Za’Darius Smith ‘fully healthy’
https://www.inforum.com/sports/pro/vikings-zadarius-smith-fully-healthy-from-knee-injury-that-stalled-him-in-second-half-of-seasonEAGAN, Minn. -- In his first nine games this season, Minnesota
Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith had 9½ sacks. In his final seven
games, he had a mere half sack.
So what gives?
“The first half of the season, I was going crazy, but the injury held me back a little bit,” Smith said Wednesday.
Smith
said he had been hampered by a knee contusion suffered at Buffalo on
Nov. 13. But Smith, who sat out last Sunday’s 29-13 win at Chicago in
the regular-season finale as a precautionary measure, said he is fully
recovered from that “small injury” in time for Sunday’s playoff opener
against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“All is well
now,” he said. “I’m fully healthy and ready to go for the playoffs. … It
was just soreness (after being hurt). Contusion, as they call it, but
happy to be back. I’m 100 percent and ready to go.”
By finishing the season with 10 sacks, Smith missed out on a
possible additional $250,000 bonus by a half sack. He got $500,000 for
reaching 8½ sacks and would have earned a total of $750,000 with 10½.Smith
still had his share of quarterback pressures late in the regular
season. And while he was short on sacks, he was pleased to see edge
rusher Danielle Hunter have games of 1½ sacks on Dec. 17 against
Indianapolis and two against the Giants on Dec. 24, and finish the
season with a team-high 10½.
“Danielle picked up,” Smith said. “So
it was good to have both of us, one up and one down. But right now it’s
the playoffs, and we’re ready to go and ready to get after the
quarterback.”
Sunday’s target will be Daniel Jones, who threw for
334 yards and ran for 34 in the Giants’ 27-24 loss to the Vikings last
month. Smith doesn’t want to see a similar showing by Jones.
“We try to tell the guys on the back end, ‘Just give us a couple of seconds to get to the quarterback,’ ” Smith said.
Vikings edge rusher Patrick Jones II expects Smith to apply plenty of pressure on Jones.
“He
was fighting through it,” Jones said of Smith’s injury. “He’s going to
fight through and give it everything he’s got. I think he’s fully
healthy. He’s an unstoppable force.”
“Year 11 is better than year 10, year nine and year eight,”
said Cousins, an 11-year veteran. “I think every time you go out there
and play and learn and get better, you build as a player. … I do think
the continuous improvement has happened. The day that I don’t think
that’s happening anymore is when I’ll probably walk away.”
shirt that read “Kirk Thuggins” with a picture of Cousins wearing
chains. Cousins wore chains on three flights home after road wins this
season.
“Great player, good quarterback, great leader, on and off field, and I love him to death,” Smith said of Cousins.
I'll take every healthy body we can get back. Do or die time.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for him), it sounds like the Vikings are probably going to keep Akayleb Evans out even though he cleared protocols.
hopefully he is cleared to rush the passer after a hiatus.
Anytime a player comes up with his own projection for outperforming his trend, I call bullshit.
@"mgobluevikes" said: Anytime a player comes up with his own projection for outperforming his trend, I call bullshit.Don't disagree. The team has things to prove on Sunday. Fingers crossed.
Well if he is healthy, it would be a good time for it, he played like his hair was on fire to begin this season…
@"Kentis" said: Well if he is healthy, it would be a good time for it, he played like his hair was on fire to begin this season…Early on, Hunter was getting double teamed a lot, freeing up Z to a certain degree. Then Z got dinged.
Last game against the Giants, Hunter had an insane 3 sacks and 9 pressures. If they double him this time around, a fully healthy Z should be able to take advantage.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"Kentis" said: Well if he is healthy, it would be a good time for it, he played like his hair was on fire to begin this season… Early on, Hunter was getting double teamed a lot, freeing up Z to a certain degree. Then Z got dinged.Last game against the Giants, Hunter had an insane 3 sacks and 9 pressures. If they double him this time around, a fully healthy Z should be able to take advantage.
while that may be true, early on Z was moving all over & winning w/ both power & speed…
@"Kentis" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"Kentis" said: Well if he is healthy, it would be a good time for it, he played like his hair was on fire to begin this season… Early on, Hunter was getting double teamed a lot, freeing up Z to a certain degree. Then Z got dinged.Last game against the Giants, Hunter had an insane 3 sacks and 9 pressures. If they double him this time around, a fully healthy Z should be able to take advantage.
while that may be true, early on Z was moving all over & winning w/ both power & speed…
Yep, having Z lined up in the middle and getting pressure is huge. Hope we see that tomorrow.
Well if he was fully healthy today, I've seen all I need to from Mr. Smith. He can leave his tablet with the equipment manager on his way out.
Neither Smith or Hunter could contain Daniel Jones and set an edge to prevent him from leaking outside and gashing our defense all game. Combined, they are about $29 Million in cap space next season. Hunter was never used properly by Donatell and doesn't fit a 3-4. Decisions will need to be made with those two and the answer might have to be moving on from both.
@"TBro" said: Neither Smith or Hunter could contain Daniel Jones and set an edge to prevent him from leaking outside and gashing our defense all game. Combined, they are about $29 Million in cap space next season. Hunter was never used properly by Donatell and doesn't fit a 3-4. Decisions will need to be made with those two and the answer might have to be moving on from both.Or going back to the tried and true 4-3 defense. Hunter is a gem worth keeping in a 4-3. Thinking of another year with a 3-4 makes me shudder... We would need to replace too many players to have a solid 3-4 defense. If they don't replace the DC, it won't matter, Defense Suck part 2 will play in 2023.
@"IDVikingfan" said:There are players on that D that are too old and slow for a 3/4 or a 4/3...@"TBro" said: Neither Smith or Hunter could contain Daniel Jones and set an edge to prevent him from leaking outside and gashing our defense all game. Combined, they are about $29 Million in cap space next season. Hunter was never used properly by Donatell and doesn't fit a 3-4. Decisions will need to be made with those two and the answer might have to be moving on from both. Or going back to the tried and true 4-3 defense. Hunter is a gem worth keeping in a 4-3. Thinking of another year with a 3-4 makes me shudder... We would need to replace too many players to have a solid 3-4 defense. If they don't replace the DC, it won't matter, Defense Suck part 2 will play in 2023.
@"purplefaithful" said:@"IDVikingfan" said:There are players on that D that are too old and slow for a 3/4 or a 4/3...@"TBro" said: Neither Smith or Hunter could contain Daniel Jones and set an edge to prevent him from leaking outside and gashing our defense all game. Combined, they are about $29 Million in cap space next season. Hunter was never used properly by Donatell and doesn't fit a 3-4. Decisions will need to be made with those two and the answer might have to be moving on from both. Or going back to the tried and true 4-3 defense. Hunter is a gem worth keeping in a 4-3. Thinking of another year with a 3-4 makes me shudder... We would need to replace too many players to have a solid 3-4 defense. If they don't replace the DC, it won't matter, Defense Suck part 2 will play in 2023.
Yeah, Look at 20 and 21 for the results of those 4-3 ds and a year and two younger.
@"purplefaithful" said:@"IDVikingfan" said:There are players on that D that are too old and slow for a 3/4 or a 4/3...@"TBro" said: Neither Smith or Hunter could contain Daniel Jones and set an edge to prevent him from leaking outside and gashing our defense all game. Combined, they are about $29 Million in cap space next season. Hunter was never used properly by Donatell and doesn't fit a 3-4. Decisions will need to be made with those two and the answer might have to be moving on from both. Or going back to the tried and true 4-3 defense. Hunter is a gem worth keeping in a 4-3. Thinking of another year with a 3-4 makes me shudder... We would need to replace too many players to have a solid 3-4 defense. If they don't replace the DC, it won't matter, Defense Suck part 2 will play in 2023.
I think that is the toughest part to figure out. If we bring in a new Defensive mind, which veteran players can still perform at a high level in a new scheme that puts them in position to make plays? Of course, the Cap Hell we are in will be the determining factor. Unless Kwesi kicks more money down the road to keep some of these guys and fit them under the cap, we are in a for a defensive rebuild which could be ugly for a couple of years.
@"TBro" said:@"purplefaithful" said:@"IDVikingfan" said:There are players on that D that are too old and slow for a 3/4 or a 4/3...@"TBro" said: Neither Smith or Hunter could contain Daniel Jones and set an edge to prevent him from leaking outside and gashing our defense all game. Combined, they are about $29 Million in cap space next season. Hunter was never used properly by Donatell and doesn't fit a 3-4. Decisions will need to be made with those two and the answer might have to be moving on from both. Or going back to the tried and true 4-3 defense. Hunter is a gem worth keeping in a 4-3. Thinking of another year with a 3-4 makes me shudder... We would need to replace too many players to have a solid 3-4 defense. If they don't replace the DC, it won't matter, Defense Suck part 2 will play in 2023.
I think that is the toughest part to figure out. If we bring in a new Defensive mind, which veteran players can still perform at a high level in a new scheme that puts them in position to make plays? Of course, the Cap Hell we are in will be the determining factor. Unless Kwesi kicks more money down the road to keep some of these guys and fit them under the cap, we are in a for a defensive rebuild which could be ugly for a couple of years.
I welcome the rebuild. Can't look much worse on D than they have the last 3 years.
They better find a pass rush somewhere, because they have no coverage. How many times did I hear the announcers say the phrase, wide open yesterday. Pathetic.
The knee injury was reported as a contusion. It wouldn't seem to be a good excuse for not showing up the last half of the season. But who knows. Packers let Z go because he couldn't stay healthy.
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.