The Minnesota Vikings are a team on the rise, and not just because of second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Though Bridgewater gets most of the headlines, it is Minnesota's defense that is likely to thank for the team's pleasantly surprising 7-9 season last year under rookie head coach Mike Zimmer. Minnesota finished 2014 ranked 14th in overall defense (344.7 yards), seventh in pass defense (223.2) and 11th in scoring defense (21.4). A lot of that was due in large part to the impressive versatility of rookie linebacker Anthony Barr. Last year's first-round pick played a variety of different roles for the Vikings last year. This season, he could launch himself into the upper echelon of players at his position.
"This team has tons of young, exciting talent, and Barr might be the best of them all," Grantland's Robert Mays wrote. "Just two years after moving from offense to defense at UCLA, Barr went through another significant transition as a rookie, moving from the purely pass-rushing role he played in college to linebacker in Mike Zimmer's defense.
"Barr had just four sacks in 12 games last year, but expect that number to jump a bit in his second season as he gets a better handle on his responsibilities. And even if Barr's sack volume never gets too high, his versatility - he plays both as a pass-rusher and a cover linebacker in a way few guys still do - makes him an invaluable building block for Minnesota. It wasn't totally clear just how he'd fit in Zimmer's scheme when the Vikings took him ninth overall in 2014, but right now, it looks like he's well on his way to being a star."
Barr added 70 tackles, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries to go along with his four sacks last season. Although his raw numbers aren't eye-popping, the game tape reveals a player who consistently made an impact; enough so that Pro Football Focus took notice.
"His 17 pressures were evidence of his talent as a pass rusher," Ben Stockwell of PFF wrote. "Barr paired his pass rushing with strong run defense and solid work in coverage where some might have expected him to be exposed a little more."
Barr is a top breakout candidate to watch for in 2015.