Did the Ivan Pace Jr. Honeymoon End?
This week, the Minnesota Vikings welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to U.S. Bank Stadium. It will be their first home game since Week 3, and Kevin O’Connell’s team is seeking its fourth win of the season. It sounds as though linebacker Blake Cashman will be back on the field. That’s good news, but it could spell the end for Ivan Pace Jr.
With Blake Cashman back on the field for the Minnesota Vikings, it’s possible Ivan Pace Jr.’s poor play could cost him a starting role.
Two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings plucked Ivan Pace Jr. off the scrap heap as an undrafted free agent. He was an undersized linebacker who came in and had a chip on his shoulder. He played in 17 games and drew 11 starts while racking up 102 tackles. To say it was an impressive rookie showing would be an understatement.
Will the Ivan Pace Jr. Slow Start Persist?
Last season, Pace recorded a career-best three sacks, but he played in just 11 games and totaled 72 tackles. His availability alongside Blake Cashman allowed other players to step up.
This season, the Vikings brought back veteran Eric Wilson as a depth piece. After Cashman got hurt early on, Wilson was elevated to a starting role and played next to Pace. The problem has been that the other starter has been terrible.
With Cashman back in the fold, Brian Flores may decide to pair his defensive quarterback with Wilson and let Pace try to earn his way back onto the field. The reality is that the defensive front has not performed as expected, and some of the blame falls on the linebacking corps.
It’s unfortunate that this is where the Vikings find themselves, but this is the reality of their current situation. The defense must be a strength, and the more the front seven can carry the load, the more effectively the secondary can perform.
Ultimately, we’ll see how the snap breakdown shakes out on Sunday. Cashman is going to be back, though, and someone is going to sit because of it.
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