Best Defense in NFC? Vikings

[Walter Mitchell]

Talk about making a splash in free agency...look at what Minnesota is doing to bolster its defense...adding DT Pat Williams, CB Fred Smoot and now S Darren Sharper..in addition to acquiring LB Napolean Harris in the Randy Moss trade.

Look at this starting lineup:

LDE: Kenechi Udeze...this 2nd year player is fast becoming one of the best young DEs in the business.

UT: Kevin Williams...had 10.5 sacks as a rookie...is an awesome physical talent.

NT: Pat Williams...a beast of a player in the middle, virtually unmovable.

RDE: Darrion Scott...2nd year DE from Ohio St. who has very good upside.

Nickel DE: Lance Johnstone...brings very good egde quickness.

OLB: Napolean Harris...gifted athlete who can play strong side LB or MLB.

MLB: E.J. Henderson...could become one of the better MLBs in the game and will be nicely protected this season with Pat and Kevin Williams eating up the interionr linemen.

OLB: Dontarrious Thomas...fast and active OLB from Auburn...ideal for the weakside...brings pass rush potential.

LCB: Antoine Winfield...one of the few shutdown CBs in the league.

SS: Corey Chavous...ex-Cardinal has come into his own at the SS position.

FS: Darren Sharper...Pro Bowl days may be behind him, but this guy still has 3-4 good years left in his tank.

RCB: Fred Smoot...one of the more naturally gifted CBs in the league...is quick and instinctive...a bit of a gambler at times, but with that pass rush in front of him, he may grab a bunch of interceptions.

 

[Pariah]

I beleive it. That D will be good if it can find it's teeth (meaning they need to play aggressive).

 

[cardsunsfan]

Talk about making a splash in free agency...look at what Minnesota is doing to bolster its defense...adding DT Pat Williams, CB Fred Smoot and now S Darren Sharper..in addition to acquiring LB Napolean Harris in the Randy Moss trade.

Look at this starting lineup:

LDE: Kenechi Udeze...this 2nd year player is fast becoming one of the best young DEs in the business.

UT: Kevin Williams...had 10.5 sacks as a rookie...is an awesome physical talent.

NT: Pat Williams...a beast of a player in the middle, virtually unmovable.

RDE: Darrion Scott...2nd year DE from Ohio St. who has very good upside.

Nickel DE: Lance Johnstone...brings very good egde quickness.

OLB: Napolean Harris...gifted athlete who can play strong side LB or MLB.

MLB: E.J. Henderson...could become one of the better MLBs in the game and will be nicely protected this season with Pat and Kevin Williams eating up the interionr linemen.

OLB: Dontarrious Thomas...fast and active OLB from Auburn...ideal for the weakside...brings pass rush potential.

LCB: Antoine Winfield...one of the few shutdown CBs in the league.

SS: Corey Chavous...ex-Cardinal has come into his own at the SS position.

FS: Darren Sharper...Pro Bowl days may be behind him, but this guy still has 3-4 good years left in his tank.

RCB: Fred Smoot...one of the more naturally gifted CBs in the league...is quick and instinctive...a bit of a gambler at times, but with that pass rush in front of him, he may grab a bunch of interceptions.

good defense, although I don't know if it'll be better than ours

 

[Rats]

Talk about making a splash in free agency...look at what Minnesota is doing to bolster its defense...adding DT Pat Williams, CB Fred Smoot and now S Darren Sharper..in addition to acquiring LB Napolean Harris in the Randy Moss trade.

Look at this starting lineup:

LDE: Kenechi Udeze...this 2nd year player is fast becoming one of the best young DEs in the business.

UT: Kevin Williams...had 10.5 sacks as a rookie...is an awesome physical talent.

NT: Pat Williams...a beast of a player in the middle, virtually unmovable.

RDE: Darrion Scott...2nd year DE from Ohio St. who has very good upside.

Nickel DE: Lance Johnstone...brings very good egde quickness.

OLB: Napolean Harris...gifted athlete who can play strong side LB or MLB.

MLB: E.J. Henderson...could become one of the better MLBs in the game and will be nicely protected this season with Pat and Kevin Williams eating up the interionr linemen.

OLB: Dontarrious Thomas...fast and active OLB from Auburn...ideal for the weakside...brings pass rush potential.

LCB: Antoine Winfield...one of the few shutdown CBs in the league.

SS: Corey Chavous...ex-Cardinal has come into his own at the SS position.

FS: Darren Sharper...Pro Bowl days may be behind him, but this guy still has 3-4 good years left in his tank.

RCB: Fred Smoot...one of the more naturally gifted CBs in the league...is quick and instinctive...a bit of a gambler at times, but with that pass rush in front of him, he may grab a bunch of interceptions.

They certainly have all the talent in the world. They will have to overcome the less than steller coaching and the what seems to be constant Turmoil they have from some players and the coaches. The thing about that is that they are so young with great upside talent.

 

[Cheesebeef]

if the Vikes pick up Plax also, they will have the MOST talented team in the NFC IMO - but - none of that matters if their coaching staff sucks ass - which it does.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

On paper a great looking defense....

On grass or turf...

left be to seen.

 

[jw7]

Good post.

So Walter, what is your philosophy on putting talent on a team? Building one side of the ball (like the Ravens D or Indy O) or getting all-around good mid-tier FA's on both sides (like the Pats) ?

 

[joeshmo]

I am not impressed at all with their LB group. All are vastly over rated and have done nothing, especially Harris, which is why the Vikings got ripped off in the Moss deal..

Chavous for all of his INT's he gets beat like a rug.

 

[Walter Mitchell]

jw7: I think the Cardinals are definately on the right track...but I have different thoughts about how to build the strength of a team. IMO, the most important offensive linemen are the offensive guards. If they can't get any movement in the middle against big DTs, the offense becomes one-dimensional...and one-dimensional offenses don't win. Look at Dan Marino and the Dolphins, for example.

Bill Parcells is an advocate of building a team from the middle out and I think he probably understands how to build a champion as well as any coach of this era.

The main reason why the Cardinals may continue to struggle is the fact that they are still vulnerable in the middle of both lines. If you can't run the ball with consistency and you can't stop the run consistently, you simply cannot win ballgames.

I have no reason to believe at this point that Gs Reggie Wells and Jeremy Bridges can get the job done. In Wells I see a good athlete, but not a particularly thick or strong one. He's smart and competitive, but most of the time last year he was way overmatched. At OT, however, Wells can more than hold his own against the less bulky DEs. He's got got feet and plays with good leverage. IMO, Wells is an OT, not a G.

In Bridges, he's thicker and stronger but is not particularly athletic or tough-nosed. He's a decent backup, but may not ever develop the requisite toughness to be a productive starter.

I like C Alex Stepanovich...whose game was predicated more on smarts and finesse this past season, but with a year in the weightroom and added confidence I think he will start to play a more effective physical brand of football. Actually, I think he has more potential at guard than Wells or Bridges. He was tough-nosed in college and will likely be in the pros...as he develops his confidence.

On the other side of the ball, UT Darnell Dockett is a good penetrator, but the strength of his game is disruption, not run stuffing. This is fine if he has a stalwart MLB behind him ready to mop up after Dockett has forced a back to re-direct.

Russell Davis worked his tail off last year, but was not strong enough at the point of attack to nullify the opponents' running game. The way teams ran between the tackles against the Cardinals, it would be a reach to call Davis' production even remotely adequate.

Kenny King is a penetrator, much like Dockett. Although he's a more fundamental tackler, he's not as consistently disruptive as Dockett.

There is virtually no depth behind Russell Davis...as Wendell Bryant seems to only show up on pay days.

Until these areas of the football team are addressed, I believe that the Cardinals will not be a playoff caliber football team.

It confuses me a great deal as to why the Cardinal managament hasn't focussed on these areas in free agency. That and their reluctance to even entertain acquiring a free agent CB, especially after trading Duane Starks, is mind boggling. I am not trying to be negative...just realistic.

All this said, I think the free agents signings have been good ones...I think Kurt Warner, if given the time (and that's going to be a huge question mark) could put up excellent numbers this season...Oliver Ross brings much needed attitude and toughness to the offensive line...Chike Okeafor is a brilliant signing because now teams may think twice about double teaming Bertrand Berry...and Robert Griffith brings veteran experience to a young secondary, although one has to wonder whether he can make a smooth and productive transition to free safety.

I also think the team made good moves to re-sign the two players they acquired from Oakland for a 6th rounder...DE Peppi Zellner and RB Troy Hambrick...both add much needed depth to a team that has lacked depth for quite some time.

Now, I would feel much better about the team's prospects this year if they can swing some deals for two guards, a nose tackle and a cover corner. I am fine with Gerald Hayes at MLB...and even the combination of Eric Edwards and Aaron Golliday at TE. I also am not as worried about the RB situation as others are...because I'd rather see the team build the offensive line first.

 

[az jam]

Minnesota has improved their defense but it was one of the worst in the league last year. The DEs are raw and not that good and the LBs are terrible.
However their secondary is now one of the best.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Walter if the following were true, DAVIS would be off this team and out of the league:

Russell Davis worked his tail off last year, but was not strong enough at the point of attack to nullify the opponents' running game. The way teams ran between the tackles against the Cardinals, it would be a reach to call Davis' production even remotely adequate.

 

[Sarcastro]

Minn's defense is looking good, but I won't believe in their LB corps until they prove themselves. That is the only part of their defense that still doesn't impress me.

 

[arthurracoon]

This is fine if he has a stalwart MLB behind him ready to mop up after Dockett has forced a back to re-direct.

Which is why we need to pick up Hartwell.

 

[vince56]

Walter if the following were true, DAVIS would be off this team and out of the league:

Russell Davis worked his tail off last year, but was not strong enough at the point of attack to nullify the opponents' running game. The way teams ran between the tackles against the Cardinals, it would be a reach to call Davis' production even remotely adequate.

I disagree with you Crazy Canuck, that analysis is dead-on.

 

[Reddog]

jw7:
I have no reason to believe at this point that Gs Reggie Wells and Jeremy Bridges can get the job done. In Wells I see a good athlete, but not a particularly thick or strong one. He's smart and competitive, but most of the time last year he was way overmatched. At OT, however, Wells can more than hold his own against the less bulky DEs. He's got got feet and plays with good leverage. IMO, Wells is an OT, not a G.

Walter given the fact that Ross has played OG should we move him bck to RG and either put LJ or Wells back at RT?

 

[Walter Mitchell]

Reddog: As I suggested on another post, the Cardinals have a potentially dynamic offensive line already on the roster if they switch Davis and Ross to guard and play Shelton and Wells at tackle.

Here's the reasoning. Say we are playing the Vikings, with Pat Williams at NT and Kevin Williams at UT. Leonard Davis could matchup with Pat Williams (and Oliver Ross with Kevin Williams)...to think that Reggie Wells could match up with either one of them is ridiculous. It's as simple as that. If the Cardinals really want to win...if they really want to run the ball...they'd better have guards who can matchup against the league's big DTs.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I disagree with you Crazy Canuck, that analysis is dead-on.

If it's "dead-on" then, as I say, Davis should be out of the league.

What it is, actually, is Walter's natural penchant to exaggerate to make a point.

 

[Walter Mitchell]

I thought I would add, after mentioning Bill Parcells' philosophy of building a champion from the inside out...look at what Parcells and Bellichick disciple, Romeo Crennell, is doing in Cleveland. The first thing he focussed on was the interior of both lines...he didn't like what he saw in DT Gerard Warren, so he traded him to Denver for a 4th round draft pick. Then he turned around and signed 2 free agent guards: Joe Andruzzi (New England) and Cosey Coleman (Tampa Bay). Crennell gets it.

 

[vince56]

If it's "dead-on" then, as I say, Davis should be out of the league.

What it is, actually, is Walter's natural penchant to exaggerate to make a point.

As usual with extreme opinions(no offense to either you or Walter), the truth is usually in the middle. I believe Davis is a poor starting NT, but he's an adequate backup and he is an NFL caliber player, just not as a starter. That's why I'm so into getting Hartwell at MLB, I think we're porous right now with Hayes and Davis in the middle. At least one of those guys needs an upgrade.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

As usual with extreme opinions(no offense to either you or Walter), the truth is usually in the middle. I believe Davis is a poor starting NT, but he's an adequate backup and he is an NFL caliber player, just not as a starter. That's why I'm so into getting Hartwell at MLB, I think we're porous right now with Hayes and Davis in the middle. At least one of those guys needs an upgrade.

Fair enough....

 

[vince56]

Fair enough....

Now we need to stop hijacking Walter's thread about the Vikings.

Walter, carry on

 

[jw7]

.

Bill Parcells is an advocate of building a team from the middle out and I think he probably understands how to build a champion as well as any coach of this era.

The main reason why the Cardinals may continue to struggle is the fact that they are still vulnerable in the middle of both lines. If you can't run the ball with consistency and you can't stop the run consistently, you simply cannot win ballgames.

Interesting take.

On the O-middle, you have C, RG, LG, QB, HB, and optional FB. I like Step, and Warner is a ? at QB, but other than that, the Cards have not addressed the middle O yet.

On the D-middle, you have a disruptive DT in Dockett, another DT, and MLB. This has not been taken care of in FA either.

The FA signings have been edge players and a safety. We'll see how it works out.

 

[overseascardsfan]

There are very few opyions left in free agency for interior limeman. The top remaining guards are Keydrick Vincent from Pitttsburg or Rick DeMulling from Indianapolis. Defensive tackle was a very weak position in this free agency period, Chris Hovan is the last big name defensive tackle available. In the draft there is Dave Baas and the big, ill tempered guy from Utah who could be there in the second round. As far as defensive tackles go it's a crap shoot in the draft but a late round pick may be worth risking for a huge tackle. Opinions?

 

[JeffGollin]

Here's why the Vikes' "D" isn't the best in the NFL

Because they haven't proved it on the field yet.

On paper, you've got a case; they've done a lot to improve their roster. But what remains unknown includes: (a) injuries between now and regular season, (b) how well these players will come together as a unit and (c) whether or not their defensive scheme is a sound one...and whether these guys execute it properly.

That's why they play the games.