4 Struggling NFL Teams That Need To Remain Patient
By Keith Myers
Minnesota Vikings
Current Record: 3-5
The Minnesota Vikings have a losing record and are in last place in the NFC North, but that doesn’t mean the team has any reason to panic. While they might not be contending this season, good things appear to be on the horizon for the Vikings.
The full rebuilding process of Viking began this last offseason. Mike Zimmer was installed at head coach, and the team began churning an old roster over in an attempt to get both younger and better. It is a long process, but it is well underway in Minnesota.
Gone are aging defensive stars Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. Instead, they’ve been replaced by free agent addition Linval Joseph, second year defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, and an increased role for Everson Griffin. Similar changes can be found throughout the roster.
For the most part it has worked. The Vikings still have areas where they need to improve, but the roster is clearly younger and better than it was a year ago.
It all starts with rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has replaced the ever-disappointing Christian Ponder. While there have been growing pains for the rookie passer, Bridgewater has shown flashes of the potential that made him a first round pick. As long as he continues to develop the Vikings are going to be set at the game’s most important position.
It also has to be noted that Minnesota lost its best player, and its offensive identity, when running back Adrian Peterson was suspended following child abuse charges. That loss could have doomed the Vikings into a death spiral of losing, but it hasn’t. Credit the coaching staff and veteran leaders in the locker room for keeping this team together and focussed.
This is a team that has only had one winning season since 2009. It would be easy to look at their losing record, roll your eyes, and lament that this is just another year of losing in Minnesota. Doing so though would miss the growth that the roster has shown and the impressive coaching job being done by Zimmer and his staff.
Make no mistake, good things are coming in Minnesota.
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