Vikings coach Leslie Frazier clapped his hands during last week’s organized team activities at Winter Park. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

While all the geniuses who predict the NFL season are picking the Vikings to finish at the bottom of the NFC North, coach Leslie Frazier reacts by saying, "We are going to have a lot better football team than people believe."Frazier says the competition for starting positions on both offense and defense will be much stronger than it has been during the past two years.

"Not having an offseason last year, you didn't have a chance to go through some of the things we're going through now," Frazier said. "But we signed enough good players that we've got competition at a lot of positions, which should make us a better football team."

The big key for how well the Vikings perform will depend on Christian Ponder, and Frazier said he is really, really pleased with where the second-year quarterback is at this point.

"He's really taken a leadership role in this offseason stepping up and really getting the guys going," Frazier said. "So far with everything we've done, we're just really pleased with just his approach. The fact that he has an offseason, that's great for us, it's great for him."

Frazier questions whether running back Adrian Peterson, who is recovering from knee surgery, will be ready for the season opener.

"[Peterson] has been around some," Frazier said. "Had a chance to workout and let our doctors and trainers get a look at him. He's making good progress but he's got a long ways to go, but everything is on schedule as we speak."

Frazier does hope for a little miracle and said the team is aiming to have Peterson available when the season opens Sept. 9.

The good news is that Toby Gerhart, who also had a knee problem at the end of last season but did not have surgery, has been cleared by doctors and is close to 100 percent.

Also, with longtime middle linebacker E.J. Henderson not re-signed -- though he still could be if he and the Vikings can agree on a contract -- Frazier is hoping that Jasper Brinkley, who missed the entire 2011 season, will fill that spot.

Frazier said the Vikings will be a better team if draft choices such as safety Harrison Smith and receivers Greg Childs and Jarius Wright can push hard and become starters.

The offensive line is pretty well set, with center John Sullivan, tackles Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt and Charlie Johnson at left guard. With Anthony Herrera not back, Frazier looks for great competition at right guard with Chris DeGeare and Brandon Fusco from last year's roster and free agent Geoff Schwartz.

"We going to try to find someone that can really shore up that position for us and it's going to be a very competitive spot and we'll see what happens," Frazier said.

The big weakness in the team last year, and one big reason for the 3-13 record, is that the defense couldn't stop anybody, especially in the fourth quarter, but with a new defensive coordinator in Alan Williams and most of the effective players from a year ago returning, Frazier looks for the team to win the close games that it lost last year.

Tough week It's been a tough week for a lot of people, including me, with the passing of a very close friend in Carl Platou, who, I've know forever, followed by the unexpected death of Dark Star, who over the years had a friendly but argumentative relationship with me.

And sadly, I was also at Oak Ridge Country Club on Friday, watching a trusted member of the Hennepin County Medical Center staff doing CPR on a 6-year-old boy who died after drowning in the swimming pool. My sympathy to everyone involved in that tragedy, especially the youngster's parents.

As for Platou, he probably was more involved in making this area one of the great hospital centers in the country, and also was one who found a way to help a lot of athletes when they needed help. I've known the man forever and watched him do miracles in his field. I've known his great wife, Susie, who at one time was Bronco on WCCO-TV and one of the super Gophers football fans.

Then there is Dark Star, and yes, we had our differences, but when I needed help in several situations he would knock his brains out to come through. I've been this business forever and have some connections, but I am an amateur when compared to Dark. The man had a heart of gold and would help countless people when they were in trouble financially or otherwise.

We would argue on our regular Sunday show, which also included the best columnist in the country in Pat Reusse, who acted as a peacemaker, and Mike Max of WCCO.

And then when it was over, Dark would put his arm around me and say, "Lets get something to eat." And he would always pick up the check.

Yes, Dark was a real character, different than anybody I know, and everybody that knew him will miss him.

Jottings

• Dick Ames of Ames Construction, one of the biggest donors to the Gophers athletic department, thought he was all set to do the dirt work on the new Siebert Field free of charge. But even though outgoing athletic director Joel Maturi went to school President Eric Kaler to get Ames the job, it turned out the way Ames wanted to handle the financial part of the work was against a state law, so Ames will not be involved and the university will pay $700,000 to another contractor to do the job. It's a bad deal for a guy who has given millions to the school.
• Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talked about Josh Willingham's hot and cold streaks. "You know what home run hitters do, those things and guys that drive the ball are going to go through a couple of periods where they swing and miss a little bit. But I'll take my chances with the guy, he's fun to watch."
• The late Bill Musselman had four players on his Timberwolves teams who have served as NBA head coaches. Scott Brooks is trying to coaching the Thunder to the NBA Finals. Tyrone Corbin is the coach of the Jazz, which made the playoffs, and Sidney Lowe and Sam Mitchell have been NBA coaches in the past.
• The University of Minnesota will spend $9.3 million for athletic scholarships this next year, with the 3½ percent raise in tuition costing the athletic deparment $407,000 more than in 2011.
• Look for Tubby Smith to sign an extension to his current contract some time shortly after new AD Norwood Teague takes charge on June 18. Smith currently is in Hawaii at a Nike convention.
• Like anyone in the Gophers athletic department, Maturi will pay extra under the point system for basketball and hockey tickets. He picked four basketball tickets that will cost $250 each and four hockey tickets that will cost $100 each.