Minnesota Vikings defense evolves under Brian Flores in 2025, focusing on linebackers’ future and NFL news—key insights from Two Old Bloggers. In this episode of Two Old Bloggers, hosts Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano dive deep into the Vikings’ defensive landscape on Vikings 1st & SKOL, a production partnered with the Fans First Sports Network. As training camp looms in July 2025, they analyze the long-term stability of inside and edge linebackers, predict Brian Flores’ innovative tweaks to sustain elite performance, and unpack Vikings headlines like Kirk Cousins’ regrets, Dallas Turner’s scam ordeal, and ESPN’s all-time draft picks featuring 13 Vikings legends. Packed with expert breakdowns, player projections, and engaging banter, this Minnesota Vikings podcast episode offers strategic NFL analysis, roster evaluations, and fan-favorite commentary for Purple faithful craving 2025 season previews.

Why Dive Into Vikings Defense Now?

As the Minnesota Vikings gear up for the 2025 NFL season after a stellar 14-3 campaign in 2024 that fell just short of the NFC’s top seed, questions swirl about sustaining defensive excellence. With a brutal schedule featuring elite quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff, the Vikings’ defense—transformed from a 2022 sieve under Ed Donatell into a turnover-forcing, sack-happy unit—must evolve or risk late-season fades. This episode isn’t just chatter; it’s a roadmap for fans wondering if Brian Flores can pull another rabbit from his hat, how the linebacker corps stacks up long-term, and what fresh headlines mean for the Purple. Worth your time? Absolutely—if you’re invested in Vikings glory, this blend of historical nods, forward-thinking strategy, and unfiltered opinions arms you with insights no casual fan has, all while entertaining with grandkid tales and condiment debates. Skip it, and you’ll miss why 2025 could be Flores’ masterpiece.

Breaking Down the Vikings’ Defensive Puzzle

Campbell and Stefano kick off with a positional autopsy of the Vikings’ linebackers, framing it as a “long-term outlook” exercise now that free agency and the draft have solidified the 90-man roster. “Every offseason we go over the Vikings positional units here at Two Old Bloggers and try to make educated guesses about how the various positional units on the team will look in the upcoming year,” Campbell explains, setting the stage. But with the NFL’s average career at just 3.3 years, “long-term” means peering into 2028 at best.

Inside Linebackers: Uncertainty Amid Flores’ Scheme

The inside linebacker group draws immediate scrutiny for its volatility. Campbell highlights the precarious contract situations: “The Vikings only have two guys that I see making the team at inside linebacker who are scheduled to not hit free agency after this season. Those two are Blake Cashman, who currently is set to hit free agency in 2027, and rookie Kobe King, who isn’t guaranteed to make the roster… but he wouldn’t be eligible to hit free agency until 2028.”

Veterans like Eric Wilson (“strictly here on a year-to-year basis”) and Brian Asamoah (potentially roster-bubble bound) add to the flux, while Ivan Pace Jr.—a fan favorite for his blitzing and run-stuffing—faces a pivotal year. “Pace has been great as that kind of player, as well as a blitzer, in his first two seasons with the Vikes but pass coverage is not as much a strong suit for him,” Campbell notes. Stefano concurs, praising Pace’s fit in Flores’ rotation-heavy approach: “Ivan Pace is a good run stuffer… and his weakness is in pass coverage, but it looks like at least while Brian Flores is in charge, the pass coverage on both linebackers is not as necessary.”

Yet, the duo tempers optimism with realism. Flores’ defense deploys just one inside linebacker on 60% of snaps, easing the burden, but undrafted rookies like Austin Keys and Dorian Mausi offer little certainty. “This group could look a lot different in 2026 and especially 2027,” Campbell warns. Stefano adds depth concerns but trusts the scheme: “The inside linebacker I don’t think is as as important ’cause there’s only two maximum on the field at any one time.”

Edge Rushers: Stability with Emerging Depth Questions

Shifting to edge rushers, the outlook brightens. “Looking at the outside linebackers, the long-term outlook looks slightly better than the inside guys,” Campbell states. Key pieces like Dallas Turner (locked through 2028), Jonathan Greenard (2027), and Andrew Van Ginkel (2026) form a formidable trio. “What looks like the Vikings top three edge rushers will be around for the next two seasons,” he adds.

Age factors in—Van Ginkel turns 32 by 2027, potentially signaling an exit—but production could extend stays. Stefano echoes this: “We’ve seen guys like Von Miller, Khalil Mack and last year – Danielle Hunter – be very productive at 30 and over as edge rushers.” Depth, however, relies on unproven undrafted talents like Bo Richter and Gabe Murphy. “If one or two of those guys emerge… the Vikings have team control over all four beyond this season,” Campbell says, noting exclusive rights free agency perks.

Stefano ties it back to Flores: “It’s all about the rotation and keeping them fresh… how Flores uses them as pieces to cause havoc.”

Brian Flores’ 2025 Evolution: More Man Coverage, Versatility, and Personnel Fits

Transitioning to Theme 2, the hosts dissect Flores’ potential “next tricks” after elevating the defense from 2022’s woes. “Since Brian Flores became the Vikings defensive coordinator in 2023, he’s done what he was hired to do,” Campbell asserts. Yet, late-season slumps—yielding 25, 31, and 27 points in the final three 2024 games—prompt innovation.

Core principles remain: “Flores is going to continue to try to dictate what offenses do… by showing multiple fronts… disguising pass coverage looks and varying who he sends on blitzes,” Campbell explains. A key shift? Increased man coverage, up from 22% in 2024 (eighth-lowest in the NFL). “The Vikings used man coverage 22% of the time in 2024… This went against what Flores had done as head coach in Miami,” he notes, crediting upgraded corners like Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr.

Stefano elaborates on Flores’ genius: “He’s like, he’s in a time machine. He’s gone 10 years ahead and… figured out how to stop it today.” Versatility shines with “multiple” players like Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, and Turner: “Dallas Turner has been trained to be ‘multiple’… rush the passer a lot but also drop into coverage.”

Personnel upgrades—Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen—bolster fits: “In his third year… he should have more of his guys on his defense,” Campbell says. Stefano predicts less blitzing against veterans: “This year might even look a little bit more conventional with less blitzing because of that.”

Vikingsland Headlines: Cousins’ Drama, Turner’s Scam, and Draft Nostalgia

Theme 3 brings levity and controversy. On Kirk Cousins’ Netflix revelations feeling “misled” by Atlanta drafting Michael Penix Jr.: “Thank you to the Falcons… it forced the Vikings to make a decision they maybe should have made before,” Campbell quips. Stefano laughs it off: “I found it quite amusing when the news broke that he was boo-hooing.”

Dallas Turner’s $240,000 scam loss draws empathy: “Turner learned this the hard way… Maybe this will piss off Turner so much that he goes on a rampage and puts up a 15-sack season,” Campbell hopes. Stefano advises caution: “If it smells fishy, it probably is.”

Finally, ESPN’s Ben Solak’s all-time draft picks list features 13 Vikings, from Adrian Peterson (#7) to Stu Voigt (#259). Omissions like Danielle Hunter spark debate: “I’d go with Hunter over Foles there but I am biased,” Campbell admits.

A Defense Poised for Dominance

Campbell and Stefano paint a Vikings defense ready to dominate 2025, blending stability at edge, developmental upside inside, and Flores’ adaptive wizardry. “Things are trending up… better for longer, especially late in the season,” Campbell concludes. Stefano concurs: “We’re in store for a top five defensive unit throughout the season… that’s gonna be scary.”

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This episode delivers not just analysis but hope—Flores’ evolution, fortified by Hargrave and Allen, counters the quarterback gauntlet ahead. As Stefano teases, “We open up Monday night against the Chicago Bears… I fully expect… Caleb Williams curled up in the fetal position.” For Vikings fans, it’s a call to arms: the Purple’s defense isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving, potentially propelling them to Super Bowl contention.

Fan With Us!

We have your Minnesota Vikings talk amongst the Two Old Bloggers, Darren @KickassblogVike, and Dave @Luft_Krigare. Join the conversation! Fan with us at Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and with our podcast partner Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and Fans First Sports Network’s NFL feed @FFSN_NFL where you get sports takes for the fan, from the fan!

Question:

What one tweak do you think Brian Flores should prioritize in the Vikings’ 2025 defense to counter elite quarterbacks—more man coverage, reduced blitzing, or something else? Share your thoughts below!