Herrera is Vikings’ unsung hero

By John McMullen  |   Monday, July 14, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

Minnesota Vikings
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There are some big names along the Minnesota Vikings' offensive line.

All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson, six-time Pro Bowl selection Matt Birk and former top-10 draft pick Bryant McKinnie are all highly regarded blockers on a unit most consider one of the NFL's best.

But it was a former undrafted rookie's ascent to the starting lineup that helped fuel running back Adrian Peterson's magical rookie campaign last season.

All coaches have blind spots and Vikings mentor Brad Childress is hardly different. Despite performing poorly in 2006 and being outplayed by Anthony Herrera in the 2007 preseason, Artis Hicks remained the Vikings' starter at right guard for the first four games in 2007.

Childress was familiar with Hicks from their days in Philadelphia together, and the former refused to acknowledge the latter's consistently poor play.

Someone must have finally gotten in Childress' ear during the team's bye week, though, because the more athletic Herrera finally got the starting job in time for a Week 6 matchup against NFC North rival Chicago. The Vikings responded by rushing for 311 yards, just two shy of the team record set in September of 1964.

It was no coincidence. While Herrera certainly is not on the verge of a Pro Bowl berth like his more decorated linemates, he proved to be a huge upgrade over Hicks and helped solidify the right side of the team's offensive line.

A road-grader in the running game, Herrera's entrance into the starting lineup was derailed after Mike Tice left Minnesota. The Tennessee product, who entered the league in 2004, caught the former Vikings coach's eye at the end of the 2005 season when he started six games.

If Tice, who was one of the NFL's best O-line coaches before taking over Minnesota's head coaching position, had returned for the next season, Herrera would likely have been entrenched as a starter. However, his lack of a pedigree and experience in a zone blocking scheme played on the mind of Childress and the Trinidad native appeared in only two games during the 2006 season.

Instead of bemoaning his status with Childress, though, Herrera dedicated himself to learning the new system, toned down his ultra-aggressive mentality and became more disciplined. He forced the coach to notice him and a poor right side that featured two mediocre players in Hicks and right tackle Ryan Cook was immediately strengthened when he stepped on the field.

Now an unquestioned starter on one of the premier offensive lines in the league, you can expect continued improvement from the explosive Herrera, who received a five-year contract extension last year.
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About John McMullen

John is the managing editor of The Phanatic Magazine, the assistant managing editor of The Sports Network and the co-host of the highly rated 'Johns on Sports' radio show on WTBQ in New York. Every Saturday from 6:30-9 p.m. (et) you can hear John along with his co-host, John Gottlieb, talk to the...
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