Vikings Defensive Tackles

The Minnesota Vikings have an interesting defensive tackle group. At least, I find it interesting. The group includes:

Michael Pierce 6' 345
Shamar Stephen 6'5" 309
Jaleel Johnson 6'3" 316
Armon Watts 6'5" 295
Jalyn Holmes 6'5" 283
Hercules Mata'afa 6'2" 280

It's the variety of the players that make the Vikings' defensive tackles interesting. The only sure starter of the group is the newest member. Michael Pierce. The Vikings signed the former Baltimore Ravens nose tackle in the first week of free agency. He replaces Linval Joesph in the middle of the defensive line. Like Joseph, Pierce is a run-stuffer. Unlike Joseph, he's uniquely-sized at a squatty 6'-zero and 345lbs. He's also 27 and entering his prime years. Joseph is closer to the end of his. In Pierce, the Vikings have a player that can jam up the middle of the field, stuff the run, and allow the linebackers to run free. He may be the one sure starter of the group but he's more of a two-down player. He'll probably leave the field on passing downs. The other defensive tackle spot, the three-technique, is fairly wide open and has been for most of the years since Kevin Williams tore up offenses. It doesn't take Mike Zimmer saying that a penetrating, disruptive three-technique can make his defense much, much better to understand the importance of the position. Common sense says that. The Vikings signing Sheldon Richardson in 2018 says that. Richardson would probably still be in Minnesota if the Vikings could afford him. He's not. Instead of having one player that can disrupt a running game and a passing game the Vikings have a mix of players with a variety of strengths and potential. Shamar Stephen is the incumbent at three-technique. He's strong against the run but doesn't provide much of a pass rush. If the Vikings had to play a game now, Stephen probably trots on the field with Pierce for the first defensive snap. I might be in the minority but prior to the signing of Pierce, I was intrigued by a defensive tackle pairing of Jaleel Johnson and Armon Watts. I still am. It's been my understanding that the Vikings see Johnson as a three-technique and Watts as a nose tackle. I see the two reversed.  Maybe the coaches see Watts with better run-stuffing traits and Johnson with better disruptive, pass rushing traits. Maybe they like Watts lined up as a nose tackle on pass downs. Who knows? I don't. I just sit in a comfy chair. When given opportunities, Johnson has flashed. He's been disruptive. If he can play in a larger role like he's played in his limited opportunities we might see the player that the Vikings saw at Iowa. Watts is the player that excites me the most among the Vikings defensive tackles. If he had played his entire college career at Arkansas like he played his final season, he probably would've been, at least, a Day 2 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Instead, he only shined in that one season and the Vikings lucked into him in the sixth round. Watts didn't get opportunities until late in the season but he sure looked disruptive whenever he was on the field. I'm a Watts fan. I'd like to see him get an opportunity at three-technique. Johnson and Watts are the players among the Vikings' group of defensive tackles that probably provide the best combination of run defense and pass rush. I believe that one, hopefully both, could emerge as the three technique that Zimmer craves. I like Watts as that player. There are two more defensive tackles in the mix. Jalyn Holmes is presently more pass rusher than run defender. He has the talent to be a terrific situational pass rusher. If he improves his run defense his role in the defense could grow considerably. Holmes also adds some end-tackle versatility. That should help him when roster spots get limited. Hercules Mata'afa might be the most intriguing player on the defensive line, maybe the whole roster. The weight of 280lbs might be generous (he's been listed at 254lbs on the team website since he was signed) but rumor has it that he had packed on a good deal of strength while he was recovering from the torn ACL that he suffered during OTAs in 2018. If things go as planned, he'll be 100% for a training camp for the first time since college. Mata'afa is an intriguing player in that he's built more like a big fullback than anything resembling a defensive lineman. When I first saw him play for Washington State it was startling to see this little fella mingling among more "normal-sized" players in the defensive huddle. It looked like some kid had wandered onto the field. It was even more startling to see him line up on the defensive line. Then he proceeded to disrupt the intentions of every offense that he faced. Who knows if he can disrupt NFL offenses like he did college offenses. What is known is that he has a unique blend of quickness and playing strength. He's so low coming off the line of scrimmage that offensive linemen could have serious difficulties doing much with him. If he didn't have NFL potential the Vikings wouldn't have kept him through his ACL rehab or have him active for most of the 2019 season.

I like this defensive tackle group, especially after Michael Pierce was added to it. The Vikings had to find a player to do what Linval Joseph once did so well. I like this defensive tackle group because of the variety of players. Right now, the strength of the group is the whole rather than any one player. Unless one of the players emerges as an every-down, impact three-technique, the Vikings will probably have a consistent rotation at defensive tackle. Some good can come from that. The opposing offensive line will never be able to get comfortable with one set of traits or a particular body type. All that's fine in theory, on paper, in a blog. Until the Vikings have that one every-down, impact three-technique, the search will continue. I think that Armon Watts could be that sort of player. Maybe Jaleel Johnson becomes that sort of player. Until one actually does, Zimmer, his coaches, Rick Spielman will keep looking. The 2020 NFL Draft is the place to look. I feel that the Vikings have greater draft needs than defensive tackle but if one that they really like is available, it should surprise no one if he's the pick, even with one of their two first round picks. Auburn's Derrick Brown and South Carolina's Javon Kinlaw would be draft day dreams. With two first round picks and six picks in the first three rounds, the Vikings have the draft capital to trade up if one of those dreamy players happens to fall a little. Brown and Kinlaw are special talents but they aren't the end of the defensive tackles in this draft. There's a group just behind them that could be at the top of any other draft.

Ross Blacklock, TCU
Jordan Elliott, Missouri
Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M

Ross Blacklock, in particular, is a player that I could easily see being selected with either the 22nd or 25th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. With his lateral and gap splitting quickness, he just looks and feels like the sort of player that would be an ideal fit for Zimmer's defense. There's something about him that reminds me of Geno Atkins. If Jordan Elliott is available with the Vikings' second round pick, he's a steal. If I was calling the draft day shots, I probably presently prefer Elliott in the second over Blaclock in the first. Any of the above would fine additions to an already very interesting, very intriguing defensive tackle group. If one is added, the competition for roster spots will be among the most intriguing and fierce competitions in training camp. An interesting defensive tackle group suddenly becomes a very strong group.