The Minnesota Vikings have undergone plenty of turnover this offseason. A new quarterback is under center , and Brian Flores has lots of new weapons on defense. With changing players come changing responsibilities. Minnesota will rely on a different quarterback of the defense this year.
Hometown Blake Cashman rocks the dot for the Minnesota Vikings
Last year the Minnesota Vikings watched Ivan Pace Jr. come out of nowhere to be one of their best defensive players. The UDFA wound up starting at the linebacker position, and he eventually took over green dot duties as well. This season that responsibility will be passed to free agent acquisition Blake Cashman.
“I don’t think I got the green dot right now. I think Cash got it. It don’t matter, I’m still going to go out there and ball…I’m good [with that]. Coaches have other plans. I’m gonna get in there and get it one day.”
Ivan Pace Jr. to Darren Wolfson on the green dot (KSTP)
The Eden Prairie native comes to Minnesota by way of the Houston Texans. He joins teammate Jonathan Greenard in making the move, and Flores wants him in charge on the field. A green dot on defense indicates a player as the playcaller, and they are allowed to have radio communication in their helmet.
Brian Asamoah and Jordan Hicks were the starters out of the gate at linebacker in 2023. Pace Jr. ultimately took over for Asamoah, and once Hicks went down with injury, the UDFA was a logical choice to take over playcalling duties.
Cashman has played in 44 games over the course of his career. He has drawn 21 starts. The veteran will quickly make his mark on the Vikings.
What does Vikings encore look like for Ivan Pace Jr.?
As a rookie Ivan Pace Jr. put up 102 tackles while starting just 11 of 17 games. He picked off a pass, forced a fumble, and recorded 2.5 sacks. All of that took place while juggling a bid for the starting lineup. Once he got there, he also was given the added responsibility of the green dot. With that removed out of the gate for 2024, he could be in line for even greater production by playing free as an established starter.
“Oh yeah, we [Cashman] good man. He came over here and we connected real quick, better than what it was last year with the other backers. I think we’re gonna be good.”
Ivan Pace Jr. to Darren Wolfson on his relationship with Blake Cashman (KSTP)
Pace Jr.’s quotes suggest that he has a strong relationship with new teammate Blake Cashman. The two of them can play off that trust they will continue to develop with one another. The Vikings defense will always bring pressure as long as Brian Flores is in charge. The tandem at the linebacker spot could be a formidable source of that.
The Vikings will get their first opportunity to show off the revamped defense on Sunday against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.
