08-04-2019, 02:55 PM
As you know, we Tweet all our content, but this series seems to be of most interest for folks who simply don't want to use Twitter.
Here is it cut and paste style just before I board a plane to go hom
Here is it cut and paste style just before I board a plane to go hom
- Always nice to see the KFAN/Vikings Network Radio team. Paul Allen looks like he has been working out and gone is the beard from last season. Greg Coleman is a successful interviewer not just because he knows the game, but because he has created trusted relationships with players who drop their guard when on air with him to give the fans the real insight and raw emotion of the game. If you see either of these men out and about in the Twin Cities, go say hello to them - they love fans.
- There was a different “pop” in the step of the players as with more fans out to see them, they both wanted to show well for their coaches, as well as the fans. This resulted in some spirited yapping between players. Most notable was one between WR Stefon Diggs and CB Xavier Rhodes. We have no idea what was said, but it took a while for Adam Thielen to calm Diggs down and eventually, head coach Mike Zimmer had to direct Stefon the offensive sidelines. It’s hot out there, these are the best of the best, and their competitive juices flow over some times. If they didn’t you would not have the game bringing out the best in your Vikings.
- Speaking of Mike Zimmer, we now fear our interviewing job may be at risk, as it was Mike who took the microphone to interview Minnesota native Adam Thielen in front of the packed house after the game. What we do know is that with Mike on the Mic, no player will ever decline an interview request!
- Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and Chad Beebe are ALL on the same page. Kirk is pinpoint accuracy on his passes to this group. On 11-on-11 scrimmage, Thielen made a circus catch down the right sidelines for 50 yards near the beginning of the practice. A few plays later, not to be outdone, Stefon Diggs skied to get a ball out the night are down the left sidelines for about 40 yards. Beebe seems the be the choice on the underneath routes, and you likely will never see a ball anywhere him that drops to the ground. Your #1 through #3 WR spots are secured and in very good shape.
- LB Eric Wilson made a nice step-in-front of the WR interception last night on a 3rd down pass from Kirk Cousins. Feel good about Wilson, but don’t feel bad about Kirk’s ball security. The coaches are encouraging him to take a few more chances and trust his receivers. Camp is the place where you get these kinks out and we think it will serve Kirk well to take appropriate risks during the season.
- On the QB front, Cousins is leaps and bounds better than the other 3 QBs. Sean Mannion seems the most steady at #2, and it will be dog fight for the final QB spot (assuming the Vikings keep 3 QBs) between second year man Kyle Sloter, and rookie Jake Browning. Kyle has struggled with accuracy and simply does not (so far) seem as comfortable reading his receiver progressions. Browning has had a few good plays.
- All the QBs look like they are being coached to quickly ascertain if a pass route is open, and if not, to look in front of them for a running lane. All 4 QBs took off on runs beyond 10 yards up the middle last night, and a QB draw near the goal line has been seen in camp and last night (successful for a TD).
- During the game, few fans notice, but the special teams are constantly practicing snaps, or FGs/Punts into the net. Long Snappers Kevin McDermott and Austin Cutting (rookie) worked extensively on their punt snaps with Matt Wile on the sidelines during series. If you think snapping for punts is easy, go have a friend stand back 15 yards and see at what velocity you can snap it back there with any velocity. These guys send the ball back as fast as Kirk Cousins fires a pass downfield! And a FG/PAT snap is shorter so needs to get back quickly but without so much velocity it cannot be handled.
- RB Mike Boone has not left the team nor his he injured, he has changed his jersey number from 44 last year to 23 this year.
- Dalvin Cook and Kyle Rudolph were both held out of last nights practice/scrimmage. No injury we are aware of and both looked fine, just an attempt to give them some rest. Trust us, both have looked better this year in camp than last. Rudolph engulfs any ball that is near him. A former basketball player, Kyle has a big body and blocks-out defenders well. As one QB told us, “he is an easy target to find and it’s like throwing a ball into a mattress, it just goes in easy and he absorbs it”
- David “Man Bun” Morgan is no more! Diamond Dave cut all his hair off, but when we asked him his he kept the mane of hair, he said, “Oh, I have it and am going to donate it to charity”. We think his new “high and tight” look is a good one.
- After a few practices and some scrimmage work, the offensive line looks much improved from last season. Rookie first round pick Garrett Bradbury is one of the big reason’s why. He has tremendous strength and mobility and gives this offense more options in the run game. Pat Elflein looks a better fit at Guard, and FA pick Josh Kline (Titans) looks comfortable. Tackle Brian O’Neiil continues to grow into the role and has all the markings of a 10 year starter (and effective).
- Of note on the Offensive Line - they broke into 1-on-1 drills between the offensive and defensive lines on pass rush/pass protection. Some very intense matchups as keys vie for both roster spot and places on the depth chart. Rick Spielman watched every moment of the drill. It is clear that Spielman is assessing where the line is and will not be shy to look for upgrades if needed before the opening game vs the Falcons in September.
- One player who has flashed consistently at camp has been DE Stephen Weatherly. He has buried some guys in the backfield and has long arms and a quick rush. Weatherly also had the most impressive answer of one of our interview questions when he said “If football had not become a reality for me, I would have gone back to get my masters degree and worked in the non-profit sector. This man has a tremendously infectious personality and is extremely bright