The Minnesota Vikings’ best path to beating the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 runs through Brian Flores’ pressure package. Green Bay’s offensive line has new starters, new positions and lingering health questions. Now that Harrison Smith is back, Flores has another player who knows how to make those problems worse.
Green Bay let left tackle Rasheed Walker walk and released Elgton Jenkins after his broken leg. Sean Rhyan is now the full-time center, while Jordan Morgan moves to left tackle and Jacob Monk takes over at right guard. Add knee concerns for Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele, and what’s typically a tough matchup looks less intimidating.
At 37, Smith doesn’t need to play every snap to affect this game. Putting him and Joshua Metellus on the field together gives Jordan Love two potential rushers to locate before he can worry about everyone else.
Dallas Turner stands to benefit most from Minnesota Vikings’ disguised pressure
Flores can create pressure without actually blitzing. He can crowd the line, put Smith and Metellus near the box and threaten both A-gaps before the snap. Either safety can rush, drop underneath or rotate deep after Love sets the protection. The Packers won’t know which look they’re getting until the ball is snapped.
That’s a difficult assignment for a projected starting offensive line containing three players changing jobs and two starters who missed the entire preseason.
Dallas Turner should be the main beneficiary. His eight sacks and 42 pressures last season showed why Minnesota can reasonably expect a full-fledged Turner breakout. If Green Bay spends too much time sorting out Smith and Metellus, Turner gets more chances to attack one-on-one.
Smith also frees Metellus to keep moving around. A defense that wins on early downs can use either safety as a blitzer or robber without showing Love the plan too early. Andrew Van Ginkel, Jalen Redmond and perhaps Kyle Van Noy give Flores more options around them.
Love can punish this approach if he identifies the rush and gets the ball out cleanly. Minnesota’s disguises will create favorable matchups for Green Bay whenever the pressure arrives late.
So make him solve it. If Love and a reworked line sort through Smith, Metellus and Flores inside a loud U.S. Bank Stadium, he deserves props. The Vikings won't make that easy.
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