Blood in the water.
Since Brian Flores took over as defensive co-ordinator at the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2023 season, he has transformed the unit.
No other team in the NFL moves defenders round at the line of scrimmage like the Minnesota Vikings. In the 2024 season the Vikings tied for the league lead in defensive takeaways with 33 across the season.
Across four games this season they have already recorded seven.
While some of the canny veteran quarterbacks across the league have managed to avoid the trickery employed by Flores – Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jarred Goff have all had success – the same can not be said for rookies or inexperienced starters.
Good record
Dillon Gabriel will make his first career start when the Vikings take on the Cleveland Browns in London this weekend.
When the Vikings have played a first or second year quarterback over the past two seasons, they have chalked up nine wins with one solitary defeat.
The loss took place this season against the Atlanta Falcons. This was due to the inefficiency of the Vikings offense and a great game from Bijan Robinson, rather than an outstanding performance from Michael Penix Jr.
During these 10 games the Vikings have given up only seven passing touchdowns while also recording seven interceptions.
Where the statistics become really interesting is when you look at sacks taken. The league average would be around two per game. In the 10 games I looked at, the Vikings recorded 35 sacks. Given how much influence sacks have on ending drives this is one of the key factors in the victories.
Why do rookies struggle?
One of the problems facing young quarterbacks is they just do not have the experience to see through some of the window dressing employed by Flores.
With versatile pieces like Harrison Smith, Andrew Van Ginkel, Ivan Pace Jr and Josh Metellus, the Vikings can do a lot of different things.
You can have eight players looking like they are all going to blitz and then when the ball is snapped, four of them drop into coverage. This is when rookies panic, all of a sudden everyone is covered. They hold on to the ball for too long and one of the four pass rushers does get home for the sack.
Alternatively, there are times when the Vikings will send the house after the ball.
The aforementioned Pace, Metellus and Smith are all excellent pass rushers considering that is not their primary responsibility. Add in to that the criminally underrated Jonathan Greenard, the newly acquired Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen and you can see how the Vikings are able to generate pressure.
With Van Ginkel sidelined, Dallas Turner is getting more time on the field and is showing signs of improvement.
A new star coming through
The emerging star of the defensive line is Jalen Redmond, the Vikings saw enough in him to trade away fan and locker room favourite Harrison Phillips.
So far Redmond is repaying the faith shown in him, with three sacks and a forced fumble over the first four games of the season.
Hopefully the Vikings can get enough pressure on Gabriel to come away from Europe with a win.
If not they will head into the bye week with only two wins and a gruelling upcoming schedule.
