“Number one, all he’s done is come in and worked,” Zimmer said. “Number two, he’s been really good at understanding a lot of [concepts]. Our scheme is a lot of man within zones. That’s the most difficult thing for these guys to do. They have to do pass-offs, they gotta carry, they gotta work in-and-outs with linebackers and different things and he’s done a really good job with that.”
“I think he’s just a pretty smart kid and things happen quick for him,” Zimmer added.
Hughes is also physically gifted. At the NFL Combine, he ranked in the 84th percentile or higher in the broad jump, 3-cone drill and bench press.
“What sets him apart is he has unbelievable break and quickness coming out of cuts, his feet are unbelievable,” Zimmer said.
Zimmer isn’t the only one who has been impressed with Hughes’ progress. During an interview Saturday night with the broadcast’s sideline reporter, star corner Xavier Rhodes talked about the progress the Vikings’ rookie has made.
“Mike comes out of his break nice,” Rhodes said. “His eyes are right. He’s not looking back at the quarterback, he’s breaking on the ball, getting picks, knocking balls down. To me honestly, he plays like he’s been in the league before and I think years down the road he’s going to be one of the best in the league.”
