vikings/nfl

C'mon, Mark - there is more than a few LBs as the difference between these two teams. Let's start with the QB position. Overall, the Vikings have gotten younger and somewhat better from last year to this year, but they have a ways to go to catch the 49ers for overall depth in most positions.

We'll see how Kaepernick does next year when opponents have had an offseason to study tape on him. I think the Niners have us in the secondary too. Vikings need another corner and another safety.

Oh, and wide receiver too. We stink out loud at wide receiver.

Yeah, except they have a QB and we don't....

One thing we havn't mentioned is the line of scrimmage. We showed we can handle the physicality of most teams up front on both sides of the ball including the 49'ers. We're tough up front and need to keep Loadholt. Good article Mr. Craig. The Vikings will rock our world with one more good off-season of getting reinforcements.

The difference between playoff and non-playoff teams is pretty minimal. All the players can play. The difference is often the coaching. Putting the right players in the right positions doing the right thing all at the same time. Special teams and defense seem to be solidly coached. I still can't say the same about the offense.

Resign Harvin AND acquire a #1 wide receiver. Then add two athletic linebackers. The jury is still out on Ponder, so it would be wise to bring in a proven veteran for a backup.

I'm as big a Vikings fan as there is, but comparing the Vikes to the 49ers is sort of like saying that with a little work Oprah could look like Beyonce.

Yes the Vikings are close to the 49ers. They are only a QB, a few WRs, a CB, a few LBs, a DT an S and a head coach away

This column should be in the NFL Network's "Come on Man" segment. I think that we are comparing apples and oranges here. In 2011 the 49ers were a couple of muffed punts away from being in the Super Bowl. The Vikes were 3-13. I am not saying that the Vikes cannot get there. What I'm saying, is that we are more than a couple of LB's away from the Super Bowl. # 1 difference is the Offense. The 49ers have Moss as their 3rd best WR. The Vikings WR corps,with Harvin, is still at least 2 good WRs away from San Fran. The O-Line, for San Fran, is much stronger in the middle, than the Vikes. Maybe our Center, and Tackle play is equal, but our Guard play is not close. Pass protection, is certainly not the same. The Vikes O-Line has only played together for 1 season, and I think that getting a FA at LG, and moving Johnson [and his 4.1m salary], to back-up, if you can get him to re-structure his contract. As far as the Defense goes: the 49ers are much better in the middle of the front 7. The 49ers NT, and ILB's are elite. The Vikes 2 DT's, and MLB, are not even in the same ball park. D-Back's for Minnesota, with the exception of Winfield, are very young, and will get better with experience. The Vikes could use 1 more good CB, and upgrade FS play. The difference is simple. Look at the 3 games the Vikes played against the Packers. Than look at the 2 games the 49ers played against them. When the Packers go to a 4WR set, the 49ers were able to match up, and take away the middle of the field. Even in the game that the Vikings won, Rogers was able to find recievers wide open on just about every play. The Vikings lack good cover guys, and need more depth. Coaching staff needs to take alot of the blame. Winfield is a great player, but when he went down with an injury, the Vikings were forced to play a punt returner to cover the slot. This went on while the fastest DB on the team sat the bench, because no one thought of the possibility that a 35 yr old DB might get hurt, and the best player to take his place had not been properly trained to play. The Vikings are headed in the right direction, but Gcraker's blog made a good point. GO VIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!