Chad Greenway recently told Sports Headliners he is recovered from the knee injury that caused him to miss his entire rookie season. Asked about his availability for practices even before July training camp he said, “I am ready right now.”
Greenway said he hasn’t been told whether he will play inside or outside linebacker, or if he will be a starter. “I will just go out there and do my best, whether it is starting or whatever it is,” he said. “I expect to have an opportunity to start. I think that would be a capability of mine and I hope that will happen.”
Greenway was asked about the qualities that impress him in a defensive coordinator prior to the announcement last week that Leslie Frazier will replace Mike Tomlin who accepted the Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching position. “Somebody who is emotional,” Greenway answered. “Somebody who will get into it and loves the guys he’s coaching. Somebody who knows what he’s talking about and (has) been there before.”
Was it a sad day when news came Tomlin was moving on? “It was but he’s moving on in his career and that’s great for him and his family,” Greenway said. “Everybody is excited for him. . .but we’ll keep rolling. If we keep the same guys here and hopefully keep the same defense we should be pretty good.”
What impressed Greenway about Tomlin? “He coached with emotion,” Greenway said. “He coached like he was a player and I think that really helped him a lot. He was smart enough to be able to make changes during a game. …” Greenway also praised Tomlin for listening to others.
Greenway was the Vikings’ No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, the 17th player selected. Even without Greenway the draft class showed promise with five of the team’s six rookies having one or more starts (cornerback Cedric Griffin, offensive tackle Ryan Cook, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, defensive end Ray Edwards and safety Greg Blue).