Minicamp gave some indications of how the Vikings were attempting to rectifying defensive shortcomings from the 2000 season. But new coaches and a looming free agency date of June 1 could bring more answers.

The Vikings face a watershed season in 2001. While many point to the banishment of Tampa Bay from the NFC Central as a positive sign for the short-term future, the Vikings have several concerns that they are looking forward to rectifying this season and erasing the 41-0 loss to the Giants that ended what had been a very positive 2000 season.

A lot of observers look at the potential signing of free agent cornerbacks James Hasty or Dale Carter as the primary objective in the next month, but the Vikings defense has many changes that will be addressed — many of which already have.

A couple of changes that may not have been immediately felt but will be were the hirings of Brian Baker to coach the defensive line and Willie Shaw to coach the secondary. Both bring a fire to their positions that were lacking last season and, with John Randle and Tony Williams gone from the d-line, the change will be evidenced in changes on the defensive front.

VU has been told the Vikings are very excited about the prospect of lining up youngsters Chris Hovan and Willie Howard in the middle, although Howard and former defensive end Fernando Smith are currently expected to flip-flop positions at DT and DE. With those two and fellow linemen Lance Johnstone, Talance Sawyer, Fred Robbins and Michael Boireau, the Vikings are stocked with young talent that, if positioned right in Baker’s scheme, could make an immediate impact.

Another position that was thought to be huge void is now being viewed as a competition. With the free agent loss of Dwayne Rudd, the Vikings originally thought former Falcon Craig Sauer would be the answer, but, if minicamp was any indication, Gabe Northern has more than a fair shot of taking that spot away from him.

In the secondary, the Vikings continue to have question marks, but, as more bodies fill positions at the corner spots, everyone has been put on notice that no starting job is assured and that anyone can lose his job at any time. The signing of Carter or Hasty will just add to that competition.

Many may see the defense as the Vikings’ Achilles’ heel preventing them from being a Super Bowl team, but, in many respects, it may be a hidden strength that propels the team to the next level — if the right players in the right spots can produce what the team is convinced they can do.

TUESDAY NOTES
* As of today, there are 41 starters from NFL teams in 2000 that remain free agents. That number will go up by as many as a dozen Friday when the NFL hits its June 1 deadline for the 2000 season. After June 1, if a player is cut, the team can spread out the salary cap hit remaining for that player for two seasons instead of one. For example, when the Vikings cut Randall Cunningham June 2 last season, they were able to spread his $3 million hit over 2000 and 2001 — the team is still paying $1.5 million against the 2001 cap for him.
* Unlike Cunningham, when the Vikings released John Randle and Todd Steussie, they absorbed the full cap hit for those players this season. The end result will be that, following this season, the Vikings will open up about $10 million in more available cap money, most of which is expected to be used on re-signing Randy Moss.
* The Vikings could be looking for bargains in free agency this summer. The salary cap has come home to roost and, with almost half the league in some sort of salary cap malaise, the available money for big contracts simply isn’t there and, if players want to keep NFL jobs, many will have to settle playing for lesser teams with a lot of cash or contenders with little money and sign deals that will pay them league minimum with incentives for performance — how most contracts should be done anyway.