Reps Are Everything For Andrew Van Ginkel
Dec 3, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) passes the ball as Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) defends during the third quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL season kicks off later this week and Week 1 will see plenty of different faces in new places. In Minnesota specifically, the Vikings may have landed a player who fits the Skol mindset like a glove. Andrew Van Ginkel, a midwestern born and bred linebacker, even looks as though he is kin to Viktor The Viking.
Van Ginkel spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins after being a fifth round draft pick in 2019. After a career season in 2023, Van Ginkel accepted a free agent deal to join the Vikings, taking his talents from South Florida to the Twin Cities. More importantly the Rock Valley, Iowa product returns to a man who knows how to use him. Or better yet, how much to use him.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores drafted and coached Van Ginkel in 2019 through 2021. In their final season together, Van Ginkel played a seasonal career high of 71% of the defensive snaps.
When Flores was fired by the Dolphins following the 2021 season, Mike McDaniel took over, yet defensive coordinator Josh Boyer stayed. In 2022, Boyer only played Van Ginkel in 29% of the seasonal snaps, which was head-scratching to many in Miami. In 2023 under now former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in Miami, Van Ginkel played in 66% of the snaps, and had career highs of six sacks and eight passes defended.
When looking at Van Ginkel’s usage, there has been a remarkable correlation to Dolphins success when he plays heavy snaps in games. In fact, in the 12 games that he has played in over 80% of snaps for Miami, their record was 11-1.
Breaking down this further, understanding he was not the sole reason for victories, his presence was felt heavily. In those 12 games, he had 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 11 passes defended. Last year alone, Miami was 5-0 when he hit the 80%+ snap count mark and he had four sacks in those games.
Even more interesting was his three highest snap count games of his career all came under Flores. Mixing these two together could create a formula for success in Minnesota, and potentially unlock Van Ginkel’s Pro-Bowl potential.
As per Pro Football Focus Van Ginkel was seventh among 112 qualifying players at edge rusher in 2023. He was also graded in the top-four at the position for his coverage skills and a top-seven in pass-rush ability. To better put into scale what Van Ginkel has done so far in his career, he is behind only Matthew Judon in sacks among fifth round or later drafted players since 2019 with 17. He is also third in this time period among this group with 21 passes defended.
Despite these numbers, Van Ginkel still has yet to reach his peak potential, and Minnesota could be the destination where he could be maximized.
For a player that embodies the spirit, and likeness of the team he now plays for; Van Ginkel is home, and the scores of Vikings faithful should be thrilled to have him. Brian Flores sure is. He, more than anyone, knows that the only thing standing between Van Ginkel and success is reps.
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