Hartman: Frazier looks to build off Vikings' 2012 momentum

With the Vikings opening training camp on Friday in Mankato, coach Leslie Frazier was asked if this past offseason was different than last year.

"A lot different offseason, the fact that we had an offseason last year and it was the first time having an offseason as a staff with our players, whereas this year we're coming off a playoff season, we have a lot of momentum from that season, a lot of excitement around our team, so the atmosphere is a whole lot different than training camp a year ago," Frazier said.

The coach also was asked if he felt more settled in the roster than last year at this time.

"At some positions yes and some other positions no," Frazier said. "We still have some competition at a number of positions that we need to get ironed out and we had the same thing a year ago at a number of positions, for different reasons, turnover, retirements. So not completely, I don't think we have things sewn up more than we did a year ago."

I wondered how Frazier was going to replace three big longtime contributors in Chris Kluwe, Percy Harvin and Antoine Winfield.

"Those guys you mentioned were good players for us, they contributed to our success a season ago, and we have to find replacements for them, other people that can step in and make plays for us," Frazier said. "I think we have some guys on our roster that will do a good job for us, but we have to go out and practice and let them participate and gain some experience."

Frazier added: "We're going to have some young players replacing those guys that you mentioned. We have to get them up to speed fast, with the fact that we're opening up against an NFC North opponent." The Vikings open the season at Detroit on Sept. 8.

"We're going to have to [find replacements]. We have some other guys on the roster that we're hoping will step up and help us out, and they have to do it in order for us to achieve our goals as a team," Frazier said. "Our middle linebacker position is going to have to be stout and much improved. Finding a guy that can play the nickel slot position, not that anyone will be able to replace Antoine, but having someone that is going to be adequate and can make plays for us and be sound, we have to find someone that can do that and do it well."

A year ago, the Vikings were not very deep at wide receiver, but everybody expects former Packers star Greg Jennings to be a big contributor after signing as a free agent this offseason.

"I think his veteran experience will help us tremendously, especially in the wide receivers room," Frazier said. "That's a relatively young group and the fact that he has been to a Super Bowl, had a lot of success in our league, he's a former Pro Bowler, I think his addition is going to be a big addition for our entire offense and our entire team."

Frazier also expects a bigger contribution from last year's draft class that did so well in 2012. The draft class might go down as the best in Vikings history.

"No doubt, I mean guys like Harrison Smith, Blair Walsh, all of those guys in that class, which was a great class," Frazier said. "Matt Kalil, Rhett Ellison, those guys having a year under their belt where they played extensively in their rookie season should really help them in their second season."

"Another year of experience under his belt," Frazier said. "That puts us ahead of the curve. We have a much better understanding of where Christian is and what his strengths and weaknesses are.

"The fact that we've gone through a season with him as our full-time starter and going into camp knowing that he is our starter. He should be a lot better, and we have some better pieces around him that should help him and our offense as a whole."

The Vikings didn't have an experienced backup behind Ponder last year. That has changed in 2013 with the addition of veteran Matt Cassel.

"He gets lost in the shuffle because of all the excitement of the draft and the free agency signing of Greg Jennings," Frazier said. "But I think Matt Cassel has already shown in the offseason program … that he is going to be a valuable component to what we're trying to get accomplished.

"His veteran leadership, the fact that he has been on some very good teams in New England and led Kansas City to the playoffs, we can see his experience show up in our offseason program. It was in our meeting room with the quarterbacks, the way he handles himself at practice, his preparation, all of those things are going to help Christian to be a better quarterback by just being able to see someone who understands what it means to be a backup in our league but has also been a starter."

• Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Sam Hinkle held a news conference on Tuesday and discussed how the team will try to accommodate newly acquired forward Royce White, the former Hopkins High School standout who has an anxiety disorder and fear of flying. "I think a lot of [his issues] are the sort that we'll talk about as they come," Hinkle said. "For now, it's like, 'Let's all come work on our game. People will be here to work with you, strength and conditioning wise and on our practice floor.' And he'll have the same chance as everyone else."

• Twins star prospect Miguel Sano was off to a slow start in his promotion to Class AA New Britain, hitting .190 through his first 31 games, though he did have six home runs and 18 RBI. But in his past six games, Sano is hitting .429 with a .538 on-base percentage to go along with four home runs, 10 RBI and six runs.

• The Twins are working with Major League Baseball on finalizing ticket prices for next year's All-Star Game as well as how many tickets will be available for Twins season-ticket holders vs. for league-related purposes. The Twins expect to include All-Star ticket information in their 2014 season-ticket renewal package, which is scheduled to be sent to current ticket holders next month.