The Viking Age
FanSided

Rookie Report: Minnesota Vikings vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3

By Adam Carlson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown on the sidelines with teammates Adam Thielen #19 and Dalvin Cook #33 in the second quarter of the game agains the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown on the sidelines with teammates Adam Thielen #19 and Dalvin Cook #33 in the second quarter of the game agains the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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How did the Minnesota Vikings rookies fare in Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season when they took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium?

One of the most important aspects of building a team is developing young players. This year, the Minnesota Vikings have three rookie starters and others that are hoping to work their way into a bigger workload in the future.

These young men worked hard in the Vikings 34-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 3 of the NFL season, but some performances were more impressive than others during the contest.

Here are how the rookies performed in order of the number of snaps they took during the game. (All snap numbers from Football Guys. All other stats from ESPN.)

Pat Elflein, C

Minnesota got a better performance from the offensive line this week, and much of that had to do with the strength of the interior line. Elflein and crew allowed only 6 total pressures on quarterback Case Keenum, allowing him to pick apart the Tampa Bay defense.

Also, the team’s running backs gained over 100 yards on the ground against the Buccaneers, which seemed unlikely after Tampa held Chicago to just 20 yards on the ground on 16 attempts in Week 2. Elflein and crew get a big pat on the back for their performance.

Dalvin Cook, RB

Cook had the most snaps of his career in week 3, earning 54 while Jerick McKinnon had only 14 and Latavius Murray only saw 8. He played at a high level, picking up blitzes and catching all 5 passes that came his way while forcing 8 total missed tackles.

He picked up 97 yards on the ground on 27 carries and his first NFL touchdown. Add in the 72 yards in the receiving game, and Cook earned 169 total yards in the game. You can’t ask for a better 3rd NFL game than a performance like this.

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Ben Gedeon, LB

While listed as a starter for the Vikings, Gedeon isn’t getting a lot of playing time. In Week 3, the linebacker only saw 9 snaps during the game, which is exactly half of his workload from the previous week against Pittsburgh.

Gedeon still doesn’t seem to be making mistakes, but he doesn’t fit well against pass-heavy offenses, as seen by Mackensie Alexander and Terence Newman playing 51 combined snaps this week.

Gedeon will still be considered a starter and will see some snaps, but he’s doing what is asked of him. And, for now, that is what is important as he continues to develop and the team plays to his strengths.

Eric Wilson, LB

Once again, Wilson didn’t find playing time on defense but did play on special teams. Sadly, he didn’t record a tackle during this contest, however, he will continue to be an asset in that phase of the game.

Next: Week 3 game grades: Vikings vs Tampa Bay

What did you think of the performances from the Minnesota Vikings rookies during Week 3 of the NFL season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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