Here's a kinda quick and amateurish breakdown of each of the Minnesota Vikings position groups.
Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater
Shaun Hill
Taylor Heinicke
Some of the Vikings beat writers have had a fine time the past couple of days with the Vikings 2013 quarterback group. That was a sad year for passing the football in Minnesota. Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, and Josh Freeman each started games for the Vikings in 2013. All three were released from their respective teams on Saturday. A lot has changed in only two years. The Vikings feel like they finally have their franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater. He's yet to play a full NFL season but he has the even-keel calmness of a multi-year veteran. He's only 22. At time it's eerie to see him so calm in the middle of the chaos of an NFL game. Shaun Hill was brought in this offseason as the veteran backup and support to Bridgewater. It also helps that Hill has some experience in offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system. The Vikings might have found something in Taylor Heinicke. He's an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion. With his solid play in the preseason the Vikings probably no shot at sneaking him onto the practice squad. It's been a while since anyone associated with the Vikings could smile about the team's quarterback situation.
Running backs
Adrian Peterson
Jerick McKinnon
Matt Asiata
Zach Line-FB
This group is all about the return of Adrian Peterson. He's back and he's great. Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata did a respectable job with the running game last year. They are both solid as backups. Zach Line's presence on the roster is something of a sore spot with most fans. They question whether a fullback is even necessary and even if it was they question whether Line is the one. Norv Turner obviously wants a fullback on the roster. Line was more of a runner than a blocker at SMU so he's still learning to be the lead blocker. He'd better learn quickly because it's not wise to be in Peterson's way.
Wide receivers
Mike Wallace
Charles Johnson
Jarius Wright
Cordarrelle Patterson
Adam Thielen
Stefon Diggs
This is a terrific, deep receiving group. The only thing that's missing is that one dominant, field-shifting receiver like Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant. This is a fast, diverse group. There's even been some talk around Minnesota that this group could be the fastest in the league. There's no way to truly judge that but they are fast. I really like the diversity of this group. Bridgewater is the sort of quarterback that will spread the ball around. He's accurate and he'll throw to the first open man. He doesn't have to rely on a single superior receiving talent to keep the chains moving. The wildcard to this group is Cordarrelle Patterson. He has such unbelievable, natural physical talents. If his play on the field ever approaches that talent the Vikings might have that dominant, field-shifting receiver.
Tight ends
Kyle Rudolph
Rhett Ellison
MyCole Pruitt
Chase Ford
As has been the case for a couple of years, the tight end position is a strength if Kyle Rudolph can stay healthy. The only year in which he managed to stay on the field he ended the season with the Pro Bowl MVP award. He has the talent to be one of the best tight ends in the league. He's a difference-maker and Bridgewater seems to enjoy throwing to him. Rhett Ellison is one of those football players that does a little bit of everything. His blocking is critical to both the run and the pass. He doesn't catch a lot of passes but when he does they often move the chains. MyCole Pruitt is a fifth-round rookie. He could be a real weapon for the Vikings offense. He's a movement tight end much like Charles Clay, previously with the Dolphins now with the Bills. Pruitt can line up in the backfield, the slot, or split wide. He opens up options for the Vikings offense. Chase Ford did a fine job in place of the injured Rudolph last year. He provides quality depth.
Offensive linemen
Matt Kalil
Brandon Fusco
John Sullivan
Mike Harris
T.J. Clemmings
Joe Berger
Austin Shepherd
Jeremiah Sirles
Zac Kerin
This group is the biggest question mark for the Vikings. That's a worry because they are tasked with keeping Teddy Bridgewater on his feet and opening holes for Adrian Peterson. The offensive line was often terrible last year. Injuries had a lot to do with that. So did having left guard Charlie Johnson in the lineup. The right side of Mike Harris and T.J. Clemmings is new. Harris played some at right tackle for the injured Phil Loadholt last year. Harris is at right guard now. A new position for him. Rookie right tackle Clemmings was forced into the lineup when Loadholt was lost for the season with a torn Achilles in the preseason. He's a talented football player that many expected to be a first or second-round pick. The Vikings were lucky to find him still available in the fourth. Now, he's their starter. The entire line has to play better but that really applies to left tackle Matt Kalil. He was drafted with the fourth-pick of the 2012 NFL Draft to be a franchise cornerstone. He looked like he was on that track as a rookie when he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. He has struggled mightily ever since. Nagging injuries haven't helped but it looked like he had also lost all confidence. He came to training camp bigger and healthier than he's been in years. He was solid in preseason but he was drafted to be much more than solid. His Vikings career and Bridgewater's health might rest on this season. Brandon Fusco has been the Vikings most consistent, and probably best, lineman over the past few seasons. He missed nearly all of last season with a pectoral injury. He's healthy now and was moved from right to left guard. It should help Kalil to have a player as talented as Fusco next to him. John Sullivan returns at center. He's been struggling with back spasms lately. Hopefully those are behind him by the opener. When healthy, he's solid. The play on the offensive line could be the difference between the playoffs and another sub-.500 record.
Defensive linemen
Everson Griffen
Sharrif Floyd
Linval Joseph
Brian Robison
Tom Johnson
Scott Crichton
Shamar Stephen
Danielle Hunter
Justin Trattou
This group is a strength. Anyone who had watched right end Everson Griffen's infrequent snaps during the first four years of his career knew that he was a defensive difference-maker. The Vikings were roundly criticized for giving him a big contract extension during the 2014 offseason. Those critics obviously didn't take the time to watch those infrequent snaps. Griffen was terrific in his first year as a starter. There was a month-long stretch in the middle of the season during which he was unblockable. Left end Brian Robison is the old man of the group but he can still harass quarterbacks. Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd is on the verge of breaking out much like Griffen did last year. He's so disruptive on the interior of the line. He just has to stay healthy. Nose tackle Linval Joseph is a load in the middle. It's the Vikings depth on the defensive line that will be the difference. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer likes a defensive line rotation and he has the depth to succeed with it. Tom Johnson was a nice free agent find last year. He's been a terror in the preseason with his first real NFL contract in the bank. Shamar Stephen is solid as a little more nimble backup to Joseph. The young backup defensive ends are key. Second-year Scott Crichton and rookie Danielle Hunter are talented and improving quickly. Justin Trattou might not have the ceiling that those two have but is probably more reliable right now. All the active defensive linemen will see a lot of snaps on game day.
Linebackers
Anthony Barr
Gerald Hodges
Chad Greenway
Eric Kendricks
Audie Cole
Edmond Robinson
This position group has improved greatly in a very short amount of time. It's a strength now. There's even nice linebacker talent on the Vikings practice squad. Strong-side linebacker Anthony Barr was becoming a on the verge of becoming a defensive star when knee injury ended his rookie season last year. He's healthy now and his potential is off the charts. Few players his size can move the way that he can move. He can do it all. Play the run. Play the pass. Rush the quarterback. Gerald Hodges was moved to middle linebacker late in training camp. He continues to get first team practice reps at the position in the base defense. Like Brian Robison on the defensive line, weak-side linebacker Chad Greenway is the old man of the linebackers. Nagging injuries hampered his effectiveness last year. He can still make plays. And his leadership on and off the field is a plus. Right now, it looks like Barr, Hodges, and Greenway are the starting linebacker trio. Maybe it's just my fondness for rookie Eric Kendricks but I have a hard time imagining him not being on the field for every defensive snap. Until that happens, he'll team with Barr as the linebacker duo in the nickel defense. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Barr move up to the line as a pass rusher and Kendricks and Hodges at linebacker on passing downs. Some combination of Barr-Hodges-Kendricks is the Vikings future at linebacker. Audie Cole is a solid football player. He's been great in the few starting opportunities that he's had. He can lead this defense. Seventh-round rookie Edmond Robinson is a big, fast, talented football player. He played at itty-bitty Newberry so the NFL is quite a step up in competition. He's a raw but natural athlete. He could be a special teams star this year and a match-up problem on defense soon. The Vikings can go two deep at nearly every linebacker spot and not miss a beat.
Defensive backs
Xavier Rhodes
Terence Newman
Harrison Smith
Robert Blanton
Trae Waynes
Captain Munnerlyn
Marcus Sherels
Antone Exum Jr.
Andrew Sendejo
The improvement in the secondary hasn't been as sudden as that at linebacker. It's been more gradual but it's getting there. Then difference in overall talent between now and a few years ago is astounding. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith are stars. It's as simple as that. Rhodes was playing as well as any corner in the league at the end of last season. Smith has been doing that at safety for a couple of seasons. It's the corner and safety opposite those two that's been the question. Trae Waynes was drafted with the 11th pick in the recent draft to be that corner opposite Rhodes. He has the natural talent to do so and he has the coaching in Zimmer and Jerry Gray to make it happen. He may get there this season. For now 37-year old Terence Newman likely starts opposite Rhodes. Newman has played for Zimmer for years in Dallas and in Cincinnati. Like Darrell Green, Deion Sanders, and Charles Woodson, Newman seems like one of those gifted corners that can play forever. Or, at least one more season. Nickel corner Captain Munnerlyn struggled last year. He should fare better in his second year in Zimmer's defense. Playing the slot in nickel should also help. His lack of size can be a mismatch against bigger receivers on the outside. Corner Marcus Sherels is a special teams mainstay. He's terrific on punt and kick coverage and he's one of the best punt returners in the league. He's more feisty than good at corner. He's one of those high effort, inspiring players that teams need. The safety spot opposite Smith has been in question since he joined the team. It's funny really as Robert Blanton was solid there as the starter last year. The problem is that he's simply solid. He doesn't provide many splash plays. He just gets the guy with the ball on the ground. He played corner at Notre Dame so he has some cover skills. He could be the sort of player that's a ten-year starter and he has to fight for his job every year. Teams have won titles with such players. Antone Exum Jr. and Andrew Sendejo are capable football players and the defense is fine with them on the field. Exum is probably the best athlete among the safeties not named Smith. He's been battling Blanton for the starting spot all training camp. It appears that Blanton has won that battle. Sendejo is an excellent special teams player.
Specialists
Blair Walsh-K
Jeff Locke-P
Kevin McDermott-LS
Long-time Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler lost a training camp battle with Kevin McDermott. Blair Walsh, fresh off a sparkling contract extension, was terrible in the preseason. Some of that could be attributed to the uncertainty with the long snapper. The timing from snap to hold to kick is so important yet most observers take it for granted. I expect Walsh to be fine but you never really know until you see it. He's a very good kicker. Jeff Locke has been inconsistent since his selection in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft but he's poised for the sort of season that should justify that selection. Walsh has to get over whatever it was that was troubling him in the preseason. The Vikings will have the sort of defense that should keep games close. A lot rides on the kickers in games like that.
The Vikings will likely have to find room for a couple of cornerbacks during the season. Jabari Price is suspended for the first two games of the season. He was a pleasant surprise as a seventh-round rookie last year. He provides nice depth and could wrestle the nickle role away from Munnerlyn. I think that the player that Price replaces will come from a position other than defensive back. I think that tight end Chase Ford or the fullback Zach Line might be on the wrong side of a very difficult decision. Josh Robinson is the other corner that could join the team later in the season. He's eligible to come off the PUP/IR list later in the season. It wouldn't surprise me if he's moved to the season-ending injured reserve list and put on the shelf until next season.
So, there's my view of the 2015 Minnesota Vikings roster. This season could be a very fun ride. The Vikings are heading in the right direction. Hiring Mike Zimmer in January of 2014 made sure of that.
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