Change

The Minnesota Vikings were 5-10-1 in 2013. They weren't very good. Josh Freeman even started a game at quarterback. That game was a disaster on Monday Night Football. Leslie Frazier coached the team. A trio of quarterbacks led the team on the field. Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, and Freeman. They did close the season with three wins in the their final five games. Perhaps in an effort to save Frazier's job. It didn't work. Nearly everything has changed in Minnesota since that 2013 season.

Here's the 2013 Vikings roster.

WR  Greg Jennings
  T    Matt Kalil
  G   Charles Johnson
  C   John Sullivan
  G   Bradnon Fusco
  T    Phil Loadholt
 TE  John Carlson
 WR Jerome Simpson
 QB  Christian Ponder
 RB  Adrian Peterson
 FB  Jerome Felton

 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   Jamarca Sanford
   S   Andrew Sendejo

Injuries knocked out starting tight end Kyle Rudolph and safety Harrison Smith for about half the season. Even with those players in place this is a team that is destined to struggle. A lot had to change. It started with the hiring of Mike Zimmer as head coach a few weeks after the season finally came to an end. He brought a new attitude and direction. He gave general manager Rick Spielman the blue prints for the team that he wanted to put on the field and it didn't include a lot of the players that were on the roster. Spielman and his personnel people went out and found the players that would fit. The Vikings roster has undergone a nearly complete turnover in only two years, Here's a (too early) look at a projected lineup for the 2016 season.

WR  Stefon Diggs
  T    Matt Kalil
  G   Alex Boone
  C   John Sullivan
  G   Bradnon Fusco
  T    Andre Smith
 TE  Kyle Rudolph
 WR Laquon Treadwell
 QB  Teddy Bridgewater
 RB  Adrian Peterson
 FB  Zach Line

 DE  Everson Griffen
 DT  Sharrif Floyd
 DT  Linval Joseph
 DE  Danielle Hunter
 LB  Chad Greenway
 LB   Eric Kendricks
 LB   Anthony Barr
 CB  Xavier Rhodes
 CB  Trae Waynes
   S   Harrison Smith
   S   Michael Griffin

Four offensive starters from 2013 are projected starters today. Five, if Phil Loadholt can return from the injury that wiped out his 2015 season and win the right tackle competition with Andre Smith. Only Chad Greenway remains as a starter on defense and he'll be facing the most serious competition of his career for the spot.

That's a lot of change in only two years. Even the coaching staff has had a nearly complete makeover. Only special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, special teams assistant Ryan Ficken, receivers coach George Stewart and running backs coach Kevin Stefanski remain from Frazier's staff. And Stefanski coached tight ends for Frazier. Stefanski has some true Vikings staying power. His tenure with the team dates back to the Brad Childress' first year in 2006.

A lot has changed since 2013. Even the stadium. That 2013 Vikings team played in the Metrodome. That piece-o-shit was blown up not long after that 2013 season ended. Much like the team. The Minnesota Vikings will open the beautiful US Bank Stadium this season.

So much change. The biggest change has been the excitement and hope for the Vikings. Now and for the future. Everything started turning in the right direction when Rick Spielman tapped Mike Zimmer as the Vikings head coach in January of 2014.