Sharrif Floyd has been great to watch over the past two seasons and is showing signs of becoming a force at defensive tackle for years to come for the Vikings.
Having a high-caliber defensive tackle is nothing new for the Vikings though. From 1990-2000 John Randle roamed the trenches and punished opposing players with great ease and personality. Randle was a fan favorite and charismatic, from the ‘warrior’ paint, to his consistent play; fans still love Randle to this day.
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A few years after Randle went on to Seattle, the Vikings drafted Kevin Williams. Williams established himself as a force early on with his raw athleticism and quickness as a big man. Kevin Williams picked up where Randle left off with great skill and play and becoming a favorite amongst fans, ironically enough, while wearing the same jersey number as John Randle did.
Vikings fans have been spoiled over the last twenty plus years at the defensive tackle position. That means Sharrif Floyd has big shoes to fill and will be held to a high standard by the Vikings and their fans. Having battled a few injuries in his first couple seasons, Floyd has developed well for Minnesota and this defense.
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He has shown the ability to be an all around great player in his short time in the NFL. He does well against the run, controls gaps, and is more than happy to help out in the pass rush and pile up a few sacks.
The former Gator has a great opportunity under Mike Zimmer to be a force to be reckoned with for many years in this league. If he can soak up what Zimmer teaches him and stay healthy, as Vikings fans, we may be in for a treat for a long time and continue to be spoiled at defensive tackle. I believe Sharrif can anchor this defense to being a perennial top ten defense with guys like Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Everson Griffen by his side.
It is definitely an exciting time to be a Vikings fans, especially on the defensive side of the ball. What do you think Floyd can do for the Vikings this year and how he can impact the defense?
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