Brad Childress is criticized for running an unimaginative offense. From a Caste Football perspective, the Vikings ought to be heavily utilizing Garrett Mills as a receiving tight end. Mills was a record setting tight end in college and has the size and speed to be used as either a downfield tight end or as a big wideout. However Mills currently languishes third on the Vikings' depth chart at TE. Then again, the Vikings continue to go with a quarterback who, certainly thus far at least, has lacked the mental acuity to run a high-powered passing offense. Once again the Caste System wins out over common sense.
The Vikings are more interesting from a defensive standpoint, as they start three high quality white players. Jared Allen is the all-world defensive end who was traded to Minnesota in the off-season by Kansas City. Allen combines the mandatory white "non-stop motor" (translation: he plays hard every play, as every professional athlete should) with fearsome talent. Allen led the league in sacks last year despite being suspended for the first two games of the season.
Minny has a mini-"Snow Patrol" at outside linebacker with starters Chad Greenway and Ben Leber. Greenway is the first round draft pick out of Iowa who blew out a knee early in his rookie training camp while serving an "apprenticeship" on special teams instead of being groomed right off the bat to be the starting linebacker he obviously is. Expect Greenway to put up very high tackling numbers for at least the next half-dozen seasons.
Leber plays the weak side, which generally leads to fewer tackling opportunities, but he is very solid and reliable.
Second year defensive end Brian Robison should be starting opposite Allen, but the idea of having four white starters undoubtedly caused fuses to blow out in Childress' caste-trained brain. Robison had the best measurables at his position at the 2007 Combine and was very productive on the field when given some playing time as a rookie. It's not known how long his whites-only apprenticeship will last, but Robison will be very very good when he finally becomes a starter.
Sixth year man Vinny Ciurciu out of Boston College is a backup linebacker. Backup LB Heath Farwell was placed on IR.
On offense there are three white starters, all linemen. LG Steve Hutchinson is simply the best in the business at his position, worth the money it took to lure him from Seattle two years ago. Harvard grad and Pro Bowler Matt Birk is still holding down the center position in his 11th season. Third year player Ryan Cook out of New Mexico is the right tackle.
John Sullivan (Notre Dame) is a backup center and Drew Radovich (USC) is a backup tackle. Both are rookies.
Besides Garrett Mills, Jim Kleinsasser and Jeff Dugan are used as backup tight ends/fullbacks/human bowling balls.
Gus Frerotte, in his 15th season, is a capable backup quarterback. Rookie John David Booty is currently the third quarterback but may well be the future starter, and sooner than many people think.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 6
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 18
GRADE: D
The Vikings are more interesting from a defensive standpoint, as they start three high quality white players. Jared Allen is the all-world defensive end who was traded to Minnesota in the off-season by Kansas City. Allen combines the mandatory white "non-stop motor" (translation: he plays hard every play, as every professional athlete should) with fearsome talent. Allen led the league in sacks last year despite being suspended for the first two games of the season.
Minny has a mini-"Snow Patrol" at outside linebacker with starters Chad Greenway and Ben Leber. Greenway is the first round draft pick out of Iowa who blew out a knee early in his rookie training camp while serving an "apprenticeship" on special teams instead of being groomed right off the bat to be the starting linebacker he obviously is. Expect Greenway to put up very high tackling numbers for at least the next half-dozen seasons.
Leber plays the weak side, which generally leads to fewer tackling opportunities, but he is very solid and reliable.
Second year defensive end Brian Robison should be starting opposite Allen, but the idea of having four white starters undoubtedly caused fuses to blow out in Childress' caste-trained brain. Robison had the best measurables at his position at the 2007 Combine and was very productive on the field when given some playing time as a rookie. It's not known how long his whites-only apprenticeship will last, but Robison will be very very good when he finally becomes a starter.
Sixth year man Vinny Ciurciu out of Boston College is a backup linebacker. Backup LB Heath Farwell was placed on IR.
On offense there are three white starters, all linemen. LG Steve Hutchinson is simply the best in the business at his position, worth the money it took to lure him from Seattle two years ago. Harvard grad and Pro Bowler Matt Birk is still holding down the center position in his 11th season. Third year player Ryan Cook out of New Mexico is the right tackle.
John Sullivan (Notre Dame) is a backup center and Drew Radovich (USC) is a backup tackle. Both are rookies.
Besides Garrett Mills, Jim Kleinsasser and Jeff Dugan are used as backup tight ends/fullbacks/human bowling balls.
Gus Frerotte, in his 15th season, is a capable backup quarterback. Rookie John David Booty is currently the third quarterback but may well be the future starter, and sooner than many people think.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 6
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 18
GRADE: D
