4 ways the Minnesota Vikings can improve on defense in 2021
By Dean Jones
Generate more pressure
Things were always going to be difficult for the Vikings without Danielle Hunter rushing off the edge last season. The Pro Bowler is one of the best in the business when it comes to generating pressure and considering the team was also without the services of Everson Griffen after the veteran decided not to come back in free agency, production regressed in 2020 as expected with a relatively unproven group of players.
Minnesota managed just 1.4 sacks-per-game on average in 2020, which ranked 28th in the league and this was a substantial decrease from the 2.9 they attained during each matchup in the 2019 campaign when they were at the peak of their powers.
Hunter is expected to make a full return to health this year, which will help enormously. The former LSU star achieved 14.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons prior to the previous campaign and having him attract a bunch of attention does so much for other members of the Vikings defensive front.
Michael Pierce should also be able to generate pressure on the interior, which was almost non-existent last season. There was plenty to like about the production D.J. Wonnum showed as a rookie and if Ifeadi Odenigbo can be brought back on the cheap, things might improve quickly in 2021.
Getting another physical edge rusher via the NFL Draft would do the Vikings no harm at all. So even though things looked bleak last season, this might just be a small blip in the grand scheme of things.