Vikings Ask Newcomer to Shuffle Positions
Stick around for a little while within the Minnesota Vikings’ orbit and one is sure to hear about the importance of “versatility.”
The coveted attribute is critical to how Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores run their multifaceted schemes, meaning players need to be capable of doing several things well. To that end, the Vikings asked a newcomer to shuffle around in the opening preseason game, getting edge rusher Chaz Chambliss to soak up some snaps at off-ball linebacker.
Vikings Ask Chaz Chambliss to Play Off-Ball Linebacker
Start off with some general details.
The Vikings’ website puts Mr. Chambliss at 6’1″ and 242 pounds. The build is closer to being an off-ball linebacker than it is to being an edge rusher. Ideally, the former Georgia Bulldog would be a bit taller — think somewhere from 6’4″ to 6’6″ — while also being a bit heavier — think somewhere around 260 pounds.
Alas, that’s not the way Chambliss is built. So, he can be asked to work as an undersized edge rusher. Or, perhaps, he can do so while being tasked with doing a few different things for the Flores defense.
On Saturday against the Texans, Chaz Chambliss got quite a bit of playing time. Per PFF, he had 25 snaps along the d-line alongside 6 as an off-ball linebacker. Is that a trend that’s going to continue?
Truth be told, Chaz Chambliss is facing an uphill battle to get onto the final team. Gabriel Murphy exploded in the preseason opener and is coming off a season where he already made the team (see a Will Ragatz post with a concise recap of the details). And then there’s Bo Richter and Tyler Batty to contend with to finish off the position.
One then thinks of the off-ball linebacker spot. Blake Cashman alongside Ivan Pace Jr. are the top pair. Eric Wilson is next up, a smart, hard-working veteran who offers strong leadership. Kobe King is the clear leader to hop into that LB4 spot, but Brian Asamoah is still around.
Chambliss is looking to show that he can help in both areas. Need someone to jump up and get their hand in the dirt? No problem, Chambliss says, as he proves capable of dancing with NFL-level o-linemen. But then there’s the added intrigue of someone who can fly around as an off-ball linebacker. One has to assume that run defense will come easier to him than pass coverage, but both are likely a work in progress.
In his final college season, Chaz Chambliss played 386 snaps along the defensive line. Next up were 31 snaps as a slot corner alongside 16 snaps as an off-ball linebacker. Flores is going to see that past versatility and stretch things to a point where Chambliss likely has never gone before.
For whatever it’s worth, Chaz Chambliss was given a healthy 70.4 grade for his effort on the weekend, earning particularly high praise for his run defense. He got credit for picking up four tackles while missing a tackle along the way.
The Vikings’ next preseason game will take place against the New England Patriots. The battle will occur inside U.S. Bank Stadium and will begin at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 16th. Keep an eye on Chaz Chambliss — the defender wearing #57 — to see how he gets shuffled around.
Oh, and while you wait, consider the PurplePTSD pieces detailing the six winners and six losers of Minnesota’s opening preseason game (alongside a perfect player).
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF helped with this piece.
