Vikings Training Camp 2018: Previewing the defensive line
By Chris Schad
Defensive End Depth:
Brian Robison, Stephen Weatherly, Tashawn Bower, and Ade Aruna
While the Vikings starting front four is nice, the team would clearly prefer to establish a 2018 rotation similar to the one that destroyed them in last season’s NFC Championship Game. Because of that, Minnesota has plenty of options when one of their big guns has a breather.
Robison will be the most familiar name to Minnesota fans and is the one who is filling a role similar to what Chad Greenway played in his final season a couple years ago. Although he turned 35 back in April, he can still get the job done in spot relief picking up four sacks last year and 7.5 in 2016.
Veteran leadership tends to be an overrated cliche, but Robison a good voice to have in the locker room for some of the team’s younger options.
Weatherly was active on most game days a year ago, but that was mainly to help out on special teams. The Vanderbilt product will be counted on to take a step forward in 2018 and he will need to make that leap in order to help the Vikings’ depth out.
Bower was a standout during last year’s preseason and he even made the 53-man roster coming out of training camp. Although he didn’t see the field much during the regular season, Bower still has had a year to develop and will be one of the more interesting players to watch in camp.
Aruna is a sixth-round pick out of Tulane that was drafted in a fashion similar to how the team found Hunter several years ago. Although there was limited production at Tulane, he was one of the best SPARQ athletes in this year’s class. The rookie’s impact may be a ways down the road, but he’s another prospect to watch.