Vikings offseason needs

[Law Firm]

What do the Vikes need to be a Super Bowl caliber team next year? Here is what I think:

1) Running back - A huge question mark. Will Childress use the RB position similar to that of Phili? Personally I hope not. If that were the case, then I think Moore would fit nicely into that Brian Westbrook type of role. I would like to see them draft a RB this year, there are several very good ones available.

2) O-Line - It seemed like all of the games this year revolved around how well the line played. It became very apparent that an upgrade is needed. McKinnie is pro bowl caliber, and Birk will be back next year. With a full offseason to devote to the weight room, Marcus Johnson could be OK. That leaves two spots that I beleive should be addressed through Free agency.

3) Linebackers - As far as I'm concerned, a complete overhaul is needed here. Newman looked good this year, but is he really a long term solution? I don't think so. Thomas and Henderson have a lot of athletic ability but just don't have the mental makeup for the position. Signing a guy like Levar Arrington and drafting a LB early would really help this unit. I do beleive that this years LB crop is pretty solid.

If these areas would be shored up, I think we could be looking at a super bowl. What do you think?

[Piker]

I think you pretty much hit it on the head.

I'd like to see Maroney in Rd one. I think he's got a lot of NFL upside. A lot of NFL teams are going to that zone blocking scheme similar to the U of M, such as Denver, Atl, Baltimore and now Houston. I know the Vikings don't run that type of scheme, but it rewards backs with good vision, patience and burst and Maroney excels at each.

In Round 2 it's hard to say who will slip, but I'd like to see Abdul Hodge the LB from Iowa. I don't know that he'll be there. Another guy that I doubt will be there is Max Jean Giles from Georgia. A lot of size on that guy, he'd be a nice fit at either guard spot, which is a need.

A possible fit in Rd 2 is QB Brodie Croyle, he might be available a round later but mid Rd 2 might be about right. I think the team will draft a QB at some point and I think Croyle would be a nice fit. He doesn't have the measureables of Leinart, VY or Cutler, but he can play. Those other three QB's won't survive the top 10 and maybe even the top 5.

[jigging wader]

I think you guys have done a pretty good job of pinpointing our needs. The way I'm aproaching it, is to concentrate on what we can get in free agency, after thats mostly takin care of then I'll start looking at the draft.

Sounds like Ziggy wants to make a big splash and go after some top line players right off the bat. Won't that be refreshing after having Red Mcombs sitting on their money and not going after anyone until last year. I hear their sitting there with 20 to 25 million below the salery cap thats alot of money but the 1st teir free agents want around 8 to 12 million sighing bonus's. That adds up pretty quick. So I don't know how many good players they can get, I dont have a list of unrestricted free agents but I know Id start with the o-line 1st,the 2 guard positions, then a running back, then a topnotch line backer next. If they can't get the linebacker in free agency then I might draft one in the 1st round. Sorry I haven't named any players I have to do more homework on that, but those are my top priorities to start with.

[mplsnative]

O-line, Linebackers that could play cover two and a strong safety that could run. That safety being about as important as any. Cory chavous is a tad bit slow plus his tackling skills are so so.

We need some guards and a right tackle.We need to get rid of some of tices pet projects. Like Mike Rosenthel this guy could'nt block my grandmother.If Matt Burk makes a come back from his surgery we could move that fowler guy we pick up from clevland to guard.We also have to get rid of lewinski.He's over priced and his skills just aint there no more.That johnson kid look good at times last year he might be ok next year.

Linebackers-if you look at the linebackers in the cover two its a defense that could make average linebackers look great and great linebackers look outstanding.The one thing important though is speed.It'll be interesting to see how some of the linebackers already on this squad respond to the new defense.

We should also try and find a way to keep brian williams at corner back he would be a great fit in cover two.Maybe move winfield to strong safety theres an ideal.But i also dont think Fred Smoot fits this scheme he's better at bump and run than zone.

Geez what did I just write? Maybe I should have interviewed for that VP job the Vikes had open.