The report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. 2. Carl Eller was born January 25, 1942, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended college at the University of Minnesota. A season ago, Harris (91.6) and Smith (91.4) produced PFF's top two coverage grades among players at the position. He attacks the ball in the air exceptionally well with great range and angles. In seven seasons, Bush has just 12 starts, three interceptions, and 100 tackles. Picking a highest high proved challenging because a number of the safeties' big plays occurred mostly in games Minnesota ultimately lost. Known for his formidable speed and aggression on the field, Page spent eleven seasons with the Vikings as a defensive tackle, helped them win four title games, and played in all four Super Bowls they appeared in.He was awarded Defensive Player of the Year in 1971 and 1973, selected nine consecutive times for the Pro Bowl, and made history in 1971 as the first defensive player to be named MVP. He rose to the occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 3-time first-team All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowler. While individual stats don't hold as much weight if the Vikings didn't accomplish a team win, it's tough to deny the performance Woods had against the Cowboys in Week 8. The Raiders and Texans were the only two in the top five to finish with a losing record, while the Vikings, Dolphins, and Cowboys all made the . Brian Bahr/Allsport. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. Alex Pagulayan full-hit follow-the-rail hide, against Skyler Woodward [8:51]: https://youtu.be/ALy6VtA78uw?t=5259. Little known fact about Alan Page: he blocked 28 punts and kicks in his careeras an interior lineman. Jones was perhaps the best at his position in the NFL during the early part of the decade, exemplified by being voted to the . The Vikings offered a good amount of first-class seats, and 95% of players felt they had enough room to spread out. For his outstanding performance throughout most of the '80s and his high rankings in the Vikings record books, Joey Browner outdistances Robert Griffith for second place on the list of great Minnesota safeties. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. . Have a player you'd like to nominate? 114 tackles (83 solo), 3.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 7 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble; started all 15 games he played; on field for 1,049 of Minnesota's 1,280 defensive snaps (86.8 percent), 108 tackles (72 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles; started all 17 games he played; on field for all 1,280 defensive snaps (100 percent), 28 tackles (20 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed; started 3 of 14 games he played; on field for 211 defensive snaps (17.5 percent), 13 tackles (8 solo), 1 pass defensed; played in 16 games (0 starts); on field for 54 defensive snaps (4.5 percent), 3 special teams tackles (1 solo), played in 9 games (0 starts); did not play any defensive snaps. By the time his nine seasons in purple were over, he had racked up some serious statistics. Best Safety Photos of 2020 View the best safety photos of the 2020 season from Vikings photographers. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. These are the top 15 hardest hitters to ever come through the NFL. Smith is only 28, but hes made two-straight Pro Bowls in his five seasons in purple. To shed light on his all-around game, Browner led the Vikings in nine defensive categories during his career. Charley Taylor 7. 14. Gil Brandt of NFL Network continued his breakdown of the top players all-time at every position on Wednesday when he rolled out a list of the best safeties to ever lace up their chinstrap.. According to the press release, the NFLPAs goals were to highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement, and highlight best practices and standards.. Since the Vikings will be under new leadership, it will be interesting to see if the powers that be opt to re-sign Woods or move another direction. Speak your mind in the comments section below. Monte Coleman 14. Bryant was also an excellent special teams player, making him even more of a threat after an interception. Over his entire career, he racked up 159.5 sacks, which ranks fourth in NFL history. The Minnesota Vikings opened this years training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season is safety. Additionally, his ball-hawking ways helped solidify a pass defense that faces brutal competition every week in the pass-happy NFC North. He adopted intimidation tactics, trash-talking, and a larger-than-life presence on the field that waged absolute psychological warfare. This group all brings individual strengths that mesh perfectly together for an unstoppable force that extends to special teams as well. Browner, a 1983 first-round pick, played nine seasons with the Vikings and one with Tampa Bay. Anthony Barr converted to linebacker late in his college career from running back, and has quickly become a top-tier 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL. As Meirov noted, the team can save roughly $50 million in cap space by moving running back Dalvin . Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. Ed Reed 2. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. His size and aggression on the field,paired with his intelligence and agility, made him the ideal offensive lineman.He was known to play through injuries and only missed two games throughout his career. The team selected him from Louisiana-Lafayette and plugged him immediately into the defensive rotation. The Minnesota Vikings continue to reshape their defensive coaching staff under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. We are concluding this series with safeties. His heady presence in the secondary served to make him a leader on the defense, even though he's one of the youngest players on the field. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019. 1 / 100 Minnesota Vikings 2 / 100. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Steve Atwater was the greatest run-support safety of all time. John Randle was born on December 12, 1967, in Hearne, Texas, and was an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Vikings in 1990. Tarkenton was the first Viking ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and is recognized for his skill, consistency, and innovation as one of the greatest QBs of all time. 16 despite having an NFL-record 81 interceptions. An important part of the Minnesota defensive backfield, the CB position requires fast players to cover receivers, defend against pass offenses, and make tackles. Please check your email for a confirmation. Smith is slowly making his case for being the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. We rank the best safeties in the NFL. Gil Brandt from NFL.com ranks Krause as the 11th-best safety in NFL history. Griffith, who was the Vikings' starting strong safety for six years, was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL. This purple pack of players isn't limited to the most skilled or the most iconic Vikings. He spent eleven seasons with the Vikings, played in seven Pro Bowls, and finished the last couple years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2003, and is remembered for his energy as a true defensive force. Known for his strength and endurance, Yary is widely considered the Vikings greatest defensive tackle of all time. This is the list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time. 5 spot on the list of greatest safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. In his first year in Minnesota, he picked off passes in six straight games, which is still a team record. Click on as we power rank the top safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Viking Cruises. This was by far the most difficult position group to select. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Vikings Are a Perfect Fit for Top Free Agent. February 28, 2023. He was undrafted out of San Diego State and spent a year in the CFL before arriving in Minnesota in 1994. The best Minnesota Vikings wide receiver is Randy Moss. Even though he was limited to part-time duty during his first two seasons, he still managed three interceptions and an amazing seven fumble recoveries. The Minnesota Vikings were praised for their cafeteria, with 100% of players saying there is enough room. Emlen Tunnell Honorable Mentions FAQ The survey . Eller led the charge in four Minnesota Vikings campaigns that led to Super Bowl appearances, and hardly ever missed a start throughout his career. The organization ranked 7th in support of players families, with the NFLPA citing that the Vikings offered a family room and daycare. Certain players, such as Mike Morris and Scott Studwell, would have fit perfectly in that era. He managed to play all 1208 defensive snaps for Zimmers defense in 2021 and led the whole team in snaps. The safety is the last line of your team's defense, but elite talents are capable of making big plays on pass rush duties, too. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. The Commanders were at the bottom of the rankings, with the Cardinals 31st and the Chargers 30th. Greenwood. What College Football Team Did John Wayne Play For? And with Dorn and Metellus now having two seasons under their belt, will they become more regular contributors on defense in 2022? This linebacker corps covers all the bases: they are elite in coverage and stopping the run. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. Justin Hall kick and stick with stun forward, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [2:30]: https://youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co?t=18264. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. Earlier this week, he covered the safety position. Harris also finished second at the position in terms of . They were also 2nd in the league for their post-game gathering area. Vikings have 2 of the top safeties of all time Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West Broncos. The Minnesota Vikings need to be efficient in the offseason. Though not known as a formidable tackler, Krause's presence in the deep middle of the secondary allowed the Purple People Eaters to unleash a scary pass-rush on opposing quarterbacks. 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