There is little doubt in Pat Williams' mind about the impact Chad Greenway will make this season playing weakside linebacker for the Vikings.
"He'll be running around free," out there, Williams said. "E.J. ran free last year so he got paid. I think Chad is going to be the same way. I just told him, 'Stay behind us and you'll be all right.' "
The us part of the equation is Pat and Kevin Williams, the Vikings' tandem of Pro Bowl defensive tackles who made life miserable for offensive linemen last season. The E.J. in question is E.J. Henderson, who was the main beneficiary of the havoc caused by the Williamses. He had the best season of his four-year career playing the weak side.
Henderson finished with a team-leading 109 tackles and was rewarded late in the season with a five-year contract extension worth more than $25 million.
With Henderson moving to middle linebacker to replace Napoleon Harris, Greenway will get his turn to benefit in a Tampa-2 system that by its nature benefits the weakside linebacker. Greenway points to Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks and Chicago's Lance Briggs as examples of players who've prospered playing the weakside in this scheme.
"It's just about learning your position and learning the ins-and-outs and when you can maybe jump a route," Greenway said Wednesday after the Vikings had wrapped up another practice during a week of organized team activities. "Just kind of learn that process. ... Those first couple games I'm going to be out there flying around trying to make plays. As the season goes on, I'll be able to become a smarter player by listening to what E.J. says, what the coaches say. Just kind of learn from my own experiences."
Greenway, the Vikings' first-round pick a year ago, did not get any on-the-field experience last season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament while playing special teams in the preseason opener. After months of rehabilitation, Greenway has experienced no problems with the knee during OTA workouts or during last weekend's minicamp. In fact, while the Vikings limited safeties Mike Doss and Tank Williams to only one of the two practices on Friday and Saturday, Greenway was given the green light to take part in both two-a-days. Doss and Williams also are coming off knee problems.
Greenway has been able to keep his knee fresh by icing it after practices. It seems to be working. On Wednesday, Greenway made one of the day's best plays when he leaped to make an interception along the sideline during team drills.
"I've been extremely impressed," new Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "I wasn't here last year when he got injured, but I see no effects. It's just been amazing, the way that he runs around and twists and turns and jumps. He's done everything that we've asked him to do. He hasn't had any complaints about any soreness or any weakness, so it's exciting to see where he is now and I can imagine where he'll be when we get to training camp."
Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com
vikings/nfl
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