Diminished Vikings Defender Making a Case for More Playing Time
Look around social media for a few minutes and you’ll see Ivan Pace Jr. highlights aplenty.
The linebacker came back from injury in Week 5. As suggested on PurplePTSD, the Vikings defender stepped into a more diminished role since Kamu Grugier-Hill soaked up some snaps and then there was the emphasis on getting Josh Metellus onto the field. What does the future hold for the sophomore linebacker over the remainder of the 2024 season?
Vikings Defender Ivan Pace Jr. and The 2024 Season
At his best, Pace is a downhill, attacking linebacker who disrupts what an offense is trying to accomplish.
The Week 5 Jets game presents several examples. The linebacker finished his day with 6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 QB hits. He did this work across just 26 snaps, so he was making a difference when he was on the field.
Keep in mind that Kamu Grugier-Hill snagged 3 tackles in his 13 snaps. The veteran LB3 saw more work in Week 3 and Week 4 due to Pace’s injury and rewarded Minnesota with a pair of interceptions. Quite possibly, he’s a better option on downs like 3rd & 3 where a team could either run or pass.
And then there’s the presence of Metellus, someone who isn’t going anywhere in terms of his role within the Brian Flores defense. In his 59 snaps on Sunday morning, Metellus picked up 5 tackles while being shuffled all over the defense. Per PFF, Metellus was a slot corner for 28 snaps, in the box for 24 snaps, at free safety for 3, along the d-line for 2, and at corner for 2.
Not too many players are capable of offering that kind of flexibility, so Metellus’ spot in the lineup is secure. He’ll continue being leaned on, even if it means taking Pace off the field a bit more.
The appeal of Ivan Pace, though, is easy for anyone to see. Consider some of what he’s capable of doing:
Flores is well known as a defensive coordinator who likes to go on the attack, so the fit with Mr. Pace appears to be perfect. And, to be sure, Pace’s effort in Week 5 was very impressive. He finished his day with the second-highest PFF grade among Minnesota’s defenders — 79.2 — behind only Andrew Van Ginkel, who took an Aaron Rodgers pass back for a score.
The issue for Pace is merely that the depth on defense is formidable. The DC has the option to mix and match a bit based on what he thinks is coming in his direction. Similar to how Dallas Turner is seeing a more muted role, so, too, is Ivan Pace playing a bit less than anticipated due to several other players stepping up.
Only 23, Ivan Pace Jr. has both a bright present and a bright future. He’s carrying a tiny $921,666 cap charge on the second year of his UDFA deal. Before too long, the linebacker will cash-in on a major raise since he’s capable of playing linebacker at a high-end level.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
