EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman dropped back into coverage on an early third down Sunday with his eyes locked on San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy.
The third-year QB whipped a pass to his star receiver Deebo Samuel for what would have been a first down – but Cashman had other plans.
The Eden Prairie native and former University of Minnesota standout left his feet and batted the ball to the turf to force a quick three-and-out in the game's first drive. The pass deflection came after Cashman made consecutive tackles on first and second down – both in pass coverage – setting up for what turned out to be an active afternoon for the 28-year-old linebacker.
"This defense, it brings a lot of pressure – the ball has to get out quick – provides a lot of stress for offenses and quarterbacks," said Cashman, who was named to the 2014 KARE 11 All-Metro Defensive Team during his senior year at Eden Prairie High School. "Once you see that chaos happening on the field, it makes you smile out there as a defender because you want to see your opponent flustered."
The 49ers were plenty flustered, and Cashman was a big reason why. He's been all over the field this season and leads the team in both tackles (19) and passes defended (3). He’s currently on pace to finish with 162 total tackles, 8.5 sacks and 26 passes defended – all would be career bests.
"I've got to give credit to the guys that I'm around," he said. "I think when you play with a lot of talent surrounding you – guys that play with high IQ, understand the scheme and how to play in it – I think that elevates everybody's game."
Cashman included.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores went out of his way to praise the former fifth-round pick for what he's done for the players around him – getting everyone on the same page and helping in any way possible.
“I’m excited to have him, excited to continue working with him. He’s a great teammate … and he’s an E.P. guy, so you can’t knock anyone from Eden Prairie,” joked Flores, who currently resides in the southwestern suburb.
Flores admitted he didn’t really know much about the linebacker until last season when he was talking with one of his friends, who just so happened to be Cashman's former linebacker coach when he was at the University of Minnesota.
“His college coach, Mike Sherels, was at the U with him, so his daughters and my daughter are in the same class, so I got to know Mike that way,” said Flores. “This is October, November last year and he’s like… ‘Blake Cashman, I had him at the U and he was the best guy we had.’”
That’s when he said he turned the tape on.
“He was right,” Flores said of Sherels’ evaluation.
Cashman is one of several new players who were brought in during the offseason to help revamp and revitalize the defensive unit. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were brought in to pursue the quarterback, while cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin were signed to help in the pass game.
Cashman has helped in both areas.
"I just trust the coaching," said Cashman. "There's a lot of things early on with this defense that was unfamiliar to me and I had a hard time trusting it. But then as we continued to work on it in practice, you see it come to life and it's kind of like a lightbulb goes off in your head with what we're trying to accomplish."
Cashman struggled with injuries in his first three seasons with the New York Jets before getting traded to the Houston Texans in 2022. He started 13 games last season in Houston, recording 106 total tackles, five passes defended, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.
On Sunday, he’ll welcome his former team to U.S. Bank Stadium but don't expect it to be a warm reception.
"You say hi to the guys you're close to, but we're not doing no buddy-buddy stuff this week. We treat football games like war," said Cashman. "I'm going into it like they're another opponent. Got a lot of respect for the guys over there and the organization as a whole, and after the game the Vikings are on the good end of things."
