11 hours ago
"Goal for new DTs: 'Impactful' snaps
The Vikings gave big contracts to new defensive tackles Allen ($17 million APY) and Hargrave ($15 million), and in theory they will flank veteran nose tackle Harrison Phillips when the Vikings are in their base defense.
But they have used their base defense on only 13.2% of their snaps in two years under Flores, the second-lowest rate in the NFL over that period. If that trend continues, the Vikings have in essence given themselves an expensive but likely much more effective rotation on their front.
The Vikings enter their offseason work hoping that Hargrave (age 32), Allen (30) and Phillips (29) will play the most important downs but can credibly be rested in favor of second-year players Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and possibly Taki Taimani. The latter three combined to take 299 snaps last season.
"It all kind of goes back to ... bringing on some older players in that room so we can be impactful with their snaps," O'Connell said, "knowing we've got good young depth that we want to see development."
I mentioned this last week and why I'm so high on what Minnesota did in free agency with the D-line. All the guys will have impactful snaps now by rotating the depth in. It should make a big difference.
The Vikings gave big contracts to new defensive tackles Allen ($17 million APY) and Hargrave ($15 million), and in theory they will flank veteran nose tackle Harrison Phillips when the Vikings are in their base defense.
But they have used their base defense on only 13.2% of their snaps in two years under Flores, the second-lowest rate in the NFL over that period. If that trend continues, the Vikings have in essence given themselves an expensive but likely much more effective rotation on their front.
The Vikings enter their offseason work hoping that Hargrave (age 32), Allen (30) and Phillips (29) will play the most important downs but can credibly be rested in favor of second-year players Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and possibly Taki Taimani. The latter three combined to take 299 snaps last season.
"It all kind of goes back to ... bringing on some older players in that room so we can be impactful with their snaps," O'Connell said, "knowing we've got good young depth that we want to see development."
I mentioned this last week and why I'm so high on what Minnesota did in free agency with the D-line. All the guys will have impactful snaps now by rotating the depth in. It should make a big difference.
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