While it seems like job one for the Minnesota Vikings is figuring out the quarterback position, another red flag priority is rushing the quarterback. The 2006 Vikings were best in the league in rushing defense but ranked last in the NFL along with Cincinnati in most passing yards given up per game.
Pass defense, of course, will be a responsibility for the entire defense but the ends will be expected to lead the charge that can result in more quarterback hurries, sacks and interceptions. That’s part of their job descriptions.
End Kenechi Udeze, who started 15 games for the Vikings, had no sacks last season. The other end last year, Darrion Scott, who started 13 games for the Vikings last season and replaced Erasmus James in the lineup after he injured his knee, led the team in sacks at 5.5. As a team, the Vikings had 30 sacks (five NFL teams had fewer).
Now speculation is that James, who has a pass sacking reputation, will return as a starting defensive end. He and second year man Ray Edwards are the Vikings mega potential sack men.
James missed 13 games last season after sustaining a serious left knee injury. In 2005, his rookie season, he started the final nine games of the season, tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.0 and ranked fifth among NFL rookies in that category.
Dean Dalton, who now is a multi-media NFL expert, was a Vikings assistant coach when James was drafted. He’s also followed Edwards, who last season as a fourth round draft choice started two games with three sacks.
“We believed when we drafted him (James) that he had that special juice,” Dalton said last week. “He has a really explosive first step that can get him on the edge, but he’s young (24). In the NFL he’ll be going against left tackles which are usually the most athletic experienced offensive players so he’s got to really refine his game. But he does have the skill set. …Erasmus has all the ability and all the potential in the world to be an outstanding defensive end.
“And right now Ray Edwards shows flashes of it. He just needs to be more consistent but it’s been encouraging because he’s played at a more consistent level throughout this training camp so far.”
The Vikings have been taking a patient approach with James’ recovery from the knee injury. He hasn’t played in the first two pre-season games but sometime during the season Dalton expects him to be playing. (Viking coach Brad Childress indicated last week on KFAN Radio that James will play Saturday night in Seattle in Minnesota’s third pre-season game).
“Even still when he gets back he’s got to overcome the mental part of not favoring that injured knee,” Dalton said. “There’s a long way to go but I believe he’s making progress that will allow him to get back on the field this year.”
Edwards needs to show more consistency and probably minimize his already well-known temper but he’s a promising player at only 21 years old. “Having an explosive temper is generally not a sign of maturity,” Dalton said. “…Therefore he will need to get a harness on that so he can be more consistent for his team. Somebody that he and his coaches can count on.”
Edwards has been starting for the Vikings with Udeze in the first two pre-season games. Edwards hurried Jets quarterback Chad Pennington last Friday night into a bad throw that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by linebacker Chad Greenway. In pre-season games rookie Brian Robison, the fourth round pick from Texas, has shown pass rushing skills too, and leads the team in sacks with two.
With a strong rush from the defensive ends and tackles, led by a pass rushing specialist at defensive end like James or Edwards, plus solid communication among the entire defense, the Vikings won’t have to blitz as much and can take another step toward productivity. How important is improving defensive end play?
“It’s really important,” Dalton said. “That will really solidify a very, very good defense and make it a great defense if they can get excellent play out of the defensive end position.”