The Vikings also run a 4-3. So they dont seek OLB edge rushers. They have DE's who can rush. Big difference. The Packers also had MANY times where the backend held it ground for 5+ seconds. The front 7 just could not get home because they dont have a dominant pass rusher. A lights out defensive front with and okay defensive backfield will do more good than a lights out backend with and okay fron 7.
Couple of points:
1:The edge rushers for the Vikings are indeed defensive ends, and they are indeed mid round picks. And it is true what I said, their first round picks on defense have been defensive backs, and they did that again this year. And,
they were the #1 defense for yds/gm last year. Apparently they prioritize differently than Packer fans and media.
2:We as fans have no idea what Pettine's defense in Green Bay will be, but I believe it will be a 4-3 under, since that is what he has run elsewhere. If that is the case, then the OLB needs change considerably.
Consider the following:
3:In Pettine's previous system, there was the "rush" OLB that has the traits of a Nick Perry type player, and there is a SAM backer on the other side that fits the Kyler Fackrell type that can play in space covering short zones, and blitz when called for. The SAM is not a primary rusher. The Sam is paired up with the 5 technique on that side, likely Wilkerson, and the rush threat comes from the multiplicity that the combo produces. Get on NFL.com's game pass and watch the all 22 from Pettine's stay in Buffalo- it will clarify a lot of things.
4:In general, the pass rush from the 4-3 under comes from the ability to force favorable matchups since the only pass rusher easily doubled is the 1 technique, and it is easy to disguise where the pressure will come from and overload the blocking scheme.
I will end with this:
5:I don't believe the dominant problem last year was the defensive backfield covered well but broke down with time. The bigger issue was the coverage was poor, especially in zone assignments, and the QB had multiple open targets and could throw before pressure had a chance. You won't fix the pass rush until you fix the back end. The two go together like hand in glove. As a result, our ability to get 2 of the top corners in this draft was a huge stroke of luck for developing the scheme.
6:As I have said before, I believe we are in a mini rebuild, and Gute will likely upgrade EDGE next year. However, much like when Capers came to town and converted from the 4-3 to a 3-4, everyone in the media were saying he didn't have the correct player types for the scheme. Despite that, his defenses in his first two years were top 5. Likewise, y'all just need to give this some time to reveal itself before you start saying it isn't going to work.