Green Bay Packers: Ranking the NFC North linebackers
2. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Minnesota features a formidable array of athletes in their linebacker corps starting with second-year inside linebacker Eric Kendricks. The six-foot, 232-pound tackling machine wasted no time in making an impact in his rookie campaign by using his closing speed to shoot open gaps and stop ball carriers dead in their tracks.
But additionally, Kendricks routinely took on lead blockers in the hole and shed them with relative ease in getting to the ball. It’s no coincidence that the young thumper led his team in tackles with 92.
This three-down playmaker can take his game to the next level by showing improved focus in pass coverage.
Resident graybeard Chad Greenway has signed on for one-more go-around in what should be his last year in the NFL. The 33-year-old’s snaps were reduced last season as he was primarily used as a base-package player.
What the 11th-year lacks in pure foot speed, he makes up for in instincts as far as putting himself in position to make plays just as he did on his 91-yard pick-six versus San Diego in Week 3.
GM Rick Speilman has already started preparing for life after Greenway by drafting Kentrell Brothers out of the University of Missouri. While he may not be more than a two-down player, the SEC phenom is a powerfully built linebacker who can fight off tackles.
Former Cincinnati Bengal Emmanuel Lamur was signed as a free agent to play weakside linebacker. He’s a converted college safety that does better job dropping into coverage than he ever will as a box player. Look for him to contribute as a sub-package and special-teams contributor.
Travis Lewis is another newcomer who lacks the size and speed to be anything more than a core special-teams component. His athletic limitations would get him quickly exposed if he were to line up as regular defender.
Strongside linebacker Anthony Barr is a certified stud even if his numbers aren’t indicative of the type of complete player he’s developed into in his first two years as a Viking.
Barr only has 7.5 sacks so far in his NFL career, but his team isn’t utilizing him as a Von Miller– or Bruce Irvin-like edge defender who lines up as a hand-in-the-dirt rusher on passing downs.
According to Pro Football Focus, the UCLA-import totaled only one-third the number of pass-rush opportunities that were afforded to Irvin, but still ranked fourth among 4-3 linebackers in total pressures with 23.
Barr, moreover, ranked tenth overall in stops against the run at his position along with being classified as the fourth-best off-the-ball linebacker in pass coverage.
The lanky six-foot-four, 238-pound Audie Cole is highly-respected by his coaching staff for his work ethic and understanding of Zimmer’s system. The former seventh-round pick’s instincts have helped him make a few notable splash plays in his time as a Viking, but his lack of sideline-to-sideline range make him more of a valuable backup that won’t severely hurt the team if he’s called upon to start a game or two in a pinch.
Edmund Robinson was a valuable rookie in 2015 that played in nine games and even started twice. He didn’t put up big numbers, but didn’t embarrass himself either. Robinson shows some explosiveness off the snap and has the speed to chase plays down across the field.
The Vikings rank second among NFC North at this position due to the intriguing upside of young stars-in-the-making, including Kendricks and Barr. If Zimmer and company can develop other young pieces around the two cornerstone defenders and find Greenway’s eventual successor, Minnesota could easily have the top linebacker group next year and in seasons to come.
Next: Next up: Monsters of the Midway