Culpepper, Mosquito's, and Defense

The Vikings started camp today with a new owner and with Randy Moss (mercifully) gone forever. For those only mildly interested in this team let me just say this: It was never Randy Moss. It was always Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper could throw a football up a mosquito's rear end from forty yards, off his back foot, with a linebacker hanging from his jersey.

Further evidence that the world has changed, the Star Tribune is running a training camp blog.

A few thoughts. On paper, the Vikings defense is much improved. Even if they finish the season with a middle-of-the-pack rank, it will have a huge impact on the team's record. If I am not mistaken, the Vikings average about seven less points per game without Moss. Therefore, if the defense can average 10 points less per game, that puts the Vikings on the sunny side of the average.

Despite going to the playoffs last year, the Vikings do not appear to have an unusually tough schedule.

The football pundits will be stunned this season when the Vikings improve their lot. They will openly scratch their heads when the Vikings prove successful without Randy Moss. Why? Because while they were drooling over the rastefarian receiver, they were oblivious to the prototype quarterback-of-the-future running the show. If Culpepper can lead, all bets are off on how far the Vikings can go.