The Premier Purple: DT

[disaacs]

Let's indicate the best Vikings players in their history by position.

Today, the position is Defensive Tackle:

Honorable Mentions - Pat Williams, Henry Thomas, Doug Sutherland

5. Gary Larsen - The most unknown of the famed Purple People Eaters, Larsen was a 2-time Pro Bowler, who played on the opposite side of another member of this list.

4. Kevin Williams - While Williams' has tailed off in the last year or 2, many people have forgotten just how good of a player Kevin has been in purple, especially when teamed up with Phat Pat, who was also considered for this list. Kevin is a 6-time Pro Bowler and 5-time first team All-Pro and has notched 54 1/2 sacks in his 9-yr career.

3. Keith Millard - Millard was the first dominant DT I watched growing up. While some may think I have overrated Millard, his short career (due to injuries) derailed what could have been potentially a HOF career (at the pace he was going). He was NFL DPOY in 1989 when he notched 18 sacks, which is unheard of for a DT. However, what I also remember him most famously for what his off-the-field antics, including his literal run-in into the Hardees, trashing his Corvette in the drive-thru and then taking off on foot, as well as having another run-in (for disorderly conduct) at a hotel where he loudly proclaimed to the arresting officer "My arms are more powerful than your guns."

2. John Randle - If not for #1 on this list, Randle would easily be on the top of most people's lists. Next to Reggie White, John Randle, was by far, the best DT I have watched in my lifetime. He was an absolute monster with quickness and toughness that was unmatched by the OL he took on at the point of attack. Also, his trash talk was legendary amongst the players he played with and against. He had 8 consecutive years (and 9 out of 10)of over 10 sacks, which is astonishing.

1. Alan Page - The best defensive player on the Super Bowl teams, Page was a man ahead of his time. Even though it was not recorded at the time, Page tallied more sacks than Randle, had 28 blocked kicks, and 23 fumble recoveries. He was also a 9-time Pro Bowler and 6-time 1st team all-pro and was the first defensive player to ever win the NFL MVP award (1971). That's enough to make him #1 on this list.
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Thx to Uncle Buck!

[Captain Viking]

Incredible talent on this list.. especially when u consider that fat Pat and Henry Thomas were mere honorable mentions
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[img] http://m.vikings.com/s/imgscale?url=http://prod.static.vikings.clubs.nfl.com//assets/images/imported/MIN/photos/persons/players/2012/cards/jarius-wright-2012-card.jpg&width=170&quality=99&method=bicubic [/img]

[JMac79]

It's hard to argue against #1-4 on the list... I could possibly see Millard and Williams getting flipped, if the rater prefers a player who has longevity with very good production (Williams) to a player who has elite production over a shorter timespan (Millard). But really when it comes down to it, that's just a matter of personal preference...

I never saw Larsen play, so I would have to ask the old-timers if he should be placed ahead of Henry Thomas or not. I remember Thomas as being a great penetrating NT from that "cocked" position, who was great against the run but also a force in the pass rush too.
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[TearsOfPurple]

I think Phat Pat should be #5 personally. Otherwise great list, we've always seem to have good DTs.
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The Heist.

[milanb]

I would definitely put Kevin Williams ahead of Keith Millard.

Williams has had a much better career and was one of the top two or three one-gap DTs in the NFL for about six years.

I'd put Williams ahead of John Randle too for that matter.
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The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. — Ecclesiastes 9:11

But that’s the way to bet. — Jimmy The Greek

[disaacs]

DT is one of the positions the Vikings were extremely deep at...I didn't even mention:

Jerry Ball
Tim Newton
James White (replaced Alan Page)
Charlie Johnson (early to mid-80s)
Chris Hovan
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Thx to Uncle Buck!

[disaacs]

[since72]

[CriminalMind]

Do want to turn this into draft related, but this is a strong list of DT here.
We may have good DT dept, but I'd really like to see us get another game changing DT for the future.
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[milanb]

[disaacs]

Certainly, he was undersized, but Randle also had significantly less talent around him to take on offensive linemen.

This was actually the first season that K-Will took on double teams...and he suffered for it. John Randle always took on the double teams. That's the reason why they had to move him along the line all the time. Teams would always try to get their double team on Randle because he was that good.

I'll agree that sacks aren't everything and K-Will is a significantly better run-stopper, but Randle was a lot more than just a sack artist. He was a disruptor. Teams had to game-plan against John Randle regardless of who was on the defensive line. They didn't really "game-plan" against Kevin Williams without Pat.
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Thx to Uncle Buck!

[vikingsrule]

[Heavydan85]

I like that our honorable mentions might be better than a couple teams #1...although I am way too busy to do the research and figure this out.
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Thanks to Jgoldiscool for the sig

[vike daddy]

[Uncle Buck]

If it comes down to who had the best career stats, Page was obviously the best. If it came down to who was the better player, I would actually put Keith Millard at the top of the list of Viking DT. Yes, that's high praise, but I've never seen a more dominant DT than Millard when he was at the top of his game. In my opinion, John Randle was nowhere near as good as Millard was. Had Millard's career not been shortened by injury, he may very well be in discussions on this board as possibly the best in league history.

My list would look like this:

1) Millard
2) Page


3) Randle
4) K. Williams
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Bring Tim Tebow to Minnesota!!!

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