A little disclaimer on this one since it’s only a partial clip of a longer segment on ESPN, but former all-pro linebacker Luke Kuechly thinks the Minnesota Vikings will have an outstanding secondary this season.
Keuchly, a five-time all-pro who was the 2013 AP Defensive Player of the Year, suggested that the blend of cornerback Patrick Peterson and safety Harrison Smith with rookies Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. will lead to great results for the Vikings.
“I think when you talk about young guys coming into the league, I think the one important thing is where do they learn from and who do you learn from. You learn from two guys that have played at all-pro levels for such a long time in Patrick Peterson and Harrison Smith. I’m excited to see young with some old,” said Kuechly.
“Patrick Peterson, great ball production. Harrison Smith, kind of a two-way player, can play in the run game but has also had great ball production in his career with interceptions and forced fumbles.”
Here’s the clip of Luke Kuechly labeling the Minnesota Vikings with the best secondary in the NFL.
Luke makes some good points, but will the Vikings fulfill this statement? pic.twitter.com/damBcLqYbZ
— We Talk Vikings (@WeTalkVikings) May 11, 2022
Again, it’s just a partial clip, but it’s somewhat astonishing considering Minnesota had one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses last season, finishing 28th in net pass yards allowed per game.
What’s even more shocking about the 2021 Vikings pass defense is that they were second in the NFL with 51 sacks and fifth in the league in turnover margin (plus 11), so if the pass defense was that bad despite great production up front, what would it have looked like without a fantastic pass rush?
The secondary in 2022 should get plenty of help with the pass rush duo of Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. Of course, only if Hunter and Smith can stay healthy, which is a massive concern and will be throughout the season.
Then again, it usually takes a year or three before cornerbacks and safeties find their groove in the NFL, and the Vikings could wind up starting two rookies (Cine and Booth Jr.) in 2022.
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