Dallas Turner

[supafreak84]

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.

[pattersaur]

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.

[purplefaithful]

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.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

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

[pattersaur]

Hey hey hey!

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

[StickierBuns]

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.

[purplefaithful]

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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 [in coverage]. 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

[MAD GAINZ]

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.

[Montana Tom]

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.

[purplefaithful]

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).