NFL 2000 Preview - NFC Central
By: James AlderDateline: August 17, 2000
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are so confident in Duante Culpepper's ability to lead the offense that they let Jeff George and Randall Cunningham leave via free agency during the offseason. Culpepper is definitely a great athlete and should be a quality quarterback someday, but Minnesota has really put the pressure on him to be effective right away. The Vikings did bring in veteran journeyman Bubby Brister to back up Daunte, but if Culpepper is not ready to lead the team and Bubby has to take over then the Vikings will go nowhere.One thing Culpepper does have to his advantage is the best pair of wide receivers in the league. Future hall of famer Chris Carter and the dangerous Randy Moss will start at the wide out positions, creating a coverage nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Carter caught 90 passes for 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while Moss hauled in 80 passes for 1,413 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Vikings are hoping this is the season that running back Robert Smith stays healthy and becomes one of the leagues premier rushers. He is coming off a strong season in 1999 in which he rushed for 1,015 yards and also caught 35 passes out of the backfield. He will be backed up by Moe Williams.
There will be some big changes on the offensive line this year with the losses of Jeff Christy and Randall McDaniel to free agency. Both men are perrenial Pro Bowl players and will be missed tremendously. The Vikes still have a good one in right tackle Korey Stringer, and right tackle David Dixon played well at times last year, but the losses will still be tough to absorb. Also look for left tackle Todd Steussie to be challenged by free agent Brad Badger.
There will also be some changes on the defensive line this year. Chris Doleman decided to retire and Duane Clemons took the free agent route. The pair take with them a combined 17 sacks last year which is not good news for the Vikings since they were ranked 30th in the league against the pass last year. They do still have John Randall, a good pass rusher and run stuffer, but the rest of the line does not have much pass rush ability.
The Vikings have three capable linebackers in Ed McDaniel, Dwayne Rudd, and Kailee Wong, but the secondary could struggle with the losses of Corey Fuller and Jimmy Hitchcock. The losses move Robert Tate and second-year man Kenny Wright into starting roles which could be a big problem if the line fails to put pressure on the opposition's quarterback.
The Vikings should be able to put some points on the board this year if quarterback Duante Culpepper lives up to his billing, but the Viking defense may have problems keeping the opposition from lighting up the scoreboard. Look for the Vikings to struggle this year and for Dennis Green to lose his head coaching job.
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
How Will They Finish?
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