Vikings Training Camp 2019: Previewing the defensive line

Defensive Line Starters: Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen

If there is a battle to watch on the defensive line, it will be at the defensive tackle position. Although Linval Joseph is already cemented in his starting role on the inside, the rest of the group will engage in a deep battle behind free-agent acquisition Shamar Stephen. All of which gives the interior plenty to talk about as we enter training camp.

In the same way that Griffen had a disappointing season on the outside, the same thing could be said for Joseph in 2018. Coming off of Pro Bowl seasons in 2016 and 2017, Joseph took a step back for the Minnesota Vikings last year thanks to a variety of injuries that had him banged up throughout the year.

Those injuries had to have played a key role in Joseph’s mediocre season as his 58 tackles were his lowest since 2015. He also had trouble getting past the offensive line as Joseph recorded just one sack last season (also his lowest total since 2015) and was 46th among defensive tackles with 20% of their snaps against the run in Pro Football Focus’ run stop percentage, which tracks how often a player creates a loss on a running play, at 7.7 percent.

In a season where he also created just 18 total pressures, it’s fair to wonder how much those injuries played a factor in Joseph’s performance. In any event, the Vikings will need a healthy and effective Joseph especially with the departure of his running mate Sheldon Richardson.

After Joseph, the questions start pouring in for the defensive tackles, but entering training camp, it seems like the front-runner to pair with Joseph is Stephen. The 2014 seventh-round pick of the Vikings spent his first four seasons in Minnesota before signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks last offseason. After an uneventful year out west, Stephen returned to sign a three-year contract with the Vikings this spring.

The financial investment suggests that the Minnesota Vikings see big things in Stephen, but his stats aren’t something that’s going to generate excitement. With three career sacks, he’s not much of a pass rusher and ranked 114th among defensive tackles that saw at least 20% of running plays with a 4.0 run stop percentage.

Despite the underwhelming stats, defensive line coach Andre Patterson believes that Stephen can be a big player for the Vikings defense.

"“Shamar Stephen is the real deal. Those of you that know me, know that I don’t blow smoke, but this guy is for real. It’s a great thing that we have him back on our football team. Shamar makes all the guys around him better and that’s why we had the No. 1 defense (in 2017)…because he’s going to be where he’s supposed to be, he plays with great technique and he frees those guys up.”"

Known as The Big Fundamental, Stephen definitely is a favorite of the Vikings’ coaching staff. Fans will just have to hope their faith in the returning defensive tackle will be validated as the season rolls along.