In the NFL, we can become so focused on what's new -- new players, new coaches, new coordinators, new philosophies -- that we overlook what's already in place. And we can forget that what's in place can change. Players who start slow aren't doomed to be busts.
Sam Darnold won a Super Bowl after playing for five different teams in his first eight seasons. Coaches who start slow aren't doomed to get fired and never get another job. Bill Belichick went 36-44 in five years with the Browns and had to work his way back up the ladder before becoming one of the greatest coaches of all time.
The NFL can be harsh, but there are, more often than not, opportunities for growth. We're seeing it on display as two former first-round picks step up when their teams absolutely need it most, a reminder that patience is a virtue. That and more to start our six lessons from Week 2: The dominant talking points surrounding the Vikings' and Packers' pass rushes entering this season were about who wasn't playing.
The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles, and Micah Parsons is still out as he recovers from a torn ACL. Enter Dallas Turner and Lukas Van Ness, both of whom have been excellent this season and were especially terrific Sunday. We'll start with Turner, who has 20(!!!) pressures already.
That is not just the most in the NFL this season, but the most through two games in the Pro Football Focus database (since 2006). He also has 11 quarterback hits and three sacks, including, fittingly, this one to seal Sunday's win over the Bears. (Note to offensive coordinators: Don't have a tight end block this man.) DALLAS TURNER WALKOFF SACK FOR THE VIKINGS pic.twitter.com/8wGRHUIMKW His Week 1 tape was a ton of fun, with the size, speed and power all on display. Dallas Turner Week 1 tape vs Green Bay pic.twitter.com/gA7mjLoaBQ Is Brian Flores doing a great job scheming advantageous situations for Turner?
Is Flores a defensive mastermind overall? But someone has to actually make the plays on the field, and Turner is absolutely doing that. After a quiet rookie year and slow start to his second year, Turner had 6.5 sacks and a 16.2% pressure rate from Week 10 onward last year.
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