No Allen. No Williams. No Problem.

A new generation has taken over the defensive line for the Minnesota Vikings.

For the first time since 2007, the Vikings will begin the year without an established, respected pass rusher at right defensive end. Jared Allen – deemed too expensive to bring back – signed with intra-division rival Chicago in free agency, leaving the Purple after six seasons.

The Vikings will also be without defensive tackle Kevin Williams, the longest-tenured member of last year's team; a 2003 first-round pick who had started all but five games in his decade-plus career. Williams signed with defending champion Seattle last week.

That leaves Brian Robison – now the third-longest tenured Viking – to anchor the line.

"It's different," said Robison of the absent stalwarts Allen and Williams. "Bottom line is we've got a new team here. We've got to move on, and we've got to go to battle with the guys we've got."

With Robison rushing off the left end, Allen's old position will be occupied by Everson Griffen, the energetic 26 year old from USC who just received a five-year, $42.5 million contract. Meanwhile, Williams will be replaced by brutish nose tackle Linval Joseph, a former Super Bowl champion with the Giants.

Rookie Scott Crichton will provide depth at the end position. Crichton is a versatile lineman who prides himself on forcing turnovers. He created 10 fumbles in his three-year Oregon State career.

The former Beaver is key for the success of the entire defensive line, according to the veteran Robison.

"We're only as good as our depth guys," said Robison, "and we need to have [Crichton] out there and be able to rotate during the games and really be able to give us that spark off the bench."

Not only is the personnel new, but so is the coaching staff. George Edwards is now the man in charge of the defense. He is the team's fourth defensive coordinator in five seasons, and he likes how vocal his D-linemen are as they acclimate themselves, not only to Edwards' schemes, but also to each other.

"You always like to see guys working together and trying to help each other," said Edwards after Wednesday's morning walk-through. "You see that right now with them coaching each other when we’re not around, helping each other, trying to talk about pointers, trying to talk about the missions that we're trying to get accomplished, what we're trying to get done schematically."

While Edwards appreciates the communication amongst his new group of players, the players, likewise, appreciate the fresh, vocal, high-octane coaching approach just as much. Edwards, now coordinating for his third NFL team, matches the enthusiastic personality exhibited by head coach Mike Zimmer.

Robison has seen several different personalities in the defensive coordinator position. He's been coached by the timid, gentle Leslie Frazier, as well as the gruff, old-school Fred Pagac. Through a handful of practices with the new guy, Robison likes what he sees.

"I love what he's doing," said Robison of Edwards. "High-energy coaching. Really disguising a lot of stuff on the defense."

Each member of this defensive line brings something different, giving Edwards plenty to work with. Griffen is incredibly athletic, Joseph has ideal run-stopping size, Sharrif Floyd is young, extremely fit and has a high ceiling and Robison has an unending motor. It's a defensive line that has potential to be good at many different facets.

Zimmer wants his defense to stop the run. It's what he aimed to do in Cincinnati, and it's what he'll try to do in Minnesota. But that doesn't mean pass-rushing isn't a priority. In fact, it means the opposite. When the run gets stopped, the quarterbacks drop back more frequently. Just look at 2006 and 2007 when the Vikings led the NFL in rush defense; they also faced the most pass attempts in the NFL.

The Vikings don't have a man on their roster that has ever recorded double-digit sacks in a single season, though Robison hopes to make that leap. The eighth-year player has upped his sack tally each of the last three seasons, and he came one sack shy of 10 last year.

"I felt like I should have had that last year, like I missed too many sacks," said Robison, "That's one thing I'm working on right now. We'll go out here and just keep working and keep pushing away and hopefully it comes."

There isn't much about this Vikings team that screams consistency – the defensive line included. There are unanswered questions and uncertain details.

But much like the new coaching staff and ongoing quarterback competition, the new-look D-line gives reason for optimism.