Let's go back to July 24 for a moment. Just on the Vikings offensive line: Phil Loadholt hasn't retired yet. Mike Harris' season-threatening illness hasn't been reported yet. John Sullivan hasn't yet been cut. Starting tackles Matt Kalil and Andre Smith haven't been placed on injured reserve.
Teddy Bridgewater is still the healthy starting quarterback.
Adrian Peterson is still the healthy starting running back.
Laquon Treadwell is presumed to be a big part of the immediate offensive future.
Norv Turner is the offensive coordinator.
All of those things changed in barely three months. Treadwell still could step up. The rest are pretty concrete for 2016.
Not a single one of those men is helping the offense right now. There are no excuses in the NFL, but there are explanations. That's a lot to overcome, and now it's no longer Turner's problem.
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. michael.rand@startribune.com.
