By Chris Schad & Luke Inman
When Rick Spielman took over the Minnesota Vikings following the 2011 season, the defense was a complete trainwreck. With aging stars Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield as the anchors, the Vikings saw their Super Bowl caliber 2009 roster continue to deteriorate, and the team posted one of the worst defensive seasons in the history of the National Football League.
The following year was an improvement as the Vikings marched toward the playoffs, but after regressing in 2013, the defense’s biggest weakness was becoming clear: There were no impact players to be found.
Most dominant defenses usually have a name they can anchor their defense to. The Green Bay Packers have Clay Matthews. The Baltimore Ravens had Ray Lewis. The Chicago Bears had Brian Urlacher.
I’m sure you get the point, and it’s not a coincidence that the names thrown out were all linebackers. With an aging Chad Greenway leading the pack, the Vikings needed to do something last spring to get a guy that could wreck havoc and wound up with UCLA’s Anthony Barr.
This spring, Barr looks like a cornerstone for the linebacking corps, but the Vikings are still a solid linebacker or two away from turning the corner. The impact that Barr had proved that Mike Zimmer could mold an edge rusher to fit his scheme, and Spielman will have his hands full with a deep class.
However, it’s far more likely that the Vikings will try to get an off-the-ball linebacker to complement Barr.
Luke’s Top-5 LB
1) Eric Kendricks, UCLA
With his big bro playing for the Eagles, Kendricks comes into the league with the football genes made for the NFL spotlight. UCLA’s first Butkus Award winner — given out to the nation\’s best linebacker — Kendricks led the Bruins with an outstanding 149 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. Take a step back as a sophomore where Kendricks led the entire Pac-12 conference with 149 tackles and six tackles for loss and it’s easy to see why Kendricks will likely be the first off-the-ball linebacker drafted. A good but not great athlete, Kendricks is smooth as he covers sideline-to-sideline letting his natural football instincts take over. In the end, however, it’s his non-stop motor that just won’t quit, mixed with his fight to win and passion for the game why you want a guy like Kendricks playing for you, and not against you.
2) Paul Dawson, TCU
Nobody is better at dissecting a play before the snap and letting his read and react skills take care of the rest than Dawson. A player who has been ripped and ridiculed during the pre-draft process for horrible workout times and a questionable attitude, Dawson has always found a way to thrive when the pressure mounts. Off the field Dawson doesn’t wow anyone with his natural physique with a lot of room to grow, but on the field Dawson plays like a mad man getting anywhere and everywhere he needs to be. Dawson should be groomed and coached into a true three-down inside linebacker as he shows the incredible ability to read plays before they happen and uses his agility to swim around would-be blockers to make the tackle. In the pass game he is adequate enough to hold his own, although quicker, shiftier receivers will give him trouble in the NFL.
3) Shaq Thompson, Washington
Thompson is one of the biggest wild-cards of the entire draft as he has done nothing but produce for the Huskies at not one, not two, but count ‘em, three different positions. Thompson proved that to the nation after he won the Paul Hornung award for the country’s most versatile player after he lined up at linebacker, safety and running back in the Pac-12. Thompson was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and lived up to the hype during his college career as a dominant player. He is a physical striker that plays an aggressive brand of smart football, but the question is: Where do you play him? Thompson seems to be too small for a linebacker in the NFL as he would likely get chewed up in the running game by bigger, more physical blockers. A switch to safety may be in the works, allowing him to fly around the field and make plays both in coverage and inside the box during run support.
4) Denzel Perryman, Miami
As a junior, Perryman led the Hurricanes in tackles with 108 and earned his way to first team All-ACC honors. He followed that act up last season with another repeat performance, this time leading his team with 110 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss, getting him back on the first team All-ACC squad once more. Perryman is our first true big-hitter on the list as he owns a thick, strong build which he uses to intimidate people along with his violent playing style and attitude. A man who attacks the running lane with authority and is on a mission to hurt you in the process, Perryman understands how to get to the ball carrier. Perryman is phenomenal at moving downhill and being a monster force in the run game. However, it remains to be seen if he can hold his own dropping back in coverage against smaller and more fluid opponents. If what you need is a two-down thumper in the middle of your defense then, no question, this is your guy.
5) Stephone Anthony, Clemson
A late riser in the pre-draft process Anthony impressed myself along with many others down at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. A five-star recruit, Anthony led his team in tackles in both 2013 and 2014, becoming a staple and consistent force inside the Tigers’ defense. A big powerful linebacker at 6-foot-2, 246 pounds, Anthony has the arm length and reach needed to take on and shed blockers in the NFL from day one. He’s a high-motor guy who loves to use his physicality and intensity to scare opposing ball carriers. Anthony lets his hard work in the weight room and film room pay off while he continues to shape into an all-around linebacker. Injuries were the one thing that held him back and could cause him to fall on draft day.
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After using a top-10 pick on the position last year in Anthony Barr, it’s doubtful general manager Rick Spielman will dip back into the fountain of youth again in round one of this draft, instead using his first pick on an even more pressing need like cornerback or offensive line. Still, the fact remains the team is still without a true middle-linebacker as it stands now and will likely choose to add another player or two to the rotation on days two and three. Knowing that, here are five realistic linebackers that make sense for the team as the draft progresses in the mid-to-late rounds.
Third Round: Paul Dawson, TCU, Inside Linebacker
As stated above, Dawson’s football instincts allow him to see the play before it happens, making him a nightmare for opposing teams to defend. Dawson would slide straight into the middle linebacker spot in Mike Zimmer’s base 4-3 defense that has gone quietly unnoticed during the offseason. While it would remain to be seen if Dawson would stay on the field during passing downs within the nickel package, rest assured he will earn his keep as the rangy and productive linebacker that he is on first and second downs. Matching Dawson up with last years top-10 pick Anthony Barr would allow Zimmer to open up his exotic defensive playbook and flood the “A” gap with two blitzing linebackers that understand how to disrupt the quarterback. Dawson and Barr are two opposite players when it comes to their attributes and physical skill-set, which is a blessing in disguise as they help balance one another out with their own unique playing styles. While Barr is a long, lanky speedster that gets off the edge quickly, he was burned by swinging for the fence on every play and led the team in missed tackles. Meanwhile, Dawson won\’t command the same attention and won\’t produce the splash plays, but his keen understanding and football IQ help him stay home and stay true to the play, making it nearly impossible to get out of his tackling space.
Fourth Round: Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, Inside Linebacker
Depending on who you asked, McKinney was known as the most highly regarded inside linebacker heading into the pre-draft process. A monster thumper who attacks down hill like a raging bull, he fills any and every running gap with authority. While his ability to be a physical presence in the running game is a known commodity, his fluidity to drop back in coverage will be a big question mark heading into the season. Knowing that, McKinney could jump into the lineup as a new and improved version of former Vikings middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley as the new two-down thumper who will add a physical presence to the middle of the defense.
Fifth Round: Hayes Pullard, USC, Inside Linebacker
As a four-star recruit, Pullard started off playing both the linebacker and running back position to demonstrate his versatility. It wasn\’t long until he took his excellent vision and ability to see the entire field and honed in strictly on the defensive side of the ball. Pullard put together an impressive resume for the Trojans as a four-year starter and team captain while compiling 377 tackles during his college career. While he won’t wow you with any one specific talent or attribute, Pullard is extremely well rounded as a fundamentally sound linebacker with great closing speed, smooth agility and a natural knack for the game. Although he has flown under the radar for the most part, to draft a player as fundamentally sound as Pullard, who is equally effective versus the run and the pass (20 pass deflections), on day three could turn out to be a draft day steal.
Sixth Round: Jordan Hicks, Texas, Outside Linebacker
A highly touted five-star recruit coming out of high school, Hicks has had the pressure of the bright lights around him every step of the way, including giant obstacles he\’s faced after multiple season-ending surgeries. However, when he was on the field, Hicks dominated as his team-leading 147 tackles speaks for itself. Even more impressive than Hicks’ build, range and awareness, though, is his feisty, competitive nature and strong mental capacity. A whiz in the classroom, Hicks takes his knowledge to the field where he is one of the most humble, yet hardworking players you will find. If a “me first” prima donna-type attitude and lazy work ethic player is what you\’re after, then cross Hicks off your board right now.
I got a first-hand look at just how humble this kid really is down at this year’s Senior Bowl as I came away thoroughly impressed with his positive attitude for a man who has already faced his share of tough times.
Seventh Round: Ben Heeney, Kansas, Outside Linebacker
While everyone on this list was handed numerous scholarship offers, Heeney had to work his ass off just to make the team. That proved to work in his favor as his top-notch work ethic and non-stop motor became a part of his identity as a player who would do whatever it took to get the job done. After scratching and clawing to make the team as a running back his freshman year, Heeney flipped to the team’s inside linebacker the following year and didn\’t disappoint, leading the Jayhawks with 112 tackles. After an injury-riddled junior campaign, Heeney came back to finish his senior year strong with 127 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and a spot on the All Big-12 team. Heeney will appear on your screen out of nowhere showing incredible explosion and range to track down ball carriers from the opposite end of the field. Possessing great read and react skills, Heeney works quickly into his reads and won’t make many mistakes while doing so. With a physical and sometimes violent playing style, it’s clear Heeney continues to play with a giant chip on his shoulder, out to prove the world wrong.