Minnesota Vikings preview (No. 12): It's all coming together
Our 2015 NFL preview series ranks every team, from worst to first. Today: the No. 12 Vikings.
2014 record: 7-9
Head coach: Mike Zimmer (second year, 7-9 regular season, 0-0 playoffs)
Key arrivals: Shaun Hill (quarterback), Mike Wallace (wide receiver), *T.J. Clemmons (tackle), Terence Newman (cornerback), Casey Matthews (linebacker), *Trae Waynes (cornerback), Eric Kendricks (linebacker), *Danielle Hunter (defensive end)
(*denotes rookie)
Key departures: Charlie Johnson (guard), Matt Cassel (quarterback), Greg Jennings (wide receiver), Christian Ponder (quarterback), Jasper Brinkley (linebacker), Jerome Felton (fullback)
2015 schedule (ET)
Sept. 14: at San Francisco, 10:20 p.m.
Sept. 20: Detroit, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27: San Diego, 1 p.m.
Oct. 4: at Denver, 4:25 p.m.
Oct. 18: Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25: at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Nov. 1: at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8: St. Louis, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15: at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 22: Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Nov. 29: at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6: Seattle: 1 p.m.
Dec 10: at Arizona, 8:25 p.m.
Dec. 20: Chicago, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27: New York, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3: at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
TRAINING CAMP QUESTION: Can left tackle Matt Kalil get his mojo back?
After showing all the earmarks of being a future franchise left tackle as a rookie in 2012, Kalil failed to develop the past two seasons as injuries mounted and his confidence was shaken. The Vikings are banking on a healthier Kalil rebounding but are prepared to move on if he doesn't. One potential option is rookie T.J. Clemmings, a fourth-round pick who has gotten practice snaps at right guard but has the physical skill, reach and frame (6-5, 309) to excel at left tackle.
IF EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT
A lot of things are trending in the Vikings' direction: Star running back Adrian Peterson is back after missing almost all of last season while he was suspended, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to build on an impressive rookie season and second-year coach Mike Zimmer appears to be creating the type of pressure defense he coordinated while helping the Bengals become a perennial playoff team. If Mike Wallace can give Bridgewater a real No. 1 receiving threat this could be a wild-card team a lot sooner than anyone expected.
IF EVERYTHING GOES WRONG
Everything hinges on Bridgewater's development, and though he showed flashes of being the team's long-sought answer at quarterback last season he did still have 12 interceptions to go with his 14 TD passes. Peterson's return and Wallace's arrival will help take the pressure off him, but the Vikings don't have enough weapons for Bridgewater to simply avoid mistakes. He'll need to make plays, and Wallace -- though better than Greg Jennings, the No. 1 receiver he replaced -- never made a splash in two seasons with the Dolphins. The team might still need a true No. 1 for Bridgewater to succeed.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater
CIRCLE THE DATE GAME: Week 1, at San Francisco (10:20 p.m. ET/Sept. 14)
Zimmer is holding Peterson out of the preseason to save wear and tear on his 30-year-old body. That means the Week 1 opener likely will mark the first time the star running back appears in a game setting since being pulled from the field last year following a child abuse charge.
ALEX MARVEZ'S PREDICTION: 9-7, second place, wild-card
The recent restructuring of Peterson's contract put the finishing touches on a wildly successful offseason. Peterson received the financial guarantees he was seeking while the Vikings removed the possibility of the issue becoming an in-season distraction. Minnesota is not only regaining the services of a future Pro Football Hall of Fame runner, but the threat of Peterson toting the football will create opportunities in the play-action passing game for Bridgewater. The second-year quarterback also gets a boost from the offseason acquisiton of Wallace, who never lived up to his five-year, $60 million contract with the Dolphins but remains one of the NFL's top deep threats. The Vikings used their fourth first-round pick in the past three years on a defensive player when selecting Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes. Minnesota should get more immediate returns from UCLA second-rounder Eric Kendricks, who is poised to start at middle linebacker next to 2014 first-round choice Anthony Barr. Minnesota is set for a breakthrough in 2015 provided Bridgewater continues to develop following an impressive rookie showing.
