Vikings fans can now say the phrase, next week. Yes, Training csmp is that close. The battles that will happen will be fierce and for today I will look at defensive ends.
I have looked at the roster and found one intriguing player who is trying out. He is Anthony Jacobs ,who not only comes from the University of Minnesota but his home town is Northfield. He is a rookie free agent. This will be a neat story line to keep an eye on at camp for me. It is just cool to see a southern Minnesota player get a chance.
2011 brought 2 defensive line draft choices who made the squad. Christian Ballard, coming from the Iowa Hawkeyes made the team. Iowa had very good defensive line so to get a Hawkeye was pleasing. Christian got his first NFL start in November and it came at Green Bay. What a team to get a chance to start against and on the road. I liked what he looked like in camp last season and am pulling for him in his second year.
The other draft choice came from the Unversity of Arizona, D'Aundae Reed. He made the team although did not get any action. I met him last camp and will say the upper body this man is is nothing but muscle mass.
Everson Griffen is in camp for his 3rd season. I have been reading the switch to linebacker may happen. He is so athletic and will be a huge asset the more playing time he gets. He played a lot on special teams in fact finshed 2nd in tackles last season with this group.
The 3 players in the above mentioned have a chance to be the future of this team for a long time. The 3 also come from very good college programs such as Iowa, Arizona and USC.
It seems since Pat Williams left the Vikings there has been trouble getting the consistency of being tough up the middle. Teams can focus on Kevin Williams forcing someone to hopefully step up and giving Kevin some help so he is not double teamed as much.
I was excited when the Vikings signed free agent Remi Ayodele to be the run stuffer in hopees of replacing Pat last season. I was so disappointed in the results of last season he provided.The team too must have been disappointed as he is no longer a Viking and back to New Orleans he went.
Fred Evans comes back for his 6th season which is nice to have a player who knows how to play with Kevin in the middle. The veteran leadership is this season will be even more so needed.
Letroy Guion also his experience as he comes in for his 5th camp. The Vikings liked him so much he was given the start in place of Kevin last season when Williams served his suspension.
Evans and Guion, 2012 has a chance for one of these 2 to make a difference and grab a starting spot.
Brian Robison coming in for his 6th camp was rewarded last season with being named starter. The engine this man poseses is incredible. In meeting him many times he just comes across as so peaceful and kind. He had his career best sack number with 8.
On the Vikings web page during the season Brian made himself available to chat on line. It was a neat exerience to do for myself. I was able to get 3 questions in the hour that he actually answered.
Brian in college was a the runner up in the shot put. I asked him about shot putting and the NFL. The upper strength needed to shot put really helps as defensive end needing the strength in battling offensive tackles each week.
I really hope if you can make it to Mankato and meet Brian because he comes across as a down to earth guy.
I leave the best for last and that is Jared Allen. No words can explain truly how important he is to this team. I was at the Bears game last January and saw him break the Vikings sack record held by Chris Doleman. The year last year was not fun but to have this happen was huge.
To think any team the Vikings played knew they had to concentrate on stopping Jared by double teaming him. That is why it is so impressive to accomplish what he did.
The effort he puts in even if not a sack is so fun to watch. Even if it is a running play, who do you see hustling after the running gack is Jared.
I had to laugh because I was at Winter Park last season and came into Jared's interview area. He was talking how his dad calls him after each game. He said his dad was disappointed he did not get a sack in that particular game. He said, smiling, dad I can not get a sack every game. The Vikings won 3 games all year, so to see a veteran leader still smiling in the locker room is impressive.
I got a funny feeling this year he is going to smash the record. He knows how close he was. There is no dying off in this mans hustle. I will go on limb and predict 27 sacks this season.
Next up- Linebackers
Thanks for reading
Purplestick
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