Purple Q&A: Jaren Hall and Kene Nwangwu Cut, Dallas Turner’s Role, KOC’s New Offense
Today, on September 2nd, PurplePTSD’s Janik Eckardt answers a trio of questions about the current Minnesota Vikings. If you have questions for future editions of the Purple Q&A, please email them to [email protected].
Purple Q&A: Jaren Hall and Kene Nwangwu Cut, Dallas Turner’s Role, KOC’s New Offense
Let’s get into it.
Q: Why did the Vikings waive Kene Nwangwu and Jaren Hall?
A: The two situations are different. Sophomore quarterback Jaren Hall was waived, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said during Thursday’s press conference that they want to re-sign him to the practice squad. Brett Rypien took his spot on the 53-man roster.
Minnesota’s decision-makers view Rypien as a more reliable option in case of an injury to Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens. The veteran hasn’t had much success in his professional career after a productive stint at Boise State.
Hall’s preseason was an upgrade from last season, but the Vikings didn’t think it was enough to guarantee the QB3 spot. It should be noted that Hall went unclaimed through the waiver process, and so far, no other organization has been willing to offer him a QB3 spot on a roster, which doesn’t imply that Minnesota’s move was too crazy.
Longtime kick returner Kene Nwangwu also looked improved in the preseason, at least on offense. He was waived and subsequently claimed by the New Orleans Saints but failed his physical. The Saints waived him, and he is now an unrestricted free agent. Nwangwu missed significant time in two of his three seasons.
Myles Gaskin, an experienced running back in the NFL, was re-signed to the practice squad, and Adofo-Mensah announced he would take over the kick return job. He will also most likely be the new third running back. Simply put, Gaskin is more reliable as a depth running back and perhaps fits the new kickoff return rules better.
Q: What will Dallas Turner’s role be in Week 1?
A: The Minnesota Vikings selected Dallas Turner with the 17th overall pick. The necessary trade from 23 to 17 was costly, showing how highly the franchise thinks of him. He was viewed as potentially the best defender in the draft, and at age 21, he has the talent to become a building block on the defense.
Turner’s early role will be that of a rotational edge rusher. The Vikings haven’t played any games with their rookie; he has been listed as a second-stringer for a while. He will rotate with Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, who signed with the Vikings in March and are solid starting outside linebackers.
The designation of a starter isn’t that important for a pass rusher. Defenses constantly sub players to keep them fresh, and Turner’s presence will help his teammates shine. After the draft, there were some talks about him playing as a middle linebacker, which could be another way to deploy all three of the edge defenders at the same time.
Turner’s preseason performance showed his dynamic skill set, and he will log big snap numbers early in the upcoming season, regardless on if he’s taking the first snap.
Q: Will Kevin O’Connell’s offense be more run-centric in the upcoming season?
A: Kirk Cousins was the driving force of Minnesota’s offense in the second half of his six-year stint with the organization. The Vikings slowly transitioned from a run-first offense to a pass-heavy operation with the reliable veteran under center. He was able to carry that load.
That should, at least on paper, change with Sam Darnold holding the keys. The former third-overall pick was supposed to carry offenses early in his career, but it didn’t go well. There’s a reason why he was available in free agency. He has never been more than a low-end starter in the NFL, and in some instances, even that description is a stretch.
However, Kevin O’Connell is still calling the shots. It’s in his DNA to have a high-octane offense. Last season, Nick Mullens was allowed to throw the ball 148 times in only 15 quarters of play. Darnold should be an upgrade over Mullens and increase the efficiency, especially under O’Connell’s guidance.
It will be important to have an improved running attack in the upcoming season, but it remains to be seen if 29-year-old Aaron Jones can stay healthy and continue to be a decent runner.
Considering Minnesota’s weapons and O’Connell’s tendency to call pass plays, it doesn’t seem likely that the Vikings would suddenly return to a run-heavy offense. Expect more balance, but not a run-heavy offense.
New But Dumb Vikings Idea Isn’t Worth Your Time
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt