Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings' concern level at each position group on defense | Sporting News
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The Minnesota Vikings were really good on defense in the 2023 season.
They went from 31st in total defense to 17th along with being 13th in scoring defense. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been a revelation for the defense in maximizing the depleted roster.
Even with the holes, there is still a lot to like. They made some major additions to the roster on defense this offseason, especially at edge rusher and linebacker. Those moves will end up making things a little bit easier for the Vikings to take a step forward.
Even with the optimism, there are still some reasons to be concerned. How much should we be concerned at each position on defense?
Vikings’ concern level at each defensive position
Edge rusher: 3/10
The Vikings finally feel like they have quality depth at edge rusher for the first time in a while. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel are going to be not just dependable as the starters, but it will also allow rookie Dallas Turner to grow and develop. With Van Ginkel still nursing a foot injury going into mandatory minicamp, it gives Turner a lot of extra valuable reps.
The back end of the room also has really intriguing players. Pat Jones II is a quality EDGE4 and both Andre Carter II and Gabriel Murphy have some really intriguing potential. The only thing that would derail this group is injuries.
Defensive line: 10/10
This is a five-alarm fire for the Vikings. It was so rough last year that defensive coordinator Brian Flores used a lot of three edge rusher and seven defensive back sets. That could be the case again this year. Greenard has the length to play a 4i/5T which will make a difference but only Harrison Phillips is a good player.
Outside of Phillips, it’s brutal. Jerry Tillery is a former first-round pick who hasn’t done anything of note in his career. Jonathan Bullard is a fine but rotational player at this point in his career. The one thing that looks intriguing is Jaquelin Roy in year two. He was a fifth-round pick in 2023 but was projected at one point to be a first round pick.
This is going to be a major point of emphasis in the 2025 offseason but it could end up being the reason the Vikings don’t have much success in 2024.
Inside linebacker: 5/10
This is a solid group! Blake Cashman provides you the do-it-all linebacker that the Vikings needed so much last season. It also allows Ivan Pace Jr., who was a revelation as a rookie, to focus more on the things that make him such a unique and talented player.
The intrigue is with the depth. Brian Asamoah II is a major wild card. He struggles with being consistent as a tackler despite being very explosive as a defender. Kamu Grugier-Hill is a special teamer at this point in his career. That could leave a spot open for an intriguing rookie UDFA in either Dallas Gant or Bo Richter.
Cornerback: 8/10
This is so high not because of the talent in the room, but because there isn’t any true consistency. The only reliable player has been Byron Murphy Jr. Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr. have varying levels of consistency but it’s been rough at times with all of them. Khyree Jackson and Shaquill Griffin are both intriguing additions to the room, but it desperately needs someone to step up and be either an alpha or just consistent.
Safety: 3/10
Let’s be real. This is the best safety room in the National Football League. Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus and Harrison Smith are a great trio. They all played over 90% of the snaps in 2023 and thrived in doing so.
Theo Jackson and Jay Ward are also really talented players who have potential and the former seems to be playing well by all accounts. Then you have Lewis Cine, who has all the talent in the world but hasn’t been able to put it together and could end up being cut or traded this August.
Make sure to check out our home page every day for the best and latest Minnesota Vikings news and analysis.
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Minnesota
Minnesota Wild regular season schedule released
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On Tuesday, the National Hockey League released its schedules for the upcoming season.
The Minnesota Wild will start the season at home on Oct. 10, taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets. They will then play another home game against Seattle on Oct. 12. After two back-to-back games at home, the Wild will be all over the place for the next three weeks, playing seven away matches before returning to the land of 10,000 lakes.
That will be the Wild’s longest stretch away from home for the entire regular season. The rest of the Wild’s 2024-25 season can be found below:
The 82-game season will conclude for the Wild on Tuesday, April 15, before postseason play begins.
Minnesota
Minnesota passes new law allowing motorcyclists to split lanes
![Minnesota passes new law allowing motorcyclists to split lanes](https://www.kaaltv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Motorcycle-Lane-Splitting.png)
The day’s local, regional and national news, detailed events and late-breaking stories are presented by the ABC 6 News Team, along with the latest sports, weather updates including the extended forecast.
(ABC 6 News) — A new law has passed in Minnesota allowing motorcyclists to split lanes, but it won’t go into effect until next July.
The law is similar to those in other states that allow motorcyclists to ride slowly between lanes in stopped or bumper-to-bumper traffic.
When the law does go into effect, Minnesota will be among at least half a dozen states allowing lane splitting.
Minnesota
Teen vaping nicotine dependence increasing in Minnesota: Survey data
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Vaping trial: Ellison says Juul, Altria ‘hooked a generation of Minnesota kids on e-cigarettes’
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison laid out his case against vaping company Juul in his lawsuit over teen use of vapes.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota teenagers have increasingly found themselves dependent on nicotine, thanks in part to the rise in popularity of vaping, a new study has found.
According to data from the Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, 70% of students who vape say they want to quit, and nearly two-thirds have tried to quit in the past.
Meanwhile, 79.6% of surveyed students who use e-cigarettes, or vapes, reported suffering dependence on the devices, which can provide high levels of nicotine and lead to stronger withdrawal symptoms such as mood fluctuations, stress, anxiety and depression.
“It’s a dire situation that so many of our teens are struggling with the health harms of nicotine dependence,” Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham said in a statement accompanying the data. “Many teens may smoke or vape because they think it helps them relieve stress or anxiety, but the nicotine can actually worsen those feelings. We want teens to know that we understand the mental health challenges they may be facing and how hard it is to quit, and that free help is out there to support them.”
The Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey data show that among students who vaped in the past 30 days, 49.5% vaped at least 20 in the past 30 days – a 47% increase since 2020, and a 165% increase since 2017.
Until age 25, nicotine can negatively affect learning, attention and memory. It also increases risk for addiction to other substances, the study says.
A majority of teens surveyed – 76.3% – reported their first tobacco product was flavored. In 2023, 93.3% of students who vape used a flavored vape in the past 30 days.
However, data show that overall vaping usage numbers could be declining.
In 2023, 13.9% of high school students reported vaping in the past 30 days – a decline from 19.3% in 2020.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) offers the My Life, My Quit program to support teens in quitting commercial tobacco use, including vaping, by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072.
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