At 2 positions, the Vikings have continued to leave the door ajar for possible positional shenanigans.
Defensive lineman Ty Ingram-Dawkins and offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan both see very general descriptors attached to their names on the team’s website. The former is tossed onto the website with a “DL” attached to his name; the latter is tossed onto the website with a “OL” attached to his name. What does that mean for how Minnesota managers the roster?
Vikings Still a Touch Mysterious with Pair of Young Lads
Of the two positional tags, the pair of letters beside Tiernan’s name is the most bizarre. After all, Tiernan is the lonely player along the offensive line to demand that general “OL” designation.
The Vikings boast a pair of centers (Blake Brandel and Nick Samac). There are then a quartet of guards (Will Fries, Donovan Jackson, Joe Huber, and Trevor Keegan). Finally, there are then three offensive tackles (Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Ryan Van Demark). Tiernan sticks out as somebody who occupies the vague roster job of being an offensive lineman.
To be sure, there is some upside here.
Tiernan is a rookie large lad who is coming out of Northwestern. He gets praise for his size, great feet, and intelligence. Maybe he steps into a versatile role as somebody who can get worked into any position up front. Boasting that kind of player would be of tremendous value. Can he arrive at that spot as a rookie?
But then there’s the downside. Not fully solidifying a single spot risks being just average (or worse) across multiple positions without developing into a strong option at any single spot. In college, Tiernan played offensive tackle but was speculated as a guard in the NFL due to short arms. That possible position migration remains unclear.
With Ingram-Dawkins, the outlook is decidedly different. The sophomore is similar to every other defensive lineman since they’re all listed as being a general “DL” rather than being listed with more specificity.
Brian Flores likes to move his guys around up front. Still, there’s going to be a limit to how that goes. Somebody like Domonique Orange — a hulking nose tackle — isn’t going to get flexed out to edge rusher (at least not regularly). Likewise, Ingram-Dawkins isn’t going to be playing 1 technique on a regular basis, though there’s upside to that approach on passing downs.
Where there’s nevertheless some fascination is in the offseason chatter about Ingram-Dawkins getting moved out to edge rusher. Some of the concerns at this spot have been assuaged with the addition of Kyle Van Noy. Picking up an assassin-for-hire late in the offseason doesn’t negate the ways that Ingram-Dawkins has changed his body and trained, though.
Does he demand more snaps out wide as more of a pass rusher?
The thinking with Ingram-Dawkins is that he can line up across from the guard, offensive tackle, and tight end. Being so long and explosive offers that sort of upside.
Ingram-Dawkins, though, will be looking to avoid a fate that’s similar to Jalyn Holmes, James Lynch, Esezi Otomewo, and various others who were tweeners but unable to solidify a main role.
In Week 1, Minnesota is hosting the Green Bay Packers for a 3:25 p.m. game inside of U.S. Bank Stadium. Look for the defensive lineman to be active and soaking up snaps. What’s in store for Tiernan remains to be seen.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
