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Vikings relying more on youth with three rookies set to start against Saints

By Andrew Krammer

Only two Vikings rookies have started Week 1 games in three years under head coach Mike Zimmer. That number could more than double on Monday night against the Saints.

The team’s first unofficial depth chart of the season lists three rookies — running back Dalvin Cook, center Pat Elflein and linebacker Ben Gedeon — as starters after this weekend’s cuts down to the 53-player limit.

The Vikings decided on the combination of Elflein at center and Nick Easton at left guard before approaching Alex Boone about a pay cut, according to the Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling. The Easton-Elflein-Joe Berger interior combo worked well in Seattle, where Cook had his best preseason outing with seven carries for 40 rushing yards.

Overall the Vikings are relying more on youth after the release of Boone, linebacker Chad Greenway’s retirement and the inclusion of defensive end Danielle Hunter, cornerback Trae Waynes and three rookies in the starting lineup.

Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman anticipated such when picking an 11-man draft class after letting, and watching, a handful of veterans like cornerback Captain Munnerlyn exit in free agency.

The average age of the Vikings’ expected Week 1 lineup reflects the shift. Both offensively and defensively, the Vikings dropped 22 seasons of experience and erosion, or two seasons per player. The average starter is now 26 years old on both sides of the ball (26.27 on offense, 26.72 on defense), down from more than 28 years old on each side last season.
Vikings relying more on youth with three rookies set to start against Saints - StarTribune.com

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