Sports + Rec: Body talk

A new Vikings pre-season kicks off Friday in San Francisco as the team does battle against the 49ers. If the Vikes hope to succeed in 2012, they'll need the following body parts to deliver:

ADRIAN PETERSON'S KNEE

This one is painfully obvious. The Vikes' passing game instills fear in exactly zero teams. Peterson -- who's reportedly recovering at an inhuman clip from a torn ACL and MCL -- is dreaded by all 31.

JARED Allen's lungs

Last year's 22 sacks nearly gave Allen the single-season record (Brett Favre gifted Michael Strahan to 22.5 in 2001). At 30, he's still at the top of his game, but a pitch count is needed to preserve that explosiveness.

EVERSON GRIFFEN'S MUSCLES

Built like Adonis and fleet-footed like Pegasus, the 6-foot-3, 263-pound specimen needs to muster actual numbers from his freak physique. The third-year pro transitioned to linebacker, where he'll seek to supply edge pressure alongside Allen and Brian Robison.

GEOFF SCHWARTZ'S HIP

The versatile offensive lineman was poised for a breakout 2011 with the Carolina Panthers before he was shelved with a hip injury. Still just 26, Schwartz was deemed a free agent steal (pending health) by the powerful football minds at ProFootballFocus.com.

HARRISON SMITH'S BRAIN

Safety has been a blight on the Vikings depth chart since Darren Sharper bolted in 2009. Smith, the 29th overall pick in April's draft, will be counted on to rapidly absorb a meaty professional playbook so he can contribute (or, ideally, start) as a rookie.

CHRISTIAN PONDER'S GUT

It's time to check it. The second-year passer recently copped to losing his confidence as a rookie. No one expects Ponder to win games; he just needs the composure to manage them effectively.