Cornerstones in place, Vikings’ remodeled defense to be tested in 2020

MINNEAPOLIS — The defense has largely fueled Minnesota’s success since Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach, a balanced, disciplined and intelligent unit that has annually ranked among the NFL’s best.

This virus-altered season will serve as a stiff test.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak forced teams to conduct spring meetings and practices virtually, the salary cap delivered the first blow to the Vikings. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph and cornerback Xavier Rhodes were released to make room before free agency. Three other starters eventually signed elsewhere. The younger candidates for filling the turned-over positions lost valuable on-field development time to the global pandemic. Michael Pierce, the most prominent acquisition and expected replacement for Joseph, opted out for 2020 due to asthma-related health concerns.

For the first time in Zimmer’s seven years with the Vikings, the offense has the edge in stability over the defense, with quarterback Kirk Cousins with running back Dalvin Cook as the centerpiece. The Vikings have the league’s sixth-highest percentage of combined snaps played by returning players on offense, according to Sportradar research. They rank 19th on defense.

As the rare NFL head coach with both a background on defense and a duty as the primary play caller on game day, though, Zimmer has a palpable sense of pride in the group he has largely shaped. It’s a unit that’s still led, despite the wave of departures, by end Danielle Hunter, linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, and safety Harrison Smith, a quartet sporting a combined 12 Pro Bowl selections. The other safety, Anthony Harris, led the league with six interceptions last season.

“We have a lot of guys who have played for a while, together, and have had a lot of success and have been through ups and downs, and then we have a lot of guys who are new, kind of have clean slates, but a ton of talent. Smart guys, smart coaches, a lot of people who want to win and who want to be great football players and a great defense,” Smith said. “So I think it’s good to have that mix. It’s good to have some new faces every now and then.”

STAYING SHARP

The Vikings have ranked in the top 14 in both yards and points allowed in each of their six years under Zimmer, including eight out of 12 times in the top 10. After leading the NFL in both categories in 2017, they’ve finished fourth and 14th in yards, ninth and fifth in points.

“If you’re not adapting every single day or every single year, you’re not going to last very long, because that’s what everybody does. Same as life. I feel fortunate that I’ve never been fired. I take more pride in that than anything else,” said Zimmer, who is 64 and armed with a contract extension through the 2023 season. “Not very many coaches can say that.”

PANDEMIC PROBLEMS

The Vikings unhesitatingly supported Pierce in his decision, but his exit left a hole at the nose tackle position held by Joseph for the last six years. Shamar Stephen lid over, leaving Jaleel Johnson as the leading candidate at the other spot, known as the 3-technique.

An even bigger issue caused by the coronavirus, however, will undoubtedly be the loss of the roaring crowd for at least the first two home games against Green Bay (Sept. 13) and Tennessee (Sept. 27). Even if fans are allowed in later in the fall, capacities would certainly be significantly reduced. The Vikings are 23-9 in the regular season since U.S. Bank Stadium opened in 2016, tied for the best home mark in the NFC with Philadelphia and New Orleans. The noise level under the translucent roof has been helpful for rattling the opposing offense.

“The concentration is so much harder when you’ve got 66,000 crazy Vikings fans that are doing the Skol chant,” Zimmer said. “It makes it much more difficult.”

THE REPLACEMENTS

After 10 seasons with the team, six as a starter, defensive end Everson Griffen departed for Dallas. Ifaedi Odenigbo, one of last year’s breakout players, has taken over the right side, opposite Hunter. Andre Patterson, the new co-defensive coordinator with Adam Zimmer, plans to keep Hunter at left end. Hunter, 25, who has missed more than a week of practices with an unspecified injury, is the youngest player in NFL history with 50 career sacks.

“I don’t want to take a guy from where he’s comfortable and making a name for himself to be one of the best in the business at what he does. To me, that’s not very smart as a coach,” Patterson said.

THE SECONDARY REPLACEMENTS

Mike Hughes and Holton Hill are the top two outside cornerbacks, with Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes moving on. Jeff Gladney, one of the team’s two first-round draft picks, will be groomed to eventually play one of those spots. The most impressive rookie of training camp has been Cameron Dantzler, a lanky third-round draft pick from Mississippi State nicknamed “The Needle” for a hard-hitting ability belying his lean frame. Dantzler has worked both outside and inside.

GOING DEEP

Cousins will miss Stefon Diggs, who was traded to Buffalo in the biggest move of the offseason to save cap space — and erase the tension surrounding his dissatisfaction with his role in the offense.

First-round draft pick Justin Jefferson from national champion LSU will factor heavily into the plan to complement Adam Thielen in an otherwise inexperienced wide receiver group. Bisi Johnson, who has continually impressed the coaches with his mastery of the system since being drafted in the seventh round last year, has emerged as the No. 2 option.

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MINNESOTA VIKINGS (11-7)

NEW FACES: WR Justin Jefferson, CB Jeff Gladney, CB Cameron Dantzler, WR Tajaé Sharpe, OL Ezra Cleveland, DT James Lynch, WR/PR/KR K.J. Osborn, DE Anthony Zettel.

KEY LOSSES: WR Stefon Diggs, DT Linval Joseph, DE Everson Griffen, CB Xavier Rhodes, CB Trae Waynes, CB Mackensie Alexander, RG Josh Kline, DE Stephen Weatherly, S Andrew Sendejo, S Jayron Kearse, offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, defensive coordinator George Edwards.

STRENGTHS: Vikings will lean on continuity of their systems under head coach Mike Zimmer and newly appointed offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, who was promoted from adviser role when Stefanski was hired as Cleveland’s head coach. Keeping playbook same ought to benefit QB Kirk Cousins, who had career-best season in 2019 while picking up first NFL postseason victory, on road no less. Though Dalvin Cook has not received new contract he’s seeking, dual-threat RB is also coming off his most complete year as pro, with Pro Bowl FB C.J. Ham in front of him in some formations, and capable backup in Alexander Mattison. Jefferson will be brought along slowly but has limitless potential, drafted in first round out of national champion LSU. DE Danielle Hunter, LB Eric Kendricks, LB Anthony Barr and SS Harrison Smith have been picked for Pro Bowl combined 12 times, and FS Anthony Harris led league in interceptions last season.

WEAKNESSES: Interior of offensive line remains unproven, with Pat Elflein now at RG after rough 2019 at LG, where Dakota Dozier and Aviante Collins have been competing for starting spot. One week after win in wild-card round at New Orleans, Cousins and offensive line were overwhelmed by eventual NFC champion San Francisco’s pass rush, showing his limitations when he doesn’t have time to throw. After exit of top three CBs from last year, Mike Hughes and Holton Hill have stepped into two outside spots, with rookies Gladney (first round) and Dantzler (third round) getting looks in slot. Sudden inexperience at that position is glaring, even with CB-savvy head coach in Zimmer. Losing Joseph and another starter for Zimmer’s entire six-year tenure, DE Everson Griffen, has sapped stout defensive line of some strength.

PANDEMIC DEVELOPMENT: Vikings had only one of 67 players across league who opted out of season due to coronavirus, but absence of DT Michael Pierce — chronic asthma sufferer — will weigh heavily on defense, and not just because he’s 340 pounds. Pierce was signed to $27 million contract in free agency after leaving Baltimore to replace stalwart Joseph, but his deal will be tabled until 2021. Instead, Shamar Stephen has been given first crack at underappreciated but not unimportant nose tackle spot, and Jaleel Johnson has been first in line during training camp to start at other DT position that Stephen previously manned, informally called 3-technique.

FANTASY PLAYER TO WATCH: TE Irv Smith Jr. Kubiak’s system has long favored multiple tight end formations. While 10-year veteran Kyle Rudolph is proven red-zone target who caught TD in OT to win playoff game last season, Smith could see larger role in passing game due to his athleticism, versatility, and departure of Diggs. Smith had 36 catches for 311 yards and two TDs as rookie last year, after being drafted in second round out of Alabama.

VEGAS SAYS: Win Super Bowl: 25-1. Over/under wins: 9.

EXPECTATIONS: Contract extensions for Cousins, Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman doled out this year left no doubt about organization’s belief team can compete among league’s elite and finally break through to elusive Super Bowl victory. Missing playoffs would be major disappointment, and there won’t be much patience for one-and-done in postseason, either. On surface, salary-cap crunch that shaped offseason moves appears to have pushed Vikings further from contention than forward. Kubiak and Zimmer are two of league’s best strategists on each side of ball, though, and Vikings still have dependable if not dominant players at several positions.