Minnesota is maxing out its production off the edge.
Outside linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Pat Jones II starred with a pair of sacks each against the Titans, making the Vikings the league’s lone defense featuring three players with 7-plus QB takedowns apiece.
Van Ginkel (8.0), Jones (7.0) and Jonathan Greenard (7.0) are a good bet to sack the quarterback any given Sunday. They’re instinctive and intelligent – the types of players coveted by Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, so he can scatter them across the line of scrimmage and confuse offenses.
For Jones and Van Ginkel, the sack tallies through 10 games are already career bests.
“It’s just an overall philosophy,” O’Connell shared, zeroing in on Jones. “Pass rushing and the tools that guys really home in on take some time sometimes, and I think Pat’s really kind of figured out what he is as a rusher. … It just feels like he’s at his best when he’s in that attack mode.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence those guys have had career years,” O’Connell added. “It’s really become a strength of our team, and a big reason why we’re winning some of these games that are going down to the wire.”
Greenard has played lights-out, too, even when sack numbers don’t show up. He’s attracting main attention from opposing coaches, playing with excellent physicality and cranking the heat when the Vikings need it.
“I just can’t say enough about what he’s been able to do beyond the stat sheet,” O’Connell said. “But also, you know, those impactful, closer-mentality type plays that he has had have been huge.”