My take on the Vikings is this:
1) Tice learned on the job last year. He made some mistakes. He has to get better this year or he will be gone. But, I think he will. He looks to establish the run first and take away the run as well. That leads to some pretty big passing numbers given up on defense. Last year the Vikings averaged 5.3 ypr against teams allowing 4.3 ypr. Outstanding numbers! On defense, they allowed 4.2 ypr against teams averaging 4.1 ypr. About average on defense. Take away Michael Vicks 100+ yard game on the ground and their run defense was a little better than average.
2) Their defense, as a whole, as to get better. It really can't help but get better. They drafted Williams to help Holvan out and that will definitely help him out. They added some people in the secondary which will immediately improve their secondary. That's where they need the most help.
3) On offense, their line will be much improved, especially with McKinnie there for the whole season this year. He protects Culpepper's back side. Much of Culpepper's problems last year were based on a lack of time to throw the ball. That will be improved this year.
4) The Vikings resigned Jimmy Kleinsasser this year. He is the most important piece of this puzzle. His ability to block is priceless. And, although not often, when he catches the ball in the open field and gets a running start, there isn't anyone who is going to tackle him.
5) Culpepper has to reduce the turnovers. And he will. He can't turn the ball over as much as last year. Much like, their defense, this number has to improve because it can't get worse.
6) Look at the Vikings losses last year:
Lost at Chicago by 4 after leading the whole game
Lost to Buffalo in OT after giving up a 50+ yard field at the end of the 4th quarter to send the game into OT
Lost to Carolina - really never in that game
Lost at Seattle - Blow out
Lost at NY Jets - Never in the game
Lost at TB - Never in the game
Lost to Giants in last minutes of the game
Lost to NE - by 7
Lost to Atlanta in OT
Lost to GB on late score by 4
Won last three games of the season
They lost seven games by seven or less points. If they win 3 of those games, they end up 9-7. They also won four close games. If they would have lost half of those, they end up 7-9. Take away the turnovers and they are surely better than that.
And, this division isn't that good. Chicago is nothing to get excited about. Detroit will be better but still not that good. And GB is still the favorite but I worry about my Packers. They are starting to lose a lot of their depth. If they stay healthy all season long, they will win this division. If they succumb to injuries again, they will have a lot of problems again. Both, the Packers and Vikings schedule are very tough, however.
1) Tice learned on the job last year. He made some mistakes. He has to get better this year or he will be gone. But, I think he will. He looks to establish the run first and take away the run as well. That leads to some pretty big passing numbers given up on defense. Last year the Vikings averaged 5.3 ypr against teams allowing 4.3 ypr. Outstanding numbers! On defense, they allowed 4.2 ypr against teams averaging 4.1 ypr. About average on defense. Take away Michael Vicks 100+ yard game on the ground and their run defense was a little better than average.
2) Their defense, as a whole, as to get better. It really can't help but get better. They drafted Williams to help Holvan out and that will definitely help him out. They added some people in the secondary which will immediately improve their secondary. That's where they need the most help.
3) On offense, their line will be much improved, especially with McKinnie there for the whole season this year. He protects Culpepper's back side. Much of Culpepper's problems last year were based on a lack of time to throw the ball. That will be improved this year.
4) The Vikings resigned Jimmy Kleinsasser this year. He is the most important piece of this puzzle. His ability to block is priceless. And, although not often, when he catches the ball in the open field and gets a running start, there isn't anyone who is going to tackle him.
5) Culpepper has to reduce the turnovers. And he will. He can't turn the ball over as much as last year. Much like, their defense, this number has to improve because it can't get worse.
6) Look at the Vikings losses last year:
Lost at Chicago by 4 after leading the whole game
Lost to Buffalo in OT after giving up a 50+ yard field at the end of the 4th quarter to send the game into OT
Lost to Carolina - really never in that game
Lost at Seattle - Blow out
Lost at NY Jets - Never in the game
Lost at TB - Never in the game
Lost to Giants in last minutes of the game
Lost to NE - by 7
Lost to Atlanta in OT
Lost to GB on late score by 4
Won last three games of the season
They lost seven games by seven or less points. If they win 3 of those games, they end up 9-7. They also won four close games. If they would have lost half of those, they end up 7-9. Take away the turnovers and they are surely better than that.
And, this division isn't that good. Chicago is nothing to get excited about. Detroit will be better but still not that good. And GB is still the favorite but I worry about my Packers. They are starting to lose a lot of their depth. If they stay healthy all season long, they will win this division. If they succumb to injuries again, they will have a lot of problems again. Both, the Packers and Vikings schedule are very tough, however.
8, oren, I agree with you guys the Gruden will keep the Bucs offense in high gear and will only get better, just as they did as the year progressed last season........But......, believe it or not, I think it will be the defense that finally begins to slip this year. As a lifetime Buc fan, I have told my friends and fellow fans, that if the Bucs did not hurry up and get someone to get an offense together and win a title soon, then one of the best defenses longevity~wise through the years would of gone to waste, and Gruden finally came along just in time. Lynch, Sapp, Brooks, and Ronde Barber have all taken a toll through the years carrying this team and they have aged fast. Simeon Rice is still a threat, as well as Booger McFarland and Shelton Quarles , but there are going to start to be drop~offs much more game to game than in the past. The area that will suffer the most will be the secondary in my opinion. There are younger guys that will have to prove themselves soon, and Brian Kelly at one corner is much overrated. Going to be tough for these aging and newcoming Bucs to hold off the young talent such as the Saints and Falcons have.
I remember when my Pack won it in '96. They went through the '97 preseason, winning every game by an average score of 24-9. It looked like nobody could beat them. They barely got through their Monday night opener against the Bears.
They ended up going 13-3 that year and losing to Denver in the SB. But they failed to cover their first 7 games and only covered one of their first 11 games.
A lot of things happen. Teams play them tougher, their edge and desire to win is just a little less than the year before and, of course, injuries, etc. could pop up.
If there is a coach that can get a team back there it is Gruden. And his offense really came on at the end of the year last year so even if the defense slips (it will have to because I rated it the best defense ever last year) their offense should be better.
They should have a very good year again. But, it is just so tough to repeat that I doubt they will do it again. It is just so, so tough to do.
They ended up going 13-3 that year and losing to Denver in the SB. But they failed to cover their first 7 games and only covered one of their first 11 games.
A lot of things happen. Teams play them tougher, their edge and desire to win is just a little less than the year before and, of course, injuries, etc. could pop up.
If there is a coach that can get a team back there it is Gruden. And his offense really came on at the end of the year last year so even if the defense slips (it will have to because I rated it the best defense ever last year) their offense should be better.
They should have a very good year again. But, it is just so tough to repeat that I doubt they will do it again. It is just so, so tough to do.
Sixth, they are my team, but I will probably be wagering the U 10 1/2 games this year. Take a glance at their schedule to go along with all of the other things you and I mentioned after a team wins a championship , they may get off to a very rough start.
They do have a tough schedule. Looking back, though, damn they crushed the Falcons and Raiders, they looked like a team that was eschelons above the top in the NFL in those games, anyways. If their d slips, they will still be one of the top defenses, I think. You could be right about the secondary, though. I don't know what players they have picked up to maybe support htose guys back there but I would imagine that Gruden has picked some winners. I'm not going to bet on it, it would just be my choice if I had too.
