When the Vikings drafted defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd with the 23rd overall pick in last year’s draft, it was widely viewed as a steal. But Floyd had a mediocre rookie year in Minnesota.
This year, Floyd expects to be better, in part because he’s thinner: Floyd, who weighed in at 297 pounds at last year’s Scouting Combine, ballooned up to 330 during his rookie season. Now he’s back down around 300, and he thinks it will make a difference.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” Floyd told the Pioneer Press. “It’s much easier on my knees. . . . I feel good and have confidence in my body weight.”
Floyd was a backup last year but will be a starter this year, and he says his improved cardiovascular conditioning will be important.
“I just feel lighter,” Floyd said. “I feel healthier. I feel like I can last a lot longer in the games and stuff like that. I feel great all-around as a player.”
Thats good news in Minnesota, where new coach Mike Zimmer needs Floyd to be a big part of his defense.
