EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Ready to embark on a pivotal 2012 season, the Minnesota Vikings received a pep talk from owner Zygi Wilf at the team's facilities at Winter Park after practice on Thursday.
From the owner, to coach Leslie Frazier to the players, everyone knows the importance of this season after tying a franchise-worst record 3-13 last year.
"He just wanted our players to understand how much he appreciates the hard work they've put in, the support they have from ownership, that this is a big season for them," Frazier said of Wilf's message. "He knows that. He recognizes that. And regardless of (what is written) that every guy out here that you're going to have a good season."
Sunday's opponent in the first regular season game, the Jacksonville Jaguars, are a team that is in a very familiar situation to Minnesota's; an unproven head coach, an unproven second-year quarterback, and a star running back trying to find his form after a tumultuous offseason.
The first true test for the Vikings' comes Sunday. Here are five things to watch as Minnesota opens its season at home for the first time since 2007:
1. The battle of 2011 first-round quarterbacks.
Minnesota puts its future in the hands of quarterback Christian Ponder last season, starting him the final 10 games and stating going into the offseason he would be the No. 1 quarterback to start this season. Ponder was the 12th overall pick last year, two spots behind where the Jaguars took Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert started 14 games his rookie season.
The two second-year quarterbacks each struggled during their rookie campaigns, along with their teams. Ponder had a 70.1 quarterback rating, threw as many interceptions as touchdowns (13) and completed 54.3 percent of his passes. Gabbert finished with a league-low 65.4 quarterback rating, threw 12 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and completed 50.8 percent of his passes. Only Denver's Tim Tebow connected on a lower percentage. Despite the struggles, each of their teams have committed to the two, based partially on their lofty draft status.
Both Ponder and Gabbert showed improvement during the preseason, finally benefitting from an offseason. Ponder showed more confidence and was more efficient during the preseason before taking a step back in the third preseason game. He must continue to prove he's grown as the regular season dawns. How the two second-year starters begin the season Sunday could set the tone for the rest of the season and also decide their team's fate.
2. Rookie left tackle against rookie pass rusher.
Ponder's success could partially depend on the protection of the Vikings' first-round pick this year, left tackle Matt Kalil. Kalil was drafted to give the franchise quarterback a long-term blind-side protector, two of the most key components to the future of Minnesota's offense. Kalil was forced to scramble too often last year and is focused on staying in the pocket with better protection from his line.
Kalil, taken No. 4 overall, will be matching up against another highly regarded rookie in his first regular-season start. Andre Branch, who the Jaguars' selected early in the second round, is a 6-foot-4, 259-pound pass-rushing defensive end out of Clemson. Jacksonville tied for 25th in the league in sacks with 31 last season and is counting on Branch to add more pressure. If Kalil and the offensive line can negate Branch and the rest of the offensive line, Ponder could be given time to get off to the strong start the Vikings are hoping for.
3. Who will be running the ball?
Minnesota and the Jaguars are two of the few teams left in the NFL that rely heavily on rushing offenses. Of course, neither team is expected to have its two workhorse running backs at full strength. The Vikings still haven't decided if Adrian Peterson is ready to return from major knee surgery. Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew returned just Sunday from a 38-day holdout in which he missed the entire offseason program as the Jaguars installed a new offensive system. In their place, Minnesota's Toby Gerhart and Jacksonville's Rashad Jennings are expected to get the majority of the carries.
Gerhart and Jennings have flashed in their limited exposure as every-down backs, especially Gerhart who filled in ably for Peterson last year. But how much the star backs Peterson and Jones-Drew play is still to be something to keep an eye on. These two offenses will be running the ball, but who will be the backs making the game-deciding plays when it comes down to it. Right now, the Vikings probably trust their backup more, but Jones-Drew is the likeliest of the star backs to be more involved.
4. Can Minnesota's run defense stop whoever is running the ball for the Jaguars?
The Vikings' defensive players have talked this preseason about their pride in stopping the run and getting back to the mindset that no team can run on them after slipping to 11th in run defense last year. Minnesota gave up 107 yards-per-game on the ground last season and want to return to their days of holding opponents under 100 yards and being the top-ranked team in the league.
The success of new starting defensive tackle Letroy Guion, new middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, and young safeties Mistral Raymond and rookie Harrison Smith will be a factor in stopping the run. The Vikings want to force opposing offenses into being one-dimensional, so they can take advantage of the slew of young quarterbacks they face early in the season.
Of course, Minnesota isn't buying the talk that Jones-Drew, who led the league with 1,606 yards rushing last year, is going to limited to a third-down role and occasional relief of Jennings, as Jacksonville coach Mike Mularkey said earlier this week. The Vikings are preparing for Jones-Drew and the league's leading rusher will be a strong test in the first week for Minnesota's run defense.
5. Who will step up in receiver Jerome Simpson's absence?
Simpson, signed this offseason despite a pending three-game suspension for substance abuse, is the lone starting player for Minnesota unable to play Sunday. The Vikings will need a receiver to step up and fill Simpson's role as a downfield threat and solid second receiver for Ponder, in addition to versatile receiver Percy Harvin.
Michael Jenkins will get the first chance and will start, but Jenkins doesn't have the deep speed that Simpson does. Jenkins is more of a sure-handed outlet for Ponder. Frazier said its likely all of the backup receivers could rotate in to replace Simpson. Devin Aromashodu has the experience in the role starting at the end of last season but has still only flashed occasionally. Ponder needs more, and varying targets to get the most of his potential. A true downfield threat could open the middle of the field and underneath routes for Harvin and tight ends Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson to work.
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