10-03-2022, 08:14 PM
i've been ragging on Dantzler for a while now...But happy for him after the game he had vs Aints:
In Vikings' win over Saints, Cameron Dantzler makes mentor Patrick Peterson proudLONDON — Twice a week, Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler get together to watch film. The conversations in team meetings or on the field, between the eight-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 third-round pick trying to find his way, rarely stop.
"You can ask him; we talk almost endlessly," Peterson said. "I always tell him, if we don't give up touchdowns — him and I — we'll have a good opportunity to win the ball game. The team wants to throw the ball into the end zone. And he and I have to stand up each and every week to help this team reach its potential."
On Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, though, Dantzler came up with one of the Vikings' biggest plays in a 28-25 win over the Saints.
Saints quarterback Andy Dalton tested him deep on a second and 9 with just over two minutes to play, firing for Chris Olave as the Saints pursued a go-ahead touchdown. Dantzler broke the pass up in coverage, reaching out to deflect the ball as he dove, and the Saints had to settle for a 60-yard Wil Lutz field goal two plays later.
No one was happier for Dantzler than Peterson.
"Loved it. Loved it," Peterson said after the game. "It was a great play in a key moment of the game; he played it great. Faceguarded him, understood that the ball was being thrown over his shoulder, [put his] hands out to find the ball, found it late but then had to fight through the receiver to get the ball out. That was just an unbelievable play.
"Cam had probably one of his better games since we've been playing together this year. I'm just excited to see him continue to grow into a pro, into a shutdown corner as well."
Consistency from Dantzler becomes even more important with second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. continuing to miss time because of a quadriceps injury. When Dantzler left late in the third quarter Sunday because of an injury, Dalton quickly went after rookie Akayleb Evans, connecting with Marquez Callaway on a 34-yard go route. As the Vikings' young corners still work to show they can be counted on, Dantzler is a vital piece of their defense.
On Sunday, he ripped a pass away from Callaway for a breakup in the first quarter and nearly came down with an interception on a Dalton pass for Callaway in the third. In the fourth, he returned from injury in time to make what might have been a game-saving play.
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-saints-london-camerson-dantzler-patrick-peterson-kevin-oconnell/600212507/
