3 biggest Vikings scapegoats from the loss to the Lions in Week 14

Danielle Hunter – OLB

This spot could have gone to either Danielle Hunter or Za’Darius Smith. Both players have been lackluster lately, and while there is blame to cast on their shoulders, it is not fully on them.

Hunter seems to be getting hate for most of this season, and though he is not the Danielle Hunter of old, he’s still shown that he has the juice.

The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, but that is only a small reason for why Hunter didn’t record a sack this past weekend. The biggest contributor to his struggles this season is the defensive scheme that he has been placed in.

Hunter is a pure edge rusher, he wins off the edge, he dominates off the edge, he is the edge. This new Vikings defensive scheme has him dropping in coverage at times, and that is not what he is built to do.

Hunter dominated in Mike Zimmer’s defense because he was put on the edge and told to get to the quarterback, and Hunter did that to perfection. This new defensive scheme is not playing Hunter to his full potential, along with Smith, and the defense is struggling due to their lack of production.

While Hunter may not be the dominant force he once was, the new position that he finds himself in is doing him no favors.