Best Group

It isn't a challenge to identify the best position group on the Minnesota Vikings through the first nine games of the season. Some of the groups are removed from the argument without a bit of debate. The offensive line? Ha! The big guys up front are a main reason that the Vikings are trying to get to .500 tomorrow rather than sitting somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-3. Some position groups were hampered by injuries and another by a particular off-the-field incident. There's really only one choice for the best position group of the Vikings. The defensive line. It's a good thing as that's the group that first-year head coach Mike Zimmer singled out as the place to start.

Five years ago, the Minnesota Vikings had one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. Offensive lines couldn't move tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. The Williams Wall. Offensive lines, tight ends, and backs couldn't stop ends Jared Allen, Ray Edwards, and Brian Robison. That defensive line took apart offenses. Pat Williams retired. Ray Edwards followed the money and a free agency deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Kevin Williams, Allen, and Robison have had their moments, some really fine moments, in the years since that 2009 peak but the dominance has been fading. After the 2013 season, Allen left for the Chicago Bears and Kevin Williams left for the Seattle Seahawks. Some in the media felt that the Vikings were fools for choosing Robison over Allen. The same folk thought that the Vikings were idiots for giving a big contract to Allen's backup for four years, Everson Griffen. Anyone that took the time to actually view Griffen's limited snaps would know that good things tend to happen when he's on the field. The big contract was a gamble but every big contract is a gamble. That terrific Vikings defensive line of only a few years ago was no more. A new line has been built and it feels like it was built overnight.

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings defensive line:

Starters
DE  Everson Griffen
NT  Linval Joseph
DT  Sharrif Floyd
DE  Brian Robison

Rotation
DE  Corey Wootton
NT  Shamar Stephen
DT  Tom Johnson
DE  Scott Crichton

Only Brian Robison continues as a starter from the 2013 season. This line was expected to struggle. They lost two key veterans in Kevin Williams and Jared Allen. The Vikings gave a ridiculous contract to Everson Griffen. 2013 first round pick Sharrif Floyd was a bust. Linval Joseph was the Vikings first and biggest signing in free agency. He was signed to become their first real nose tackle presence since Pat Williams. Corey Wootton and Tom Johnson were signed as lower-priced, under-the-radar free agents. At 6'6", Wootton provides unique length as a pass rusher. It's similar to what Mike Zimmer had with Michael Johnson in Cincinnati. When Johnson is on the field he's often in the opponent's backfield. Scott Crichton (3rd round) and Shamar Stephen (7th) were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. Crichton has been inactive for several games this season. He has a bright future and is the likely heir to Robison's left end position but his playing time has been slight as a rookie. Stephen looks like a great, seventh-round steal. He can play either tackle spot effectively. He's wearing Kevin Williams #93 jersey and he's made plays that makes one think that the big guy is back.With the changes from 2013, the Vikings got younger and quicker on the defensive line. Robison (31) and Johnson (30) are the only players over 28.

The Vikings entered the eleventh week of the season tied for third in the league in sacks with 30. Zimmer is quite willing to blitz but he hasn't had to blitz to apply consistent pressure on quarterbacks. This defensive line is routinely in the backfield causing havoc. Griffen's 9 sacks are the most among defensive ends entering this week. The interior of the line has provided 11.5 sacks. Johnson leads with 5.5, Floyd has 3.5, and Joseph has 2.5. Since an early-season shoulder injury, Floyd has been dominant. He's an asset rather than a first-round bust. The fastest way to the quarterback is up the middle. The defensive line has played well. More importantly, they are getting better every week. Griffen has simply been a beast in recent games. He was selected as the Defensive Player of the Month for October. At times, he's been unblockable, making plays in the run game and getting to the quarterback. He's freakishly quick. He's frequently making the sort of plays that those that paid attention saw the past four years whenever Jared Allen came off of the field. No one is laughing at that big contract now.

The Vikings defense, as a whole, is improving and it all starts up front.