By K.E. Smith
The Vikings have one of the top blitzing defenses in the league and that’s because it has the players to do it correctly and efficiently. When the Vikings took Anthony Barr 9th overall in the 2014 draft, I was ecstatic to have a playmaker in the linebacker crew again. Chad Greenway was letting his age show and wasn’t the same player he was years before so they needed someone to come and knock the poop out of quarterbacks and running backs alike.
(Getty Images: Adam Bettcher)
Then, the Vikings took Eric Kendricks from UCLA, Barr’s old college roommate, and I said, “the Vikings will soon have one of the best linebacker cores in the league.” I was right, like always. So here’s what we have to look forward to in 2016.
Linebackers: OLB Anthony Barr (23), ILB Eric Kendricks (23), OLB Chad Greenway (32), OLB Edmond Robinson (23), ILB Audie Cole (26).
For all the power coming from the two young UCLA stud linebackers, the Vikings will learn quickly that they need an upgrade at the OLB where Greenway currently plays now. His age showed this year with his decline in speed and read action. Though he is still an above average player, I fear next year he would be better suited to come off the bench and be a mentor to the new face of the Vikings linebacker core.
Kendricks showed he could play in this league at an extremely high level after recording 92 tackles and 4 sacks in his first year of play (that was limited because he didn’t start the beginning of the year). Barr has already proven himself to be a terror on the field for his second year (67 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 interception). If the Vikings can find an OLB in FA or the draft to help take the reins out of Greenways hands (2013 134 tackles, 2014 93 tackles, 2015 69 tackles…eek!), the Vikings core will be heading into the talks of league’s best.
(USA TODAY Sports: Brace Hemmelgarn)
I don’t see any of the guys on the bench coming in and doing too much to move Greenway out of his spot (like Cole or Robinson), which scares me. I know Zimmer is smart and will try and find a better-suited player to move into Greenways spot, which doesn’t scare me. I have a good feeling that we will look into putting a new face on the corner end from Barr on the other outside linebacker spot.
There are some mock drafts out there that think the Vikings will take Darron Lee out of Ohio State, which would be a perfect to groom into the OLB that Greenway will have to give up in the coming years. But, the first round could go many which ways because we have the ability to take PBA in this draft without reaching too far.
Even if the Vikings decide to stay where they are at with their linebacker situation, I still believe Barr and Kendricks alone will make our crew one of the best in the league. I mean, I don't want to be greedy and say I want another stud at the OLB opposite Barr, but I'm greedy and I do. This is a position that I want to keep a close eye on for the next coming months heading into the 2016 NFL Draft.
Skol!
1 comment:
With the NFL landscape changing to more of a passing attack the need for 3 LBs on the field at once is diminishing as more teams need to use Nickel or Dime packages in order to counter more 3-4 wide sets. Barr and Kendricks both look legit and am excited to see them bring havoc to offenses for the years to come.
I do agree the Vikings do need to plan for a replacement for Greenway and ideally would need to draft a LB this year so we are not in a specific spot to rush a rookie into the fold but can gradually ease him into the mix with Greenway still around (assuming so at least). As noted the importance for a 3rd LB is somewhat diminishing so we might be able to get a serviceable LB in free agency too. I have seen draft projections also and don't feel we are in a "need" to draft a LB in the first round but am not opposed if we did either.
I think in the first round you should always take BPA and Spielman has done a good job sticking to this evident by his willingness to trade up or down as needed based on his evaluations. It seems like a lot of our needs OL, LB, CB, WR will have options available at 23 so generally it tends to work itself out in the 1st round as depth has become increasingly important over the years with the amount of rotations teams use now. We definitely need a Safety also and am surprised we haven't drafted one the past couple years as I felt this was a glaring need opposite Harrison Smith for quite some time.
A stud OL, WR, or S to me seems to be more of a need than having a stud 3rd LB but am getting outside the scope of this specific blog. Good read K.E.
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