MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice vowed to
run the ball more this season instead of relying so heavily on the
pass.
After an anemic performance by the running game in Sunday's
24-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that strategy might be out
the window.
The Vikings rushed for just 26 yards on 16 carries against a
stingy Bucs defense.
It was the first game for the Vikings' revamped offensive line,
and the results were not promising. New starters Cory Withrow and
Marcus Johnson looked overwhelmed at times against Tampa's
defensive front.
The rookie Johnson was pulled in the second half in favor of
Adam Goldberg at guard.
"I thought the young guy struggled a little bit," Tice said.
Moe Williams led the team with 15 yards on six carries, nine of
which came on the first play. Michael Bennett had just six carries
for minus-1 yards and Mewelde Moore -- who suffered a mildly
sprained ankle in the second half -- did not play on offense at all.
"I wouldn't have believed this, but it happened today, so we've
got to get better and move on," Bennett said.
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^ON THE BRIGHT SIDE:@ The Vikings' struggles on offense did
allow Tice to get a good look at new punter Chris Kluwe, and Tice
liked what he saw.
Kluwe, who was signed last week to replace struggling veteran
Darren Bennett, averaged 54.3 yards on four punts, the second-best
single-game average in team history. Mitch Berger averaged 55.8
yards against Cincinnati on Nov. 15, 1998.
"The kid went out there and did a nice job," Tice said. "He
looked unrattled and stroked the ball pretty nicely. It comes off
his foot really big. ... Today certainly was very encouraging."
The Vikings' kicking game was strong all around, with Paul
Edinger hitting two field goals, including a 53-yarder that easily
sailed through the uprights.
"I think I proved in the preseason, kicking the last two weeks,
that I could do it," Edinger said.
Tice said he never hesitated to send Edinger out for the long
field goal, a luxury he hasn't had in the past with aging veterans
like Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson.
"I think anything from the 36-yard line and in, I'm not going
to blink," Tice said. "I think he's shown enough consistency from
54 that it doesn't bother me anymore."<
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^GOLDBERG COMES THROUGH:@ While Johnson struggled in his regular
season debut, Goldberg helped right the ship when he entered the
game in the fourth quarter.
With Goldberg in at right guard, Culpepper had a little more
time to throw and the offense was able to sustain a few drives,
something that had not happened for most of the game.
"We made a change with Goldberg and, quite frankly, that seemed
to settle things down a little bit," Tice said.
Johnson was the first rookie to start a season opener at guard
in team history and the sixth offensive lineman overall, joining
center Mick Tingelhoff in 1962, tackle Doug Davis in 1966, tackle
Gary Zimmerman in 1986, tackle Everett Lindsay in 1993 and tackle
Todd Steussie in 1994.<
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^FAMILIAR FACE:@ Chris Hovan was back in the Metrodome on
Sunday, but for the first time, he did not dress in the home locker
room.
The defensive tackle signed with the Bucs in the offseason after
spending his first five seasons with the Vikings.
One of the fan favorites while with the purple, Hovan was booed
regularly on Sunday, especially after he recovered a fumble by
Culpepper.
"It's weird, man," Hovan said. "I felt like a wrestler."
After a strong start to his career, Hovan went out last season
with a whimper, buried on the depth chart behind Kevin Williams and
Spencer Johnson. He said there were no hard feelings about it and
is happy to be playing for Monte Kiffin, one of the best defensive
coordinators in the league.
"What happened here, it's fine," Hovan said. "They moved on,
they made decisions that benefited the organization. I moved down
here to play with one of the top five defenses."<
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^STADIUM UPDATE:@ Vikings executive Lester Bagley said the team
is inching closer to a formal deal with Anoka County on a plan for
a new stadium.
"We're not there yet, but we're not that far off," Bagley
said.
The Vikings are hoping Gov. Tim Pawlenty calls a special session
to consider stadium proposals from the Vikings, Twins and Gophers.
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf could contribute as much as $240 million
toward the project, a considerable increase over previous deals
proposed by former owner Red McCombs.
"My personal belief is this deal is not going to get better for
the state than right now," Bagley said.<
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^QUICK HITS:@ Defensive end Erasmus James, one of two
first-round draft picks by Minnesota, was inactive for the game.
... Moore and tackle Bryant McKinnie both had ankle injuries, but
they weren't considered serious.