Minnesota
Vikings

Vikings Team Report

Updated: February 09, 2012 03:47 EST

There are no guarantees when it comes to the draft, but the Vikings certainly appear to be in a no-lose situation with the No. 3 overall pick this year.

No matter what happens, they're in prime position to fill a glaring need, or needs, that will make them a better team immediately. Whether it's Southern Cal left tackle Matt Kalil, Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon or a trade down for more picks, the Vikings will be overjoyed and still holding potentially nine or more picks coming out of the first round.

Cornerback is the team's No. 1 priority, but that's not a position that's typically filled with a top-three pick. So look for them to fill another big need at a position, left tackle, that typically dominates the top of the first round.

If the Rams snag Kalil at No. 2, the Vikings could adjust and pick Blackmon to fill yet another huge need that would help quarterback Christian Ponder make significant progress from a rocky rookie season.

The Colts are expected to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck No. 1 overall. The Rams already have their quarterback of the future in Sam Bradford, so they're openly shopping the No. 2 pick to teams that want Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor.

Teams that are desperate enough for a quarterback will try to beat the competition by talking to the Rams on draft day. But ideally it's the Vikings who make the most sense as a trade partner.

The Vikings won't pick a quarterback, so they're not a threat to take RGIII. The Browns, at No. 4, pose that threat, so it seems like teams that want a quarterback only need to trade ahead of the Browns.

Based on the draft value chart made popular by former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson in the 1990s, the No. 2 pick is worth 2,600 points while the No. 3 pick is worth 2,200 points.

To put that 400-point difference in perspective, the 50th overall pick - a second-rounder - is worth the same. So, in other words, the cost of dealing with the Rams is significantly higher than it is in dealing with the Vikings.

The Vikings would prefer trading down and stockpiling picks to plug the many holes throughout their roster. They currently have eight picks and are expecting to collect two more as compensatory choices for losing Sidney Rice and Ray Edwards to free agency.

Trading the third pick could bring several more picks. For example, based on the draft value chart, even if the Vikings traded down one spot with the Browns, they could realistically expect the Browns to give them picks in the third, fourth and fifth rounds.

Moving down just one spot could land the Vikings all those extra picks and still keep them in position to take Kalil, Blackmon or the best cornerback on the board.

The Vikings also could deal with the quarterback-starved Redskins (sixth overall) or Dolphins (eighth or ninth overall, based on a coin flip later this month) and still stay inside the top 10.

Coming off a 3-13 season, it's the first good spot the Vikings have been in for quite some time.

--As the Vikings' defense declined rapidly in 2011, speculation arose that the team was considering a change to the increasingly popular 3-4 scheme. Coach Leslie Frazier put an end to that notion when he hired Colts defensive backs coach Alan Williams as his new defensive coordinator. Williams and Frazier have worked together with the Colts and are ardent supporters of the 4-3 Tampa 2 scheme.

"We are going to keep a lot of the same principles in place," Frazier said. "There are things that the Colts did that are a little bit different than what we do. I would like to really try to improve on some things that we've done. He will bring some fresh ideas, a new train of thought with him. I did think a little bit about some other options that were available but after evaluating our season and also looking at our history here on defense, I didn't want to get too far away from the things that have helped us be a successful defense over the years."

--Mike Singletary was unquestionably one of the best linebackers in NFL history. But he's still learning when it comes to being able to take that knowledge and coach players with it. That's one reason the Vikings asked Fred Pagac to return to his old job as linebackers coach after he was stripped of his defensive coordinator duties. Pagac accepted the demotion and will take the lead on coaching the linebackers. Singletary, who coached the linebackers in 2011, will work as Pagac's assistant.

"Fred is an outstanding coach and I'm just thrilled that he was willing to accept this role to work with our linebackers along with Mike Singletary," Frazier said. "Two guys who I have a great deal of respect for as coaches in their respective roles and the fact that they're both going to be in that role with our linebackers, I'm believing we're going to have the best linebacker corps in the National Football League. Thrilled that Fred will accept this role and it really took a lot when he decided to do that."

--One of the surprises in the wake of the Vikings' 3-13 season was the decision to fire defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and keep defensive backs coach Joe Woods. The defensive line, led by NFL sacks king Jared Allen, was the strength of the team, while the secondary was at the top of many weaknesses. In Woods' defense, the secondary was devastated by injuries and cornerback Chris Cook's absence because of felony charges of domestic abuse.

Frazier believes in Woods. He also thinks the addition of Williams as coordinator will help the secondary. Williams coached the Colts' defensive backs the past 10 years.

"Alan's background in the secondary is an added plus, there's no question about it," Frazier said. "I think one of the things that will help our secondary is our doing a good job of evaluating along with drafting players that play in the secondary in this draft and if we can do some things to help ourselves in the draft, or NFL free agency, I think our secondary will improve."

--Williams believes one of his strengths is helping young defensive backs adjust to the NFL immediately. That's good, because the Vikings are expected to add defensive backs through the draft.

"As a secondary coach with Indianapolis, we drafted a lot of young DBs, so I would think what I do best is be able to develop a young player and have him at a winning level early in his career," Williams said. "When I say early, I mean in the first part of his career; his first year. I think that's important when you are talking about a roster from top-bottom, that your veterans play like veterans and you're 'A' players play 'A' football on a consistent basis, but also with the secondary, injuries are just a part of the ball game.

"What I did in Indianapolis is when a veteran was out, a young player could hold down the fort and play winning football until that veteran or starter came back. That would be what I think I bring to the table and what I do best."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're the third overall pick, so we'll be looking at all the options. If someone wants to come up and get our pick, we're going to be more than willing to listen." - General Manager Rick Spielman, when asked what the Vikings plan to do with the third pick in the draft.

Working the Senior Bowl earlier this month gave the Vikings an important jump on figuring out how their new defensive coaching staff should work together.

Alan Williams, who spent the past 10 years coaching defensive backs in Indianapolis, replaces Fred Pagac as defensive coordinator. Pagac remains on staff, returning to his previous job as linebackers coach. Last year's linebackers coach, Mike Singletary, will work as Pagac's assistant while still serving as special assistant to head coach Leslie Frazier, his friend and former Bears teammate. The only other change is at defensive line coach, where Brendan Daly leaves St. Louis as Rams defensive line coach and returns to Minnesota, where he was a popular assistant defensive line coach under the since-fired Karl Dunbar.

Williams, whose career includes working alongside Frazier coaching the Colts' defensive backs, brings a closer understanding of what Frazier's looking for in the team's 4-3 Tampa-2 scheme. And Pagac, who was in over his head as a defensive coordinator, remains a quality position coach that might be able to teach Singletary how to better communicate his knowledge of the position to players who don't share the same Hall of Fame skills he possessed.

Personnel-wise, several players, including reigning league sack king Jared Allen, are extremely happy that their rebuilding project will take place in the team's current 4-3 scheme.

MEDICAL WATCH

--RB Adrian Peterson continues to rehab from major surgery on his left knee. Peterson tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments at Washington on Christmas Eve and had his surgery six days later. A notoriously quick healer, Peterson and the team are working of what they say is a realistic goal of Peterson returning in time for the regular-season opener. That being said, they will not rush a player as valuable as Peterson back if there's even a hint that he's not ready. The key will be the time period during the recovery when Peterson will be ordered to take it easy while the new ligaments are attaching themselves and at their most vulnerable point of being reinjured.

--RB Toby Gerhart isn't expected to have any lasting problems from spraining his MCL in the season finale on Jan. 1. Gerhart didn't require surgery and should be fine when the team assembles for minicamps and OTAs.

--CB Antoine Winfield, who missed the final seven games because of a broken collarbone, won't miss any time at minicamp or the OTAs he's required to attend.

--MLB Jasper Brinkley, who is expected to replace longtime starter and unrestricted free agent E.J. Henderson, is coming off hip surgery that caused him to miss all of last season. He's expected to be ready to go for training camp.