusher of Freeney’s caliber for an entire game. For that matter, neither has Hicks. Either way, expect the Vikings to use tight ends or backs to help whoever draws the starting assignment.

Sept. 4, 2008   

Jackson: Vikings will be fine while McKinnie is out

Tarvaris Jackson

The four-game suspension of Vikings OLT Bryant McKinnie came as no surprise to the team, but the offense knows it must fill a big hole. McKinnie has not been perfect, but he’s a mauler in the run game and can use his long arms to deflect pass rushers. His battles with DE Jared Allen have been the highlight of the summer, but with McKinnie out and Artis Hicks in, there’s a noticeable drop in talent.

Despite this, QB Tarvaris Jackson — the man whose backside is at stake here — says he’s not worried one bit about Hicks stepping in. “Of course, there’s an adjustment we have to make. (McKinnie) has been the left tackle, starting every game, since I have been here. So it’s just a comfort level. You know he’s going to get it done,” Jackson told PFW on Wednesday. “But I am very confident in Artis. He has been in this situation before. He played left tackle in Philly when (Eagles OLT) Tra Thomas went down. He has played everywhere here, too — I have seen him everywhere but center. He’s versatile. He’s athletic enough to do it, just to the point where you get comfortable with him there.”

Vikings WR Bobby Wade says he thinks the receivers have taken a step forward this season. “I think it definitely started at OTAs and our offseason workouts because we knew immediately, once we had grabbed Bernard Berrian, what we had. It’s basically the same group we had last year plus Bernard,” Wade told PFW. “So that definitely helped in terms of getting involved with each other and understanding our personalities and our roles and how we’re all going to fit into the offense. I think the biggest thing (with Berrian) is that he’s going to be a consistent force. He understands how to play in this division and all the (NFC North) opponents. He’s going to be as big as everyone expects. He’s going to be big in play-action, which is huge with the backfield that we have. He’s going to hit some home runs, but he’s going to be a consistent first- and second-down guy, too.”

August

Aug. 22, 2008   

Vikings’ passing game slowed by injuries

The Vikings have suffered injuries recently to what they hope will be a successful pitch-and-catch battery this season. QB Tarvaris Jackson remains on the mend from what is being called a strained MCL, and WR Bernard Berrian has a painful turf toe that kept him out of the last preseason game. They have worked together extensively this offseason, and the team plans on using them quite often together, but the preseason results have been fairly lean thus far — two connections for 43 yards. However, neither has been ruled out for the Steelers game, and both are expected to be fine for the "Monday Night Football" opener at Lambeau Field. But having both out appears to have slowed things in the passing game in practice recently, especially with fellow starting WR Sidney Rice missing time with a stomach ailment.

Aug. 15, 2008   

Vikings know they could be facing tricky situation at left tackle

Bryant McKinnie

Updated at 5:11 p.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 17

OLT Bryant McKinnie has been facing some terrific trench battles from new DE Jared Allen in training camp but might have a more daunting foe on the horizon: commissioner Roger Goodell. McKinnie is set to face trial on Sept. 24 for his involvement in a Miami nightclub scuffle back in February — he faces four charges, one of which is a felony — and could receive a league-issued suspension. Goodell has not ruled with a velvet glove in these types of player-conduct cases in his two-year stint as commissioner. Given McKinnie’s role in the Vikings’ “Love Boat” incident back in 2005 — he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in that case — the speculation is that, if found guilty, McKinnie could face a multi-game suspension, up to four games’ worth. So far in practice, McKinnie’s backups have been disappointing. The team tried Chase Johnson at left tackle, but he hasn’t been effective and has apparently been passed on the depth chart by rookie Drew Radovich, an undrafted free agent. Radovich is receiving the second-team snaps at left tackle, but utility OL Artis Hicks remains the most likely safety net in case McKinnie misses time.

Aug. 6, 2008   

Status of Robison’s leg is unclear

DE Brian Robison has a varicose vein in his left leg that likely needs surgery. What is not clear is how serious the issue is or how long Robison might be out. Robison, who is expected to be the third end, backing up Jared Allen on the right side primarily, spent Monday in the Twin Cities getting his leg looked at. Robison has had the vein issue since high school, but it recently flared up and caused him discomfort. Vikings officials say they are not sure how long Robison could be out, which could cause some problems in terms of depth. Robison also provided a nice, albeit sporadic pass rush as a rookie with 4½ sacks. In his place, Otis Grigsby, who is having a nice camp to date, has moved from the third-team left end, to Robison’s spot behind Allen.

July

July 31, 2008   

Vikings’ punting game stands to improve

The Vikings largely were successful on special teams last season, but the punting game is an area of concern on both sides. P Chris Kluwe had a high gross average (44.7 yards) but sometimes outkicked his coverage and suffered from poor coverage other times, resulting in the Vikings’ 23rd ranking in opponents’ punt-return average. But the other side of the coin stands as a more interesting training-camp battle. There are several candidates for the punt-return job who stand to improve the team mark of 8.3 yards per return, which was nearly a yard below the league average, especially with Mewelde Moore having departed to Pittsburgh via free agency. Among those competing for the job: WR Bobby Wade, who returned 17 punts for a 6.9-yard average in 2007; WR Bernard Berrian, who has returned 12 punts in his four-year career for a 7.2-yard average; WR Aundrae Allison, who was a standout on kickoff returns as a rookie but hasn’t returned a punt since college, where he did it sparingly; CB Charles Gordon, who has one punt return for one yard in two pro seasons but was a standout returner in college; and rookie WR Jaymar Johnson, who had 24 punt returns for 231 yards (9.6 avg.) and one TD last season at Jackson State.

July 19, 2008   

Childress open to many options in case McKinnie is suspended

OLT Bryant McKinnie’s hearing for a criminal case, in which he faces four separate charges related to a fight outside a Miami nightclub, was continued back in June and is scheduled for a court date of Sept. 24 — three days after the Vikings face the Panthers in Minnesota during Week Three of the season. The team is aware of the situation and knows that McKinnie, should he be found guilty, could face punishment by the league. In fact, McKinnie already has met with commissioner Roger Goodell on the matter, so a punishment for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy could come down swiftly in this case, especially because McKinnie would be a repeat offender if found guilty. In that case, the Vikings would be left to replace one of their better run blockers, and there is no natural replacement on the roster who possesses McKinnie’s mass or talent. Artis Hicks is a jack-of-all-trades who has played left tackle sparingly before (in Philadelphia, when Brad Childress was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator) and could play there in a pinch. But don’t be surprised if either Marcus Johnson or Chase Johnson gets a chance there. Marcus Johnson has more experience and has shown improvement, but don’t rule out the massive Chase Johnson (6-8, 331 pounds) possibly being a strong option.

June

June 25, 2008   

Picking up blitz will be telltale signs of Jackson’s, Peterson’s improvement

The Vikings are likely to see a lot of blitzing until QB Tarvaris Jackson proves he can make sound decisions in the face of pressure and until RB Adrian Peterson proves he can pick up the rusher that comes free. It was a major concern last season that hindered the offense, and it’s sure to be a major factor in how effective the passing game is this season. It’s difficult to grade offseason practices for such a specific element, but sources say that Jackson especially has proven to be more calm in the face of pressure in terms of decision making, getting rid of the ball more cleanly and effectively and standing in the pocket amid a heavy rush. The good news is that the Vikings now have the defensive juice, with the addition of DE Jared Allen, to give Jackson and Peterson good looks in practice all throughout training camp.

June 20, 2008   

Vikings set to look at five quarterbacks in camp

This is the time for pleasantries around the NFL. Everything tends to look pretty good in June minicamps, and coaches like to say they are happy with the way things are. It’s no different with the Vikings, where quarterback looms as the most critical position heading into the regular season, but it’s a position that head coach Brad Childress said he’s very happy with to date. And the team has five of them — Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte, Brooks Bollinger and rookies John David Booty and Kyle Wright. Although Jackson is presumed to win the starting job and Frerotte the backup role, there will be a battle for the third spot. Bollinger knows the system, but Booty has an excellent chance given his résumé in college and experience in a West Coast offense. And it appears that the team plans to report to training camp in July with all five men present, so it will be worth watching how the reps are divided. Jackson has yet to be officially named the starter and will need to display confidence and consistency, so the Vikings can’t afford to cut too deeply into his pitch count during the exhibition season.

June 13, 2008   

Shiancoe will get another shot to win Vikings’ starting TE spot

The Vikings’ TE situation remains an interesting study. As it stands now, Visanthe Shiancoe remains the starter despite a disappointing first season in Minnesota. Shiancoe got eye-opening money without having done much in his first four seasons with the Giants, and he followed it up with a subpar performance on the field, not getting open a lot and dropping at least three would-be touchdowns. But the team is not ready to give up on Shiancoe, and he reportedly has slimmed down to 243 pounds after playing last season at or above 250. Though run blocking is a key component of the position in this offense, the tight ends will be expected to produce in the passing game, too. The tight ends — if you include Jeff Dugan, who also can play fullback — caught only 40 passes combined last season (27 by Shiancoe), but the coaches would like that number to be at least 60 or higher this season. Some feel Garrett Mills, who caught two passes in the season finale, could be a surprise performer at the position.

May

May 28, 2008   

Frazier becomes man in spotlight on Vikings’ defense

If the Vikings are going to make the jump into the upper echelon of teams in the NFC, the formula appears clear: They’ll be doing it with a stout running game and with defense. A similar approach provided some impressive statistics last season — the team was first in rushing defense and offense — but only accounted for eight wins. And with the quarterback situation not terribly different, it’s clear that the beefed-up defense will end up carrying a large portion of the load in 2008. The additions of DE Jared Allen and FS Madieu Williams made big headlines, but they also should allow defensive coordinator (and now associate head coach) Leslie Frazier to make some scheme changes that will help. First, he can rely less on the five- or six-man blitzes and mix up his coverages, knowing that Allen — flanked by two of the best tackles in the game — should provide the pass rush the team had missed. And adding Williams could allow SS Darren Sharper to roam into the box more often and allow the linebacker to drop back in coverage. Many eyes will be on Frazier early on to see what scheme changes he has in mind with this group.

May 23, 2008   

Vikings hope Booty can learn offense at his own pace

In a perfect world, John David Booty will spend all of 2008 on the bench. (Booty, however, might have a different view on the matter.) But that would mean that the Vikings — a Super Bowl team, in some people’s eyes — had nothing disastrous happen at quarterback and were able to allow their fifth-round pick to mature over time. Still, the Booty pick is interesting because there are some similarities between the offense Booty ran in college at USC and the Vikings’ version of the West Coast offense. “It is different that what we did at SC — a lot of people think it’s the same thing,” Booty told PFW. “There are some similarities, but it’s all-new terminology and all-new routes. The timing is all the same … five (step) rhythm throw, five (step) plant throw, three-step throw, the things that were required of us to do at SC to get plays off. It’s all built on timing and receivers’ depth, all those things, and identifying coverages and how the routes vary according to that. All of that was stuff that I was very used to. A lot of the same principles.” What has required the biggest adjustment, Booty said, is the volume of the playbook, the speed of the game and having an offensive head coach in Brad Childress after playing for a defensive coach at USC in Pete Carroll. “It’s weird having a head coach talking to you through your (pass) drops,” Booty said, smiling. “But as a quarterback, I like it.”

May 14, 2008   

Despite Booty pick, Vikings appear to be throwing support toward Jackson

There were some conspiracy theorists who were intrigued by the Vikings’ trade up in Round Five to snag QB John David Booty, adding to what will be — if nothing else — an interesting QB derby once the players hit training camp. But our Vikings sources say the Booty pick is one for down the road, despite his experience in the West Coast offense and his winning record at USC, and that Tarvaris Jackson should remain the starter when it's all said and done. The only additions to quarterback this season have been Booty and Gus Frerotte, who figures to be the backup. The fact that the team passed on the chance to acquire Texans QB Sage Rosenfels indicates that the Vikings — a sleeper Super Bowl pick by some following the Jared Allen trade — feel confident that Jackson can be more consistent and build on the good performances he had last season.

May 9, 2008   

Robison, Edwards look to battle for DLE spot

Given that the Vikings’ vacant DLE position is considered their “power end” spot, it might be natural to pencil in Ray Edwards as the likely starter over second-year DE Brian Robison. After all, Edwards outweighs Robison, is three inches taller and played the run better of the two last season. But team sources say don’t overlook the desire of Robison, who could make a push to be a starter. He did wear down late last season and has acknowledged that he needs to be stronger to take the rigors of a full season. But with Robison’s natural pass-rush technique and desire, he could gain an edge on Edwards, who has flashed ability but angered the coaching staff with his four-game suspension late last season and hasn’t always been consistent.

April

April 23, 2008   

Vikings make bold move for Allen but at a steep price

The Vikings and Chiefs completed a deal to send All-Pro DE Jared Allen to Minnesota, and his new contract terms reportedly will make him the highest-paid defender in NFL history based on guaranteed money. Allen will get a signing bonus of a little more than $31 million, believed to be behind only Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and now-suspended Falcons QB Michael Vick. The Vikings also gave up a ransom of draft picks — they traded their first-round choice, plus both third-round picks, and swapped sixth-rounders, with the Chiefs moving up five spots. The value of the draft-pick bounty is tantamount to a top-10 draft pick. Allen now will start at right end, likely pushing Ray Edwards to the left side. One impetus for the deal was that the Vikings thought there was no way they could get a pass rusher of Allen’s caliber with the 17th pick in the draft. But they also believe that Allen only makes their No. 1 run defense better, too.

April 18, 2008   

Vikings may be close to trading for Chiefs DE Allen

Chiefs DE Jared Allen

PFW is hearing that the Chiefs are weighing strongly an offer to send All-Pro DE Jared Allen to the Vikings for a first-round draft pick this year (No. 17 overall) and a third-round pick in the 2009 draft. Sources say the talks have been ongoing for a month or more, and Allen told FoxSports.com that he has a visit scheduled with Minnesota. The Buccaneers also are in the picture. In February the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Allen, who was scheduled to hit free agency this offseason; signing him to an offer sheet would cost the Vikings two first-round picks. The Vikings have a need at defensive end, especially with Kenechi Udeze having been diagnosed with leukemia this offseason. Allen, who recently turned 26, has played both the left and right sides and has 43 sacks in 61 career games. The Vikings too often were forced to blitz and abandon their Tampa-2 schemes last season because the front four wasn’t generating enough pressure. Interestingly, the Chiefs and Vikings hold their training-camp practices in River Falls and Mankato, Minn., respectively, and often practice together in July and August.

April 4, 2008   

Frerotte signing shows confidence in Jackson, pushes QB down draft-needs list

Formally speaking, the Vikings have yet to announce a starting quarterback for the 2008 season, and they reportedly will keep their pre-draft visits scheduled with college QBs Brian Brohm (Louisville) and Joe Flacco (Delaware), each of whom likely will be off the board by the time the team makes its second-round pick (No. 47 overall). But the team’s signing of Gus Frerotte makes two things more likely: One, the team probably won’t take a quarterback in the draft until later on and, two, Tarvaris Jackson — barring injury or major struggles in training camp — almost unquestionably will be named the team’s starter in ’08. Frerotte is a respected backup and someone who could play in a pinch, but he’s perfectly suited for a mentor’s role. And that’s something Jackson needs. But it became clear that when the Vikings didn’t pull the trigger on a trade for Houston’s Sage Rosenfels, who feasibly could have competed with Jackson, that the team has at least informally settled on Jackson as its starter. That said, do not rule out Minnesota drafting a developmental quarterback.

March

March 26, 2008   

Birk’s absence not related to contract, but he might not have future in Minnesota

Vikings C Matt Birk

For years, C Matt Birk has been hailed as a heady player and the centerpiece of some good Vikings offensive lines. Last season, he earned Pro Bowl merit — whether he deserved it or not. One team source did not think Birk played at a Pro Bowl level, at least not consistently through the season. And though Birk’s agent, Joe Linta, says his client’s current absence from the Vikings’ offseason team activities has nothing to do with Birk’s contract status — he’ll become a free agent after the 2008 season — it is interesting to note that nothing has been done long term regarding his contract. Typically, the Vikings are among the two or three most aggressive teams in terms of re-upping with their own players entering the final year of their contracts, and yet there has not been much in the way of discussion to offer Birk a long-term deal. Although the Vikings are not down on Birk, per se, don’t be surprised if they look to get younger at center this offseason to protect against the possibility that he’ll leave after next season.

March 21, 2008   

McKinnie’s status is yet to be determined

It’s safe to say that nothing has been decided definitively on OLT Bryant McKinnie, who faces charges related to a brawl outside a Miami nightclub. But it’s also clear that the team is very disappointed in its left tackle. When asked if McKinnie remains one of the “core” Vikings, which were head coach Brad Childress’ words in the past, Childress refused to say that McKinnie fell under that category. The team could cut McKinnie — witness the Koren Robinson situation in May 2006 when the receiver signed a three-year, $12.7 million deal and was cut three months later when he was arrested for drunken driving. Cutting McKinnie would be a massive blow, but it would fall in line with Childress’ hard-line stance on player conduct and accountability. The team will continue to investigate and gather facts on the matter but could act swiftly if McKinnie is convicted.

March 12, 2008   

Vikings’ WR corps might not be done with makeover

Team sources say that the Vikings feel they can add more weapons at receiver. They added a big one — and certainly an expensive one — with Bernard Berrian, who is exactly what the team needs in terms of a deep threat, but one who never has performed as a No. 1 receiver. And it would be easy to think that with Berrian and Sidney Rice outside, plus Bobby Wade in the slot and promising Aundrae Allison as the No. 4, that things are in decent shape. They might be, but the Vikings want to give QB Tarvaris Jackson, or whomever starts at quarterback, as many weapons as possible. Although the team could do far worse than re-signing Robert Ferguson, a very good downfield blocker, it will look to add another wideout, likely through the draft. Signing Berrian likely eliminates the need for using a first-round pick on a receiver, but if the right guy is there, the team might not hesitate to bite early.

March 7, 2008   

Vikings’ next target: defensive end

The signing of WR Bernard Berrian doesn’t close the door on adding to the position, but it does indicate that the team is shifting its attention to its next big need. Defensive end was a position the team wanted to upgrade before it learned that Kenechi Udeze had developed leukemia. Already in free agency, the Vikings have looked at or made offers to Travis LaBoy, Antwan Odom and Justin Smith — all of whom signed elsewhere. They also were in close contact with Jevon Kearse, late of the Eagles, but Kearse agreed to terms with Tennessee, where he started his career. With very few starting-caliber defensive ends left on the free-agent market, it looks like the Vikings will have to wait until April’s draft to find a solution at the position.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

Williamson doesn't net much in trade with Jaguars

One league source raised his eyebrows when he read about the Vikings’ trade of WR Troy Williamson to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, feeling that there were enough teams interested in Williamson that perhaps the pick could have been as high as a No. 4, or at least a fourth-rounder in 2009. But the move shows how badly the team wanted to be rid of Williamson. He was unable to develop as a receiver, but also as a pro. Sources say his work ethic was too inconsistent and that he was immature, even for his young age (he turns 26 in April). The coaches tried to push him and encourage him, and even gave him space when some family issues arose. But Williamson continued to disappoint them. Now, the team will look to invest in a receiver — most likely through the draft, given the so-so free-agent crop. The team selected two wideouts last season, with Sidney Rice and Aundrae Allison making the club.

Feb. 22, 2008   

Vikings cut Smith, opening hole at safety

Not unexpectedly, the Vikings parted ways with S Dwight Smith, cutting him late Wednesday. Although Smith had marijuana possession charges against him dropped last month, Smith had enough controversy in his two years in Minnesota for the team to want to “go in a different direction,” as head coach Brad Childress said. Smith argued with teammates and coaches and was benched twice by Childress for breaking team rules. Although Smith clearly was a benefit to the team, registering eight interceptions the past two seasons, and although teammates recognized him as an on-field leader, the club believed his off-field indiscretions and distractions were enough to let him go. Now, there is a big hole at safety, where only Darren Sharper is under contract. Veterans Tank Williams and Mike Doss both are scheduled for free agency and might not return.

Feb. 15, 2008   

Udeze’s leukemia is said to shock Vikings

We still don’t know many details about the illness of DE Kenechi Udeze — reports say he has leukemia, but it’s not clear which type or how serious it is — but it’s clear that friends, family and current and former teammates and coaches are concerned for his health. Comments from people close to Udeze, including USC head coach Pete Carroll, indicate that Udeze has quite a long fight ahead of him, although the Vikings have said little on the matter. “Kenechi’s got a big battle on his hands,” Carroll said in a released statement. “We’ve been talking with him and we will continue to support him and send our good wishes and prayers his way.” Head coach Brad Childress has issued the only statement from the Vikings on the matter: “With reports surfacing about Kenechi Udeze’s condition, we respect the privacy of Kenechi. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Minnesota Vikings organization are with Kenechi and his family.” It’s way too early to speculate about Udeze’s future with the team and his playing career, but defensive end was viewed by the team as a major need before Udeze’s illness was discovered. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and typically is characterized as an abnormal production of white blood cells.

Feb. 1, 2008   

Safety should be addressed in offseason

The Vikings’ cornerbacks have taken their fair share of blame for the team’s woes in defending the pass, as has the inconsistent pass rush. Both are legitimate concerns. But the team also has looked at safety and most likely will try to upgrade there as well. Although Darren Sharper had a fine season and was named to the Pro Bowl, fellow starter Dwight Smith was inconsistent. Each had four interceptions, but Smith too often took bad angles in pass defense and got out of position because of his aggressiveness. In addition, Smith’s misdemeanor possession of marijuana citation is something the team really looked down upon, given its past image problems and the attempt to clean the team up. With backups Mike Doss and Tank Williams headed for free agency, too, there also could be a depth problem if they leave. There is no young safety on the roster currently who could project to being a starter in 2008.