3 Observations: Vikings Spread Around Football on Day 2 … EAGAN, Minn. — Training camp is off and running as the Vikings held their second practice on Thursday afternoon at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. Rookies, all quarterbacks and other select players practiced in helmets and shells for more than 90 minutes, with a misty rain present near the end of practice. Remaining veterans are slated to report on Friday, but the rookies’ practice has been canceled so the team can attend the memorial service for offensive line coach Tony Sparano. The first full-team practice is scheduled for Saturday. Here are three observations from Thursday’s session: 1. Spreading the ball around The Vikings quarterbacks spread the wealth Thursday as multiple receivers got their chance to impress coaches. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins connected with wide receiver Chad Beebe on a corner route. Beebe, who is trying to capitalize on his quickness, made a couple more nice catches. Wide receiver Cayleb Jones made a nice sideline catch in front of cornerback Horace Richardson early on and later showed strong hands to corral a pass over the middle. 2. Home run The longest play of the day was what would have been a 70-plus yard touchdown run by running back Roc Thomas. The former Jacksonville State standout took a handoff and darted right before cutting back to the left with nothing but green grass in front of him. Right tackle Brian O’Neill and right guard Colby Gossett, who were drafted in April, helped clear the way for Thomas. Fellow running backs Dalvin Cook and Mike Boone celebrated a bit as Thomas made the long jog back to the huddle. 3. Anxious to get started A pair of Vikings look like they can’t wait to get training camp underway. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was at the facility Thursday and checked in on practice for a few minutes while standing in the weight room. A few minutes later, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen stopped by to watch practice for roughly 15 minutes. The All-Pro wide receiver was joined by his son, Asher, who will turn 2 in October. (Eric Smith, Vikings.com)
I wonder being that Pat Elflein is on pup can Nick Easton get the job done until he comes back,the Vikings have some ok line men better than i thought do you think this guy Chris Gonzales can make it as a back up lineman I read about him it was interesting
Well, I don't know much about him outside of what ive read also. He did play on an o-line in college that averaged over 120 YPG on the ground. He's good sized at 6'3" tall and 310. Vikings like him and he is not only athletic, but he's smart too, lol. I think he's a key piece if there are some injuries, he will be a good depth fit. He's not injury proned in his college career either, which is a plus. Between O'Niel, Gosset and Gonzales, there will be plenty of good comp on the right side.
3 Observations: Defensive Backs Highlight 1st Full-Team Practice... EAGAN, Minn. — The gang was all there Saturday afternoon as the Vikings held their first full-team practice of Verizon Vikings Training Camp. The team practiced in helmets and shorts for more than two hours on a picturesque afternoon at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. Minnesota is scheduled to hold a walk-through from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by practice from 2:45-5 p.m. The first padded practice is expected to be Monday Here are three observations from Saturday’s session: 1. Waynes wins it Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer has made a habit of throwing his team into late-game situations in recent years. He did so again Saturday, and cornerback Trae Waynes delivered immediately. The first-team offense had the ball facing fourth-and-3 on the defense’s 42-yard line with 46 seconds left. Quarterback Kirk Cousins looked for a short out pattern from wide receiver Stefon Diggs, but Waynes quickly broke toward the sideline and deflected the ball away. The second-team offense promptly ran out the clock after Waynes effectively sealed up a win. 2. O-Line combos The Vikings announced Saturday morning that Clancy Barone and Andrew Janocko will be co-offensive line coaches following the sudden passing of Tony Sparano on Sunday. With center Pat Elflein on the PUP list and not practicing, Nick Easton manned the center spot with the first team. From left to right, the first-team offensive line mainly consisted of Riley Reiff, Tom Compton, Easton, Mike Remmers and Rashod Hill. The second-team offense consisted of Aviante Collins, Danny Isidora, Josh Andrews, Cornelius Edison and Brian O’Neill, who also saw a few reps with the first team at right tackle. The third-team offensive line was Dieugot Joseph, Cedrick Lang, J.P. Quinn, Colby Gossett and Storm Norton, who also saw second-team reps when O’Neill moved up to the top line. 3. Hill impresses in individual drills The competition was flowing early as Vikings wide receivers and tight ends went up against defensive backs in individual drills Saturday. Rookie cornerback Holton Hill had perhaps the strongest showing in that session, as he forced incompletions on both of his reps. The former Texas Longhorn broke on an in route by wide receiver Cayleb Jones to not allow a catch, and later tipped away a pass intended for wide receiver Korey Robertson. The best route of the day came from wide receiver Tavarres King, who used a double move to break free from safety Jayron Kearse for a long gain. (Vikings.com)
Sounds good so far I was ready to give up on Trae Wayne's but I think he finally got it he keeps on getting better and better
3 Observations: Sherels Snags 1st Vikings Interception of Training Camp... EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings wrapped up a weekend of practice Sunday afternoon at Verizon Vikings Training Camp. The team practiced in helmets and shorts for more than two hours on an overcast afternoon at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. Minnesota is scheduled to hold a walk-through from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, followed by what is expected to be the first padded practice from 2:45-5 p.m. Here are three observations from Sunday’s session: 1. Sherels snags an INT The first interception of training camp went to … Marcus Sherels. The veteran cornerback and punt return master drew a large cheer during team drills when he intercepted Kyle Sloter. The quarterback faked a handoff before looking to his right on a slant pattern for wide receiver Jeff Badet. But the 5-foot-10 Sherels read the play perfectly, leaping in front of Badet to cause the turnover. Linebackers Eric Kendricks and Ben Gedeon nearly had picks earlier in practice before Sherels snagged his. 2. Momentum changer A score before halftime is usually a momentum builder heading into the locker room, and the Vikings offense came through in such a situation Sunday. The first-team offense was in the red zone with 55 seconds left in the second quarter trailing 10-0. Running back Latavius Murray gained 5 yards on the ground before catching a short pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins to set up third-and-3 from the 8-yard line. Cousins then fired a strike to wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who muscled his way into the end zone to pull the Vikings offense within one score in the game situation. 3. Give and take in the screen game One of the flashiest plays Sunday came in the screen game during team drills. Cousins patiently waited for running back Dalvin Cook to break free from the backfield before lobbing him a screen pass that would have gone for 30-plus yards. Left guard Danny Isidora, who ran with the first team Sunday, had a block on Kendricks while right guard Mike Remmers led the way downfield for Cook. But the defense evened the playing field later in practice as another screen attempt for Cook was sniffed out by Kendricks, linebacker Anthony Barr and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. Cook would have likely been stopped for a loss on the play. (Vikings.com)
I can see a lot COUSINS to COOK screens,sounds like Sherels had a good day,liked the fact they tried that screen again and the Defense shut them down luv that
3 Observations: Cousins, Treadwell Connect for Bevy of Red-Zone TDs … EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings strapped on the pads for the first time at Verizon Vikings Training Camp, bringing a little extra physicality to Monday afternoon’s practice. Minnesota practiced for more than two hours on a toasty afternoon at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. The Vikings are scheduled to hold a walk-through from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, followed by another padded practice from 2:45-5 p.m. The first off day of training camp is set for Wednesday. Here are three observations from Monday’s session: 1. Cousins finds Treadwell for 6 (x4) Quarterback Kirk Cousins was on the money Monday in the red zone, and his favorite target of this practice was wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. Cousins and Treadwell connected for four touchdowns during a 7-on-7 session inside the 20-yard line, with the quarterback tossing six touchdowns overall in the drill, although the Vikings defense might argue they could have kept the wide receiver out of the end zone on his first score. Cousins first hit wide receiver Stefon Diggs for a 12-yard score before finding Treadwell in the end zone from 10 yards out. Tight end Kyle Rudolph then caught a score before Treadwell made his best catch of the day, a leaping grab in the back left corner of the end zone with Xavier Rhodes draped on him. Treadwell then finished off the drill with another score. 2. No misses here Both of the Vikings kickers were perfect on Monday, the first time Kai Forbath and Daniel Carlson attempted field goals during team periods in front of the media at training camp. Forbath made all five of his attempts, including a 43-yarder at end of team drill on the final play of the half. He was then successful from 32, 33, 40 and 46 yards during the special teams portion of practice. Forbath made 32 of 38 field goals with the Vikings in 2017, and added a clutch 53-yarder in the Divisional Round win over New Orleans. Carlson, a rookie from Auburn, also made his kicks from 32, 33, 40 and 46 yards. 3. Soaking it all in Holton Hill has been one of the most noticeable young players in the early stages of training camp. The rookie cornerback’s willingness to learn has been impressive, too. Hill spent time after Monday’s practice working with veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes and Terence Newman working on footwork and backpedaling drills. Newman spoke to the media and had positive things to say about Hill’s approach to his first NFL training camp. “This is what, our third day? Everybody is just trying to get better and perfect their craft,” Newman said. “Guys have asked the guys who have been around and said, ‘Hey, can you help me after practice?’ That’s what we do. We’re a team and we’re trying to help everybody get better. We need as many people as possible to play well.” (Vikings.com)
I have highest of high hopes for Holton Hill and will Treadwell have a break out year now that would real nice too see
Bad news Mike Remmers hurt his leg got carted off in a golf cart he's in a walking boot don't know how bad it is,just hope.the injury bug stays far away cause it can DESTROY! your team
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — After the coaching staffs for Jacksonville and Minnesota met the night before, a group of 12 trusted players from both the Jaguars and Vikings convened before the two teams took the field for their first joint practice. The goal of the gatherings could be boiled down to this: No fighting. Please. "We really don't want to end up being on TV like some of these other things," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "We just want to get out there and get some work done and try to get each of us better." There's no reason for the Jaguars and Vikings, who only play each other in the regular season every fourth year, to bring any grudges to these dual individual drills and simulated game situations. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone spent three years as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints, when Zimmer's son and current Vikings linebackers coach Adam Zimmer was also on staff. Jaguars assistant offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr . is the son of the late Vikings offensive line coach, who died suddenly of heart disease right before training camp . "I think they're an excellent football team. They're well-disciplined. They're well-coached," Marrone said, speaking of the Vikings. "Those are the type of teams you want to come and practice against." This was Marrone's idea, proposed to Zimmer shortly after the exhibition game schedule was finalized in April with the Jaguars playing the Vikings on Saturday. Zimmer acknowledged some hesitation, citing his preference to follow training camp routine, but he agreed to include his team in an exercise that has long been common around the league. The workouts at Minnesota's gleaming new facility will feature two teams that reached the conference championship games in January. "I figured, 'OK, they're a good team. Let's go and do it,'" Zimmer said. The purpose is to break up the monotony of two-a-days and providing extra opportunities for evaluation of bottom-of-the-roster candidates. The Vikings joined the Bengals for practices two years ago in Cincinnati where Zimmer used to be the defensive coordinator, a trip that conveniently allowed him to stay at his ranch retreat in rural Kentucky. "After going against the same defense, the same schemes, the same players every day, at some point it gets a little old," Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen said. The excitement and, thus, the intensity have ramped up for these sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. That's why the pre-practice conversations took place about keeping the competition healthy and respectful. "I've done it almost every year I've been a head coach in this league so I've seen great results from that if it's done properly," Marrone said. The New York Jets and Washington Redskins had a multiplayer melee on Sunday spill into the crowd of fans . The Jaguars had their own scuffle to sort out, with a scrap between defensive ends Dante Fowler and Yannick Ngakoue that prompted Marrone to keep Fowler and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey home from this trip . Zimmer banished wide receiver Stefon Diggs and cornerback Xavier Rhodes from practice one day last week after their trash-talking antics angered him. The Vikings had some testy joint practices with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003 and again in 2004, when pro wrestler Brock Lesnar made his ill-fated tryout with the Vikings as a defensive lineman and stirred up his share of shouting and shoving in scrimmages. So even the best of intentions can be cast aside in the heat of the moment when it's, literally, as hot outside as it'll be all season. Diggs and Thielen, for their part, were disappointed by Ramsey's absence and the lost opportunity to test their skills against an All-Pro. The Vikings still faced plenty of challenges against the Jacksonville defense, which ranked second behind the Vikings last season in fewest yards and points allowed. "We came here to work. We came here to get things done," Diggs said. "So as far as anything extra, we're not interested." The first session on Wednesday came and went without any drama, as both sides intended. "This is a good team to go against, a good team to get us right and to see where we are," Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith said afterward. "Hopefully we push each other in the right way and we'll be seeing each other in the right game later on." (USAToday)
