EAGAN, Minnesota -- Minnesota Vikings nose tackle Michael Pierce had just completed his first one-on-one pass rush of training camp when he was grabbed by assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson.
“He just took the guy and walked him back onto the quarterback’s feet,” Patterson said. “He went right by him, and I was surprised.”
Patterson wanted to emphasize to Pierce that despite the fact his primary role during his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens wasn’t to collapse the pocket and rush the passer, things would be different with the Vikings.