NFL: Sendejo steps up, Hodges not so much

By Chris Tomasson
St. Paul Pioneer Press
MINNEAPOLIS - Gerald Hodges made his first start at middle linebacker for the Vikings on Monday night, and he has no plans to step aside.
“That job is mine,” Hodges said. “It’s self-explanatory.”
Hodges didn’t exactly tear things up in his debut. According to Pro Football Focus, his minus-3.2 rating was the second-lowest grade of any Minnesota player in the 20-3 loss to the 49ers at San Francisco. Only defensive end Everson Griffen was worse, at minus-4.8.
Then again, few Minnesota players did well. The Vikings gave up 395 yards, including 230 on the ground.
“It was uncharacteristic of us,” Hodges said. “We didn’t go out and perform like we are supposed to.”
Hodges, who started seven games last season at outside linebacker, beat out rookie Eric Kendricks and Audie Cole for the job during the preseason. Hodges was in for 63 plays Monday and Kendricks 10. Cole’s only action was on special teams, where he recovered a fumble.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday the linebackers were “average at best’’ and “didn’t get off blocks good enough’’ against the 49ers. Zimmer said Kendricks “didn’t play that good,’’ possibly helping Hodges at least keep his job by default.
One surprise on defense was Andrew Sendejo starting at strong safety in place of Robert Blanton, who started all 16 games last season and all five in the preseason. Sendejo said he learned during the week he would start.
Pro Football Focus rated Sendejo a minus-2.7, the fourth-worst on defense, in 53 snaps while Blanton was a minus-1.2 in 20 plays. Unlike Hodges, Sendejo made no declarations about holding onto his job.
“Obviously, you can always do something better,” Sendejo said. “Just overall I know I could have played better, definitely individually. So you just make the corrections and play better.”
Sendejo blocked a 28-yard field-goal attempt by Phil Dawson in the first quarter. Marcus Sherels recovered it and return it 44 yards to the San Francisco 26-yard line. But the Vikings failed to capitalize when Blair Walsh missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt.
“Sherels did a nice job of making it off the edge and making (a 49ers blocker) widen out, and it kind of opened up,” Sendejo said.
Sendejo was named Minnesota’s top special-teams player in 2014, which puts the Vikings in a bit of a quandary when it comes to starting him on defense. In order for Sendejo to get adequate rest Monday, he was taken off Vikings punts and kickoffs but remained on other teams.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in this league that can play all four phases of special teams and start on defense and not be completely gassed,” Sendejo said. “Even playing two phases of special teams and starting on defense, you can get a little winded, if you get a long drive.
“That’s just part of it. But I feel like I have good motors and good endurance, and that’s why they leave me on two of the special teams. ... Even if I’m starting on defense, I’ll tell (special-teams coordinator Mike) Priefer, ‘If you need me for something, just let me know and I’ll come in.’ ”
Sendejo did have the best Pro Football Focus special-teams grade of a Minnesota player at plus-1.0.
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