Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has proven to be among the great defensive strategists in the NFL. Lately, he has been landing some monstrous players, a pivot given the recent emphasis on lighter, agile d-linemen.
The latest news features the Vikings signing Isaiahh Loudermilk. A former Steeler, Loudermilk is built like a British Columbia redwood since he stands at 6’7″, unusually tall even for within the context of NFL linemen. The veteran signing is the latest instalment within the broader trend of the offseason, an approach that appears have involved building a massive and mean group for the trenches.
Keeping things along the defensive line means seeing that massive muscle has been the move. Check out the listed height and weight details for newcomers (courtesy of the team website):
Added together, there have been six pickups for the defensive line. The first two names were draft picks, the second two names were undrafted adds, and there were two free agent signings. All very neat and tidy, but likely a happy accident rather than an intentional effort of 2/2/2 DL adds.
In Caleb Banks, the Vikings have welcomed a risky player to town, somebody who boasts huge upside. His ceiling is elite, climbing up to being a weekly terror who overwhelms the other side. Whether he can get there largely hinges on health.
Likewise, Orange — nicknamed Big Citrus — is a brawny guy, someone who is going to root himself into the dirt directly across from the center, refusing to be moved. Look for him to be featured on early downs early in his career.
Neither Goodwine nor Vilbert are particularly huge, at least within the context of pro ball. They’re outliers. But then the Johnson and Loudermilk additions do fit within the trend. The former Colt is a heavy guy. An ideal world therefore involves seeing him prove capable of playing bully ball with guards, pushing them back due to being so rugged.
The former Steeler is tremendously tall. He should therefore be capable of getting his mitts onto the offensive lineman with regularity, possibly getting an early edge in the down. So, too, should he be someone who can get his arms up to disrupt the throw at the line of scrimmage.
A lot of what’s said above hinges on a specific word: should. In football — and life more broadly, for that matter — what should happen doesn’t always happen. Still, the basic details for some of these defensive linemen points toward a different approach along the defensive front that’s meant to allow for a meaner Minnesota Vikings defense.
Brian Flores is moving into his fourth season with the Vikings. He’s coming off a season where he led his side of the ball to 7th-best in the NFL by allowing an average of 19.6 points against per game. Not too shabby, especially when remembering the offense’s inability to run the ball and the defense’s various injury problems.
Seeing the d-line prove more formidable at the line of scrimmage may allow Coach Flores to lead his guys up to elite rather than stalling at very good.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Brian Flores Keeps Adding Massive Players
