1 Vikings Defender Is Looking Forward to Playing Fewer Snaps
It sounds absurd and surely is a rare occasion, but one Viking wants to play less in the upcoming season, and it actually makes sense. That person is defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who stepped in front of the local media on Monday.
1 Vikings Defender Is Looking Forward to Playing Fewer Snaps
His comments about quarterback J.J. McCarthy went viral and pretty much everyone talked about them, but folks forgot to talk about something that actually involves Phillips.
He was asked about his new teammates, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, and praised them for their “unique” skillset. And then he noted that he might get less playing time this year and that it would be a good thing.
“The three of us are older players,” said Phillips, who is entering his eighth NFL season, “so I think anytime you can go out there and platoon in three to five to six-play roles, you can really attack with waves, and because of the depth we have, we’ll truly have waves we can throw.”
Phillips joined the Vikings in the 2022 offseason and was the first big signing of the new regime. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed the former Bills lineman for defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, but he has been decent under Brian Flores, too.
“I’d imagine we’ll share snap counts a little more,” the team captain added. “I think I was playing [70]-something percent one year I was here; I don’t see that happening.”
In his four years in Buffalo, he struggled to stay healthy. Following his rookie year, the most he played in a year was in 2021 when he logged 474 defensive snaps in 14 games. That equals 55% of the defensive snaps in the games he was healthy.
Since coming to the Vikings, Phillips appeared in all 51 regular-season games and both postseason contests. In the regular season, he tabulated 694, 839, and 675 defensive snaps. His peak in 2023 led to an absurd 74% of defensive snaps played, while the other two years were around 60%.
It should be noted that Phillips is a defensive lineman north of 300 pounds. It’s not easy to carry that much weight and still be an every-down player, which is why they are rotated on and off the field. Just look at the Eagles and their Super Bowl squad. Jordan Davis has never even sniffed 50% of defensive snaps in his three-year career.
Phillips did because the Vikings haven’t had anyone else (besides Dalvin Tomlinson in 2022) who could make a play in the backfield, and they needed Phillips to be there. He was clearly the best lineman and had to headline the pass-rushing group in addition to being the first line of defense in the running game.
That changes with Hargrave and Allen in the mix. They both are fantastic at getting after the quarterback and will make a difference. Phillips actually wants to learn some things from his new teammates.
“They obviously have a few tricks up their sleeve that have helped them do it,” he said. “From a pass rush standpoint, they have some things that are being coached by them that I haven’t really had coached to me before. … Pass-rush moves they’ve had a lot of success with and counters off those.”
Over his seven-year career, Phillips has tabulated eight sacks. Hargrave and Allen each have more than 40.
But it won’t be just those three, as the Vikings employ some other decent rotational players, too. Jalen Redmond was fantastic late last season and should continue to play in a rotational role, allowing the three veterans to get a breather here and there. Taki Taimani was effective early in the season as a run-stuffer, and rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins could be a difference-maker in the passing game.
Keeping the defensive line healthy and rested is crucial, and the Vikings are finally set up to do that. Expect to see less of Phillips in the upcoming season, but that might increase his efficiency.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.