I know, it is premature to make this claim, but I think the Vikings have a chance at having the best Defensive line in the NFL...all because of three people. If you were an opposing Quarterback, would you want to be staring at Hova, Kevin Williams, and Kenechi Udeze? These guys are decent against the run, but are going to be incredible pass rushers. Brett Favre better wear extra padding.
Your Vikings will have a great line if Udeze plays as well as projected. Hovan is great both cus he is a BC product and cus he is just Crazy. Your vikings have a way of finding Crazy D-lineman it seems between him and Randle I don't know who is crazier. There are a few good lines out there but I still like Carolina as one of the best lines in the game. Rucker,Peppers,Jenkins,and buckner are a force. Also they have Al Wallace, who would probably start for a few teams, coming off the bench. I like the depth the patriots have on the line this year but our D is so different it's almost like everyone plays the line. We have Richard Seymore, Keith Traylor, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warran, Marquise Hill, Dan Klecko, Rodney Bailey, and Anthoney Pleasent as more of a player/coach than anything, But Vrable, Mcginest, and Colvin (if healthy) all can line up as a rush end. It's nuts because of all the packages most if not all will contriubute at some point in the season.
What about Oakland? Do you think that combo is going to make an impact? They went after some of the best FA available.
Look at Eagles starters: Kearse, Simon, Walker, McDougle, backups: Kalu, Grasmanis, Thomas, Burgess, Jamaal Green, Sam Rayburn They have backups that would start on most team
The eagles have talant but need to find someone to stop the run. You guys got shredded last season. What was it like 130 a game? If your line stays healthy they could have a real good line.
They got shredded cause of injuries. Burgess out for the year Thomas out for the year Grasmanis missed the whole year Jamal Green same McDougle missed first 8 games We had #1 rush D the first 5 weeks of the season. Injuries just killed us
I knew you had some injuried but didn't realise it was that many. That just makes signing kearse for as much money as they did seem even crazier to me. He is a casualty every sunday it seems. How did McDougle play when he was there? I hope Wilfork stays healthier than the D-lineman out of miami did last year. Wasn't Joseph hurt alot last season as well?
Yes, signing Kearse is a risk. Still though, last year being hurt he still had 9.5 sacks, and none in the last 5 games. HE always demands a double team. I Think with Jim Johnsons system he will flourish. He's exactly what we need to replace Hugh Douglas. McDougle never got on track after getting hurt in the preseason game. I predict that this year he will do real good, especially on the other side from Kearse. Wilfork is going to be a good player, and is a great pickup for you guys,
What about the Cowboys....the have Ellis and Glover...and...and...Ellis and Glover.....just kidding. I agree that the Eagles and Panthers have two of the best lines if healthy. Vikings are sure improving and may be there in a year or two.
i like the eagles and panthers, i think that w/ the eagles signing kearse it atleast gives them some kind of boost and it should be fun to see how they do this year i just like the panthers, i thought they had a really good defense last year and i think it will be just the same again. i think that w/ those to defenses, we might see a rematch in atleast one of the playoff games
Think again one team stands in the panthers way and its the former champs who are back healthy and focused. I take our defense anyday over them. Back to the original post. Minn difintley upgraded the d line will hovan have a better year then last? Det also has one of the top d line's in the nfl. Outta be a slug fest in the nfc north.
you know, i wonder if del rio's departure to jacksonville (still steaming about that one), didn't diminish some of carolina's front line playing quality...new england kept our front four to ZERO sacks...not good, especially when NE running game was less potent than we normally faced...whatever strategy Belicheck used will be reviewed and used by all our opponents this season...and the Bucs have an insider now with the signing of Steussie...don't tell me that wasn't to get insight into our team...Steussie isn't that much of a plus to go that early in free agency...really slow and jumps offsides way too much
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vikingfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>I know, it is premature to make this claim, but I think the Vikings have a chance at having the best Defensive line in the NFL...all because of three people. If you were an opposing Quarterback, would you want to be staring at Hova, Kevin Williams, and Kenechi Udeze? These guys are decent against the run, but are going to be incredible pass rushers. Brett Favre better wear extra padding.</div> I agree your D line is looking better, but our O line is still in tact...as long as they stay healthy, Favre should be fairly well protected.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (crazybacon)</div><div class='quotemain'>you know, i wonder if del rio's departure to jacksonville (still steaming about that one), didn't diminish some of carolina's front line playing quality...new england kept our front four to ZERO sacks...not good, especially when NE running game was less potent than we normally faced...whatever strategy Belicheck used will be reviewed and used by all our opponents this season...and the Bucs have an insider now with the signing of Steussie...don't tell me that wasn't to get insight into our team...Steussie isn't that much of a plus to go that early in free agency...really slow and jumps offsides way too much</div> Alot had to do with Brady's ability to get rid of the ball fast not your line play in the SB. Early in the game your line was all over brady but he kept getting rid of it just in time or avoiding the rush for a split second to get the time. I can't remeber how many times rucker was within arms reach when the ball left his hands in the first quater and a half. Your line played well early on but eventually was worn down.....as was ours. I thought both defenses played well but it seemed like they both were all used up after the 1st half. I agree teams will look at the tapes and pay attention to the blocking schemes we used but I'm not sure teams will have the QB to read the defense fast enough. As for our running game it sucked basicly all season but when december rolled around Antowain went off. He was running hard in the playoffs and was basicly a fresh back since he barely played the first ten weeks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagles4Life)</div><div class='quotemain'>Look at Eagles starters: Kearse, Simon, Walker, McDougle, backups: Kalu, Grasmanis, Thomas, Burgess, Jamaal Green, Sam Rayburn They have backups that would start on most team</div> Ok, I am a little jealous, but I am still really excited about our line this year. Hovan should have a great year. He gambled last year and put on a bunch of weight. I think he'll come into camp a little lighter and faster, and with two really good pass rushers on either side of him, I can't see them double teaming him all season long like they did last year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vikingfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>I can't see them double teaming him all season long like they did last year.</div> Funny, you're the first viking fan I've seen on a message board that says Hovan was double teamed a lot last year. Funny because I always here he was constantly TRIPLE teamed, and that's why his numbers were down. Anyway, I appreciate the honesty. BTW, was he one and one with Rivera, or did Flanagan help much. I know he wasn't much of a factor in the Pack games, but didn't notice if our guys handled him one on one, or if it took two. I know the second game, the line was very annoyed by all the talk that happened after the first game, and came out and stonewalled the MIN line...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pats37)</div><div class='quotemain'>Alot had to do with Brady's ability to get rid of the ball fast not your line play in the SB. Early in the game your line was all over brady but he kept getting rid of it just in time or avoiding the rush for a split second to get the time. I can't remeber how many times rucker was within arms reach when the ball left his hands in the first quater and a half. Your line played well early on but eventually was worn down.....as was ours. I thought both defenses played well but it seemed like they both were all used up after the 1st half. I agree teams will look at the tapes and pay attention to the blocking schemes we used but I'm not sure teams will have the QB to read the defense fast enough. As for our running game it sucked basicly all season but when december rolled around Antowain went off. He was running hard in the playoffs and was basicly a fresh back since he barely played the first ten weeks.</div> completely agree...our front line would have eaten a lesser qb for dinner...that, and the fact that antowain played above his norm were huge...endurance played a factor at the end of both halves for both teams...when you get a hand or a step away from a sack so much, it takes a toll mentally also...frustration certainly added to being tired
I agree totally agree about the end of each half and it was evident in the scoring. The one thing A. Smith has proven in his short time as a patriot is either he is just a big game back since both playoff runs he was a punishing back or just runs when he feels like it and personally I think he is a little of both.
