Jeremy: Vikings quick thoughts

Yes, I know, I've been MIA for a little while here, I'm sorry, it's a busy time of year... LAY OFF ME, JEFF!!!
Okay, after watching the Vikings game on Sunday I've got some thoughts about the team that I'd like to out into the air...
*First, the defense gave another fine effort. It's hard to win football games when your offense only outscores the opponent's defense 3-2, and that's only if you call a field goal an offensive score. For our defense to give up only one touchdown and a total of 16 points to the Steelers is a nice effort. For our offense to score only 3 points (again, depending on your definition) and to give up two points on a safety is inexcusable. Is there still anyone out there who thinks that Brad Johnson is the reason for the 6 game winning streak?
*About Brad: a few weeks ago I said that the biggest difference between BJ and Daunte was that Johnson wasn't going to beat you by making mistakes. Well Sunday that theory went right out the window. Brad Johnson did on Sunday against the Steelers exactly what got Daunte into trouble during the first half of the season: when faced with playing from behind and leading an offense that was overmatched he tried to do too much. This is exactly the situation that we don't want to have Brad Johnson in. Brad is supposed to be the calm, cool and collected veteran leader that Daunte hasn't quite developed into yet. Brad Johnson does not have the physical skills to pull off the kind of plays he was trying to muster up on Sunday, and he doesn't have the physical stamina to withstand the onslaught of hits he was taking. Let's all hope the Brad Johnson we saw on Sunday is back on the shelf for the rest of the season.
*Now that I'm done bashing BJ... this isn't all his fault. The problem with the Vikings offense on Sunday was the same problem we've been seeing most of the season: lack of a consistent running game. The fact that Mike Tice is still rotating Bennett and Moore is beyond me. Look, it's well documented on this site by both Jeff and I that we are Mewelde Moore fans, but even if Mike Tice isn't, for the love of Ontario JUST PICK SOMEBODY. It may have been a moot point on Sunday because I don't know that we were going to be able to run up the middle OR outside against the Steelers, but being able to establish some kind of running game certainly would have helped, perhaps, neutralize some of the blitzing that we were facing.
*Looking forward, I agree with Jeff, it's probably a good idea that we draft a quarterback (By the way, I read this today on Pro Sports Daily: "There's talk in Minneapolis that Miami might discuss a trade with the Vikings about QB Daunte Culpepper, who likes Dolphins and ex-Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.") But in my opinion the most glaring deficiency on this offense is, again, the lack of a consistent running game. Look, the Vikings are going to be $22 million under the salary cap in the off-season. In my opinion very little of this money needs to be spent on defense. We absolutely MUST use this money to try to land a big-time running back. No more band-aids, no more fill-ins, no more rotation of mediocre backs. We need an every down, 20-carries/game but 35/game if you need it, carry-the-workload, big-time kind of back that is a threat both on the ground and receiving out of the backfield. There will be a few RB's available that could fit that roll, and we need to try to get in the sweepstakes for these guys and throw some serious dough at them. Edgerrin James and Shaun Alexander will be at the top of everyone's list, but Jamal Lewis wouldn't be a bad addition either. DeShaun Foster (although I'm not prepared to say that he could fill this roll) might be an option as well.
In any case, hopefully we will get to know what it feels like to have an owner who is willing to spend to fill an already partially-talented team with more talent. Zygi... COME ON!