Vikings defender is quietly having an All-Pro season, and his performance epitomizes what Brian Flores’ defense is all about
Blake Cashman has quietly been the most important player on defense for the Vikings, and it’s getting a lot louder.
The most interesting element of the Minnesota Vikings‘ defense under Brian Flores is how successful they have been without having a true superstar. Yeah, Harrison Smith is still on the team and the likes of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel have shined, but none of them have been viewed as stars across the league.
It feels like a no-name defense, but that would be disrespectful to the unit as a whole. They have some really impressive players who aren’t getting the recognition they deserve. One of those is linebacker Blake Cashman, who has been a phenomenal player this season, and for the better part of the last three years.
Blake Cashman is having an All-Pro season
When you watch the Vikings’ defense, it’s hard not to see the impact Cashman has for this defense. He isn’t just the green dot player, but also the lynchpin behind their success. Flores has been using his linebackers in a multitude of ways, asking them to be great in coverage and read offenses perfectly with their aggressive mentality at the line of scrimmage. They aren’t just great at being versatile; their brilliance shines in their mentality.
He put in a historic performance against the Indianapolis Colts, doing something that nobody has accomplished
“It’s the ability to be [either] lateral or downhill, right where he needs to be, seeing plays before they happen; he’s seeing blocking assignments from the offense and understanding when he can trigger, when he’s got to play a certain style. It has just been really fun to watch,” said Kevin O’Connell.
Cashman isn’t just really good; he’s thrived in every element he’s been asked. This season, Cashman is first among off-ball linebackers in pressures (16), second in sacks (4.5), and tied for second in tackles for loss (6). He’s also tied for the lead among off-ball linebackers with five. You can see how Cashman impacts the defense in every way, from being an elite crasher and looper on stunts to being great in coverage.
Where things get more impressive is with how impactful Cashman has been when he’s been on the field versus off of it. He’s missed seven games across three years, and some of the on-off splits are fascinating.
| Stat | On The Field | Off The Field |
| Snaps | 1,932 | 511 |
| Yards Per Play | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| Turnovers | 49 | 16 |
| Turnovers Per Play | 2.54% | 3.13% |
| Interceptions | 35 | 4 |
| Forced Fumbles | 18 | 17 |
| Record | 26-7 | 3-4 |
The one oddity within this data set is the forced fumbles, as they can be a little fluky. What isn’t fluky is how impactful Cashman is on a per play basis and how the defense is better at forcing interceptions with him. Cashman impacts this both with his pass rush ability and how he drops into passing lanes. That versatility to do both is the caveat to the success of Cashman, which isn’t something everyone can do.
It’s impressive to see how Cashman has grown during his tenure with the Vikings, as he was essentially a special teams player and one-year wonder with the Houston Texans before coming to Minnesota. It’s also a big reason why the Vikings have had success prioritizing specific players rather than raw talent. Flores’ track record with veteran acquisitions has been fantastic.
Right now, Cashman is an All-Pro this season at linebacker, and it’s a massive reason why the Vikings are as good as they are.
