Jeff Diamond Weighs In On Pass Rush

I remember a Thanksgiving day game against the Lions back in the late 80s, early 90s where our defense was so good the Lions didn't even get a 1st down until late in tbe game. I'm not expecting that kind of defense for the Vikings this year, but this should at least be the best defense we've seen since 2017's #1 ranked group.

I dont think the avg Viking fan is comprehending how good this side of the ball can be in 2025. Hell, I dont consider it often enough.

So much media attention is skewed to players whose initials start with a "J"

purplefaithful wrote:
I dont think the avg Viking fan is comprehending how good this side of the ball can be in 2025. Hell, I dont consider it often enough.

So much media attention is skewed to players whose initials start with a "J"

I just looked up our depth chart for that 2017 #1 ranked defense. Some good players: Barr, Hendricks, Joseph, Hunter, Griffen, Rhodes, Harry. But holy steaming piles of shit, look at the OL that took us to the NFCC...

LT: Riley Reiff
LG: Alex Boone/Jeremiah Sirles/Nick Easton
C: Pat Elflein
RG: Joe Berger
RT: Mike Remmers

MaroonBells wrote:

I just looked up our depth chart for that 2017 #1 ranked defense. Some good players: Barr, Hendricks, Joseph, Hunter, Griffen, Rhodes, Harry. But holy steaming piles of shit, look at the OL that took us to the NFCC...
LT: Riley Reiff
LG: Alex Boone/Jeremiah Sirles/Nick Easton
C: Pat Elflein
RG: Joe Berger
RT: Mike Remmers

Oh man, I really dont miss those OL days. Lets not forget they also had a QB with a horseshoe up his asz too that season. But they won a bunch..

The next season they bring in a high priced, immobile QB and put him behind:

Riley Reiff (LT), Tom Compton (LG), Pat Elflein (C), Mike Remmers (RG), and Rashod Hill/Brian O'Neill (RT).

Hindsight sure is 20/20.

purplefaithful wrote:
I dont think the avg Viking fan is comprehending how good this side of the ball can be in 2025. Hell, I dont consider it often enough.

So much media attention is skewed to players whose initials start with a "J"

This is an excellent point. We’re all so jacked about JJ’s potential, the D isn’t talked about enough. Ginks and Greenie should feast after being so productive with pedestrian iDL play.

JustInTime wrote:

This is an excellent point. We’re all so jacked about JJ’s potential, the D isn’t talked about enough. Ginks and Greenie should feast after being so productive with pedestrian iDL play.

this is one reason why I am not as worked up over our DBs as some,  I dont expect QBs to have as much time for routes to develop with our improved front 7, as long as our DBs can play some decent press,  not letting the opposing receiver get a free release into their routes, I expect our pass D to be a massive improvement just due to increased pressure.

JimmyinSD wrote:

this is one reason why I am not as worked up over our DBs as some,  I dont expect QBs to have as much time for routes to develop with our improved front 7, as long as our DBs can play some decent press,  not letting the opposing receiver get a free release into their routes, I expect our pass D to be a massive improvement just due to increased pressure.

This is also an excellent point. Unless we’re facing an elite OL or a QB really adept at buying time, the secondary should have another turnover festival.

Vikings are going to have pass rushers coming from everywhere. But I think where it will improve the most is when we rush only four. That's still going to be a damn handful. That's what I love so much about Flores. He blitzes so much that when he doesn't, when he drops 7, QBs get confused on where to go with the ball. And if they're now going to get pressure from those 4-man fronts, watch out. This defense is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

MaroonBells wrote:
Vikings are going to have pass rushers coming from everywhere. But I think where it will improve the most is when we rush only four. That's still going to be a damn handful. That's what I love so much about Flores. He blitzes so much that when he doesn't, when he drops 7, QBs get confused on where to go with the ball. And if they're now going to get pressure from those 4-man fronts, watch out. This defense is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

From what configuration are we rushing 4? More specifically who is out there 

MaroonBells wrote:
Vikings are going to have pass rushers coming from everywhere. But I think where it will improve the most is when we rush only four. That's still going to be a damn handful. That's what I love so much about Flores. He blitzes so much that when he doesn't, when he drops 7, QBs get confused on where to go with the ball. And if they're now going to get pressure from those 4-man fronts, watch out. This defense is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

From what configuration are we rushing 4?

JustInTime wrote:

From what configuration are we rushing 4? More specifically who is out there 

Good question. We have a few options. Guessing one of the following...

Greenard—Allen—Hargrave—Gink/Hunter
Greenard—Allen/Hargrave—Gink—Hunter

MaroonBells wrote:

Good question. We have a few options. Guessing one of the following...

Greenard—Allen—Hargrave—Gink/Hunter
Greenard—Allen/Hargrave—Gink—Hunter

I was thinking the same thing in second and long. Third and long I’m thinking more of an amoeba alignment where Ginks, Greenie, Turner and maybe Ritcher are by the los but basically milling about.

JustInTime wrote:

I was thinking the same thing in second and long. Third and long I’m thinking more of an amoeba alignment where Ginks, Greenie, Turner and maybe Ritcher are by the los but basically milling about.

You could do a skinny package of all Edges, but even though Hargrave and Allen are inside players, they're both pretty badass pass rushers who probably offer more pass rush chops than whoever OLB4 is.

MaroonBells wrote:

You could do a skinny package of all Edges, but even though Hargrave and Allen are inside players, they're both pretty badass pass rushers who probably offer more pass rush chops than whoever OLB4 is.

I like the idea of all Edges because anyone of the 4 could rush or drop. Ritcher and Murphy had some pass rush chops in college, they just didn’t have the triangle numbers. Batty is an intriguing fit as well.

MaroonBells wrote:

I just looked up our depth chart for that 2017 #1 ranked defense. Some good players: Barr, Hendricks, Joseph, Hunter, Griffen, Rhodes, Harry. But holy steaming piles of shit, look at the OL that took us to the NFCC...

LT: Riley Reiff
LG: Alex Boone/Jeremiah Sirles/Nick Easton
C: Pat Elflein
RG: Joe Berger
RT: Mike Remmers

I think you meant Kendricks.  Was that the year we had 9 sacks against detroit?  That was a fun day.