Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Safeties
1. Paul Krause (1968-79)
2. Harrison Smith (2012-present)
3. Joey Browner (1983-91)
4. Karl Kassulke (1963-72)
5. Robert Griffith (1994-2001)
6. Orlando Thomas (1995-2001)
7. Corey Chavous (2002-05)
8. Anthony Harris (2015-20)
9. Jeff Wright (1971-77)
10. Tom Hannon (1977-84)
At the very top, it’s a strong group. Paul Krause has a bust in Canton. Harrison Smith is still building on a career that could get him there. If injuries hadn’t whittled away at his talents, Joey Browner would be there.
Paul Krause’s 81 interceptions is one of the league’s unbreakable records. Playing the safety position as a roving centerfield, he did Ed Reed-like things decades before Ed Reed did them. As a kid, I thought that every football that left the opposing quarterback’s hand was destined to end up in the hands of Paul Krause.
Harrison Smith is the most versatile safety I’ve ever seen. In the box, deep, pressuring the quarterback, defending the run. He does it all. He did it an All-Pro level for years. Entering his 13th season, he’s still doing it a high level. Unfortunately, he’s incredibly underrated. He should’ve been named to the 2010s All-Decade team. He should have a serious Hall of Fame discussion fives after he retires. His play earned at least that.
At his best, Joey Browner was every bit the player of Hall of Fame safety peers Ronnie Lott and Ken Easley. From 1987-90, he was 1st-team All-Pro three times and 2nd-team All-Pro once. Being considered among the best at his position for multiple years is usually enough for serious Hall of Fame consideration. Browner has yet to receive it.
For the five years they played together, Karl Kassulke was the hard-hitting enforcer to Paul Krause’s roving center fielder. They were a terrific strong and free safety pair. Kassulke’s career ended when he was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident while on his way to training camp.
Robert Griffith and Orlando Thomas were another very good safety pair. Griffith was very good for longer. Once he broke into the starting lineup in 1996 he became a defensive staple until 2001. With a league-leading nine interceptions as a rookie, Thomas made an immediate on the Vikings defense. Unfortunately, injuries were a career-long constant. Over his seven years in Minnesota, he played in all 16 games twice. When he was on the field, he was excellent.
The Vikings signed Corey Chavous as a cornerback. It wasn’t until when he was moved to safety that he really started making an impact. He was probably the team’s best player in 2003. It often felt like he made every tackle.
As and undrafted free agent, it took Anthony Harris a few years to get some traction in the league. Once he broke into the starting lineup, he started a strong, four-year run as Harrison Smith’s partner at the back of the Vikings defense.
Jeff Wright took over after a motorcycle accident ended Karl Kassulke’s career. For about five years, Wright formed a solid safety pair with Paul Krause.
Tom Hannon had the unfortunate task of following the great Paul Krause. Hannon had a solid Vikings career and is one of the more underrated players in team history.
After only a handful of seasons, current safeties Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus are on a fast track to being a part of this list.
No comments:
Post a Comment