Question of the Day: Who are the Yute leaders to be?

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 82762

Which Viking players are becoming and will become the leaders of the team? the ones who inspire others to push themselves beyond what they feel are their limits? who represents the Vikings and the Viking team tradition?
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Purplexing · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:37 am Post subject:

I assume the vets will play the roles of leaders until they retire or move to another team...

Allen, Sullivan, Greenway, Jennings, KWill, AP.

Years later, it may be Smith, Floyd, Kalil, Peterson, Ponder.

jshowers · Joined: 03 May 2013 Posts: 20588

The next generation of team leaders will likely include Harrison Smith and Matt Kalil.

Two sleepers that could become team captain/leader types are Erin Henderson and Rhett Ellison.

Mauti is a deep sleeper for this list if he ever gets on the field for an extended period of time.
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Klomp · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 13086 Location: Marshall

Harrison, Mauti, Jarius
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usdvikes · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 2128 Location: SoDak

On offense I think it will be Jarius Wright one day. Every report I have read talks about his maturity and desire to better himself. With the addition of Greg Jennings, I think Jarius will learn to become a leader.

On Defense it sounds like Floyd has a great attitude to one day become a leader as well.

vikingsrule · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:06 pm Post subject:

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 82762

Frazier said that Kyle Rudolph is also growing as a leader in the locker room.

Frazier: "Kyle's going to be a good player for us this season without question. Some of the things that happened in that Pro Bowl, I really believe increased his confidence and him knowing that 'I can play with the best' has really showed up in practices. That's going to take a little bit of time, but you can see as he's gaining the experience. He's growing in that area as well."

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1036692/24/Rudolph-grows-as-leader-blocker-in-Vikings-offense
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Everson Griffen: “We can be special. But it’s up to us.”

PurpleMugen · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 4:59 pm Post subject:

One thing that might be worth keeping in mind is that leadership in the NFL is often also related to performance. Your top performers often develop leadership skills and become the people the team looks to for direction.

My money is on Harrison Smith, Jarius Wright and Sharrif Floyd under Kevin Williams' tutelage fulfilling those roles. I doubt Ponder becomes that leader because a) I don't think the performance aspect will be there and b) I doubt he sticks around long enough. Smith, in my estimation, is already growing into that role.
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vikingsrule · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 5:10 pm Post subject:

Klomp · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 13086 Location: Marshall

PurpleMugen · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 5:25 pm Post subject:

vikingsrule · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 5:38 pm Post subject:

ArcticNorseman · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 2986 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

I'd say a yute would have to be any player that's 24 or younger and has been in the league 3 years or less . . .

On the Vikes, guys growing into the leadership role, I'd have to go with:
1. Ponder (very short leash on this choice though)
2. Rudolph
3. H Smith
4. Kalil
5. Rhodes
6. Floyd
7. Wright
8. Mauti

That covers about every portion of the team . . . I don't expect Walsh and Locke to be leaders, but as far as impact players --- most definitely!

disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 28392 Location: Brownbackistan

I personally don't like the inclusion of current rookies on a list like this, considering we have no idea if they are even going to be on the roster in 3 years, let alone be leaders.

Harrison Smith is a good choice, but including guys like Mauti is ridiculous at this point, because he might not even be on the roster in a week.

On offense, Rudolph and Wright are good choices (as well as Ponder, certainly), but I also think you have to look at a guy like Rhett Ellison, who is the new Jim Kleinsasser.
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