Since the 2010s ended and especially since the Minnesota Vikings 2019 season sadly ended, I've been thinking about the best Vikings players of the decade. With only four playoff appearances it wasn't a great decade. Many of the problems for the Vikings can be attributed to an inability to get reliable quarterback play. Too make things even worse, the Vikings put all of their quarterbacks behind mostly horrible offensive lines. Other than those very important positions, the Vikings had several great players over the past decade. Here are a team of them.
Offense
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins' two statistically very good seasons is enough to top four inconsistent seasons from Christian Ponder, one bad season from Brett Favre, a respectable season from Sam Bradford, and a surprising season from Case Keenum. The only real challenge to Cousins was Teddy Bridgewater.
Running Backs
Adrian Peterson
Dalvin Cook
The Vikings opened and closed the decade with great backs.
Fullback
C.J. Ham
C.J. Ham vs. Jerome Felton. Ham offers more offensively.
Receivers
Stefon Diggs
Adam Thielen
Percy Harvin
Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are easy picks. Percy Harvin's unique, versatile, often spectacular play at the start of the decade gets him a spot with them.
Tight End
Kyle Rudolph
Kyle Rudolph has probably wrestled the "best tight end in Vikings history" title from Steve Jordan.
Tackles
Riley Reiff
Phil Loadholt
Guards
Joe Berger
Brandon Fusco
Center
John Sullivan
The offensive lines that the Vikings have trotted out each season of the past decade have been, at best, far below average. The above group of decent players would make up a dream offensive line. Riley Reiff can best be described as reliable and a tick above average. Phil Loadholt did enough to keep Brian O'Neill off this team. That's saying something as O'Neill's first two seasons in the NFL are as promising as any Vikings offensive lineman in a long time. Joe Berger was a journeyman that became much more than that for the Vikings. It's a shame that it came at the end of his career. Brandon Fusco was playing great until a torn pectoral. John Sullivan was pretty good most of the time.
Defense
Defensive Ends
Jared Allen
Danielle Hunter
Jared Allen vs. Everson Griffen. It came down to Griffen's good to excellent play for nearly the entire decade vs. Allen's outstanding play for four seasons. It really is no debate. Allen's four years of the 2010s are probably the best four years of a career that should put him in Canton. In the 2010s, he collected 56.5 sacks. His 22 sacks in 2011 should've gotten him the defensive player of the year award. Danielle Hunter is a special player. If he continues on his present career arc he'll join Allen in Canton.
Defensive Tackles
Kevin Williams
Linval Joseph
Kevin Williams' final four seasons with the Vikings tops Sheldon Richardson's single season. For most of Linval Joseph's six seasons in Minnesota he was the best nose tackle in the league.
Linebackers
Chad Greenway
Eric Kendricks
Anthony Barr
These three linebackers might be the best three linebackers in franchise history.
Cornerbacks
Antoine Winfield
Xavier Rhodes
Antoine Winfield was so much fun to watch play football. I miss him. At his best, Xavier Rhodes was one of the best cover corners in the league. It's a shame that his peak play didn't last longer.
Safeties
Harrison Smith
Andrew Sendejo
Harrison Smith is great. He's been great since the first game of his 2012 rookie season. Andrew Sendejo was a solid starter for a surprising number of years.
Special Teams
Kicker
Blair Walsh
Blair Walsh was All-Pro as a rookie in 2012. Each season after was worse than one before. If he'd only played that one season in Minnesota he'd still make this team. He'd definitely be remembered better.
Punter
Chris Kluwe
Chris Kluwe is arguably the best punter in Vikings history.
Kick Returner
Cordarrelle Patterson
Cordarrelle Patterson is arguably the best kick returner in NFL history.
Punt Returner
Marcus Sherels
Marcus Sherels is the best punt returner in Vikings history.
No comments:
Post a Comment