This week of practices for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama are very important in terms of the future of the Minnesota Vikings. It's a chance to get a sneak peek at fresh meat and maybe some players we'll draft to make us better.

I need an offseason theme for this year, Last year it was "the 2012 offseason is about CHRISTIAN PONDER" and making sure enough talent was put around him to help us win more than three freaking games. MATT KALIL, JEROME SIMPSON, JOHN CARLSON, JARIUS WRIGHT, RHETT ELLISON and GREG CHILDS were housed in hopes of doing just that. It's not like our passing offense made the Packers blush, but we did make some big plays via the air down the stretch, and better is expected next year from our third-year guy. The running game was the best in the NFL.

Themes. In 2009 "The pieces were in place." In 2010 and '11 "The place went to pieces." Last year was Ponder. Off 10-and-6 this year means we need to add a few components to increase the win total by at least a game and win the division. Can't come up with a catchy theme name off that, and suggestions are invited to pa@kfan.com.

The week of the Senior Bowl should help, and our Recon Master WOBBY is in Mobile and will join the show the next three days. COREY CHAVOUS of draftnasty.com is on for a couple of segs tomorrow, and his team, too, is in Mobile. We need names and scenarios, and it all begins on the radio tomorrow.

Wobby gave you 10 on which to chew through Vikings.com the other day, and this is a steamy place to start. Heard good things today about a Georgia DE who supposedly is dominating. Also heard some stuff on a Cal CB and some receiver from SomethingCalled ELON. We'll get the names tomorrow.

I feel this week is more important than the Scouting Combine in Indy because there's actual combat taking place. The Combine has its pluses, but one also can be sold a proverbial bill of goods (TROY WILLIAMSON).

At this stage of the equation and off 10 wins I am thinking CB, LB, WR and DL depth. There's no guarantee freebies JASPER BRINKLEY and ERIN HENDERSON are back with us, which means 23 could go the way of a stud LB.

At CB I'd like WINFIELD to return and am excited to see JOSH ROBINSON in his second year, but AJ JEFFERSON and/or CHRIS COOK didn't do much for me. AJ was picked on and was on the wrong side of too many completions, and Chris rarely sticks out negatively but also never produces the splash plays. Not sure what to think of him, but that he has zero picks during his tumultuous career is starting to bug me.

As mentioned/written I hope they bring back Jerome Simpson and give him another try. His bad foot buzzkilled the season and I know there's better to be had. The hope, too, is PERCY HARVIN is back with the team, and I still am not sure what to think of that ordeal.

Thus, at 23 and maybe via Senior Bowl practices we find a cool WR -- AARON DOBSON from Marshall? -- and make it easier to spread out defenses. This is a very fun time of the year in the NFL because the best are playing in the Super Bowl and the 30 left out are hoping to turn the frown upside down by uncovering gems in Mobile. That's where we learned HARRISION SMITH had to wear our colors last year, and he had a very solid rookie campaign.