The loss of Rudd leaves us with the aging McDaniel and the Wong Winebacker in the Widdle, Who else do the Vikings have to stop the other guys? obviously it is no real concern since I have not heard anything from the fans. I heard this guy Gabe Northern is supposed to be a force that will make us forget about Rudd! Imput anyone?

-- Ralph (RFELIX7550@aol.com), May 15, 2001

Answers

Right now our linebacking corps looks to stack up with Northern replacing Rudd. The problem is that Northern, who weighs 260+ is more of an edge rusher then a multi purpose stand up linebacker. It is yet to be seen if he can drop back and cover, but then again Wong nor Rudd can so I don't see why that would be an issue. We have E Mac back on the weakside and Wong in the middle. Our top reserves are Jim Nelson who plays the two inside positions and Craig Sauer who I think is capable of playing all three spots. We also have Antonio Wilson who is tearing it up in Europe, and Lemanski Hall who should back up Ed McDaniel. Add to that Patrick Chukwurah who is another big edge rusher and then a special teams body like longshot Shawn Paga or longer shot Ryland Wickman and that should be our linebacking corps this season. Then if we get in a real pinch our Long Snapper, Bitch Palmer is a linebacker as well. I think we will see the Vikes carry seven backers on the active roster and another on the practice squad or one of the weekly inactives. I also think we are in deep shit with Richard Solomon back there tutoring Kailee Wong. I wouldn't doubt it if Wong gets shifted to the strongside and either Nelson or Sauer gets inserted into the starting lineup if Northern can't hang.

I would have to project right now that our Linebackers will be a problem this season. Wong has never shown much despite his favorite son status with Denny and the media. McDaniel is on the decline. Northern is an unknown. Sauer is coming off a chronic type injury. Nelson is unproven, but could be a comer. Hall is a career backup. Wilson is going to be spent after a full season in Europe. Chukwurah is a project type. Paga is a major project type. Wickman is a wash, he can't crack the sideline in Europe. Palmer is strickly a Long Snapper.

I do think, however, if the secondary can step up a notch, we can absorb the hit we may take with this unit. 41-0, can it really get any worse?

Remember the days when we had real linebackers like Mark Dusbabek, David Howard and Jessie Solomon? I mean guys like Ray Berry, Walker Lee Ashley and Jeff Brady were great too, but the guys we have now are hands down the best I have seen in a while.

IZ

-- Iz (izmorrow@yahoo.com), May 16, 2001.