52-year old head coach Leslie Frazier has paid his dues in the NFL.  He has been an assistant coach for 12 years in the NFL, including serving six years as a defensive coordinator.  Frazier replaced Brad Childress when he was fired last year after week #10.  Frazier led the Vikings to a 3-3 (50%) record down the stretch which resulted in him getting the head coaching gig full time.  I have a feeling that the Vikings are going to get back to really running the football and getting the ball into Adrian Peterson’s hands as much as possible in 2011.  The success or failure of the Vikings in 2011 could come down to the play of Donovan McNabb.

26-year old Adrian Peterson is going to be a workhorse for the Vikings once again in 2011.  He played in 15 games (all starts) for the Vikings last year and he carried the ball 283 times for 1,298 yards (4.6 ypc) with 12 TD carries.  Peterson also caught 36 passes for 341 yards (9.5 avg) with 1 TD grab last night.  Peterson is quite simply, one of the top three RBs in all of football right now and I look for him to turn in a huge year in 2011 as long as he can stay healthy.  Peterson has now played in 61 games (54 starts) in his first four years with the Vikings and he has carried the ball 1,198 times for 5,782 yards (4.8 ypc) with 52 TD runs.  He has also caught 119 passes for 1,170 yards (9.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs in his career.

24-year old Toby Gerhart will be Peterson’s caddy once again in 2011.  He played in 15 games (1 start) as a rookie last year for the Vikings and he carried the ball 81 times for 322 yards (4.0 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 21 passes for 167 yards (8.0 avg) last year.  The Vikings are likely going to use Gerhart a tad more in 2011 to help lessen the pounding on Adrian Peterson.

27-year old Lorenzo Booker played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Vikings last year and he didn’t carry the ball at all.  He did catch 5 passes for 32 yards (6.4 avg) last year.  Booker has now played in 21 games (12 starts) in his first three years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 48 times for 178 yards (3.7 ypc).  He also has caught 39 passes for 280 yards (7.2 avg) in his NFL career so far.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS RBS IN 2011:  A+

Gone is Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson.  In their places are Donovan McNabb and Christian Ponder.  The 34-year old McNabb is going to be the starter at QB for the Vikings this year, while also showing rookie Christian Ponder the ropes.  McNabb played in 13 games (all starts) for the Redskins last year and he completed 275 of 472 passes (58.3%) for 3,377 yards with 14 TD passes and 15 INTs (77.1 QB Rating).  McNabb also carried the ball 29 times for 151 yards (5.2 ypc) for the Redskins last year.  The Vikings are hoping that a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered for McNabb.  McNabb has now played in 161 games (155 starts) in his first 12 years in the NFL and he has completed 3,076 of 5,218 passes (58.9%)  for 36,250 yards with 230 TD passes and 115 INTs (85.7 QB Rating).  McNabb has also carried the ball 602 times for 3,400 yards (5.6 ypc) with 28 TD runs so far in his career.  McNabb is 97-57-1 (63%) of his starts during the regular season so far in his NFL career.

23-year old rookie Christian Ponder was picked in the first round by the Vikings last April.  He is the QB of the future for the Vikings.  They hope that he will be able to sit and learn under McNabb for a year or two before taking over as the Vikings’ starting QB.  McNabb is 34-years old though, so Ponder has to be ready to play at all times.

24-year old Joe Webb was thrown into the fire last year at the end of last year and he didn’t embarrass himself.  Webb played in 5 games (2 starts) for the Vikings as a rookie last year and he completed 54 of 89 passes (60.7%) for 477 yards with 0 TD passes and 3 INTs (60.9 QB Rating).  Webb also carried the ball 18 times for 120 yards (6.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs last year.  Webb was 1-1 (50%) as a starting QB for the Vikings last year. 

26-year old QB Rhett Bomar is likely on thin ice right now.  He got busted for drunk driving recently close by to the Vikings’ training camp facility.  Unless McNabb, Ponder or Webb get injured…..I can’t see any way that Bomar makes the team.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS QBS IN 2011:  C+

22-year old WR Percy Harvin is right there with Joshua Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns as the most lethal kickoff returners in the NFL.  Harvin palyed in 15 games for the Vikings last season and he returned 42 kickoffs for 1,156 yards (27.5 avg) with 2 TD returns.  Harvin has is all as a returner as he has mind blowing moves and the speed to take it to the house any time he touches the football.  Look for him to have another outstanding year returning kickoffs setting the offense up with good starting position.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  A+

The Vikings’ O-Line might be a tad overrated but they are still solid.  LT Bryant McKinnie got a lot of negative pub for blowing off obligations in Miami at the Pro Bowl so he was sent home.  He is a good pass blocker and he once was a dominating run blocker.  But, he needs to be more focused and motivated to get to his top level.  LG Steve Hutchinson is a really solid pass blocker but his run blocking is starting to slip.  Still, he will likely play at a high level for the Vikings once again in 2010.  Center John Sullivan is smart and he’s a good technician but he has problems with bigger D-Linemen.  RG Anthony Herrera is a solid all around player when healthy as he plays until the whistle blows on every play.  RT Phil Loadholt was so-so as a rookie last season.  The Vikings hope he cuts down on his penalties in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS O-LINE in 2010:  B

54-year old head coach Brad Childress is a solid leader for the Vikings.  He led them to a 12-4 (75%) record last season and they were also 1-1 in the playoffs as they missed appearing in the Super Bowl by a field goal in O.T.  The Vikings have improved their record in each of Childress’ four years as a head coach.  He has a 36-28 (56.3%) record during the regular season and he is 1-2 (33.3%) in the post season.  While it will be hard for Childress to improve the Vikings record for five straight years the team will be angling to win 2 more games in the playoffs in 2010 and he looks like he can get the team there as long as Brett Favre plays.

35-year old kicker Ryan Longwell might be getting older but he also appears to be getting better.  Longwell played in 16 games for the Vikings last season and he nailed 26 of 28 field goals (92.9%).  He also made 54 of 55 extra points as he finished up the year with 132 points.  Longwell has now played in 208 games in his NFL career and he has made 322 of 388 field goals (83%).  He has also made 536 of 543 extra points as he now has 1,502 points in his NFL career.  Longwell is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down any time soon.

28-year old Rhys Lloyd will be the kickoff specialist for the Vikings this season to preserve Longwell’s leg.  He played in all 16 games for the Panthers in the same capacity last season.  He has played in 35 games (0 starts) in his three years in the NFL but he has yet to attempt a field goal or even an extra point. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS KICKERS IN 2010:  A

23-year old Sidney Rice made it to his first Pro Bowl last season as he was on the same wave length with Brett Favre all year long.  Rice played in 16 games (14 starts) for the Vikings last season and he caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards (15.8 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  He has now played in 42 games (21 starts) in his three years with the Vikings and he has caught 129 passes for 1,849 yards (14.3 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  If Rice stays healthy he will have another huge year in 2010 for the Vikings.

29-year old Bernard Berrian played pretty well for the Vikings in 2009.  Berrian played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Vikings last year and he caught 55 passes for 618 yards (11.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He has now played in 90 games (60 starts) in his six years in the NFL and he has caught 253 passes for 3,779 yards (14.9 avg) with 24 TD grabs.  Berrian has also carried the ball 16 times for 90 yards (5.6 ypc) in his career.  Berrian will likely start opposite of Sidney Rice again in 2010 but he will likely finish third or fourth in receptions.

22-year old Percy Harvin made it to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2009.  He played in 15 games (8 starts) for the Vikings last season and he caught 60 passes for 790 yards (13.2 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Harvin also carried the ball 15 times for 135 yards (9.0 ypc) last season.  Harvin is a outstanding special teams player too which will likely limit his touches offensively in 2010 as they don’t want to wear him out due to his smallish frame.

30-year old Greg Lewis will be #4 in line at WR.  Lewis played in 13 games (1 start) for the Vikings last season and he caught 8 passes for 96 yards (12.0 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 103 games (24 starts) in which he has caught 135 passes for 1,795 yards (13.3 avg) with 8 TD grabs in his career.  Lewis is a solid #4 WR.

26-year old Jaymar Johnson played in 6 games (0 starts) as a rookie last season and he caught 1 pass for 9 yards.  He will have a hard time making the Vikings this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS WRs in 2010:  A

30-year old Visanthe Shiancoe has developed into one of Brett Favre’s favorite targets in the passing game, especially in the Red Zone.  Shiancoe played in 16 games (13 starts) for the Vikings last season and he caught 56 passes for 566 yards (10.1 avg) with 11 TD grabs.  He has now played in 112 games (65 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 160 passes for 1,738 yards (10.9 avg) with 22 TD grabs.  Shiancoe has really turned into a nice weapon for the Vikings and look for that to continue in 2010.

33-year old Jim Kleinsasser is a converted fullback who is a good blocker in the running game and he is a solid receiver.  Kleinsasser played in 16 games (8 starts) for the Vikings last season and he caught 10 passes for 70 yards (7.0 avg).  He has now played in 149 games (112 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 174 passes for 1,536 yards (8.8 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Kleinsasser also has carried the ball 43 times for 147 yards (3.4 ypc) with 1 TD carry.  He is a solid backup.

26-year old Garrett Mills is #3 in line at TE for the Vikings.  He did not play last season due to injury.  Mills has played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Vikings in his three years with the team and he has caught 7 passes for 91 yards (13.0 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS TEs in 2010:  A-

Naufahu Tahi and Jeff Dugan will be the fullbacks of the Vikings in 2010 and they are blockers first.  Tahi is smaller (230 pounds) but he plays hard.  He played in 15 games (2 starts) last season for the Vikings and he carried the ball 3 times for 5 yards (1.7 ypc).  He also caught 10 passes for 67 yards (6.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 41 games (7 starts) in his three years with the Vikings and he has carried the ball 9 times for 20 yards (2.2 ypc).  Tahi has also caught 27 passes for 111 yards (4.1 avg) with 1 TD grab in his career.

Jeff Dugan is a big guy at 6’4″, 261 pounds and he likes throwing his weight around.  He played in 16 games (4 starts) for the Vikings last season in which he carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc).  He also caught 6 passes for 52 yards (8.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs last year.  Dugan has now played in 63 games (18 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 9 times for 21 yards (2.3 ypc).  He has also caught 23 passes for 161 yards (7.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.  Look for both Tahi and Dugan to get a lot of P.T. this season for the Vikings.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS FBs in 2010:  B