Vikings d-line looks to assert dominance in 2016

In a division with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler, having the ability to get after the passer is critical for a team’s defensive success in the NFC North. When your Head Coach is Mike Zimmer, pressure becomes synonymous with defense. 
Last season, the Vikings showed flashes of their ability to be a dominating defense in both phases of the game until injuries within the defensive line depleted the interior depth of the unit late into the season. Nose tackle Linval Joseph battled a high ankle sprain for a good chunk of the season and Shamar Stephen suffered a season-ending toe injury against the Chiefs. Once Stephen was ruled out, the team signed former New York Jet Kendrick Ellis. 2016 seventh round pick B.J. Dubose started the season on injured reserve and never saw the field.   
With both Joseph and Stephen fully healthy and participating in camp, the defensive line’s depth has been shown throughout camp, practically dominating the line of scrimmage through the team and inside run sessions of practice. The first team line throughout camp has been Everson Griffen and Brian Robison at defensive end while Joseph and Sharrif Floyd have been manning the interior. 
Inside, Joseph and Floyd will look to continue to build that chemistry with each other inside. Floyd has great tools that appeared in flashes last season. Thus far through camp, the fourth year pro out of Florida looks to be scratching the surface of his potential. He looks a bit faster this year in his get off and his technique is more polished. Joseph looks faster laterally, consistently generating penetration into the backfield. 
Behind the two starters, Shamar Stephen and Tom Johnson showed that they can be dependable in providing pressure if either of the two starters would go down with injury. Johnson, who is the starting defensive tackle in Zimmer’s pressure schemes, hit a few nice counter moves during the night practice on guard Joe Berger. Former defensive end Scott Crichton moved inside to try and help his case to make the team. However, he’s struggled with the transition, often getting overpowered at the point of attack. Toby Johnson and Travis Raciti looked to be players that will end up on the practice squad. 
On the edge, Everson Griffen proved to the NFL in 2015 that he is one of the most underrated pass rushers in the NFL.  His performance throughout camp was complete domination. He’s been strong against the run and there weren’t many snaps he was stopped on his pass rush. He is so fast with his get off and has a unique blend of moves. Perhaps the best move he hit in practice was when he threw a hard chop to offensive tackle Matt Kalil’s arms then hit a spin move, practically landing in Teddy Bridgewater’s lap.  One thing is for certain, Kalil will be prepared come the start of the season thanks to having to defend Griffen’s array of moves all camp. 
10 year NFL vet Brian Robison appears to be the starter for another season. However there may be a wrinkle in his game this season.  With second year player Danielle Hunter developing more with his fundamentals, Robison has been taking reps as a defensive tackle in Coach Zimmer’s nickel package. 
The package consists of Zimmer’s patented double A gap pressures or stacking his two linebackers in each gap next to the center. As for the defensive line, rather than having Floyd and Joseph as his defensive tackles, Zimmer replaced them with pass rush specialists Tom Johnson and defensive end Danielle Hunter, kicking Robison inside. From the interior, the front four has shown an array of movements. One snap may have them show a true four man rush, giving the interior rushes the option of how they want to attack. Another snap could show some sort of twist or line game but the third option is what may have Vikings fans intrigued come opening day in the NFL. The final option the team showed at camp was having both linebackers –who were stacking the A gaps- fire as well as bringing a blitz from the edge; whether it would be the extra corner or a safety and drop Robison into coverage. 
As for the rest of the position group, newly acquired defensive end Zach Moore has turned heads at camp, showing great size and strength. He also has been a fixture in the back up nickel package, bouncing from defensive tackle to the edge on any given snap. Justin Trattou, who recorded two interceptions last year, continued to show his worth as a player deserving an opportunity to develop into a specialist. Seventh round pick Stephen Weatherly and undrafted rookie Denzel Perine have not received a vast majority of snaps and appear to be a practice squad addition in the future. 
The defensive line will have a chance to enforce their dominance on the Bengals this week as the Vikings are set to hold joint practices with the team in Cincinnati prior to their preseason matchup.