Handiwork: Another ‘Harrison’ Shines in New Orleans

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Dec 26, 2020
Image courtesy of Vikings.com

On display for the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans during Week 16 was a showcase of defensive ineptitude. The team’s showing on that side of the ball was so putrid that it netted the fifth-most yards allowed in a non-overtime game by an NFL team in the last half-decade. Because the Vikings are trussed on a bedrock of defensive principles, the impotence is much more difficult to fathom. Minnesota has been an unmistakably defensive-first organization for seven years after a period of doldrums from 2010 to 2013.

Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf tapped Mike Zimmer to lead the franchise and cultivate a return to a 1970s-like aura of defensive football. Such was the case through 2019. During this pandemic season, though, the Vikings have teleported to the days of Mike Tice football – a version that fancies scoring points like pinball wizards while failing to master the art of tackling.

For optimists, the defense-related follies should be a one-year hiccup. The return of Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, Michael Pierce, Anthony Barr, and Mike Hughes for the 2021 season will instantly vaccinate the defensive maladies. If that assessment is incorrect, Minnesota will coach-searching in January of 2022.

The defense has shown periodic flashes of promise. Performances at Green Bay and Chicago did not induce anger, frustration, or sorrow. But those stretches were limited and often felt like anomalies. In 2020, Zimmer’s defense was a shell corporation wildly unrecognizable to that of yesteryear.

The depressing crescendo occurred on Christmas day in New Orleans. The Vikings offense scored 33 points and did not turn the football over – a blueprint for seemingly guaranteed wins with a healthy Zimmer defense. Yet, this game was a locus for 52 points by the Saints. For Zimmer’s sake, it embodied a “rock bottom” afternoon.

The only phoenix-from-the-ashes takeaway was the emergence of rookie cornerback Harrison Hand. And here’s why.

Three Significant Plays

It is incredibly odd to profess that three fairly spectacular plays held the Saints to “only” 52 points, but that is the jarring reality. Harrison Hand was the lone playmaker for the Vikings on Christmas, and his efforts kept the game within reach for the better part of three quarters.

Foremost, Hand hauled in an interception on a blimp-like throw from Drew Brees. The future Hall of Fame Saints signal-caller has recently developed an eccentric throwing-style – probably because his ribs feel like paper mâché. In any event, Hand hopped in front of tight end Jared Cook for robbery.

After that, Hand notched an impactful special teams play and pass-defended that could have been interpreted as a forced fumble. Former Packers wideout brought in a pass from Brees that was immediately disrupted by Hand. The FOX commentators made no mention of the fumble possibility nor did the Vikings coaching staff. Regardless, it was a turnover-worthy transaction for the rookie cornerback.

PFF Confirms the Hand-iwork

It was not all eye-test for Harrison Hand. His swell day in the Big Easy is borne out by the numbers.

 

His afternoon, as adjudicated by Pro Football Focus, was over 30 points higher than any other defensive player on the Minnesota Vikings. That includes the other Harrison (Smith) who checked in at 62.8.

It is certainly unsurprising that no Vikings — other than Hand —tabulated a grade over 65. That’s what happens when the enterprise invites 52 points to flood the box score. Hand, however, was elite – if only for a day.

Just One Game but a Sound Prognosis

Let’s be clear: Harrison Hand orchestrated a phenomenal showing in a game that was the worst by the Minnesota Vikings defensively in almost six decades. It is fair to “pump the brakes.” But on an afternoon when the defensive in totality looked counterfeit, the man who singlehandedly excelled gets a shoutout. This is that.

Other rookies have scripted tremendous moments in 2020. D.J. Wonnum, Cameron Dantzler, and Jeff Gladney put thumbprints on several games. Justin Jefferson’s routine in this regard has been a weekly endeavor. That’s why he is locked in an Offensive Rookie of the Year battle with Los Angeles Chargers quarterback, Justin Herbert.

The 2021 Vikings defense will appear wildly unfamiliar to that of the 2020 edition. Most of the current front-seven will either play on other teams or return to reservist roles on the team’s depth chart. The secondary will be the lone spot with customary faces. Think Harrison Smith, Cameron Dantzler, and Jeff Gladney.

Outside of those three men, Zimmer will likely seek another free safety and a CB3 and CB4. Hand demonstrated on Christmas day that his name belongs in the hopper.

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