Sports
PurplePTSD: The Ol' Switcheroo
From what I can gather, fans are a little underwhelmed by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's first moves as a GM. Many were hoping for help at corner, ...
K. Joudry
2022-03-15
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From what I can gather, fans are a little underwhelmed by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first moves as a GM. Many were hoping for help at corner, EDGE, and OL; so far, that hasn’t happened. Instead, KAM decided to move on from Michael Pierce in favor of Harrison Phillips.
What we have is a classic switcheroo.
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Upon first glance, the move appears to make very little sense. Don’t the Vikings have much more pressing needs? Why bring in a run-stuffer when that focus could have been shifted toward a much more important position?
A few thoughts.
The initial details of the Phillips deal suggest the Vikings have some long-term flexibility, which is a good thing for a player with some injury concerns. In all likelihood, he’ll partner with Dalvin Tomlinson as the two starting defensive linemen. It’s possible the team opts for Armon Watts as the next in line, but we’ll need to wait and see. Keep in mind that Phillips has had some past injury struggles.
When they’re in their nickel package, the Vikings will only have two interior d-linemen on the field. As it stands, then, the rotation would consist of Phillips, Tomlinson, Watts, and James Lynch.
Moving on from Michael Pierce does hurt, and it even looked like the team would be bringing him back. The price tag, though, was too much. The rumors of a restructure obviously never came to fruition, so the team’s leadership felt it was better to bring Harrison Phillips aboard instead of retain Michael Pierce.
The move is likely due to a better scheme fit and age. Philips is only 26; Pierce is 29. PFF had this to say about Minnesota’s new DT:
Their projection was for a 3-year deal that totaled $25 million, so Minnesota did well by these standards.
We had to know that fixing the run defense would be among the team’s top priorities. Phillips will go a long way in this regard. He finished as the 6th-best DT against the run last season, per PFF. That elite ability alongside his youth made him an attractive option for the Vikings.
This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
