Armon Watts, Sheldon Richardson, and Minnesota’s Evolving Defensive Line
K. Joudry
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It wasn’t supposed to be like this, folks. The theory was that Danielle Hunter was going to return to be Minnesota’s true DE1. From there, the hope was that D.J. Wonnum would continue to develop, that Everson Griffen could offer some pass rush help, and that the Pierce-Tomlinson duo could be dominant against the run. So far, that plan has been short-circuited by injury and Covid. Minnesota’s defensive line will thus need to continue adjusting and evolving for the team to find success. Armon Watts may be the key.
Minnesota’s Defensive Line and The Need To Evolve
We all know that the defense as a whole hasn’t been good enough. We also know that a large part of the reason why has been the lackluster (a word that puts it mildly) run defense. SF ran for more than 200 yards on Sunday and possessed the ball for more than 37 minutes. It’s nearly impossible to win those games.
Of course, getting Pierce and Tomlinson back in the middle should make a difference. Pierce is listed at 340 pounds; Tomlinson is listed at 325 pounds. That makes a difference in run defense, folks, especially when you see how nimble those two are. Both are great athletes. Both can get after the passer.
Now, the issues at defensive end have led to the Minnesota’s defensive line looking for creative solutions. Foremost among these solutions has been moving Sheldon Richardson – a veteran defensive tackle – to defensive end. Take a peak at some of his pass rush snaps:
As strange as it sounds, it’s possible that the team’s best pass rusher at DE is actually a backup DT. Richardson ought to remain at DE for the foreseeable future. He is a good athlete and has great size. He’s capable of finishing the season at DE.
Are there other players who could do similar things?
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The Development of Armon Watts
The first name that comes to mind ought to be Armon Watts. The third-year player is coming in as PFF‘s 46th best DT (out of 123). When it comes to just the pass rush, though, he is 10th overall. He has four sacks, three of which have come in the past four weeks. Moreover, he has added on 6 QB hits, 2 TFLs, and 2 forced fumbles. It has been encouraging seeing Watts develop into an impact defensive tackle.
What are the chances Watts could offer similar upside at DE? Of course, it’s a different set of skills. Things happen quicker along the interior. He may not have the speed/quickness advantage against NFL tackles like he does against a lot of guards. Nevertheless, it’s at least somewhat notable that Richardson was kicked out to DE. Watts may be capable of doing something similar.
At this point, Minnesota’s four best players along the defensive line are all DTs. Can the team find a creative way to use all four at once? According to Next Gen Stats, Watts was the team’s quickest pass rusher on Sunday. Keep in mind that he was a 6th round DT from a few years back. He is yet another example of Andre Patterson developing a diamond in the rough. His emergence provides options at a time when the Vikings desperately need them.
Of course, all of this is dependent on Pierce actually coming off the IR this week and Tomlinson returning from the Covid-19 list. Neither are sure things, and yet both aren’t unlikely. If they come back, Minnesota’s defensive line suddenly has some DT depth to play with. Perhaps they’ll recognize that their four best players are all DTs; perhaps they’ll respond by getting all four onto the field at the same time.
Final Thoughts
Playing better run defense without sacrificing much in the pass rush department is a lofty goal for the Vikings. It’s that lofty status that makes it worth pursuing.
Having four DTs on the field ought to make it more difficult to run on them along the interior. It also ought to allow the LBs to flow more freely to the ball carrier. Combined, a Watts-Pierce-Tomlinson-Richardson foursome would add up to 1262 pounds. If this 1200+ pound foursome can collapse the pocket with some regularity, Minnesota may be onto something.
The defensive ends, of course, will continue getting snaps. Expect plenty of Wonnum and Patrick Jones II. James Lynch is also capable of providing depth snaps. Don’t be shocked, though, if the Vikings coaching staff decides to get creative with their 4 DTs.
