This year's preseason has been filed with negativity, doom-and-gloom, and naysayers. I haven't written in awhile because I've been feeling it, too. Frankly, when the day-to-day updates are one Debbie Downer moment after another, it's hard to maintain my normal sunshine, ice cream, and lollipops disposition. But I've made up my mind to just sit back and enjoy this season - I would recommend we all do (more on this later). Besides, it's just draining to obsess over 2nd-string quarterbacks. That written, I suppose I'll weigh in because I just can't help myself - or rather, stop obsessing. I would have preferred Sage Rosenfels to Tarvaris Jackson. However, I can't get too worked up about the decision to go with Tarvaris. Let's face it - if Brett Favre goes down for the year, the 2nd QB may as well be Tito Jackson because there is no way the Lombardi trophy will be making a trip up from Dallas in February. In any case, I'm going against my instincts (which have been screaming 10-6 at best). I went with 12-4 last year; I'm running with it again. Here are some of my reasons for optimism:
- Everyone's back. Well, almost. Yes, I am concerned about the impact of Sidney Rice's injury, and the approach he took towards it in the offseason. And yes, having the safeties and certain members of the offensive line return may be less than desirable. But name one team that doesn't have some holes. Overall, it would be hard to argue that there is a more talented team in the league.
- Potential for growth. There has been a lot of doubt about whether guys like Favre and Rice can replicate their spectacular 2009 seasons. Obviously, Rice's injury situation makes it unlikely that he will, and probably will contribute to at least a partial decline in production for Favre as well. However, there were some important cogs of the team that did not have their best seasons last year. I look for Steve Hutchinson to have a return-to-elite year, and Adrian Peterson to reclaim his rightful status as the NFL's best RB. Maybe Bernard Berrian will stop playing like Betty White (she might actually have better hands), and step up in Rice's absence. Should Percy Harvin stay on the field, I think he could easily build on, and improve upon last year. I also think the offensive line, as bad as it looks right now, should get better once John Sullivan returns to center. I've always heard how continuity is a key for the line. An obvious counter to that is based on what we've seen, do we want continuity? Still, if the Vikes can get some of these guys to play up to their potential, maybe they won't necessarily need another superhuman season from #4.
- De-fense. Just a hunch here that the defense is even stronger this year than last. Especially when they get Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook back (that kid looks like a PLAYER). There have been comparisons made between this season and 1999. Both Vikings teams suffered devastating, soul-crushing, could-only-happen-to-the-Vikings-type losses in the previous year's NFC championship games. Both had/have aging quarterbacks trying to replicate seasons that exceeded all reasonable expectations. Both teams opened (or are opening) on the road against the teams that handed them those gut-wrenching championship game defeats. There is one key difference, however. The '99 Vikings had nowhere near the defense the 2010 version should have. In '98, the Vikings were an extremely opportunistic defense. Opposing teams would fall so far behind that, in their desperation to keep up with a record-breaking offense, they made guys like Jimmy Hitchcock look really good. It became painfully clear early in '99, as the offense struggled mightily compared to the previous season, that the defensive success of '98 was done with smoke and mirrors. There are some question marks - I'm not a huge fan of our linebackers in pass coverage and it's probably fairly obvious where I stand on the safeties - however, this year's defensive team is far more talented than '99. A top-5 finish should not be out of the question.
So what can we expect in 2010? In all likelihood, probably not as much offensive firepower. Hopefully, this can be countered with better defense and an improved running game. There may not be the same hype as there was going into last year, but that doesn't mean this season can't be just as much fun. And since there's a strong possibility there may not be a 2011 season, let's be sure to enjoy it as much as we can.
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Expanding on that last point, is it possible that this may be the last season of Vikings football? Dang, and I was doing so well with the whole positivity thing. In all seriousness, if there is a lockout that wipes out the 2011 season, are the Vikings guaranteed to be back in 2012? Their Metrodome lease expires in 2011. If no progress is made towards a Vikings stadium this year, and if there is a lockout in 2011, I would bet the odds of a new stadium being approved and built decrease substantially. There is significant public sentiment against spending public money on a new stadium, particularly in this economy. If there is a lockout, I highly doubt that people will be won over after witnessing monetary disagreements between millionaires and billionaires. I don't think this would happen, but unless I'm missing something, it seems like a real possibility.
I can't go out like that. Inspired by a South Park episode, and set to the genius Benny Hill theme song, ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Dogs with Hats:
