The Minnesota Vikings have proven to be a thorn in the side of the San Francisco 49ers for the past two years, with a perfect 2-0 record against them. One key factor in their success has been the defensive coordinator, Brian Flores.
Flores has been able to effectively mix up his defensive schemes, keeping the 49ers off balance and unable to predict his next move. Even when the 49ers knew what was coming, they were unable to stop it. This was evident in their recent matchup, where head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged Flores’ strategic prowess.
“That’s what they do,” Shanahan stated to reporters. “They either blitz or they back off and play zone. It’s one or the other. They’ve been mixing it up. They did it for 17 games last year. Now they’ve done it for two games this year.”
Quarterback Brock Purdy also felt the impact of Flores’ game plan, noting how confused he was by the approach.
“Brian Flores did what he’s done on tape today,” Purdy said after the game. “They’re just really, really good at it. . . . Tip of the cap to Brian Flores. . . . They just did a good job with making it look like one thing and it was another. Different types of blitzes or just dropping out [from blitzes].”
The goal of Flores’ defensive scheme is to keep the opposing offense guessing and under pressure throughout the game. Shanahan emphasized the constant threat of blitzes and the challenge it presents to quarterbacks in finding open zones.
“It’s to have six guys up on the line and come from everywhere,” Shanahan explained. “So you’ve got to — it’s just a lot of pressure on a quarterback throughout a game. That’s what their scheme is. They’re going to make you think whether you’re hot every play and if you’re not, then you’ve got to find the open zones. There are a lot of open zones, but it’s tough the way they slow you down with having the threat of zero [all-out blitz] throughout the game.”
In addition to disrupting passing plays, Flores’ defensive approach also limits checkdown throws to running backs by keeping them in the backfield for blocking purposes. This further complicates the offensive strategy and adds to the challenge for the opposing team.
Looking ahead, the Houston Texans will be the next team tasked with deciphering Flores’ defensive tactics on Sunday. They will need to quickly process and adjust to the ever-changing defensive fronts before they find themselves overwhelmed on the field. The chess match between Flores and the Texans’ offense promises to be a battle of wits and strategy.
