Monday Morning Mailbag

Do you have a comment or question? Send it to the vikings.com Mailbag! Every Monday during the offseason we’ll post several comments and/or questions as part of the vikings.com Monday Morning Mailbag feature. Although we can’t post every comment or question, we will reply to every question submitted.

To submit a comment or question to the mailbag, send an email to Mike Wobschall at wobschallm@vikings.nfl.net. Remember to include your name and town on the email.

 

With Greg Jennings as the obvious No. 1 receiver and Jarius Wright in the slot, who will have a bigger impact as the other outside receiver: Cordarrelle Patterson or Jerome Simpson?
-- Ethan M.
Norcross, GA

From what I’ve seen from both players during Organized Team Activities (OTAs), the Vikings should have big plans for both players. Simpson is healthy and should have a better run in Year 2 as a Viking than in Year 1 when he was hampered by injury. Patterson figures to develop into a dynamic offensive weapon as both a receiver and a runner, and while he develops into that role he figures to contribute as a returner right out of the gate.

At this point my sense is Simpson will have the bigger impact right away because it will take Patterson some time to learn the offense and feel comfortable within the scheme and with quarterback Christian Ponder. But as the season progresses I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of these receivers contributing to the passing game.

I think the Vikings should trade RB Toby Gerhart for 2014 draft picks. What do you think? Also, do you think there is a lot of pressure on WR Greg Jennings to be a huge factor for the Vikings this coming season?
-- Jim A.
Madison, WI

I don’t like the idea of trading Gerhart. He has more value to the Vikings than to most other teams, so I don’t think the Vikings would receive trade offers that represent requisite value for trading him away. The Vikings are a power running team with the best running back in the NFL. When your team is built that way, you need to have depth behind that starting running back because if that starter goes down, you’re not going to be able to suddenly change into a high-flying passing offense; you’re going to remain a run-first team, so you better have a reliable runner in the stable who can shoulder the load. That’s what the Vikings have in Gerhart.

As for Jennings, there is pressure on him to contribute in that he was a high-profile free agent signing and in that he’s one of the best receivers in the NFL so there is a higher standard of play expected of him. But outside of that, I don’t sense a ton of pressure on him. Remember, and as I said above, the Vikings are a power running team with the best running back in the NFL, so there isn’t a great deal of pressure on the passing offense to put up gaudy numbers.

I was very happy that we drafted LB Michael Mauti this year. How is his rehab going? And what is his outlook for playing time this season? Thanks for your excellent coverage and take care!
-- Thomas A.
Gordon, NE

I don’t have any commentary to provide on his progression because I don't observe his rehab nor do I know or understand his rehab protocol and timeline. I can say it’s clear to me that Mauti has a positive attitude and has the determination required to make it back to the field at some point this year. Only time will tell if that ends up being the outcome.

Will Robert Blanton be a good candidate to take over the other safety position?
-- Chris L.

Yes, Blanton is a candidate to win a starting position at safety this year. Entering last season the Vikings had a big competition for the starting safety spot next to Harrison Smith, and Mistral Raymond emerged from camp with the job. Jamarca Sanford wound up starting more games (13) and he played well as the starter. Both Raymond and Sanford return and have their eyes on the starting role, but Blanton will be there competing for that job as well.

With this being the last year the Vikings play at Mall of America Field, I will only have one chance to see them take the field in it, and that's if they host the NFC Championship Game. I will be at my Basic Combat Training and AIT from August 2 until mid-January! So here's to a spectacular season and one to remember! Skol Vikings!
Jacob D.
Castlewood, SD

Hope to see you on January 19 at Mall of America Field for the NFC Championship Game!