Analyzing Vikings LB Eric Kendricks' Defensive Rookie of the Month Performance
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks has been named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for October.
According to the Vikings' official press release, Kendricks became the first Minnesota rookie to win a monthly award since receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in December of 2013, and the first Vikings defensive rookie to win since defensive tackle Kevin Williams in 2003.
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The Vikings' second-round pick and 2014 Butkus Award winner took over a full-time role in Mike Zimmer's defense to start the month and hasn't looked back. Over just the last three games, Kendricks has produced 20 tackles, four sacks and five tackles for losses, while holding down the middle linebacker position for the league's second-ranked scoring defense.
Through seven weeks, he now ranks sixth among rookies in tackles (35) and first in sacks (four) and tackles for losses (six):
| 1. Jordan Hicks | PHI | 43 |
| 2. Landon Collins | NYG | 42 |
| 3. Kwon Alexander | TB | 38 |
| 3. Stephone Anthony | NO | 38 |
| 5. Hau'oli Kikaha | NO | 36 |
| 6. Eric Kendricks | MIN | 35 |
| 1. Eric Kendricks | MIN | 4.0 |
| 1. Hau'oli Kikaha | NO | 4.0 |
| 3. Bud Dupree | PIT | 3.0 |
Kendricks made big plays in every game he played in October.
During the first quarter against the Denver Broncos in Week 4, Kendricks washed down the line and stopped running back C.J. Anderson for no gain. Two series later, he came untouched on a blitz—a delayed, stunted rush to the right side—and sacked Peyton Manning on third down to force a punt. The Broncos had it blocked up, but Kendricks wasn't accounted for because he timed his blitz and got lost in the carnage. The left guard had no idea he was running free at Manning:
He saved his best for the last two weeks.
Over wins against the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, Kendricks totaled a team-high 16 tackles, three sacks and five tackles for losses.
The rookie linebacker was a one-man wrecking ball against the Chiefs. On Kansas City's second possession, Kendricks ran down speedster De'Anthony Thomas and stopped him on the sidelines for a one-yard gain. A few plays later, he halted a Kansas City drive when he tripped up quarterback Alex Smith for a sack on third down.
Kendricks forced another punt in the second quarter when he burst into the backfield to stop running back Knile Davis for no gain on 3rd-and-1. The screenshot tells the tale, with Kendricks already breaking the line of scrimmage by the time Smith is handing off the football. The rookie wasn't fooled by the dummy fake to the receiver, and no blocker was quick enough to get a hand on him as he came downhill into the hole.
He finished with a game-high 10 tackles, plus a pass defended.
His former teammate at UCLA wasn't shocked by the performance.
"Lights-out. He played lights-out for us today and I'm not surprised," Barr said, via Andrew Krammer of ESPN 1500. "I don't think anyone in this locker room is surprised, that's why he's a starter. I think that he's going to continue to build on that, his game today."
Kendricks did build on the performance a week later.
During Minnesota's 28-19 win over the Lions, Kendricks sacked quarterback Matthew Stafford twice, forcing Detroit punts on both possessions. He also created an incomplete pass on third down with a clean hit on Stafford, and he lassoed down running back Theo Riddick for a one-yard loss on a third-down play in the fourth quarter.
Kendricks' second sack illustrated how offenses are struggling with Zimmer's blitz package.
The Vikings showed A-gap pressure with Kendricks and Barr in the pre-snap phase. Before the play, you can see Stafford pointing to Barr, likely to shift protection and account for the blitz look. Barr then gives Kendricks a quick signal, likely to flip the blitz in response to Stafford's check. The result was Kendricks running free at Stafford as the center looked to block Barr, who dropped harmlessly in coverage. Kendricks won't have an easier sack in his NFL career.
It's now hard to believe 44 players were picked before Kendricks last April. It's also possible the former UCLA star landed in the perfect situation.
Zimmer has enjoyed sending his rookie linebacker on blitzes through the A-gap, often with help from Barr. His patience and awareness—particularly on the delayed rushes to the inside—have been the perfect complement to Barr's explosive blitzes to either side of the center.
In fact, Kendricks hasn't needed to legitimately beat a block on any of his four sacks this season. This reality doesn't take away from the production, but the scheme is clearly helping get the most out of his attacking ability. Zimmer has a unique understanding of his players, and he doesn't ask them to do things they aren't capable of. For example, Kendricks isn't taking on offensive tackles on the outside. Zimmer is simply using his ability to diagnose things in front of him and attack downhill to his advantage, and the results speak for themselves.
And for all the worries about his size in playing the run, Kendricks hasn't been a liability—in fact, he's been Minnesota's best linebacker in the run game since taking over the starter's spot in the middle.
Kendricks winning Defensive Rookie of the Month for October was equal parts opportunity, ability and coaching. Now a starter, he's flashing the skills that made him college football's best linebacker a year ago. Those skills are very easy to see within Zimmer's style of defense. Add it all up, and Kendricks was one of the NFL's most impactful young linebackers in the month of October.
Zach Kruse covers the Vikings for Bleacher Report.
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