Ramping Up...
NFL training camps didn’t have terms like “acclimatization period,” “gradual ramp-up period” or “contact integration period” back in 1994 when Mike Zimmer left Washington State to coach nickel backs for Barry Switzer’s Dallas Cowboys.
Those are new-school guidelines that were agreed to by the NFL and its players association heading into a 2020 season that’s trying to bob and weave its way through a worldwide pandemic.
But there will come a day — Monday, to be exact — when old-school Zim will be allowed to put aside social distancing, turn back the clock and order his millennials to practice like it’s the 20th century.
“Number 1,” he said, “we’re going to have live contact.”
On Wednesday, teams shifted from the “acclimatization period” (a fancy word for conditioning with strength coaches) to the “gradual ramp-up period” (fancy words for football drills led by football coaches).
After two days of individual on-field training, non-padded practices with helmets and shells will be held Friday and Sunday with an off day in between. And then the “contact integration period” begins.
A maximum of 14 padded practices can be held through Sept. 6 with specific off days mandated by the new collective bargaining agreement. Practice periods start at 90 minutes and can increase by 15 minutes daily up to 120 minutes. Practice times can’t be increased after days off.
“Without preseason games, we’re going to have to set up situations throughout practice,” Zimmer said. “We’re going to have to evaluate guys with some of our younger guys against our better guys and try to evaluate those players in those situations. So the evaluation part will probably be the biggest thing for a lot of these young guys.”
Relax, new-schoolers.
Kirk Cousins will still wear his red jersey. Even in the league’s Neanderthal Era, QBs were off-limits in practice.
And don’t worry about wear and tear on Dalvin Cook’s wheels. He’ll still be protected like a vintage Ferrari as some of the other fellas smash into each other like station wagons in a demolition derby.
The action on at the line of scrimmage will be especially intense, even for the starters. But that’s par for the course.
If there is actual live tackling, you can bet it won’t involve Harrison Smith clobbering Adam Thielen over the middle. More like Brian Cole II blasting into Dan Chisena as Harrison and Adam head toward the cold tub.
Accurately judging this deep rookie class won’t be easy. But coaches are hopeful, hearkening back to their college football coaching days when starting lineups and game plans were hatched in three or four weeks before the season opener.
One rookie to watch in all of this is second-round draft pick Ezra Cleveland. The left tackle of the future doesn’t have time to beat out incumbent Riley Reiff, but he will have a chance to win the open competition at right guard, a position he’s never played.
Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak was asked if the Vikings can accurately judge Cleveland’s ability to play right guard without preseason games.
“Yeah, I think we can,” he said. “Zim and I have talked through that. How do we go about getting those answers as quick as we can?
“Though we don’t have preseason games, I think any coach would tell you that the practices are going to ramp up. And the fact you’re not stopping to play a game every week, you’re probably going to be able to have some more intense practice time. So I think you got to take advantage of that, do everything you can to create game situations and try to get some early answers.”
Mark Craig is an NFL and Vikings Insider. Twitter: @markcraigNFL. E-mail: mcraig@startribune.com
https://www.startribune.com/with-no-nfl-preseason-vikings-practices-may-be-more-intense/572101782/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Just don't think this is gonna end well. At some point when the story of this season is told, the phrase "that's when things went horribly wrong" will be used. I could see us loosing a coach or there is long term damage, that isn't initially evident taking out some young athletes.
This is the kind of shit that will undermine the best plans:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/seahawks-cut-rookie-who-tried-sneaking-visitor-disguised-as-seattle-player-into-team-hotel-per-report/
@"StickyBun" said: This is the kind of shit that will undermine the best plans:
That's rather unfortunate. There are people that are still not taking it seriously. Some people have to learn the hard way. There are consequences for your actions though, sometimes they are not immediate and sometimes they are but there is always a consequence.
Really looking forward to seeing that first depth chart for the OL.
@"StickyBun" said: This is the kind of shit that will undermine the best plans:Yep, when I first read this I just shook my head and thought "it takes all kinds". Pretty stupid to potentially throw away a career over something like this.
@"MaroonBells" said: Really looking forward to seeing that first depth chart for the OL.
5 Observations: Vikings Unveil New-Look Offensive Line, Cornerback Group
1. A new-look line
Riley Reiff was at left tackle, while the combination of Dakota Dozier and Aviante Collins split time at left guard. Garrett Bradbury was at center while the right side of the line was made up of guard Pat Elflein and tackle Brian O'Neill.
The second-team line, from left to right, consisted of: Hill, rookie Ezra Cleveland, Brett Jones, Dru Samia and Oli Udoh. The third-team was Blake Brandel, Collins, Jake Lacina, Kyle Hinton and Brady Aiello. All but Collins out of that lineup are rookies.
Dozier was the star in 1-on-1 pass rush drills, holding his own twice against Hercules Mata'afa. Jones also stood out twice against David Moa.
https://www.vikings.com/news/5-observations-vikings-unveil-new-look-offensive-line-cornerback-group
One practice in, 2 defensive starters out. Sounds about right.
https://thevikingage.com/2020/08/14/two-minnesota-vikings-miss-training-camp-practice/
@"StickyBun" said: This is the kind of shit that will undermine the best plans:
The old cornerback sneak!
So Dunbar still on team?... but this guy cut for being thirsty?
Well thats about par for the farce which is the NFL.
@"Kentis" said:@"MaroonBells" said: Really looking forward to seeing that first depth chart for the OL.5 Observations: Vikings Unveil New-Look Offensive Line, Cornerback Group
After much chatter and speculation in recent weeks, here is how the Vikings lined up to start Friday's practice along the first-team offensive line.
1. A new-look line
Riley Reiff was at left tackle, while the combination of Dakota Dozier and Aviante Collins split time at left guard. Garrett Bradbury was at center while the right side of the line was made up of guard Pat Elflein and tackle Brian O'Neill.This would be another position switch for Elflein, who started 15 games at left guard in 2019 and started at center from 2017-18. Rashod Hill also received a handful of first-team snaps at both tackle spots throughout practice.
The second-team line, from left to right, consisted of: Hill, rookie Ezra Cleveland, Brett Jones, Dru Samia and Oli Udoh. The third-team was Blake Brandel, Collins, Jake Lacina, Kyle Hinton and Brady Aiello. All but Collins out of that lineup are rookies.
Dozier was the star in 1-on-1 pass rush drills, holding his own twice against Hercules Mata'afa. Jones also stood out twice against David Moa.https://www.vikings.com/news/5-observations-vikings-unveil-new-look-offensive-line-cornerback-group
OK, so what we heard earlier was either wrong or it has completely changed. Right now, it appears as if Dozier, Collins and Cleveland are competing at LG, while Elflein, Samia and Hinton are competing at RG.I like the fact that Elflein and Samia are competing straight up. That's a competition Samia can win. Competition on the other side looks good too.
Hinton is getting reps at RT, but I think he eventually moves to center.
Looks like Udoh is staying at RT, which is probably a good thing. It allows Hill to work soley at LT, where he's been much better.
Look at this practice field. I'd bet it's a better playing surface than any surface the Vikings played their games on from '62 to USB.
Football!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/tV1ySweBsE
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) August 14, 2020
@"MaroonBells" said:@"Kentis" said:@"MaroonBells" said: Really looking forward to seeing that first depth chart for the OL.5 Observations: Vikings Unveil New-Look Offensive Line, Cornerback Group
After much chatter and speculation in recent weeks, here is how the Vikings lined up to start Friday's practice along the first-team offensive line.
1. A new-look line
Riley Reiff was at left tackle, while the combination of Dakota Dozier and Aviante Collins split time at left guard. Garrett Bradbury was at center while the right side of the line was made up of guard Pat Elflein and tackle Brian O'Neill.This would be another position switch for Elflein, who started 15 games at left guard in 2019 and started at center from 2017-18. Rashod Hill also received a handful of first-team snaps at both tackle spots throughout practice.
The second-team line, from left to right, consisted of: Hill, rookie Ezra Cleveland, Brett Jones, Dru Samia and Oli Udoh. The third-team was Blake Brandel, Collins, Jake Lacina, Kyle Hinton and Brady Aiello. All but Collins out of that lineup are rookies.
Dozier was the star in 1-on-1 pass rush drills, holding his own twice against Hercules Mata'afa. Jones also stood out twice against David Moa.https://www.vikings.com/news/5-observations-vikings-unveil-new-look-offensive-line-cornerback-group
OK, so what we heard earlier was either wrong or it has completely changed. Right now, it appears as if Dozier, Collins and Cleveland are competing at LG, while Elflein, Samia and Hinton are competing at RG.I like the fact that Elflein and Samia are competing straight up. That's a competition Samia can win. Competition on the other side looks good too.
Hinton is getting reps at RT, but I think he eventually moves to center.
Looks like Udoh is staying at RT, which is probably a good thing. It allows Hill to work soley at LT, where he's been much better.
I think it was wrong... the Tomasson tweet that took off about Cleveland being switched to RG didn't sound accurate based Kubiak's actual quote.He said they tried him at RG to see how he would hold up in a situation that was new to him. Basically wanted to see what he was capable of right away and scale back as they moved closer to padded practices.
I'm guessing they feel like he will be a backup G with everything that has gone on this season... doesn't hurt to see if he has some positional flexibility. That said, I hope they just keep him at LG since he is likely the heir apparent to Reiff as soon as next year.
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