Vikings 2011 Offseason

The 2011 Vikings offseason started with a lot of uncertainty about the direction & future of the team. Coach Brad Childress was fired just past the midpoint of the season and replaced by Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier on an interim basis. The Vikings closed out the 2010 season with a 6-10 record and more questions than answers.

Many people assumed that based on the way the season progressed Leslie Frazier would be let go with the Wilfs preferring a fresh start and overhauling the coaching staff. Surprisingly however the Wilfs moved quickly after the season and offered Frazier the Head Coach position on a permanent basis.

Frazier conducted a thorough review of the remaining coaches and several changes were made to the staff. His first and easiest move was to make Fred Pagac the permanent Defensive Coordinator after being promoted on an interim basis to that role when Frazier assumed the role of Head Coach. Brian Murphy departed early on in the process which created an opening for Mike Prieffer as Special Teams Coordinator. Darrell Bevell the Offensive Coordinator was allowed to depart for Seattle (thankfully) also as Frazier was already looking at options for his OC, which he filled with Atlanta QB coach Bill Musgrave (a one time NFL backup). One move that really stands out in my opinion though is the hiring of Mike Singletary, former head coach of the San Francisco 49'ers and longtime bears LB, as the teams LB coach/Ass't Head coach. Singletary not only brings valuable experience to the team but a fire & passion that has heen sorely lacking in previous coaches.

Leslie Frazier improved the quality of this team significantly prior to a single player transaction being made. Our coaching staff went from probably a D+ to a B+ overnight, with serious possibilities of a higher rating. Our defense will play with more fire, our special teams with more focus and discipline, and our offense will be playing with a plan not just plodding along.

One big problem however for this coaching staff is the NFL lockout which continues and prohibits teams from player contact. As a result Frazier can not get playbooks out and can not take advantage of his allotted extra mini-camp.

Another issue Frazier faces are some tough personnel decisions, which again can not yet be made due to the lockout. Some of those player decisions have already been made and some will depend on the new CBA terms. Brett Favre has retired (again but this time won' t be back). Travaris Jackson was not tendered and will not be back (confirmed when his #7 issued to new QB Ponder). Ray Edwards was tendered but is insisting he won't be back espescially at lower amount than recently signed Brian Robison. Sidney Rice is a big question mark at this point for the team but they definitely want him back. There have been rumors but nothing with any finality that Bernard Berrian will be released (we can only hope) but the team is likely waiting to see what happens with Rice and its prospects in free agency before pulling the trigger.

Finally the 2011 draft which occurred 1 week ago was steeped in mystery due to the NFL lockout and prohibition of player trades being allowed. Surprisingly it was an active draft weekend of trades involving picks. The Vikings entered the weekend lacking a 3rd round pick for the Randy Moss debacle created by Brad Childress. They were awarded 2 compensatory picks however for a total of 8 picks going into the draft. They made a trade with Cleveland in the middle of the draft to move down and picked up 2 additional picks for a total of 10.

By all accounts the draft was a successul one for the Vikings with grades ranging anywhere from a C+ to an A-. Prersonally I had them rated as a B+ for needs and value with impact to be decided in the coming years. The one question and controversy was the Vikings selection of Florida State QB Christian Ponder at #12. Many had him rated as a late 1st round to early 2nd round at best, therefore he was considered by many to be a reach this high. Although the pick itself was thought of as a good acquistion.

The assertion the pick was a reach is one I flat out disagree with although admittedly I was looking elsewhere on draft day. Ponder is the most NFL ready of all QB' s in this draft class and is flat out the smartest. He also is very familiar with the system new OC Musgrave will be implementing with the purple. My only knock would be potential/upside, not that he doesnt have any, just that his upside is lower than many. Although with Ponder you are getting someone that will succeed at this level, upside is raw talent and never guaranteed, it does not always translate to NFL success.

The rest of the draft saw the Vikings fill all the major existing and projected holes in the lineup, with the lone question marks being OL and WR, which although addressed could use strengthening in free agency. The Vikings got the highest rated TE in the draft Kyle Rudolph out of ND, he was projected as a 1st rounder but fell to the Vikings in the 2nd. An excellent supplement and future replacement for Visanthe Shiancoe. In the 4th the Vikings got more value with projected 2nd rd. pick DT Ballard out of Iowa falling to them due to a failed test for marijuana at the combine. Finally OT Demarcus Love out of Arkansas who was projected as an early round pick fell to the Vikings in the 6th round. These 4 players as well as the other 6 draft picks selected should instantly upgrade an aging Vikings roster. Expect more changes in the coming weeks once free agency begins and don't be surprised if a couple trades are in the offing.