Vikings nose tackle Joseph fights against his own instinct

We hear the word "technique" so many times that most of us are numb to what it actually means in NFL terms.

"Most people don't know what you're talking about," Vikings nose tackle Linval Joseph said. "People just think you get sacks, you throw touchdowns. But everybody from quarterbacks to kickers got to have a proper technique to play this game. If you do it 110 percent the way you're supposed to do it, it shows up in the game."

There's a reason Vikings coach Mike Zimmer singled out Joseph in his opening statement at Monday's news conference. And it went beyond Joseph's season-high eight tackles, career-high six quarterback pressures and half a sack in Sunday's 17-3 loss to the Lions.

It had more to do with Joseph committing himself to Zimmer's technique. The Vikings as an organization weren't happy with how some of their defenders freelanced or reverted to previous techniques while being embarrassed 42-10 by the Packers on national television on Oct. 2.

Joseph, who spent the past four years with the Giants, was one of the primary offenders at Lambeau Field.

"Every week, I feel like I'm getting better at the technique that's taught here," Joseph said. "Sometimes, I revert to things I did four or five years ago because I've been doing it that way all my life."

The technique for a Giants nose tackle is opposite from the technique Zimmer preaches. In New York, the tackles were taught to penetrate gaps. Here, they're taught to get their hands on the blocker and create a firm wall that closes gaps, takes away cutback angles and allows linebackers to flow freely.

There were two plays early in the Packers game that illustrate what can happen when Joseph reverts to his Giants technique. They came on successive runs of 18 and 29 yards by Eddie Lacy on the Packers' first touchdown drive. Here is a closer look:

First-and-10 from the Packers 39-yard line: Joseph is head up on center Corey Linsley. At the snap, the Green Bay offensive line begins executing an outside zone run to the right. Joseph is supposed to put his hands on Linsley and control him. But Joseph lets Linsley go so he can penetrate in an attempt to make the tackle.

Joseph, however, is cut blocked by left guard Josh Sitton. Meanwhile, the unoccupied Linsley gets a free shot on linebacker Anthony Barr, who can't get off the block as Lacy cuts back for 18 yards.

"If I stayed on the center, I would have been there when the running back cut back," Joseph said. "And I needed to make a wall and let the linebackers run around and make plays."

First-and-10 from the Vikings 43-yard line: The Packers come back with the same play the other way. Joseph is lined up over left guard T.J. Lang. Again, Joseph lets Lang get past him and lock onto Barr. Knowing he's beat, Joseph tries to run around the block, creating a big gap. Barr can't get off the block and Lacy runs for 29 yards.

"I got reached by the guard," Joseph said. "I was a step slow and he jump-reached me. I went backdoor and tried to slingshot my body through and make a play. I was supposed to stay up in front of the guard and work myself in front of him instead of going behind him."

As upset as Zimmer was with Joseph after the Packers game, he was equally pleased after the Lions game.

"He responded to the challenges," Zimmer said.

Joseph's adjustment period was delayed, of course, by three weeks in August when the nose tackle was shot in the calf during an incident at a Minneapolis nightclub. He was an innocent bystander who still wakes up every day thankful that he wasn't seriously injured.

"It opened my eyes; made me just glad to be here," Joseph said. "I was given another opportunity to play the game I love. Just happy to be here still working on my craft, man."

And by craft, he meant, of course, technique.

"Sunday, I committed myself and told myself that I'm going to do what I'm asked to do," Joseph said. "I'm going to hold the center. I did what I was supposed to do, and I still ending up making plays. Your name isn't going to be called as much as everybody else's. But playing my technique allowed the linebackers to have a good game. It's not a one-person game, it's a team game."