Brian Flores & The ABCs of Dominant Defense
The Vikings are taking care of the small details, allowing the defense to thrive.
Currently, Minnesota’s defense finds itself in 3rd place in the NFL since teams are scoring an average of just 15.2 points against them. Brian Flores’ crew is the main reason why the Vikings are sitting on an undefeated record.
What can sometimes can get lost in the shuffle of the huge plays, though, are the small details that allow defensive football to thrive. Indeed, defense is all about nailing the small, seemingly insignificant details. Failure to do so is what can lead to defensive disaster.
Let’s consider, then, a seemingly small detail across all three levels of the defense — the defensive line, the linebackers, and the secondary — that led to winning moments against the Jets in Week 5.
The D-Line: Harrison Phillips
Start up front with Mr. Harrison Phillips, a team captain who is nicknamed Horrible Harry even though he’s the furthest thing from horrible (both as a person and player).
The 28-year-old defender isn’t known as a pass rusher but he did pickup a sack in London, largely due to a tiny detail on his way to Aaron Rodgers. The video clip is worth watching several times.
Phillips gets a fast win on the guard, quickly swiping away the o-lineman’s hands before stepping through the B-gap and into the backfield to chase down Rodgers. So, instant pressure from Phillips, which is in and of itself a win.
What’s so notable is simply that Phillips doesn’t leave his feet on the way to Rodgers. Don’t miss that, folks. Rodgers does a mini pump fake and Phillips doesn’t bite. Instead, the defensive tackle tosses his arms up while still moving directly for #8 in green and white.
Rodgers would love nothing more than for Phillips to leave his feet. If Phillips had, then Rodgers would have been able to elude the pressure, stepping around the incoming defender as he has done so many times. Phillips doesn’t give the Hall-of-Fame QB the chance to do so, though.
By raising his arms, Phillips helps to cloud Rodgers’ vision while obstructing a throwing lane. By keeping his feet moving, Phillips is able to get to Rodgers and take him down for a large loss on what was 2nd & 3.
Small detail, yes, but a key part of winning the play.
The Linebackers: Ivan Pace Jr.
Linebacker is best played at (or behind) the line of scrimmage. Mr. Pace knows this to be true.
Consider, for instance, a video of Pace showing off the precise skill set that makes him such a beloved defender. Across the different plays, Pace shows great physicality and aggression by making tackles either at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Now, here’s the key: the brilliance isn’t only found in being willing to fly up the field. No doubt, that’s part of what allows Mr. Pace to play well, but it’s also the balance and bend that makes all of these plays possible.
The 5’10”, 231-pound Pace isn’t the world’s largest linebacker. He uses that size, or lack thereof, to his advantage. Watch the clip and see him dip his shoulder underneath the blocker(s) while driving toward the ball carrier.
Pace is more than just someone with a good rip move. Rather, he’s someone who is supremely elusive when it comes to a blocker getting his mitts on his chest and is someone who combines ferocity, timing, balance, and leverage to take down the ball carrier.
Go ahead and re-watch the plays included in the video. Pace’s ability to get his shoulder underneath a blocker’s hands — which is to say nothing of his timing — is foundational to him being so disruptive.
The Secondary: Shaquill Griffin
The Griffin play is all about the work before the snap. Take a look at the video and consider where the corner puts his feet.
Griffin, wearing #1, begins the play at the first down line. He’s not terribly worried about getting scorched deep even though he’s lining up across from Garrett Wilson. Why not?
Well, the Vikings are crowding the line of scrimmage with seven players and there are only six blockers. In these instances, the (potential) unblocked pass rusher becomes the responsibility of the QB. The passer needs to get rid of the football before an unblocked man can get home for the sack.
Sensibly, Rodgers does the math and quickly flips the ball out to his #1 wideout. The veteran passer is finding a solution to the problem that’s occurring pre-snap. The issue is simply the Griffin also understands what’s going on. Allowing a completion for five yards is no problem if the offense needs to gain six yards for a first down.
The thinking, then, is to lose the battle but to win the war (so to speak). Go ahead and complete the pass. Pick up some yards. Feel good about not getting sacked. In the end, however, the Vikings will win the war since they’re forcing the Jets to punt the ball away (as Luke Braun suggests in his comment on the video).
Again, just great stuff.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
Odds & Ends
Lions at Vikings Prediction
Hate to be that guy, but it’s difficult to pick against the Lions.
Yes, losing Aidan Hutchinson is a major deal. Put simply, he’s irreplaceable. No one on Detroit’s roster can match Hutchinson’s pass rushing brilliance. Even still, the Lions have a better team, all things considered.
In a pick I may regret, I say Detroit wins in Week 7.
Final Score: Lions 34 — Vikings 31
Season Prediction Record: 4-1
Dad Joke of the Week
Lots of entries, so I’ll toss a trio down below.
A guy walks into a pizza parlor and orders a pizza. The person behind the counter says, "Do you want it cut in six pieces or eight?" The guy responds, "You better make it six. I don't think I can eat eight pieces." — joeoberle
Why do you never want to fall in love with a tennis player? Because to them, love means nothing. — JonMaack1
I burnt my Hawaiian pizza last night. I should have put it on an aloha setting. — thejoudry
Vikings Tidbits and Thoughts
Keeping Sam Darnold clean and comfortable is a top goal. Obviously, subtracting Hutchinson is a major deal, but Detroit has talent beyond just their sensational pass rusher. Keep an eye on the DTs — especially Alim McNeil — as the game takes place.
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are a tremendous twosome. Neutralizing the run game — the Vikings sit at 1st in the NFL by allowing just 336 rushing yards (but in 5 games, not 6) — is key. Put the ball in Jared Goff’s hands on 3rd and long. Take your chances there.
Any chance the game comes down to a kick? Any chance Will Reichard’s golden leg keeps up the tremendous work?
Brian Flores v. Ben Johnson is a battle of perhaps the NFL’s most brilliant DC against perhaps the most brilliant OC.
Links for the Dinks:
The Aaron Jones Injury Prognosis Appears Positive: Well, there have been a few twists and turns. The RB1 is hugely important and we’ll find out later today what the official designation is for the Sunday game.
The Vikings’ Trade Options at Right Guard: Along the offensive line, there’s a need to improve at right guard. The possibility exists that the improvement arrives courtesy of Ed Ingram or an in-house solution like Dalton Risner. It’s also possible that a trade occurs.
Vikings Say Goodbye to Young, Promising Defensive Lineman: In the end, Jalen Redmond got re-added to the practice squad. So, positive news. The open slot from the Redmond cut got filled by Cam Akers.
Thanks for reading and take care of yourself.