9,145 fans? Really?

The Minnesota Vikings held their annual night practice Friday at Blakeslee Stadium, with an announced crowd of 9,145 fans.

Don't think they were lying on attendance, but the fans couldn't have been happy with how little action they saw over the two-hour practice. But there were fireworks, and I'm not talking about the scrum between the offense and defense during one full-contact drill.

 Coach Leslie Frazier has said that the defense is usually ahead of the offense during the early part of training camp, which makes sense. The offense is installing and perfecting a bunch of new plays, which require timing among all 11 players, while the defense can play with more emotion and just run to the football.

But the defensive line has dominated the offensive line nearly every time the No. 1 units face each other.

The defensive line of ends Jared Allen and Brian Robison and tackles Kevin Williams and Remi Ayodele have caused several sacks, whcih are signaled by a whistle because there's no tackling the quarterbacks.

The offensive line is a work in progress, with three starters back: center John Sullivan, left guard Steve Hutchinson and right tackle Phil Loadholt. Right guard Anthony Herrera is rehabbing a surgically repaired knee and arm, and Chris DeGeare is filling in at that spot. Left tackle Charlie Johnson has only been with the team for six days, three of which he could practice, as he takes over for Bryant McKinnie, who was released this week.

It's too early to get concerned about the offensive line, but Donovan McNabb is not nearly as elusive as he was earlier in his career, and Adrian Peterson can't be an elite running back without room to run.

In case you pay attention to position battles, safety Jamarca Sanford was the starter ahead of Tyrell Johnson, and Chris Cook was the third cornerback in the nickel defense.