Changes: Minnesota Vikings Defense

The Minnesota Vikings defense has had a run of remarkable consistency. Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach in 2014. Once he and the team's decision makers were able to populate the defense with players that fit his schemes there's only been familiarity. Other than an occasional player aging out of the league, the Vikings defense from 2016-19 accomplished the impossible in today's ever-changing, salary cap restricting NFL. The roster remained the same. That changed this offseason.

2019 Minnesota Vikings Defense

Base

DE	Everson Griffen
DT	Shamar Stephen
DT	Linval Joseph
DE	Danielle Hunter
LB	Anthony Barr
LB	Eric Kendricks
LB	Ben Gedeon
CB	Xavier Rhodes
CB	Trae Waynes
S	Harrison Smith
S	Anthony Harris

Seeing as the Vikings are in their base defense on only about 1/3 of the defensive snaps, it's probably best to include their nickel lineup as well.

Nickel

DE	Everson Griffen
DT	Shamar Stephen
DT	Linval Joseph
DE	Danielle Hunter
LB	Anthony Barr
LB	Eric Kendricks
CB	Xavier Rhodes
CB	Trae Waynes
NB	Mackensie Alexander
S	Harrison Smith
S	Anthony Harris

Linval Joseph, Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander have moved on to other teams in free agency. Key backups in defensive Stephen Weatherly and safety Andrew Sendejo have also moved on to other teams. Everson Griffen remains unsigned but has said his goodbyes to Minnesota. Until he signs with another team there remains a chance for a return. 

There will be changes. For the first time in a long time there will be competition in training camp for several starting spots on defense. Here are some guesses at the starters in the Vikings 2020 base and nickel defenses. 

2020 Minnesota Vikings Defense

Base

DE	Danielle Hunter
DT	Armon Watts
DT	Michael Pierce
DE	Ifeadi Odenigbo
LB	Anthony Barr
LB	Eric Kendricks
LB	Eric Wilson
CB	Mike Hughes
CB	Jeff Gladney
S	Harrison Smith
S	Anthony Harris

Nickel

DE Danielle Hunter

DT Armon Watts

DT Michael Pierce

DE Ifeadi Odenigbo

LB Anthony Barr

LB Eric Kendricks

CB Mike Hughes

CB Holton Hill

NB Jeff Gladney

S Harrison Smith

S Anthony Harris

Defensive line changes:

Since he emerged as a starter and one of the best pass rushers in the league, Danielle Hunter has played opposite Everson Griffen on the left side of the defensive line. Until I see otherwise, I think that Zimmer and the defensive coaches will flip Hunter to the spot that Griffen played so well for so long. Ifeadi Odenigbo should start opposite Hunter. Although I really like the potential of fourth-round rookie D.J. Wonnum, he may play behind Odenigbo for a spell like Hunter played behind Brian Robison. A lot of attention has been paid to the fact that the Vikings' top three corners departed in free agency. Change has touched the defensive line nearly as much as it touched the secondary. I expect three new starters along the defensive front. Nose tackle Michael Pierce was signed in free agency to replace Linval Joseph. As great as Joseph was throughout his six years in Minnesota I like this exchange. Pierce is entering his prime years. Joseph is towards the end of his. Like Joseph, Pierce is a giant obstacle to an offense's intention of running the ball. They just look different doing it. Joseph is built like a mountain. Pierce is built like a boulder. Pierce has unique quickness for his 6' 340 lb size. There are a load of contenders to pair with Pierce on the interior. Incumbent Shamar Stephen returns. He's excellent against the run but doesn't provide much as a pass rusher. It's clear that that the team would prefer a player, or players, to step up that would provide a greater pass rushing presence. The contenders include Armon Watts, Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes, fourth-round rookie James Lynch, and Hercules Mata'afa. I really like Watts. As a rookie, he started to emerge late last season. Before the start of free agency I was dreaming of an interior pairing of Watts and Johnson. The signing of Pierce and drafting of Lynch altered those dreams. As it stands now, I see Pierce, Watts, Johnson, and Lynch as the top defensive tackles. There will be significant rotation in the middle of the Vikings defensive line. There's simply too much talent to keep on the bench. 

Linebacker changes:

For as long as they play together in Minnesota, Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks will be the Vikings linebacker group. Especially considering the frequency with which they are the only linebackers on the field. Ben Gedeon has been the third linebacker since his rookie season in 2017. An injury to Gedeon last season gave Eric Wilson an opportunity. Wilson took full advantage of his opportunity. The position is his and his athleticism could allow the Vikings to play their base defense more often than they did with Gedeon. A wildcard is fourth-rounder Troy Dye. He might be as athletic as Wilson and more versatile.

The Vikings really supplemented their front seven with their three fourth round picks. I think that D.J. Wonnum, James Lynch, and Troy Dye will make contributions early and often. 

Secondary changes:

Safety is easy. Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris are the league's best safety pair. Harris is presently signed to play this season on the franchise tag. I'm hoping that he and the Vikings can come to an agreement on a long-term deal. The deadline for such a deal this offseason is this week. Safety is easy. Cornerback is anything but easy. There are ten corners listed on the team's roster. The age range is 21-25. Mike Hughes is the most experienced of the group. He's entering his third season and has yet to play a complete season. He has to stay on the field. Hughes and first-round rookie Jeff Gladney are a very talented pair. Both are under 6'. Holton Hill and third-round rookie Cameron Dantzler provide some size if match-ups require some size. There are so many questions about the Vikings corners. Those questions should only be about their experience. This is a very talented, varied group. I'm excited to see what they can do.

The competitions at defensive tackle and cornerback should be some of the most entertaining, interesting, and exciting of training camp. I wish that I could be there to see all of it. 

The offseason changes to the Vikings defense weren't limited to the players. Zimmer has had the same defensive coaching staff since he came to Minnesota. 

2019 Defensive Coaches

Defensive Coordinator: George Edwards
Defensive Line: Andre Patterson
Linebackers: Adam Zimmer
Defensive Backs: Jerry Gray
Assistant Defensive Line: Robert Rodriguez
Assistant Defensive Backs: Jeff Howard
Defensive Quality Control: Nick Rallis

2020 Defensive Coaches

Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line: Andre Patterson
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Adam Zimmer
Senior Defensive Assistant: Dom Capers
Defensive Backs: Daronte Jones
Assistant Defensive Line: Imarjaye Albury
Assistant Defensive Backs: Roy Anderson
Defensive Quality Control: Nick Rallis

The co-coordinator thing is interesting. I like it as it probably allowed for Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer to maintain their roles as position coaches. Patterson's teaching of the defensive line has been critical to the rise of the Vikings defense since 2014. Mike Zimmer hopes that the addition of Dom Capers as an experienced voice and adviser has a impact on the defense similar to the one Gary Kubiak made on the offense last year. I really like the additions of Daronte Jones and Roy Anderson as defensive backs coaches. The play of the corners last year felt stale. Other than a clear decline in Xavier Rhodes' play it was difficult to tell what was wrong with the corners. Perhaps a shake-up was needed. Perhaps some change was needed. The Vikings sure made changes. New players. New coaches. All the newness in the back of the Vikings' defense is exciting. The changes throughout the Vikings defense are exciting.