Dan Pompei

If you are looking for blemishes, you can find them on the Vikings.

Of course, you can find them on the finalists in the Miss USA pageant, too.

But if you are looking for beauty and talent, you can find that in the Vikings, too. You can find so much to like about the Vikings that you would be hard-pressed not to call Minnesota the prettiest girl in the NFC.

Now that Brett Favre has had his ankle addressed, we can be reasonably sure that the Vikings will be quarterbacked by the player who had the second-best passer rating in the NFL last season, and by the player who might have more motivation to get his hands on a Lombardi Trophy than any other player in the league.

The critics will point to the potential suspensions of “The Williams Wall,” Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. It’s possible both defensive tackles will have to sit out four games because of violations of the league’s policy on performance enhancers.

There is no doubt this would diminish the Vikings’ defense for one quarter of the season, as their starting defensive tackles probably are the best duo in the NFL. The Williamses are the cornerstones of Minnesota’s excellent run defense, and Kevin Williams also is one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the game.

But they have avoided suspensions up to this point, and might continue to do so. And even if they are suspended, they still will be available for a dozen of the Vikings’ regular-season games.

The worrywarts will fret that Favre could not possibly duplicate his 2009 performance. And it will be difficult to argue with them.

What Favre did last season was unprecedented. He arguably had the best season of his career, and he turned 40 in the middle of it. And he showed he could change his game to fit in with his new team.

If Favre doesn’t play as well as he did in 2009, it won’t be a surprise. But he shouldn’t fall too far, either. After all, nothing around him has changed much. Yes, he is a year older. But that only matters to me, you and everyone else not named Brett Favre.

Skeptics will question the play of the offensive line. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King has written that the Vikings’ line is “in decline.” And there is some evidence to support his theory, considering the Vikings average-per-carry went from 4.5 in 2008 to 4.1 in 2009.

But the Vikings had two first-time starters on the line last year in center John Sullivan and right tackle Phil Loadholt. The chances are they should be better in 2010, not worse.

The haters will chuckle about Adrian Peterson’s inability to hang onto the football. Peterson’s six lost fumbles were most in the league for a non-quarterback.

But Peterson has been working hard to correct his problem. This is one determined individual. And it’s not like he lacks the physical capacity to avoid fumbling.

Even optimists should wonder about the Vikings’ ability to defend the pass. They finished 19th in the NFL in pass defense a year ago. But their two starters from a year ago, Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield, will be trying to come back from injuries and might not be all they once were.

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The Vikings have brought in reinforcements in Lito Sheppard and second-round pick Chris Cook. They will need at least one of them to be a major contributor.

Overcoming some of these issues should be made easier by the Vikings’ many strengths. They still are one of the best running teams in the league. They have a dynamic group of pass catchers that are very difficult to defend. They have a Pro Bowl returner in Percy Harvin. Jared Allen may be the best pass rusher in the game. And this is a well coached team on both sides of the ball.

Even if Favre does not return, the Vikings have enough everywhere else to contend.

With Favre, the Vikings could be as successful as they are captivating.