Vikings May Have Found a Gem in Gabriel Murphy
It’s often difficult, and truthfully unwise, to draw significant conclusions from any given preseason game. There were multiple points in the lead-up to last season when rookie Gabriel Murphy looked like someone to watch.
Gabriel Murphy put on a show for the Minnesota Vikings on defense against the Houston Texans, and it may just be the beginning.
As an undrafted product out of UCLA, Murphy wound up playing in just two games and got only 35 snaps on defense. He recorded his first quarterback hit and picked up a tackle. The steam hasn’t slowed during training camp this season for Murphy either, and he went gangbusters on Saturday.
Against the Houston Texans, it was the Gabriel Murphy show on defense. He picked up three total tackles and 1.5 sacks while hitting opposing quarterbacks a whopping five times. The Minnesota Vikings’ front seven should be among the best in the entire sport this season. It’s going to be near-impossible for Murphy to crack the rotation, as was the case for Dallas Turner last season.
Gabriel Murphy Might Be That Dude
That doesn’t mean Brian Flores shouldn’t feel good about what he has as a depth piece in Murphy, and he could contribute in a greater capacity if there are any injuries or ineffectiveness. Last season, Murphy shone with Bo Richter in the preseason. It’s possible that Richter still elevates to that status this year, but the hype train for Murphy has left the station, and tickets were booked big time.
This weekend, Minnesota will host the New England Patriots. They get a week’s worth of joint practices against Mike Vrabel’s squad as well. Murphy will get ample opportunity to contribute in both of those scenarios.
If he can continue to stand out during the remaining slate of practice and exhibition schedule, he’ll carve out a greater role on the 53-man roster this season.
To say the Vikings have to feel good about their edge rushers, and the guys they have to charge the quarterback, would be putting things lightly. Murphy is just another example of that.
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