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| | Tuesday, August 8 Vikings: Daunte is in the fire | |||||||||||||||
| By Tom Oates Special to ESPN.com Dennis Green turned the Minnesota Vikings into a winner; now many believe he is intent on turning them into a loser. Burdened by salary-cap issues and personality clashes, Green let quarterback Jeff George, wide receiver Jake Reed, guard Randall McDaniel, center Jeff Christy and tight end Andrew Glover walk from a 10-6 team. And that's just on offense. Then Green cut Randall Cunningham and handed the quarterback job to Daunte Culpepper, whose next regular season pass will be his first. The offense has carried the Vikings for years and Green is betting it still can with Culpepper at the controls. Green has drawn criticism for that decision, but he's a master at closing the ranks when under siege, so don't count the Vikings out.
Six quarterbacks have led the Vikings in passing since 1992, leading to speculation that Green thinks it doesn't matter who plays the position. This year will test that theory. Culpepper is big, strong and strong-armed, but he's very raw. Worse, his elevation to the starting job received lukewarm responses from playmakers Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Robert Smith, which signals trouble ahead. Key position battle Naming the Vikings' starting defensive ends was always an easy task. Not this year. With Chris Doleman retired and Duane Clemons departed, the pass-rushing positions are up for grabs among holdovers John Burrough and Talance Sawyer, retread Fernando Smith and rookies Chris Hovan and Michael Boireau. The likely starters are Burrough, who has some pass rush ability but can't stay healthy, and Sawyer, who has never shown anything more than potential. Biggest adjustment The offensive line was intact in 1998 and '99, when the Vikings won 25 regular-season games. Now Christy and McDaniel have relocated through free agency, a double-whammy because not only did the Vikings lose two Pro Bowlers but both ended up with division-rival Tampa Bay. Matt Birk, who will start at center, and Corbin Lacina, McDaniel's replacement at guard, will make a big line ever bigger. But will they make it better? Rookie report Admitting their biggest weakness, the Vikings spent their top three picks on defensive linemen. Hovan could start if he can make the transition from tackle to end. Of the second-round picks, Boireau needs to add strength while tackle Fred Robbins needs someone to push the right buttons. Fourth-round pick Tyrone Carter, short but productive, will have to help the 30th-ranked pass defense due to an acute shortage of cornerbacks.
| ALSO SEE Bears: Windy City changes Lions: Ready to move on Packers: Sherman takes control Buccaneers: Getting offensive AUDIO/VIDEO   Randy Moss knows the importance of Dennis Green on the Vikings.wav: 260 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | |||||||||||||||
