The 10 most significant players for the Minnesota Vikings in 2022
Most important players Vikings 2022 season: The 62nd season of the Minnesota Vikings kicks off the frontier battle with the powerhouses Packers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. The expectations for this Viking season are high. They replaced the ageing leading duo of GM Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer with the fresh, young, innovative minds of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell. NFL London fans to buy NFL London Tickets from our website.
Instead of tearing up and rebuilding, the pair chose to run again with the same core, adding important players Vikings in different vital positions and hoping for better health in the rest.
On paper, the grid is stacked on either side of the ball. The Vikings will implement new programs, which they hope will modernize their methods and have a major impact. O’Connell will use his version of the offence that helped the Rams win last season’s Super Bowl. In contrast, Veteran Coordinator Ed Donatell will use Vic Fangio’s defence, using two high-safety and covering up his appearance before he steals.
With good health, improved coaching and a new program, the Vikings have a high ceiling. There is still a lot of uncertainty as we haven’t seen the team in action for this release.
Here’s a ranking of the top ten players for the Vikings’ 2022 season ahead of Sunday’s game. This is not a ranking of their best players; that would be pretty easy. The word “important” leaves some room for interpretation, but these are some of the factors in the ranking:
How much damage will this player’s absence cause to the Vikings?
To what extent did the player’s performance change the outcome?
How valuable are their personal roles?
Let’s start.
Honourable Mention: Dalvin Cook, Greg Joseph, Adam Thielen, Irv Smith Jr., Garrett Bradbury, Dalvin Tomlinson, Cam Dantzler
The 10 Most important players for Vikings in 2022 are:
10. Patrick Peterson
The cornerback is one of the more significant question marks on the Vikings roster as a whole. Peterson, 32, is back for another season as their number 1 player. His days as one of the elite corners of the game are over, but he is still a very important player for the Vikings.
They need Peterson to stay healthy – he missed four games last year with a hamstring injury – and to play well. Cam Dantzler is also important, but he could be replaced in the starting line-up by rookie Andrew Booth Jr. If necessary. NFL London Vikings vs Saints fans to buy Vikings Vs Saints Tickets from our website.
9. Brian O’Neill
O’Neill, the top player in the Viking’s offensive line, has gotten better since being drafted in the second round in 2018. He never missed time due to injury, became a power blocker in the running game with his athleticism and understanding of zones, and allowed a total of five sacks over four seasons. O’Neill signed a major contract before last season and may not have yet hit his ceiling. When he runs out of time, the Vikings head to Blake Brandel to see a huge drop.
8. Harrison Phillips
Phillips was brought in as a free agent to replace Michael Pierce – who unfortunately has barely played for the past two years – at the centre of the Vikings defence. The former Buffalo Bills will be an essential part of Donatell’s defence on offence.
With the Vikings deep in safety and only two off-ball linebackers, opposing offences will try to build up the run game. Phillips’ job is to eat blockers, guard multiple holes, and keep linebackers playing downhill. Stopping the run will force the attack into difficult passing situations where edge rushers can get to work.
7. Eric Kendricks
Entering its eighth season, Kendricks remains one of the Vikings’ most important players. He is the defensive quarterback, wearing the green dot and relaying Donatell’s call to his teammates. Kendricks’s instincts, athleticism and ball skills make him one of the best-backed linebackers in the NFL, and he can switch games with interceptions and passes.
He is also a dynamic player on the run, although he took a step back at that stage last year. If Kendricks can bounce back on both stages with new partner Jordan Hicks and perform well on both stages that will make the attack tough.
6. Harrison Smith
Like Kendricks, Smith is a key defender of the Zimmer era, having had to adapt to a new defence system for the first time in eight years this offseason. Donatell’s system carries a great responsibility for security. Each game starts with a similar two-high look, and then the defence turns to what it actually looks like when the ball is stolen.
Smith is one of the best players in the league who covers things up and ends up playing in the right place. Even at 33 years old, he was a key player in this defence. The Vikings need him to generate takeaway and help limit explosive play.
5. Zadarius Smith
Smith, a free agent acquisition by the Vikings, will begin his purple career by trying to stay with his former team. The Packers released him in March, he signed with the Vikings and he will try to prove that he is completely healthy and remains one of the most important passers in football.
Just three years ago, Smith led the NFL in all-out pressure as a versatile, unstoppable force who could get a quarterback from any formation. If he can get close to that level in 2022, everyone on the defence will benefit. NFL London Vikings vs Saints fans to buy Minnesota Vikings Vs New Orleans Saints Tickets from our website.
4. Danielle Hunter
Hunter is on this list for the same reasons as Smith’s new friend and pass-rushing partner. So why is Hunter one place higher? Because he is three years younger than Smith, has missed more stoppage time than Smith has in recent years and probably has a higher ceiling due to his physical abilities. In 2019, Hunter became the youngest player in NFL history to hit 50 career sacks, and his trajectory makes one wonder if he will finish at the top of the league’s all-time rankings.
He then missed 26 of the team’s last 33 games with a lone season-ending injury. Hunter is back and like Smith, he wants to prove he’s still a ruler. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings use their two pass-storming stars this year. They won’t just be on the edge in every game.
3. Christian Darrisaw
The Vikings’ second-year left tackle has been named the breakthrough contender this season and has even been compared to future Hall of Famer Trent Williams in frame and rise. Darrisaw has had a great training camp and has all the tools to get into the upper echelons of left tackle this season, but it won’t be easy.
Technically, he still needs to clean up a few things and become more stable. Darrisaw got better in his rookie season with his arrows straight up. Be careful if he starts to reach his potential this year. This would be a huge development for the Viking’s offensive.
2. Justin Jefferson
If this were a ranking of the Vikings’ best players, Jefferson would be the obvious choice at No. 1. Entering his third season, he has legitimate reasons for being the best receiver in the league. He is the complete package for that position.
Jefferson’s release, movement, speed and hands make him a truly unstoppable capture weapon. O’Connell is now in charge of the offence and Jefferson will be deployed in a variety of ways and should be Kirk Cousins’ primary readout for most games.
He’s not Cooper Kupp as a base runner, but that’s his underrated skill, too. Jefferson is chasing Randy Moss for the Vikings catch for one season this year — and more. Minnesota’s attacking elite has a lot to do with Jefferson’s greatness. Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn are excellent secondary options, but missing Jefferson at any moment would be devastating.
1. Kirk Cousins
I see no reason to put anyone else first. Cousins play the most important role in the sport, and much of the Vikings’ success or failure will rest on his shoulders. If O’Connell can get more well-timed aggression from cousins and help him keep the attack alive. The Vikings could be hard to stop due to his accuracy and ability to avoid turnover.
If cousins’ troubles – playing too conservatively at times, struggling under pressure, balancing his good performances with his poor – continue. The Vikings’ cap could still be capped at one team in the season playoffs.
No, wins are not quarterbacked stats, but no player has a greater influence on the outcome of a game. Of course, if Cousins misses most of the time for the first time in his career, the Vikings will cheer (with great respect for Nick Mullens).
Eticketing.co is the best website to buy NFL London Tickets.
Comments
Post a Comment