Maybe that headline seems silly when we're talking about a team that went 11-5 last season and clinched its first NFC North title since 2009 by defeating the Packers at Lambeau in Week 17.

Why wouldn't you be excited about the Vikings in 2016?

And indeed, fans are. But this thing happens during training camp where we get bogged down in positional battles, concerns about specific areas and questions that can't yet possibly be answered. It's fine to wonder how Teddy Bridgewater and the offensive line will fare this year. But let's take a step away from the unknown for a moment and key in on five things we think we do know — all of which are specific reasons to be excited:

1) Opening of U.S. Bank Stadium: Aside from the glitz and glamour of the Vikings' new billion dollar baby, there's this: if there are two players who could use a little bump in confidence this season, they are Teddy Bridgewater and Blair Walsh. Both should benefit tremendously from playing inside as opposed to in the elements. In his career, Walsh has made 88.7 percent of field goals in domes or retractable roof stadiums, compared to 82.5 percent outside. Those are regular-season numbers. They don't include the playoffs. We know what happened outside in the playoffs. Never having to return to the scene of that miss has to be a relief.

2) Tremendous defensive depth: The Vikings had a very good defense last year, and there are indications they should be even better this year. One reason is that their young playmakers like Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, etc., are a year older but not a year slower. In fact, they should be even better. The second is that when you look at the defensive depth chart, they go two-deep with legitimate starters at a lot of positions.

3) Running backs: Adrian Peterson is 31 and somewhat one-dimensional as a back. So what. He's still one of the greatest rushers of all time. More intriguingly, Jerick McKinnon is a great second option who should get on the field even more and be a legitimate weapon. Matt Asiata is everything you would want in a third running back — good on the goal line and good running out the clock.

4) Mike Zimmer: I still read every Zimmer quote sheet the Vikings send out because he fascinates me. It's still a little too early to fully assess Zimmer's place in the NFL's head coaching pecking order, but all indications are the Vikings have a very good head coach — and perhaps the perfect coach for their roster (not to mention for their fan base).

5) A team built to win over the long haul: Many of the aforementioned items point toward the idea that this team should be good for a very long time. That of course remains to be seen — as does just what level they can get to, be it perennial playoff challenger or legitimate Super Bowl contender — but when you have a young, fast, deep defense paired with a steady head coach and some intriguing pieces on offense, you have the right to feel good about both the present and the future.