2026 Roster Thread - Semi-Live

[mradtke66]

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So that tracks. He played 619 pass snaps and rushed the passer on 10.6% of those.

That seems more or less perfect for an off the ball backer.

 

[OldSchool101]

So that tracks. He played 619 pass snaps and rushed the passer on 10.6% of those.

That seems more or less perfect for an off the ball backer.

I like what Minnesota did with Eric Wilson. I still kick Brian for letting him walk over $2.6mil. MN got him back for an absolute steal. Eric immediately went on to dominate from ILB in a
3-4. So much so he just played himself into a potential $22.5mil dollar bank deposit and a Top 5 Defense.

As far as Pass Rush snaps specifically, because I think We all understand a LB has multiple role responsibilities. I understand desiring to go safe or “normal” for an ILB. Yet it was Cooper that came into the league immediately displaying “Boss” level disruptor in 2024 in our top 5 ranked Defense. Matter of fact I saw multiple articles pop after 2024 that Coop is so good he should convert to Pass Rusher. Now that might be a little over the top but the point is what people noticed is he’s heavily prone to disrupt plays using his instincts in tracking that ball and then dialing in and dislodging it. He already displayed in 2024 high level ability in Stops. TFL, Ff, Sacks or Pressures, tipped passes you name it.

The dynamic shifted in 2025 probably because of Micah which I understand. There’s ways for a good DC to get Coop back into a complimentary Disruptor. My gut is Gannon already sees it he had him lining up Rushing the Passer in Practice #1

 

[mradtke66]

I like what Minnesota did with Eric Wilson. I still kick Brian for letting him walk over $2.6mil. MN got him back for an absolute steal. Eric immediately went on to dominate from ILB in a
3-4. So much so he just played himself into a potential $22.5mil dollar bank deposit and a Top 5 Defense.

As far as Pass Rush snaps specifically, because I think We all understand a LB has multiple role responsibilities. I understand desiring to go safe or “normal” for an ILB. Yet it was Cooper that came into the league immediately displaying “Boss” level disruptor in 2024 in our top 5 ranked Defense. Matter of fact I saw multiple articles pop after 2024 that Coop is so good he should convert to Pass Rusher. Now that might be a little over the top but the point is what people noticed is he’s heavily prone to disrupt plays using his instincts in tracking that ball and then dialing in and dislodging it. He already displayed in 2024 high level ability in Stops. TFL, Ff, Sacks or Pressures, tipped passes you name it.

The dynamic shifted in 2025 probably because of Micah which I understand. There’s ways for a good DC to get Coop back into a complimentary Disruptor. My gut is Gannon already sees it he had him lining up Rushing the Passer in Practice #1

I guess I don’t see Cooper as a super impressive pass rusher. TFLs aren’t the same as sacks, FFs aren’t consistent year over year. This is not to say he’s bad at it. I think he’s better when he’s not the focus of the blitz game. 3.5 sacks in 2024, .5 in 2025. Projected out, he’d need 132 pass rush snaps to make it to 1 full sack.

It also depends who is around him. In base or nickel, when you send him, Franklin is still back in coverage. Who was Minnesota’s other off the ball linebacker last year?

As far as math, it comes down to counting. The base goal of NFL defense is to rush 4 and drop 7. You want to drop 7 so you can play every coverage. You need a safe call to fall back on. You build your identity on being cover 2, 3, quarters, or man-2. Sending extra rushers is a wrinkle.

 

[OldSchool101]

I guess I don’t see Cooper as a super impressive pass rusher. TFLs aren’t the same as sacks, FFs aren’t consistent year over year. This is not to say he’s bad at it. I think he’s better when he’s not the focus of the blitz game. 3.5 sacks in 2024, .5 in 2025. Projected out, he’d need 132 pass rush snaps to make it to 1 full sack.

It also depends who is around him. In base or nickel, when you send him, Franklin is still back in coverage. Who was Minnesota’s other off the ball linebacker last year?

As far as math, it comes down to counting. The base goal of NFL defense is to rush 4 and drop 7. You want to drop 7 so you can play every coverage. You need a safe call to fall back on. You build your identity on being cover 2, 3, quarters, or man-2. Sending extra rushers is a wrinkle.

I see what you mean. That’s if we want to perform to 1999 expectations with a player who has limitations. Let’s call it McDuffie ability. I might be more inclined to agree with you.

This is 2026 and players don’t stay in box roles to a 1999 template. We have to be more innovative than traditional is my argument.

 

[mradtke66]

I see what you mean. That’s if we want to perform to 1999 expectations with a player who has limitations. Let’s call it McDuffie ability. I might be more inclined to agree with you.

This is 2026 and players don’t stay in box roles to a 1999 template. We have to be more innovative than traditional is my argument. I see that you firmly disagree and that’s fine I respect your template theory but I don’t need to implement it either. I think that’s how teams get caught behind the times.

It’s not player roles necessarily. It’s foundational defense. The players tend to fall into those roles because of what offenses try to do and how defenses try to stop it.

I’m not saying you cannot rush linebackers, merely that doing so compromises coverage so it needs to be done sparingly, deliberately, pick your fancy word here.

If you send a fifth rusher, you’re forced to either ignore a receiver or not play with two deep safeties. That’s the basic math. As an ILB/MLB/WOLB, you’re an extra rusher. If you’re not an extra rusher, then you’re doing zone blitz stuff and having someone like Parsons, LVN, or Wyatt dropping. That’s worse.

Broadly, let’s talk about what you are proposing. Let’s go to nickel against 11 personnel and Cooper rushes as a fifth often. 30%? 40? Pick a number.

The three WRs are manned up against the three CBs, no issue. X is the deep safety.

First question: Williams comes down into the box. Who does he man against:TE or RB? Remember that Franklin takes the other one.

Next does X stay in the middle or shade to the 2 WR side?

Third, once our defensive tendencies are established, what stops the offense from a three step drop and deep shot to one of the outside WRs? Maybe fake/look to the stack side and come back to the single. We’ve set tendencies, so the offense is going to have a plan for that. You might say press coverage, but the offense can counter that by putting both outside receivers off the line as flankers. Then can then quick or short motion one of them to make press even harder.

You mentioned above that 10.9% is perfect for Cooper to Pass Rush and that’s only factoring plays that developed into a Passing scenario.

Correct, because we are talking about pass rush snaps. If the play is a run, it is impossible for anyone to play coverage (excluding trick plays like flea flickers and pass back sweeps).

Are you suggesting that Eric Wilson was “mismanaged” last season? He ranked #1 in the NFL in pressures (37) and #1 in the NFL in Sacks (6) at the Off Ball position. He Pass rushed on 37.5% of Pass plays. That was not even in the same stratosphere of what you propose for Cooper in 2026.

I’m not so arrogant to say something that worked was a bad idea (unless you’re getting disproportionately lucky. Ie, hitting on 20 and snagging that ace )

The Vikings are odd because of their DC. Flores loves him some extra rushers and lead the league in 2025 at ~50%.

Most other DCs don’t do that. Most others don’t build their scheme that way. Number 2 blitz team was the falcons at ~34%

It’s also a product of who you have on the roster. If the other 10 can do their job and cover it up, you can blitz more. Other teams have a great front 4 and don’t NEED to blitz/weaken coverage to get similar disruption.

For Wilson specifically, I think he’s a JAG outside of his pass rush. I suspect that if he went to any of the other team, he wouldn’t reproduce 2025. The scheme, the roster, and the play calling allowed him to find a home and thrive.

Btw TFL don’t happen by dropping into coverage. I’d say that’s non existent or a total anomoly. I specifically said playing Cooper closer to activity at the LOS. Pass Rushing is 1 component of that. You’re arguing against something I never said.

TFLs can happen on pass plays, they’re just rare. Sufficiently rare that I’d ignore them entirely. No one is playing coverage on run plays. Linebacker default is to play/read run and if it’s a pass, drop into coverage.

And on running plays, he’s already close-ish to the line.

 

[OldSchool101]

I’m not saying you cannot rush linebackers, merely that doing so compromises coverage so it needs to be done sparingly, deliberately, pick your fancy word here.

If you send a fifth rusher, you’re forced to either ignore a receiver or not play with two deep safeties. That’s the basic math. As an ILB/MLB/WOLB, you’re an extra rusher. If you’re not an extra rusher, then you’re doing zone blitz stuff and having someone like Parsons, LVN, or Wyatt dropping. That’s worse.

Broadly, let’s talk about what you are proposing. Let’s go to nickel against 11 personnel and Cooper rushes as a fifth often. 30%? 40? Pick a number.

Cooper doesn’t always need to be a 5th Rusher. I’d be willing to bet Eric Wilson didn’t come as a 5th Rusher on a large proportion of his 180 Pass Rush attempts. That’s called disguising. Pass Rush is as much about disguising through stunts or rotating Personnel at the last millisecond. We’ve all seen this they line up 6 on the LOS and drop 2 last second.

Btw. Yiu still didn’t answer me. This was the initial crutch of your response to me saying Cooper needs to play a higher % closer to LOS than he did in 2025. Was MN wrong to send Wilson on 37.5% of Pass plays? Not saying Cooper should be used that much so please don’t go that pathway. I’m more just curious how you’d respond after you said an automatic 10.6% is ideal at his LB position. Did The Vikings glaringly misuse their ILB Eric Wilson in 2025? Because your math didn’t math at ILB.

 

[mradtke66]

Cooper doesn’t always need to be a 5th Rusher. I’d be willing to bet Eric Wilson didn’t come as a 5th Rusher on a large proportion of his 180 Pass Rush attempts. That’s called disguising. Pass Rush is as much about disguising through stunts or rotating Personnel at the last millisecond. We’ve all seen this they line up 6 on the LOS and drop 2 last second.

Btw. Yiu still didn’t answer me. Was MN wrong to send Wilson on 37.5% of Pass plays? Not saying Cooper should be used that much, just curious how you’d respond after you said an automatic 10.6% is ideal at his LB position.

Heh, response edited. I bumped the submit early.

 

[mradtke66]

Cooper doesn’t always need to be a 5th Rusher. I’d be willing to bet Eric Wilson didn’t come as a 5th Rusher on a large proportion of his 180 Pass Rush attempts. That’s called disguising. Pass Rush is as much about disguising through stunts or rotating Personnel at the last millisecond. We’ve all seen this they line up 6 on the LOS and drop …

I bet Wilson was the 5th or 6th most of the time. Largely projecting based on the Vikings high blitz percentage.

Yes you can crowd the line with extra players, but your front 4 are the base. If your ILB comes, he’s either an extra or you’re dropping one of those front 4, which I really dislike other than a small change up.

Even 3-4s swap to a 4-2/2-4 nickel most of the time because it’s the better pass defense alignment.

 

[OldSchool101]

I bet Wilson was the 5th or 6th most of the time. Largely projecting based on the Vikings high blitz percentage.

Yes you can crowd the line with extra players, but your front 4 are the base. If your ILB comes, he’s either an extra or you’re dropping one of those front 4, which I really dislike other than a small change up.

Even 3-4s swap to a 4-2/2-4 nickel most of the time because it’s the better pass defense alignment.

The entire point I made in post #917 and #914 was to get Cooper a higher % of the time closer to LOS. Not pass rush him every down or anything like that. I’m not expecting us to use Cooper at Wilson’s 37.5%. I am expecting we should use him more than 11%. Although I understood part of that logic after Micah looked like a loose Cheetah. We didn’t need that earlier last season the passes were all 2 yard dump passes they had to be. This season we might not even have Micah for 6 Weeks. It’s all hands on Deck filling his impact at LOS.

 

[mradtke66]

The entire point I made in post #917 and #914 was to get Cooper a higher % of the time closer to LOS. Not pass rush him every down or anything like that. I’m not expecting us to use Cooper at Wilson’s 37.5%. I am expecting we should use him more than 11%. Although I understood part of that logic after Micah looked like a loose Cheetah. We didn’t need that earlier last season the passes were all 2 yard dump passes they had to be. This season we might not even have Micah for 6 Weeks. It’s all hands on Deck filling his impact at LOS.

In 917, you said “In 2025 he had 54% of his snaps in coverage. That number needs to float around 40-45% Pass Coverage.”

To get his coverage numbers down, his pass rush snaps have to go up. Or nicely ask the other team to run the ball 60% of the time.

To get his coverage numbers down to 45% in 2025s, that means 471 (470.7) snaps in coverage. That’s now 148 pass rush snaps, for a pass rush rate of 23.9%. A coverage rate of 40% puts his rush rate at 39.9% exceeding Wilson’s.

 

[gopkrs]

The entire point I made in post #917 and #914 was to get Cooper a higher % of the time closer to LOS. Not pass rush him every down or anything like that. I’m not expecting us to use Cooper at Wilson’s 37.5%. I am expecting we should use him more than 11%. Although I understood part of that logic after Micah looked like a loose Cheetah. We didn’t need that earlier last season the passes were all 2 yard dump passes they had to be. This season we might not even have Micah for 6 Weeks. It’s all hands on Deck filling his impact at LOS.

You said Eric Wilson put 22.5 M in the bank. What was his contract exactly? As for Bishop. I think maybe tackles behind the line of scrimmage could be his forte. I don't know what happened last year but I suspect he was on too short of a leash. I'd like to see him have the go ahead for getting after the runner. Kind of like a base stealer has permission to go when he wants to.

 

[mradtke66]

I'd like to see him have the go ahead for getting after the runner. Kind of like a base stealer has permission to go when he wants to.

There is likely some of that built into the scheme, but it is very playcall and situation specific.

A somewhat typical call can be “you have the RB. If he stays into block, rush.” Or “if he rolls to the defensive right, the right side linebacker goes.”

If you are in zone though, blitzers choice is risky. It creates holes in the zone that can be exploited. If you’re manned up against the TE, he runs a seam and you rush, uh oh.

The Steelers got away with this with Polamalu because of how special he was, the fact that he played safety rather than backer, and Ryan Clark’s own special ability to do the right thing and cover up the “unsound” things he’d do.

 

[gopkrs]

Sometimes coordinators imho fall in love with their scheme and don't allow players to be who they are. Sometimes good of course. But I was talking about Bishop. I never said Blitz. And a middle linebacker will go with the flow if it is a run. So as he is sliding when the run is to the outside; I think he should be given the go ahead to get the RB as opposed to waiting to see what the RB will do. I guess it's a modified run blitz but it is not a blitz from the snap. He has made some very good and impactful plays doing that. Not so much last year as I think he was staying back and waiting as he was probably told to do. Anyway, I'd love to see him have a great year and I'm anxious to see how Zaire does. He could be a better fit for us than Q was.

 

[tynimiller]

You said Eric Wilson put 22.5 M in the bank. What was his contract exactly? As for Bishop. I think maybe tackles behind the line of scrimmage could be his forte. I don't know what happened last year but I suspect he was on too short of a leash. I'd like to see him have the go ahead for getting after the runner. Kind of like a base stealer has permission to go when he wants to.

$6.2 signing bonus and about $13 of the $22.5M contract is guaranteed across three years. Solid but not earth shattering and i still wonder if they will regret that one.

 

[OldSchool101]

$6.2 signing bonus and about $13 of the $22.5M contract is guaranteed across three years. Solid but not earth shattering and i still wonder if they will regret that one.

True. MN very well might regret it. Yet the point of my initial post to Eric’s contract was a reflection that the Vikings are fully aware of Eric’s success from 2025. He led the league in pressures and Sacks at the iLB position. #1. Im not sure how many ILB qualify but you can’t rank better than #1 at any position.

Wilsons contract was $2.6M AAV in 2025 and $7.5mil per in 2026. That’s type payday is a reflection of the Vikings response in $ to Eric’s production imo. That production was part of a D that he was a regular contributor in with just shy of 1000 snaps. Meaning he’s a primary level contributor.
#7 points
#3 yards
#8 1st Downs allowed
#2 Passing Yards
#2 Passing TD’s “
#6 NET Passing yards
#8 Rushing yards Per

Looks to me like whatever the Vikings Defense are doing the Passing game? Other teams should take careful notes.

 

[OldSchool101]

I’m going to assume that Eric Wilson rushing the Passer + being used as an attacking style format didn’t hurt the Vikings. I’m being sold by @mradtke66 that this cannot be done because that’s not his “traditional textbook role”.
I understand a textbook template in theory might not align but in this league roles change and we’d better get on the program or we’ll finish behind the Vikings D again. The status Quo isn’t good enough. When we get a player of magnitude like Edgerrin we’d better find out quickly how to utilize him properly. He’s nowhere near his ceiling in 2025 imo.

This is a guy we just kicked to the curb in 2025!
6.5 Sacks (#1)
17 TFL (#1)
115 Tackles
10 QB hits
4 FF (#1)
6 hurries
37 Pressures (#1)
4 QB knockdowns
83.2% Passer rating allowed

Looks to me like we could learn a thing or two about how to play LB from Brian Flores and his Staff. There’s 0% excuse good enough of why The Packers can’t get more production from Edgerrin Cooper. Eric Wilson is just not that much better than Edgerrin no Offense to Eric. I was one of a very strict minority in his corner from Day #1 in GB and I even got ridiculed in here, so I remember well. I was essentially told “why would the Vikings let a great player go, he’s washed up”. and was similarly told in here “he’s not very good”. So forgive me for not listening to that rhetoric!

Now I’m being told that Cooper can’t be used to affect LOS more than 2025 because “he’s just an iLB and that’s not how LB’s traditionally operate”. Templates are for Rookies until they learn to operate by adapting off that template. Cooper mastered the template in 6-8 weeks in 2024 and took off like a Rocket Ship in his Rookie season. He is not Isaiah McDuffie (sorry Isaiah!) who needs to function off a Textbook template for 3-4 seasons first. Coop is ready to elevate Yesterday.

 

[OldSchool101]

GB has the proper Roster to make a step in 2026. Gannon should be salivating with his LB core. Brenton Cox Jr led the the entire Packers Roster in Pass Rush Efficiency in 2024, Edgerrin Cooper was a close 2nd Place. Eric Wilson was nipping at his heels. Then we saw Wyatt and Gary rounding out the Top 5 Pass Rusher Efficiency numbers.

Gary is Gone but something better is here. Micah Parsons is a Pass Rush anomoly. Only Myles Garrett is regularly seen exceeding Micah’s impact. We’ve got arguably the #2 most efficient Pass Rusher in the NFL. Yet just behind him is Edgerrin. That’s not something we should strip away from him imo. That something you build upon and find ways to go non traditional with him.

Also Brenton Cox wasn’t even around for almost all of 2025. I think he came back and played 1 or 2 games and even immediately logged a Sack. He’s another player I’d like to see heavily involved in rotation (if fully healthy).

Could Edgerrin Cooper Make a Full-Time Transition To Pass Rusher? - Zone Coverage

The Green Bay Packers may consider moving Edgerrin Cooper to full-time pass rusher. You might think that’s crazy because Cooper is Green Bay’s best

zonecoverage.com

 

[gopkrs]

Vikings obviously value Wilson. But 7M is not that much is it?

 

[mradtke66]

I’m going to assume that Eric Wilson rushing the Passer + being used as an attacking style format didn’t hurt the Vikings. I’m being sold by @mradtke66 that this cannot be done because that’s not his “traditional textbook role”.
I understand a textbook template in theory might not align but in this league roles change and we’d better get on the program or we’ll finish behind the Vikings D again. The status Quo isn’t good enough. When we get a player of magnitude like Edgerrin we’d better find out quickly how to utilize him properly. He’s nowhere near his ceiling in 2025 imo.

This is a guy we just kicked to the curb in 2025!
6.5 Sacks (#1)
17 TFL (#1)
115 Tackles
10 QB hits
4 FF (#1)
6 hurries
37 Pressures (#1)
4 QB knockdowns
83.2% Passer rating allowed

Looks to me like we could learn a thing or two about how to play LB from Brian Flores and his Staff. There’s 0% excuse good enough of why The Packers can’t get more production from Edgerrin Cooper. Eric Wilson is just not that much better than Edgerrin no Offense to Eric. I was one of a very strict minority in his corner from Day #1 in GB and I even got ridiculed in here, so I remember well. I was essentially told “why would the Vikings let a great player go, he’s washed up”. and was similarly told in here “he’s not very good”. So forgive me for not listening to that rhetoric!

Now I’m being told that Cooper can’t be used to affect LOS more than 2025 because “he’s just an iLB and that’s not how LB’s traditionally operate”.

You’re conflating different things, so I’ll try to more clearly state my position.

In the modern NFL, teams send extra rushers about 30% of the time. The Vikings are an outlier at 48-50%. They skew the average as only the top 6 teams hit or exceeded 30%. The packers were in bottom 6th, the Cardinals were bottom 14th.

This brings me to my conclusion that the NFL as a whole sees the blitz as risky, save for Brian Flores. The follow up conclusion is that Flores entire scheme is a statistical anomaly AND that he likely has built his whole scheme around extra rushers.

Could other teams run the same scheme? Yes, but they don’t. This leads me to believe that other teams lack the personnel or the skill or play calling ability or something else to run this scheme and get the same positive results. Ergo, projecting or predicting league trends on a single team isn’t reliable.

As far as “forcing Cooper to play a role” just because “linebackers have to do that,” is not my position. It is more that most schemes need certain things from certain positions to maintain integrity at all three levels. There is, as always, latitude within the scheme for special players, but only so much.

If your DC wants to primarily run a Man-2 scheme, then corners and linebackers will need to primarily play man to man coverage against one of the five eligible receivers. If he wants to play cover-3, then your linebackers, strong safety, and nickel back will have to primarily play the hook zones.

For run defense, if he’s playing single gap run fits, then the Middle/strong inside probably is responsible for the A gap opposite the NT and then pursuit secondarily. The weak ILB will probably start with opposite B gap responsibility and then pursuit. Neither is rocket science, it just falls into place based on alignment. For lack of a better term, the linebackers tend to get the left over responsibilities.

Can ILBs do different things? Of course. The question becomes the trickle down impacts. If you walk him or them into the A gaps to just fake a blitz, the job of pursuit probably got harder. If he has to get to a specific zone for coverage, that drop might be harder. Against play action, he might now get caught up in the trash in the middle and not diagnose quick enough.

As far as Cooper being this efficient pass rusher, I don’t see it. How are you measuring that?

As far as Wilson being more productive than Cooper, I don’t agree with that either. He got significantly more pass stats, but I attribute that to scheme.

But let’s have you clearly define how you think Cooper should be used. Where should be aligned most of the time? On passing plays, what should his responsibility be most of the time? How often should he rush the passer? When he’s rushing, how often is he one of the main 4? If he is one of the main 4, who are we dropping into coverage instead (base, nickel, and dime, respectively)? If he’s the fifth rusher, how often should the play call be for that?

 

[OldSchool101]

You’re conflating different things, so I’ll try to more clearly state my position.

In the modern NFL, teams send extra rushers about 30% of the time. The Vikings are an outlier at 48-50%. They skew the average as only the top 6 teams hit or exceeded 30%. The packers were in bottom 6th, the Cardinals were bottom 14th.

This brings me to my conclusion that the NFL as a whole sees the blitz as risky, save for Brian Flores. The follow up conclusion is that Flores entire scheme is a statistical anomaly AND that he likely has built his whole scheme around extra rushers.

Could other teams run the same scheme? Yes, but they don’t. This leads me to believe that other teams lack the personnel or the skill or play calling ability or something else to run this scheme and get the same positive results. Ergo, projecting or predicting league trends on a single team isn’t reliable.

As far as “forcing Cooper to play a role” just because “linebackers have to do that,” is not my position. It is more that most schemes need certain things from certain positions to maintain integrity at all three levels. There is, as always, latitude within the scheme for special players, but only so much.

If your DC wants to primarily run a Man-2 scheme, then corners and linebackers will need to primarily play man to man coverage against one of the five eligible receivers. If he wants to play cover-3, then your linebackers, strong safety, and nickel back will have to primarily play the hook zones.

For run defense, if he’s playing single gap run fits, then the Middle/strong inside probably is responsible for the A gap opposite the NT and then pursuit secondarily. The weak ILB will probably start with opposite B gap responsibility and then pursuit. Neither is rocket science, it just falls into place based on alignment. For lack of a better term, the linebackers tend to get the left over responsibilities.

Can ILBs do different things? Of course. The question becomes the trickle down impacts. If you walk him or them into the A gaps to just fake a blitz, the job of pursuit probably got harder. If he has to get to a specific zone for coverage, that drop might be harder. Against play action, he might now get caught up in the trash in the middle and not diagnose quick enough.

As far as Cooper being this efficient pass rusher, I don’t see it. How are you measuring that?

As far as Wilson being more productive than Cooper, I don’t agree with that either. He got significantly more pass stats, but I attribute that to scheme.

But let’s have you clearly define how you think Cooper should be used. Where should be aligned most of the time? On passing plays, what should his responsibility be most of the time? How often should he rush the passer? When he’s rushing, how often is he one of the main 4? If he is one of the main 4, who are we dropping into coverage instead (base, nickel, and dime, respectively)? If he’s the fifth rusher, how often should the play call be for that?

I guess That’s for an NFL Coordinator to figure out. I’m not Coordinator level and even then it takes an above average one. As far as the Vikings success, 48% Blitzing is absolutely an anomaly and being Top 10 in most key categories is even more so.

I’m not suggesting Green Bay replicate to the snap what MN does. I am suggesting Coopers effectiveness in the Run game and Pass Rush and Short Passing game diminished. You’re trying to Peel this into we need to Pass Rush at 48% of snaps. I never said that. I said teams can balance 1 player by 10% more Pass Rush Snaps by design. 54% (actually looking at it was 53%) to 40-45% is roughly a 10%+- differential. 53% (dropping into pass protect) less 10% is 43% if my math is correct. 10% change is not some insurmountable change for Edgerrin. That 10% variance could be used in part to attack the Pocket

Edgerrin went from 13 TFL’s in 2024 to 4 TFL in 2025, that wasn’t all logged in the Passing game. His QB hits and Sscks and Pressures dropped markedly because his Pass Rushing was near non existent at just 3.8% of total Snaps.

2025 =1,046 Snaps
2024 = 491 snaps

How does a particular players’ raw totals productivity drop markedly with a 213% increase in Raw Defensive snaps? His blitz went from 6.5% of snaps to 3.8% of snaps, that’s a part of it.

How does his 2024
14.5 KnockDowns+Pressure+Sacks turn into
2025=
7.5 KD+Press+Sacks

That’s a colossal failure of player efficiency when his snaps are well over doubled. Not 20% more nit 50% more snaps. We’re talking 113% MORE snaps. Yet I’m supposed to sit here and agree that he’s being used properly? I don’t think so. I’m not the smartest tool in the shed and you might be very knowledgeable in schematic. However in Engineering a formulae to analyze data I am smart enough to see when something is a fail (to expectation). I watch very smart people outsmart themselves daily that might be part of it. I think Jeff was that guy in 2025. Not in totality but concerning Edge Cooper specifically.

 

[OldSchool101]

Edgerrin imo is one of the top 5 best Defenders in GB. Past Micah and maybe McKinney he might even be #3.

See I have high expectations for Coop. Some folks will spin this opposite. I want him to be special level. He’s 1 player that I think can turn into a Bobby Wagner type impact player IF. Big IF. Someone smarter than me can figure out how to use him properly.

 

[mradtke66]

I never said that. I said teams can balance 1 player by 10% more Pass Rush Snaps by design. 54% (actually looking at it was 53%) to 40-45% is roughly a 10%+- differential. 53% (dropping into pass protect) less 10% is 43% if my math is correct. 10% change is not some insurmountable change for Edgerrin. That 10% variance could be used in part to attack the ball, which includes the Run game also. Edgerrin went from 13 TFL’s in 2024 to 4 TFL in 2025, that wasn’t all the Passing game.

The problem is with how you’re looking at percentages.

The plays he was not rushing the passer or in coverage, we was playing the run. (PFF doesn’t seem to breakdown run fits vs run blitzes, so we have a gap there.)

To figure out his pass rush/blitz rate, you have to exclude the run downs. He played 1046 snaps, but only 619 were pass snaps (coverage + rush) snaps. The other 427 snaps were run defense, roughly 40.8% of the time.

At an extreme, if he’s blitzed every run play in 2025 (426) and his 66 pass rush plays, he’s still in coverage 52.8% (553 snaps) of the time.

To decrease his coverage rate, you have to have him play fewer pass snaps or rush him more.

I think I covered this previously, but I’ll repeat it here. He played 1046 snaps total. 619 of them were pass snaps (66 rushing, 553 in coverage.).

That math checks out, 553/1046 =0.5286.

Going the other way, .4*1046=418.4. Lets round to 418 even. 418/619=0.675. Coverage on 67.5% of pass plays, so rushing on 34.4% of pass plays.

If you target 45% in coverage, the results are similar. .45*1046=470.7. Lets round to 471. 471/619=0.760. Coverage on 76% of pass plays, rushing on 24% of them.

 

[mradtke66]

Edgerrin imo is one of the top 5 best Defenders in GB. Past Micah and maybe McKinney he might even be #3.

I don’t disagree that Cooper is probably in the top 5 on our defense. Parsons and X are 1 and 2, the next tier id have to think about.

I’d put Wyatt, LVN, Cooper, Bullard, and Williams next, though I’m not sure how I’d order them.

 

[OldSchool101]

Vikings obviously value Wilson. But 7M is not that much is it?

It’s a little high based on age and position. Yet if he produced at his 2025 rate it’s about right I think.

 

[OldSchool101]

I don’t disagree that Cooper is probably in the top 5 on our defense. Parsons and X are 1 and 2, the next tier id have to think about.

I’d put Wyatt, LVN, Cooper, Bullard, and Williams next, though I’m not sure how I’d order them.

I’d absolutely pick Cooper before Bullard or Williams. Might have to think about comparing Wyatt. I really like him. He’s kinda wears well and is still improving. Nothing against Williams or Bullard I just think they are good Starters, but they could continue to rise. We have a lot of 1st contract players we’re talking about here.

Cooper came in like it was College all over again. His 2024 season he almost didn’t miss a beat. The only thing he lacked was playing time. I’m just advocating to get him more proactive, that all nothing more nothing less. Yiur good at numbers @mradtke66 you figure it out and tell Gannon for me. I’ll back you up if he gets mad and I’ll wrap up Gannons’ legs. You take his torso and pound on him until he agrees with me. I won’t let go until I hear “Uncle” 3 times.