Vikings' the team to beat in the NFC North - Our turn on top

**singersp** · 04-28-2008, 05:48 AM

[size=13pt]Vikings' turn on top[/size]

Now that we know what rosters will look like in 2008, Minnesota appears to be team to beat in the NFC North

By Sean Jensen
[email protected]

Article Last Updated: 04/27/2008 10:15:40 PM CDT

In the erratic NFL, where dramatic rises and falls are the norm, the Vikings enter the quiet portion of the offseason as the team to beat in the NFC North....

**DaunteHOF** · 04-28-2008, 09:02 AM

Right now you can argue its between green bay and us to be the best on paper but you have to play it out to make it happen

**Marrdro** · 04-28-2008, 09:08 AM

In fact, the Vikings may have forced the hand of two NFC North opponents over the weekend. It appears the Bears and Lions addressed the Vikings' addition of all-pro defensive end Jared Allen by spending their top picks on offensive tackles.

I didn't even notice that.
Great catch but we kindof had an idea they would/could go that way before the pickup of Allen. ;D

**i_bleed_purple** · 04-28-2008, 09:12 AM

"DaunteHOF" wrote:

Right now you can argue its between green bay and us to be the best on paper but you have to play it out to make it happen

just the fact that green bay drafted two quarterbacks, makes me think that rogers won't be their guy, hopefully that means they'll be doing the qb carousel that Chicago has been doing for a while, hurting their team by not having that same consistent guy they had with favre.

**marstc09** · 04-28-2008, 10:12 AM

I just hope McKinnie is not suspended for the first 2 games because we are going to need him.

**tgorsegner** · 04-28-2008, 10:23 AM

I hate all this attention, It just puts a big target on out backs.

**mountainviking** · 04-28-2008, 10:27 AM

"Marrdro" wrote:

In fact, the Vikings may have forced the hand of two NFC North opponents over the weekend. It appears the Bears and Lions addressed the Vikings' addition of all-pro defensive end Jared Allen by spending their top picks on offensive tackles.

I didn't even notice that.
Great catch but we kindof had an idea they would/could go that way before the pickup of Allen. ;D

I thought that right away too.
Hell, even the Packers spent two late picks on OT.

I've been saying, that the draft was effected by two recent events.
The superbowl put an even bigger emphasisi on pass rush and pass protection.
About half (15) of the first round was OL or DL.
Then, there is the Adrian effect.
I could be wrong, but I don't think Five RBs in the first has happened in awhile either.

**litlharsh** · 04-28-2008, 10:28 AM

It's the Packers' division, and to me it isn't even close yet.

**Overlord** · 04-28-2008, 10:33 AM

"i_bleed_purple" wrote:

"DaunteHOF" wrote:

Right now you can argue its between green bay and us to be the best on paper but you have to play it out to make it happen

just the fact that green bay drafted two quarterbacks, makes me think that rogers won't be their guy, hopefully that means they'll be doing the qb carousel that Chicago has been doing for a while, hurting their team by not having that same consistent guy they had with favre.

I hope you're right, but I worry that their coaching staff is too good to let the QB situation become a runnning joke the way it has in Chicago.
I expect they'll stick to their guy long enough to figure out if he is indeed their QB of the future, and if not, they'll move on.

I really didn't like watching GB's draft.
Of anyone our division rivals drafted, Brohm and Nelson are the two I'm most worried about having to play.
Just them having a backup plan at QB frustrates me.
And Jordy Nelson has height, speed, and production.
Ughh.

In general I think the talk that this is a weak division is overblown.
I think the Vikes can and will come out on top, but it's never easy.

**mountainviking** · 04-28-2008, 11:05 AM

Black N Blue is back Baby!
I actually think our division is about to turn around.

The Packers have, like us, a lot of young potential, with a few good vets mixed in.
Rogers has been in this system since McCarthy came to town, and will have no excuse for not knowing the "language."
Brohm and Flynn are merely insurance and depth at this point.
They haven't had to carry more than 2 QBs for years, so when Favre retired, they were left with one.

The Bores are only 2 years removed from the Superbowl, and have most of those pieces still in place.
QB, RB and WR are still big ?s but with 12 picks, they got some depth at all positions.
Maybe, the bigger ? is whether they can keep their defense healthy for a whole season.

The Lions, lest we forget, started last year 6-2 behind an unbalanced offense with a real good passing game.
They still have the passing game, but now with better depth at OL.
In FA they almost completly rebuilt their secondary: D Smith, L Bodden, and B Kelly.
But, they also lost starters at DT and LB.
Looks like they'll be counting on rookies to step in there, as well as RB.
This is a boom or bust team that could surprise.

The Vikings?
Well, with our new probowl DE lining up next to our 2 probowl DTs, we do look the best on paper at the moment.
Our running game is likely to be the best in the league again, and if our youth from the past two years drafts continues to develop and improve, we may be looking good for years!

(**obvious disclaimer-any team can at any point be decimated by injuries to the point of picking in the top five**)