08-18-2019, 06:30 PM
Vikings rookie Alexander Mattison doesn’t like to talk about the backfield battle behind starter Dalvin Cook. He has remained silent about it throughout training camp, and even now with the preseason in full swing, Mattison skillfully jukes the the topic like he’s breaking a tackle in the open field.
“Just letting it play itself out,” he said. “I’m working every day to get better and prove that I can be a playmaker in this offense. That’s all I can do.”
If he’s being honest with himself, he has to know he’s in the driver’s seat, partly because the Vikings invested a third-round draft pick on him this spring, and partly because he played alongside the first team in the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints
“I think Mattison has got a really bright future,” Zimmer said. “I think the other two guys can help in change-of-pace situations.”
In that same breath, Zimmer emphasized that Mattison needs to work on his ability in pass protection if he wants to be a key contributor in the offense. That’s always the toughest part about the transitioning to the next level, according to Zimmer, as it takes some time to get used to the speed of the game.
“That really takes playing in a game to get used to,” Mattison said. “It’s hard to simulate that kind of stuff in practice because nobody is really trying to run through me in practice. Just getting to see some of the different rotations and different tendencies and stuff like that was helpful.”
https://www.twincities.com/2019/08/14/vi...-back-job/
“Just letting it play itself out,” he said. “I’m working every day to get better and prove that I can be a playmaker in this offense. That’s all I can do.”
If he’s being honest with himself, he has to know he’s in the driver’s seat, partly because the Vikings invested a third-round draft pick on him this spring, and partly because he played alongside the first team in the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints
“I think Mattison has got a really bright future,” Zimmer said. “I think the other two guys can help in change-of-pace situations.”
In that same breath, Zimmer emphasized that Mattison needs to work on his ability in pass protection if he wants to be a key contributor in the offense. That’s always the toughest part about the transitioning to the next level, according to Zimmer, as it takes some time to get used to the speed of the game.
“That really takes playing in a game to get used to,” Mattison said. “It’s hard to simulate that kind of stuff in practice because nobody is really trying to run through me in practice. Just getting to see some of the different rotations and different tendencies and stuff like that was helpful.”
https://www.twincities.com/2019/08/14/vi...-back-job/
