Friday, December 18, 2015

The best Centers in Minnesota Vikings history

The importance of the Center in NFL offenses cannot be overlooked. They have to block quick defensive players trying to get to the quarterback on passing plays as well as move big defensive tackles out of the way on running plays. The Vikings have had some steady players at the position in franchise history.


6) John Sullivan: Sullivan was unspectacular but steady. He played in 109 games and started 93 in his eight year career.

5) Dennis Swilley: While skipping the 1984 season, Swilley was good enough to play in 139 and start 101 games at center during his ten years, 1977-1987, with the team.

4) Kirk Lowdermilk: Playing in 114 and starting 86 games in eight years from 1985-1992, Lowdermilk manned the position during some outstanding seasons for Vikings’ offenses.

3) Jeff Christy: A former practice squad player, Christy played in 101 started 92 games at center during seven seasons from 1993-1999, and was named to two Pro Bowls.

2) Matt Birk: In his ten year Viking career Birk played in 146 and started 123 games at the pivot from 1998-2008, earning six Pro Bowl nods while snapping the ball at center.

1) Mick Tingelhoff: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Tingelhoff started every Viking game at center from 1962 through 1977, 240 consecutive games in all. He anchored the Vikings offensive line during all of their championship seasons and was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2015.

 

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The best Offensive Guards in Minnesota Vikings history

Guards on NFL offensive lines are often overlooked but play key roles in a team's offense. They have to block quick defensive players trying to get to the quarterback on passing plays as well as move big defensive tackles out of the way on running plays. The Vikings have had some steady players at the position in franchise history.

8) Jim Hough: Played in 111 games and started 75 from 1978-86. Bud Grant said Hough should have been selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1983 season.

7) Wes Hamilton: From 1976-84 Hamilton played in 116 games, starting 92. He blocked for QB's Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer and led the way for RB's Chuck Foreman and Ted Brown.

6) Charles Goodrum: Playing in 95 games and starting 72 from 1973-79, Goodrum opened holes for Foreman and protected Tarkenton during the team's dominant seasons.

5) Steve Hutchinson: Named to four Pro Bowls during his six years with the team from 2006-11, Hutchinson started all 89 games that he played in during his tenure with the Vikings.

4) David Dixon: Dixon played in 152 games during eleven seasons for the Vikings. He started 134 of those games at right guard, clearing the way for runners such as Robert Smith, Leroy Hoard, and Michael Bennett.

3) Milt Sunde: A former 20th round pick, Sunde played in 147 games at left guard and right guard, starting 106, including the team's dominant season in 1969.


2) Ed White: Selected to three Pro Bowls in his eight years with the team, White played in 122 games and started 94 at guard during the team's dominant run in the early and mid 1970's.
1) Randall McDaniel: Selected to the Pro Bowl a record 12 times in his 12 years with the Vikings, he played in 190 games, starting 188 at left guard. McDaniel was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Vikings' Bridgewater sometimes looks like Ponder

Minnesota Vikings second year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has shown the poise of a veteran at times. Other times, he has looked intimidated and indecisive.

Unfortunately, this is the same pattern exhibited by 2011 number draft pick quarterback Christian Ponder, during his four seasons wearing the purple.

Granted, Bridgewater has been running for his life on many passing downs, as the offensive line in front of him is mediocre at best. Still, he hasn't always reacted quickly, and his arm isn't the cannon that you see in other star NFL quarterbacks.

If the front office brings in some quality offensive linemen through free agency and the draft in the offseason, blockers that give Bridgewater time to read the defense and find open receivers, then we may have a better perspective on what he will become as a quarterback. He does have some decent weapons in Adrian Peterson, Mike Wallace, Kyle Rudolph, and Stefon Diggs, so if the blocking improves, we'll know if Bridgewater is the man who will lead Minnesota to the Super Bowl.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Minnesota Vikings' offensive line not getting it done

One area the Vikings front office could have spent more time on during the offseason was the offensive line. Having players who are just "serviceable" on the line is not going to result in a team winning in the playoffs.

While season ending injuries to center John Sullivan and tackle Phil Loadholt, were not expected, the team could have tried to sign a couple of veteran free agents as backups. Instead they have had to rely on a fourth round draft choice who only played two years in college at offensive tackle in T.J. Clemmings.  They also are relying on a player who never played guard before in Mike Harris, and journeyman Joe Berger at center.  The idea of moving Brandon Fusco to left guard has not helped, as he has had difficulty making the switch. Left tackle Matt Kalil, a former first round draft pick, has been merely average during his four year career.

Unfortunately, putting all of this together has resulted in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater being unnecessarily pressured and sacked.  It's tough for any quarterback to read defenses and pass the ball accurately, let alone one who is in only his second year in the NFL.

The Vikings may still make the playoffs at this point, but they probably won't get very far if they do, primarily because of the below average offensive line.  This offseason they ought to make it a priority, by trying to sign several of the best available free agents and spending their draft picks in the first and second rounds on offensive linemen - preferably those who have played four years at a major college.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

NFL offcials contributed to Vikings' loss on Sunday

No doubt that the Minnesota Vikings did not play well enough to win their game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. And of course the Seahawks are hardly pushovers; they're a pretty good team, better than their record indicates.

Still, the game officials made a number of questionable calls that hurt the Vikings chances for a win.  When a referee calls a defensive holding penalty on a cornerback who was run into by a receiver; when an offensive lineman is penalized for holding when he barely touches a defensive player; and when your defensive end is called for roughing the passer when it clearly was not roughing, like what happened to the Vikings' Brian Robison, well, that's a problem. Are they going to let these guys play football, or not?

The league needs to tell their officials to ease up on calling thse minor penalties. It's making the game boring and maling the NFL look silly.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

The best linebackers in Minnesota Vikings history





The Vikings have had some outstanding linebackers who played important roles in the team's dominant defenses through the years; here are the eleven best.


11) Mike Merriweather: Starting each of the 63 games he appeared in from 1989-92, Merriweather registered 10 sacks and intercepted 7 passes, returning two for touchdowns. He also recovered 7 fumbles, taking one back for a score. Remembered for blocking a punt in an overtime game against the Rams that bounced out of the end zone for a safety, winning the game for the Vikes.

10) Jack Del Rio: Selected to one Pro Bowl in four seasons, Del Rio started all 57 games he played in from 1992-95. He intercepted 10 passes, returning one for a touchdown; recorded 7.5 QB sacks; forced three fumbles, and recovered five.


9) Chad Greenway: A two time Pro Bowl selection, Greenway played in 156 games, starting 144, in a ten year career with Minnesota from 2007-2016. He recorded 18 quarterback sacks, forced 8 fumbles and recovered 11, and intercepted 11 passes, returning two for touchdowns.

8) Lonnie Warwick: Warwick played in 92 games and started 75. The middle linebacker in a defense that dominated opponents' offenses in 1968, 1969, and 1970, he intercepted 12 passes, recorded 7.5 sacks and recovered 6 fumbles in his eight year career with the Vikes.

7) Fred McNeil: Playing in 167 games and starting 122 at outside linebacker during his 12 years with the team, McNeil recovered 16 fumbles, intercepted 7 passes, and recorded 13 quarterback sacks.

6) Ed McDaniel: The team leader in tackles for loss with 90.5, he ranks second among Viking linebackers with 20.5 sacks. McDaniel is also sixth on the team with 17 forced fumbles. He has 5 fumble recoveries, intercepted 4 passes and was named to the Pro Bowl once during his nine seasons and 125 games, 109 starts, with the Vikings.

5) Wally Hilgenberg: A tough outside linebacker on the Vikings' great defenses of the late 60's and throughout the 70's, Hilgenberg played in 158 games, starting 118, in 12 seasons. He recovered 13 fumbles, recorded 8 sacks, picked off 8 passes and scored two touchdowns.

4) Roy Winston: In 15 seasons Winston played in 191 games, starting 158 at outside linebacker on dominant Viking defenses in the late '60's and early '70's. A playmaker, he had 16 sacks and 14 fumble recoveries, fourth and third among linebackers, and 12 interceptions, second among linebackers, and scored 3 touchdowns. He also is fifth all-time with 68 tackles-for-loss.

3) Scott Studwell: Fifth in team history with 201 games played, Studwell started 161 at middle linebacker and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice in his 14 year career. He forced 12 fumbles, recovered 15, intercepted 11 passes, and had 9 QB sacks. He ranks ninth with 46 tackles-for-loss.

2) Jeff Siemon: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls during his eleven year career with the Vikings. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions.

1) Matt Blair: Selected to six Pro Bowls in his 12 seasons, Blair played in 160 games, starting 130. He is fourth in forced fumbles with 19, third in fumble recoveries with 20, and tenth in tackles-for-loss with 44. His 23 sacks and 16 interceptions are first among Vikings linebackers. He also blocked 20 kicks in his career. Blair is the best linebacker in Minnesota's history.



sources for statistics:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/
www.scout.com