Former Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s scheme was often criticized for being overly simplistic, but that doesn’t look like it will be a problem this year.
The Vikings are holding their first minicamp with new offensive coordinator Norv Turner and the differences are becoming clear to the players already. Wide receiver Greg Jennings said that there are so many things in the new scheme that the variations on a single play in Turner’s offense are almost as diverse as last year’s entire playbook.
“My head is spinning,” Jennings said, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Even though the offense is coming and it’s starting to sink in. Just with all the different change-ups we can present to the defense, the different looks, the different formations we can run the same play, the different variations that comes within the same play. Your head is spinning at all times until you have it down. The variations from one play to the variations of how we can get to that one play, is a lot. I’m being a little sarcastic with this statement, but it almost equates to what we had last year -- just one play. It’s a lot.”
The offense may be more complex, but it will still ask for plenty from running back Adrian Peterson. It’s good news, then, that Peterson has been participating in the team’s practices after having groin surgery.
“Adrian is doing fantastic, he practiced yesterday. He’s been here, been in good spirits and the rest of the guys are doing well,” coach Mike Zimmer said, via ESPN1500.com.
Turner’s arrival is a real reason for optimism about the Vikings’ offensive hopes in 2014, but the final result will have much to do with the play of the quarterback. We don’t know who that will be yet, but the right call could lead to big rewards in Minnesota.