The Vikings defensive line is expected to look very different in 2020, but that doesn’t mean the group will regress.
Minnesota saw Linval Joseph sign with the Chargers in free agency. The Vikings added Michael Pierce, who can probably replace Joseph’s production. Read about what Pierce brings to the Vikings here. Joseph was good for Minnesota, but he was in decline. Pierce could very well be better.
There’s also Everson Griffen. Griffen announced he was leaving the Vikings this offseason, and Minnesota will have to at least prepare for him to not be back, despite Griffen not signing with another team just yet.
So that leaves two new starters among the four spots on the defensive line. The team still has Danielle Hunter and Shamar Stephen. Hunter is coming off a season where he had 14.5 sacks.
Barring anything unexpected, Hunter will be starting for the Vikings. Stephen was decent as a starter, but he will likely be in a position battle with several candidates.
Now, here are three storylines surrounding the defensive line:
Can Danielle Hunter produce without Everson Griffen?
Hunter has gone from a third-round pick to one of the better players on the Vikings defense.
But he has done so with a very good pass rusher in Everson Griffen playing opposite to him. Opposing offensive lines haven’t been able focus on Hunter — whether that’s committing a running back to chip on him with a tackle or have a blocking tight end come down on a consistent basis, because you run the risk of not giving Griffen enough attention.
Ifeadi Odenigbo is a very good player, but if he doesn’t thrive with more reps, the Vikings defense could be schemed by committing more blockers to Hunter and letting the other players go one-on-one.
Obviously, there are plenty of ways around this. The Vikings have been known to blitz, even using a safety to get to the pass rusher. But it wouldn’t be crazy if the Vikings’ pass rush got worse without Griffen, and by extension, Hunter might not produce like he has in the past.
Who will be the team’s three-technique defensive lineman?
For those who don’t know, a 4-3 defense will often employ a defensive tackle in a one technique, and another in a three technique.
The one and three refers to their respective alignment on the defensive line — with the one being lined up between the guard and center, and the three being lined up between the guard and tackle on the other side of the defensive line.
It seems like Michael Pierce would be a great choice for the one-technique player, because he is a big-bodied player who can stop the run and clog up holes. But who will the three-technique player be? The Vikings will have to find a player who can fill out that role — whether it’s Shamar Stephen, Armon Watts or even James Lynch.
Lynch is the most enticing choice for the role, but I think Stephen is the most likely candidate.
Is Ifeadi Odenigbo a starter?
Odenigbo had seven sacks in 2019. He also was playing in a limited role.
“I’ve got to get used to playing 40, 50, 60 snaps (a game),” Odenigbo told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.
Now, it seems like Odenigbo is the most-likely candidate to replace Griffen. The question will remain, though: Can he take an extra step and produce at a high rate in a bigger role?
Odenigbo was a good spark for the Vikings off the bench. If he’s not that same way as a starter, expect a player like Hercules Mata’afa or D. J. Wonnum to step up.
