European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 27, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday August 27, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 23 vikes out to seize Bear country byjoe Mooshil Chicago a whether coach Jerry Burns decides on Tommy Kramer or Wade Wilson As his Start ing quarterback the Minnesota Vikings could put an end to the Chicago bears domination in the Central division of the National football conference. Burns would rather ignore predictions that the Vikings Are favored to keep the bears from winning a fifth straight divisional title but he does admit the Chal Lenge is there. The players have shown they have ability. They just have to do it every week against All  the bears appear vulnerable. After seasons of 15-1 and the super bowl championship in 1985 and 14-2 in 1986, the bears slipped to 11-4 last season. And for the second straight year they were knocked out of the playoffs in the first game. The Vikings finished three games behind the bears with an 8-7 record that included an 0-3 record by the strike replacement team. They advanced to the pfc championship game by defeating new Orleans 44-10 and san Francisco 36-24 before losing to eventual super bowl Champion Washington 17-10. Pfc Central preview Green Bay packers Minnesota Vikings it does t make any Dif Ference who plays Quarter Back the Viking offence seems to be equally effective behind Kramer or Wilson. Burns also has an excellent quarterback in Rich Gannon. After the season i called All three in one by one and told each the quarterback position is wide open said Burns who might not make a final decision until the opener at Buffalo. Anthony Carter who caught 38 passes for 922 Yards and 7 touchdowns leads an outstanding receiving corps that also includes Leo Lewis. Damn Nelson led the team in Rush ing and . Dozier was the designated scorer with his 42 Points. The defense keeps improving and was ranked 10th in the league. Moving Chris Doleman from linebacker to defensive end strengthened the Vikings pass Rush. But dethroning the bears in t going to be easy. The team that wins the division title will have to dominate the other opponents in the division namely the Green Bay packers Tampa Bay buccaneers and Detroit Lions. The bears hold a 29-2 record against divisional rivals Over the last four years. Last year 8-7 0-3 strike. Beat new Orleans 44-10 in pfc wild card game beat san Francisco 36-24 in divisional playoff lost to Washington 17 10 in pfc championship game. Strengths defensive line and linebackers pass Rush running backs and wide receivers. Weaknesses secondary. Kicking game. Quarterback uncertainty. Key players lbs Wade Wilson Tommy Kramer of Gary Zimmerman holdout de Chris Doleman it Keith Mil lard or Anthony Carter re Darrin Nelson holdout. New or emerging faces g Randall Mcdaniel first round pick second year re . Dozier second Yearb Rich Gannon third year or Hassan Jones. Prediction first in Divi Sion Good shot at super bowl. Chicago bears Wilber Marshall is gone to the redskins Willie Gault to the raiders and Walter Payton to the executive suite. Dan Hamp ton Mike Singletary and Steve Mcmichael Are All past 30 and Jimbo Covert and Keith Van Home Are aching. The Chicago bears re main a Good team if they were in the acc they d be a super bowl contender. But the emergence of the Vikings makes them second Choice in the Divi Sion they be dominated since 1984 even if Jim Mcmahon does stay healthy. Not that the bears will be Pushover. Ron Rivera nobody s Patsy will replace Marshall there s Little sign Singletary is slowing Down and William Perry May be Back sooner than expected. The offence May be better assuming Covert and Van Home can get Back and Mcmahon stays healthy. Rookie Brad Muster teaming with Neal Anderson Thomas Sanders and Dennis Gentry should together compensate for Payton s absence and the Young receivers were Good enough to make Gault expendable. This is the Best group we be had in a Long time last year 11-4 2-1 strike. Won division. Lost 21 17 to Washington in divisional playoff. Strengths running Back quarterback if Jim Mcmahon stays healthy receivers Young wide receivers. Weaknesses aging defensive line Gap at linebacker left by Marshall secondary offensive line injuries. Key players a a Jim Mcmahon mob Mike Singletary do Dan Hampton Steve Mcmichael re Neal Anderson c Jay Hilgenberg s Dave Duer son of Timbo Covert injured. New or emerging play ers re Brad Muster or Wendell Davis two first round picks second year or Ron Morris. Prediction after Waltzing to a division title the last three years a Good bet for second. May even have to fight for wild card playoff spot. Rick a. Kolodzie Jno matter who s throwing Anthony Carter hangs on. Coach Mike Ditka says of second year Man Ron Morris Dennis Mckinnon and Rookie Wendell Davis. He likes Rookie tight end Jim Thornton and first round draft picks Muster a fullback and Davis a wide receiver. He s going to use different alignments in the defensive Backfield which includes Dave Duerson Shaun Gayle Vestee Jackson Maurice Douglass Reg Gie Phillips and Mike Richardson. I can go to War with these Guys said Ditka. Still there May be too Many question Marks to hold off Minnesota. Last year 5-9-1 21 strike. Strengths running Back potential linebacker wide receivers. Weaknesses too few Good players key players was Phillip Epps and Walter Stanley re Kenneth Davis of Ken Ruettgers lbs Brian Noble and Tim Harris new or emerging faces or Sterling Sharpe. No. 1 pick. Head coach Lindy Infante. Prediction third fourth or fifth in division take your pick. But if Detroit or Tampa Bay show much improvement. The pack May finish in the . The packers finished third with a 5-9-1 record and have a new coach in Lindy Infante who has made Randy Wright his quarterback Over Marc Wilson and Don maj Kowski. Elsewhere Infante sees improvement to such an extent that he said i Hon Estly feel there s a Light at the end of the Tunnel and i Don t think it s a train  the previously shaky Packer defense allowed Only 300 Points last season a surprising fifth bust in the league. Generally i like the Way the defense played last year said Infante. For us to be competitive we need to be in the upper third in nil  despite the acquisition of Wilson who was traumatized in los Angeles Infante will Start the season with Wright at quarterback. He also has to Hope that last year s top pick Brent Fullwood becomes a full time player. Wright will team up with some outstanding receivers including Phillip Epps Walter Stanley and Rookie Ster Ling Sharpe the team s no. 1 draft pick. Detroit Lions last year 4-11 1-2 strike. Strengths new front of fice outside linebackers. Weaknesses receivers defensive line pass Rush. Key players la Jimmy Williams p Jim Arnold re James Jones new or emerging faces s Bennie Blades no. 1 pick la Chris Spielman no. 2 third year quarterback Chuck Long. Prediction see Green Bay. Although the Lions finished 4-11, they won two of their last three and coach Darryl Rogers Hopes to use the Strong finish As a foundation for this season. There is no guessing game at quarterback for the Lions. Chuck Long in his first full season put up some impressive num Bers. He completed 232 of 416 attempts for 2,598 Yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 20 interceptions. When healthy the Lions have a Good offensive line that allowed Only 17 sacks in 12 games. James Jones and Garry James when healthy provide a solid running attack. On defense the Lions need a turnaround from last year s first round pick defensive end Reggie Rogers who had a troubled season off and on the Field. If he comes around he should help linebackers Jimmy Wil Liams and Michael Cofer Anchor the defense. Coach Rogers is concerned about the secondary which he Calls a serious question Mark. We need greater production from our defensive  Tampa Bay buccaneers Vinnie Testaverde is the name of the game at Tampa Bay. Coach Ray Perkins traded away Steve Deberg the team s Lead ing passer last year before Testaverde took Over in the final month of the sea son. Vinny showed me All the qualities i thought he had said Perkins. He has great poise and exceptional feel for the game. He needs to refine some mechanical things and continue to gain  despite their 4-11 record last season the Buccaneer went from last in the nil in defense to 16th in one season. That s the kind of improvement Perkins would like to see on offence and he s going to have to rely on Young people. Paul Gruber a 290-Pound tackle from Wisconsin was the no. 1 draft Choice. He will be there to help protect Testaverde. He should be one of those rare rookies who can play in his first nil season said Perkins. He is one of the Best big athletes i be Ever seen. We have a Good nucleus a Good foundation. Now is the time to build on  tomorrow pfc West last year 4-11 2-1 strike. Strengths youth particularly at quarterback and wide receiver. Weaknesses Lack of depth and inexperience. Key players a a Vinny Testaverde re James Wilder k Donald Igwe Buike. New or emerging faces of Paul Gruber no. 1 pick. Lbs Winston Moss Ervin Randle second year wide receivers Bruce Hill and Mark Carrier. Prediction see Green Bay and Detroit