Tag: Za’Darius Smith

Highlights and notes from Vikings final week of OTAs

The Vikings wrap up OTAs

The Minnesota Vikings closed out the final stretch of organized team activities last week with confidence and some concerns.

On one hand, the team is excited about the potential they have to turn things around immediately.

They have responded well to Kevin O’Connell as the head coach, and overall, there seems to be a much more loose and exciting vibe from the team, as opposed to how they looked towards the end of the Mike Zimmer era.

However, on the other hand, they’re being reminded of how quickly things can change on the football field. It takes more than talent to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Injuries have put countless championship teams in the grave before they even started.

Here are some observations as the Vikings wrapped up OTAs.

Patrick Peterson admits he’s never seen anything like Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter

Pat P. is blown away by the Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter combo

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson has been in the NFL for over a decade, and in all of that time, he has never been a part of a team with a pass-rushing combination quite like Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter.

Both men are two-time Pro Bowlers with the rare ability to wreck an entire offensive game-plan. That’s something the Vikings didn’t have last season. But more importantly, all of those Arizona Cardinals teams Peterson played for didn’t have it, either.

As a defensive back, the legendary eight-time Pro Bowler has a front row seat to something he believes is on the verge of being “special.”

“That’s going to be special man because I’ve never had the privilege to have two dynamic pass rushers coming off both edges,” said Peterson on All Things Covered. “Going through those six practices now, although we don’t have any pads on right now, so guys are getting their first two-step bursts and kind of shutting it down there, but just seeing how fast that pocket collapse, when we do have those team periods, it’s magical to watch.

“I’m happy to finally have an opportunity to experience some dogs that can really put some heat on a quarterback.”

Hunter amassed 14.5 sacks in back-to-back years the last time he was fully healthy for an entire season. Meanwhile, before an injury kept him out in 2021, Smith was coming off a 12.5-sack season in 2020.

Those two defensive monsters being up front will set the tone for the entire defense. It was a defense that was getting pushed around and bullied by nearly everyone they faced last season.

That obviously won’t be the case in 2022 with the Vikings now having two of the league’s biggest defensive bullies in the lineup.

Here’s to hoping the rest of the NFL is hungry. If Smith and Hunter can both stay healthy next season, they’re going to be handing out some serious sack lunches to opposing quarterbacks.

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Highlights and notes from Week 2 Vikings OTAs

Another week in the books for the Vikings

Another week is in the books for the Minnesota Vikings’ organized team activities.

Last week was all about integrating the rookies and veterans on the field together in helmets and shorts. This week consisted of more drills and an attempt towards putting a pretty bow on everything by seeing new concepts in action.

You still have to be careful to not overreact to some of the things emanating out of OTAs since it’s still so early in the process. We’ll have a real sense of where players are at once they’ve actually had time to digest things and the pads come on.

But the buzz in Minnesota right now is undeniable. There’s a different level of excitement surrounding this Vikings team—and for good reason. The hope is that big things are ahead under the guidance of head coach Kevin O’Connell, who knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl. And it all begins with preparation.

Here are some highlights and notes from Week 2 of OTAs.

Za’Darius Smith sets record straight on failed Ravens deal

Smith says his decision to pass on the Ravens had nothing to do with Von Miller’s contract

Za’Darius Smith was painted as enemy No. 1 after he reportedly backed out on an agreed upon deal to return to the Baltimore Ravens.

Pen was never put to paper, the deal fell through and the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker ended up signing a three-year, $42 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings instead.

Some believed Smith was seeking more money on the open market after seeing the massive deal Von Miller signed with the Buffalo Bills. However, during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, the veteran linebacker refuted the notion that Miller’s deal had anything to do with his decision to pass on the Ravens’ offer.

“I really didn’t even know about Von Miller’s situation. I think during the time, I was actually getting a massage when my agent was on the phone going back and forth,” said Smith. “I just received a text message saying that I had signed, and I never did agree to anything. And that’s how that worked out.

“…It would have been good to go back to Baltimore, but things wasn’t what it was supposed to be. That’s why I’m here now with the Vikings and just happy to be here with another opportunity to play football.”

Smith didn’t just net a lucrative deal with the Vikings, but he also put himself in a position to potentially compete for a playoff contender.

The NFC is no longer the Nightmare on Elm Street with elite quarterbacks living in every house on the block. Quite the contrary, the AFC is becoming a murderer’s row of elite quarterbacks.

One thing is certain: The Vikings are glad to have Smith on their side. The destruction he could cause with Danielle Hunter on the field is worth every penny.

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Highlights and notes from first week of Vikings OTAs

Week 1 of OTAs is in the books

The Minnesota Vikings put on their shorts and helmets before hitting the field for the first week of organized team activities this week.

Players were participating in a variety of drills and workouts, which will continue over the next couple of weeks ahead of mandatory minicamp in June.

There have been plenty of fun stories coming out of the early practices, including running back Dalvin Cook calling linebacker Za’Darius Smith “crazy” for his work ethic and the way he pushes his teammates. Even Smith himself admitted coach Kevin O’Connell had to tell him to take it down a notch, during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.

The regime change in Minnesota has seemingly brought a new energy to the team as they work to end a three-year playoff drought this season. Here are some of the highlights and notes from the first week of OTAs.

Za’Darius Smith ‘can’t wait’ to see look on Aaron Rodgers’ face in Week 1

Za’Darius Smith is really looking forward to facing Aaron Rodgers

Za’Darius Smith isn’t shying away from the slated Week 1 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.

After spending the previous three seasons for the team in green, he’ll have a chance to see things from the purple side. But more than anything, he’ll have a chance to look into the eyes of legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers as an opponent this time instead of a teammate.

“I can’t wait to get a chance to face them the first game and see that look on Aaron Rodgers’ face when he see me on the other side of the ball,” Smith said, when appearing on The Rich Eisen Show. “…It’s going to be a, ‘It’s good to see you again, but now, it’s not at practice.'”

Smith admitted to wanting to return to Green Bay in the interview, but the two sides weren’t able to come to a contractual agreement. So the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker was released into the wild, where he was offered a chance to play for a division rival.

It was hard to pass up an opportunity to team with Danielle Hunter on the defensive side of the ball and likely even harder to turn down a chance to play the Packers twice a year.

Now, Smith can show his former team what they missed out on by not re-signing him. There will be no red no-contact jersey for Rodgers on September 11 when he stares across the line of scrimmage at a familiar face in the No. 55 jersey.

The only difference this time is the hits will be real.

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Za’Darius Smith reacts to blockbuster Vikings-Packers Week 1 matchup

Smith won’t have to wait long to face his former team.

Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Za’Darius Smith won’t have to wait long to face his former team with the Minnesota Vikings slated to host the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season.

The football gods have a flare for the dramatics with the way this schedule came together. On one hand, it’ll be pretty awkward seeing Smith in purple attempting to wreak havoc on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense.

And yet, on the other hand, the thought of him joining forces with Danielle Hunter and the Vikings defensive front is a dream pairing.

After hearing the news of the Week 1 matchup, Smith took to Twitter to post his immediate reaction.

Few things are more motivating than having an opportunity to beat your former team, and Smith will have a chance to do so right out of the gates.

However, stepping back from the personal storyline at play, this is a game that’s going to tell a lot about the Vikings’ newly-constructed defense. They’ve added Ed Donatell as defensive coordinator, along with injecting the secondary with talented young rookies, including Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr.

Imagine starting an NFL journey with a meeting against one of the top-10 greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Smith knows what the Vikings are up against because he’s seen it at practice day in and day out for the last three years. But this time, Rodgers won’t be wearing the red no-contact jersey.

This time, Smith has the green light to hit his former teammate.

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Watch Eric Kendricks get Za’Darius Smith with one of the oldest trick questions

Z never saw this one coming.

The vast majority of us have been on the other end of the old “car is traveling at [whatever] miles per hour” trick question. Throughout the years, people have used different numbers to try and throw the person they’re asking off guard.

Well, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za’Darius Smith was one of the ones caught off guard in a recent social media story video uploaded by his teammate, Eric Kendricks.

Smith was just hanging out in the locker room when he got hit with the same question that has stumped so many before him.

Kendricks asked, “Hey Z, a car is traveling 100 miles per hour. How long does it take the car to travel 350 miles?”

The scrunching eyebrows and drooping head from suddenly being forced into a world of deep thought and confusion—yep, most of us have been there before when blindsided by a question like that one.

However, after a few tries, Smith finally makes his way to the answer: 3.5 hours.

What a fun moment between two teammates expected to wreak havoc on opposing offenses in 2022.

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Christian Darrisaw looking forward to Za’Darius Smith practices

Christian Darrisaw calls Za’Darius Smith a “stud” on the football field.

Imagine the competition on the edges for the Minnesota Vikings with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill going against Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith at practice on a daily basis.

Whew! Kevin O’Connell should consider bringing a popcorn machine to the sidelines for that heavyweight fight in the trenches.

Darrisaw, who is coming off of a sensational rookie season, is looking forward to the challenge. Legitimate competition is always a plus when there’s an opportunity for iron to sharpen iron. And there will be plenty of sharpening with Smith added to the defense.

“[Smith] was out this past season,” Darrisaw said at a team press conference on Tuesday. “So I really didn’t go against him too much, but watching him on film, stud. A stud athlete. Him and Danielle on the edges, it’s going to be good work for me and B.O. every week, just getting us better for game day.”

Darrisaw was given a 71.8 grade by Pro Football Focus in his first year in the NFL, which wasn’t too far behind O’Neill (73.7), who made the Pro Bowl last season.

When healthy, Hunter is considered to be one of the best pass-rushers in the league, while Smith is a two-time Pro Bowler and proven game-wrecker.

The biggest concern right now is the interior part of the offensive line for the Vikings. They are clearly in good hands when attempting to keep the pocket clean from edge rushers, but things could get problematic when pushed inside.

Even with Darrisaw and O’Neill on the field, as the team is currently constructed, quarterback Kirk Cousins could be running short of pocket time in 2022.

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Za’Darius Smith wearing Anthony Barr’s former No. 55 in new photo

Same division, same number, different team for Smith

If you needed another reason to be convinced Anthony Barr isn’t returning to the Minnesota Vikings, look no further than the recently surfaced photo of newly-signed outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith in a No. 55 jersey.

Barr, who is an unrestricted free agent, still remains unsigned over a month after the start of NFL free agency. Per the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson, lingering knee issues are one of the reasons why the former four-time Pro Bowler hasn’t landed with a new team yet.

So it isn’t a situation of him holding out for a possible reunion down the road with the Vikings on a more team-friendly deal.

A dagger might have been put in that pipe dream when a photo of Smith wearing Barr’s former Vikings jersey number, which is the same number Smith wore for the Green Bay Packers, was uploaded on his official merchandise website.

The team is clearly moving on without their former first-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Barr has played the last eight seasons in purple, and assuming he’s healthy, he’ll be playing in a different uniform in 2022.

Smith’s actual jersey number has yet to be confirmed, but it would be shocking if the team didn’t allow him to don the same number that struck fear into the hearts of Vikings fans over the years as a member of the rival Packers.

It’s Green Bay’s turn to feel that fear now.

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