Minnesota Vikings Season Preview

(Courtesy of My Sportsbook) - Dome team. The Minnesota Vikings wear those two words like a scarlet letter.

When a franchise has been to the playoffs 12 times in 18 years but can't seem to make it to the Super Bowl stage, the critics don't have to look hard for a commonality that binds all of those teams together. The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, within which the Vikings have played their home games since 1982, serves comfortably as that thread in the hearts and minds of NFL pundits. Dome teams are soft. Dome teams can't win in the playoffs, because they can't win in cold weather cities. Dome teams don't win Super Bowls. Maybe all of those time-honored NFL axioms are true, but this year's edition of the Vikings intends to prove the naysayers wrong. Mike Tice's team completely revamped its defense in the offseason that followed an 8-8 2004, bringing in several notable stars to strengthen that side of the ball. It shipped constant problem child Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders, in turn ironing out some formerly ragged locker room chemistry. Meanwhile, the rest of the NFC North appears to be a step behind the Vikings. The Packers are on the way down, the Lions are talented but young, and the Bears just lost another starting quarterback and can't get their lottery running back signed. If Minnesota can beat up on the division and outrun the Eagles and Falcons for homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, they'll never have to set foot outdoors in a season that will end at climate- controlled Ford Field in Detroit.

The only dome team to win a Super Bowl, the 1999 Rams, earned homefield advantage and beat the AFC Champion Titans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. If the Vikings can follow in their footsteps and hoist what would be the franchise's first-ever Lombardi Trophy, you can call them "dome team," or anything else for that matter, all you want. Below we take a capsule look at the 2005 edition of the Minnesota Vikings, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

RB: The Vikings are expected to run the ball a bit more under new coordinator Steve Loney, but must first determine which of their myriad running backs will get the starting call. Michael Bennett (276 rushing yards, 21 receptions, 2 TD) has missed parts of the past two seasons with injuries, but has a Pro Bowl appearance from 2002 still on his resume'. Mewelde Moore (379 rushing yards, 27 receptions) was impressive in spot duty last year, but questions about his toughness were also raised. Moe Williams (161 rushing yards, 21 receptions, 4 TD) has been the team's most reliable threat out of the backfield for each of the last two years, and will probably fill the role of third-down back. Fourth-round draft choice Ciatrick Fason (Florida) received a lot of work early in camp and could inject himself into the mix as well. The Vikings use an H-back instead of a traditional fullback, and Jermaine Wiggins (71 receptions, 4 TD) was excellent in that spot last season. Sean Berton (9 receptions) and Richard Owens (8 receptions) both started games in Wiggins' absence last season, but one might have to go due to the healthy return of tight end Jim Kleinsasser.

WR/TE: A great deal of pressure is on this group to prove that it can thrive without Randy Moss (49 receptions, 13 TD), whose presence always made life easier for the other purple-clad wideouts on the field. First-round draft choice Troy Williamson (South Carolina) is expected to eventually be Minnesota's No. 1 receiver, but until he matures, holdover Nate Burleson (68 receptions, 9 TD) must help pick up the slack. Burleson recorded the first 1,000-yard season of his career in 2004. Veteran Marcus Robinson (47 receptions, 8 TD) did a credible job as the third receiver last season, but might have to battle offseason acquisition Travis Taylor (34 receptions with the Ravens) for touches this season. Kelly Campbell (19 receptions, 1 TD) placed himself in jeopardy after being arrested on weapon and drug charges in the spring, and the strained quadriceps he suffered early in training camp didn't help matters. Keenan Howry (1 reception) missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, but figures to stick as a fifth or sixth receiver and special teams player in '05. At tight end, Jim Kleinsasser (2 receptions) is back after missing most of 2004 with a knee injury, and will be backed by either second-year man Jeff Dugan or T.J. Cottrell, the son of Vikings defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell.

OL: Though Culpepper was sacked 46 times last season, the Vikings line is still among the best-respected in the league. Literally at the center of that effort is Matt Birk, though Birk was expected to miss all or most of training camp following hip surgery in the offseason. If Birk is not ready for the season-opener against Tampa Bay, Cory Withrow would likely step in there. Withrow started five games in Birk's absence last season. At the tackle slots, Bryant McKinnie is fully entrenched on the left side and Mike Rosenthal should be back on the right after missing the final 14 games of 2004 with a broken foot. Nat Dorsey (seven starts last year) can back up either of the tackle slots. At right guard, Chris Liwienski has started every game since 2001 but was slowed by a sprained shoulder during camp. Second-round draft choice Marcus Johnson, who can play either tackle or guard, was battling incumbent Adam Goldberg (six starts) for the starting left guard job during training camp. Anthony Herrera and Brandon Newton, both of whom were on the Vikings practice squad last season, were competing for spots on this year's active roster.

DL: Minnesota upgraded its defensive line markedly in the offseason, signing mammoth free agent tackle Pat Williams (53 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT with the Bills) and drafting end Erasmus James (Wisconsin) in the first round of the April draft. Williams will line up alongside 2004 Pro Bowler Kevin Williams (70 tackles, 12 sacks, 1 INT), who comes off a monster second season in the league. James will be in the end mix along with 2004 first-round choice Kenechi Udeze (36 tackles, 5 sacks) and veteran Lance Johnstone (31 tackles, 11 sacks). At end, Darrion Scott (23 tackles) and Spencer Johnson (40 tackles, 1 sack) both have experience as backups, while at tackle, Steve Martin (19 tackles, 0.5 sacks) has 52 starts to his credit in nine NFL seasons. Sixth- round draft choice C.J. Mosley (Missouri) should start the year on the practice squad but could help the team down the line.

LB: The linebacking corps will have a much different look this season, as former Jet Sam Cowart (26 tackles with New York) will patrol the middle, Raiders castoff Napoleon Harris (60 tackles with the Raiders) will man the strong side, and E.J. Henderson (93 tackles, 1 sack) will shift from the middle to the weak side. The acquisition of Cowart and Harris means that former starters Keith Newman (47 tackles, 3 sacks), Dontarrious Thomas (59 tackles) and Raonall Smith (27 tackles, 1 INT) are more or less resigned to backup roles. Rod Davis (9 tackles), who played primarily on special teams as a rookie, will look to continue in that capacity this season.

DB: The Vikings finished 29th against the pass and recorded a paltry 11 interceptions in 2004, so changes were definitely in order in the secondary. Minnesota picked up two of the prize free agents of the 2005 crop, former Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot (61 tackles, 3 INT with Washington) and two- time Packers Pro Bowl free safety Darren Sharper (72 tackles, 4 INT with Green Bay). Smoot will play opposite Antoine Winfield (85 tackles, 3 INT), who had a strong first season with Minnesota after coming over from the Bills in the offseason. Lining up alongside Sharper will be strong safety Corey Chavous (80 tackles, 1 INT), a defensive leader who is looking to rebound from a subpar 2004. The backups at corner should be Brian Williams (74 tackles, 2 INT) and Ralph Brown (14 tackles), with Williams trying to adjust to a backup role after two-plus seasons as a starter. Former starter Ken Irvin, who missed all of 2004 with a ruptured Achilles, will back Sharper. Willie Offord (28 tackles) and Rushen Jones were both attempting to re-claim backup safety jobs during training camp. Third-round draft choice Dustin Fox (Ohio State) can play either cornerback or safety, but could miss the season with a fractured arm.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Minnesota had seen enough of the ageless Morten Andersen (18-22 FG, 45-45 XP), and brought in former Bear Paul Edinger (15-24 FG, 22-22 XP) and kickoff specialist Aaron Elling (1-2 FG, 2-2 XP with the Titans) to compete for the kicking job. Darren Bennett (39.3 avg.) posted the lowest average of his 10-year career last season, but should beat out rookie Travis Dorsch for the punting job. Mewelde Moore (19.3 kickoff return avg, 7.0 punt return avg.) and Keenan Howry (16.5 punt return avg., 22.5 kickoff return avg.) are both experienced return men. Howry's return from injury could hasten the exit of Kelly Campbell (21.7 avg.), who was the Vikings' No. 1 kickoff returner last season.

PROGNOSIS: No team positioned itself better to compete with the Eagles in the NFC than did the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota made a huge commitment to defense, nabbing stars Pat Williams, Fred Smoot, and Darren Sharper, among others, to strengthen a unit that had formerly placed undue pressure on the offense. As for that offense, the departure of Moss (and to a lesser extent coordinator Scott Linehan) naturally creates questions about the strength of the passing game, but there is still enough talent to ensure that the Vikings will consistently move the ball and find the end zone. The wild card in this entire scenario is the head coach. Mike Tice has rarely pushed the right buttons during his three years on the job in Minnesota, and needs to improve his decision-making immediately in order to match contemporaries like Andy Reid and Jim Mora. If he can, don't be surprised to see the Vikings catch fire, win the NFC North by a wide margin, and make their first Super Bowl appearance in nearly 30 years.