Mark down Rich Gannon as a big supporter of Norv Turner, the new offensive coordinator for the Vikings.
And in my opinion, Turner will be coaching both Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel as the Vikings quarterbacks this fall. The Vikings have so many holes on defense that I expect them to take a defensive player with their first pick in the draft and then take a quarterback in later rounds.
The Vikings will not bring back free agent Josh Freeman, though, after playing him in only one game last year following his release from Tampa Bay.
As for Gannon, the former Vikings quarterback won the NFL MVP with Oakland in 2002. In 2004, his final year, Turner became Raiders coach.
"People in Minnesota are going to love Norv Turner," said Gannon, who has done games for CBS since 2005. "I think he's aggressive, likes to push the ball down the field, but if you really study him, he has had a lot of success with some great backs.
"You go back to his days with [Emmitt Smith] in Dallas, you go Stephen Davis had a terrific couple of seasons with him in Washington, you look at LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. I think there's a misconception out there that he's all about throwing the football, but believe me, Adrian Peterson is still going to be a busy boy in Norv's offense."
Asked what he learned from Turner, Gannon noted that 2004 was his 17th NFL season but said, "He taught me some different concepts in the passing game. He had a much different approach as a play-caller. I think he sees the game through the eyes of the quarterback. I think he likes to be aggressive, likes to push the ball down the field. I don't know that there's a quarterback out there that doesn't like to throw the ball down the field. I think it's going to be a wide-open, entertaining offense for Vikings fans."
Gannon said he talked to Turner the day Turner accepted the position under Mike Zimmer but that Turner didn't get into specifics.