Double Dose of Dalvin on the Docket
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings began free agency Day One rather slowly. The only tangible “news” was the team’s alleged interest in players like Carl Lawson, Trey Hendrickson, and Joe Thuney. By evening, all of those men flocked to other teams not named the Minnesota Vikings.
Folks went to bed, decrying the Vikings first day of free-agent movement as a dud. They were not wrong – until they were.
Shortly before the late nightly news, the Vikings inked hybrid 3-technique-nose-tackle interior defensive linemen Dalvin Tomlinson. Outside of one season with Sheldon Richardson in 2018, Minnesota normally employs 3DT players that merely serviceable.
Tomlinson changes that.
Indeed, Tomlinson’s former team – the New York Giants – mostly used the 27-year-old as a nose tackle. But that will not be the case with the Vikings in 2021, unless something strange happens to current nose tackle, Michael Pierce.
As of now [and there is still more offseason on tap], the Vikings defensive line is totally revamped when compared to 2020. Last season, the players were predominantly Jalyn Holmes, Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, and Ifeadi Odenigbo. Assuming the franchise does right contractually by Danielle Hunter at left defensive end, the line for 2021 is shaping up as Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, and a combination of Stephen Weatherly, D.J. Wonnum, and Odenigbo at RDE.
Mini-Williams Wall
On paper, any run-stopping maladies are vanquished by the employment of Pierce and Tomlinson in the middle of the line. As in – instantly. The two men combine for 655+ pounds of run-stuffing juice. A decade ago, Minnesota utilized a duo of Kevin Williams and Pat Williams – and absolutely no Vikings fan on earth had a grievance with the tandem.
Now, Pierce-Tomlinson has the potential to be Williams Wall-lite. They could morph into something special, but the Williams Wall is a large moniker to emulate.
Teams that stop the run typically thrive – even in a pass-happy NFL. In 2020, the teams that led the NFL in rushing yards allowed [in order]: Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle, and Baltimore.
All six of those teams reached the postseason. The first one – the Buccaneers – won the Super Bowl.
3-Tech vs. NT Debate
Confusion ran rampant when the Tomlinson news broke. Why? Because the Vikings do not need a nose tackle. On the Giants depth chart, Tomlinson was listed as one of those. However, he is built like a robust 3-technique defensive tackle and hence, an undersized nose tackle.
Barring an unforeseen change of plans for Michael Pierce, Tomlinson will not play nose tackle. He will serve as a 3DT that concentrates on stopping the run. To be clear, Tomlinson does not struggle with pass-rushing, but he is a more specialized roadblock of running backs.
If Tomlinson weighed 350 pounds, yes, it would ultra-peculiar for the Vikings to fancy a double-NT set inside its defensive line. But that’s not what head coach Mike Zimmer will enact. Tomlinson is 6’3″, 320lbs.
Minnesota missed out on defensive ends Carl Lawson and Trey Hendrickson early on Monday, so this move can be perceived as a stop-gap. Defensive line supremacy will be spearhead from the inside as opposed to RDE, at least regarding the preliminary free-agency plan. Although, the team could still have plans to improve at the RDE spot, too. The offseason is young.
Vikings Steal Giants IDLs
In 2014, general manager Rick Spielman acquired nose tackle Linval Joseph from the Giants.
He was tremendous.
Joseph played in Minnesota for six full seasons, tallying two Pro Bowl selections and a wholly lovable reputation. Tomlinson will seek to replicate this. A two-time national champion at the University of Alabama, Tomlinson was a 2nd-Round draft pick in 2017 – 14 spots after the Vikings other Dalvin, Cook, was chosen from Florida State University.
Tomlinson is as consistent as the sun rises.
Dalvin Tomlinson,
PFF:2020 = 75.1
2019 = 78.2
2018 = 76.1
2017 = 81.0He is a significantly better run-stuffer than pass-rusher at 3DT. Although, the Giants played him at nose tackle the last couple of years.
— Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) March 16, 2021
If Tomlinson can replicate Joseph’s performance with the Vikings – a tall order – Minnesota’s run-stopping forecast is delightful. And, that should free up the defensive ends to do their thing on the outside of the line.