When the Minnesota Vikings invested heavily in their defensive line last season, they brought in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to transform their interior into a force of nature. The plan was clear: create a line that could disrupt offenses with relentless pressure.
However, trading away Harrison Phillips left a gap in their run defense. Asking Hargrave to handle early-down nose tackle duties, focusing on block-eating rather than unleashing his disruptive talents, proved to be a misstep.
Jonathan Gannon, who coached Hargrave during his standout 2022 season, knows exactly what makes Hargrave a game-changer. Spoiler alert: it’s not about plugging gaps in the run game.
Even now, Hargrave remains a powerhouse in pass rushing. Over the past three seasons, his quick pressure rate among defensive tackles is second only to Chris Jones. Last year, Hargrave managed more quick pressures than Rashan Gary, despite having 100 fewer pass rush opportunities.
Hargrave shares similarities with Devonte Wyatt, excelling as a pass rusher but not as a run defender. Neither player is ideally suited for the nose tackle position.
This was evident with the Packers last year, as they fielded undersized players like Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden in that role. They even tried Nazir Stackhouse, who struggled to prove he was ready for the NFL challenge.
Green Bay was in dire need of a solution to anchor their defensive front.