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We interrupt this program to bring you some non-Adrian Peterson analysis. Certainly the Peterson controversy is the biggest problem on the Vikings' plate at present, but it's not the only one. There are some on-field issues as well. Specifically, two of the most important positions on any football team – cornerback and left tackle – are becoming more and more of a concern for the Vikings by the week.

I'm not a football coach, nor do I play one on the Interwebs. I don't pretend to have all the answers when it comes to what a player is doing wrong with his technique. However, I have been watching NFL football for more than 40 years and covering it for 20, and what I do know is that two of the most important positions to any football team (aside from quarterback, obviously) are left tackle and cornerback – especially in this day and age of the pass-happy NFL. Can we all agree on that much?

I believe it's also fair to say the Vikings were convinced they had adequately addressed these two critical spots in recent drafts with the first-round selections of Matt Kalil (2012) and Xavier Rhodes (2013). Nobody with an office at Winter Park would argue with that.

However, following Sunday's game against the Patriots in which both Kalil and Rhodes had, by some accounts, the worst games of their young careers, it's fair to wonder if either spot is as settled as we all assumed. This is where the subjectivity comes in.

How bad were things this past Sunday? Somewhere between lousy and really awful.

When asked about both players on Monday during the non-Adrian Peterson portion of the press conference, head coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged Kalil had some things to work on and Rhodes is still honing his technique. You didn't really expect him to say they both stunk on Sunday, did you?

It's probably a good thing no reporter asked Zimmer what he thought of Pro Football Focus' assessment of both players. The tension was high enough. Zimmer has made it clear before that he doesn't attach significance to what ProFootballFocus.com does. They don't know the plays that are being called or each player's assignment, Zimmer told reporters in August. They don't grade on the same things or in the same way the Vikings coaches do. Both fair points.

Even so, Zimmer watched the game and he can read the box score just like the rest of us. We all saw the sacks and quarterback pressures Kalil ceded. The blocked field goal was on Kalil, too. We also saw the penalties Rhodes was flagged for, as iffy as one or two of them may have been. Kalil looks slow and unsure, and the knee injury that bothered him last year is no longer an issue. Rhodes has yet to intercept a pass, gets flagged too often and has had some injury issues of his own.

By the way, Pro Football Focus had Kalil rated 62nd out of the 65 tackles they graded in Week 2. Rhodes was rated 95th at cornerback… out of 95. Dead last. Through two games, they have Kalil ranked 65 out of 66 tackles and Rhodes ranked 96 out of 97 cornerbacks.

Don't tell coach Zimmer, okay?

Say what you want about their methods or their numbers. But those aren't flattering assessments regardless of the system they use. ProFootballFocus.com measures all the players the same way, so within that context Kalil and Rhodes have been among the worst in the NFL at what they do so far this season.

Note: I'm not advocating widespread panic with regard to either player. I also don't think either should be benched, in part because I'm not sure the Vikings have solid alternatives. Moreover, both appear to have the necessary skills to succeed and even star at their respective jobs. Both are still young and both have time to fix what they are doing wrong and improve their game. Beyond that, the Vikings have a lot invested in both players so more time is needed.

What I have concluded, however, is that it's time to start tracking both players more closely. It's time change our mindset and to stop assuming both of these critical positions are in good hands for the next six, seven, eight seasons. Maybe they're not.

I can safely say that, through two weeks anyway, the Vikings are receiving very substandard play from two of the most important positions on their team.

And their quarterback just threw four interceptions.

Oh, and their best player is, well, you know…

Is it just me or does the outbreak of giddiness and Purple Pride that followed the Week 1 shellacking of the Rams seem like it happened months ago?

Head on over to VikingsJournal.com for a look at whether Matt Asiata can hold up as the starting running back as well as complete coverage of the Adrian Peterson situation.

Bo Mitchell is the Vice President of Content at SportsData, head writer at VikingsJournal.com, co-host of the Fantasy Football Pants Party at 1500ESPN.com and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

You can follow Bo on Twitter at @Bo_Mitchell