Tag: Josh Metellus

NFL bans the hip-drop tackle, and Josh Metellus is among the players who are livid

The NFL has banned the hip-drop tackle, and Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus is among the players who are livid.

The NFL has formally voted to make the hip-drop tackle illegal and a 15-yard penalty.

Here are the detailed rules for how it will be enforced:

This could get very messy. When the NFL made pass interference reviewable, it ended up being a one-year disaster and was removed from the game swiftly.

Needless to say, this isn’t being taken well by numerous individuals in both the media and in the league. One of those very upset with the move to ban the hip-drop tackle is Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus.

The NFLPA has voiced its opposition to the rule change, and now we are starting to hear from the players who it impacts the most. The hip-drop tackle in itself isn’t a malicious play, but it does result in injuries. The big issue is that the NFL is now asking the officials to make an immediate determination on whether a tackle qualifies.

This change to the game is going to be a fascinating storyline to watch, and it will come with players being very frustrated about it.

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According to one Viking, gap between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye closing

Is Drake Maye taking over as QB1? Josh Metellus thinks it’s getting closer

The 2024 NFL Draft is just over two months away, and everyone in the scouting world is really diving into the tape and figuring out their rankings. Plenty of people outside the scouting community have strong opinions on prospects, too.

One of those strong opinions is that the gap between presumed number 1 quarterback Caleb Williams and UNC quarterback Drake Maye may not be as large as some think. While that opinion may not be surprising to some, the source may be: Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus.

Metellus took to X (formerly Twitter) late Wednesday night to share his thoughts on the young prospect, stating that “Drake Maye is slow(ly) but surely closing the gap on QB1”.

In the comments and replies, Metellus is quick to point out that he’s just paid to play the game, but that he’s “entitled to speculate, just like any other football lover”. Williams is heavily assumed to be the #1 selection in the upcoming NFL draft — whether that’s to division foe Chicago or someone else. Maye, on the other hand, has been rumored to be sliding down some NFL draft boards.

Whether the Vikings wind up with Maye or not, they’re going to have to do something to address the quarterback position, either in free agency or the draft. Kirk Cousins is currently set to hit free agency, and last season made it clear that the answer for the future at the position clearly isn’t on the roster at this moment.

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Josh Metellus was the ultimate iron man in 2023

Josh Metellus was the NFL’s Iron Man in 2023

If you were impressed by Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus’ breakout 2023 season before, wait until you hear this statistic that embodies his remarkable season.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports that Metellus played the most snaps of any player in the NFL with 1,224, according to ESPN’s stat info team, beating out the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Rayshawn Jenkins by a single snap.

Metellus played every position on the defense, a perfect symbol of the versatility that makes Brian Flores’ ever-evolving defense so successful.

Metellus was seen on all three levels, from the defensive end to the roaming safety, from the outside linebacker to the slot cornerback, playing 1065 defensive snaps, 94% of the defensive snaps for 2023 (third-most on the team). What put Metellus over the top was his 194 special teams snaps, around 45% of the total special teams snaps in 2023 (ninth-most on the team).

Metellus’ 2023 season is a testament to the hard work players put into finding their niche in the NFL. Metellus’ superpower this season was that he was a jack-of-all-trades and an intelligent football player who would find a way to stay around the ball and make a play.

Flores took that intelligence and turned it into a weapon to camouflage his intentions and help accomplish the number one goal in his defense: Confuse the quarterback.

Flores is set to return as the defensive coordinator for the Vikings in 2024. Metellus is on contract to be a Viking until 2026 after signing a two-year extension before the season started.

What do these two have in store for us next season? If this season has taught us anything, the possibilities are endless.

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Vikings final defensive PFF grades for 2023 season

The final Pro Football Focus grades for the Minnesota Vikings defense shed light on a unit that over achieved due to scheme.

With the first weekend of the 2023 NFL playoffs now complete, we are looking back on the season that was for the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite a 7-10 record, the Vikings played well during the 2023 season. The defense improved from 31st in the National Football League to 16th in a very impressive turnaround. The scoring defense also improved to 13th in the NFL, which would have easily been top 10 in the league if it weren’t for the unit imploding at the end of the season.

There is a lot of hope for the future, as the unit was overall really good despite having a talent void.

The final grades from Pro Football Focus are in and reflect a unit that played well despite their late-season struggles.

2023 season: Minnesota Vikings defensive player of the year

From Danielle Hunter to Camryn Bynum, these are the Vikings Wire staff’s picks for Minnesota Vikings Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2023 National Football League season is over for the Minnesota Vikings and now it’s time to reflect on what was and what could have been.

The Vikings had quite the roller coaster ride this season. After starting 1-4, they lost wide receiver Justin Jefferson and went on a five-game winning streak and won six out of their next eight games. They ultimately lost their final four to finish the season 7-10.

As we reflect back on the season that was for the Vikings, we as a staff took a look at it in multiple ways by handing out awards in different categories.

Here are our choices for Vikings defensive player of the year.

Other awards:

Surprise Performace
Rookie of the Year

2023 Minnesota Vikings: Stock up, Stock down

With the 2023 season coming to an end, let’s see whose stocks rose and whose stocks fell for the Minnesota Vikings heading into the offseason.

What a ride the 2023 Minnesota Vikings gave us. From starting 0-3 and potentially selling the farm to winning six of the next seven, the 2023-2024 Vikings were a roller coaster of emotions from start to finish.

With the ride ending and everyone lining up to buy their reaction photos, let us recognize that there was a lot on the line for some of the players and coaches on this team beyond the box score. Some were making a case that they belong, not only in Minnesota but in the NFL. Others were looking to make their case for more money/more responsibility beyond 2024. For some, they reached and exceeded their goals this season, causing their stock to rise significantly. Others missed their marks and may find it more difficult to sell their stocks in the upcoming off-season.

Let’s look at some stocks that rose and fell along this rollercoaster of a season for the 2023 Vikings.

Vikings vs. Lions: 4 defensive keys for week 18

In what could be the final game for Brian Flores as a Viking, here are four keys to success for the Minnesota defense.

The Minnesota Vikings are guaranteed one more game in the 2023 season, and it will be played on Sunday at Ford Field at noon CST.

These last two weeks for the Vikings have been ones to forget. Getting throttled by these same Lions and embarrassed in a pivotal primetime matchup against the Green Bay Packers in back-to-back weeks was not an ideal end to 2023.

It’s 2024 now. The calendar has flipped, and the possibilities are endless. Except for the possibility of Minnesota getting into the playoffs, that ends at around 3%, depending on what simulator you use.

If Minnesota wants to try to cash in on those small odds, they must stop this Lions offense that has been rolling as of late. They scored the sixth-most points, gained the sixth-most yards per play, and were fifth in total yards in December.

Minnesota’s defense, other than their 3-0 slobber knocker against the Las Vegas Raiders, has been a dumpster fire. Since week 15, Minnesota has been second-to-last in EPA/play allowed and dead last in defensive success rate. Teams have been able to get whatever they want against the Vikings, especially through the air. They are third-worst in EPA/dropback and dead last in defensive success rate on dropbacks in that same span.

Whatever the answer may be, they need to find it fast if they want a shot at slipping into the playoffs. Here are four potential answers that they could administer to slow down this Lions’ attack.

Two Vikings make the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl, six are alternates

Two players will represent the Minnesota Vikings at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games while six others were honored as alternates.

The NFL recently unveiled their 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games with the following Minnesota Vikings making the cut:

  • OLB Danielle Hunter
  • LS Andrew DePaola

The Vikings also have six alternates, ranging from first to fourth at their respective positions.

The number of players may seem lower than usual, especially with wide receiver Justin Jefferson not being a part of the festivities due to injury. However, the Vikings are well-represented in that those who were selected, alternate or otherwise, certainly deserved it.

Here are the 2024 representatives (and alternates) for your Vikings.

Vikings vs. Lions: 4 defensive keys in week 16

These keys on defense are pivotal for a Vikings win in week 16

The Minnesota Vikings return to U.S. Bank Stadium this week to start a three-game stretch to decide their playoff future. First up, the first of two duels against the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions.

The Lions have been near the top of the NFC since the beginning of the season. They had their slip-ups, but at 10-4, they have firm control of the NFC North and are setting their sights on the coveted number-one seed and that first-round bye. Their offense has been outstanding this season, ranking fifth in points and third in total yards behind a balanced attack.

Before Saturday, the Vikings defense was on a tear. They allowed 20+ points only twice in eight games, including an exemplary 3-0 shutout win against the Las Vegas Raiders. The same Raiders that came back and put up 63 points on the Los Angeles Chargers four days later.

On Saturday, that all changed as former Viking Jake Browning lit up the Vikings’ defense for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Tee Higgins shined brightest when Ja’Marr Chase left early with a shoulder injury. Higgins caught four of his eight targets for 61 yards and two touchdowns, including a sensational highlight over Akayleb Evans.

As this defense licks their wounds, they need to regroup fast against one of the top offenses in the game today. To do that, they must follow these four keys to limit this Detroit offense.

Zulgad’s four-and-out: Passing on Jaren Hall, Ivan Pace Jr.’s impact and why the Vikings’ defense deserves a number

From Jaren Hall not getting a look to the success of Ivan Pace Jr. and naming the Minnesota Vikings defense, Judd Zulgad looks at it all

The Minnesota Vikings will be starting their fourth quarterback of the season on Saturday in Cincinnati as their roller-coaster year continues, along with the pursuit of a playoff berth.

Here are four observations ranging from the Vikings’ decision to start Nick Mullens at quarterback to Kirk Cousins’ potential for a second career.