Vikings learning from past mistakes on offensive line

Daunte Culpepper has become something of a punchline in our towns. He earned the laughter.

A franchise quarterback, Culpepper wound up being the butt of Brad Childress jokes about rehabilitating his knee in a Florida strip mall, by the Chinese restaurant. Culpepper left the Vikings believing his skills would translate into stardom anywhere, and wound up doing temp work with Miami, Oakland and Detroit before being forced into retirement.

There is a lesson to be learned from Culpepper's career collapse. The current Vikings braintrust apparently has done its research.

In 2004, Culpepper produced what was at the time one of the most remarkable statistical seasons in NFL history. He completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 4,717 yards, 39 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He rushed for 406 yards and two touchdowns.

This season, Cam Newton won the NFL MVP award by completing 59.8 percent of his passes for 3,837 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He rushed for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Other than a tendency to fumble, Culpepper in 2004 was spectacular. Then the Vikings traded Randy Moss for bitcoins and lost Matt Birk to injury. Culpepper missed Birk as much as he missed Moss.

Without Birk, Culpepper faced a fierce pass rush up the middle for the first time in his career, robbing him of the ability to set his feet or read defenses. He spent 2005 bailing out of the pocket. On Oct. 30, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Game 7 at Carolina. He never played for the Vikings again.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer accurately identified his team's greatest weakness as the offensive line. He fired line coach Jeff Davidson almost immediately after the season ended. He hired Tony Sparano to replace Davidson.

Then he and General Manager Rick Spielman began pursuing free agents. They wound up signing former 49ers guard Alex Boone and former Bengals right tackle Andre Smith.

Boone is and should be a good, not outstanding, NFL starter. Smith was cut loose by a very good team with a very good offensive line coach and signed a one-year contract containing little guaranteed money. It would be foolish to think he's going to be better than average.

Here's the thing about offensive line play: Average works.

The Carolina Panthers took advantage of a strong offensive line to make it to the Super Bowl last season. They ranked second on Pro Football Focus' ranking of all 32 offensive lines.

At offensive line, it's more important to be competent than exceptional. The Vikings' offseason moves give them a chance to be competent.

Competence would mean Bridgewater can stand in the pocket and employ his strengths — reading defenses and throwing with accuracy. Competence would mean that Adrian Peterson could become a more consistent runner instead of one constantly trying to avoid contact at the line of scrimmage.

Matt Kalil should be at least average. Boone should be better than that. Between John Sullivan and Joe Berger, the Vikings should be fine at center. A cast of thousands will try out at right guard. Smith and Phil Loadholt will be among the contestants at right tackle.

The most important figure on the Vikings offensive line might be its coach. Zimmer appeared to be dismayed not only by the play of the individuals on the line but by its lack of cohesiveness. Too often Bridgewater took a snap and immediately found a defender invading his personal space.

There is no reason to believe the Vikings offensive line will be great or even very good in 2016, but not being a disaster is a worthwhile and attainable goal.