Everyone Is Saying the Same Thing about Dallas Turner
Dallas Turner was the betting favorite to be the first defender off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. Most mock drafts sent Alabama’s defender to the Atlanta Falcons 8th overall, but their Michael Penix Jr. curveball ended those theories. The Vikings then used a ton of draft capital to move up from 23 to 17 to add him to the haul that had already included quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Everyone Is Saying the Same Thing about Dallas Turner
That was viewed as a massive win for the purple squad, but 15 months later, McCarthy still hasn’t taken a snap in the regular season, and Turner’s role in his debut season was underwhelming. Yet, there’s hope, as McCarthy is the new captain of Kevin O’Connell’s offense while Turner is expected to have a bigger role in his second season under Brian Flores.
Sure, Pro Bowlers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel are still around. A starting job won’t be in his cards, regardless of how often Brian Flores tells the media that he views the trio as three starters. Because of Patrick Jones’ departure in free agency – he signed with the Carolina Panthers – Turner’s role will automatically grow.
After a season with just over 300 snaps on defense, Turner arrived at TCO Performance Center for training camp in excellent shape. The work he put in throughout the offseason is obvious to everyone in attendance. Listed at 6’3″ and 247 pounds, he now appears bigger compared to his rookie self, and everyone is saying the same thing about the young defender.
Let’s start with O’Connell, who said at the beginning of camp: “He came back from the jump, in the offseason program, just his body, the shape he was in, just looks so strong. I think he’s gained a lot of strength, I think he’s gained a lot of understanding of the role.”
A pass-rusher can win with speed and strength. Turner undoubtedly has the speed aspect in his arsenal with a 4.46 40-yard dash posted ahead of the draft. He also showcased his explosiveness in his rookie season.
His play strength was fine in college, but the big league is a different level. It was not a regular problem, but occasionally, when watching him play, one wished for some more power, especially against blockers with a 70-pound advantage.
That’s totally normal for a 21-year-old, and O’Connell’s words about that transformation are encouraging. And he’s not the only one with that opinion. We got Flores on tape commenting: “He took it upon himself to get bigger, stronger and faster, to put himself in the best position to come out here and compete. He’s done a really nice job. We’ve got a long way to go in training camp, but he’s had a good start.”
Flores utilized Turner in various ways. Instead of lining him up on the edges and telling him to hunt the quarterback, he used him in coverage, as an interior rusher, and even, on rare occasions, as an off-ball linebacker. The defender’s versatility is beneficial in this regard. To remain a flexible player, he needs his speed to prevail despite the added muscle, but that just appears to be the case.
Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has watched Turner in action throughout the first week of camp, and he wrote: “The results couldn’t be more clear with a simple look at Turner with training camp in full swing at TCO Performance Center. The muscle he has put on is noticeable — especially in his lower half — and he has managed to do it without sacrificing any of his explosiveness.”
In 16 games, Turner logged precisely 300 defensive snaps and 226 on special teams. He added a combined 20 plays to his resume in the lone playoff matchup. In those limited opportunities, Turner registered a total of 21 tackles, three sacks, and one interception.
Gaining strength and an understanding of the game was on Turner’s offseason menu, and he found a mentor in Jonathan Greenard. The Pro Bowler had a remarkable first season in purple, and he’s just the guy to ask for advice.
Turner expressed at camp: “Right after the season… [Greenard and I] were hitting it strong in the weight room, watching film, picking each other’s brain. He has a lot of knowledge.”
Greenard is a fantastic role model because he is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback and has all the pass-rush moves at his disposal. Furthermore, he is a valuable defender against the run, something not all top rushers take seriously.
Remember Flores’ comments from a minute ago about Turner getting “bigger, stronger and faster?”
Well, guess what Greenard said about his teammate: “He’s gotten bigger, stronger, faster, he looks way different than last year. His mindset, he’s locked in, he’s receiving coaching a lot better. I’m just ready to see what he can do. I worked with him all offseason and to see it translate out on the field, I’m excited to see what he can do.”
Greenard praised Turner for his work ethic a few months ago: “He was still here as soon as the season ended, in the weight room with me, working out. He hardly [took any] time off, even though I told him, this is the only time after your rookie year you’re going to be able to have a break, downtime, ’cause the season never stops. It’s just great to see him absorb all this information, retain it really well, and obviously, just put it to use.”
Turner has all the talent in the world; it’s now up to him to make the step to become a reliable piece in Flores’ unit. In all likelihood, his snaps will double, as the primary backup for the two starting rushers, and in some packages, they will all be on the field together. The occasional middle linebacker snaps can’t be ruled out either.
At still only 22 years old, the sky is the limit for a physical specimen like Turner.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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