Sid Hartman: Bevell impressed by Vikings QBs

[VikAiRious]

The Vikings have five quarterbacks on their roster: Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte, Brooks Bollinger, John David Booty and Kyle Wright.

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is impressed with how hard all five have worked this offseason.

"We have great competition going on there, and they all look better because of how well the guys are beginning to know the system, where the ins and outs are and going where they need to with the ball," Bevell said.

"I think they're doing a great job. They've come in, they've worked hard, they've picked up the system well and it's just a matter of getting reps for them right now, with the number of quarterbacks we have."

Bollinger played in five games last year, starting one. Little has been said about Bollinger's chances when it comes to making the team this fall, but Bevell has a lot of respect for the 28-year-old North Dakota native.

"Bollinger is the ultimate professional," said Bevell, who like Bollinger won a Rose Bowl for Wisconsin. "He competes hard every opportunity he gets and he's going to compete all the way to the end, and the chips will fall where they may."

Most in the media believe that the three quarterbacks who will survive will be Jackson, Frerotte and Booty. Frerotte was signed as a free agent this offseason, and Booty was a fifth-round choice in this year's NFL draft out of Southern California.

But Bevell said those decisions won't be made until training camp.

"You just have to let it play out," Bevell said. "[Bollinger] will fight all the way to the end and we'll see what happens."

Bevell is impressed with Fre- rotte, who is entering his 15th NFL season and second stint with the Vikings.

"He's a true professional. He comes in and picks up the system quickly, goes where he's supposed to with the ball, has the answers, throws a nice ball, he's accurate, he has the ability to move around a little bit," Bevell said. "You can see why he's won all those games.
"He's got years of experience on him, which will help Tarvaris and the young guys. But also, if we need him to, he can step right in and he'll perform well."

As for Jackson, the consensus is that the 25-year-old starter has shown great improvement.

"He's light years better right now, but it's in practice," Bevell said. "You have to be able to carry it over to the field, so we've got another process of training camp, and then we'll take it to the field.

"I see improvement in every area, whether it's the mental part, whether it's his leadership skills or how he's carrying himself, where he's going with the ball -- I see improvement everywhere."

If you want my opinion, the presence of a veteran quarterback such as Brad Johnson was beneficial for the young quarterbacks in past seasons. Frerotte will do the same for Jackson and the other QBs.

Jottings
Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, said the team expects to renew about 90 percent of its season tickets from last year and reach a total of some 55,000, below the 61,000 that were sold during the Randy Moss days. However, they have sold 3,000 new season tickets. The Vikings will have a number of five-game packages that go on sale Tuesday. The Vikings have a two-game package consisting of the Packers and Seahawks games, with some 500 already sold. LaCroix said high-definition television has become so good that it has impeded the selling of season tickets.