RUN & PUNT: 2008 MINNESOTA VIKINGS

by GMoney, The Money Shot

If you like compelling TV which depicts real-life events, chances are good that you watched HBO's Generation: Kill over the last 7 weeks. Basically, it's the story of a Marines unit in Iraq and the trials and tribulations that they went through. Anyway, one of the underlying stories of this miniseries is that the grunts did their jobs and did them well despite the fact that the people leading them were completely inept.

In the NFL, Generation: Kill is the Minnesota Vikings. Because on this team, the grunts are fantastic, but those calling and executing the plays pretty much suck. Without further ado, your Epic Carnival preview of the 2008 Minnesota Vikings...

Passing Game
This is it for Tarvaris Jackson. I don't think that there is anyone outside of the locker room that believe that he's worth a damn as an NFL QB. This is his last chance to prove that he can play. The only problem is that his WR's are just as bad at their jobs as Jackson is at his. Sidney Rice could surprise but it's hard to be a good WR when your QB is bouncing balls to you.

Running Game
Ah yes, the bread and butter for this team. They don't call Adrian Peterson "Purple Jesus" up there for nothing. The offensive line is huge, pissed, and dominant. If Peterson needs a breather, Chester Taylor is a more than capable back-up. And let's not forget about Bryant McKinnie's love for BJ's...has nothing really to do with anything but it needed to be said. The only potential issue is that opposing defenses will be putting 8-9 in the box at all times trying to force them to throw.

Rush Defense
Good luck trying to get a decent ground game going against Kevin Williams and Company. The linebackers aren't flashy but are very capable when the tackles are keeping blockers off of them.

Pass Defense
You beat the Vikings through the air. That is no secret. Although Antoine Winfield is as solid as it gets in the secondary, he can't cover everybody. Darren Sharper just guesses back there these days due to his age. One things that may help the secondary is that newcomer and mullet aficionado, Jared Allen, will be harrassing QB's all season.

Special Teams
Ryan Longwell is older than dirt and can still connect from anywhere inside the 50. I like that Viking Guy that they always show on TV, too, but I think he plays on a different kind of "special" teams.



Coaching
Brad Childress is a moron. Don't get me wrong, he's a million times smarter than Mike Tice, but anyone that can't see that this team is one DECENT QB away from contending for the NFC Crown yet does nothing to rectify the situation, is an idiot. And while I respect him for looking like a hairless Von Kaiser, I despise him for his stubbornness when it comes to upgrading at QB. He is wasting Purple Jesus.

Prediction
The NFC North is awful. The Bears have already been eliminated due to having no playmakers on offense. The Packers have a QB that their entire fanbase hates. The Lions are the Detroit Lions and are operated by a Mr. Matthew Millen. Those are 6 wins right there. I'll give them an 11-5 season and no wins in the playoffs.

Now go blow your Viking horn and piss off, eh.