As the Minnesota Viking's off season winds down, Vikings' fans should for the most part feel pretty good about their team heading into the 2014 season. Sure Minnesota finished last season with a 5-10-1 record, and most sports critics are not predicting more than a 5 or 6 win season-but in the land of ice and cold we believe... and why not?
If you solely rely on BSPN for your sports intel; you'd think times were pretty bleak in Minnesota. Let's just sum the last eight months up though. (One of the best off seasons in Vikings' history). Minnesota puts an all star cast in place to finally bring back not just accountability, but also respect to the coaching staff. Free agency also went very well in resigning some of their own up and coming talent, while also signing some much needed help at key positions. The football world also bid farewell to the bittersweet detonation of the Metrodome, as we are all now witnessing the very best, state of the art stadium to ever be erected, rise from the ashes of the former 'Dome. Minnesotans also received conformation that they won a bid to host a Super Bowl in the next couple years. (which should be the first of at least a couple more to come over the next several years.)
Then the Vikings had yet another very good draft, and notched the third year in a row with multiple first round picks. It was an absolute crock having to wait an extra couple weeks, but if it had not been pushed back, there was likely no way teams and critics would have over analyzed a few players like Teddy Bridgewater. And not only did he fall to Minnesota, his stock dropped so much Minnesota was able to focus on selecting one of the premiere line backers in Anthony Barr, trade back to acquire an additional pick, and then jump back up into the last selection of the first round to draft him. Minnesota could have whiffed on the entire rest of the draft, and it still would have been considered a success after the first night, but they of course did not. Minnesota finished off the rest of the draft adding much needed depth at key positions, while also finding a couple more late round gems.
The coaching staff has also been installing new and much improved systems on both sides of the ball that has the team playing inspired football, appearing very prepared, and becoming more and more fundamentally sound. The Vikings have been turning a few reluctant heads in the preseason, as the team went undefeated (with Adrian Peterson and new DT Linval Joseph never stepping foot on the preseason field), to give an early, winning mentality to this young team. It will be well into the regular season before the Vikings begin to receive any of the much due respect they deserve though.
As strong as the off season started off in Minnesota; it is coming to a close even more so. And this is a team that looks to be a legitimate, solid team on the rise. In fact, so many players have been doing so well; final cuts to the team's roster saw several players cut, who will likely be picked up by other organizations pretty quickly. All the Vikings can do is hope a few of the younger players can go unnoticed enough to slip them onto their 10-man practice squad.
In one week, Minnesota opens the season in St. Louis with Matt Cassel holding down the starting QB position, as he looks to be playing the best football of his career in the Vikings' new offense heading into the regular season. And there is a confidence about this team with rookie Teddy Bridgewater backing the veteran up if poor play, or injury rears its ugly head. And if so, it is very hard to believe Bridgewater will ever look back. The Vikings have a very difficult season, especially early on. None the less; I expect the Vikings to open the year with a convincing win against the Rams, and stay just above .500 for the first half of the season before the team really starts to gel and come into their own. I believe the Vikings will end the season with double digit wins with plenty of crow to go around, as Mike Zimmer leads the Vikings to the playoffs in his first year as a head coach. So, tell me what you guys think. Are you as optimistic about our favorite team this season?