Forum The Longship Best Defensive performance last week

Best Defensive performance last week

MI
Joined Oct 2013
25 posts
Rep: 26

With our rebuilt defensive personnel and scheme, we have two new additions that are leading this unit.  Obviously, Z'Smith has been our MVP but Jordan Hicks is having an All-Pro type year and really hasn't gotten much hype on here or in the media.  He is 10th in the NFL with 74 tackles, has 6 passes defended, 2 sacks and an Int = very impressive stat line.  

Both Smith and Hicks played in the 3-4 before which is an interesting tidbit as some of our veteran defenders have struggled but it seems like the light is coming on - Hunter had a 2-sack game last week and Kendricks is playing better the last few weeks.  Of course, having the rookie Evans play great helped a lot as well to give us our best defensive performance to date.  

Washington stat line - held them to 263 yards which included that fluke ref TD, 3 sacks and an Int.  

Wanted to give a shout-out to Hicks!  The Kwesi pickup of him and Z'Smith have been crucial to infuse veteran 3-4 players into our mix to help the learning curve of our veterans. 

#1 · Nov 9, 7:51 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0

I have been really confused with what we are running in terms of the 3-4, because the last 2 weeks it seemed like the majority of the defensive snaps that we were in were more of a 4 man front with two DTs down and Hunter and Smith on the line but up and Hunter sometimes down.  I think our defense plays much better in that alignment.  I am not familiar with the 3-4 so was just wondering if that is what is run for passing downs or if it just something we have been switching off too.  

Great post on Hicks, he has definitely been an underrated star on the defense and has been a rock back there. 

#2 · Nov 9, 10:32 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"JR44" said: I have been really confused with what we are running in terms of the 3-4, because the last 2 weeks it seemed like the majority of the defensive snaps that we were in were more of a 4 man front with two DTs down and Hunter and Smith on the line but up and Hunter sometimes down.  I think our defense plays much better in that alignment.  I am not familiar with the 3-4 so was just wondering if that is what is run for passing downs or if it just something we have been switching off too.  

Great post on Hicks, he has definitely been an underrated star on the defense and has been a rock back there. 

I think what you're seeing is adjustment to help Hunter.  He's a 4-3 lineman that belongs in that alignment. I could care less what they call it if it works. 

#3 · Nov 9, 10:50 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"AGRforever" said:
@"JR44" said: I have been really confused with what we are running in terms of the 3-4, because the last 2 weeks it seemed like the majority of the defensive snaps that we were in were more of a 4 man front with two DTs down and Hunter and Smith on the line but up and Hunter sometimes down.  I think our defense plays much better in that alignment.  I am not familiar with the 3-4 so was just wondering if that is what is run for passing downs or if it just something we have been switching off too.  

Great post on Hicks, he has definitely been an underrated star on the defense and has been a rock back there. 

I think what you're seeing is adjustment to help Hunter.  He's a 4-3 lineman that belongs in that alignment. I could care less what they call it if it works. 



Let's call it the 2X4 all hands-on deck alignment - 2 DT's and 4 DE with some dropping and some rushing :)

#4 · Nov 9, 11:20 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"AGRforever" said:
@"JR44" said: I have been really confused with what we are running in terms of the 3-4, because the last 2 weeks it seemed like the majority of the defensive snaps that we were in were more of a 4 man front with two DTs down and Hunter and Smith on the line but up and Hunter sometimes down.  I think our defense plays much better in that alignment.  I am not familiar with the 3-4 so was just wondering if that is what is run for passing downs or if it just something we have been switching off too.  

Great post on Hicks, he has definitely been an underrated star on the defense and has been a rock back there. 

I think what you're seeing is adjustment to help Hunter.  He's a 4-3 lineman that belongs in that alignment. I could care less what they call it if it works. 



Yes, Hunter's success seems to coincide with his hand on the ground.  Watching him power thru a tackle, beat them with speed or whatever, it all starts from his stance.  Z thrives in the walking around, being hard to locate or pin down, but Hunter is so much better from the traditional DE.

#5 · Nov 9, 11:39 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0

I will also add Peterson to that defensive performance.  He has seemed to be reborn the last few weeks.

#6 · Nov 9, 11:40 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"greediron" said: I will also add Peterson to that defensive performance.  He has seemed to be reborn the last few weeks.
Agree, he leads the team with 10 Passes defended and has been playing well.  
#7 · Nov 9, 12:32 PM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0

Our Defense made the adjustments in the second half and held the Bills to just 6 second half points.

I think our defensive performances is being overlooked.  Washington game showed what we could do and the adjustments made vs the Bills gave the offense a chance to compete and win.

This game ball goes to Kendricks - 7 tackles and fumble recovery TD and PPetterson for the 2 Int's.  Two of our old vets seem to be picking up on the scheme.  Kendricks is starting to play like he did in the 4-3 and just make plays.  

The two new guys that I highlighted in my original post were not the stars today - Z'Smith and Hicks.  But like I said I was hoping to se some of the vets lights to go on in the new system and it really seems to be trending that way.

How about the later round pick Evans...playing for Dantzler...another solid performance and forced fumble.

We forced 4 turnover's and shut down the mighty Bills offense for over a half of football.  

#8 · Nov 15, 7:56 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0

The difference this year from last year is the way the Vikings capitalized on turnovers and turned them into points...

#9 · Nov 15, 8:19 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
#10 · Nov 15, 8:21 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"ArizonaViking" said: The difference this year from last year is the way the Vikings capitalized on turnovers and turned them into points...
@"ArizonaViking" said: The difference this year from last year is the way the Vikings capitalized on turnovers and turned them into points...
Yea I don't have the stats on turning TO's into points but we are second in the league in turnover differential at +8. I am very surprised to learn we were +11 last year.  With all those close losses it would certainly seem to be the case that we did not turn those TO's into points unlike this year.  
#11 · Nov 15, 9:55 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"minny65" said:
@"ArizonaViking" said: The difference this year from last year is the way the Vikings capitalized on turnovers and turned them into points...
@"ArizonaViking" said: The difference this year from last year is the way the Vikings capitalized on turnovers and turned them into points...
Yea I don't have the stats on turning TO's into points but we are second in the league in turnover differential at +8. I am very surprised to learn we were +11 last year.  With all those close losses it would certainly seem to be the case that we did not turn those TO's into points unlike this year.  
Last year we were great at turning our TOs into points for the other team.
#12 · Nov 15, 10:18 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"minny65" said: Our Defense made the adjustments in the second half and held the Bills to just 6 second half points.

I think our defensive performances is being overlooked.  Washington game showed what we could do and the adjustments made vs the Bills gave the offense a chance to compete and win.

This game ball goes to Kendricks - 7 tackles and fumble recovery TD and PPetterson for the 2 Int's.  Two of our old vets seem to be picking up on the scheme.  Kendricks is starting to play like he did in the 4-3 and just make plays.  

The two new guys that I highlighted in my original post were not the stars today - Z'Smith and Hicks.  But like I said I was hoping to se some of the vets lights to go on in the new system and it really seems to be trending that way.

How about the later round pick Evans...playing for Dantzler...another solid performance and forced fumble.

We forced 4 turnover's and shut down the mighty Bills offense for over a half of football.  


We tend to make good to great defensive adjustments in the second half.

Philly ZERO points in the second half
Arizona 3 points over their last 4 drives
Buffalo 3 points over the last 3 quarters
GB 7 in the second half

This team has to be better in the second quarter offensively.  If we can get the momentum going with 3 scoring drives in the first half, we will have a high likelihood of winning most of the games left, if not all of the home ones.

#13 · Nov 15, 10:24 AM
DE
Joined Apr 2026
206,342 posts
Rep: 0
@"greediron" said: I will also add Peterson to that defensive performance.  He has seemed to be reborn the last few weeks.
A good listen on the interception at the end from Peterson's podcast with Bryant McFadden
#14 · Nov 15, 1:04 PM
Log in to reply.

Edit Post (mod action — author will see a notice)

Warn Poster

Suspend User (3 days)

The user will be suspended for 3 days and will receive an email with the reason and information about how to appeal.

Forum The Longship Best Defensive performance last week

Welcome to VikeFans!

Welcome back, Skol fans! This is our new home. Log in with your username or email and your existing password.


Be sure to check out the How To's and Questions forum for guides on getting around the new site, and use the Help Request forum if you run into anything that you need help with. Skol!