Thread: 1998 vs 2004 roster

Here is the 1998 roster:

DE Derrick Alexander
K Gary Anderson
FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo
DT Jerry Ball
DB Antonio Banks
DB Anthony Bass
LB Peter Bercich
P Mitch Berger
T Matt Birk
WR Tony Bland
G Orlando Bobo
S Duane Butler
WR Cris Carter
C Jeff Christy
DE Duane Clemons
DE Stalin Colinet
QB Randall Cunningham
TE Greg DeLong
G/T David Dixon
LB Dixon Edwards
FB Chuck Evans
QB Jay Fiedler
DT Jason Fisk
CB Corey Fuller
TE Andrew Glover
TE Hunter Goodwin
S Torrian Gray
S Robert Griffith
WR Matt Hatchette
CB Jimmy Hitchcock
RB Leroy Hoard
LB Bobby Houston
QB Brad Johnson
G/C Everett Lindsay
T Chris Liwienski
LB Kivuusama Mays
LB Ed McDaniel
G Randall McDaniel
CB Ramos McDonald
C Mike Morris
FB Harold Morrow
WR Randy Moss
RB/WR David Palmer
CB Anthony Phillips
DT John Randle
WR Jake Reed
LB Dwayne Rudd
RB Robert Smith
T Todd Steussie
T Korey Stringer
WR Robert Tate
S Orlando Thomas
WR Chris Walsh
DT Ben Williams
RB Moe Williams
DT Tony Williams
LB Kailee Wong

How do you think we compare now? Where are we stronger? Where are we weaker?

On paper, we look great, btw, what ever happened to David Palmer? I loved that guy, and he just like disappeared after his knee injury.

god that brings back memories.... I miss some of those players!!!! What a great team! I don't know how we'll compare... depends on how well all the young players gel together

i miss orlando bobo, i like that name

Well, we had Berger and Anderson then. So I'll have to say the Vikes were stronger on their kicking game in 1998. Remember all those touchbacks on kickoffs from Berger? Then he'd go take a bite out of the Snicker Bar in his shoe! Anderson was on fire that year with field goals . . . until the dreaded missed one . . . still love that guy though. Our receivers were a pretty solid 1-2-3-4 with Moss-Carter-Reed-Hatchette. Three Deep. I'm hoping we have a better defensive unit this year. They weren't the best in 1998, we just scored so many points early in games, the D didn't have to work as hard (which didn't help with their year-end ranking because teams had to play pass for pass to keep up with the Vikes). I miss "Big Boy Ball"!

Jerry Ball was the greatest... i was so sad when he left!!

anybody have any initial, too-soon-to-tell opinions on what positions we are better/worse at in 2004?

Could you imagine our o-line if we still had stringer? holy crap!

cant wait for this season fellas. the 98' squad was just nasty guys. as far as comparisons, obviously we dont have the hall of fame player in cris carter and his skill, the ultimate poss. receiver if you need that first down on 3rd down or the huge clutch catch and or depth at reciever was just awesome. but we now have marcus thats guys a major threat we should know that from the chicago days and just last year he had 4tds against the ravens hes 6'3 215 good leaper if he can grab say 6+tds will be strong. we have astrong big line and the d is much improved , finally a legite seconday! how long has it been!!! got some pass run pot. but young at linebacker at least we have speed though and athletisism there now. special teams needs mnost work we need a rel. returner and kikcer!! hey i thought avery hd a good burst early in the year well see we need a kicker though bigimte!

"briboy75" wrote:

anybody have any initial, too-soon-to-tell opinions on what positions we are better/worse at in 2004?

Defensive end is easily better now.

No way Hovan measures up to John Randle on DT.

The offensive line was awesome that year; they gave Cunningham all the time in the world to do that big wind up throw.

I'd say we're probably better at running back now, at least in terms of depth.