Category: Leslie Frazier

The Vikings can use their game against the Chargers on Sunday in San Diego as a first step to show the national media its predictions about them are incorrect.  Sports Illustrated pro football authority Peter King predicts the Chargers will play in next February’s Super Bowl, losing 24-20 to Atlanta.

Sports Illustrated is among the national media that implies or states the Vikings − 12-4 two years ago but 6-10 last season ─ are in rebuilding mode. S.I. forecasts the NFC North order of finish as follows: Packers, Lions, Bears and Vikings.

S.I. headlines its Vikings story with this: “The Donovan McNabb gamble could pay off big − or go bust.”  Will the 34-year-old quarterback resemble his best seasons in Philly, or replicate more recent performances in Washington?

Sporting News Magazine’s NFL preview offers the same predicted order of finish in the NFC North as S.I., and projects wins and losses for each team. The Packers will finish 15-1, the Lions and Bears 8-8, and the Vikings 5-11, according to Sporting News.

This might be irritating, but ProFootballWeekly.com managing editor Mike Holbrook is preaching the same predicted order in the division as the two magazines.  Ditto ESPN radio’s Colin Cowherd.

Critics not only wonder about the quarterback but also the receivers, offensive and defensive lines, and the safeties.  That’s a lot of doubt, but if McNabb’s okay, and Adrian Peterson is all-world, and Jared Allen and Chad Greenway lead a revived defense, and Leslie Frazier coaches like Tony Dungy, the Vikings might even surprise themselves.  (Whew. That’s a lot of ifs).

Placekicker Ryan Longwell has been with Vikings teams going back to 2006.  He thinks the focus of this team in preseason has helped prepare the club for the 16 game regular season schedule that starts Sunday.

“I think we’re all excited.  It’s been a different camp for us than the past couple of years in the fact that it’s been quiet and business-like, the way it should be,” Longwell said.  “I think for a team like us, with a lot of new pieces, new coaching and players, I think it’s actually what you want.  You want to be a little under the radar and be able to work.  And that’s what we’ve been able to do. …”

Longwell said NFL observers may see a talent gap between the Packers and Vikings but his locker room doesn’t analyze it that way.  “I think the people that pick (forecast) the record, you can’t pick it until it’s all over with,” he said.

How good of a football team can you have this year?

“I think we can compete again for the NFC North championship.  I really do.  I know last year didn’t turn out so well for us but I don’t think we’re as far away as some people think.”

Will this team likely be focused more on running the football no matter who is quarterbacking?

“For sure.  We’re going to definitely try to use Adrian Peterson as a strength like we have in the past and just make sure that everything starts with Adrian.  Hopefully our passing game will feed off of that.”

How do you develop the offensive line?

“You know, we’ve got some guys that we drafted that we think are going to help.  Being able to have a healthy Anthony Herrera (guard) will make a difference.  A healthy Steve Hutchinson (guard) will make a difference.  So if we can get some of our key guys back healthy again, including our center (John) Sullivan, we’ll have a chance to improve our offensive line.”

How much of a difference can leadership make in the wins and losses for a team?

“If you’ve got good leadership in your locker room, you may not have the most talented team, but your leaders can really turn a team around by their attitude and their approach everyday.  And that’s the intangible that gets overlooked sometimes when you talk about talent.  But great leadership—and I’ve been on teams with great leadership—you can win games with it.”