The Defensive Line is the Biggest Problem
Sept 23, 2023 15:35:47 GMT -6
Funkytown, Minniman, and 2 more like this
Post by whoskmoon on Sept 23, 2023 15:35:47 GMT -6
The 2023 season is here and like clockwork, the Vikings offensive line has become the scapegoat for their 0-2 start. Twitter, this forum, countless articles written about the team all bemoaning the fact that the Vikings' Oline is costing them games. With this Oline, the QB has no time to throw and the running backs have no room to run, and on and on and on, we hear the same complaints we have been hearing for a decade.
However, the Oline is not the only problem, and really, it isn't even close to being the biggest problem on the team. Outside of right guard, they are actually doing a decent job protecting the QB, giving up an average amount of pressures and sacks (16th on the nose in pass blocking efficiency) and being much closer statistically to the best in the NFL in pass protection than the worst. Run blocking does appear to be a significant issue, but how much of that is on the talentless RB room?
The defensive line on the other hand is a whole other story. Outside of Hunter, and in the run game Phillips, the defensive line has been non-existent so far this season. To the point where they are looking like one of the worst defensive lines in the NFL. Unlike the Oline, they don't handle the run or the pass well, and statistically are as anemic as teams like Houston and the Bears. Worse in some respects.
Looking at the pressure numbers of really good defensive lines across the NFL, a pattern emerges. They all have three or sometimes even five guys who can get after the QB. San Francisco for instance got the following from their defensive line through two games this season:
That is quite an even spread, even with them having arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL. Other teams like Cleveland, Baltimore and Dallas have similar spreads, even if they aren't quite as deep as the 49ers.
Now let's take a look at the Vikings top 7:
Their second "best" pass rusher has the same number of pressures as the 49ers 7th best. That...is really bad, and the closest defensive line in terms of production out there is not one that fans should be happy about.
Houston Texans:
Sadly even Houston looks deeper on defensive line .
As mentioned before, it isn't just the pass that the defensive line is struggling with, and the run defense numbers are not any better. The Vikings have been run on more per game than any other team in the NFL, to great success. The only thing saving them right now statistically is that they faced a really bad running team week 1, but in week 2, against a good running team, they got lit up. Against the Eagles, the Dline had 49 opportunities to get stops (tackle that results in a failure for the offense). Phillips and Hunter took advantage of those opportunities, leading the league in stops in week 2 with 5 apiece. The rest of the team? 2 stops combined.
It shouldn't be a surprise to any of us either that Dline is not playing well. On that Dline, with Davenport out, the highest drafted player was drafted in the 3rd round. Compare that to one of the best Dlines in the NFL, and you have 3 1st round picks (2 taken in the first 5 picks), a 2nd rounder and a 3rd rounder who they just spent a ton on in free agency. A huge investment resulting in a lot more success than the minimal investment the Vikings have made. Shocking.
If things don't turn around soon, the almost complete neglect of the defensive line is close to a fire-able offense. Factoring in the only defensive lineman playing well is set to hit free agency next season, it makes things even worse. So, the next time you hear a fan whine about "the neglect of the Oline", remind them that our Oline has 2 1st round picks and 3 2nd round picks while the Vikings haven't spent a 2nd round pick or better on a defensive linemen in recent memory.
However, the Oline is not the only problem, and really, it isn't even close to being the biggest problem on the team. Outside of right guard, they are actually doing a decent job protecting the QB, giving up an average amount of pressures and sacks (16th on the nose in pass blocking efficiency) and being much closer statistically to the best in the NFL in pass protection than the worst. Run blocking does appear to be a significant issue, but how much of that is on the talentless RB room?
The defensive line on the other hand is a whole other story. Outside of Hunter, and in the run game Phillips, the defensive line has been non-existent so far this season. To the point where they are looking like one of the worst defensive lines in the NFL. Unlike the Oline, they don't handle the run or the pass well, and statistically are as anemic as teams like Houston and the Bears. Worse in some respects.
Looking at the pressure numbers of really good defensive lines across the NFL, a pattern emerges. They all have three or sometimes even five guys who can get after the QB. San Francisco for instance got the following from their defensive line through two games this season:
| Player | Pressures |
| Nick Bosa | 9 |
| Drake Jackson | 8 |
| Hargrave | 8 |
| Kinlaw | 6 |
| Armstead | 6 |
| Givens | 4 |
| Hyder Jr. | 3 |
That is quite an even spread, even with them having arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL. Other teams like Cleveland, Baltimore and Dallas have similar spreads, even if they aren't quite as deep as the 49ers.
Now let's take a look at the Vikings top 7:
| Player | Pressures |
| Hunter | 9 |
| Phillips | 3 |
| Jones II | 3 |
| Whitley | 1 |
| Wonnum | 1 |
| Lowry | 0 |
| Bullard | 0 |
Their second "best" pass rusher has the same number of pressures as the 49ers 7th best. That...is really bad, and the closest defensive line in terms of production out there is not one that fans should be happy about.
Houston Texans:
| Player | Pressures |
| Will Anderson Jr. | 7 |
| Maliek Collens | 3 |
| Jerry Hughes | 3 |
| Kurt Hinish | 2 |
| Jonathan Greenard | 2 |
| Sheldon Rankins | 2 |
| Dylan Horton | 1 |
Sadly even Houston looks deeper on defensive line .
As mentioned before, it isn't just the pass that the defensive line is struggling with, and the run defense numbers are not any better. The Vikings have been run on more per game than any other team in the NFL, to great success. The only thing saving them right now statistically is that they faced a really bad running team week 1, but in week 2, against a good running team, they got lit up. Against the Eagles, the Dline had 49 opportunities to get stops (tackle that results in a failure for the offense). Phillips and Hunter took advantage of those opportunities, leading the league in stops in week 2 with 5 apiece. The rest of the team? 2 stops combined.
It shouldn't be a surprise to any of us either that Dline is not playing well. On that Dline, with Davenport out, the highest drafted player was drafted in the 3rd round. Compare that to one of the best Dlines in the NFL, and you have 3 1st round picks (2 taken in the first 5 picks), a 2nd rounder and a 3rd rounder who they just spent a ton on in free agency. A huge investment resulting in a lot more success than the minimal investment the Vikings have made. Shocking.
If things don't turn around soon, the almost complete neglect of the defensive line is close to a fire-able offense. Factoring in the only defensive lineman playing well is set to hit free agency next season, it makes things even worse. So, the next time you hear a fan whine about "the neglect of the Oline", remind them that our Oline has 2 1st round picks and 3 2nd round picks while the Vikings haven't spent a 2nd round pick or better on a defensive linemen in recent memory.
... and neither is this Chris guy.
