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The Needle...
#1
Cameron Dantzler's marching orders after his rookie season were to bulk up the slender 6-foot-2, 188-pound frame earning him the nickname "The Needle" in high school.
Because the needle kept breaking. The Vikings cornerback missed five games last season with rib and hamstring injuries and a concussion. Then a right quadriceps issue sidelined him through most of his first spring practices in Minnesota.
So when Dantzler arrived for his second annual "DB retreat" in Scottsdale, Ariz., earlier this month, hosted by his mentor, Ryan Clark, the former Steelers safety and current ESPN analyst, he worked on fortifying himself physically and mentally.
"Lifting was huge with me for Cam," Clark said. "Making sure the lifts were correct, but also lifts to build mass. You need bigger shoulders for contact. You need bigger legs to hold up throughout the season with the pounding and running."
Dantzler was among about 20 defensive backs, including Washington safety Landon Collins and Carolina cornerback Donte Jackson, at Clark's annual retreat. It was six days of on-field skills work at Chaparral High School, athletic and weight regimens at D1 Training, film study with Clark, and shared tips about recovery routines.
All proved useful to Dantzler, the 2020 third-round pick who flashed potential as a rookie with four pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 11 games. His goal now is to appear in all 17 regular season games to prove his durability, aided by a newfound weekly routine of stretching, ice and compression treatments. He said he reported to camp at 192 pounds.
"He's a little bit bigger," coach Mike Zimmer said. "He's still got to get in the weight room and things like that. He came off the field way too much last year, so if he gets a couple hits on him, he's got to stay the heck out there and go compete."
After Zimmer relied on young and inexperienced corners through a tumultuous 2020 season, the Vikings have signed a flurry of veteran cornerbacks. Three — Patrick Peterson, Mackensie Alexander and Bashaud Breeland — could start over Dantzler.
Dantzler said he has embraced the experience around him. It's what he has done before. He met Clark, who describes Dantzler as a "little brother," after the two ran into each other at Mississippi State during a recruiting visit for Clark's son, Jordan. Dantzler quickly reached out to Clark, wanting to train with and learn from the NFL veteran.
Film study was another key component to Dantzler's offseason. He emphasized learning coverages from multiple positions, so he knows where his help is coming from.
Clark and Dantzler also talked through his coverage issues near the goal line and when he was pressing receivers at the line, which are two areas where Dantzler's long arms should help him disrupt throws – if he's in the right place.
"I wanted to see him with great eyes in and out of breaks," Clark said. "I felt that's where he can get better. If your eyes are better, now it puts you a step closer to the play. When you have that type of length and ball skills, now it's interceptions and not [pass breakups]."
Zimmer said he also wants Dantzler to have "a little more belief in himself." The 22-year-old corner admits that his confidence slipped as a rookie, but that his mind is in the right place now.
"I lost my confidence a little bit beginning of last year because I wasn't playing to my standard," Dantzler said. "But I feel like I gained that confidence back as the season went on, and I'm very confident heading into Year 2."
https://www.startribune.com/no-broken-ne...600083431/

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#2
He's never going to get over 195 lbs....ever. His frame is too slight. Its a really good thing he's even up to 192. If he were to bulk up to 200 lbs or over, he'd lose something physically. Most likely speed. Flexibility. 

Z needs to chill on that and just realize he might get some dings here and there more than other corners. 
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#3
He's working to get better, he's athletic and could end-up being a decent NFL player if he can hold-up.

22 is really, really young too and so he could put on some bulk just with age. The reality is that he's slight even for a pedestrian, let alone trying to tackle NFL skill players. 

My $ is on Breeland being a starter along with P2 and Mac Alex. 


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#4
If he continues to eat right and work he will get over 200#, the hope is that the weight add strength and speed vs bad weight that will slow him or reduce his flexability and range of motion.
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#5
Players with small frames aren't built to pack on weight.



SEE -Teddy Bridgewater 2016
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#6
Teddy is 6-2 215 lbs...  so there is that
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#7
Quote: @rf54 said:
Teddy is 6-2 215 lbs...  so there is that
yEhhh...you've seen Teddy, right? 
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#8
Quote: @StickyBun said:
@rf54 said:
Teddy is 6-2 215 lbs...  so there is that
yEhhh...you've seen Teddy, right? 
Slow back pedal,  stiff hips, and doesn't track the ball well.
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#9
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@StickyBun said:
@rf54 said:
Teddy is 6-2 215 lbs...  so there is that
yEhhh...you've seen Teddy, right? 
Slow back pedal,  stiff hips, and doesn't track the ball well.
Here's a recent picture of Teddy's legs:

[Image: Ostrich_legs.jpg]
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#10
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