A more nuanced view of the Vikings' loss to the Bucs

After all the "Culpepper sucks" noise dies down, there is at least a chance for some nuanced analysis to appear:

1. Poor Offensive Line Play — The loss of Matt Birk at center has to be one of the largest contributors to poor offensive play on Sunday. Cory Withrow had a terrible game replacing Birk at center. Rookie Marcus Johnson played right guard as bad as any rookie could in the NFL. Culpepper seemed hurried often which resulted in 4 out of 5 turnovers (including 2 forced fumbles and 2 out of 3 interceptions).

2. No Running Game — Okay, as much as the O-Line is to blame, the Vikings tried to establish the passing game early to set up their running game. They started out running Moe Williams. He gains 9 yards on the 1st Vikings possession and they follow with 8 pass plays in the 1st quarter. The 8th pass play was the 1st interception to Bucs CB Brian Kelly. The Vikings never really stuck with their running game at all.

I didn't see the game, and the highlights I did manage to see concentrated on the scoring, as you'd expect. It certainly sounds as if the O-line is a work in progress . . . with quite a ways to go yet.