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**BU54** · 09-27-2006, 10:48 PM

Author: Mike Wobschall, vikings.com

Vikings rookies Greg Blue, Ray Edwards and Cedric Griffin have proven to be assets to a Vikings defensive unit that has forged a stout, bend-but-don't-break identity early in the season. In facing three playoff teams from a year ago, the Vikings 2-1 record is partly a function of a defense that is keeping them in ballgames.

In Week 1, the Vikings were entrenched in a Monday night showdown with the Washington Redskins in front of 94,000+ screaming fans at FedEx Field. Blue, playing his first regular season game, was inserted into the starting lineup after starting safety Dwight Smith was deactivated. With Blue, an All-America selection at Georgia, in the secondary, the Vikings defense didn't miss a beat and forced a Redskins drive to end in five plays or less in seven of the ten total series. The only drive that resulted in a Washington touchdown began near midfield and was aided by a fumble that went out of bounds and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Vikings. Edwards, who played at Purdue and was an All-Big Ten Rookie selection in 2003, provided the Vikings with a huge play late in the game, knocking down a Mark Brunell pass on a crucial third-down.

FULL STORY
http://www.vikings.com/news_detail_O...book92706.html

Blitzburgh Steelers · 09-28-2006, 09:56 AM

I think that Edwards is looking good, but the other 2 aren't anything special yet. Blue looked bad at times, though in the last game he did come flying in to lay the wood on the ball carrier inside the 10 yard line once. Griffin has made several mess ups, mainly penalties that allowed the other team to get into scoring position. There's definitely no doubt that Smith and Smoot are the better players at their respective positions right now, but the fact that Blue and Griff are getting playing time as rooks is definitely promising. Add Greenway to that equation, and you got a pretty good set of rookies on defense to build around for the future.