Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
The Vikings special teams units made considerable improvement this season after experiencing major problems in 2008.
The coverage units had more speed and playmakers, in addition to the return of Pro Bowl member Heath Farwell. Rookie Percy Harvin became one of the league's best kickoff returners and Darius Reynaud showed some flash as a punt returner.
Rick Gosselin, the long-time NFL writer for The Dallas Morning News, does an annual ranking of special teams and the Vikings finished No. 9 this season.
In Gosselin's formula, the teams are ranked in 22 categories and assigned points. The points then are added for the final rankings. The Cleveland Browns finished first this season.
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