Preseason - Seahawks @ Vikings Discussion

Stephen Weatherly and Hercules Mata’afa should learn a lot about each other in the next week.

The Vikings defensive linemen will face two of the NFL’s most mobile quarterbacks — Seattle’s Russell Wilson on Sunday and Arizona’s Kyler Murray six days later.

Weatherly, a defensive end entering his fourth NFL season, and Mata’afa, a defensive tackle playing in his second NFL preseason game, could be the Vikings’ answer to creating interior pass rush this season. In addition to playing together as backups, Weatherly and Mata’afa have been paired together as pass-rushing defensive tackles on long third downs.

Should the duo stick in the Vikings’ plans, they need to show they can rush the passer in harmony. Mobile — and unpredictable — quarterbacks such as Wilson are one of the best litmus tests.

“This is where it gets tested,” Weatherly said. “That connective tissue, that camaraderie we’ve been building since OTAs. It’ll get tested this week, because when you think [Mata’afa] went left, but he went right and created a running lane [for the quarterback] up the middle, I’m like, ‘O.K., now I know for sure what he does and how he likes to get off the block.’”

The Vikings defensive line has a system. If two players run a “stunt,” or twist, the younger guy has to listen to the older guy’s cue for who goes first. So Weatherly, 25, will guide Mata’afa, 23, through this preseason.

“That’s something we’ve been working on,” Weatherly said. “I’ve communicated with him every time, me being the older guy, put him at ease when we get into the game.”

Mata’afa, the promising second-year pro out of Washington State, already has his sights set high.

“I don’t want to be just known as a pass rusher,” Mata’afa said. “I want to be a starter in this league. That’s my ultimate goal.”