NFL training camp: Best battle to watch for each team
By John Buhler
Minnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook, Jerick McKinnon, Latavius Murray
After a 5-0 start to last season, the Minnesota Vikings collapsed down the stretch and failed to get back into the NFC Playoffs. Sure, the defense played outstanding at times and quarterback Sam Bradford has never played better in his injury-riddled NFL career. However, nobody outside of the Twin Cities is buying the Vikings as a legitimate playoff team for 2017.
Why is this? Several reasons. Minnesota has to prove that its offensive line isn’t a wet paper bag. Bradford needs to look to throw down the field more. Are we sure head coach Mike Zimmer is in it for the long haul? Of course, the Vikings should be stout defensively, so that helps, but what about the running game?
It’s a chance of guard in Eden Prairie, as the Vikings have moved on from franchise running back Adrian Peterson after 10 Hall of Fame years with the Vikings. With the tall task of replacing a Minnesota football icon are rookie Dalvin Cook, veteran Jerk McKinnon and recently acquired Latavius Murray.
Cook had first-round talent coming out of Florida State. Frankly, the crowd he hangs with back home in Miami had a lot to do with why he fell to the Vikings in the middle of the second round. McKinnon is a serviceable, versatile back. However, the former college quarterback at Georgia Southern will never be a bell cow in this league. Murray was strong for the Oakland Raiders last season, but is he totally onboard with splitting carries with the young and more talented Cook in the Vikings backfield?