VT Question of the Week: What is the Biggest Key to Vikings Success in 2015?

A lot of people are talking about the great pieces the Vikings are putting together, and there is even some speculation that Minnesota could be the dark horse and sneak into the Playoffs this season. That being said, what do you see as the biggest key to the Vikings’ success in the upcoming season? 

Brent: Offensive Line
I will try to differentiate yet again, as I like to try to provide a different perspective for each Question of the Week. I think the glaring answer here is obviously Teddy Bridgewater. There is little question in my mind that the Vikings would have been much, much worse last year had he not played so well in the second half of the season. That said, in order for Bridgewater to continue his progression as an NFL quarterback without hitting a sophomore slump, I feel the offensive line is the biggest key for the Vikings’ success. Not only will the O-line pave the way for Adrian Peterson to run wild, but its ability to help keep Bridgewater upright will be essential to take advantage of deep-threat Mike Wallace. Wallace is a perfect fit for Norv Turner’s offense and the deep threat the Vikings have been looking for to complement their power run game. In my opinion, success on offense starts with the offensive line; without that unit providing consistency, neither Peterson, Bridgewater or Wallace can thrive as intended.

Lindsey: Offensive Line
You’ve heard me complain about the offensive line before, and I have to go back to it with this question. Bottom line: the crew needs to improve. Granted, injuries to Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt hurt the Vikings last season, and I expect the O-Line to automatically improve with their healthy return. However, Matt Kalil has been abysmal the last two seasons. If he doesn’t get his stuff together, we’re in trouble. I’m also hoping that Fusco can possibly move over to left guard to fill that vacancy.

A huge piece of Minnesota’s success in 2015 is of course Teddy Bridgewater and his performance, and also the impact of Adrian Peterson, but neither one can perform well if there is no protection. Bridgewater spent way too much time on the ground last season … that needs to change if the Vikings hope to see the postseason.

Carl: Teddy Bridgewater
Last year, the Vikings took major steps forward on the defensive side of the ball. With the help if first-round pick Trae Waynes and second-round pick Eric Kendricks, the Vikings figure to be among the league’s top defensive units again this season. 2014 not only marked a new and improved era on the defensive side, but it also stamped the beginning of stability at the quarterback position.

Teddy Bridgewater can’t do it all on his own. The key to the Vikings’ success in 2015 will depend largely on the performance and production of the supporting cast around him. A veteran offensive line must step up and play like one in all aspects of dominating the line of scrimmage. The running attack must regain its authority near the league leaders. And if Bridgewater’s favorite target can begin to separate himself from a committee of pass catcher, I can’t help but consider that as progress. Success is never just handed out; one must rise up and go after it.

Andy: Special Teams
As odd as it may sound… yes, special teams. Priefer and his boys need to step up. We have a young quarterback who’s developing with an offense that may still be a year or two away from lighting up the scoreboard with consistency and a head coach who wants to lead with his defense. With this setup, field position and special teams play will be even more of an important factor for the 2015 Vikings. Cordarrelle Patterson was premiere kick-return man while Marcus Sherels was a very solid punt returner in 2013, and their contributions kept the team in games they probably had no business being in. Both regressed last year. The addition of Stefon Diggs will put pressure on both to produce–both in training camp and the regular season.Yes, you could argue that the return units taking a step back could be the root of the issue, but then the fringe players on the roster and the coordinator himself need to be held accountable for that. Both are easily replaceable. Blair Walsh had the worst season of his career, Cullen Loeffler started to show his age, and Jeff Locke didn’t move the needle. It’s of utmost importance that those three and the entire special teams unit as a whole shows signs of life for the Vikings to have success in 2015 (Or at least until Teddy’s ready to put up fitty a game).

Austin: Offensive Line
If the Vikings are going to be successful in 2015, it doesn’t start with Teddy Bridgewater, and it doesn’t start with a defense that quietly improved last year, finishing as the league’s 11th-best scoring defense. It begins with the offensive line, which was the Vikings’ most glaring weak spot in 2014.

Matt Kalil has been the center of critical attention, but the unit as a whole will need to raise their level of play this year. Adrian Peterson returns to the starting lineup, and a productive Peterson improves any offense. Furthermore, a healthy running game forces defenses to stack the box, opening up opportunities in the passing game.

Here, then, is the offensive line’s most important job in 2015: protecting Teddy Bridgewater. The only way Bridgewater can truly grow as a quarterback is if he’s given time to set his feet, run through his progressions, and learn to read defenses. If he’s harassed as he was last year, that will never happen.

Brett: Offensive Line
The biggest key to the Vikings success in 2015 isn’t much different than the key to success for any other team any other time: the trenches. While the Vikings defensive line looks to be an improving unit in good shape, the offensive line has more question marks than certainties:

Will Kalil bounce back from two sub-par seasons and push through his knee issues? Will Brandon Fusco be moved to left guard? How will Loadholt’s pectoral injury affect his play? Will it at all? Who will start at the other guard position? What role will our newly-drafted, rookie offensive linemen play?

Poor offensive line play can destroy any hope of offensive success. With an improved offensive line, the assumed reemergence of Peterson and Bridgewater’s continued development, the Vikings offense has the potential to be very proficient. But if the line is a sieve like it was last year at times and continues to put the future of the franchise at risk, things could be much more difficult for the Vikings to succeed.

Arif: Offensive Line
I think we can sidestep more obvious keys that we expect to do well, like Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson, and focus on which gray area is the most important one to have perform. Despite some gray areas at linebacker and safety, I think the most important gray area is the offensive line and, in particular, pass protection. Without solid line play, even the best quarterbacks can wilt—Tom Brady’s passer rating under pressure last year was 57.4—so the left tackle position will have to improve and the Vikings will have to have an answer at left guard. The rest of the line is above average (when not injured), so those will be the weak links.

Guest of the Week

Dan Edwards, Lead Sports Producer, KARE 11: Teddy Bridgewater
The 2015 Vikings season hinges on Teddy Bridgewater’s shoulder pads. If the quarterback can take the next step in his career, the Vikings will find success. If the second-year QB falls into the “sophomore slump,” the Vikings offense will be in trouble. Bridgewater won’t have the pressure of being the main leader on the team with the return of Adrian Peterson, but he will need to be the general of an offensive attack that showed great promise in 2014 even without one of the greatest running backs of our time.

Dan on Twitter: @ImDanEdwards

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