Vikings Defender Pulls Down Top 30 Recognition from PFF
Dustin Baker
|
The 2023 Minnesota Vikings will need impactful performances from their 2022 defensive members — there aren’t many left as starters — with new defensive coordinator Brian Flores in charge.
Vikings Defender Pulls Down Top 30 Recognition from PFF
Last year, the Vikings finished 30th in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed during Ed Donatell’s only year of service. He was not retained after Minnesota lost to the New York Giants in the postseason, and Flores came aboard in February.
Inside Flores’ inaugural season, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips will help hold down the fort. And while doing so, Pro Football Focus believes that will be at a Top 30 clip.
PFF ranked the NFL’s Top 30 interior defensive linemen this week, and Phillips made the cut at No. 28. Gordon McGuinness explained placement, “Phillips is limited to being mostly a run defender, but he is good in that role and was stout against the run in both Buffalo and Minnesota. His 73.8 PFF run-defense grade in 2022 was the second highest of his career, with Phillips setting a career high in snaps (738), too.”
The ex-Buffalo Bill played all 17 games in his first year as a Viking, an impressive feat as many of his defensive teammates battled injury. Phillips fetched a 72.0 grade from PFF, the 29th-best mark among 77 qualifying interior defenders. He specialized in stopping the run — a 73.8 run defense grade mentioned above by McGuinness — with a 59.4 pass-rushing score, too.
Phillips will be back in 2023 inside a Minnesota defense that has otherwise undergone significant change. Eric Kendricks (Los Angeles Chargers), Za’Darius Smith (Cleveland Browns), Davlin Tomlinson (Cleveland Browns), Patrick Peterson (Pittsburgh Steelers), and Duke Shelley (Las Vegas Raiders), among others, departed as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pivoted to youth, speed, and affordability on defense.
That same Tomlinson made the PFF list at No. 18 and received a fat contract — four years and $57 million — from Cleveland accordingly.
Phillips tabulated 59 total tackles, 6 QB hits, 3 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 2022. He also embraced the role of a defensive leader and is considered “one of the good guys” in the Vikings locker room and community, so don’t let his Horrible Harry nickname fool you.
McGuinness defined Aaron Donald (No. 1, Rams), Chris Jones (No. 2, Chiefs), and Dexter Lawrence (No. 3, Giants) as the top interior defensive linemen in the business.
In January, Phillips said about the Vikings locker room, “I’m a big relationship guy. I look around at our locker room and I have so many people that are near and dear to my heart and I consider great friends of mine, and so, just the reality of the business is that not everyone will be here next year. You want to win it with the guys you’re brothers with.”
Phillips turned 27 in January.
Cameron Dantzler Is on the Move Again
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.