When discussing Minnesota Vikings football the first thing that naturally gets brought up is the quarterback competition, with veteran Matt Cassel and rookie Teddy Bridgewater battling for the starting spot. While that is a focal point for many observers, there is plenty more newsworthy topics to be discussed when dissecting the team as a whole. Coach Mike Zimmer continues to adjust to the nucances of leading an entire team as a first-year head coach, while trying to efficiently install his elaborate and exotic defensive scheme.
Mourning walkthrough was pushed back by an hour on Wednesday and has been limited to special teams only. Norv Turner held his press conference afterwards, followed by afternoon practice which will be starting around 3:00 PM central time.
Here are some quick hits from the first few days of camp.
- Zimmer has shuffled a large majority of every defensive player in-and-out of almost every possible formation and position so far during practices,with the exception of obvious starters such as Chad Greenway and Linval Joseph. For example, linebackers like Gerald Hodges, Michael Mauti, Anthony Barr, and Audie Cole have played with the first, second, and third team, lining up on both the inside and outside, in the base defense, as well as nickel packages. Its clear Zimmer wants to get a snap-shot look of every player and where they might fit best in his exotic and elaborate defense, allowing him to maximize each players strengths to the best of his ability.
When I asked him if he had an idea of when he wanted to start setting that depth chart in stone in hopes to grow some continuity and cohesiveness with each unit, he said, “tuesday night I will sit down with everyone and start putting that together.”
This means todays practice (Wednesday) will be our first big indicator as too who Zimmer plans on lining up as his “starters”, in each specific defensive look. I will have a full update and follow up on the Vikings first “depth chart” after todays practice.
- Mike Zimmer clearly has high expectations for Anthony Barr, and had given him as many reps as possible lining him up with the first, second, and third team units. Not only is he receiving a significant amount of reps compared to his peers, but he has been lined up at multiple positions as well.
Barr has been seen lined up as an outside linebacker in both the base 4-3 defense, as well as the nickel package. In obvious passing situations, Barr has been putting his hand in the dirt as a defensive end. Zimmer’s plans with the versatile player are clearly to utilize him in as many packages as possible, and have the ability to line him up in multiple positions to create favorable match ups.
- Zimmer has shown no hesitance throwing his young players into the fire. Besides Barr, players like Antone Exum, David Yankey and undrafted free agents Antonio Richardson as well A.C. Leonard are all receiving plenty of reps with the second team units, just days into training camp. While I have seen all three players receiving plenty of verbal slaying from coaches from time to time, it should be considered an encouraging sign that they’ve received ample playing time this early in the process.
- Ive been vocal about this on my Twitter account and Il say it again here; Vikings fans can awake from their Bill Musgrave induced coma, thanks to the ultra-predictable offensive game plan, and play calling he established. It took Norv Turner just three-days to surpass Musgrave’s three years of play calling, after a slew of “creative” plays were called in practice. Two tight-end screens (one to Kyle Rudolph and one to Leonard), a bubble screen to Jarius Wright, and a multiple screens to running backs were all employed throughout the day. An end around to Wright, followed later by a double reverse from Jennings to Wright was also spotted, showing off Turner’s playbook creativity just a few days into training camp.
On top of gadget plays, Turner has displayed multiple different formations that are foreign to Vikings fans after watching Musgrave’s offense for so long. A two tight-end set was employed at one point, with Rudolph and Rhett Elison. Rudolph split out wide, and Elison lined up in the slot, with Kyle eventually motioning into the backfield with Adrian Peterson. Creating mismatches is the name of the game in the NFL, and were seeing a small sample of what Norv can bring to the table in that facet.
- While Matt Cassel has worked with the first-team slightly more than Bridgewater, their total snap count has been virtually equal. With Cassel learning another offensive system, and Bridgewater going through the daunted rookie process, its far too early to tell who has the edge at this point, and I think the coaches feel the same way.
One thing we do know, Zimmer has made it clear to the team that no matter the age or experience, he will line up what he thinks is the best 53-players by week one. Meaning, he has no problems playing Bridgewater over a nine-year veteran like Cassel, if he is clearly the best option to help the team win.
- The starting safety position opposite of Harrison Smith is one battle that I’m most intrigued about, specifically after a year removed from one of the worst secondary performances in NFL history. While last years starter Jamarca Sanford was sidelined with an injury, third-year man Robert Blanton took the majority of first-team reps this spring during practices and OTAs.
Blanton has continued to get the bulk of starter looks thus far in camp, and my gut says its now his job to lose. When asked about the competition, Zimmer said it would ultimately come down to watching each player in run support once preseason games come, specifically their tackling skills, taking the proper angles, and overall playing instincts. Behind Blanton and Sanford, is a mix of veterans and rookies such as Mistral Raymond, Kurt Coleman, Brandan Bishop, and Antone Exum, which has the makings of a competitive battle that is sure to stretch out for the duration of training camp.
Although Zimmer stated that the teams defensive backs is one of his highest priorities as far as coaching up the unit goes (called them his “baby”) he did express his confidence in secondary coach Jerry Gray during his press conference, saying the two always seem to be on the same wavelength. “Ive noticed a few times when I’m about to preach something to the defensive backs, by the time I get over their Jerry is already on it, sometimes taking the words out of my mouth.” Constantly being on the same page as one another as coaches allows Zimmer to utilize his time elsewhere, which should be beneficial to many facets of the team in the long run.
One last thing to be noted is the chemistry and history between Smith and Blanton, who played in the same secondary for the Notre Dame Irish, and were selected together by the Vikings in the 2012 NFL draft. When I spoke with Smith about the possibility of starting next to his former and now current teammate, he described to me how great and unique of an opportunity that would be. While Smith started his first year in the league, Blanton has been brought along slowly his first two-seasons, and is now hoping to make the most of his opportunities.
- Another intriguing position battle to watch is the wide receiver group. After the top-four virtual locks (Patterson, Jennings, Wright, Simpson), things start to get heated. Local Mankato State product Adam Thielen spent last years rookie season on the practice squad, and has now caught the eye of the coaching staff, earning a lot of reps with the second team. Judging from his production and playing time in practice so far, its clear he has a big edge on the fifth spot, with Rodney Smith, Kain Colter, Erik Lora, and Donte Foster trying to separate themselves form the pack.
The real underlying question here is how many receivers Turner decides to keep. Arif Hasan pointed out that Norv has kept anywhere from just four-receivers when he coached in Cleveland, and up to seven-receivers during his San Diego Chargers days. While keeping five wide outs seems to be the leagues status quo, if someone from this group steps up during preseason games, don’t be shocked to see more than five on the final 53-man roster.
- An interesting topic of discussion during special teams coach Mike Priefers press conference was the continued use of Patterson on kickoffs, now that he is sure to be the main focal point in the passing game. Gathering the information at hand, Priefer gave the indication that Patterson will be used similarly to the way the team used Percy Harvin, basically treating the kickoff as the “first down” play. Meaning, if Patterson takes the kickoff out of the end zone, he will likely be on the sideline the following play. If the plays results in a touchback expect him to be in the huddle on the offenses first play of their series.