It's WWBD's Week 3 of the Preseason too...

Just so we’re clear, we want everyone to know that WhatWouldBudDo.com posts as many meaningful posts during the NFL preseason as there are meaning games in the NFL preseason. So, with that said…I’ll put about ¾ of effort in to this post regarding last night’s game.

Even though the Vikings came up short against the Cowboys in week three of the preseason, and also showing they have some glaring holes they need to patch up in the next two weeks, I think Vikings fans got a glimpse of how this franchise SHOULD have been run the past 5 years. All anti-Brad Childress bias aside, it was clear that last night’s team looked, felt and played different than years past. And hopefully it's a pleasant sign of things to come.

The first thing I noticed: This offense looks like an offense that wants to play to its strengths, not try and re-invent the wheel. The offensive line is going to need to play well this year if it plans on going anywhere, but Musgrave seemed to have the Cowboys defense of their heels from quite a bit. Adrian Peterson was running hard and running often…UP THE MIDDLE (which I always screamed at Childress/Bevel to do more of). He runs too hard to NOT run him up the middle…even if it’s only for two or three yards on 2^nd down…it’s positive yardage.

Beyond running Peterson correctly, Donovan McNabb seemed to be managing the offense extremely well for his 4^th week with the team. Obviously there are some issues that need to get ironed out (timing with WRs for one), but the offensive production of the Vikings is still going to come down turnovers and penalties (and health I suppose). Remember in 2009, what a lot of people were saying about Favre? “He’s coming to the Vikings to manage the team, not throw 30 touchdowns...”, the situation is very similar for McNabb. Favre may have had more talent, but McNabb brings some more tools than Favre did (and far less expectation).

In 2009, most people predicted the same, very boring and non-risky, outcome for the Vikings…eight to ten wins. They ended that magical season with twelve. Now, may people are predicting the 2011 Vikings will win anywhere between six to eight wins. Will they find similar magic like they did in ’09 and win 10 wins? It’s possible.

I’d dive in to how this defense has some major issues to solves before week one (the defensive line needs to play MUCH better), but as promised…this is the part of the post that is equal to the 4^th quarter of last night’s game…and my shoulder pads are off and I’ve got my ball cap on. Sorry.

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(photo - AP)