There’s another Vikings rookie first-round pick making his debut in purple during Saturday’s preseason opener against the Raiders.
Dallas Turner, the Vikings’ other top pick, is ready to test his progress in the preseason
Pass rusher Dallas Turner, the first-round pick out of Alabama, said he thinks preseason games will be easier than practices against offensive tackles Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
August 8, 2024 at 11:52PM
And edge rusher Dallas Turner, selected 17th-overall out of Alabama, is ready to play in his first game since Michigan quarterback-turned-teammate J.J. McCarthy ripped his heart out by handing the Crimson Tide a Jan. 1 overtime loss in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
“It’s going to feel great to get back out there,” Turner told the Star Tribune after Thursday’s practice. “The last time I played was against J.J.”
“I feel like it’s been a steady progression [in camp], especially coming from being the man at Alabama to having to restart a little bit here in Minnesota,” he added. “It’s definitely been a transition; adversity of course, too, but we’re always going to overcome that. But it’s been a steady grind getting better.”
What represents adversity at this stage?
“Really just trying to adjust to the fact that a lot of people are good in the NFL,” said Turner, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year who had 10 sacks in 14 games. “Going against the type of people that are really athletic, too, and strong. That’s probably been the biggest adjustment.”
Turner has also adjusted to being a rotational player behind starting outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. He’s still getting plenty of reps with the first-team defense and against left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right tackle Brian O’Neill. Turner has aligned as an interior rusher on third downs as well.
“I know the game is going to be a lot more easy,” Turner said, “just doing what I’ve been doing in practice against guys like O’Neill and C.D.”
Both Vikings tackles received All-Pro votes last season, and Turner has received tips from both O’Neill and Darrisaw in between practice reps.
“Those are coming from one of the best left tackles in football,” coach Kevin O’Connell said earlier in camp, “and then DT gets a rep, he gets to feel it, and obviously, he gets coached up. … And then right about that time, his versatility kicks in and he switches spots and is doing different things.”
‘Never expected it’
Now 80-year-old former Vikings cornerback Bobby Bryant had to wait 44 years to join the Vikings’ Ring of Honor, which is almost one year for all 51 interceptions he had in his illustrious career. He’ll be honored at halftime of the Sept. 22 home game against the Texans.
“I was amazed it took them so long,” Bryant said through a grin. “Not really, that’s an honor no one should expect to receive. ... Never expected it, and didn’t think I deserved it, but it is sure nice to have.”
Bryant, a seventh-round pick in 1967, recalled getting the draft call from then-team equipment manager Jimmy “Stubby” Eason: “I was so important a draft [pick] that they had the equipment manager call me,” he joked. But this time, two former teammates, Alan Page and Fran Tarkenton, joined a video call to tell him he’d made the team’s Ring of Honor with them.
“Those two are GOATs,” said Bryant, who played 13 seasons with the Vikings. “Alan and Fran were great players and great friends, too. Alan took good care of me. The reason I got 51 interceptions was because of Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen and Doug Sutherland. Because they didn’t give quarterbacks a whole lot of time. ... A lot of times they threw the ball right to me.”
‘Run the rock’
New starter on the offensive line left guard Blake Brandel is looking forward to another expected change in the Vikings offense: running the ball. The Vikings didn’t run the ball often — ranking 28th in attempts and 29th in yardage — or effectively, ranking 22nd in yards per carry and last in rushing touchdowns.
The Vikings opened up the bank, signing ex-Packers leader Aaron Jones to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million, as O’Connell and coaches continue to preach a need to run well.
“That’s every offensive lineman’s dream, is to run the rock,” Brandel said. “To have that emphasis going into camp and continuing throughout camp is awesome. I know that we’re going to go out there and play well, and keep handing that thing off.”
Jones, who had 109 yards on 16 touches in Sunday’s win, had as good a Vikings debut as coaches and teammates could have anticipated.
