Are Vikings a better football team?

"The Minnesota Vikings will be a better football team this year. that’s my strong belief."

— Brad Childress, March 2007

As the saying goes, 'If you’re not getting better ...’ well, you know the rest. Have the Vikings improved themselves from Brad Childress’ lackluster debut in 2006? We’ll start finding out as training camp opens this week.

Before speeding to Mankato, however, the Vikings must ensure they have maintained their strengths while shoring up their weaknesses. Staff writer Kevin Seifert, using a boldly optimistic comment from Childress earlier this year as a springboard, checks on four crucial areas of the team:

OFFENSE

Must improve

Big plays in passing game: The Vikings set a franchise low with 13 touchdown passes in 2006. Their 6.3-yard average per attempt was their worst in 22 years. Both were the result of few downfield options and multiple red-zone woes. Simply put: They must be more dynamic through the air. New starter Tarvaris Jackson has a steep learning curve to overcome, but his live arm, as well as the healthy recklessness of youth, will give him a chance.

Skill level of pass catchers: Personnel at receiver and tight end have been overhauled, but it remains to be seen if the new group is any better. In essence, the Vikings have only one proven receiver: Bobby Wade, whom they envision mostly as a slot. Did Nike eye doctors cure Troy Williamson of the drops? Can one of the three drafted rookies — Sidney Rice, Aundrae Allison and Chandler Williams — make an immediate impact? Will new TE Visanthe Shiancoe, whose hands seemed shaky in spring drills, prove to be a downfield threat?

Cohesion on the offensive line: This high-priced group must hit the ground running this summer. LT Bryant McKinnie, LG Steve Hutchinson and C Matt Birk spent much of 2006 getting used to each other, all while personnel on the right side fluctuated. A young quarterback must know his line is impervious to botched protections and unblocked blitzers, both regular problems in 2006.

Can't get worse

Running game: RB Chester Taylor was the best thing about the offense until he broke down in December. If nothing else, the arrival of RB Adrian Peterson should help extend Taylor's shelf life through the end of the season. And in reality, Peterson should elevate the entire offense's big-play ability. With all the moving parts in the passing game, the Vikings need a multifaceted running attack to carry them through games. No one wants to ask Jackson to win them on his own.

DEFENSE

Must improve

Pass rush: New coordinator Leslie Frazier must find a way to elevate a pass defense that averaged only one sack for every 30 passes in 2006. Frazier has hinted at a more dynamic blitz package, but he must also cajole double-digit sacks from at least one of his defensive linemen. One of his projects is second-year player Ray Edwards, who has nifty moves and might earn the starting job at right end.

Nickel coverage: The inability to stop the spread offense last year exposed a weakness in nickel coverage. The Tampa-2 hole between linebackers and defensive backs must be locked down. Assuming he hasn't lost any speed since suffering a serious knee injury last summer, LB Chad Greenway will help. So will two candidates for the nickel defensive backs job, Dovonte Edwards and rookie Marcus McCauley.

Can't get worse

Run defense: It would be understandable if the Vikings slipped a bit in this category, given their near-historic performance last season. But they don't want to give back any improvement against the pass by becoming vulnerable to the run. The Vikings should be protected as long as DTs Kevin and Pat Williams remain healthy and active. MLB E.J. Henderson is at least the equal of departed Napoleon Harris against the run.

Big plays: It might not seem fair to expect another five defensive touchdowns this season, matching the Vikings' 2006 total, but it's one way to mitigate an offense that again could have trouble scoring. Considering Frazier's plans for creative and regular blitzes, the potential exists.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Must improve

Kickoffs: After averaging an NFL-worst 59.1-yards per kickoff last season, Ryan Longwell revamped his offseason routine in hopes of getting more distance. Age is not on Longwell's side, but even a few extra yards would help. So will the coverage abilities of newcomer Vinny Ciurciu. If Longwell, 32, falters, another possibility is rookie P Alex Reyes — who could kick off if he beats out incumbent P Chris Kluwe.

Big-play returns: The assumption is that Mewelde Moore will return punts, but the kick return job remains wide open. Last season, Moore had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown but averaged 8.4 yards on his other 35 returns. The Vikings had only one kickoff return of more than 50 yards and need more explosiveness. The big question: Will the Vikings risk WR Bobby Wade in their return game?

Can't get worse

Mid-range reliability: Longwell did not miss a kick under 46 yards in 2006, a huge crutch for any coaching staff. Longwell has the perfect mentality for kicking, be it at the end of a game or in a preseason practice. Those who followed the Vikings through the Doug Brien/Aaron Elling/Paul Edinger years know how much fun it is to hold your breath on all of those 33-yarders.

COACHING

Must improve

Play-calling: Childress will never divest himself completely, and the offensive game plan will remain the same no matter who calls the plays. But Childress has acknowledged the top benefit of changing the primary play-caller: It allows the head coach to be the head coach on game day. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers are the primary candidates, in that order, for an experiment that will continue throughout the summer.

Player-coach relationship: Players and staff members have begun to see a lighter side of the previously autocratic Childress. Will this be enough to forge deeper bonds with a locker room that didn't trust him last season? Only time will tell. Based on the team's 2-8 finish, however, it seems clear that personal repairs were in order.

Can't get worse

Discipline: Five players and one coach have been arrested in the past 18 months, even with Childress' increased emphasis on discipline. Still, the Vikings must continue to make employees accountable when they do make mistakes, legal or otherwise. Notably, there have been no repeat offenders among troublemakers in the Childress Era.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com