Adjustments to be made with Favre's new receivers
Brett Favre returned to the Minnesota Vikings primarily for two reasons. One was the great chance the team has going into this season to be Super Bowl contenders. The other is the strong bond he formed with the team and the chemistry he formed with the offence. Now he’ll have to form chemistry again with the altered receiving corps he has heading into the season.
The Vikings injuries have hit their receiving corps the most thus far. Their number one wide out Sidney Rice will be sidelined for eight weeks after undergoing hip surgery. Second-year sensation Percy Harvin’s status cannot be certain with his ongoing migraine problems. Right off the bat that takes away two primary offensive weapons.
In light of these injuries, the Vikings went out and acquired Favre’s former teammate from Green Bay in Javon Walker. Just a day later they traded for Greg Camarillo, who has been an excellent possession receiver for the Miami Dolphins. Right off the bat that means Favre’s receiving corps will look different then he had anticipated before his return.
"Not a lot different than last year as far as chemistry is concerned," Favre said. "It would have been nice to come in and go to bat with the guys that we finished with last year, but that is part of football. Every coach will say the same thing. Regardless of who is put in there we have to play the same way."
Favre’s only healthy receivers from last year are Bernard Berrian and Greg Lewis. The good news is he has had success with Walker. When the two were Packers in 2004, Walker caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. They’ll have to rediscover that chemistry early with Favre’s favourite target in Rice out for possibly half of the season.
Camarillo has his upside as well. Last season, he put up respectable numbers at 50 receptions for 552 yards. He’s a sure-handed receiver as he did not drop a single pass last season. Now he’ll get the opportunity to play with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Favre.
There is still uncertainty as the 40-year-old quarterback heads into his 20th season. As impressive as his 2009 campaign was, it will be very difficult to duplicate that season. The Vikings were primarily a running team before Favre arrived but last year they quickly transitioned from being a run-first team to a pass-first team. That led to newfound success as they went all the way to the NFC Championship game.
This year the Vikings will need running back Adrian Peterson to stay consistent and put a stop to his fumbling habits. Peterson fumbled seven times, losing six. That will have to change this year to make the job easier for Favre and the altered receiving corps, at least for the early part of the season. Don’t forget that Favre himself is still recovering from off-season ankle surgery and if he’s forced to carry the load early that may lead to him wearing out down the stretch. Peterson will have to prove whether he’s the best running back in the league or not. If he can’t Favre’s job will be tougher and so winning games will be tougher as well.
Meanwhile Favre will have to adjust to the new receiving corps for now. The Vikings will need other players to fill the void and keep the Vikings playing to the level they’re capable of.
"Without Sidney, it sure makes it tougher," Favre said."But going into the season last year, no one expected the season that Sidney was going to have. So, maybe there's another guy that can step up and do that."
Tags: