Line of Destruction

With Training camp coming up in less than a month, I figured that I would do an analysis of each unit on Offense, Defense and Special Teams. I figured that I would start with the Defensive Line. As of right now here are the members of the Vikings in the DL unit:

Num Player Ht Wgt College

61 Martail Burnett DE 6-3 262 Utah

69 Jared Allen DE 6-6 270 Idaho State

73 Jimmy Kennedy DT 6-4 320 Penn State

90 Fred Evans DT 6-4 305 TX State - San Marcos

91 Ray Edwards DE 6-5 268 Purdue

92 Jayme Mitchell DE 6-6 285 Mississippi

93 Kevin Williams DT 6-5 311 Oklahoma State

94 Pat Williams DT 6-3 317 Texas A&M

95 Kenechi Udeze DE 6-3 281 USC

98 Letroy Guion DT 6-4 303 Florida State

99 Otis Grigsby DE 6-3 260 Kentucky

96 Brian Robison DE 6-3 267 Texas

Players in BOLD were last years’ starters

With the danger of losing the Williams Wall for the first four games this season hoving over the Viking s heads since last season. It will be only a matter of time until all Viking fans and the NFL finds out the outcome of Williams Wall. Pat and Kevin Williams have been in the force in the middle since the Vikes acquitted Pat to pair up with Kevin. These two guys are the force in the middle to breaks down the opposing teams’ line to kill the play. Teams think that they have enough to content with in the middle with the monstrous Williams Wall every down for the Viking defense.

The Vikings also have Jared Allen that they acquired from the Chiefs last season. He showed the league that he was not a one year wonder last year. He was breaking up plays left and right especially in the second half in the season, when the Vikes needed it most. Allen ranked 5^th in the league with 14.5 QB sacks. I figure that these 3 have locked their starting spot already for the season opener.

The other side of the line from Jared Allen, at the other Defensive End position is somewhat in the air right now. The two front runners for the job would be either Ray Edwards or Kenechi Udeze. With all that Kenechi Udeze has been through the past year with his battle with leukemia and trying to win his job back as the Viking DE. Edwards has been pretty steady in his career with the Vikes. The past two seasons he has had 5 sacks each year and over 40 takedowns per season as well.

With Udeze, he has been sporadic with his play over his career, His first 3 full season (he injured his 2^nd season), he had 2 seasons with 5 sacks and a season with NO SACKS at all. He needs to show that he has more of a nose for the job to win it over Edwards. I feel that Kenechi Udeze will be the backup to start the season.

With these front four, the Vikes will be hard teams to run on all season as well as teams dealing with the pass rush. So not much has change from last season to this season. If the Williams Wall is gone for the first four game, it is going to be interesting on who the Vikes use to plug in those huge holes if needed.

It looks that their will be 4 backup that will be making the squad, the players right now I will be a Viking next are as follows:

98 Letroy Guion DT 6-4 303 Florida State

96 Brian Robison DE 6-3 267 Texas

90 Fred Evans DT 6-4 305 TX State - San Marcos

95 Kenechi Udeze DE 6-3 281 USC