Elusive Search For Ends Continues

For as well as the Vikings defense has played over the past two seasons, they have still lacked one key ingredient: a pass rush. Much of the blame can be placed at the feet of the defensive ends. When the team grabbed Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James in back to back drafts, both in the 1st round, they felt they had locked up impact players at the position for the next decade. Neither player has lived up to their billing. Udeze has developed into a solid end that supports the run well, but he has not shown the same ability to get to the quarterback that he did at Southern California. His career high in sacks is 5 and in 2006 he failed to record a single, solitary sack. Last month, it was announced that that Udeze was diagnosed with leukemia. The illness likely wipes out Kenechi's 2008 season and leaves the rest of his career in jeopardy. It is sad news for a guy who has shown great character and become a fixture of the defense, but it further illustrates the Vikings need at the position.

Erasmus James dominated Big 10 play by becoming a ferocious pass rusher off the edge for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was widely considered a Top 5 talent heading into the 2005 draft, but injury concerns dropped him to the 18th pick, where the Vikings happily grabbed him. The concerns proved to be warranted as injuries have plagued his 3 year career, limiting him to only 23 games. James has shown flashes of becoming a quality player, but the team simply has not been able to rely on him on a down to down, game to game basis. The Vikings sit in the midst of the offseason without big plans for James or Udeze during the 2008 season. Unproven Jayme Mitchell and situational rusher Brian Robison are currently penciled in as the starters with Ray Edwards backing them up. Edwards is one positive drug test away from a year long suspension and both Mitchell and Robison best serve as backups or in a rotation. As such, defensive end stands as one of the team's bigger needs, one of the few they have failed to address this offseason.

It is not for lack of effort though. The Vikings have swung and missed on the two premier free agents on the market, Justin Smith and Antwan Odom, both of whom signed elsewhere before making the trek to Winter Park. Recently released Jevon Kearse is scheduled to visit with the staff on Friday, but popular opinion is that he will sign with the Titans and never make it to Minnesota. Missing on these three may prove to be a blessing, as all are getting paid well and may not be the best fits for the Vikes. But it further amplifies the team's need at the position.

That leaves the Vikings with two recourses; the draft or a trade. Rumors have placed the Vikings in talks with Carolina for Julius Peppers and Miami for Jason Taylor, but as usual with most rumors it is likely that they do not hold much weight. If they fail to acquire a veteran they will assuredly take one early in the draft. The class is fairly rich with defensive ends. Chris Long and Vernon Gholston head the class but neither is likely to be available when the Vikings pick at 17. Florida's Derrick Harvey, Auburn's Quentin Groves, and Clemson's Philip Merling all stand as more realistic options. Harvey and Groves are both tenacious speed rushers, a skill that fits perfectly and is essential within a Cover-2 defense. Both are likely to be atop the Vikings wish list, and players of their caliber are needed for the defense to become complete and take the next step towards the league's elite.