The Viking Ship

The Minnesota Vikings released a depth chart today.  Of course at this point, everything is still “fluid” as Brad Childress might say, mostly due to injuries, waiting to see what happens in preseason, and seeing if certain quarterbacks decide to play this season.

Here’s what was released:

OFFENSE

Wide receiver Position 1:
Bernard Berrian, Greg Lewis, Marquis Hamilton, Logan Payne/Marko Mitchell, Freddie Brown

Left tackle:
Bryant McKinnie, Pat Brown, Chris Clark

Left guard:
Steve Hutchinson, Chris DeGeare, Adrian Battles

Center:
John Sullivan, Jon Cooper

Right guard:
Anthony Herrera, Ryan Cook, Thomas Austin

Right tackle:
Phil Loadholt, Drew Radovich, Bill Noethlich

Tight end:

Fourth Stringer?

Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser, Jeff Dugan, Garrett Mills/Mickey Shuler

Wide receiver Position 2:
Percy Harvin, Jaymar Johnson, Taye Biddle, Ray Small

Quarterback:
Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, Joe Webb, Brett Favre (did not report to camp list)

Fullback:
Naufahu Tahi, Ryan D’Imperio

Running back:
Adrian Peterson, Albert Young, Toby Gerhart/Darius Reynaud, Ian Johnson/Ryan Moats

DEFENSE

Left end:
Ray Edwards, Jayme Mitchell, Mike Montgomery

Nose tackle:
Pat Williams, Jimmy Kennedy, Fred Evans

Under tackle:
Kevin Williams, Letroy Guion, Tremaine Johnson

Right end:
Jared Allen, Brian Robison, Everson Griffen

Strong-side linebacker:
Chad Greenway, Heath Farwell, Kenny Onatolu

Middle linebacker:
E.J. Henderson, Jasper Brinkley, J Leman

Weak-side linebacker:
Ben Leber, Erin Henderson, Nate Triplett

Left cornerback:
Antoine Winfield, Benny Sapp, Chris Cook

Right cornerback:
Asher Allen, Lito Sheppard, DeAndre Wright, Marcus Sherels

Strong safety:
Tyrell Johnson, Jamarca Sanford, Eric Frampton

Free safety:
Madieu Williams, Husain Abdullah, Colt Anderson

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter:
Chris Kluwe

Kicker:
Ryan Longwell, Rhys Lloyd

Long snapper:
Cullen Loeffler, Jared Allen

Kickoffs:
Ryan Longwell, Rhys Lloyd

Holder:
Chris Kluwe

Kick returner:
Percy Harvin, Darius Reynaud, Jaymar Johnson

Punt returner:
Darius Reynaud, Jaymar Johnson, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian

There are no big surprises, really.  Sidney Rice isn’t listed on the chart because of injuries.  He will likely be in front of Percy Harvin on the second list of receivers.  Brett Favre is listed as a fourth string QB, but of course that’s just because he didn’t go to camp.  As soon as he steps foot inside the Vikings practice facility next week (Uh… I mean, IF he does, of course), he’ll be the first string guy.

There are a couple things that did surprise me a little bit, though.

For one, Longwell is still listed under “kickoffs”.  Again, this is not a final Week One depth chart, but I wonder if there has been a change of heart as far as keeping two kickers on the roster?  Could it have something to do with wanting Joe Webb to be on the active roster?  If the Vikings want to be able to use Webb not only as their third string quarterback, but also a wide receiver/wildcat guy, they have to list him on the game-day active roster (as opposed to listing him as an emergency QB).  I don’t see the Vikings wanting to do that if they also have two roster spots taken by kickers.

Of course that’s just speculation.

Another minor surprise is that Asher Allen is currently listed above Lito Sheppard and Chris Cook.  Of course if Griffin is healthy, he’ll have the 2nd corner spot, but even though I knew that spot would be up for grabs between these three guys, seeing Allen’s name on the top of the depth chart surprises me a little.

Listing both Brian Robison and Everson Griffen behind Jared Allen (who NEVER takes plays off, it seems) seems like a waste of potential pass rushing ability, but I’m sure the Vikings will find ways to work them into the rotation.

A potentially interesting note is that Albert Young is listed as the second string running back in front of rookie Toby Gerhart.  I’m still holding out hope that the Vikings will be creative with Gerhart because of his size and use him as more of a RB/FB hybrid.  But… I know that I shouldn’t hold my breath with that one.