Dallas Turner

pattersaur wrote:
Quinyon Mitchell, PHI CB rookie, locked down Terry McLaurin last night. Extremely impressive. He's been shutting down WR1s all year.

I guess I'm going to keep posting sad Turner adjacent factoids in here by myself. Why? Unsure.

I suspect its because fans are still rooting for Turner to turn the corner and aren't that interested in how other teams rookies are doing in comparison? 

Its pretty safe to say at this point that the #1 draft choices from last year wont contribute much in 24. 

Fingers crossed for 25!

I think people forget that among our FA signings and draft additions at Edge, was Greenard and Van Ginkel and of course Turner. Our losses included Hunter and DJ Wonnum (who is now starting to break out for Carolina after healing from injury). At the time we plucked Turner in the first round, we thought we had a good one in Greenard, but my sense is that Van Ginkel was more of an unknown, coming off an injury that kept him out of minicamps.

Putting it into perspective, I think it appears that Van Ginkel is every bit the stud that Kwesi (and BFlo) thought he was, while he was a mostly unknown quantity to us. An embarrassment of riches (almost, at that particular position). Turner will get more snaps, and Gink and Greenard will get banged up as the season goes on.

Bottom line, I think that the emergence of Gink in BFlo's defense was the pleasant surprise, keeping Turner off the field more than anyone would have guessed.

Montana Tom wrote:

I think people forget that among our FA signings and draft additions at Edge, was Greenard and Van Ginkel and of course Turner.  Our losses included Hunter and DJ Wonnum (who is now starting to break out for Carolina after healing from injury).  At the time we plucked Turner in the first round, we thought we had a good one in Greenard, but my sense is that Van Ginkel was more of an unknown, coming off an injury that kept him out of minicamps.

Putting it into perspective, I think it appears that Van Ginkel is every bit the stud that Kwesi (and BFlo) thought he was, while he was a mostly unknown quantity to us.  An embarrassment of riches (almost, at that particular position). Turner will get more snaps, and Gink and Greenard will get banged up as the season goes on.

Bottom line, I think that the emergence of Gink in BFlo's defense was the pleasant surprise, keeping Turner off the field more than anyone would have guessed.

Wonnum went up against the backup LT for the Giants as starter Andrew Thomas has been out for the year 3 weeks ago with an injury. Not sure I'd say that's a 'breakout' for him, 1 sack. The Vikings haven't missed DJ Wonnum. Gink was instrumental to a BFlo defense, he knew it and knows it. Turner is 21 years old and this defensive schematic is hard to grasp, because its full of disguise and strategy. He's a tad undersized. I expect a much different Turner in 2025, both physically and mentally.

12 snaps against TEN this week. I didn't see him make much of an impact but PFF has him graded 10th of 18 players on defense.

So that's... something! Hopefully he can build on this in Chicago.

pattersaur wrote:
12 snaps against TEN this week. I didn't see him make much of an impact but PFF has him graded 10th of 18 players on defense.

So that's... something! Hopefully he can build on this in Chicago.

I just dont see him stealing too many snaps from Van Ginkel or Greenard right now...Those guys are both playing really good ball. 

I dont see them doing like a Cheetah pkg though. Where they could line-up Greenard/Van Ginkel, Turner and PJ II all on one line in passing downs?

purplefaithful wrote:

I just dont see him stealing too many snaps from Van Ginkel or Greenard right now...Those guys are both playing really good ball. 
I dont see them doing like a Cheetah pkg though. Where they could line-up Greenard/Van Ginkel, Turner and PJ II all on one line in passing downs?

With two sacks against the Titans, edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel became just the third defender in NFL history with at least eight sacks and two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the same season, joining Terrell Suggs in 2008 and Jason Taylor in 2006.

I don't get the hand wringing about Dallas Turner. Van Ginkel and Greenard have been playing great football and have been remarkably healthy this season. Just not many snaps for Turner considering he's also competing with Patrick Jones and Jihad Ward for snaps. Edge is our deepest position group on the team.

Nothing wrong with letting the young guy learn behind the vets. This used to be common place not that long ago. He's a talented kid and could use another off-season to add some NFL strength and technique. He'll be fine everyone.

The first round pick we traded a bundle for, including our 2025 3rd and 4th rd picks, barely plays and you guys don't understand the hand-wringing? Disagree with it fine but a little worry here doesn't seem that absurd.

Turner still has massive ceiling and potential that I hope he can reach, or else I wouldn't be so interested in his development. I'm over the moon we're 8-2 and thrilled with the season overall. Just antsy to see more DT. Him squashing Caleb Williams this weekend would be a lot of fun.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

I don't get the hand wringing about Dallas Turner.  Van Ginkel and Greenard have been playing great football and have been remarkably healthy this season.  Just not many snaps for Turner considering he's also competing with Patrick Jones and Jihad Ward for snaps.  Edge is our deepest position group on the team.

Nothing wrong with letting the young guy learn behind the vets.  This used to be common place not that long ago.  He's a talented kid and could use another off-season to add some NFL strength and technique.  He'll be fine everyone.

This. No way Dallas understands the nuances of a BFlo defense and those in front of him are performing at a high level right now.

pattersaur wrote:
The first round pick we traded a bundle for, including our 2025 3rd and 4th rd picks, barely plays and you guys don't understand the hand-wringing? Disagree with it fine but a little worry here doesn't seem that absurd.

Turner still has massive ceiling and potential that I hope he can reach, or else I wouldn't be so interested in his development. I'm over the moon we're 8-2 and thrilled with the season overall. Just antsy to see more DT. Him squashing Caleb Williams this weekend would be a lot of fun.

Right, but who's snaps is he taking?  Greenard with his 7 sacks and who is 3rd in the NFL in QB pressures?  Van Ginkel and his 8 sacks and 2 pick 6s?

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Right, but who's snaps is he taking?  Greenard with his 7 sacks and who is 3rd in the NFL in QB pressures?  Van Ginkel and his 8 sacks and 2 pick 6s?

That's just it. If the guys playing ahead of him were playing poorly and Turner still wasn't playing, I'd be worried..but that's not the case. He's 21 years old and learning a complex defensive scheme behind two established veterans. I like that both our first round picks are basically red shirting their rookie seasons. I think both will benefit going into next season.

16 snaps this week for our guy. Middle of the pack PFF grade again. Holding his own I'd say. FWIW, Pat Jones was graded last this week.

I think I posted this earlier, but I would like to see Turner playing inside some on passing downs...

Keep Greenard and Van Ginkel out there on the ends.

A Cheetah type pkg like the Chiefs run - all Edge guys on the line.

He made a game saving tackle on the long kickoff return in the 4th quarter. That alone was a great contribution to the win.

Hey hey hey!

What a sweet INT yesterday. Athletic play. 15 is coming along fellas. Love to see it.

pattersaur wrote:

Hey hey hey!

What a sweet INT yesterday. Athletic play. 15 is coming along fellas. Love to see it.

Important for his confidence, he's making plays more often now with his limited snap count. 2025 will be his breakout year.

Top 5 Bottom 5 @Vikings PFF Grades vs. @Seahawks

1. Dallas Turner 91.3
2. Theo Jackson 85.3
3. Pat Jones II 80.1
4. Josh Metellus 77.9
5. Shaq Griffin 75.3

5. Stephon Gilmore 58.8
4. Harrison Phillips 57.4
3. Jerry Tillery 56.7
2. Blake Cashman 54.7
1. Bobby McCain 52.1

*Min… pic.twitter.com/RqTsWdVAHc

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) December 23, 2024

Vikings’ Brian Flores: Rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner can ‘get to wherever he wants to’ based on his talent

Vikings coaches have focused on improving Turner’s coverage drops, which defenders at all positions are asked to do under Flores, and he came away with his first NFL interception.

Vikings rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner didn’t have a big role on Sunday in Seattle, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores said he took a step in the right direction.
It was during Turner’s first defensive snap against the Seahawks, midway through the second quarter, when he lined up at off-ball linebacker next to Blake Cashman and intercepted Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.

Turner, the athletic 17th overall pick out of Alabama, had more coverage snaps (6) than he did pass rushes (5) for the first time this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Coaches have focused on improving Turner’s zone coverage drops, which Vikings defenders of all positions are asked to do under Flores.

“There’s been extra work on that in particular,” Flores said Tuesday. “Lo and behold, it shows up. So it’s good for us as a coaching staff to see that. ... He was right there where he was supposed to be and he was able to make a play. Now, I wish he would’ve stayed on his feet, because there was some space there, but we’ll just take it one step at a time.”

“Kind of the practice reps showing up in game, and kind of gives him a little bit of — reinforces a lot of things we say,” Flores added. “Hopefully, he continues to kind of grow and learn and practice it a certain way, and then apply it again.”

Flores continues to rely on four veteran edge rushers in Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jihad Ward, and Pat Jones II ahead of Turner, who is often the fifth player in his group to take the field. Coaches preach patience with Turner and most rookies in a defensive scheme that prides itself on complexity and asking defenders to do a little bit of everything.

Even defensive tackle Harrison Phillips dropped into coverage for just the fourth time this season, but Smith quickly threw his way toward tight end Noah Fant for a 17-yard gain during Seattle’s go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

“Looking back on that one, maybe we do something a little different next time,” Flores said. “But with enough practice reps … most guys will get to a functional level . Dallas, you know, with his amount of ability he has, athleticism, he can get to a high level. He can get to wherever he wants to get based on his overall talent.”

startribune

It makes you wonder if Turner just needed to master the coverage drops required in this scheme to get on the field more?

If he's got them down, he could be an impact rotational guy for our playoff run.

MAD GAINZ wrote:
It makes you wonder if Turner just needed to master the coverage drops required in this scheme to get on the field more? 

If he's got them down, he could be an impact rotational guy for our playoff run.

His interception against Geno Smith was a pretty athletic move to undercut the intended receiver.  Honestly, I cannot see that pass coverage was a big part of his defensive experience at Alabama.  In three years as a starter, he only had one pass defensed and zero interceptions.  Personally not being that familiar with Alabama's defensive implementation, it appears that his role there was as both an edge rusher and defending against the run...not dropping into coverage.  This role evolution might be what is holding him back, but it seems that he is getting more snaps as his execution improves.

This is what I found on his college performance (pretty impressive, but little reference to pass coverage):

Dallas Turner's college pass defense stats include one pass defensed: (NOTE: ZERO INTERCEPTIONS IN THREE YEARS)
2023: 54 pressures and 10 sacks, with a 19.6% pass-rush win rate and a 90.9 pass-rush grade on true pass rushes
2021: 8.5 sacks and 30 tackles, including 10 for loss
Turner's other college stats include: 120 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, Two forced fumbles, and Two fumble recoveries.

Turner was a five-star recruit and a permanent team captain for the Crimson Tide in 2023. He was a stand-up rusher who could also rush with his hand in the dirt.

Yes, not only dropping back into coverages at times, but reading the D and making decisions in real-time on what to do as the OLB (not a DE).

MAD GAINZ wrote:
It makes you wonder if Turner just needed to master the coverage drops required in this scheme to get on the field more? 

If he's got them down, he could be an impact rotational guy for our playoff run.

You're probably right, but I believe he still only played 16 snaps this past week. Still a work in progress but the key is we're seeing progress. All we can ask. Keep it going young stud!