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- Mar 19, 2019
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A diverse and deep defensive line | By @Eric_L_Smith
By the time the Vikings set their 53-man roster this weekend, the biggest percentage of that group could be made up of defensive linemen.
There is a chance Minnesota keeps as many as 10 defensive linemen, which highlights the talent and depth within the unit.
Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen will be the starters at defensive tackle, although we haven’t seen much of them in the preseason.
Joseph recently practiced for the first time this summer but noted he’s been hard at work and doesn’t necessarily need preseason action to be ready. Stephen, meanwhile, played 17 snaps in the third preseason game after working his way back from an injury to open training camp.
The massive men in the middle last played together in 2017, when Minnesota ranked second by allowing just 83.6 yards per game on the ground.
“Well, it’s good to have some more beef in there, and I felt like that’s what we need, is more size in the middle of the defense, take some of the pressure off some of the ends,” Zimmer said. “I think that part’s good. They’re still working their way in. Linval’s had a couple of good days, Shamar’s shown some good flashes. So, that helps.”
If the pair again solidifies the interior of the d-line, defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen could present nightmares for opposing quarterbacks. Both defensive ends have looked impressive all summer.
Hunter had a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2018, while Griffen had 5.5 despite missing five games for personal health reasons. If healthy, they could be among the most productive pass-rushing duos in the league.
Stephen Weatherly played a crucial role in Griffen’s absence in 2018, and will be used in a variety of ways this season. That includes moving inside and standing up on third downs as a pass rusher.
“He’s a really good athlete,” Zimmer said. “Played on his feet in college so he can do all those things that we’re asking him to do.”
Those players could account for only half of the possible defensive linemen on the roster, as the Vikings have developed depth on the line thanks to the teachings of Vikings defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
Jaleel Johnson and Jalyn Holmes started in place of Joseph and Stephen in the preseason, and both showed flashes.
Fellow defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa is more of a pass-rush specialist, as he showed up in spring practices and training camp. If Mata’afa makes the roster, Zimmer has suggested he’ll be used in specific situations.
“He’ll probably just be in on the nickel. I want to see if he can just pass rush,” Zimmer said. “We’ll just kind of go from there, because I think that’s what his role will be this year, if that is his role. I got to find out if he can go in there and rush on third down.”
Ifeadi Odenigbo spent part of the 2018 season on the Vikings practice squad but has shown great improvements this spring and summer. He could provide depth at defensive end and on special teams.
“I think he’s really improved a lot as far as understanding the concepts that he has to do it at defensive end,” Zimmer said. “He’s a power player, really good physicality. He’s a guy that worked really, really hard last year when he was on the practice squad and this spring, and I think it’s starting to show.”
According to NFL stats, defensive ends Anree Saint-Amour and Karter Schult each played all 58 defensive snaps Thursday. Defensive tackle Armon Watts, a sixth-round pick in the spring, played the next most snaps (28) among linemen.