5 Vikings Defensive X-Factors to Watch vs. Patriots
Game two of the preseason will give us a better look at the backups and depth on defense.
Namely, will they stay consistent with last week’s play, or will they drop off significantly? Not every player needs splashy stats to show that their play was successful. Making big mistakes and repeating them is what can turn someone from a roster lock into a second thought.
A look at five Minnesota Vikings defensive X-factors to watch against the Patriots, from rising rookies to key veterans aiming to make a big preseason impact.
Last week against the Texans, some players put great things on tape, while others may have fans worrying about how they performed—and whether others passed them up. One prominent player got overshadowed on defense, sparking some discussion among local fans and radio personalities.
As I said last week, defense is different because the backups come in more often or in specific packages. Since it sounds like most of the starters will be out, we’ll see backups playing from the get-go at almost every position.
As I did with the offense, I’ve removed some players and added others as they’ve solidified their spots on the team. There will be some new names to watch for in this game to see if the consistency carries over to Week Two.
Defensive X-Factors for the Vikings in Preseason Game No. 2
Dallas Turner / Gabriel Murphy
Last week, these two teamed up on the edges to apply pressure on the quarterbacks and contain the outside. Turner didn’t give too much to talk about—Murphy did. Last year’s other first-round pick, Turner, didn’t get many opportunities to get on the field or show off his skills. Johnathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel had Pro Bowl seasons, and Pat Jones II had a breakout year, keeping Turner fighting for snaps.
Against the Texans, Turner only played the first series. He made a 4-yard tackle for loss but didn’t get much pressure on the quarterback. Honestly, it’s a very small sample size, but some folks are already using it to say he might be struggling. Even Paul Allen brought it up on his show on Thursday on KFAN.
Murphy, meanwhile, had 1.5 sacks, multiple QB pressures and hurries, and a couple of tackles. He really shone. But this is a new week, and he’ll have to show he can be just as effective again before we start getting too excited and crown him as another undrafted free-agent steal. Eyes will be on both of them this week against the Patriots.
Bo Richter / Tyler Batty / Chaz Chambliss
While this might not be much of a battle between the three, it could still give us something fun to watch. Last week, Richter was teamed up with Murphy for most of the game. He was steady, applied good pressure, and earned half a sack.
Nothing flashy, but watching his individual play, he was in the right position most of the game—except when he over-pursued on a swing pass for a touchdown. He was his usual force on special teams. He’ll be on the roster.
Batty was interesting, starting at defensive tackle before moving to outside linebacker. He’s a big man for a defensive end and held up well at both spots. Chambliss was very active when he got into the game, both in coverage and against the run.
He tallied three tackles and an assist, consistently staying near the ball. Unless he does something extraordinary in the next few games, he should be a solid practice squad player.
Kobe King
Another late-round pick, King was taken in the sixth round of this year’s draft. He’s a bit of a throwback to the way middle linebackers used to be built and play. He’s a big, downhill player who stops running backs at the point of attack and plugs run lanes.
With the release of Brian Asamoah this week, King moves up the depth chart alongside veteran Eric Wilson, now in his second stint with the team. Wilson is a great backup who can easily give Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. a few breathers or step in short-term if needed. While Wilson was undrafted in 2017, he developed into a solid contributor, even starting some games for the Packers last year.
King might not have great pass coverage ability yet, but with proper coaching, that could improve. Right now, he can do what he does best: be a force in the middle who likes to hit people. Hard.
Kahlef Hailassie
Late in most preseason games, a player or two usually seems to come out of nowhere, making you wonder how they weren’t drafted higher. They may even look like the next great thing. Case in point: Audie Cole, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns on back-to-back plays in a 2012 preseason game. That performance made him a fan favorite, and he stuck around a few years, mostly on special teams.
Hailassie had his moment last weekend, picking off two passes. While he didn’t score, the plays were still exciting to watch. The big question is whether he can be similarly effective this week. Being in the right place at the right time is great, but he still has a way to go to move past Jay Ward on the depth chart. Fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high, but if he has another solid game or two, it will show there’s real depth—even if it’s only on the practice squad.
Ryan Wright / Oscar Chapman
Ah, yes, the famous punter battle! Well, maybe not that famous—but it’s still being talked about this week.
Against the Texans, the Vikings punted three times. Wright had two punts inside the 20-yard line. This is what made him so good in his rookie season: consistently pinning the opposition in tough field position. It seems like when he’s asked to do directional punting, things go sideways—literally. He’s had shanked kicks and punts that went out of bounds way too early. Last year wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either.
Chapman’s lone punt last week was solid. He uses a kicking style known as a “banana ball,” which gives the ball a sideways spin, causing it to curve in the air. It makes the trajectory hard to track and the ball harder to catch. Australian punters are well-known for this, and NFL coaches love the problems it creates for returners.
Fortunately, the Vikings played so well that punting wasn’t needed much. That doesn’t give fans much to evaluate, but reports from camp today indicate that Chapman may be closer to supplanting Wright than many think. Even if you attend training camp every day, special teams usually work on a separate field, so it’s hard to see their reps. Even when they’re on the main field, we don’t know what they’re being instructed to work on during coverage drills. If the offense stalls more over the next two weeks, this is definitely something to watch.
Preseason games don’t carry the weight they used to—this game would’ve once seen the starters play a full half. Now, it’s a showcase for backups and depth players. This week, expect to see a lot of them, with next week being a final opportunity for fringe players to put as much on tape as possible for other teams to see.
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