NFL Draft 2011: Minnesota Vikings Go Heavy on Defense With Phil Taylor To Start

When thinking about the Minnesota Vikings one is presented with several questions. And while it is exciting to think of all the possibilities that come with questions, aka A Grand Solution! It is also important to realize that only a handful of questions can have answers through the draft. Questions like, "who is going to be the starting quarterback?" and "No more Pat? Now what?" These are unfortunately only two of the really big questions facing the Minnesota Vikings franchise heading into 2011.

It is reasonable to say that with no quarterback comes no Super Bowl, and while I don't disagree with that, it is also a fact that defenses win championships. Just look back at Trent Dilfer and the Ravens historic defense. Or Brad Johnson (remember him and the 43 yards of total offense against the Giants?) Yup! He won a super bowl with the #1 ranked Bucs defense leading the way.

A certain QB from Washington has caught the attention of Vikings fans everywhere and while he may be the next Steve Young picking him might not be the most important decision come draft day... Or the only good option.

The Vikings have lost the swagger on defense that made them a top five unit and a force that could win games despite the offense not playing well. Losing Pat Williams, Ben Leber, and Ray Edwards causes the Vikings to need a new core group of productive players.

So despite Jake Locker possibly being gone before the 43rd pick, and our woeful offensive line needing major help, I'm seeing the Vikings brain trust stocking up on defense early and HEAVY... Meaning this guy.

Round 1 Phil Taylor, One Fast BIG Man!

Phil Taylor was a run stuffing Nose Tackle at Baylor

Phil Taylor! Taylor was a run stuffing nose tackle during his time at Baylor. He is a two gap lineman who was regularly double teamed due to his size, and his amazing quickness. At the combine Mr. Taylor weighed in at 334lbs. and ran a slightly over 5 second 40!

The Vikings would line Taylor up next to Kevin Williams in the 4-3 and continue the dominance of stopping the run, and rushing the passer, that Vikings fans have come to expect.

Ever since Pat Williams arrived in Minnesota the Vikings began a three year run of stopping the opposing teams rushing productivity that is the greatest stretch in NFL history. But Pat's time in Minnesota is done, not merely because he wants out, but because his play has finally started to decline.

What makes Phil Taylor an upgrade over Pat Williams is his speed which will make him a legitimate pass rusher to team with Allen and K-Williams (something Pat could never do).

There isn't any doubt he will be available at #12 so don't be surprised or disappointed if you hear Goodell call Taylor's name. This is a huge pickup, and one that will solidify the Vikings defensive line for the next ten+ years.

Round 2: Bruce Carter Makes Chad Greenway and E.J. Henderson Better

Bruce Carter is a stiff run stopper and a great coverage linebacker

In round 2 the defensive makeover continues. In Bruce Carter the Vikings find an elite caliber linebacker who can play against the run and drop back in coverage. The Vikings like to rush four and drop back into coverage for passing downs, and have tough cap filling linebackers who play the run hard. Are you catching something eerie about Carter and the Vikings system?

Barring his season ending due to injury Carter was on track to be a first round pick, so to have him available in the second round is great news for MN.

Obviously linebacker isn't the biggest need, but with the Vikings drafting to bolster the defense into an elite unit again, and the overall talent that Carter brings to the table makes this pick too much to pass up. And he's a big upgrade over an already solid player in Ben Leber, namely on blitzes.

A quarterback would make sense here too. If Locker drops, or Ponder and Kaepernick are available it would be hard to not pull the trigger on one of them. But if the Vikings plan is to make the defense ferocious and youthful again they will choose Carter.

Round 3: Finally... the Front Seven Is Complete Again.

Sam Acho was one bright spot on a bad Texas team

If the Vikings trade down and obtain a third round selection or trade up for one I believe it will be for this former Texas Longhorn. At 6-3 and 260 lbs. Sam Acho isn't a very big defensive end, which has hurt his stock a little, that combined with the short comings of the Longhorns as a unit makes this possible.

In his last two seasons Acho posted 33 quarterback pressures, 31 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks, he plays very well against the run and is solid at forcing turnovers with 7 forced fumbles and 9 fumble recoveries. His Sophomore season wasn't too bad either.

Making plays is what he does. If the Vikings can make a move for him if he is available this would be a huge pick up and possibly the steal of the draft. Sam also would make fans completely forget about Ray Edwards if he plays up to his potential.

If the Vikings cannot make a deal for a third round pick then a defensive end will have to be picked up later in the draft or in free agency when that begins.

Round 4: From One Small Man to Another

Ahmad Black plays with velocity

Ahmad Black had a bad combine and was on a poor team in the Florida Gators. What he did for them was the only bright spot for that team. But like Acho his stock has dropped a little, despite being Mike Mayock's second ranked safety.

All Vikings fans know who Antoine Winfield is, and all NFL fans who don't follow the Vikings know him also. The style Winfield has brought in making tackles, picking up interceptions when thrown at, and playing at the line of scrimmage like a linebacker have garnered him the admiration of such people as John Madden, Mayock, and Head Coach Leslie Frazier.

Ahmad Black is the closest thing to a Winfield clone that anyone could possibly find. His 244 tackles, 14 for loss, and 13 interceptions over his career are stellar.

The Vikings will have a chance at Black in the fourth round and had better count their blessings for finding the eventual replacement for the great Antoine Winfield before Winfield is gone.

Black does have shortcomings. He has been overwhelmed by larger blockers and isn't tall enough to cover big receivers. But as a nickle corner or a safety playing close to the line he will make an impact.

His stats are off the charts! Learning under Winfield's personal tutelage will help him learn how to take on big blockers, from one 5-9 overachieving corner to another.

The Round Up

Sidney Rice will test the market this year

That's all I'm going to do. Trying to predict anything above the first overall pick is tough, trying to predict picks in the fifth round and up is pointless.

The Vikings will most likely address the quarterback issue and pass on one of the defensive players listed. Unless they feel strongly about next years QB class or plan to trade for Kevin Kolb. The team needs a quarterback desperately, but rebooting the defense and getting youth is very important.

The options in free agency will help address some of the offensive needs. Offensive linemen will be coming out and the team will do everything they can to keep Sidney Rice from leaving. What happens there would help define this draft, but with uncertainty looming on the free agent market the team must assume the worst and draft the best class they can.

New regimes mean new quarterbacks. Les Frazier will have to weigh how long he can get away without a new quarterback. He may not want to go one season without his guy in hand like what the Falcons did with Matt Ryan.

Whatever he does there is no question defense is high on his priority list. One position he talks about quite often in this draft is defensive tackle and defensive end. Don't expect too much on offense from the Vikings in the early rounds except possibly a quarterback, due to the depth of defensive prospects, Minnesota's aging defense, and the fact that offensive linemen were dominated by the defensive counterparts at the senior bowl hasn't inspired much confidence.

So keep your eyes peeled for the formerly mentioned defensive standouts who could be suited up in purple next season.

Thank you.