Sid Hartman: Frazier confident in Vikings' ability

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.

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.

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.

Jottings