Vikings defensive tackle Shamar Stephen has caught heat from some Minnesota fans for his level of play.
Stephen had 21 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in 15 starts this past season. Vikings co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson thinks that Stephen has been good in a way that stats can’t always catch.
Here’s Patterson’s explanation, per Sam Ekstrom of Zone Coverage:
“I think Eric Kendricks will tell you that part of the reason he went to the Pro Bowl is because of those two big bodies sitting in front of him, OK? They allow him to run from sideline to sideline and be free. Their No. 1 job in their life is to not let anybody touch Eric (Kendricks). And I get it. People write stuff about Shamar Stephen and I get it because everybody just looks at stats, but if you watch film and you ask Eric Kendricks if he had to pick anybody to go to the game with, that he’d make sure that guy was there, I guarantee he’d tell you it’s 93, because 93 is not going to let anybody get to the second level and block Eric (Kendricks). They’re doing what we coach them to do.”
Patterson went on to explain that he doesn’t ask the three-technique player to get in the backfield, but rather, keep the linebackers free and flatten out the line of scrimmage.
To be fair, Pro Football Focus looks at film and they gave Stephen a rating of just 61.2 for this past season. There’s also the issue of Stephen now having to be the line experienced starter on the interior of the defensive line this season, assuming the Vikings don’t go out and sign anybody.
Hopefully he can still allow players such as Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks to get free, in order for the defense to find success.