Daronte Jones and the Defensive Staffing Thread

[Chris]

I love Ryan Kerrigan, but do we really have any idea if he is a difference-making coach? How would any of us have any idea about that?

That’s never stopped us before. 🤣

 

[method man]

Daronte Jones worked under his father Ed when he was the Minnesota DC in 2022.

Ugh forgot. Whitt worked for Ed in GB too.

 

[Chris]

Worth noting on the Minnesota defense during 2022 in regards to Daronte Jones time under Ed Donatell, father of Tommy.

‘During this season, the Vikings finished with a 13–4 record and placed 1st in the NFC North, but Donatell's defense ranked 31st in total yards allowed with 6,608, 28th in scoring with 427 points allowed (an average of 25.1 points allowed per game), and three of their four losses were blowouts, while 11 of their 13 victories were by one score. This resulted in a point differential of −3, the first time in NFL history a team finished with at least 12 wins and had a negative point differential. In the playoffs, the Vikings lost to the New York Giants 31–24, their only one-score loss of the season.’

 

[Bulldog]

I think we need to let Jones pick his staff on defense and it would be a disservice for the organization to pressure Jones to keep any of the current coaches on the payroll such as Ryan Kerrigan because of their past contributions to the team on the field.

That said as others have mentioned - we really don't know if Kerrigan has been all that effective. Can anyone name a young, blue chip prospect at edge we have had for him to work with and develop?

The only DE prospect we have drafted was Baptiste in Round 7 in 2024, not exactly in the deep end of the pool.

 

[RedWolf]

Let's get the best. I love Kerrigan. But we need the best coaches moving forward, whether he is included or not

 

[Chris_Hanbuger_the Hangman]

So Jones is going 3-4. Who is the nose tackle???? Payne? Not sure he is a nose tackle.....

 

[philibusters]

Expect us to live in a base odd fronton neutral downs or when we’re expecting a run. It’s all about the "Tite" look—three huge dudes (Payne, Kinlaw, Newton) clogging the middle to force everything outside where our fast LBs can hunt. By putting the ends in that 4i-tech (inside the tackles), we basically bubble the interior gaps and make life miserable for RBs trying to find a lane.

But when it’s 3rd and long? That’s when the fun starts and Jones will likely shift into an under front. This is where he creates those "math problems" for the O-line. In an Under look, you shift the strength of the line away from the tight end. By overloading the weak side, you’re basically putting 3 or 4 rushers against only 2 or 3 blockers. It forces the center to turn one way, leaving a guard or tackle completely isolated in a 1 on 1 matchup with no help. It’s basically a way to ensure you can get one on one matchups in our favor.

Roster-wise, it’s actually a decent fit for what we have in 2026. Daron Payne is the most likely choice for that 0-tech Nose spot—you need a powerhouse who can eat double teams so everyone else can eat. I think Payne has the ability to play that role, but I am not 100% that is the role he wants, so we'll have to see about the fit. Javon Kinlaw is your prototypical 4i-end who can use his massive wingspan to keep the B-gaps clean. The real x-factor is Johnny Newton. In an Under front, he’s going to be that 3-tech (outside the guard) who just living in the backfield. His first step is hopefully difficult for a guard to handle 1-on-1 without help from the center.

The secondary and edges are where Jones’s "disguise" game gets wild. Frankie Luvu is going to be the ultimate chess piece—he might look like an off-ball LB in the Odd front, but then creep up as the fourth rusher in the Under look to wreck a play. With Dorrence Armstrong holding down the strong-side edge and Jacob Martin coming in for those specific 1-on-1 "Under" situations, we’re finally going to see some cool stuff on this defense.

 

[0rder 0f 0ut]

I think Flores is primarily one gap from the 3-4. Interior shoots gaps. Nose is shaded off the center.

 

[Higskin]

I guess it's now official...maybe we'll start seeing some movement on staff

 

[Conn]

Expect us to live in a base odd fronton neutral downs or when we’re expecting a run. It’s all about the "Tite" look—three huge dudes (Payne, Kinlaw, Newton) clogging the middle to force everything outside where our fast LBs can hunt. By putting the ends in that 4i-tech (inside the tackles), we basically bubble the interior gaps and make life miserable for RBs trying to find a lane.

But when it’s 3rd and long? That’s when the fun starts and Jones will likely shift into an under front. This is where he creates those "math problems" for the O-line. In an Under look, you shift the strength of the line away from the tight end. By overloading the weak side, you’re basically putting 3 or 4 rushers against only 2 or 3 blockers. It forces the center to turn one way, leaving a guard or tackle completely isolated in a 1 on 1 matchup with no help. It’s basically a way to ensure you can get one on one matchups in our favor.

Roster-wise, it’s actually a decent fit for what we have in 2026. Daron Payne is the most likely choice for that 0-tech Nose spot—you need a powerhouse who can eat double teams so everyone else can eat. I think Payne has the ability to play that role, but I am not 100% that is the role he wants, so we'll have to see about the fit. Javon Kinlaw is your prototypical 4i-end who can use his massive wingspan to keep the B-gaps clean. The real x-factor is Johnny Newton. In an Under front, he’s going to be that 3-tech (outside the guard) who just living in the backfield. His first step is hopefully difficult for a guard to handle 1-on-1 without help from the center.

The secondary and edges are where Jones’s "disguise" game gets wild. Frankie Luvu is going to be the ultimate chess piece—he might look like an off-ball LB in the Odd front, but then creep up as the fourth rusher in the Under look to wreck a play. With Dorrence Armstrong holding down the strong-side edge and Jacob Martin coming in for those specific 1-on-1 "Under" situations, we’re finally going to see some cool stuff on this defense.

Well laid out, I assume most of this is extrapolated from what Flores does, and what Jones has talked about over the years?

Let’s hope it plays out that way and that Jones has that instinct for calling the right thing at the right time to dictate to the O and confuse the QB. I don’t think we’ve confused a QB in almost 20 years. In fact watching our D in recent years feels like the opposing QB sits in on our defensive meetings and understands what we’re doing better than our secondary does.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

If anybody wants an outstanding analysis of the way Jones might do defense, listen to the segment with Bullock on the Galdi podcast from yesterday. He went through the scheme, 3/4, match zone concepts, what we tried to do and couldn't, and a whole lot more.

My general very simplified takeaway, look for a lot of 5 man fronts with 3 DTs + DE/LB, but they'll morph into all kinds of looks off of that, and drop guys into coverage. They do that even when in Nickle..

The other thing that stood out is the Vikings didn't immediately go to man when they blitzed.

Anyway, it was a fascinating and really educational listen.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

From what I read, forget where (maybe Bullock?), Payne/Kinlaw are likely 3-4 Ends and Goldman the nose if both are kept. Newton is only an End (shocking nobody), but did fairly well in the limited reps he got as one.

Where the roster completely lacks is a 3-4 OLB that can actually drop into short zones and rush the passer. Luvu can do that, but you need more than one, and preferably one that's a bit better at pass rushing.

 

[burgold]

The one thing that scares me about a 3-4 is the last time we tried it we ignored the NT position with almost violent intent and the thing just never worked. I believe our FO is smarter now than then, but if our NT is Goldman who we dusted off the retirement heap, we are in trouble.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

The one thing that scares me about a 3-4 is the last time we tried it we ignored the NT position with almost violent intent and the thing just never worked. I believe our FO is smarter now than then, but if our NT is Goldman who we dusted off the retirement heap, we are in trouble.

From the sounds of it, this one and that Shanahan one are very different in how the DL operates. Maybe the NT spot needs less premier guys.

After all this D supposedly will crowd the LoS almost all the time. Looking less like a conventional 3-4. As one of the LB's will move around and look to double up on one gap and then stunt to a different one as somebody else drops off.

 

[Commander PK]

The one thing that scares me about a 3-4 is the last time we tried it we ignored the NT position with almost violent intent and the thing just never worked. I believe our FO is smarter now than then, but if our NT is Goldman who we dusted off the retirement heap, we are in trouble.

We had one, Albert wanted to run wind sprints instead. 😂

 

[burgold]

From the sounds of it, this one and that Shanahan one are very different in how the DL operates. Maybe the NT spot needs less premier guys.

After all this D supposedly will crowd the LoS almost all the time. Looking less like a conventional 3-4. As one of the LB's will move around and look to double up on one gap and then stunt to a different one as somebody else drops off.

Almost makes me wonder if it's a 3-4 that's really a 4-6 defense. Kidding, but not totally.

 

[Solitary Man]

A friend of mine works security for the Vikings so he is always on the field. Says Daronte was always running up and down the sidelines getting his players hyped up. Lots of adult only content coming from his mouth too. He is not happy to see him go.

 

[KDawg]

I don’t think we have odd or even defensive personnel at the moment.

Missing a nose for an odd front. But using a shift and walk up we can make sure with our current defensive tackles. I don’t love our odd front depth. We’re limiting Armstrong a bit and the other guys aren’t great fits.

Luvu is an edge, so that minimizes need there. But that brings inside backer to the forefront.

Could use odd front personnel (33, 34) shifted to an even front (like an under) with the one end being an outside backer. That fits us a bit, but again, amplifies ILB.

Can be very flexible with personnel in that alignment in terms of body type. Bain, Downs, Reese are all potential targets in that kind of scheme. Bain more inside or as the overhang DL in the under/over.

Non-negotiable would be inside backer help. Sonny Styles fits but I think we could go after Rodriguez or Louis or Trotter a bit later there.

It’s confusing because everyone will say it’s a 3-4 odd front but when you shift that nose into the gap it’s actually more of an even front with 3-4 personnel.

Personnel and front aren’t always tied together.

Can be an even front with 34 personnel. I think we’re going to see that.

But that puts Bain, Downs and Reese as our top targets and moves Bailey significantly down in my eyes.

And I think we’ll be able to get one of those guys.

 

[DWinzit]

I sure we do well enough in 2026 to warrant DQ keeping his job for 2027. I hate that there's a chance we switch personnel to fit the scheme and then start all over again in 2027.

If they are able to bring in either Eric Wilson or Ivan Pace in FA an ILB position would be covered with a scheme/terminology familiar player.

Looking at the Vikes depth chart, they didn't really carry a big NT. Perhaps they didn't feel they'd need it because teams won't be running on them due to figuring KOC's offense is their strengths. We'd probably be looking at it similarly but I'd sure feel better with a bigger NT.

It's going to be interesting to see how it all plays out and how players like Medrano, Kaho, Drake play into plans...or don't

 

[HTTR]

I don’t think we have odd or even defensive personnel at the moment.

Missing a nose for an odd front. But using a shift and walk up we can make sure with our current defensive tackles. I don’t love our odd front depth. We’re limiting Armstrong a bit and the other guys aren’t great fits.

Luvu is an edge, so that minimizes need there. But that brings inside backer to the forefront.

Could use odd front personnel (33, 34) shifted to an even front (like an under) with the one end being an outside backer. That fits us a bit, but again, amplifies ILB.

Can be very flexible with personnel in that alignment in terms of body type. Bain, Downs, Reese are all potential targets in that kind of scheme. Bain more inside or as the overhang DL in the under/over.

Non-negotiable would be inside backer help. Sonny Styles fits but I think we could go after Rodriguez or Louis or Trotter a bit later there.

It’s confusing because everyone will say it’s a 3-4 odd front but when you shift that nose into the gap it’s actually more of an even front with 3-4 personnel.

Personnel and front aren’t always tied together.

Can be an even front with 34 personnel. I think we’re going to see that.

But that puts Bain, Downs and Reese as our top targets and moves Bailey significantly down in my eyes.

And I think we’ll be able to get one of those guys.

This is very interesting, and similar to what I’ve been hearing from others. A lot of know nothings like me have been focused on Baily as a perfect fit… But that fit is with our current scheme not the new one. This may be a blessing since Baily will likely be gone anyway.

To DWinzit point, I’m a little queasy about switching between 4–3 and 3–4, and then a year or two later we end up looking back and saying we had the wrong personnel. Then we switch it back and have the wrong personnel again. Probably just Snyder PTSD because I feel like I’ve seen that movie before.

So it all brings me back around to Josh Downs. He’s a dude who is going to be a fit no matter what the scheme is going forward. Somebody that can provide leadership and great communication from the secondary is something we’ve been sorely missing for a long time. And obviously the talent is off the charts.