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Top 10 Defensive Linemen


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No position has changed more in the history of the Vikings, because of "specialization" than the positions along the defensive line.  1st down rush defenders and 3rd down pass rushers have greatly changed the importance of statistics on the defensive line.  In this top 10 I will tend to rate higher those players who were 3 or 4 down players.  I know that this will probably irritate some of you as I have maybe downgraded some of your favorite players.  But in my mind...and on my list...all around effectiveness against both the run and the pass is more valuable than someone who comes off the bench to rush the passer on third down. I will also rate higher those players who played during a time when defensive line statistics were non existents.  So, here are the Top 10 Defensive Linemen in Vikings History.

10. Keith Millard: (1985-91) Millard was voted to two pro bowls and was first team all pro twice.  In 1989, he was the NFC's defensive player of the year as voted on by the UPI.  He is also one of the 50 greatest Vikings. He had 18 sacks in '89 from the tackle position.  Then an NFL record. However, following the 89 season, Millard had a very serious knee injury and was never the same player.  Had he stayed healthy and played for the Vikings more than 6 seasons, he would've rated much higher on this list.

9. Gary Larsen: (1965-74) Larsen is the member of the famous and original Purple People Eaters that most fans have to look up to remember.  Page, Eller and Marshall were house hold names.  Next to them, it appeared that Larsen toiled in obscurity.  But, he was the player who clogged the middle lanes against the run, while the others converged on the quarterback.  Still, he managed to collected 38.5 in his career...which is respectable.  He was Phat Pat Williams, 30 years earlier than Williams.  His efforts earned him 2 trips to the pro bowl.

8. Everson Griffen: (2010 - ) Griffen is a physical specimen, displaying both strength and speed...and an unrelenting motor that feeds his defensive teammates.  He has recorded 66.5 sacks and has been a 3 time participant in the pro bowl.  His rookie season was marred by off field issues, including two arrests.  His second season saw Griffen being an excellent special teams player, including being the "gunner" on kickoffs.  He became a starter on the defensive line during his third season and has been productive ever since.  His 2018 season, however, was shortened due to a mental health issue.  When he came back to the Vikings, it appeared that he was not quite the same high-energy player he was previously.  It will be interesting to see how he plays in 2019.

7. Jared Allen: (2008-2013) Allen was a very productive player as a Viking, and was always a fan favorite.  He was a 5 time pro bowl participant and 4 time all pro.  He is one of the 50 Greatest Vikings and he recorded 136 sacks during his career playing for the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears and Panthers.  His best season was 2012 when he recorded 22 sacks, a Viking team record.  As good as he was as a pass rusher, Allen was not that productive against the run.  After retirement, Allen has become an avid participant in the sport of Curling.

6. Kevin Williams: (2003 - 2013) Williams burst onto the scene in Minnesota recording double digit sacks in his first two seasons with the Vikings.  His role changed somewhat once he was teamed with Pat Williams next to him.  This duo made the Vikings very difficult to run against for several seasons.  It was because of his role against the run, that Kevin Williams earned multiple pro bowl and all pro honors.  He is one of the 50 Greatest Vikings. Will he be elected to the Hall of Fame?

5. Chris Doleman: (1985-1993, 99) Doleman is the Vikings all time sack leader with 150.5 sacks.  He was elected to the pro-bowl 8 times, is one of the 50 Greatest Vikings, is in the Ring of Honor, and in 2012 was elected to the Hall of Fame.  He began his pro career as a pass rushing OLB in a 3-4 defense.  By his 3rd season, the Vikings had switched back to the 4-3 defense and Doleman was a defensive end. For most of his career Doleman was considered a pass rush "specialist."  Often he was removed from the lineup during "running" downs.  However, three times in his career, Doleman accumulated over 100 tackles.  Quite a feet for a pass rushing specialist.  In 2018, Doleman underwent brain surgery for a Glioblastoma tumor. 

4. Jim Marshall: (1961-79) Marshall went to two pro bowls and was elected as All-Pro three times.  He started all four of the Vikings Super Bowl appearances.  It is claimed by the Vikings that he recorded 127 sacks in his career (he played in an era when sacks were not an official statistic.) Good enough for 4th place among Viking defenders.  Yet, his greatest achievement as a Viking was his toughness and durability.  He played  for 20 seasons...a record for defensive player.  He played in 282 consecutive games as a defensive end, and in 270 regular season games (a record since broken by Brett Favre.)  Jim Marshall  is in the Ring of Honor, has had his number retired  by the Vikings, and is one of the 50 Greatest Vikings.  If it weren't for one play in 1964, when he ran a fumble recovery the wrong way, Marshall would be in the Hall of Fame.

3. Carl Eller: (1964-78) 6 times elected to the pro bowl...7 times all pro...ring of honor..70's all decade team...1971 NFL Defensive Player of the Year...Played in all four Super Bowls.  Nick named "Moose" by his teammates, Eller missed only 3 games his entire career.  As a Viking, the team claims he recorded 130.5 sacks.  He was known to play with a mean streak and kept battling, sometimes even after the down was over!  If the Viking players were ever involved in a fight, it was a good chance that Eller was in the middle of it.  He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2. John Randle: (1990 - 2000) Randel's' statistics are only part of his story.  137.5 career sacks...'90's all decade team...Vikings Ring of Honor...7 times Pro Bowl..5 times All Pro...50 Greatest Vikings seems like just skimming the surface.  Randle grew up in a tar shack, in poverty, in Texas.  He was not supposed to make it in the NFL as he came from a small football program...he tried out for the Buccaneers' after going undrafted....but he was not signed as it was thought his size was to small.  A Viking scout encouraged the team to give Randle a tryout.  He was signed and never looked back.  He was quick, and very strong for his size.  He had a motor that never quit.  He could get inside an opponents head, by the trash talking he engaged in during games.  Some of his opponents claimed that he was the defensive lineman that intimidated them the most.  Not Reggie White...not Bruce Smith...but John Randle. He was elected to the HOF in 2010.

1. Alan Page: (1967-78) Page's importance to the Minnesota Vikings franchise cannot be overstated. A first round pick out of Notre Dame, the native of Canton, OH had a football career that makes him the very best defensive lineman...if not, the very best player in Vikings history.  He was elected to  9 pro bowls...6 times first team all pro...two times NFL Defensive Player of the Year...2 times NFC Defensive Player of the Year...1971 NFL Most Valuable Player (only one of two defensive players to receive this award)...'70's all decade team...member of the Ring of Honor...his number 88 was retired by the Vikings...Played in four super bowls...the team claims that he recorded 148.5 sacks during his career.  He was quick, powerful, and smart.  He rarely missed a game during his career, which is a theme for Viking linemen of his era.  He was a first ballot hall of famer. After his playing career Page began practicing law, eventually becoming a judge and then a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.  He has quietly advocated for disadvantaged, at risk youth in Minnesota and Ohio. 

 

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This is an awfully deep list and you could probably easily break it down to have 2 top 10 lists, splitting DEs and DTs with how good this position group has been in Vikings' history.  All you have to do is look at some of the names left off:

Phat Pat

Hank Thomas

Linval Hungry

B-Rob

Doug Martin

Mark Mullaney'

Jerry Ball

and soon to be Danielle Hunter

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20 hours ago, swede700 said:

This is an awfully deep list and you could probably easily break it down to have 2 top 10 lists, splitting DEs and DTs with how good this position group has been in Vikings' history.  All you have to do is look at some of the names left off:

Phat Pat

Hank Thomas

Linval Hungry

B-Rob

Doug Martin

Mark Mullaney'

Jerry Ball

and soon to be Danielle Hunter

Well...I see your point.  However, I think with wealth of defensive linemen the Vikings have had over the years, there is a division between the good and the great.  I knew this list, of all that I produce, would be full of great players.

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1 hour ago, Virginia Viking said:

Well...I see your point.  However, I think with wealth of defensive linemen the Vikings have had over the years, there is a division between the good and the great.  I knew this list, of all that I produce, would be full of great players.

I can see that point as well...but I would think the top 3 that I listed could also be included in the "great" category.  

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I would have Keith Millard at #2 on the all-time list.  I know Virginia Viking said that he took longevity into account in his rankings, but from a pure talent standpoint, he was quite a bit better than even John Randle.  That wasn't a typo on my part either.  He was quite a bit better than even John Randle.

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14 hours ago, Uncle Buck said:

I would have Keith Millard at #2 on the all-time list.  I know Virginia Viking said that he took longevity into account in his rankings, but from a pure talent standpoint, he was quite a bit better than even John Randle.  That wasn't a typo on my part either.  He was quite a bit better than even John Randle.

I can't go that far.  I'd probably still have Millard as #5, because he certainly was better (at least had more impact) on the team than his teammate Doleman.  But, the perception of him "My arms are bigger than your guns" and the bad knees really did a number on him.  

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1 hour ago, swede700 said:

I can't go that far.  I'd probably still have Millard as #5, because he certainly was better (at least had more impact) on the team than his teammate Doleman.  But, the perception of him "My arms are bigger than your guns" and the bad knees really did a number on him.  

These lists are tough because everybody has their own way of defining what makes one player "better" than another player.  Some people put a lot of weight on the length of career or total career production, and I can understand that.  For me, however, I just look it and ask myself "if the Vikings needed someone at their position today, and could go back in a time machine to get either player at their peak, who would I bring back?  I don't really take things like the "guns" situation or injuries.  To me, Keith Millard was the most dynamic Viking defensive lineman I've ever seen, with the exception of Alan Page. 

On another note, it's nice to see Jerry Ball getting some love in this thread too.  He was one of my favorites back in the day too.  :)

 

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Page, Randle and Eller -- 3 Hall of Famers -- should be the top 3. Agree they should be listed in that order. 

Jim Marshall was the 3rd best player on his own defensive line for much of his career. He shouldn't be ranked ahead of guys with multiple All Pros. Marshall was never a first team All Pro (he had a few 2nd team All Pro nominations). He only made the Pro Bowl twice. His durability and career longevity was impressive, and the best argument for him eventually making the Hall. But he was more of a very good player than an all time great.

Kevin Williams was All Pro 5 times and went to 6 Pro Bowls. He deserves to be in the HOF. He was a complete player. I'd rank him 4th here. 

Jared Allen has an argument for the HOF. Allen was All Pro 4 times (3 with the Vikings) and went to 6 Pro Bowls (5 with the Vikings). He led the league in sacks twice, once with the Vikings. He arguably should have been the DPOY in 2011, but lost narrowly to Terrell Suggs likely in large part because the Vikings as a team were terrible that year. He's 11th in NFL history in sacks (dating back to 1982 when the stat was first recorded officially). He wasn't great against the run but he was a complete player, hardly ever came off the field. He only played 6 seasons with the Vikings. 

Chris Doleman was mostly a pass rush specialist, but he was one of the best pass rushers ever: he's 5th all time in sacks and he's in the Hall of Fame. He earned 2 All Pros and 8 Pro Bowls (6 with the Vikings). He led the league in sacks in 1989. His longevity (74.5 sacks at age 32 or older, including 4 seasons with 10+ sacks at an older age than Allen's last double digit sack year) gives him a stronger case than Allen for the Hall (though I think Allen will eventually make it too). He played 9 seasons in Minnesota.

Allen did have a higher peak but Doleman played better longer and has the HOF.  I'd rank Doleman just ahead of Allen here. 

Keith Millard's injury at age 28 is one of the biggest "what if" stories in NFL history -- he was on track for the Hall of Fame if he'd stayed healthy. He was All Pro twice, the last 2 years before his injury. He won DPOY in 1989, leading the league in sacks with 18, a record for DTs that stood until Aaron Donald put up 20.5 last year. That was his last season before the career ending injury.

It's hard to compare Millard's short career (really only 4.5 healthy years -- he missed half of his 3rd season with injury too) with Allen, Doleman or Marshall. I think it's fair to rate him ahead of Marshall given the much higher peaks. It's arguable whether he should rank ahead of Doleman -- they were on the same team, and Millard was considered the better player, but then Doleman played at a very high level for much longer. I think he should slot after Doleman and Allen, but ahead of Marshall in 8th -- the first DL on my list who doesn't have an All Pro year. 

That leaves 2 spots, which isn't enough. Realistic candidates, a short list: 

  • Gary Larsen. 2 Pro Bowls (1969-70), cAV 88 (85 in MIN), peak AV 16, 14, 11, 9, 8 twice. A great player at his best but never better than the 3rd best on his own DL. 
  • Everson Griffen. 3 Pro Bowls (2015-17), cAV 61, peak AV 15, 13, 11, 9. A very good and well rounded DE but arguably never elite.
  • Pat Williams. 3 Pro Bowls (2006-08), cAV 93 (55 in MIN), peak AV 13, 11, 10 twice, 9. A role player as a run stopper, but an extremely effective one. 
  • Henry Thomas. 2 Pro Bowls (1991-92), cAV 114 (70 in MIN), peak AV 11 twice, 10, 9 three times. Seven seasons (5 in MIN) with 7+ sacks, as a DT. 
  • Linval Joseph. 2 Pro Bowls (2016-17). cAV 69 (47 in MIN), peak AV 13, 11, 9, 8 twice. A very good DT but mostly a role player.  
  • Danielle Hunter. 1 Pro Bowl (2018). cAV 33, peak AV 17 in 2018. 7th in the NFL in sacks and 10th in TFLs since coming into the league. Still only 24. 
  • Brian Robison. No Pro Bowls. 11 years with the Vikings but only 6 as a starter. cAV 53, peak AV 8 twice. 

Hunter is easy to exclude given his short career so far. But given his young age, and with 5 years left on his contract, he seems very likely to move into the top 10 if he stays healthy. 

Robison can also be left off. He was never as good a player as the rest of the guys on this list: second fiddle to Allen, then to Griffen, then 3rd once Hunter arrived.

I don't know what to do with Griffen. If he'd been able to maintain his level of play through last year and the next few, he'd be an easy choice for the top 10. As is, he has only been a starter for 5 years, the 5th of them affected by his mental health issue. I think he gets an honorable mention. 

Pat Williams and Linval Joseph are very similar here: excellent run stoppers, limited years in Minnesota. I never saw Gary Larsen play but it's fair to rate him as their equal, maybe a little better, and he did play longer on the best Vikings defense ever. I agree with putting him at the top of that trio and keeping him in the top 10. 

Henry Thomas is my choice for the last spot on the list. He's underrated. Very productive as an interior pass rusher. He put up a higher AV with the Vikings than anyone else on the short list except Larsen, and higher career AV than anyone. 

So my list is: 

  1. Alan Page
  2. John Randle
  3. Carl Eller
  4. Kevin Williams
  5. Chris Doleman
  6. Jared Allen
  7. Keith Millard
  8. Jim Marshall
  9. Gary Larsen
  10. Henry Thomas

HM: Everson Griffen, Pat Williams, Linval Joseph

Edited by Krauser
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We’ve been ripping through top-five all-time positional big boards for the best players at each position in NFL history and today is the defensive tackles turn. More than any other position, the common names mentioned as the best defensive tackles in NFL history are guys that played well before I was watching football. While I’m certain Alan Paige, Mean Joe Greene, Merlin Olsen, Bob Lilly and Randy White were wonderful football players, I can’t even take myself seriously writing about them. So while my top-five defensive tackle list doesn’t reflect the entire scope of league history, it does represent players I have actually watched play the game and can appreciate their impact. 

1. JOHN RANDLE 

An undrafted 6-foot-1 and 244-pound defensive tackle out of Texas A&M Kingsville is the guy who tops my list of best defensive tackles that I’ve seen play the game. 

 

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/top-5-all-time-defensive-tackle-big-board

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5 hours ago, swede700 said:

I am glad that John Randle is his number one tackle.  However, you don't have to see someone play "in your lifetime" to know whether or not they fit into your top 10.  Sounds like a football writer to lazy to look at the history of the game.

I never saw Otto Graham or Sammy Baugh play...but, I know that they were great quarterbacks.  I never saw Babe Ruth or Ted Williams swing a bat, but I know they were great hitters.  What's wrong with looking a little beyond your era and explore players like Page, Green, Lily or Olsen?  Besides, the dumb@$$ misspelled Alan Page's name! 

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