Lately, the Vikings pass rush has been wreaking havoc on Sundays. No reinforcements seem to be needed, but some may come anyhow.
Rookie outside linebacker Gabe Murphy is recovering from his knee injury and appears to be back to full health. After all, the man has been a full participant in practice. Any chance Murphy forces his way onto the 53-man roster when his practice window closes?
Gabe Murphy and The Vikings Pass Rush
Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Patrick Jones II. Those three are leading the charge.
Van Ginkel sits on 8 sacks, Greenard sits on 7 sacks, and Jones sits on 7 sacks. By the time it’s all said and done, the three seem likely to account for 30+ sacks. Not bad for just a trio of pass rushers, especially since all of them are operating on value deals (admittedly, Jones’ is a bit artificial since it’s the final season of his rookie contract).
Also working in Minnesota’s favor has been the contributions of off-ball linebackers Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman, both of whom have proven to be adept at blitzing. In his 36 blitzes, Pace is up to 3 sacks and 6 QB hits. In his 48 blitzes, Cashman is up to 3 sacks and 7 QB hits.
As a team, Minnesota finds itself at third in the NFL with 35 sacks. The QB knockdown percentage is fourth at 12.5%. The 123 pressures are coming in at first overall. The 29.6% pressure rate is also in first.
So, Brian Flores appears to be doing just fine. The brilliant defensive coordinator is leaning on a deep, versatile group of edge rushers to be the main weapons. But then the help from a pair of talented off-ball linebackers has certainly made a difference and the DTs have chipped in here and there.
Is Gabe Murphy even needed? Making room for the pass rusher on the 53-man roster would mean cutting someone currently on the team.
Readers with a long memory may recall the hype surrounding Mr. Murphy. Many felt that he should have been drafted, so Minnesota’s ability to pick him up following the draft was applauded.
Bringing him to the Twin Cities meant sending over a three-year pact that promises to pay a total of $2,850,000. Crucially, there were $245,000 in guarantees, a hearty sum. The suggestion is that other teams were competing to secure his services and that Minnesota’s offer was among the most attractive, at least partially due to the financial commitment.
During his final season in college, Gabe Murphy picked up 38 tackles, 8 sacks, 16 TFLs, and 2 passes defended. Impressive stuff. He’s listed at 6’2″ and 247; he is 24.
Minnesota’s next game takes place this Sunday. The Vikings travel into Soldier Field to take on the Bears. Pulling off the win would mean climbing up to 9-2. No doubt, a fearsome pass rush would go a long way in helping the cause.
Kickoff is going to take place at 12 p.m. CT.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, Over the Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
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