After months of hopelessly searching for an impact defensive end, the Minnesota Vikings finally found one when they shipped three draft picks, including their first rounder, to the Chiefs for 2007's NFL sack leader Jared Allen. Allen posted 15 1/2 sacks and forced 3 fumbles in 14 games in 2007 and has tallied 43 sacks in his four year career. At 26, Allen still has plenty of football ahead of him and makes the Vikings defensive line one of the more dominant units in football. His presence finally gives the Vikings an elite pass rushing end, a pivotal component in the Cover-2 defense, and with Kevin and Pat Williams eating up blockers in the middle of the line Allen should have ample room to roam free on the outside. The Vikings are now without 1st and 3rd round picks but still have six picks overall, with the first coming in the 2nd round, the 47th overall pick. Allen fills the huge void at defensive end with Ray Edwards, Brian Robison, and Jayme Mitchell all competing for the job across from him. The Vikings could go in many directions with their 2nd round pick, but an Offensive Tackle or Tight End appear to be the most likely routes. After having arguably one of the better offseasons in the league, the Vikings will enter 2008 as a sexy favorite to take the Favre-less NFC North and have the talent to compete for the NFC Crown if Tarvaris Jackson is merely competent.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Vikings Get Their Man
After months of hopelessly searching for an impact defensive end, the Minnesota Vikings finally found one when they shipped three draft picks, including their first rounder, to the Chiefs for 2007's NFL sack leader Jared Allen. Allen posted 15 1/2 sacks and forced 3 fumbles in 14 games in 2007 and has tallied 43 sacks in his four year career. At 26, Allen still has plenty of football ahead of him and makes the Vikings defensive line one of the more dominant units in football. His presence finally gives the Vikings an elite pass rushing end, a pivotal component in the Cover-2 defense, and with Kevin and Pat Williams eating up blockers in the middle of the line Allen should have ample room to roam free on the outside. The Vikings are now without 1st and 3rd round picks but still have six picks overall, with the first coming in the 2nd round, the 47th overall pick. Allen fills the huge void at defensive end with Ray Edwards, Brian Robison, and Jayme Mitchell all competing for the job across from him. The Vikings could go in many directions with their 2nd round pick, but an Offensive Tackle or Tight End appear to be the most likely routes. After having arguably one of the better offseasons in the league, the Vikings will enter 2008 as a sexy favorite to take the Favre-less NFC North and have the talent to compete for the NFC Crown if Tarvaris Jackson is merely competent.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment