Once upon a time, the NFL season had a beginning, an end and baseball in between. People from coast to coast were known to look away from "The Shield" for days, weeks or — brace for it — months at a time. Studies performed on these primitive cave people revealed remarkably clumsy thumb-typing ability but an advanced memory system that enabled them to remember the NFL without daily lists like this one on May 19:
Three things — in order — that have to go right for Vikings in 2015
1, Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line
No position causes as much concern as the offensive line. None. Not even close.
Only one of five starters — center John Sullivan — generates any sort of starter-level confidence at this point. That leaves four question marks up front. That's not good considering a single weak link can topple an offensive line, which topples the quarterback, which topples the team, which sends us back to Mock Draft purgatory before Halloween .
Individually, there are concerns about injuries, consistency, talent and a combination of all three. Collectively, these guys have often played like individuals even when healthy. They've missed basic stunts and games that can't continue.
Phil Loadholt is coming off a significant injury and has been inconsistent. Brandon Fusco is coming off the same significant injury and might be switching from right to left guard, which is no easy adjustment. A rookie fourth-round tackle, T.J. Clemmings, is inching toward the starting right guard spot. And left tackle Matt Kalil has had further knee issues coming off a season destroyed by knee issues.
I'm not saying this group won't come together and do its job well. But if you're assembling hot seats entering the 2015 season, you can have Cordarelle Patterson and his wayward route running if you want. Me? My hot seat has five chairs in the front row. If these guys don't perform, nothing else matters.
