Note: This is the third of four offseason snapshots looking at the peaks and valleys of key 2017 Vikings contributors. Part II: Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray. Part I: Harrison Smith.
A basketball starting five used to require an array of talents from each position. Today’s courts populated with seven footers who shoot threes changes it a bit.
Football’s starting 11 inherently remains as such through defined positions requiring vastly different skills that, when paired together properly, form a good team. So that’s why the Vikings were able to take a decorated and undersized linebacker from UCLA and make him the center of the defense.