MIAMI GARDENS ― Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has blitzed opponents on 66.4 percent of snaps this season.
This is an insanely high number and to blow your mind even further, consider this: In a defeat of the Bears this season, he blitzed Caleb Williams 27 times.
Twenty seven times!
"This is definitely the first time at the highest level that I'm going to see that," Miami Dolphins rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor said in advance of a game at the Vikings on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Does Proctor get the feeling opposing defensive coordinators will try to go after Proctor because of his lack of NFL experience?
"I would say so," Proctor said. "You know, like I say, 'I'm the weakest link,' and, you know, people have attacked me up to this
point, but I'm not scared. I'm not going to shy away from it. So bring it."
Bring it is the perfect mindset from the youngster.
The Dolphins did not allow a sack to the Chiefs in Week 3, after permitting nine of Malik Willis in the first two games. But Miami understands what's they're in for against their former head coach on Sunday.
"I think he's a great coordinator," Miami quarterback Willis said of Flores. "And he shows it at how he get after these quarterbacks. And I think we just got to listen to our coaches and prepare this week with the scheme they have for us."
Expect Flores to target guards Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea and right tackle Austin Jackson.
He will also likely find a way to attack rookies in the game at tight end, fullback and wide receiver.
Jackson played under Flores in 2019.
"Yeah, he does do it a lot in certain situations," Jackson said. "It's really situational. It’s really situational. I would say we study as much as we can on our end, but at the end of the day, he could choose not to blitz us. He could drop everyone, make us read. You never know for sure but we're just gonna study all the blitzes we can and prepare to react to whatever we get on Sunday."
Hafley is familiar with Flores as they both have ties to Boston College.
"A great play-caller," Hafley said.
Hafley said the responsibility be succeed against the blitz is not just on the offensive line. It's also on the quarterback, running backs, tight ends and receivers.
Hafley knows the Vikings have it rolling on defense.
"They have a lot of veteran players that have played in the system that are really good at communicating and checking and talk to one another," Hafley said. "I think the older you get and the more experience you get with guys, you can start to build it and do more and more because there's so much communication that goes into that."
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Threads and Instagram and X at @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Brian Flores Blitzes Everyone. Now He’s Coming for the Dolphins.
