Za'Darius is a beast

[StickyBun]

Period. 

[Guest]

He was revved up and raring to go the whole game. 

[Guest]

Did you see the defensive guys on the bench at the end?  Hugs all the way around and I think Za’Darius instigated a lot of that emotion.

[Guest]

@ThunderGod said:
Did you see the defensive guys on the bench at the end?  Hugs all the way around and I think Za’Darius instigated a lot of that emotion.

And a HC with some strong emotions. The team was amped to show they are good.

[Guest]

Danielle Hunter, Za'Darius Smith flex their muscles in smashing debut of 'Edge Department'

The last player to run through the dragon ship during the Vikings pregame introductions is always a headliner assured of creating the loudest roar inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
Danielle Hunter and Za'Darius Smith made that grand entrance together Sunday, new besties who even performed a choreographed celebration before sprinting onto the field.
Then the dynamic duo and the new-look Vikings defense went to work on Aaron Rodgers.
That introduction created a roar too.
Justin Jefferson put on a show on offense, but what took place on the other side of the ball in a 23-7 victory over the Green Bay Packers was equally impressive in a rousing performance to christen the Kevin O'Connell era.
A defense that cratered in Mike Zimmer's final season delivered a first impression that amounted to a big swig of mouthwash.
The Packers went scoreless in the first half and Rodgers never looked comfortable in posting a 67.6 passer rating with four sacks, one interception and zero touchdown passes.
"The Edge Department did their job today," Hunter said.
That's the nickname that defensive coordinator Ed Donatell gave the outside linebackers — Edge Department. Hunter and Smith are co-chairs of the department.
The Hunter and Smith pass-rushing pairing generated considerable preseason hype based on their NFL résumés. Game 1 brought that hype to life.
"Yeah, they're OK," safety Harrison Smith said, deadpan.
Both made an immediate impact in their return from injury.
Hunter knocked down a pass on the first series. Smith posted his first sack as a Viking on third down of the ensuing possession when he overpowered guard Jake Hanson and took down Rodgers, then crawled 5 yards on his belly.
"I just wanted to do my dog crawl," Smith said. "I haven't done it in a while. Six months ago, I thought football was over with for me."
A back injury that ended his time with the Packers organization caused Smith to be extra revved up to show his former employers he can still wreck offenses.
Smith bounced around the field and sideline like he had drunk four cups of coffee pregame. His competitive motor is always redlining and seeing Rodgers and Co. across the line made him push harder.
He posted a sack and two quarterback hits and combined with Harrison Phillips to stuff a run at the goal line on fourth down in the first half.
He had a different kind of quarterback hit when Rodgers tried to block him on a reverse play. Rodgers ended up the ground, then stood up and bumped helmets with Smith in a playful exchange.
"I was telling him he's not a blocker," Smith said. "Be a quarterback. That's what you are. I got a good chance to get a lick on him."
Hunter got a couple of licks on him too. He was credited with one sack and combined with linebacker Jordan Hicks to sandwich Rodgers, causing him to fumble on Green Bay's opening possession of the second half. The Vikings turned that takeaway into a field goal for a 20-0 lead.
Hunter, as promised, got snaps at different spots along the line to maximize his versatility and create mismatches as a rusher. He even lined up opposite the slot receiver on one play.
"It's fun to be able to move around and have the offense think a little bit," he said.
Not only did the Packers see Donatell's 3-4 scheme for the first time, but they were without their two starting tackles because of injury.
Rodgers appeared frustrated from the opening play when rookie receiver Christian Watson, wide open after creating separation, dropped a pass that should have resulted in a 75-yard touchdown.
Rodgers owned a career passer rating of 110.2 against the Vikings before Sunday. He resorted to quick-hitting, short passes to prevent getting creamed by the pass rush. His longest completion netted only 23 yards.
"One coach said last year, 'I would sell my soul for two great pass rushers,' " quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "When you have two guys that can really roll and stay healthy, the difference it makes in your success level is significant."
That was on full display in the opener. One of the NFL's worst defenses a year ago began a new chapter by holding the Packers to one touchdown. The Edge Department looks promising.
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-pack...600206024/

[Guest]

@StickyBun said:
Period. 

He and Kenny Clark have owned the Vikings...I think Z had like 3 sacks by himself the last game here?

Was a surprise signing to me. He and Hunter healthy is a handful for sure. Z may even be more of a threat in this scheme vs DH

Kudo's to Donatell for a good game plan, made better by two starting tackles out. 

[Guest]

Former Packers linebacker Za'Darius Smith has the game he envisioned in Minnesota's win over Green BayZa’Darius Smith signed with Minnesota for this game, this performance. The former Green Bay Packers linebacker wanted to play his old team twice a year and joined the Vikings for the opportunity to be a menace to Aaron Rodgers. On Sunday, he did just that. 
Smith finished with two tackles and a sack and two quarterback hurries as the Vikings punched the Packers in the mouth, winning 23-7 in the season opener. 
Smith set the tone for the Vikings defense and made an early statement on the Packers' second offensive drive of the day. Facing third-and-8 from the Minnesota 40-yard line, Rodgers dropped back, waiting for Randall Cobb on a crossing route. Smith, lined up to rush on the passing play, pushed second-year lineman Jake Hanson back into the pocket. Once there, it was easy work for Smith to wrap up his former teammate, delivering the first of four sacks Rodgers would take Sunday. 
“My biggest concern with Z was just would he be too hyped up,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game. “But Z, it was fun to watch him play today, have that kind of success and really enjoy himself out there, and I think he got all of us going a little bit.”
In a move that was once endearing to Packers fans, Smith dropped to the ground and army-crawled to midfield in celebration. The power, physicality and jubilance were all familiar to those in green-and-gold, even if unwelcome Sunday. 
“I think (he had) a tremendous impact,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “We knew Z was going to be amped up and ready to go. And he’s a great player. We got to witness that first hand for a couple of years. He made a huge impact in our football team and our ability to win games.
“It does make it tough when there’s two creatures out there that looked pretty good.” 
More often than not during the day, there looked to be a swarm of those creatures in the backfield. No time more so than on the Packers' first drive of the third quarter. Looking for something, anything, to get back into what was at that time a 17-0 game, Rodgers broke on a scramble after Smith came unblocked into the backfield. The linebacker chased Rodgers into a sack from Jordan Hicks. 
When the dust cleared, Rodgers lay supine on the field with trainers hovering over and the Vikings walked away with the ball. Hicks was credited with the sack and forced fumble, but both LaFleur and Rodgers gave the nod to Smith for the turnover, with Rodgers also explaining the breakdown that allowed Smith to get unleashed. 
“The play was a good play and we totally blocked it wrong," Rodgers said. "You know, we're supposed to block a certain way. Z came basically untouched and the back had to block him, I had a roll to the left
“If we just block it the way we know we're supposed to block it, there's gonna be an opportunity to take a shot down the field. We don’t, I gotta move, I should throw it away, I don’t, I fumble, they take the ball back, get three points.”
Said LaFleur: “He had the huge sack-fumble. He’s a guy that you’ve got to account for every play.” 
Insider:Green Bay Packers appeared to have no plan to stop Minnesota's explosive receiver Justin Jefferson
The Packers' only touchdown drive Sunday unfolded in large part thanks to their accounting for Smith, and provided the smallest glimpse into the relationships Smith established in Green Bay. 
Just outside the red zone, at the Vikings 22-yard line, Rodgers flipped the ball to rookie Romeo Doubs on an end-around. Then the back-to-back MVP and 18-year veteran took off as a lead blocker, lowering his shoulder against a rushing Smith. The collision flipped Rodgers to the ground, but provided enough of a road block for Doubs to pick up 11 yards. Two plays later, the Packers scored. 
Cameras caught Rodgers and Smith jawing after the play, with Smith looking impressed Rodgers took him on, before both laughed while walking away. It was the only commentary Rodgers would provide on his former teammate.
Asked after the loss how he thought Smith played, Rodgers kept his comments short. 
“I don’t really have any comment on Za’Darius," Rodgers said. 
Smith left Green Bay and went to Minnesota with one goal: to play the Packers twice a year and sack Aaron Rodgers. He did just that on Sunday, proving dangerous opposite his old team.
"Just being able to come on the other side and do it to my quarterback. It feels great," Smith said. "The energy was there. My teammates had my back, and they knew what time it was."
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/sto...038719001/

[Guest]

This play needs more love.

[Guest]

@greediron said:
This play needs more love.

Sure does...this is the play that Rodgers got smashed and fumbled.

[Guest]

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