The Vikings return most of the same roster that went 12-4 last season, but many of those starters simply haven't maximized their potential during the Vikings' 2-5 start. Here's a closer look at how the 2009 starters are performing this season:
WR BERNARD BERRIAN UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Has disappeared for most of the season, with only nine catches for 87 yards.
WR PERCY HARVIN PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Leads the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
WR SIDNEY RICE UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: The devastating news of Rice's hip surgery in late August decimated the Vikings' pass offense, and it has not recovered.
TE VISANTHE SHIANCOE UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Is no longer Favre's favorite red-zone target with one touchdown catch compared with 11 last season.
RB ADRIAN PETERSON PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is hoping for a long-term contract, and has kicked the fumble habit while setting a pace for more than 1,700 rushing yards.
QB BRETT FAVRE PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Age, injuries and passing inaccuracy have plagued Favre this season after a dream 2009 campaign.
LT BRYANT MCKINNIE PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Even arrow
Why: Gets burned occasionally, but he's generally a viable left tackle in this league.
LG
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEVE HUTCHINSON UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: The bar has been set high for this seven-time Pro Bowler, and although he's been adequate, he's not been his dominant self.
C JOHN SULLIVAN PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Even arrow
Why: When healthy, he's proved to be steady, calling protections and run blocking.
RG ANTHONY HERRERA PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: At times, has created gaping holes for Peterson.
RG PHIL LOADHOLT UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Looked poised to make the leap in 2010, but he's been hampered by speed rushes and penalties.
DE JARED ALLEN UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Hasn't recorded a sack since the Miami game after two consecutive years of 14.5 sacks.
DT KEVIN WILLIAMS PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Even arrow
Why: Is still a beast up the middle with seven pass deflections and 30 tackles, but his sack production is down.
DT PAT WILLIAMS PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: A reliable run stopper in spurts, but he's not having a stellar season at age 38.
DE RAY EDWARDS UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Despite plenty of quarterback pressures early in the season, his overall body of work is not strong.
OLB CHAD GREENWAY PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: The team's defensive MVP this season is on pace for 169 tackles.
MLB E.J. HENDERSON UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Recovered from a fractured left femur to record 47 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble through seven games.
OLB BEN LEBER PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is on pace for four more tackles than last season while recording a crucial interception in the Detroit game.
LCB ANTOINE WINFIELD PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is still the same physical open-field tackler and has kept a depleted secondary afloat.
FS MADIEU WILLIAMS PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Despite his pace for close to 90 tackles, Williams has whiffed on big-play chances and doesn't close the gap quickly.
SS TYRELL JOHNSON UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Has played sparingly after Husain Abdullah took over the starting job in the preseason.
RCB CEDRIC GRIFFIN UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Never got the chance to build on his four-interception 2009 campaign after suffering a second torn anterior cruciate ligament in October.
K RYAN LONGWELL PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Hard to argue with 6 for 6 on field goals, but you'd have thought Longwell would get more work because the Vikings would be in the red zone more. Not the case.
P CHRIS KLUWE PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is tied for sixth in the league with 14 punts inside the 20-yard line.
HEAD COACH BRAD CHILDRESS UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Whether a fan of Childress or not, it's still hard to believe the Vikings have started off this poorly.
The Vikings return most of the same roster that went 12-4 last season, but many of those starters simply haven't maximized their potential during the Vikings' 2-5 start. Here's a closer look at how the 2009 starters are performing this season:
WR BERNARD BERRIAN UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Has disappeared for most of the season, with only nine catches for 87 yards.
WR PERCY HARVIN PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Leads the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
WR SIDNEY RICE UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: The devastating news of Rice's hip surgery in late August decimated the Vikings' pass offense, and it has not recovered.
TE VISANTHE SHIANCOE UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Is no longer Favre's favorite red-zone target with one touchdown catch compared with 11 last season.
RB ADRIAN PETERSON PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is hoping for a long-term contract, and has kicked the fumble habit while setting a pace for more than 1,700 rushing yards.
QB BRETT FAVRE PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Age, injuries and passing inaccuracy have plagued Favre this season after a dream 2009 campaign.
LT BRYANT MCKINNIE PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Even arrow
Why: Gets burned occasionally, but he's generally a viable left tackle in this league.
STEVE HUTCHINSON UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: The bar has been set high for this seven-time Pro Bowler, and although he's been adequate, he's not been his dominant self.
C JOHN SULLIVAN PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Even arrow
Why: When healthy, he's proved to be steady, calling protections and run blocking.
RG ANTHONY HERRERA PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: At times, has created gaping holes for Peterson.
RG PHIL LOADHOLT UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Looked poised to make the leap in 2010, but he's been hampered by speed rushes and penalties.
DE JARED ALLEN UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Hasn't recorded a sack since the Miami game after two consecutive years of 14.5 sacks.
DT KEVIN WILLIAMS PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Even arrow
Why: Is still a beast up the middle with seven pass deflections and 30 tackles, but his sack production is down.
DT PAT WILLIAMS PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: A reliable run stopper in spurts, but he's not having a stellar season at age 38.
DE RAY EDWARDS UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Despite plenty of quarterback pressures early in the season, his overall body of work is not strong.
OLB CHAD GREENWAY PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: The team's defensive MVP this season is on pace for 169 tackles.
MLB E.J. HENDERSON UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Recovered from a fractured left femur to record 47 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble through seven games.
OLB BEN LEBER PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is on pace for four more tackles than last season while recording a crucial interception in the Detroit game.
LCB ANTOINE WINFIELD PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is still the same physical open-field tackler and has kept a depleted secondary afloat.
FS MADIEU WILLIAMS PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Despite his pace for close to 90 tackles, Williams has whiffed on big-play chances and doesn't close the gap quickly.
SS TYRELL JOHNSON UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Has played sparingly after Husain Abdullah took over the starting job in the preseason.
RCB CEDRIC GRIFFIN UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Never got the chance to build on his four-interception 2009 campaign after suffering a second torn anterior cruciate ligament in October.
K RYAN LONGWELL PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Hard to argue with 6 for 6 on field goals, but you'd have thought Longwell would get more work because the Vikings would be in the red zone more. Not the case.
P CHRIS KLUWE PREDICTABLE
Ranking: Up arrow
Why: Is tied for sixth in the league with 14 punts inside the 20-yard line.
HEAD COACH BRAD CHILDRESS UNPREDICTABLE
Ranking: Down arrow
Why: Whether a fan of Childress or not, it's still hard to believe the Vikings have started off this poorly.
Learn why Brett Favre isn’t going to retire and will suit up in purple and gold come the 2010-2011 football season. News on Brett Favre’s commitment and statistics, updates on his retirement status and injuries, funny videos showing why Brett is a pure joy player, and memorable pictures showing his courage and magic.
