As many of his players have flown under the radar this season, defensive coordinator Brian Flores has used his weekly press conferences with the Vikings as a way to petition for them to get more recognition.
Fittingly, Flores couldn’t help but smile on Tuesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center when he started his weekly press conference by congratulating edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel for being named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
“It’s well deserved,” Flores said. “He has done a great job for us.”
That continued in the thrilling 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field as Van Ginkel was a force to be reckoned with wherever he lined up on the field. He highlighted his performance by positing two sacks.
“There’s a lot that goes into it from a mental standpoint,” Flores said. “He has gotten to a place now where everything has slowed down for him, and when he gets those opportunities, he does a really good job taking advantage of them.”
In total, Van Ginkel has tallied 11.0 sacks this season, by for the most in his career. He also added a pair of interceptions, both returned for touchdowns.
He’s the first player since Miami hall of famer Jason Taylor during the 2006 season to post 10.0 sacks and a pair of interceptions returned for a touchdown in a single campaign. Notably, Taylor parlayed that stat line into being name NFL Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a unanimous first-team all-pro.
That might explain why Flores has been so bullish on making sure Van Ginkel gets the credit he deserves.
Though he might not be a household name at this point in his career, Van Ginkel has become so important to everything the Vikings do on defense. He has been very effective as a pass rusher, whether he’s using his speed off the edge, or his strength up the middle. He has also been very reliable whenever asked to drop in coverage.
Not surprisingly, Flores made another pitch for Van Ginkel, as well as fellow edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, as it pertains to some of the annual accolades that will be voted on in short order.
“They should certainly be a part of those conversations,” Flores said. “They have been a real crucial part of our ability to play good solid defense. I’m really proud of both of those guys. I’m very happy we have them.”
Briefly
It appears linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is trending in the right direction as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. He has been designated for return by the Vikings, which means he can start practicing with his teammates this week in preparation for the game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Andrew Van Ginkel #43 of the Minnesota Vikings intercepts a pass and scores a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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