The Minnesota Vikings were quiet for about 12 hours on the first day of a free agency. Rumors were circulating about who the Vikings were talking about possible free agent movements. Names like Joe Thuney, Shaquill Griffin, Carl Lawson and Trey Hendrickson were semi-unbelievably linked to the Vikings, but none of these men ended up wearing purple and gold. In fact, all of the players mentioned have fled elsewhere, leaving Vikings fans with names like Carlos Dunlap (DE) and William Jackson (CB) to meditate.
But on Monday night, Minnesota orchestrated its first signature with 3DT-NT Dalvin Tomlinson of the New York Giants. Seven years ago, general manager Rick Spielman pulled a defensive tackle on Linval Joseph from the Giants – also a great human – and did it again in 2021.
While the Giants used Tomlinson, 27, as a nose striker in New York after Damon Harrison (many call him Snacks) left, the Vikings will employ Tomlinson in the position of 3 techniques. Why? Because the team already pays Michael Pierce to tackle his nose. He’s even bigger than Tomlinson – which most people can’t claim.
Tomlinson will bring instant legitimacy to the 3DT location, especially with the filling of the race. You know – the same team that allowed an NFL record of six touchdowns for Alvin Kamara at Christmas – will now look back and make a face at the memory of Christmas. Pierce and Tomlinson will ensure that performances of six touchdowns for running backs are totally impossible in 2021.
And experts like the movement. CBS Sports gave Tomlinson’s transaction to Vikings an A grade. Cody Benjamin with CBS Sports said about the addition of the Vikings:
“Tomlinson is exactly the type of addition for them: a great body that fills in gaps for Mike Zimmer’s defense. Your presence should help in your situation of extreme haste, as long as Danielle Hunter really comes back to her. “
Meat in the middle
At about 10 pm CST on Monday, March 15 – the Minnesota Vikings’ internal line became super heavy.
Pierce and Tomlinson balance the balance with a combined 660 pounds. That’s the size of a giant brown bear. And the perspicacity of stopping the tandem race will lead to a terrible result for the opposing running backs.
Evidently, coach Mike Zimmer took defense against the Vikings seriously. His team gave the opponent the sixth most yards to run during the pandemic season. With Pierce and Tomlinson, that rating is expected to rise to the Top 10 and perhaps even the Top 5 in 2021.
Even in a happy NFL, the teams that fill the race – reach the postseason. The team that most disrupted the league during 2020 was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Remember how the season worked for them?
The mediocre days in 3DT should have ended
For a long time, the Vikings have been covering up the defensive tackle position of 3 techniques. It is an area where Zimmer shoots a newsboy and says he is good. Examples of this include Tom Johnson, Shamar Stephen and Jaleel Johnson. This practice will end for at least two seasons, which is the length of Tomlinson’s contract.
Minnesota used Sheldon Richardson at 3DT in 2018, and this team, although generally disappointing, had a fierce attack with Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph, Sheldon Richardson and Everson Griffen.
Now, the defensive line is something like Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson and Stephen Weatherly or DJ Wonnum or newbie EDGE rusher.
This prediction is several times sexier than Jalyn Holmes, Jaleel Johnson, Shamar Stephen and Ifeadi Odenigbo of 2020. And it doesn’t even come close.
What comes next for the defensive line?
What is not clear about the 2021 defensive line? Well, viewers are not sure if the Vikings are “finished”. Was the Tomlinson acquisition a contingency plan to “lose” Carl Lawson and Trey Hendrickson? The idea would be: Well, we’re not going to terrify at the edges of both sides, but, damn it, we’re going to stop the race like no other.
It remains to be seen whether a certain defensive edge will be found to update from Weatherly / Wonnum. Spielman is believed to be freeing up space for Adam Thielen’s team through a contractual restructuring. In this scenario, Thielen would still receive his money – just in a more creative way.
So Vikings can spend money on a player like Carlos Dunlap – a man who played in defense under Zimmer for four seasons in Cincinnati. Or, men like Bruce Irvin, Everson Griffen, Jadeveon Clowney are not yet signed. There is always the draft too.
Spielman and Zimmer knew same Transform the defensive line into a lethal force with one of those men. Otherwise, Zimmer can dispense free agent money to his other favorite place – cornerbacks.