OK everyone … let’s say the reports are true and Brett Favre isn’t coming back.

What’s next?

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, who handles color commentary duties for Vikings preseason games, is our man on the ground at training camp and spent some time with coach Brad Childress this morning after practice. Mayock believes Tarvaris Jackson would be the unquestioned starter without Favre, and offered his take on what the Vikings’ offense would look like.

“It’s a Super Bowl roster with qualified play at the quarterback position,” Mayock said. “It’s going to look different than it did a year ago. You’re going to have to rely on defense, and they have a great defense.

“I believe Adrian Peterson is going to get more touches than in any time during his career. He carried it a little bit more than 300 times last year with a fair amount of receptions. I think he could get 400 touches this year. What that really means is they’re going to have to get conservative. We hate the term ‘manage the game.’ But that’s what Jackson is going to have to do. He’s going to have to take care of the football, he’s going to have to make plays when the defense gives him an opportunity to make plays.

“They’re going to have to be a lot more creative with Jackson, and a lot more conservative on defense.”

Posted in: NFL Network  | comments  |