Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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The duo responsible for more sacks (99.5 in regular-season games) than any other set of teammates in the NFL since Hunter’s selection in 2015 also had the benefit of starting plays closer to Brees.
“We did what we had to do to win the game,” the low-key Hunter said. “Whatever our game plan is, that’s what we’re going to go with.
“Everything happens quicker in the middle, whereas on the edge, you have to have time to build up your rush,” the fifth-year player added.
The Vikings deployed the strategy at critical junctures of the game, and symphonic execution brought the idea to fruition.
Ifeadi Odenigbo, who has played defensive end and defensive tackle, gave a deeper explanation of the approach.
“It was huge because the two [Saints] tackles, [Terron] Armstead and [Ryan] Ramczyk, on paper, they hadn’t given up a sack all year,” Odenigbo said. “And the way that Drew Brees sets as a quarterback, one thing you’ve got to figure out as a d-end, a lot of times when you’re rushing around the corner, nine yards is really the hot spot for where a quarterback is stepping back. Drew Brees steps back around six or seven yards, so from a d-line standpoint, we thought it was better to have our two best pass rushers, Danielle and Everson, rush from inside.
“When we did that, you could just tell that the center and guards were in shock because we hadn’t shown that on film,” Odenigbo added. “It was huge that they did that and worked out big-time throughout the game.”