Chester Taylor is the first Viking to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season since 2002. He went beyond the 1,000 mark last Sunday against the Chicago Bears before injuring his ribs and leaving the game. He has been a success story on an offense that collectively and individually has struggled.
Taylor, acquired by the Vikings as a free agent before the season, has earned admiration both for results and efforts. “I think the biggest thing that impresses me about Chester is just the fact he runs so hard,” said Viking center Matt Birk. “He never shies away from contact. He’s always willing to lower his head and get that extra half yard or yard. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first carry or the 30th carry of the game for him. He hits those holes. I think he’s one of those guys, too, that is impressive as the game goes on. He actually gets better and gets stronger.”
Mewelde Moore has been a backup to Taylor. “You don’t think he’s as strong as he is, and that’s one of those things where he is able to slide off tackles, make second efforts to get extra yards,” Moore said.
Birk is in his ninth season with the Vikings and said Taylor compares favorably with the best running backs he has played with. “He’s a different type runner,” Birk said. “In the past we’ve had speed, sprinter type guys. Chester, even though he’s got some speed as he’s shown like in Seattle when he took one 95 yards, he seems to be very comfortable running in between the tackles and grinding out those tough yards inside.”
The last two Vikings to gain over 1,000 yards in one season were speedsters Michael Bennett in 2002 and Robert Smith in 2000. In the Bear game Taylor set a new Viking single season record for number of 20 plus carries in games. His ninth game broke Smith’s record of eight.
Taylor, who may not play in Sunday’s game against Detroit, ranks third among NFC rushers in total yards. He is fifth among all rushers in the NFL. His best previous rushing season came in 2004 with Baltimore when he gained 714 yards.