Sep 3rd 2008 8:24AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Vikings, NFC North
Bryant McKinnie’s four-game suspension couldn’t have come at a worse time.
There’s never a good time to lose your above-average left tackle, but Artis Hicks is going to have to face Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers and Kyle Vanden Bosch. Four weeks, four Pro Bowl defensive ends. Could you draw up four tougher tests for the new left tackle?
The good news is that KGB is battling a knee problem and may miss Monday’s game–which would give Hicks a week to get comfortable before a trio of tough tests, but it is safe to say that Hicks’ success or failure will play a large role in determining if the Vikings get off to a fast start.
The Vikings will likely to a lot to help Hicks–Jim Kleinsasser might get some extra playing time for some double-team help and the Vikings will likely chip the defensive ends with a running back. Tarvaris Jackson has a lot of weaknesses, but his escapability will come in very handy over the next four weeks.
