Oct 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) tackles Kansas City Chiefs running back Charcandrick West (35) in the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
So far, it doesn’t look like Minnesota Vikings 1st-round pick Trae Waynes will make and immediate impact. That’s too bad for a team that’s a step away from being contenders in the NFC but not all is lost. In the fifth round, the Vikings found themselves a weapon for quarterback Teddy Bridewater in Stefon Diggs.
And in the second round, they got themselves quite a middle linebacker in Eric Kendricks from UCLA. Kendricks is a do-it-all type of middle linebacker that you don’t have to take off the field. He can bang inside, go sideline to sideline and cover with his speed and agility. He also has good instincts but upon arrival in the NFL, he didn’t trust them and pull the trigger enough.
Then there’s the issue of shedding the blocks of the 330-pound animals going at him. But as expected, he has gotten better every week as he gets used to things and trusts his instincts again. And that has helped him to play with the speed he was known for when he was doing his thing at UCLA.
Sunday, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Kendricks made more than his share of splash plays. He had six tackles on the day with three for a loss to go along with two sack and three quarterback hits. He was also good in coverage to make that a complete day for a middle linebacker.
If Kendricks is going to play like that from now on, the Vikings are going to win a lot of games. He can affect the game in so many different ways from his middle linebacker spot, making the Vikings defense a tough unit. With the way the offense is rolling with Adrian Peterson, Diggs and Bridgewater these days, Kendricks impact can take the Vikings a long way.
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