Dalvin Tomlinson reunites with former Alabama assistant

The Minnesota Vikings changed coach Mike Zimmer with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell this offseason. When O’Connell assembled his teaching workers, his choices introduced collectively Dalvin Tomlinson and Chris Rumph once more.

The Vikings’ defensive-line coach, Rumph held that place at Alabama from 2011 via 2013. Rumph’s last two seasons with the Crimson Tide had been Tomlinson’s first two seasons at Alabama.

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“Coach Rumph, that’s my man,” Tomlinson stated throughout Minnesota’s offseason program. “I felt like we had been again to freshman, sophomore yr at Alabama. Plenty of jokes reminiscing on good outdated occasions again then.”

The Vikings are switching from their primarily 4-3 protection used throughout Tomlinson’s first season with the Vikings to a fundamental 3-4 scheme underneath new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

“It’s been nice working with each guys,” Tomlinson stated about his defensive coaches on Monday throughout an look on CBS Sports activities Radio’s “The Jim Rome Present.” “And with the 3-4 protection, it feels type of like I’m again at Alabama, Tuscaloosa a bit bit, enjoying the defensive finish a bit bit like I used to. Reconnecting with coach Rumph has been nice, ? Bringing again outdated reminiscences at Alabama like conditioning assessments and stuff like that.

“It’s been nice to this point. Tremendous-excited for this protection. I really feel just like the sky’s the restrict as a result of we’ve got a lot expertise throughout the board.”

Among the many NFL’s 32 groups final season, the Minnesota protection ranked twenty fourth in factors allowed, thirtieth in yards allowed, twenty eighth in passing yards allowed and twenty sixth in speeding yards allowed.

This offseason, the Vikings added defensive lineman Harrison Phillips and linebackers Jordan Hicks and Za’Darius Smith in free company and Georgia security Lewis Cine and Clemson cornerback Andrew Sales space Jr. with their first two draft picks.

Smith is an alumnus of Greenville Excessive Faculty.

“That man brings rather a lot to the protection, particularly within the move rush,” Tomlinson stated. “He’s additionally good on the setting the sting, which we additionally wanted. Throughout the board, he’s bringing the total bundle.”

A again harm restricted Smith to at least one regular-season recreation and one playoff contest for Inexperienced Bay final season, however he rang up 26 sacks and 60 quarterback hits throughout the earlier two seasons for the Packers.

Tomlinson has 10.5 sacks in his 5 NFL seasons.

“I’m all the time super-stout on the run,” Tomlinson stated. “We received to cease the run. We will’t cease the run, we will’t move rush. And I wish to contribute much more to the move rush this season additionally.”

To try this, Tomlinson stated he had been “leaning out simply so I might play for longer, play sooner and play a number of, play a bit bit extra positions on the market on the sphere and simply contribute extra to the staff.”

Minnesota’s rookies are scheduled to report back to coaching camp on July 24 with the veterans following on July 26. The Vikings open their three-game preseason schedule on Aug. 14 in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders and kick off their regular-season slate on Sept. 11 in opposition to the Packers.

O’Connell’s most up-to-date recreation was Tremendous Bowl LVI, by which the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on Feb. 13.

“Energetic might be the most important factor I’d use,” Tomlinson stated about O’Connell. “Simply that optimistic vibe Coach KO brings to the constructing. Simply seeing all people super-excited to return to work day-after-day – pleased, excited, simply super-energetic.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports activities reporter for Alabama Media Group. Observe him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.