‘That’s different’ — Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell highlights fascinating change that could pay dividends
Edge rusher has been a problem for the Minnesota Vikings, and they are taking a unique approach for the position.
One of the biggest issues for the Minnesota Vikings going into mandatory minicamp next week is the depth at edge rusher. They don’t have nearly enough of it.
Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel are a nice duo as starters at edge rusher, including the latter being a second-team All-Pro in 2024. After those two, there are major questions at the position.
Outside of the starting duo, it’s Bo Richter and Chaz Chambliss. While both guys are solid on special teams, neither is ready nor capable of playing 400-500 snaps as a rotational edge rusher.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins Facts
- The Minnesota Vikings selected him with the first pick in the fifth-round at No. 139 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
- As a rookie, Ingram-Dawkins played in 14 games as a rotational player with 250 snaps on defense.
- This season, Ingram-Dawkins appears to be slimmed down and playing with the edge rushers.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is working with the edge rushers
One thing we noticed during the first OTA practice where media was allowed to watch was defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins working with the edge rushers. It was an interesting development for the Vikings, as Ingram-Dawkins was an undersized interior player who looked to have bulked up from the 275 pounds he weighed at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about Ingram-Dawkins working with the edge rushers, and he highlighted his versatility.
“One of the things we really liked about him was his versatility. He did a lot of different things at Georgia, and he’s a really heavy presence on the edge. [When] we’re trying to run the ball out at that CD [Christian Darrisaw] gap out there, and then he’s out there setting the edge, that’s different. And then his versatility to get kick inside, I don’t know if we’ll see him get much tighter than maybe a three [3T], but from the 3T all the way out to the edge, that’s a really versatile player. And then you pair that with what Caleb [Banks] can be from a versatile standpoint, really being kind of from that 4i/5T on down, it’s exciting. And he’s had a really good sprint, and that kind of year to jump, we’re hoping that it’s happening right now.”
Minnesota Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell
The idea of moving Ingram-Dawkins to the edge permanently is a difficult one. It’s not a move that I would have recommended, as he doesn’t have the requisite bend to thrive at that position long-term. The one intrigue here is finding a way to maximize what he can do: set the edge. He’s got the length and strength to do it successfully, and if they give the other edge rusher the two-way go, it could work.
Versatility has been the calling card for Brian Flores‘ defense, and Ingram-Dawkins could provide just that.