06-05-2024, 06:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-05-2024, 06:59 PM by purplefaithful.)
New Vikings running back Aaron Jones excited about the Justin Jefferson effect
New Vikings running back Aaron Jones played with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams for six of his seven seasons in Green Bay. So he's familiar with the gravitational pull that a star receiver can have on a defense, and how that extra attention — like two deep safeties instead of one — can open running lanes for him.
During Jones' first week of practices with Justin Jefferson, who Monday signed a four-year, $140 million extension, they already were looking forward to that kind of relationship.
Jones said he told Jefferson on Tuesday, "'Man, I'm ready to get on the field with you. You're going to make my job easier.'
"He's like, 'Nah, you're going to make my job easier.' I guess that's what we're here for - to make each other's jobs easier. He's going to take some attention off me, and hopefully I can do the same for him."
Jones, 29, was cut by the Packers in March after declining a second pay cut in as many years. He quickly signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, pairing a Pro Bowl talent with a lackluster run game. The Vikings' rushing attack has ranked 23rd and 26th in yards per carry during head coach Kevin O'Connell's two seasons.
Jones, who also has more than 2,000 career receiving yards, said he can learn from Jefferson, too.
"I just got to kind of sit and watch him and some of the routes he runs," Jones said. "We may have similar concepts where I may be running something similar to him. So just kind of watching him, watching Jordan Addison; both of those guys, I think they're special receivers."
What does Jones think this offense can achieve?
"It really excites me," Jones said. "I played with a No. 1 receiver, and now being here with a No. 1 receiver, and then two No. 1s, if you ask me, three No. 1s, sorry let's keep going – you throw T.J. [Hockenson] in there. It's just like, who are you going to guard?"
"I think the matchups we can get against the defense are pretty much always going to be in our favor," he added, "and I think it's going to be hard to stop."
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...600371234/
New leadership in town
Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, the former Texans starter who signed a four-year deal with the Vikings in free agency, has a new thing going in Minnesota. After each practice open to reporters, Greenard has led a small circle of 10 to 15 players in a core muscle routine. It's an assertive step from the 27-year-old veteran on a young team. Only 28-year-old edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel is older than Greenard in a position room that features four rookies, including first-round pick Dallas Turner.
"Just be myself," Greenard said after Wednesday's practice. "I haven't had to do much of anything else. You see this abs thing I brought from Houston, just kind of got into a routine a little bit, and I think everybody's drawn toward that because they see the benefits. ... These guys are so young, they're eager and hungry to make some plays and win."
Roll call
Nearly all of the Vikings' projected 22 starters have been on the field through two days of a three-day mandatory minicamp, except for recovering veterans Hockenson (knee) and Van Ginkel (foot). Safety Camryn Bynum (undisclosed) also has spent time rehabbing while being limited in practice.
Receiver Jalen Nailor and tight end Nick Muse have been absent this week, while second-year cornerback NaJee Thompson has rehabbed an undisclosed injury on a side field.
Pace the play caller
Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been relaying play calls in the huddle during practices this week, and head coach Kevin O'Connell first mentioned the second-year defender when asked about who will take over for veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks in that role. One defender can wear the in-helmet speaker during games, or the "green-dot helmet," to hear defensive coordinator Brian Flores' calls.
"He's had a very good spring [with] just the type of communication [Flores] is putting on his plate," O'Connell said of Pace. "We also want to have Blake Cashman and Kamu Grugier-Hill ready to handle some of that green dot work."
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...600371234/
A group of reporters approached new edge rusher Jonathan Greenard after practice wrapped up on Wednesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.
He politely declined at the time while walking alongside the rest of his position group. They still had some work to do.
A couple of minutes later, Greenard was leading an ab workout on the side of the field, something he has been doing after pretty much every practice since he came into the league.
“When we first started doing it, we probably had a few people out here,” Greenard said. “Now everybody is doing it, and I think that’s brought us so much closer together.”
The routine is something Greenard picked up while playing for the Houston Texans early in his career. Naturally, he decided to bring it with him to the Vikings after signing a four-year, $76 million contract this offseason.
“Why not get a little 10 minutes of abs to knock it out?” Greenard said. “The core is everything. I’ve had core injuries in the past and dealt with that. As we know, if the core is strong, everything else is going to be better, and the injuries are going to go down.”
This is a perfect example of how Greenard’s leadership is already showing up with the Vikings despite the fact that he hasn’t been in Minnesota for very long. The skills as a leader come naturally for him, and while he takes a lot of pride in his production on the field, he takes an equal mount of pride in his ability to get everybody to pull on the same rope.
“Just be myself,” Greenard said. “I really haven’t had to do anything else.”
Maybe the biggest place Greenard’s leadership has shown up is in how he has made it a point to take young edge rusher Dallas Turner under his wing. Suddenly a veteran in the NFL, Greenard sees the seemingly limitless potential that Turner possesses, and he’s invested in squeezing all of the juice out of that orange.
“It’s a responsibility of mine to continue to help develop and become the best version of himself,” Greenard said. “He has too much potential not to. I’ll be spilling all my knowledge to him. He’s a great kid and he’s willing to listen, and that’s the best thing about it.”
There’s a genuine excitement from Greenard when he talks about his future with the Vikings. He’s excited to teach his teammates everything he knows. He’s also excited to learn from defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
“He’s going to dial it up,” Greenard said. “Just having that style makes other teams play on our terms. I love it. I’m all about it.”
The aggressiveness of Flores should help Greenard build on last season, when he posted a career high 12 1/2 sacks. He has developed into an edge rusher that can win with speed on the outside and power on the inside. He also has shown he can be effective wherever he lines up in a formation.
That versatility is a major key to his success.
“It’s an innovative league,” Greenard said. “We’ve got to be able to beat new strategies that offenses are going to continue to throw at us. ”
As for the ab workouts that have become part of his persona, Greenard ensured the Vikings would continue to do them throughout the summer, even as the temperatures continue to rise in training camp.
“I’m a firm believer in doing core,” Greenard said while pausing for dramatic effect. “And having a six pack.”
https://www.twincities.com/2024/06/05/vi...ence-felt/
New Vikings running back Aaron Jones played with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams for six of his seven seasons in Green Bay. So he's familiar with the gravitational pull that a star receiver can have on a defense, and how that extra attention — like two deep safeties instead of one — can open running lanes for him.
During Jones' first week of practices with Justin Jefferson, who Monday signed a four-year, $140 million extension, they already were looking forward to that kind of relationship.
Jones said he told Jefferson on Tuesday, "'Man, I'm ready to get on the field with you. You're going to make my job easier.'
"He's like, 'Nah, you're going to make my job easier.' I guess that's what we're here for - to make each other's jobs easier. He's going to take some attention off me, and hopefully I can do the same for him."
Jones, 29, was cut by the Packers in March after declining a second pay cut in as many years. He quickly signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, pairing a Pro Bowl talent with a lackluster run game. The Vikings' rushing attack has ranked 23rd and 26th in yards per carry during head coach Kevin O'Connell's two seasons.
Jones, who also has more than 2,000 career receiving yards, said he can learn from Jefferson, too.
"I just got to kind of sit and watch him and some of the routes he runs," Jones said. "We may have similar concepts where I may be running something similar to him. So just kind of watching him, watching Jordan Addison; both of those guys, I think they're special receivers."
What does Jones think this offense can achieve?
"It really excites me," Jones said. "I played with a No. 1 receiver, and now being here with a No. 1 receiver, and then two No. 1s, if you ask me, three No. 1s, sorry let's keep going – you throw T.J. [Hockenson] in there. It's just like, who are you going to guard?"
"I think the matchups we can get against the defense are pretty much always going to be in our favor," he added, "and I think it's going to be hard to stop."
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...600371234/
New leadership in town
Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, the former Texans starter who signed a four-year deal with the Vikings in free agency, has a new thing going in Minnesota. After each practice open to reporters, Greenard has led a small circle of 10 to 15 players in a core muscle routine. It's an assertive step from the 27-year-old veteran on a young team. Only 28-year-old edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel is older than Greenard in a position room that features four rookies, including first-round pick Dallas Turner.
"Just be myself," Greenard said after Wednesday's practice. "I haven't had to do much of anything else. You see this abs thing I brought from Houston, just kind of got into a routine a little bit, and I think everybody's drawn toward that because they see the benefits. ... These guys are so young, they're eager and hungry to make some plays and win."
Roll call
Nearly all of the Vikings' projected 22 starters have been on the field through two days of a three-day mandatory minicamp, except for recovering veterans Hockenson (knee) and Van Ginkel (foot). Safety Camryn Bynum (undisclosed) also has spent time rehabbing while being limited in practice.
Receiver Jalen Nailor and tight end Nick Muse have been absent this week, while second-year cornerback NaJee Thompson has rehabbed an undisclosed injury on a side field.
Pace the play caller
Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been relaying play calls in the huddle during practices this week, and head coach Kevin O'Connell first mentioned the second-year defender when asked about who will take over for veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks in that role. One defender can wear the in-helmet speaker during games, or the "green-dot helmet," to hear defensive coordinator Brian Flores' calls.
"He's had a very good spring [with] just the type of communication [Flores] is putting on his plate," O'Connell said of Pace. "We also want to have Blake Cashman and Kamu Grugier-Hill ready to handle some of that green dot work."
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...600371234/
A group of reporters approached new edge rusher Jonathan Greenard after practice wrapped up on Wednesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.
He politely declined at the time while walking alongside the rest of his position group. They still had some work to do.
A couple of minutes later, Greenard was leading an ab workout on the side of the field, something he has been doing after pretty much every practice since he came into the league.
“When we first started doing it, we probably had a few people out here,” Greenard said. “Now everybody is doing it, and I think that’s brought us so much closer together.”
The routine is something Greenard picked up while playing for the Houston Texans early in his career. Naturally, he decided to bring it with him to the Vikings after signing a four-year, $76 million contract this offseason.
“Why not get a little 10 minutes of abs to knock it out?” Greenard said. “The core is everything. I’ve had core injuries in the past and dealt with that. As we know, if the core is strong, everything else is going to be better, and the injuries are going to go down.”
This is a perfect example of how Greenard’s leadership is already showing up with the Vikings despite the fact that he hasn’t been in Minnesota for very long. The skills as a leader come naturally for him, and while he takes a lot of pride in his production on the field, he takes an equal mount of pride in his ability to get everybody to pull on the same rope.
“Just be myself,” Greenard said. “I really haven’t had to do anything else.”
Maybe the biggest place Greenard’s leadership has shown up is in how he has made it a point to take young edge rusher Dallas Turner under his wing. Suddenly a veteran in the NFL, Greenard sees the seemingly limitless potential that Turner possesses, and he’s invested in squeezing all of the juice out of that orange.
“It’s a responsibility of mine to continue to help develop and become the best version of himself,” Greenard said. “He has too much potential not to. I’ll be spilling all my knowledge to him. He’s a great kid and he’s willing to listen, and that’s the best thing about it.”
There’s a genuine excitement from Greenard when he talks about his future with the Vikings. He’s excited to teach his teammates everything he knows. He’s also excited to learn from defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
“He’s going to dial it up,” Greenard said. “Just having that style makes other teams play on our terms. I love it. I’m all about it.”
The aggressiveness of Flores should help Greenard build on last season, when he posted a career high 12 1/2 sacks. He has developed into an edge rusher that can win with speed on the outside and power on the inside. He also has shown he can be effective wherever he lines up in a formation.
That versatility is a major key to his success.
“It’s an innovative league,” Greenard said. “We’ve got to be able to beat new strategies that offenses are going to continue to throw at us. ”
As for the ab workouts that have become part of his persona, Greenard ensured the Vikings would continue to do them throughout the summer, even as the temperatures continue to rise in training camp.
“I’m a firm believer in doing core,” Greenard said while pausing for dramatic effect. “And having a six pack.”
https://www.twincities.com/2024/06/05/vi...ence-felt/
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