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1. Safety Anthony Harris (UFA) played on the one-year, $11.4 million franchise tag after tying the NFL lead with six interceptions during the 2019 regular season. General Manager Rick Spielman's move didn't really pay off for the Vikings or Harris, who was tagged last year with the salary cap room gained by Kirk Cousins' contract extension. Spielman wanted to tag and trade Harris, according to league sources at the time, but failed, and Harris became the only Vikings defender — and just one of four players overall — to play every down with 1,075 snaps [100%].
Not penalized. Deflected seven passes with no interceptions. Typically always in the right place, but environment changed drastically with often unreliable and rotating cornerbacks. Was most effective as a single-high safety breaking on underneath routes. Plays with strong instincts and anticipation, but looked to be guessing more in 2020. Allowed four touchdowns in coverage.
Like most Vikings defenders, Harris had a really bad final month. Missed a career-high 10 tackles, including six in the final three games. Took a bad angle and missed Alvin Kamara on the opening 40-yard score of Kamara's record-tying six touchdowns in the Week 16 loss. Couldn't keep up with Lions receiver Marvin Jones, who ran by Harris for a 43-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the Week 17 win. Harris isn't going to win many races against NFL speed. He wins off intellect and anticipation. So, as the Vikings' pass rush fell off precipitously, teams schemed up some deep shots over Harris.
2. Linebacker Eric Wilson (UFA) went from reliable spot starter to a dependable fixture in the defense as injuries removed Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks from the lineup. Took over the in-helmet microphone and relayed play calls as well. Didn't leave the field on defense after Barr's torn pectoral Week 2 in Indianapolis. Played 1,035 snaps [96.3%], second on the defense. Penalized once for grabbing the face mask of Panthers receiver Robby Anderson in the Week 12 win. Led the defense with 122 combined tackles, including a team-high eight for a loss.
Allowed two touchdowns in coverage. Fell down while Seahawks tight end Will Dissly caught a 19-yard touchdown in the Week 5 loss. Career-high three interceptions, including his first in the NFL when a pass bounced off the chest of Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox near the goal line. Also picked off a poorly-thrown ball by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and sat on a crossing route to intercept Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in the Week 9 win. Solid coverage linebacker who trailed only safety Harrison Smith on the team with eight deflections. Stepped into Barr's role as the leading blitzer, turning 71 pass rushes into eight hits and three sacks. But production fizzled as Wilson maintained that role and had just two hits and no sacks in the last seven games.
Missed too many tackles, and was less effective against the run. Wilson's team-high 20 missed tackles tied for the third most among all NFL linebackers. It was a consistent issue, missing at least one in every game except for the Week 15 loss to Chicago, when he led the team with 11 combined tackles (one for a loss) while the Bears ran free. Wilson's 17 run stops trailed Kendricks' 25 in 11 games.
Wilson showed he can be an every-down linebacker, especially if he cleans up tackling, but it's likely going to be for another NFL team that will pay him to play passing downs, which is his strength as an athletic sideline-to-sideline linebacker required for today's NFL.
3. Guard Dakota Dozier (UFA) took over on the left side, winning a training camp battle over Aviante Collins for the starting job. Career backup got his first full-time job after re-signing with the Vikings on a one-year, $1 million deal in March. One of four Vikings players — third on offense with quarterback Kirk Cousins and center Garrett Bradbury — to play every down with 1,082 snaps [100%]. But it's hard to see him back in anything other than a reserve role next season. A team-high nine penalties included four false starts and four holding calls. Allowed a team-high 46 pressures, most among all NFL guards, while consistently struggling to handle defensive line twists that led to immediate issues on offense. Surrendered six sacks, including a sack-fumble by Seahawks defensive end Damontre Moore in the Week 5 loss.
Dozier was more serviceable as a run blocker, but his issues in pass protection were consistently the weakest link in the chain once the struggling Dru Samia was replaced by Ezra Cleveland at right guard. Dozier had a particularly bad four-game stretch against the Jaguars, Bucs, Bears and Saints, including a season-worst seven pressures in the key Week 15 loss to the Bears.
4. Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo (RFA) stepped into a starting role, one he maintained even after the Yannick Ngakoue trade upset expectations. He was the most productive pass rusher for the 2020 Vikings, however that's not saying much after a franchise-low 23 sacks since it became an official stat in 1982. Led the defensive line with a career-high 697 snaps [64.8%] and 15 starts, missing the season finale due to a chest injury. Penalized three times (one declined), including being drawn offside by Aaron Rodgers' hard count — in an empty U.S. Bank Stadium — on the opening third down of the season.
Team-high 42 pressures, including 15 quarterback hits, looking more effective as an interior pass rusher on third downs before the Ngakoue trade after Week 6 limited his role. Had just half the sacks (3.5) from his seven in 2019 as a part-time contributor. Strong games against the Titans and Jaguars, including a safety on Jacksonville quarterback Mike Glennon. But admittedly struggled to maintain an impact, saying opponents picked up on his tendencies more often as a first-year starter.
Surest tackler on the defense with just two misses, but not often in position to make plays unless rushing the passer; 35 combined tackles (three for a loss) ranked third on his own defensive line. Underwhelmed as a run defender with seven stops — Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen combined for 37 in 2019.
Odenigbo has some burst as a pass rusher and that's obviously where he was most effective last season.
5. Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson (UFA) was thrusted into the starting lineup when nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out in July, leading to Shamar Stephen's move to nose and Johnson's starting job as the three-technique defensive tackle — the spot they've cycled replacements ever since Kevin Williams left. Johnson played a career-high 655 snaps [60.9%] in 16 starts. Penalized twice. Full-time player for an underwhelming defensive line. Missed five tackles. Second on the line with 15 run stops, just two in the final six games. Less effective with more work, providing little pass rush production with 1.5 sacks among seven pressures, trailing Armon Watts (12) and Stephen (9).
Johnson, the 2017 fourth-round pick out of Iowa, apparently became a target in the running game where opponents averaged 4.6 yards on the Vikings. Coaches have said he can play haphazardly, and he was caught out of position in New Orleans
https://www.startribune.com/film-a-look-...600007704/
I'd be surprised if MIN brought any of these 5 back.
3 of the 5 have been very solid at times but with the team rebuilding they all will need to find new gigs, methinks.
EDIT- Is Rudolph not a FA? He's for sure gone too unless RS suddenly gets sentimental.
Quote: @"pattersaur" said:
I'd be surprised if MIN brought any of these 5 back.
3 of the 5 have been very solid at times but with the team rebuilding they all will need to find new gigs, methinks.
EDIT- Is Rudolph not a FA? He's for sure gone too unless RS suddenly gets sentimental.
Agreed. I don’t think Rudy is a FA but I do believe he is gone. I like him. But we did not miss him in the games he dud not play. Pretty average for his salary. We are good at TE without Rudy.
I have no issue with keeping Odenigbo, albeit as part of a rotation and not a full time starter. Wilson is a splash playmaker, but seems to miss a lot of tackles. With his expected pay raise, my assumption is Zimmer will want Barr back instead and hopefully at a reduced price. The rest have hopefully cleaned out their lockers.
Other than All-Vowels™, everyone else can walk.
Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
Other than All-Vowels™, everyone else can walk.
Interested in ur take on Eric Wilson. I thought he was decent.
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