https://247sports.com/college/wisco...knack-Dolphins-Wisconsin-football--132482312/ When the Rock Valley, Iowa native transferred to Wisconsin to play his final two seasons of eligibility, Madison got to know his name pretty quick thanks to some stadium-quaking plays. By the end of his first season with the Badgers, Van Ginkel had amassed 39 tackles, 10.0 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks, and recorded two forced fumbles, two interceptions and four pass breakups. Folks in Miami may not be chanting his name quite yet, but early reports from the Dolphins’ practices indicate that they definitely know it. “He has done a nice job,” Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said. “Good speed, instinctive. He has a playmaking knack we liked. Hopefully, that translates.” “I think he’s going to be pretty good [in general],” fellow linebacker Raekwon McMillan added. “He’s a good young cat. Listens very well, understands what we’re trying to get done as a defense.” “Coaches are going to keep guys around that can play all different positions,” Van Ginkel said (via MiamiHerald.com). “I’m going to try to earn a starting spot no matter where I’m at.”
This guy will have a game winning interception returned for a touchdown in the Super Bowl three years from now!
Some guys just have a knack for quickly seeing/understanding what's happening on the field. I haven't watched him enough to say whether or not he's one those guys, but here's hoping.
Probably the most important trait every top defensive player regardless of position has IMO As well as guys who just make the most of limited talent.
I'm glad to hear he is looking good so far, but lots of guys look good in shorts and disappear when the pads come on. Here's to hoping he is not one of them.
I feel pretty strongly is that the positional archetype you're looking for with Van Ginkel is Jamie Collins. Not as an every-down OLB, but as more of an ILB who will play some OLB roles and let you flex between sub packages. Neither one of them is particularly impressive as a strict edge defender, but they've got experience there but are incredibly athletic.
Then again we carried Mike Hull on the roster. He had all the smarts in the world but he’d struggle in a foot race with a glacier. Smarts in nice, but without a baseline of athleticism it ain’t worth spit.
I also struggled in a foot race with a glacier because it was so awe inspiring that I just stood there for who knows how long. Was in Alaska a month ago and I went up to, onto and inside a glacier (meaning ice caves which are spectacular). I was the only one stupid enough to hike the West Glacier Trail in Juneau on a day that rained to see the Mendenhall glacier. Latter part of that "trail" is more rock climbing than hiking so you shouldn't go in the rain, but who cares.. it's an experience you HAVE to have. So massive, white and just causes you to stop in your tracks. The ice cave I was in was awesome too.. green on one side, blue on the other. And actually hiking to one is WAY better than a boat tour which I also did so if you go make sure you hike up to, onto and inside one. Nothing wrong with someone struggling in a foot race with a glacier..
Yeah but I dont think Hull as the reaction time to make up for his athletic skills. Part of that intelligence is knowing the correct angle for your own athletic limitations. I dont think he has that. Idk if Van Ginkle does either yet of course.
This, van ginkell's big weakness is that he struggles with contact. He does great in space and when unblocked, but as soon as a blocker gets their hands on him he is done. So no surprise that he looks good in shorts. Same thing as the reports of parker looking good in shorts. It will be a different story when the pads come on and full contact is allowed.
I don't know that Mike Hull is suddenly going to become a good starter, but I think it's worth considering that guys like him may have a fit in this defense in a way that they might not in others, and you might have the circumstances where a guy who doesn't have ideal athletic attributes but can play ball ends up as a good starter. They can pretty commonly field formations where the MLB is a free defender with all the interior gaps filled by down linemen, but also keeping edge defenders in the wide gaps funneling runs inside.
I wish we would of drafted former badger linebackers Joe Schobert and TJ watt but let’s hop this kid can get close.