According to Patterson, the Vikings defensive tackles' "number one job" is to not let anyone touch Kendricks – and it's a responsibility Stephen takes seriously.
"They're doing what we coach them to do," Patterson said. "Some people take that 3-technique role, and that guy's a penetrating guy. He's trying to get in the backfield and get tackles for losses and is better on his pass rush because he's moving forward, but we don't ask our guy to do that. We ask our guy to keep Eric Kendricks free. We want to flatten out the line of scrimmage. 'Don't let any linemen leave the line of scrimmage, the inside guys, and let Eric [play] free.'
"So those guys are just going out there and executing what I coach them to do, and that's why that position is so important," Patterson added.
Stephen was asked during a recent session with media members if he takes pride in enabling Kendricks and Anthony Barr to make big plays. True to his nature, he avoided taking too much credit.
"For me it's just being able to do my job. If my job is to hold up a block or choke off a block or do my job, that's what I'm gonna do," Stephen said.
Stephen isn't bothered by "the star stuff" or the fact that he's flown under the radar on a roster featuring the likes of Everson Griffen, who signed with the Cowboys last week, or Danielle Hunter, who last season became the youngest player in NFL history to accrue 50 career sacks.
"I just care about playing football and helping my team win," he emphasized. "All the other stuff, all the media [talk], I disregard. Because the most important thing is the team, and that's all I care about."
Chances are, Stephen's stat line will remain pretty short while he delivers a tall order of dirty work up front.
Like the blue-collar work ethic Zimmer lauds in the Vikings locker room, Stephen's "highlight reel" is modest but meaningful – and his teammates couldn't ask for anything more.
"Our defense is always predicated on how well you can do your job to help the team, and the fact that he's been around for so long and that he's been trusted, it just shows you what kind of player he is," Kendricks said. "I can name so many times where Shamar's come up big for us, and he's just so consistent all the time.
"He's not going to be the flashy guy who creates huge tackles for loss and X-Y-Z, but you know what? He's gonna be there when you need him the most," Kendricks added. "He's going to be there when we're down, when we're up, and he's going to be consistent. He's going to do his job."
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Shamar Stephen's Impact Felt Far Beyond Stat Sheet - Vikings.com
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