The Minnesota Vikings second-team offense came out to the field as Mike Zimmer started out Wednesday’s practice with an 11-on-11 team scrimmage.
While Teddy Bridgewater and the starters settled for dump-offs and check downs, backup Shaun Hill let his first pass fly; sailing in the strong summer gust of wind that swirled around the three-hour practice. The Mankato crowd held its breath as it watched Maryland rookie Stefon Diggs turnon his 4.46 speed as the ball stuck to his gloves before he tip toed and was pushed out-of-bounds at the six-yard line.
The play got the training camp crowd loud and proud as the fan base has been deprived of a true and consistent deep-threat since the days of Sidney Rice. The offense has struggled to find a way to take advantage of defensive looks that include eight and nine-men box fronts thanks to the kind of attention a running back like Adrian Peterson commands.
However, when asked Diggs will be the first to admit he is far from being a consistent deep-threat just four days into camp and has plenty of work to do along the way.
“As far as right now, my main focus is being who I am; earning my stripes as a rookie, learning from the older guys, really trying to take it all in and be a sponge.” Diggs said.
When I asked Diggs just exactly how a rookie like himself that is striving to fit into a complicated yet rewarding offensive system such as the one Norv Turner implements he was clear on his strategy for success.
“Small things, the fundamental things of being a complete receiver in the NFL. I just try to work and get better each and every day. I’m never happy, I'm always trying to get better because I'm a competitor.”
Diggs, who was a hot commodity coming out of high school as a five-star recruit shinned for the Terps his freshman year tallying 1,896 all purpose-yards, good for second all-time in Maryland history in a single season.
Unfortunately, Diggs’ momentum was lost the following season when he missed six games with a broken right fibula, and struck a string of more bad luck the following two seasons to finish his collegiate career.
By the time the NFL draft rolled around Diggs was quickly lost in the shuffle of a wide receiver class that was rich, deep, and filled with plenty of talent to go around. With just a healthy freshman year on his record, Diggs fell to the wayside of coaches and front-offices as they passed on him for players with a more consistently productive and healthier track records.
Besides, at just 6’0” 195 pounds how high could what scouts perceived to be a “slot” receiver be drafted in a league that craves big bodied wide-outs that can help them create a mis-match. Exactly 145 players were drafted ahead of Diggs on draft weekend that included14 wide receivers, when in the fifth-round he finally got the call from general manager Rick Spielman that he would be a Viking.
While Spielman and his team of scouts knew they were drafting a speedy offensive weapon, it wasn’t until rookie minicamp when they put on the pads where they realized Diggs could be much more than the slot-receiver they once perceived.
“He’s bigger than you think he is. And he’s quick off the line of scrimmage. He can get zero to 40 quickly. I think this guy’s got a chance to be really good. He runs great routes. He catches the ball as well as anybody I’ve seen very, very easily,” said head coach MIke Zimmer
Both Zimmer and Turner glowed about Diggs after the minicamp and OTAs, and after four-full practices at Mankato State University Vikings fans finally got to see the electricity Diggs could potentially bring to the table with their very own eyes.
Diggs’ combination of quickness and pure pass catching skills are enough reasons to strike a match of excitement inside the Vikings fan base, but one of his biggest attributes that have caught the eye of coaches alike isn’t measured on the field.
“He’s been a model citizen. That’s important, especially for young guys. Anything you ask him to do, he does. Yes sir, no sir,” Zimmer added.
From his hungry motivation to get better everyday, to his humble attitude as a rookie in the NFL; Diggs seems to have the right balance of work ethic, positive mindset, and god given talent to be the type of player the Vikings organization expects him to be, on and off the field.
Luke Inman's full interview with Stefon Diggs can be seen here: