Thread: Powers: Minnesota Vikings' Anthony Herrera now cool, calm and successful

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_7411021

As recently as last season, Anthony Herrera's playing philosophy was very simple. As soon as the football was snapped, or sometimes even before, he'd pick out a guy in a different color uniform and hit him.

Then he'd hit him again. And again. He'd keep hitting him until somebody walked over and said: "Anthony, stop hitting that guy."

"I'm trying to get better at working within the scheme," Herrera noted Thursday.

Herrera, the Vikings' starting right guard, has spent a topsy-turvy 3½ years with the team. An undrafted free agent out of Tennessee, he worked his way into the starting lineup for the final six games of the 2005 season under Mike Tice. But last season under Brad Childress, he was listed as inactive for 13 games.

Tice loved the fact that Herrera was a wild man on the field. He once referred to him as his "Kung-Fu fighter." Herrera always is fired up and very emotional. Obviously, that can lead to the occasional mistake. Instead of, say, pass protecting in an orderly fashion, he might be out of position and involved in mortal hand-to-hand combat somewhere...This season, Hicks struggled early, and Herrera got another chance. Now the calmer, cooler Herrera is entrenched in the lineup, opening large holes for Adrian Peterson.

"I think Anthony is doing a great job for us," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said...

Good read. I just watched the NFL Replay of the San Diego game and Herrera looked very good, not only in the running game(like every lineman did) but he looked very good in pass protection.

I think he really does a good job solidifying that right guard position.

If he played as well as he did against the team which lead the league in sacks last season he should be solid for the rest of the season.


Now all we need is a right tackle and a quarterback (and potentially a coach, we'll see how it turns out when we fill those two remaining holes) and we're all set to win some Super Bowls fellas.

My only complaint is that he needs to do better when he's pulled out as a run blocker.
He has been a little hesitant at picking a target and hitting him.

Anthony Herrera now cool, calm and successful

I'm not sold on the successful part yet.

"Mr" wrote:

Good read. I just watched the NFL Replay of the San Diego game and Herrera looked very good, not only in the running game(like every lineman did) but he looked very good in pass protection.

I think he really does a good job solidifying that right guard position.

If he played as well as he did against the team which lead the league in sacks last season he should be solid for the rest of the season.


Now all we need is a right tackle and a quarterback (and potentially a coach, we'll see how it turns out when we fill those two remaining holes) and we're all set to win some Super Bowls fellas.

Very nice my friend.

I like this guy.
I think that he and Cook seem to work well together, or at least as well as can be expect for only playing a few games together.

This combo (believe it or not) might be a joy to watch for years to come if they keep improving.
I continue to watch every game like a hawk to see were they are gonna mess up next though.
;D

(YUP I said something good about the OL.
;D)

Well marr i highly doubt the future of Cook and Herrera together, Herrera hasn't been playing all that much, and Cook is
having a disappointing season so far. of course we all hope that they are improving but i'm not sold on both...
Maybe if they show the last 8 games what they are worth, we'll see

"Mr-holland" wrote:

Well marr i highly doubt the future of Cook and Herrera together, Herrera hasn't been playing all that much, and Cook is
having a disappointing season so far. of course we all hope that they are improving but i'm not sold on both...
Maybe if they show the last 8 games what they are worth, we'll see

I hear ya my friend.
Disappinting is probably a hard stance seeings as how relatively in-experienced they both are.

Hell, Cook played C in college and he is starting at RT in the NFL his second year.

Suffice it to say, that if both of them were seasoned Vets I would be a bit harder on them, but damn, they have faced some very good players on the other side of the line and are getting an education like no other.

Sure we have saw some bonehead plays this year, however, I think that the future is bright on the right side my friend.

"Marrdro" wrote:

"Mr-holland" wrote:

Well marr i highly doubt the future of Cook and Herrera together, Herrera hasn't been playing all that much, and Cook is
having a disappointing season so far. of course we all hope that they are improving but i'm not sold on both...
Maybe if they show the last 8 games what they are worth, we'll see

I hear ya my friend.
Disappinting is probably a hard stance seeings as how relatively in-experienced they both are.

Hell, Cook played C in college and he is starting at RT in the NFL his second year.

Suffice it to say, that if both of them were seasoned Vets I would be a bit harder on them, but gol 'darnit, they have faced some very good players on the other side of the line and are getting an education like no other.

Sure we have saw some bonehead plays this year, however, I think that the future is bright on the right side my friend.

I know, but what i do find is that you can expect better play from your starting players.
Cook is inexperienced indeed but if he wants to keep playing the starting RT he'll have to improve i rather get a veteran in FA next year. again, i hope they pan out but i've got a hard head in it and hopefully they prove me wrong

"Mr-holland" wrote:

"Marrdro" wrote:

"Mr-holland" wrote:

Well marr i highly doubt the future of Cook and Herrera together, Herrera hasn't been playing all that much, and Cook is
having a disappointing season so far. of course we all hope that they are improving but i'm not sold on both...
Maybe if they show the last 8 games what they are worth, we'll see

I hear ya my friend.
Disappinting is probably a hard stance seeings as how relatively in-experienced they both are.

Hell, Cook played C in college and he is starting at RT in the NFL his second year.

Suffice it to say, that if both of them were seasoned Vets I would be a bit harder on them, but gol 'darnit, they have faced some very good players on the other side of the line and are getting an education like no other.

Sure we have saw some bonehead plays this year, however, I think that the future is bright on the right side my friend.

I know, but what i do find is that you can expect better play from your starting players.
Cook is inexperienced indeed but if he wants to keep playing the starting RT he'll have to improve i rather get a veteran in FA next year. again, i hope they pan out but i've got a hard head in it and hopefully they prove me wrong

You know me, ever the optimist.
I think they are going to keep on improving.
I would like to increase the depth at the OL with a better swing man than what we have, who can play G and T though.

"Marrdro" wrote:

"Mr-holland" wrote:

"Marrdro" wrote:

"Mr-holland" wrote:

Well marr i highly doubt the future of Cook and Herrera together, Herrera hasn't been playing all that much, and Cook is
having a disappointing season so far. of course we all hope that they are improving but i'm not sold on both...
Maybe if they show the last 8 games what they are worth, we'll see

I hear ya my friend.
Disappinting is probably a hard stance seeings as how relatively in-experienced they both are.

Hell, Cook played C in college and he is starting at RT in the NFL his second year.

Suffice it to say, that if both of them were seasoned Vets I would be a bit harder on them, but gol 'darnit, they have faced some very good players on the other side of the line and are getting an education like no other.

Sure we have saw some bonehead plays this year, however, I think that the future is bright on the right side my friend.

I know, but what i do find is that you can expect better play from your starting players.
Cook is inexperienced indeed but if he wants to keep playing the starting RT he'll have to improve i rather get a veteran in FA next year. again, i hope they pan out but i've got a hard head in it and hopefully they prove me wrong

You know me, ever the optimist.
I think they are going to keep on improving.
I would like to increase the depth at the OL with a better swing man than what we have, who can play G and T though.

Agreed, depth is critical torwards the end of the season but let Herrera show me today that he'll be alright and my optimism about him will only grow