MINNEAPOLIS — He stood alone in the corner of the Minnesota Vikings’ locker room, finally able to take a breath. Reporters had understandably hounded Blake Cashman. He is a local kid, a self-made success story from Eden Prairie High School, who turned a walk-on opportunity into a decorated career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The free agent returned home this summer to play linebacker, and now here he was, getting dressed after one of his most productive games as a pro.
Cashman recorded 13 combined tackles in the Vikings’ statement 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. He sacked Brock Purdy once and deflected three of his passes. He posted all sorts of statistics, sure, yet they still may not do justice to his performance. It seemed like he was magnetically attracted to the ball, ramming into skill players in the backfield, draping receivers who tracked the ball in the secondary.
Safety Cam Bynum said Cashman’s performance allowed him to play more confidently when he dropped into zone coverage, knowing Cashman would vacuum up underneath passes. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard went so far as to say Cashman is “one of the best (off-ball linebackers) in the league.” He is athletic, instinctive, selfless, physical and versatile, an embodiment of the defensive traits the Vikings pursued in free agency this offseason.
Minnesota entered free agency knowing they would spend a significant amount on defenders. It emerged with a handful of less-heralded players whose existence in the NFL can be largely attributed to savvy and effort. That’s part of the secret sauce that caused headaches for Kyle Shanahan’s squad Sunday.
The other aspect lies in a moment Cashman was replaying alone as his teammates dispersed into the evening.
He had been asked about defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and his mind had wandered to a moment in a meeting room with Flores earlier this week. They were watching practice film, and Cashman explained his thought process on a play: how he scanned the offensive alignment, dissected the route concepts and was well into his pre-snap process. Flores paused the film and laughed.
“Don’t worry about it,” Flores said.
Cashman was confused. Don’t worry about what? Flores replied: All of these alignments, all of these route concepts, all of this information.
“The quarterback won’t have time (to even find players on those concepts),” Flores told Cashman. “Just play visually.”
It was swagger, oozing from Flores the way it often does. He operates with a distinct amount of fearlessness that the players can feel. And when you pair that with the expertise of potential Hall of Famers Harrison Smith and Stephon Gilmore, a young and energetic menace like Ivan Pace Jr. and the smarts of Bynum and Josh Metellus — defenders who are more consumed with winning than any individual accumulation of statistics — this can happen.
The LB room was showing up and out today 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WtBmbOx3fN
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2024
This is wildly impressive back-to-back showings from the Vikings defense. The unit has been so impressive that you almost have to wonder if it’s time to reassess your expectations for this team.
“B Flo, I don’t know what he’s calling,” said Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw, “but he’s cooking over there. Them boys is eating.”
Shanahan agreed.
“They have a very good blitz scheme, causing a lot of confusion,” the 49ers coach said. “(Flores) does a good job. Credit to them. Credit to him.”
Sunday marked two straight seasons in which Flores’ defense has bested Shanahan’s offense. Last year, the Vikings held the 49ers to 17 points and made Purdy uncomfortable. It wasn’t an anomaly. Minnesota finished the 2023 season as the 11th-ranked defense in the NFL (by DVOA), and this was without Flores’ fingerprints on the personnel. That changed this offseason, and while the Vikings were dealt gut-punching blows with Khyree Jackson’s tragic death and Mekhi Blackmon’s torn ACL, the group forged ahead.
Some continuity allowed the Vikings to quickly onboard newcomers, and by the time the Vikings flew to Cleveland for joint practices with the Browns, many players and staffers felt like they were being slept on nationally. Dominating a descending Deshaun Watson in August did nothing to raise eyebrows. Making Daniel Jones look bad in Week 1 was viewed more as a condemnation of the Giants quarterback than the improvement of the Vikings defense. Even though an early Minnesota lead on Sunday forced San Francisco away from its bread and butter, this shutdown should get folks talking.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Sign Up
Pace walked into U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday in purple-and-gold overalls and proceeded to almost magically limbo beneath blockers. He finished with eight tackles.
Veteran edge rusher Patrick Jones II snarled around the edge, blazing past 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, and swallowed Purdy. He had two sacks.
Smith swatted a pass at the goal line. Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard, two anchors on the interior against the run, dislodged from blockers and limited 49ers running back Jordan Mason as best as they could. Greenard took on double-teams in the pass rush, opening up opportunities for teammates like Jihad Ward, a journeyman who has become the Vikings’ in-house disc jockey and hype man.
Metellus described his unit’s play as “beautiful.” Bynum admitted Sunday’s game plan seemed “simple.”
“We’ve played two games,” Metellus said, “and it just felt too easy back there.”
They’re all impacting the opposition. Andrew Van Ginkel nearly snagged his second interception at the line of scrimmage in two games. First-round pick Dallas Turner mixed in as an edge rusher.
And around it all was Cashman, who made a huge play, tipping an over-the-middle pass from Purdy midway through the third quarter.
The game had been reeling a bit. The 49ers, who had not beaten the Vikings in Minnesota since 1994, trailed 13-7 but were establishing some momentum. This was San Francisco’s chance at a go-ahead drive, but Cashman helped squash it. The deflected pass went through Bynum’s hands, then landed in Metellus’ grasp. The interception set the Vikings up for a vital touchdown, and the magnitude was not lost on the Vikings sideline.
Teamwork makes the dream work@NoExcuses_23 @Cambeezy_ pic.twitter.com/qxTDEnjfLv
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2024
Flores mean-mugged, slapping high fives with fellow coaches Daronte Jones and Marcus Dixon. Noticing how happy Flores looked, safety Bobby McCain smiled. Flores caught McCain’s reaction, walked over to the veteran defensive back and hugged him. Just like the Vikings players pick up on Flores’ confidence, they respond to his pride.
“F— yeah we did,” Smith said. “It’s a good group, man. A good mix of vets and young guys, guys who just enjoy football, and that’s the coaches included.”
Van Ginkel called this defense “special.” Smith agreed saying, “I think he’s onto something there.”
Are they surprised things have come together this quickly? Cashman pondered the question deeply for a few seconds. His answer was reciprocated by all of his teammates who had already left, satisfied with another day’s work: No, we’re not the least bit surprised.
(Photo of Blake Cashman and Brian Flores: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)
