Linval Joseph of the Minnesota Vikings is the prototypical 4-3 nose tackle
By Adam Carlson
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph is a dominating force and recently got called the prototypical 4-3 nose tackle by Pro Football Focus.
Standing six-foot-four and weighing 323 pounds at 29 years of age, Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph is a dominating force who eats up a ton of space on the line of scrimmage and throws around offensive linemen.
Entering his fifth season with the Vikings, Joseph has locked down the starting left defensive tackle spot, where he acts as a nose tackle much like the bigger-bodied Pat Williams did during the Williams Wall days.
His strength is on display on a regular basis. In college, “The Big Goon” lettered in weightlifting where he benched 415 pounds and squatted 560 pounds and that power is used to throw guards and centers out of his way and clog running lanes.
Minnesota Vikings
Recently, Pro Football Focus broke down each position on the defensive line and named a prototypical defensive lineman for each technique. Unsurprisingly, the 1-technique (also called the 4-3 nose tackle) showcased Linval Joseph.
The post discusses that Joseph may eat up space at the line of scrimmage, but also can disrupt the passing game by getting to the quarterback.
"“Joseph is a force against the run, with an 89.0 PFF grade in that facet of the game last year, but he also notched 30 total pressures and was on the field for 414 pass-rushing snaps over the season, almost 100 more than (Damon) Harrison.”"
During the 2017 seasons, the Vikings were the top defensive unit in the league according to NFL.com, allowing only 275.9 yards per game and allowing a conversion on third down on only 25% of opponent attempts.
This year, Joseph has the potential to be even better. Pairing him with 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson while prominent pass rushers Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter complete the defensive line.
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Thankfully, the Minnesota Vikings have locked down Linval Joseph through the 2022 NFL season to ensure that their defensive line stays strong, meaning opposing offenses will need to be on the top of their game for many years to come when facing the boys in purple.