• Tweet

• Tweet

Today is the third installment of my now actually Mid-season Grades for the 2009-10 season with the focus on the defensive line.

Defensive Tackle -

1. Pat Williams – 21 tackles / 1 sacks / 2 forced fumbles – At age P. Williams remains a rock on the inside of the line. His ability to stop the run allows the linebackers to fall back into coverage and lets the rest of the line tee off on passing downs. He may be starting to lose a ½ step for his former Pro-bowl self as the run defense, although still stellar has slipped slightly each of the past 3 years. The Viking defense ranks vs. the run after being the first team in NFL history to finish 1st in run defense for 3 season’s in a row from 2006-2008. Not a great pass rusher, as his up field push is sluggish, and he has few rush moves to count on. He can however Bull rush effectively and does a good job collapsing the pocket to allow the others to apply pressure more freely. – B

2. Kevin Williams – 15 tackles / 6.0 sacks / 1 forced fumble / 1 fumble recovery – The second part of one of the best tackle combos in the NFL. Offensive coordinators go crazy trying to choose which man to double team on this front four. Williams is an incredibly disruptive force on the inside. He already has 5.0 sacks which is the rough equivalent of a DE having eight or nine. A fixture in the Pro-bowl and widely recognized as the best interior lineman this side of Albert Haynesworth. Plays the run with equal efficiency as he rushes the passer. He will even occasionally fall back into coverage and has shown some versatility in this as well.
- A

3. Jimmy Kennedy – 8 tackles / 3.0 sacks – had appeared in 5 games – This highly touted former first rounder from Penn St. may have finally found his niche as a back-up in Minnesota. His talent has never been the big question. But his endurance and work ethic have. Since coming here, he has benefited from working behind the Williams wall and watching the non-stop motor of Jared Allen. In 5 games, he has recorded 3.0 sacks and several QB pressures. By keeping his reps down, Childress and co. have been able to keep Kennedy fresh and his intensity high. There has been little if any drop-off with Kennedy spelling Pat William. That is about all you can ask of a Back-up lineman. – B +

4. Letroy Guion – 1 tackle / 0 sacks – Has appeared in 3 games with little or no impact. He is young and still learning. At times he looks like a player on the rise, other times he looks slow and lethargic. He may never be more then a bak-up in this league unless someone can light a fire beneath his ample rump ! – D

5. Fred Evans- 6 tackles / 0 sacks - Has played in 6 games but mostly in mop-up duty. Plays the run a little better then rushing the passer at this point. Has trouble holding up at the point of attack against bigger more physical linemen. Still a capable back-up on a team that’s loaded on the line. – C +

Defensive End -

1. Jared Allen – 29 tackles / 10.5 sacks / 4 Forced fumbles / 2 fumble recoveries / 1 TD / 1 Safety - What can I say that hasn’t already been stated. The 4 ½ sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and a safety performance against Green Bay was one of the most dominant, devastating games in Vikings history. He can absolutely take over games from the defensive side of the ball. His motor is absolutely non-stop. This guy make John Randle look like a 3 toed sloth !!! The Vikings “Stole” him from the Chiefs for a first and second rounder and would have been lop-sided even if they had given up 3 first rounders, 2 second rounders and the rights to Jessie Ventura’s old wrestling trunks. – A

2. Ray Edwards – 23 Tackles / 3.5 sacks – If only his actions could back up his mouth ! Last year he predicted he would have 20 + sacks, but fell just a tad short. This season, he has held the point of attack well on sweeps and has 23 tackles. He also has 1.5 sacks and has been close on several others. Overall, he’s a solid if unspectacular defensive end. He’s quick, but not quite quick enough to turn the corner. He’s strong, but not quite strong enough to be an effective bull rusher. Edwards is close to being excellent in may areas. But considering he was a 4th round pick, he has really exceeded expectations. He’s also a gamer who plays effectively even when nicked up. He’s the “Gary Larson” of this version of the Purple People eaters. The guy who gets the least notoriety of the front four. – C +

3. Brian Robison – 3 tackles / 1.5 sacks - He has been given the label “ Situational Pass Rusher “. A good third down end who has a terrific motor and never quits on a play. He would probably be a starter if he was better against the run. He has a few good pass rush moves and is very quick off the ball. He gets pushed back by big offensive tackles in the running game so he is used less in those situations. But he can get up field fast and can run down opposing QB’s as good as anyone on the team. He seems to always be in on or around the action, especially sacks. He’s still young and getting better. He should eventually become a starting defensive end, but for now provides very good depth at this position.Just stop pretending to be a fullback ! – B –

4. Jayme Mitchell – 1 tackle / 0 sacks – Has seen limited action in just 3 games. Kind of a “tweener” at end. Probably holds up slightly better then Robison against the run but offers little in the form of an up field “Burst” in the pass rush. Still a pretty decent 4th end on a team where depth has been an issue in the past.
- C -

Next up – Linebackers and Secondary.