Adding Doss makes sense for Vikings

By Krupka  |   Friday, April 06, 2007  |  Comments( 21 )

Minnesota Vikings
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If you were scratching your head Thursday morning when you read that the Vikings signed safety Mike Doss to a one-year deal, you probably weren't alone.

Minnesota has enough holes to fill, and safety didn't seem to be an area of concern with veterans Darren Sharper, Dwight Smith, Tank Williams and second-year man Greg Blue already filling up the depth chart. Sharper and Smith provide the ball hawking and instinctive play, and Williams and Blue are hard hitters. So surely, there wasn't the need to add Doss.

Then again, why not? After looking at everything, it makes sense for Minnesota.

He came to Minnesota on the cheap and short term, signing a one-year contract worth $1 million. The deal can be looked at as a small investment with the possibility of paying big dividends.

The former Ohio State standout has shown the ability to be a force in the league. In four seasons with the Colts, he started 42 of 46 games he played in, registering 254 tackles (102 as a rookie), seven interceptions and nine passes defensed.

If Doss can show the ability to stay healthy, something he has never truly done, his presence should help improve upon the league's worst pass defense from last season. In fact, the 26-year-old safety is coming off a torn ACL that ended his season after just six games last year.

Doss says he's 100 percent, so the knee shouldn't be a concern. And he won't be the only Viking safety to have missed a significant portion of last season. Tank Williams missed the entire year after sustaining a fractured left kneecap in training camp.

Aside from the all important depth and competition he adds, Doss has all the talent and intangibles to be an outstanding NFL safety. He just needs to stay away from the injury bug that has plagued him throughout his early career.

Doss is known for his aggressiveness and ability to play close to the line of scrimmage, meaning he should be an asset to the league's reigning No. 1 run defense. Doss is also adequate against the pass, a real weakness in last year's defense.

While it's debatable as to whether Doss is an upgrade, having too much talent never hurt anyone. What ESPN's Len Pasquarelli calls a "logjam," others call competition. All logjams sort themselves out one way or another. And considering the injury history of the group, power in numbers could prove to be important.

The adage is that competition breeds success. Nobody can deny that Minnesota has the competition; now the team is just hoping to reap the good fortunes that come from it.

Adding a cheap, young, talented player is always a good idea, regardless of the position he plays.

Offensive players going against the Vikings in 2007 should keep your heads on a swivel: Minnesota has a new safety in town.

Eric Krupka is a senior writer for RealFootball365.com. He can be contacted at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

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CommentsComments: 21  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Big D		09:26 AM
04/06/2007
Erick Krupka is right in this article...Doss certainly can't hurt and he really didn't cost alot. The Vikes get a guy that was a...
No.2
dim gim		03:39 PM
04/06/2007
Yeah it's a good signing...it even means Dwight Smith can move over and play nickle corner if need be. I don't know though...but...
No.3
NY Viking Fan		04:21 PM
04/06/2007
Another DB signing...pardon me if I delay my excitement. At least the team knows it needs to improve the pass defense. The only...
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