M I N N E S O T A   V I K I N G S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Mike Tice 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 26 at Univ. of Minn.-Mankato in Mankato, Minn.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  at Chi.  1 p.m.  Sept. 15  BUF.  4:15 p.m.  Sept. 22  CAR.  1 p.m.  Sept. 29  at Sea.  8:30 p.m.  Oct. 7  Open     Oct. 13  DET.  1 p.m.  Oct. 20  at NYJ  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  CHI.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  at T.B.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  NYG  1 p.m.  Nov. 17  G.B.  1 p.m.  Nov. 24  at N.E.  1 p.m.  Dec. 1  ATL.  1 p.m.  Dec. 8  at G.B.  8:30 p.m.  Dec. 15  at N.O.  1 p.m.  Dec. 21  MIA.  1:30 p.m.  Dec. 29  at Det.  1 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

Mike Tice understands what's at stake: the franchise.

Entering his first season as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Tice is ready to put last season -- from the death of tackle Korey Stringer to the firing of Dennis Green -- behind him. And we won't even mention that Carolina's only win came at Minnesota's expense.

The Star Tribune pointed out that, "Tice will run a tight ship. Practices won't be any picnic. He will demand respect. And he will have a different type of relationship with mercurial receiver Randy Moss. Tice has a buddy-buddy relationship with Moss, and Moss will listen to, and respect, Tice."

Tice is comfortable with that. "The connection is honesty and a lack of patronization," Tice said of his relationship with the $75 million receiver. "I'm not going to patronize him, and he's not going to patronize me. I don't want him to, and he doesn't want me to. That's kind of the basis of our relationship. There's a certain trust there."

What's not certain is whether the Vikings will be in Minnesota. Team owner Red McCombs said he would consider selling or moving the team after the state legislature adjourned without approving a new stadium. McCombs said his intent to pursue those options "is still very much in play," but he said there had been no progress toward a decision.

Still, he is looking out for the team. "I love the NFL," McCombs said. "I love the Vikings. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we have a very, very good product."

To that end, the Vikings have added wide receiver Derrick Alexander, defensive ends Kenny Mixon and Lorenzo Bromell and defensive backs Corey Chavous and safety Ronnie Bradford.

"I think all of the people that are spending money on the Vikings are very important," Tice said. "We need to be able to share things that are going on in our organization with those people and let them know where we're at, what we're doing to get better each day and smile a lot more. Everybody should smile a lot more."

Tice certainly is.

Fact Randy Moss had a career-high 82 catches last season, but posted career lows in yards (1,233), average yards per catch (15.0) and TDs (10).

Randy Moss, WR -- Well, now that everyone knows Cris Carter has retired -- yes, finally -- this is clearly Randy Moss' team.

"I don't know whether to be happy," Moss said. "I guess I've always had the leadership, but now since it's Tice's turn, I guess he's put it all on my shoulders. I look forward to it this season."

Moss remained in the Twin Cities during the offseason to work out, showing Minnesota's younger receivers -- Moss is only 25, after all -- his commitment to the team.

"At the beginning of [last] season, we had a lot of fire but once certain people started bickering and arguing about certain things, it was hard to get back on track," Moss said. "Just having young guys out there playing with me, it makes it easier for me."

Tice says it's now Moss' responsibility to act as a leader and to return the Vikings to postseason form, beginning with the Randy Ratio: Get open for two of every five passes they throw.

Tice ordered a game-by-game study of the 2001 season and the results showed, "When we throw the ball in Randy's direction," Tice said, "we win football games." The Vikings went 4-1 when they threw to Moss at least 40 percent of the time.

"It's a proven fact," Moss said. "I guess when I touch the ball, we do win. When I don't touch the ball, I think we somewhat get off-cue."

"Randy feels like he can control the ball and the flow of the game," Tice said. "And that study, to me, proved it. ... You can really mold stats any way you want. But it's four [wins] out of five [games]."

Fact Michael Bennett's team-leading 648 rushing yards last year was the first sub-1,000-yard season for the team's leading rusher since 1996, and the lowest team-leading total since 1995.

Running backs -- Position coach Dean Dalton has his work cut out for him. Six players had 10 or more carries last season for the Vikings, but only one of them -- QB Daunte Culpepper -- scored more than twice.

Michael Bennett was supposed to replace Robert Smith, but ... well, it hasn't happened yet. Bennett's rookie season included two 100-yard games, but both of his scores came in the same game against Tennessee. He also had only one game in which he carried the ball more than 20 times.

"Right now, everything is easier to me," Bennett said during the Vikings' minicamp in April. "I'm not stressing myself over trying to figure everything out. ... I feel comfortable with the offense. At this time last year I was in a hole. I mean, I knew what to do, but I didn't know what to do."

During the offseason, Dalton analyzed Bennett's college days trying to find the plays that worked best for him. The team plans on using that knowledge to play to Bennett's strengths.

Bennett clearly is the starter, but Tice contends the competition for playing time will be intense.

"We have a lot of good running backs on our roster," Tice said. "I am really impressed with James Wofford. I personally think he might be the best pure running back we have on the football team.

"Our competition with Moe Williams and having David Allen in there, and [Doug] Chapman, I tell you what, it's going to go down to the wire. We're going to have to do something with a good football player and that is a good situation to be in."

Can the Vikings maximize Daunte Culpepper's talents?

Fact Daunte Culpepper's 47 passing TDs in his first two seasons is second all-time in Vikings history to Warren Moon's 51 (1995-96).

After taking over for Green in January, Tice was direct. He said the No. 1 task he will assign to QBs coach Alex Wood would be "to make Daunte a student of the game, which he is not. [Culpepper] needs to do a better job of preparing himself so he knows the game plan as well as the coach does."

For his part, Culpepper says he and the Vikings are "going to follow Mike's lead and have a get-it-done attitude."

Culpepper was thrown into the fray his second season and responded with eye-popping numbers: 3,937 yards, 33 touchdowns and a 98.0 QB rating. Amid all the turmoil last season -- including bickering receivers -- his numbers took a tumble: 2,612 yards, 14 TDs and an 83.3 rating.

First-year offensive coordinator Scott Linehan believes the Vikings' offense has a solid foundation. And Linehan understands the QB position; he played the position at Idaho under then- head coach Dennis Erickson. Linehan signed as a free agent with Dallas, but his career ended after an arm injury.

During his coaching career he's worked with Idaho's Doug Nussmeier, Washington's Brock Huard and Louisville's Chris Redman, all outstanding college QBs.

To insure Culpepper's health, the Vikings drafted massive tackle Bryant McKinnie and also signed free agent WR Derrick Alexander to bolster the receiving corps.

"That's a dream come true," Culpepper said of McKinnie, who never gave up a sack in college. "The season," Culpepper said, "can't get here quick enough for me."