Vikings give rookie defender minimal snaps, no reason to be concerned
The Minnesota Vikings have been thriving on the defensive side of the football this season. They are among the best in the National Football League when looking at underlying metrics and are allowing a paltry 14.75 points per game in their 4-0 start. They are doing so without having much impact from their rookie class […]
The Minnesota Vikings have been thriving on the defensive side of the football this season. They are among the best in the National Football League when looking at underlying metrics and are allowing a paltry 14.75 points per game in their 4-0 start.
They are doing so without having much impact from their rookie class at all. Then again, you don't want to go into a season expecting to get a lot of production from your rookie class.
Dallas Turner isn't playing much
The Vikings haven't had to rely on rookies much this season due to the play they have gotten from their veterans. One of those that many thought they would get production from early on was first round pick edge rusher Dallas Turner.
On the season, Turner has played 64 total snaps on defense with 35 coming in their week one win over the New York Giants. You can credit the blowout fashion the Vikings won in that Turner got so many snaps. He followed that up with 18 snaps against the San Francisco 49ers before getting hurt on the final 49ers offensive drive.
After missing the game against the Houston Texans, Turner only played in 11 snaps against the Green Bay Packers. Why did he end up playing so little? You could make the argument that with the game script the way it was that the Vikings preferred to play their veterans.
Andrew VanGinkel played 67 snaps, Jonathan Greenard had 61 snaps, Pat Jones II had 43 snaps and Jihad Ward had 31 snaps. The Packers may have been down the entire game but the Vikings played their standard defense throughout the game.
The other possible answer is the Vikings were trying to ease him back in after his injury. Either way, the Vikings are in a good spot not being forced to play Turner is a great thing for the future.
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