Camp Competition

For a team seeking to rebound from a 3-13 season you'd expect that the Minnesota Vikings would have a bunch of positions up for grabs. While there is certainly competition at several positions I only see two that are even close to being undecided. Right guard and free safety.

Right guard
Most expect second year Brandon Fusco to win the starting spot. He likely will. He's taken nearly all of the first team snaps through the offseason workouts and opened camp in the top spot. Free agent addition Geoff Schwartz is likely Fusco's main competition. Chris DeGeare and Joe Berger are in the mix as well. Schwartz missed all of last season with the Carolina Panthers with a hip injury. He was slowed a bit in the offseason and is likely just getting healthy. Personally, I'd like to see if Schwartz can play on the left side of the line. I think that this would get more youth and talent on the line as a whole. The additional youth could be the problem. Charlie Johnson seems to have the left guard spot all to himself. The Vikings likely see his experience as a nice thing to have next to rookie left tackle Matt Kalil. Anyway, I like the potential of Schwartz and I'd like to see him on the field. I love the potential of Fusco. He was a center in college at little Slippery Rock. A position change and a huge jump in competition hasn't slowed him down. He's got a mean streak and a ton of talent. The right guard job won't simply be handed to him. He's got to earn it and I think that he will.

Free safety
The free safety/strong safety designations aren't as significant in the Vikings defense. They expect their safeties to play both. I'm not sure if new defensive coordinator Alan Williams plans to continue that philosophy. One thing that is certain is that one safety position was filled when the Vikings traded into the first round to selected Harrison Smith of Notre Dame. The other safety spot is up for grabs. I think that it will come down to second year Mistral Raymond and rookie Robert Blanton. Raymond started a handful of games last season and that likely gives him an early edge. Both players played corner in college which will certainly help the team in coverage. For years safety has been a huge weakness for the Vikings. Huge. Of all the position competitions taking place this one interests and concerns me the most. I finally see some progress and I like it. This competition is tough to call. It's early but I think that Blanton will eventually make it two Notre Dame kids at the back of the Vikings defense. Maybe even sometime this season but I see Raymond leaving camp as the starter.

One other position will have some competition for a whole other reason. Free agent receiver Jerome Simpson was signed to be a deep threat opposite Percy Harvin. Unfortunately Simpson is suspended for the first three games due to a little transgression. There will be competition to see who starts in Simpson's spot during those three games. I'm hoping that second year Stephen Burton or rookie Greg Childs show enough through camp and preseason to grab the spot. I'm also hoping that the Vikings young group of receivers progress to the point where it doesn't matter who starts. Everyone will see the field and be productive.

Competition makes players and teams better. It's a good thing.