We have an old axiom here at Taylor Blitz Times: “At some point you have to believe what your eyes are seeing.” The Minnesota Vikings are for real! Sam Darnold is the early season comeback player of the year.
Everyone was giving Brian Flores hell for his treatment of Tua when he was in Miami and scoffed at his discrimination suit… yet he brought Van Ginkel (#43) from Miami and he had a pick 6 today. He has a Top 5 defense and is a Belichick disciple… and remember defenses stay well coached all season not just for stretches.
Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gillmore ended Aaron Rodgers last drive with an interception. It looked like the same route when he made a huge 4th quarter interception in Super Bowl LIII for Flores’ Patriot defense. Oh…you forgot Brian Flores and Gilmore were there together.
Time to believe it…Minnesota is for real.
There are many ways to excel on defense in the NFL. Right now they lead the NFL in sacks and are 4th in points allowed with 82 through 5 games, but where they excel is timely defense. As I have alluded to you can do it with brute strength or opt for speed and confusion. Cue the past …some history if you will.
Flores is a disciple of Bill Belichick who was a confidante of the late Fritz Shurmer. Remember my precious article “Birth of The Zone Blitz“? This was the 1989 run where the Rams 2-5 “Eagle Defense” almost stole an NFL title with a confusing defense with 5 linebackers on the field. Lets take you back to Aaron Rodgers 1st quarter pick six.
Who is the Mike? Who is blitzing and who will drop out of those 5 linebackers? Notice 5 of the front 7 standing up as linebackers? All we need is Kevin Greeene’s blonde locks sticking out of his helmet on the corner. Well Van Ginkel will have to do… At the snap he dropped from his blitz ploy into the slant lane where Rodgers “hot read” should be.
Pick six… 7-0 lead and complete strategic control and competitive advantage in the game. Flores opted for speed and confusion and Rodgers being hit often had his clock sped up. He tossed 3 interceptions with Gilmore’s game sealing steal.
At 5-0, this defense will be a problem all season as its a staple from the Patriots dynasty that lives on. However we should pay homage to the late Fritz Shurmer and the evolution of defensive concepts he pioneered.
The Vikings and this defense are for real and are confusing offenses
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I remember when the University of Tennessee ran this 2-5 defensive scheme back in the 1970s – called the Gorilla defense with the Nose backer being in a 2 point stance about 2 yards off the ball and being a scrape player.
Rio Hondo Community College in southern California also ran this same defensive package in the 1970s
Fritz was a great DC – his 3 principles for his players were – assignment, alignment and execution
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