Photo - Aj Mansour (KFAN)
By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjMansourKFAN
Mankato, MN - With one day left in camp and three days before preseason game number two, the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff continues to mix and match players as they try to get a feel for the players they have. With their home, preseason debut only a few days away some sort of rotation is starting to take place. Here is how the offensive side of the ball is breaking down heading out of Training Camp including a list of who's got the most to prove at each position in preseason game number two.
Quarterback:
1. Christian Ponder
2. Joe Webb
3. Sage Rosenfels
4. McLeod Bethel-Thompson
The official, unofficial depth chart hasn't changed much for the quarterbacks but after McLeod Bethel-Thompson saw third team action in preseason game number one the Vikings will take a good look at the veteran, Sage Rosenfels with the third team in game number two. Ponder is still the clear favorite but Joe Webb's struggles through camp have left question marks surrounding the depth that the team has at QB - MOST TO PROVE - Joe Webb.
Running back:
1. Adrian Peterson
2. Toby Gerhart
3. Lex Hilliard
4. Jerome Felton
5. Jordan Todman
6. Derrick Coleman
With Adrian Peterson officially off of the PUP list he instantly grabs the number one spot. Although the coaches have already said that he won't see time in preseason game two, Peterson is on the mend and should be ready to play next week. Jordan Todman tried to get back into the mix on Tuesday after spraining his ankle last week but tweaked the ankle and came up lame again. Todman turned heads early in camp but the ankle injury has really hurt his chances to make this team. Even though he won't play in this week's game, Adrian Peterson has to be the player with the most to prove as he continues to prove doubters wrong on his recovery from ACL surgery - MOST TO PROVE - Adrian Peterson.
Fullback:
1. Jerome Felton
2. Ryan D'Imperio
3. Rhett Ellison
4. Matt Asiata
As they continue to install the offensive playbook and Adrian Peterson comes back into the mix, the fullbacks are seeing less and less time. That said, it appears as if Felton has a clear grasp on the number one spot while Rhett Ellison and Ryan D'Imperio are in a close fight for the second FB position. With Ellison entering his rookie season and trying to find whether he belongs with this team as a TE or a FB he becomes the player with the most to prove at the FB position - MOST TO PROVE - Rhett Ellison.
Wide Receivers (wide set):
1. Jerome Simpson
2. Michael Jenkins
3. Stephen Burton
4. Devin Aromashodu
5. Bryan Walters
6. Emmanuel Arceneaux
7. A.J. Love
Jerome Simpson continues to top the list on wide set receivers but as the team prepares for Simpson's three-game suspension, they will begin to phase him out during the final three preseason games as they look for his replacement. Michael Jenkins renegotiated his contract last week making it much more likely (but not guaranteed) that he makes the squad. The player shooting up the depth chart so far this camp has been Stephen Burton. Continually turning heads and proving that he can be consistent, Burton has earned the #3 (maybe #2) spot on this list as of today. With Simpson down until week four, Burton has a great opportunity to establish his future with the Vikings leaving him with the most to prove - MOST TO PROVE - Stephen Burton.
Wide Receivers (slot):
1. Percy Harvin
2. Kerry Taylor
3. Jarius Wright
No doubt about Percy Harvin topping this list but rookie Jarius Wright is quickly establishing his value with the team. A fourth round selection, Wright has been put on punt return and kick return duties as well as seeing more time in the slot as a receiver. With Wright's value growing Kerry Taylor, although #2 on the depth chart, has the most to prove - MOST TO PROVE - Kerry Taylor.
Tight End:
1. Kyle Rudolph
2. Allen Reisner
3. Rhett Ellison
4. Mickey Shuler
Leslie Frazier said that John Carlson could return to the field as early as next week so this may be the final week for some of these guys to make a splash. Kyle Rudolph continues to impress and Rhett Ellison is surely a coaches favorite. Opportunities may be had when Carlson returns and the Vikings re-establish the two tight end set. Rounding out the list, Mickey Shuler has the most to prove as rookie Rhett Ellison may be taking his spot on the roster.
Right Tackle:
1. Phil Loadholt
2. Austin Pasztor
3. Kevin Murphy
4. Levi Horn
Until Geoff Schwartz returns from hernia surgery, the job is all Loadholt's and there is not much depth behind him. Pasztor has a clear edge over Murphy but still has a lot of room between himself and Loadholt. Coming off of two down seasons, Phil Loadholt enters a contract year making him the player with the most to prove - MOST TO PROVE - Phil Loadholt.
Right Guard:
1. Brandon Fusco
2. Patrick Brown
3. Bridger Buche
The thought of Brandon Fusco being handed the right guard job should make you a little nervous. He's an unproven center from Arkansas-Little Rock who is entering his second year in the NFL but when Geoff Schwartz went down with an injury, Fusco became the front runner for RG. The coaches have admitted that there is still a lot that they are looking to see from Fusco, primarily how he will handle seeing a 4-3 front on Friday night. All of these things make Brandon Fusco the player with the most to prove at RG - MOST TO PROVE - Brandon Fusco.
Center:
1. John Sullivan
2. Joe Berger
3. Quentin Saulsberry
There's not much up in the air at the center position. John Sullivan has the number one spot nailed down and Joe Berger's value as a backup G and C keeps him on the squad. That leaves Quentin Saulsberry as the only one with much to prove - MOST TO PROVE - Quentin Saulsberry.
Left Guard:
1. Charlie Johnson
2. Joe Berger
3. Chris DeGeare
4. Grant Cook
5. Tyler Holmes
Charlie Johnson moves back to LG this season with a chip on his shoulder. So far through camp he's looked tough and mean at the LG position. While DeGeare is filling in with the second team at LG he is also mixing in at RG to push Brandon Fusco. That said, the LG spot is Johnson's and with all the negativity coming from last season Charlie Johnson is the player with the most to prove at the left guard position - MOST TO PROVE - Charlie Johnson.
Left Tackle:
1. Matt Kalil
2. Charlie Johnson
3. Kevin Murphy
4. Tyler Holmes
Rookie LT Matt Kalil briefly left the field earlier this week with an injured thumb. While the MRI came back negative and Kalil returned to finish practice, the shift that went on in his absence was notable. With Kalil down, Charlie Johnson moved over to LT and Joe Berger was input at LG. Kalil is healthy and expected to start against a good Buffalo defensive line. Still a rookie, that leaves Matt Kalil as the player with the most to prove at LT - MOST TO PROVE - Matt Kalil.
