Vikings Message Board.Com

Offensive Overview: The line looks great and returns all five starters. Peterson would be a Hall of Famer if he retired today. Jennings helps. Rudolph should keep getting better. The fate of the Vikings' offense rests squarely on Ponder's shoulders. To this point in his career, Ponder has showed enough good and decidedly awful flashes that it could go either way. GM Rick Spielman's most head-scratching move was re-signing Simpson, who is more likely to remain a burden on Ponder than further his progression. Simpson is among the least efficient receivers in the league.

Defensive Overview: Trading Percy Harvin and cutting Antoine Winfield stripped the Vikings of two of their best three players. Minnesota will turn to 2012 third-round pick Robinson to fill the Winfield void. Robinson is coming off an up-and-down rookie year. Holes remain at middle linebacker and strong safety. After the Harvin swap, the Vikings have ten draft picks, including two first-rounders (Nos. 23 and 25) and six selections in the top 120. Perhaps no team in the league is better positioned to trade up.

Defensive Overview: Trading Percy Harvin and cutting Antoine Winfield stripped the Vikings of two of their best three players. Minnesota will turn to 2012 third-round pick Robinson to fill the Winfield void. Robinson is coming off an up-and-down rookie year. Holes remain at middle linebacker and strong safety. After the Harvin swap, the Vikings have ten draft picks, including two first-rounders (Nos. 23 and 25) and six selections in the top 120. Perhaps no team in the league is better positioned to trade up.

Eli wrote: It's impossible to argue that the defense doesn't have some gaping holes right now, but Winfield as the third best player on last year's team? Please. Better than Jared Allen, Kyle Rudolph, Matt Kalil, Blair Walsh, John Sullivan...?

Eli wrote: It's impossible to argue that the defense doesn't have some gaping holes right now, but Winfield as the third best player on last year's team? Please. Better than Jared Allen, Kyle Rudolph, Matt Kalil, Blair Walsh, John Sullivan...?

dead_poet wrote:Well, to the author's credit an argument could certainly be made he was probably the second best defensive player.

Eli wrote: Given a choice, I'd much rather have been rid of Winfield than any of: Jared Allen, Harrison Smith, Chad Greenway, Everson Griffen or Brian Robison.

Eli wrote:No way. Winfield missed a number ot tackles last year. Uncharacteristic of him, but it happens when a defender gets into his late 30s.