Throwback Thursday: That Was Then. This Is Now.

Last year the Minnesota Vikings opened the season with this starting lineup:

WR Greg Jennings
LT   Matt Kalil
LG  Charlie Johnson
  C  John Sullivan
RG  Brandon Fusco
RT  Phil Loadholt
TE  Kyle Rudolph
WR Jerome Simpson
QB Christian Ponder
RB  Adrian Peterson
FB  Jerome Felton
 K   Blair Walsh

DE  Jared Allen
DT  Kevin Williams
DT  Letroy Guion
DE  Brian Robison
LB  Chad Greenway
LB  Erin Henderson
LB  Marvin Mitchell
CB Chris Cook
CB Josh Robinson
  S  Harrison Smith
  S  Jamarca Sanford
  P  Jeff Locke

There are a couple of positions that have yet to be written in ink (safety and middle linebacker) but it looks like the Vikings will open the 2014 season with a lineup that looks a little something like this:

WR Greg Jennings
LT   Matt Kalil
LG  Charlie Johnson
  C  John Sullivan
RG  Brandon Fusco
RT  Phil Loadholt
TE  Kyle Rudolph
WR Cordarrelle Patterson
QB  Matt Cassel
RB  Adrian Peterson
FB  Jerome Felton
 K   Blair Walsh

DE Everson Griffen
DT Shariff Floyd
DT Linval Joseph
DE Brian Robison
LB Chad Greenway
LB Jasper Brinkley
LB  Anthony Barr
CB Xavier Rhodes
CB Captain Munnerlyn
  S  Harrison Smith
  S  Chris Crocker
  P  Jeff Locke

There isn't much change on the offensive side of the ball although the two changes are significant. Matt Cassel in for Christian Ponder at quarterback is pretty significant. Second-year receiver Cordarrelle Patterson could emerge as one of the most explosive and dangerous football players in the league. The defense is nearly completely remade. This is a very good thing as the Vikings defense was terrible last year. Brian Robison, Chad Greenway, and Harrison Smith are the only returning starters from that disaster.

Audie Cole and Robert Blanton could emerge as the starters at middle linebacker and safety, respectively.

The coaches are mostly new this year as well.