The Young Viking’s First Snaps of 2025 Contain Good and Bad
Young Viking Taki Taimani hasn’t had much opportunity in 2025. In fact, there hadn’t been any chance for him to play until Week 14.
The depth defensive tackle was worked into the mix, seemingly due to sophomore defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez needing to spend some time in the infirmary. A touch larger than a lot of the other linemen, Taimani got leaned on to help clog running lanes, which will end up being his calling card if he finds a lasting spot on an NFL 53-man roster.
Young Viking Taki Taimani Trying to Beef Up the Run Defense
Taken as a whole, Minnesota’s defense had a nice day.
The Commanders had a less-than-healthy Jayden Daniels leading the offense, hindering Washington’s ability to find a rhythm. But credit to Minnesota for playing a good game, one where Andrew Van Ginkel and Harrison Smith generated turnovers. The disruptiveness from Jonathan Allen, Eric Wilson, and Javon Hargrave also played a part in the impressive performance.
Where the Vikings struggled more was in defending the run.
As things stand, Minnesota is 22nd in the NFL since they’ve allowed 1,648 ground yards. The opposing teams have collectively earned 111 first down conversions while running, the 31st-ranked position in the league.
What’s notable about that overall yardage total is that the Vikings are 3rd in the NFL for most rushing attempts against, getting run on 405 times. Some of that is likely the byproduct of losing so commonly as the quarterback position has majorly struggled.
The 4.1 yards-per-carry average is reasonably strong, coming in at a tie for 11th in the league. Consider that the Texans are also at 4.1 yards per carry but have only been run on 302 times. Another team tied at 4.1 yards — the Chiefs — have seen 315 runs against.
Add it all together and there’s both good and bad. Not reminiscent of the days of Kevin and Pat Williams, but good enough to be a winning defense in a season where Brian Flores’s crew has lacked elite performances on an individual level.
In Week 14, Taki Taimani was part of the defense for 16 snaps, trying to prove sturdy at the line of scrimmage. He didn’t earn a tackle but players in his position often get asked to soak up blockers so that other players can make the play.
The Commanders turned their 23 carries into 107 ground yards, working out to a healthy team average of 4.7 yards per carry. Chris Rodriguez, in particular, had a nice day, turning his 10 carries into 52 yards. So, not a totally satisfying day for the run defense even if it’s hard to quibble with an outing that resulted in a 31-point victory largely due to shutting out the other team.
As the Vikings move forward, Taki Taimani could end up being part of the rotation as a young defensive lineman who gets tasked with clogging running lanes. Refusing the cede ground, even against double teams, will lead to Taimani being employed for a long time.
The defensive tackle is 26. He stands at 6’1″ and weighs 324 pounds. He’ll look to get another opportunity to help the run defense when Minnesota travels to Dallas for a Week 15 tilt on Sunday Night Football.
