Vikings' rookie DE Hunter proving to be an XXL surprise - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Hunter has grown as a pass rusher during his three months with the Vikings after spending three seasons at LSU. Despite Hunter’s physical attributes, he didn’t pile up sacks at LSU. He was talented against the run, collecting 13 tackles for loss last season, but Hunter only had 4. 5 career sacks. LSU’s defensive scheme up front was tailored to focus primarily on stopping the run last year. Its defense had only 19 sacks last year. When the 20-year-old arrived at Winter Park, defensive line coach Andre Patterson got video of Hunter’s pass rushes in college and asked him to explain what happened on every play. Patterson then pulled up film on Griffen and outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil, then with the Broncos, who Patterson coached during his rookie season in 2006, to show how they create mismatches on the defensive line. Patterson wanted Hunter to focus on two key areas in his pass rush after that meeting: his hands and his rush angle. Patterson explained how Hunter would take a wide angle on his pass rush, allowing an offensive tackle to push him behind the quarterback on pass plays, rather than attacking an offensive tackle downhill. This subtle change makes a defensive end unpredictable as a pass rusher. Source: www.startribune.com
