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Three sacks and another game ball for Vikings’ Za’Darius Smith

john shipley, pioneer press
·3 min read
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Jared Allen was officially inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor at halftime of Minnesota’s 34-26 victory over Arizona at U.S. Bank Stadium. It wasn’t the former defensive end’s first honor of the day.

On the last play of the first quarter, Za’Darius Smith dropped Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray for an eight-yard sack. Rather than break into one of his myriad sack dances, the Vikings outside linebacker made as if he were lassoing a calf — Allen’s signature move when he played for the Vikings from 2008 to 2013.

“I think it was Tuesday when we came back (from the bye) and he was there, and I was telling him if I get a sack, I’m going to hit it one time,” Smith said. “So he demonstrated and showed me how to do it.”

It was the first of three sacks, and seven total solo tackles, for Smith, who has been a major piece of the Vikings defense after signing a free-agent deal after three seasons in Green Bay. He has 22 tackles and 8½ sacks in seven games, not exactly on pace to break Allen’s single-season record of 22 — in one fewer game — but not far from it, either.

Teammate Danielle Hunter finished with 14½ sacks in 2018 and 2019.

The Vikings’ defense made a lot of big-splash plays on Sunday, forcing three second-half turnovers on interceptions by Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum, and a fumble recovery by Troy Dye on a muffed punt return. The Vikings turned those turnovers into 13 points to rally from a 17-14 third-quarter deficit.

The Cardinals were driving for a potential tying score, with a two-point conversion, and were at the Vikings’ 37-yard line when Smith caught Murray for a seven-yard loss with about 20 seconds remaining.

“Right before that last play he made, I asked him, ‘Hey, I need one more,’ ” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “He goes out and gets it.”

Smith had three of the Vikings’ four sacks, totaling minus-22 yards, and added another tackle for loss. He also blocked a Murray pass on the second play of the Cardinals’ final drive.

“We have to continue to allow our athletes to kind of show up in some of those downs, especially (against) a quarterback like that,” O’Connell said. “I can’t speak enough (about) Za’Darius. Clearly, (he gets) a game ball again.”

The Vikings walked off the field Sunday with a 6-1 record and 3½ game lead, pending the Packers’ late game at Buffalo, in the NFC North. Smith has been a major boon for a team working under new coaches and a new 3-4 defensive scheme.

“It’s really hard (for am opposing team) to have a protection plan for a guy that can be in any one of five spots up front,” O’Connell said. “We can use (Smith) to manipulate the protection call if we want. We can use him to try to isolate somebody in protection if we want.”

Asked about his first seven games in Minnesota, Smith said, “It feels good” before quickly adding, “I just hate that people are still not talking about us, but it’s OK. We’ll continue to be the underdogs and keep going to work each and every day to get better.”

Smith was part of the 2020 Packers team that advanced to the NFC Championship game before losing to eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. He was asked Sunday if the Vikings have the same potential.

“Yes,” he said. “We’re treated like family, and everybody’s really like family. We have a younger coach who wants to know what the players want, and that’s a good thing to have on a football team. So, as you can see, 6-1. It’s a great feeling.”

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