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Posted: Monday August 06, 2001 1:58 PM
Updated: Tuesday August 07, 2001 1:07 PM
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SI's Don Banks checks in from Mankato, Minn., to tackle three questions that matter to Minnesota Vikings fans.
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How much will the death of right tackle Korey Stringer weaken the Vikings' already challenged offensive line? |
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Korey Stringer's tragic passing has forced unexperienced players into key roles on the Vikings' offensive line. AP |
Consider the following: Since Feb. 15, 2000, the day ex-Vikings center Jeff Christy signed with Tampa Bay, Minnesota has lost four offensive line starters who combined for 16 Pro Bowl. Christy (2 Pro Bowls with Minnesota) and left guard Randall McDaniel (11) joined the Bucs in the 2000 offseason, and left tackle Todd Stuessie (2) became a Carolina Panther in March 2001. Now, with the stunning loss of Stringer, who went to his first Pro Bowl this winter, the Vikings are faced with turning over 80 percent of their once-dominating starting line in less than 18 months.
It was considered a gamble this offseason when the Vikings chose to release Stuessie for salary-cap reasons, rather than pay him what his 2001 contract called for. Having lost their other starting tackle unexpectedly, it looms an even riskier decision. The team also came close to not re-signing veteran guard Corbin Lacina, who started a career-high 17 games, including playoffs, in McDaniel's old spot. Fortunately for the Vikings, they reversed field in June.
The plan going into camp was for unproven third-year veteran Chris Liwienski (one career start) to assume the left guard position, with onetime Redskins starter Brad Badger (22 starts in four seasons) taking over for Steussie at left tackle, and Lacina playing the sixth man role. Now, Liwienski will shift to right tackle replacing Stringer, with Lacina back at left guard and Badger locked in at left tackle.
Only center Matt Birk has a Pro Bowl on his resume, having gone last year in his first season at the position. At right guard, steady David Dixon remains, the last remaining link to the highly decorated line that was in place for four consecutive seasons (1996-99). With Stringer, the Vikings felt they still had more answers than questions marks on the line. Without him, that may no longer be the case.
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Will Stringer's death wind up being the turning point of the Vikings' 2001 season? |
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Offensive line coach Mike Tice will be partially responsible for turning Stringer's death into a motivational tool. AP |
Yes, one way or another. There are two ways a team can go after a shock of this magnitude. Either the Vikings will rally around the memory of their fallen friend and team leader, using the tragedy as a constant source of inspiration to overachieve, or nothing about this season will quite seem right from here on out.
Stringer had a huge role in the locker room and his comic genius had a calming, soothing effect throughout the course of the long season. Even more than his on-field role, that will be missed and mourned for. He was truly a player many of his teammates looked to for stability and guidance.
Vikings head coach Dennis Green is a considerable motivator. He knows he can't use Stringer's memory shamelessly to spur his veteran players, but he'll most likely strike the right balance between keeping Stringer in their hearts and minds, without letting his death consume everyone.
If the Vikings do fade this season, ending their NFL-high five-year run of making the playoffs, it may be because in their locker room no big game will ever seem like a matter of life and death again. And rightly so. Whatever the outcome of 2001, Green and his Vikings have been dealt an unwanted pass on the season, thanks to the sad events that unfolded on the second day of training camp.
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Though the talk of football is still taking a backseat, is there any early read on the high-profile battle at running back? |
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Michael Bennett rushed for 1,681 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior season at Wisconsin last fall. AP |
The Vikings could be intimidated by the thought of replacing the retired Robert Smith, who led the NFC in rushing last season, but first-round draft choice Michael Bennett so far has given them no reason to fear. Bennett is expected to beat out veterans Moe Williams and Doug Chapman and get the majority of the carries in what could be a share-the-load type of backfield.
Despite their glaring needs on defense, the Vikings went with Bennett in the first round and that's as good an indication as any that he'll have to be an early bust not to play. In the first days of camp, Green was already beaming at the thought of Bennett lining up with fellow weapons like Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Jake Reed and Daunte Culpepper. Curiously, Green didn't mention Williams and Chapman in the same manner.
Bennett has flashed his trademark burst at times and gives the Vikings the same score-every-time-he-touches-the-ball potential that Smith did. The former Wisconsin star needs to work on his pass-catching and blocking skills, but the Vikings can afford to be patient in those areas. In order to strike the necessary balance, Minnesota's offense needs a big-time runner, and that happens to be Bennett's pedigree.
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