The confidence is building slowly but surely!
It’s been great to read all the reports about practice. I have to remember to not get too concerned about anything right now since the players are just getting back into it. There is plenty of time for them to improve. It appears that the defense is ahead of the offense at this point based on yesterday’s padded practice. They caught a break though. Jettas did not play which surely would have changed up some coverages. Some of the sacks have come against Justin Skule. There is no shame in getting beat by Greenard, Van Ginkel, or even Turner. We shall see how it goes throughout the preseason heading up to the first game. KOC may have to slide help once in awhile so that JJ does not take too many hits. Maybe Darrisaw will be ready by week one? IDK but I would not rush it at all. To much invested in him to not be sure.
It is good to read that JJ is trying hard to limit mistakes and be safe with the ball. This will be key this year as the team does not need turnovers. Plus, the defense looks like it is going to be really good and they could get the ball back quick (hopefully) when the offense has to punt.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings training camp recap, Day 5: Dallas Turner shines as pads come on
Turner was one of the main standouts of Monday’s practice, which was the first of camp with the players in full pads. He broke out a spin move to beat his opponent in 1-on-1 drills. He had a rep on a run play in 11-on-11 that was so physical that the backup tackle blocking him wound up in the backfield without a helmet. One play later, Turner burst around that player for a would-be sack. Facing the first-team offense later in practice, Turner made an athletic, Andrew Van Ginkel-esque play to break up a screen pass.
Here’s what else stood out at practice on Monday:
Greenard looks like a man on a mission this year. I’ve already talked about him quite a bit in these camp recaps, but he deserves to keep being mentioned. He’s been living in the backfield all camp long and doing some rude things to Vikings left tackle Justin Skule, who is filling in until Christian Darrisaw is healthy. “He plays angry, which every D-lineman should,” Brian O’Neill said of Greenard. “He wants it really bad. You can see it in his eyes, you can hear it in the way he talks. You can see it in the way he trained all offseason. This stuff’s really important to him. If it was as important to everybody as it is to JG, we’re in a good spot.”
3 Observations: Pads Pop for 1st Time; Vikings Defense Dominant in 2-Minute
1. ‘D-cisive’ 2-minute drill
Practice closed with a 2-minute drill by the first-team offense against the first-team defense and the second-team offense against the second-team defense.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell had the offense start the drive with 1:15 left on the clock and down 13-10.
Javon Hargrave and Ivan Pace, Jr., quickly converged in the backfield on J.J. McCarthy for a loss of 5. After an offsides penalty against the defense, the unit forced an incompletion on a pass to Jordan Mason. On third-and-14, a convention of defensive players that included Jonathan Allen met in the backfield.
While not great results for the offense, it was a reinforcement of the signings of Hargrave and Allen to add to the interior pass rush.
The Vikings are going to have a lot of competition for the punt return job. I saw the following players field punts
WR Myles Price
WR Rondale Moore
WR Tai Felton
WR Silas Bolden
WR Dontae Fleming
J.J. McCarthy has solid day
Consistency and growth are the keys for me this time of year. What does your process look like and how well do you perform?
There wasn’t a lot to be upset about when it comes to McCarthy’s performance, but he only had one play that gave us a “wow” moment, when he hit Lucky Jackson in the cover-2 honey hole with a missile. Hitting that window unlocks a lot out of your offense.
Minnesota Vikings training camp notebook, day 6: Defense has a strong showing
J.J. McCarthy continues to impress
McCarthy had another highlight touchdown pass on Monday. After feeling some pressure in the pocket, McCarthy fired down the left sideline towards wide receiver Lucky Jackson. It appeared that safety Theo Jackson could intercept the pass, but the ball arrived a split second before he could get a hand on it. The pass once again displayed McCarthy’s arm strength and willingness to be aggressive. A worse pass (or faster safety) could have led to an interception.
Vikings training camp: J.J. McCarthy’s early progress and 5 key takeaways
Saturday. Early in the team period. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy faked a handoff, eyed the defense and curved a pass into a small area near the right sideline where only the receiver, Jalen Nailor, could make the catch.
“That’s probably the biggest difference between college football and the NFL,” O’Connell said earlier Saturday. “How do we occupy defenders and throw in behind them? Versus, with the wider hashes in college, a lot of times you’re throwing through open voids to a target.”
Vikings’ questionable plan behind J.J. McCarthy looks even more ‘shaky’ early in camp
Per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, the Vikings’ backup quarterback situation is “off to a shaky start.”
Sam Howell has taken the majority of the backup QB reps. This makes sense. How can O’Connell and the Vikings assess what they have if they don’t throw him into the fire? And, to be clear, it is the fire, as most of Howell’s reps have been against the first-string defense.
The best way to sum up Howell’s performance is a beat too slow. Without the post-practice film, it’s impossible to assess each rep accurately. Is Howell taking a hitch because he’s not seeing the picture correctly, or is he waiting a split second extra because the receiver was rerouted by a cornerback? Whatever the case, it feels fair to say that Howell hasn’t consistently pulled the trigger promptly.
How will Vikings RBs Aaron Jones Sr., Jordan Mason split carries?
What that rotation will look like, however, is one of the mysteries of training camp.
“I’m not sure,” Jones said.
“It’s going to roll how it’s going to roll,” Mason said
“You can look at it a lot of ways,” according to coach Kevin O’Connell.
Speaking on the opening day of camp, O’Connell said the entire plan will be based on “what makes the quarterback’s job easier,” a reference to the ascendance of J.J. McCarthy as a first-year starter. O’Connell said it is important for running backs to establish a “rhythm” and suggested there are ways to get Jones and Mason on the field together.
“We’ve got truly a combination that will cause a lot of problems,” O’Connell said, “between having two great backs that are different body types, maybe different skill sets. But they’re complete backs. … There’s a lot of things schematically that we’re going to try. And then, as we get towards the season, what gives us advantages?”
Brian Flores sheds light why newest Minnesota Viking has been making waves during training camp
The biggest additions for the Vikings at cornerback were Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. Not exactly the big names you would have expected them to add. While the Vikings think that Rodgers is going to be a starter, there were a lot of questions about why the Vikings added Okudah, especially considering his struggles to stick around since being the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was asked about why Okudah hasn’t stuck with one team and his answer was a fascinating one with a lot of details about who he is in Minnesota.
“It’s hard to say without being in each building. I know in his time here, he’s been diligent on the field, off the field, (in the) training room, (and in the) weight room. He’s always looking to do extra film work. Look around. He’s probably out here somewhere, working on footwork or something. That wouldn’t shock me at all. So I don’t know what’s happening in other buildings. I know that since he’s been here, it’s been great to coach him. I think he’s getting better. I think he’s getting more comfortable within the defense and what we’re going to ask him to do, and he’s shown up positively, really, in every way. I’m excited to watch him continue to improve. I think he’s got a lot of skill. I think that’s why he was drafted so high. But again, I can’t speak for wherever else, what else has happened, you know? And honestly, I don’t want him to think about that. I want to think about today, making some improvement today, and trying to put his best foot forward at all times.”
Theo Jackson on Having Opportunity for A Bigger Role with Vikings
Should Vikings have interest in Cordarrelle Patterson or Christian Wilkins?
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores coached Wilkins in Miami from 2019-21. On Monday, Flores was asked if he’d be interested in a reunion with the star defensive tackle.
“I have a lot of history with Christian,” Flores said. “I kinda let Kwesi and his staff handle that side. We’ve got a pretty good group that we feel really good about, D-line wise. But I don’t mind adding more,” he said with a smile. “Again, I let those guys handle that. I know that’s what people are gonna say, ‘Flo said he wouldn’t mind adding more.’ That’s probably what’s gonna be the headline.”
15 NFL trade candidates during 2025 training camps
Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:
- No discussion of politics or religion
- No feeding of the trolls
- Leave the gender hatred at the door
- Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
- Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
- No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
- If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
- While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm
