How important is Andrew Van Ginkel to Minnesota's path to a Super Bowl?
Very, obviously.
Minnesota's defense is a top-10 unit by most measurements – yards given up per play, takeaways, first downs and points allowed, percentage of drives ending in an offensive score, every relevant pass-rush metric, rushing yards against, conversion percent on third and fourth downs, and so on and so forth.
At its core, helping transcend Minnesota's defense is the all-important Van Ginkel.
That take was supported Thursday by CBS Sports, which ranked Gink' as the third-most important non-QB in the NFC Playoffs, behind Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley and Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Van Ginkel has performed at a Defensive Player of the Year level in his reunion with Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores. The 29-year-old outside linebacker and Dolphins 2019 fifth-round draft pick has produced single-season highs in sacks (11.5), interceptions (2), tackles for loss (18) and total stops (79).
Both of Van Ginkel's picks were returned for scores (against the Giants in Week 1 and Jets in Week 5), and he's nearly added a third such play on multiple occasions, including in the Week 18 loss at the Lions.
Jeff Kerr noted the following:
Van Ginkel had 49 pressures and 19 quarterback hits, but was a dual-threat linebacker in coverage. Opposing quarterbacks had a 71.6 passer rating targeting Van Ginkel as the primary defender.
We'll add that Van Ginkel is the first player to amass two pick sixes, 10-plus sacks and 15-plus TFLs since at least 1999.
Behind the Vikings star, Kerr listed Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who boasts the fifth most 100-yard receiving games (12) through two seasons in pro football history (Bill Groman and Charley Hennigan had 16 and 12 in the AFL; Odell Beckham, Jr., set the NFL record with 15, and Justin Jefferson logged 14). Detroit safety Kerby Joseph rounded out Kerr's list after generating a 44.4 passer rating against when targeted and picking off an NFL-best nine passes.
While you're here, we'll mention that a couple noteworthy stats shared by Kerr bolstered the respective cases for St. Brown and Barkley as the biggest non-QB X-factors in the NFC: St. Brown's connection with Lions QB Jared Goff has resulted in a 136.8 passer rating; Barkley led the league with 2,283 scrimmage yards and rushed for 1,245 in second-half action, tops for anyone (tracked since 1991).
Jefferson also received consideration from Kerr. Read his whole article here.
Bynum practices breakdancing
Camryn Bynum has turned Minnesota's 33 turnovers forced this season into a viral sensation.
The fourth-year Vikings safety has nabbed three of the defense's NFL-best 24 interceptions (five more than second-place Houston). Even more impressive, however, are Bynum's celebrations after a takeaway.
He's whipped out Lindsay Lohan's extensive handshake from The Parent Trap and expertly pulled off the dance-battle scene involving the comedic genius Wayans brothers in the film White Chicks with Joshua Metellus. He also convinced teammates to participate in iconic group jigs from Disney movies Camp Rock and High School Musical.
Now, with Minnesota preparing to wrap Wild Card Round against the Rams on Monday night, Bynum apparently has prepared a playoff-caliber dance per the Star Tribune that he's worked months to perfect.
Sheila Regan reported the following on Wednesday:
At the House of Dance Twin Cities in Edina, Bynum broke down a complex series of breakdance moves one step at a time on New Year's Eve to learn the windmill routine. The move involves a shoulder stand, swinging his legs and holding his body weight up with his arms, all while twisting and rolling his body.
Bynum knew a thing or two about breakdancing already – recall his impersonation of Australia's Olympic breaker "Raygun" following a pick at Jacksonville in Week 10? – but clearly wanted to advance his skills.
So, he connected with Twin Cities breakdancer and instructor Jake "Bboy Boogie B" Riley, after Riley tagged Bynum on an Instagram story and offered the 26-year-old defender a free breakdancing class.
His first one-hour lesson was last November. His third was on New Year's Eve.
Riley quickly noticed aspects that will help Bynum's breaking, such as his balance and his understanding of how his body moves – even in unusual positions, like with his feet in the air and head on the ground.
The dedication to develop a celebration befitting of a takeaway is second nature for Bynum.
To get to the NFL, players have to have discipline ingrained into their work ethic. Bynum takes things even further, taking on additional projects that stretch his mind and body and take a ton of practice.
Bynum drew parallels between breakdancing and football.
"Everything's technique," Bynum said. "Tackling is all footwork, more than it is using your upper body.
"I'm not happy until I can do it without [Riley] talking me through it," he told Regan, noting attention to detail is key. "I'm a perfectionist with the tiniest things. I think that's what made me good at football."
Check out Regan's entire story on Bynum's exciting next moves here.
