Troy Dye, Patrick Jones II, James Lynch, D.J. Wonnum, and Josh Metellus
The defense was, by far, the weakest part of the Vikings’ team in 2021. One could make a similar claim for 2020 even though the special teams struggled during that season.
Back-to-back years of missed playoffs and dismal defense got Mike Zimmer fired. Now, the team is hoping first-year HC Kevin O’Connell will be capable of resurrecting a once formidable group.
For the most part, the pieces that cover the defense’s potential improvement focus on bringing in talent through free agency and the draft. That’s an approach that makes a lot of sense. Adding good players – to the surprise of no one – tends to lead to an improved football team. The issue, of course, is that every team wants talented players. Plus, resources are finite. The team can’t outbid every team for every player, just as it can’t select every promising player in the upcoming draft.
The end result, then, is a bit of a quandary. The team needs more talent on defense, and yet they’ll be limited in what they can do. Thankfully, they’re not completely without hope.
To climb back into relevance in 2022, the Vikings defense will need to have at least one or two players really emerge. Unexpected production from an overlooked player(s) is massively important.
Take Troy Dye, for instance. The young LB is entering his third year in the NFL. So far, he has been strong on special teams and underwhelming on defense. He possesses great length and speed but isn’t particularly rugged. He’s built like a modern-day linebacker insofar as he’s not a between-the-tackles thumper. Rather, he’s a plus athlete who works hard and plays fast. That’s what has made him a very successful special teams tackler.
What are the chances Ed Donatell can get Dye’s game to another level? If the switch to a 3-4 does happen, the Vikings will need a second MLB to play alongside EK. Can Dye thrive in this role?
Like Dye, James Lynch is entering his third year in the Vikings defense. He’s built a little bit like a 3T given that he’s 6’4, 295. For this reason, it has been a little odd to see him playing 1T in the old defense. Donatell’s new system may use him better by lining him up as a defensive end.
Of course, the story doesn’t end with just Lynch and Dye. Patrick Jones II, D.J. Wonnum, and Josh Metellus could all take a step forward. Ditto for Camryn Bynum and Cameron Dantzler. They didn’t play in their rookie season, but perhaps Janarius Robinson and Jaylen Twyman can emerge.
If even one or two of these players turn into impact starters, the Vikings defense will be much further along. Heck, a savvy draft and free agency period may even be enough to push this group back into “good” territory. Stranger things have happened, folks. The Bengals just made the Super Bowl, so anything can happen.
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