Replacing Linval Joseph will be easier said than done, but new Vikings nose tackle Michael Pierce started off on the right foot last week when describing his style of play that in its best moments during his four-year Ravens tenure mirrored Joseph, a two-time Pro Bowler.
Like when Joseph was Mike Zimmer’s first free agent addition during the 2014 defensive overhaul, the 27-year-old Pierce is also entering his fifth NFL season. Co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson told him the Vikings envision a similar trajectory as Joseph, who as a premiere run stopper also delivered crushing blows to quarterbacks during his prime with 27 hits in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.