Viks the most improved team

[james_walleye]

Thank you Down too Earth for actually bringing some useful info too the table. I really cant say your way out in left field on anything you've said. When i compare the 2 teams from last year too this year i come up with this quick comparison. When it comes down too it the 2 teams were pretty equal last year. The 2 regular season games could have went either way, the playoff game a little more lopsided toward the vikes. But all the way around pretty similiar teams. Now the pack in the offseason didnt add anything, we all know they lost 2 probowl lineman, that cant be a good thing, just how bad of a thing we will see. The defense got no help at all with any kind of personnel neither through the draft nor through free agency. I dont recall the pack having any big injuries last year that took away from what they had, correct me if im wrong. Now the vikings on the other hand, yes lost Moss, but get back a healthy Mike Rosenthal and a healthy Kleinsasser. Both will help get that running game that Tice wants too see going. They drafted Williamson the speed guy from S.C., we'll see how big an impact he will have this season, might not be much, could be awfully big thought too. The guy I think we will see make an impact is Travis Taylor. I think hes been an overlooked aquisition.

And they added so much on defense, even if they do go from bad too just average its going too be so much of an improvement that it will have a huge positive impact on where the vikings go this season. Lets not forget it might not just stop at average, this could turn out too be very much above average. Winfield and Smoot on the corners, it doesnt get much better as a tandem. All-pro Kevin Williams coming into his fourth year, he'll have big Pat Williams next too him now eating up space and defenders, pretty solid up the middle. Speed off the edges with Udeze and hopefully Erasmus James making an impact. The biggest weakness from last year, the linebackers, all of them backups this year. Every linebacking postition has better and smarter players there. You have a serious upgrade at safety in Sharper, not in his prime but come on hes better than what we've had by far. Like i said in the past you will see this defense come up with a lot more turnovers this year and Sharper will be the leader there, he will be a ball hawk with those corners we've got covering everything up and knocking balls up in the air. The offense might actually be given a short field sometimes this year instead of having too drive 80 yards for a score everytime. Lets not forget this all dominos down into having better players on special teams also. That should be improved. This is no question a better team this year, and it wont just be on paper. Even if the offense drops down too 6 or 7 this year, i'll take that because the defense will be up in the top half instead of #30. It verywell could be top 10 when it comes down too it. Im optimistic every year, but this year the vikes have players on both sides of the ball, the packers quite frankly dont. That defense will be back at about #28 again, and that isnt going too getter done this year. And like i said, it very well could be the Lions both the vikings and the pack are looking up at, so im not into a mode here where im putting the vikes in the superbowl by any means. This packer team wins about 7 or 8 games this year.

[Born2Fish]

Bottom line is the Vikings DID improve on last years team. I know that loosing a player such as Moss will hurt somewhat. But we have a core of good young WR's that I think will more than comensate for the loss. Williamson is a burner with great hands and had great YAC in college. Though college does not always show what they can do in the pros, it does show the guy has potential. The article about the vikings free agent pick ups does have alot of good points. But that does not mean that these players will not have great years. Sure most of them are aging vets. But they all have lots to prove yet. My opinion on the packers is the same as it always has. They will claw their way through the season(as will the vikings) and most likely be right up there with the vikes. Farve has always shown that he can come back from just about anything and have a chance to win. For anyone to just write him off is kinda goofy after all he has done. The only thing that will actually tell is the season itself. Things could go one way or things could go another. The pack could be 4-12 or 12-4. The vikes could be the same. It all depends on how they actually perform during the regular season. One way or the other we will see how it all comes together. Not one of us can say what will actually happen.

[james_walleye]

I think the only guy the vikes picked up thats ageing is Sharper. Napolean Harris is young, Smoot is young, Cowart might have injury questionmarks but hes not old, he came in the league the same year as Winfield. Travis Taylor is young. Pat Williams hardly has one foot in the grave, hes only been in the league 1 year longer than Winfield.

[TNFL]

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I think they are really going from a bad defense to an average-good defense.

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The Vikes had several good HALF games on defense last year. I think that was a product of the carousel at DEF CORD. Hence, the PACK getting a new coach I think sets them back even more at least for the first year. With the added players and the 2nd year under TED they will be very good.

If Walker holds-out that pretty much nullifies what Favre makes up, for the bad defense. No Javon= 4-12.

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I also think the loss of Moss will affect them more on offense than people think. It would not surprise me if Wiggins leads the team in receptions this season.

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The Vikes did fine last year when Moss was hurt. They lost some close games and the improved defense could turn those L's into W's.

The biggest key to any team is injuries, if the Vikes had Rosenthal all year and one healthy rB all year and Jim K all year they would have been better. But that goes for every team!

[Down to Earth]

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If Walker holds-out that pretty much nullifies what Favre makes up, for the bad defense. No Javon= 4-12.

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To be honest a Walker hold-out wouldn't worry me as much as other issues surrounding the Pack. I think the WR depth for the Packers is probably the strongest of any position they have. Before last year they did fairly decent, and I think this year would be no different.

Please don't take this as a Moss-Walker comparison talent wise, but if Walker holds out. I'm as confident with the receivers we will have as much as you are confident with who the Vikings will be lining up.

[Cooter]

I guess for me it boils down to seeing some good games this fall in our division. I don't think the Viks or Pack have a shot at the super bowl. It takes a lot more than a good looking roster and individual stats to win the big games - a winning team needs that intangible chemistry between players as well as players and coaches along with talent and desire. No one knows who has that yet - it shows up on the field over the course of a season. Of course I'll still cheer on the Pack through thick and thin - and we may be upon the thin side of things. Thats enough of my talk for one day.

[james_walleye]

Upon further review, the play stands, the packers still suck.

[Walleyeguy31]

I second that, but that is only because I am a Vikings fan!

[james_walleye]

I was thinking by now a packer fan would have reacted too that comment, but maybe they arent around? Or maybe they know this season it could be the case?

[Down to Earth]

I'm around, but as you probably know I just don't get fired up about those kinds of comments. You'll have to wait until closer to the season when folks like otto-man, etc are here more frequent if your looking to get the response your looking for.

Andy

[james_walleye]

I just put that on here because i saw it on a t-shirt at the mall, pretty funny too see a shirt that says that.

[nolte]

james

I saw one recently that said "The Purple Paper Champions" and I thought that one was pretty good. What do you think?

[james_walleye]

Your probably looking for a smart a$$ answer but im not a viking fan who looks at things unrealistically. Truth is the past couple years you cant argue with that. Although you could say the same thing about the packers the last couple years. Hero boy Favre and company choking at Lambeau 2 years in a row in the playoffs. They havent exactly lived up too expectations. All that superbowl talk before the playoff game last year, I think people kind of forgot how hard it is too beat a team 3 times in a year, plus get by the Eagles, and Falcons.

[nolte]

james

I was just looking to dish it back a little. I agree with you that either teams haven't been real contenders recently. Yes, they've got in the playoffs but both have lacked a stellar defense to get them to the top. And I'm not holding my breath this year either.

Anyway you slice it, the only team that doesn't choke at some time is the one holding the trophy at the end of the year. I know the guys holding it last year weren't wearing Green or Purple.

[james_walleye]

I know you were dude, i have no problem with that. Nothing better than a little viking/packer smack. By the way right now i am watching Packer Preview, i mean NFL Live. Anyone else catch it? One half hour of nothing but Favre and the pack. Training camp hasnt even broke and the a$$ kissing has begun. Wow, literally the whole show was about Favre.

[Cooter]

Oh, the beauty of the border brawl! The Pack fans seriously concerned about the downhill slide and 'ol Brett near retirement while the Vik fans are anxious for the success the next few years should bring.