Injuries to Chad Greenway and Anthony Barr have increased linebacker Gerald Hodges playing time throughout the year. He started three games early in the season when Greenway was out, and has started the last two games as well in place of Barr. Last year’s fourth round selection out of Penn State has definitely maximized those opportunities.
Over the last two weeks alone, Hodges has amassed a +6.3 overall grade, and for the season his +6.9 overall mark ranks 11th among all 4-3 outside linebackers. He’s graded positively against both pass (+1.5) and run (+5.8). With 14 stops in limited action, Hodges' work in the run game has been the biggest boon for the Vikings; his 9.9% Run Stop Percentage ranks 13th out of 40 qualifying linebackers. Hodges 10.2 Combined Tackling Efficiency ranks 22nd among qualifying linebackers, and is better than that of any other linebacker who has started for the Vikings this season.
With Hodges' emergence alongside the development of Barr, the Vikings find themselves with a pair of talented young options at the outside linebacker position.
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