Minnesota Vikings: 10 easy predictions for 2019 to set expectations

3 of 11

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 28: Latavius Murray #25 of the Minnesota Vikings leaps with the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Vikings’ running game will take a step back

Unless you have been on another planet for the past couple of years with no access to the news of planet earth, the recurring theme for head coach Mike Zimmer is to run the ball more. The Vikings have gone so far to advance this theme by adding former head coach Gary Kubiak and placed the title of offensive line coach/run game coordinator to Rick Dennison. When Kubiak coached the Texans, Dennison served as his offensive coordinator in Houston from 2010 – 2012.

A successful offense, with an effective balance between the running and passing games is the difference from fighting for a playoff spot and making a run in the postseason. In his five seasons as the Vikings’ head coach, Zimmer’s offense has ranged from 32nd in the NFL to fourth. The best came in 2015 when Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,485 yards and the team averaged 138.2 yards per game. Not surprisingly, this was the only season Peterson play an entire year for Zimmer. The following season Peterson only played in three games and the Vikings’ offense fell to last in the league with 75.3 rushing yards per game.

The departure of Latavius Murray to the Saints, and no proven backup, along with the fact Dalvin Cook has not proven he can withstand the rigors of an NFL 16-game schedule, there are going to be challenging to improve the running game.

And, let’s not mention the offensive line, yet.

Home/Minnesota Vikings News