Many are surprised at the Minnesota Vikings’ 4-1 start. They have already won more games than the three they won last season with many of the key players from the 2011 team back. But will their success last?
Minnesota has been favored in three of their first five games, which they are 2-1. They pulled the upset a home against San Francisco in Week 3 and another Vegas upset at Detroit in Week 4, even though the Lions left the field that day losers in 10 of their last 16 games overall. The 49ers are the only team that the Vikings have played that has a better than .500 record. They have beaten the teams that they should beat thus far. Take into account they lost a game to the Colts that could have easily been a win and won a game versus San Francisco that most thought would be a loss, it’s not too much of a stretch to picture this team at the current 4-1 record.
Minnesota has benefited from fast starts by scoring first in every game except the opener versus Jacksonville and only trailing by more than nine points on one occasion. The question then becomes, “Who gets the credit?”
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| Christian Ponder: Not bad |
Christian Ponder has an average depth of target of 5.9 yards, which is nearly a yard less than any other starting NFL quarterback. His first interception of the season came in the second quarter of game five, which is impressive. However, it’s like being impressed that a contact hitter in baseball doesn’t strikeout that often. It should be no surprise that with the short passing game the Vikings have implemented, they are tied for first in the NFL with only five dropped passes on the season. I would be more apt to focus on other areas of the team that have improved from last season, as well as a player that is among the leagues elite.
The defense has allowed only 79 points, an average of 15.8 per game and good for sixth best in the league. Only twice since 1978 has a Minnesota defense given up fewer points in its first five games. (The Vikings gave up 60 points in 1986 and 71 points in 1988)
Part of the defensive resurgence has been rookie safety Harrison Smith. He has been one of the best pass coverage safeties in the league thus far. Add a healthy Antoine Winfield to the mix and the Vikings secondary is in rare form through the first third of the season.
One of the many weak points on the 2011 Vikings was the offensive line. You haven’t heard much about them this season, which usually means they are doing their job. Minnesota has found a gem in John Sullivan. The 6th round pick from Notre Dame in 2008 has developed into one of the best centers in the game and is showing why he deserved the 5-year, $25 million contract extension that he signed late last season. Sullivan is the only starting center in the NFL to have not given up a QB pressure this season. He’s had only one penalty called against him since the 2010 season, a stretch of 36 games. The Vikings know that Sullivan can also get it done in the run game, evident with a third of their rushing attempts coming to the right or left of Sullivan, by far the most on the team.
Rookie kicker Blair Walsh has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. No one has a longer average distance on their kickoffs, which has resulted in only 10 kick returns in 27 chances. Walsh’s leg is a far cry from the 19 touchbacks from Ryan Longwell last year. Only 23 percent of Walsh’s kickoffs have been returned compared to over 70 percent for Longwell in 2011. For someone who had accuracy trouble during his college days with Georgia, the rookie has connected on 12 of his first 13 field goals, including all three attempts from over 50 yards.
Given all the improvements and first year guys making an impact, the player that I feel has had the most impact on the Vikings 4-1 start is Percy Harvin. The way that the Vikings offense has been constructed this season (short passing game), should somewhat be because of Harvin. Nearly 80 percent of his 407 receiving yards have come after he catches the ball, which is a perfect complement for a quarterback that rarely throws the ball down the field more than five yards. Most receivers not named Troy Williamson should be able to catch the short passes that Harvin is accustomed to, but it takes a special player to turn an ordinary play into a game breaking one. The fourth-year wide receiver out of Florida has caused 14 missed tackles on the season. No other receiver in the league has more than nine and only four wideouts have more than five. It’s usual for a receiver to be in the MVP discussion, but the way that Harvin affects the game in the backfield running the ball, as well as a returner, makes him the most versatile player in the NFL.
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| Barring a collapse, the Vikings could be in contention for the playoffs. |
Minnesota broke a five game losing streak in outdoor games with their 33-26 win at Washington late last season, which cost them the chance to draft QB Robert Griffin III or trade the pick for numerous first round selections for years to come. They will get chance to see the defending Heisman Trophy winner on Sunday and wonder what could have been.
Early season success has fans hopeful, while other veteran observers of the purple are thinking, “Here we go again.” For this Vikings fan, I won’t be disappointed this time when they fall short.
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