9 days in the books with youngsters coming to play

 

Irv Smith Jr. having a camp of a lifetime early on

The first 9 days are in the books and 18 hours of afternoon practice I have watched and enjoyed. I love watching the like of Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Kirk Cousins on the offensive side and have thoroughly enjoyed some of th young offensive weapons and want you to see these guys in preseason and see what you think. They are full of speed, energy and very solid with their hands.

 Here is 5 guys I want you to watch:

 

26- Kene Nwangwu RB rookie out of Iowa State is extremely fast

15-Ihmir Smith-Marsette WR out of the University of Iowa

84-Irv Smith Jr TE in 2nd year is catching everything thrown his way

17-KJ Osborn WR never seems to let a ball hit the ground as he always has his body flying all over to catch low or high balls

12-Chad Beebe WR "Mr Hustle"

There are several players making crowd pleasing catches but for the first 9 days these players have wowed me.

Thank you for reading

Enjoy Preseason and watch the 90 players fighting for the 53 man roster spots.

Purplestick

Quaterbacks return and Dantzler shines on D

 

I was excited to get to Eagan like all other days but more so today as Kirk Cousins and Nate Stanley returned to practice after following protocol of Covid since Saturday.

It’s only practice but these guys need to get the reps with their offense as much as possible since the first preseason game is a week from Saturday.

I noticed players such as Adam Thielen, Patrick Peterson, Dakota Dozier and Hercules Mata’afa were held out pf practice Thursday and Anthony Barr returned back to practice.

The crowd size every day is pretty consistent as I would say the stands are about 30-40 percent full and Thursday’s weather had to be a player’s best friend. The skies were cloudy and it was breezy at times and really never got that warm in my opinion.

I mentioned Dozier out for the offensive line so what I saw first unit a majority of the time from right to left was Brian O’Neil, Oli Udoh, Garrett Bradbury, Ezra Cleveland and Rashod Hill. I did see draft choice, Wyatt Davis with the 2^nd unit. Christian Darrisaw was wearing his helmet but once again only working more in the individual drills.

Cousins was back and I did see some nice balls particularly one to back corner of end zone to Justin Jefferson from 335-40 yards out.

The flip side 2^nd year corner, Cam Dantzler had a huge day with two interceptions and a great play down the sideline breaking up a deep ball that was intended for Jefferson. If Dantzler had not timed his jump it would have been in my opinion a catch by Jefferson.

The absence of Thielen Thursday gave opportunities for KJ Obsborn to line up opposite Jefferson and also a chance for rookie, Ihmir Smith-Marsette to get some action. It is every day the next man up and a chance to build great depth on the roster.

I have gone to Training Camp 26 years and don’t know if I remember seeing a cart drive to the sideline with two or three huge speakers piled on each other.

I watched as they stopped the cart and turned on the speakers and they were loud and got louder.

The team practiced from 99 yards away from me with the noise machine I will call it. It was just not a few plays I would say it went on 10-15 minutes with deep balls, crossing patterns and back coming out of the backfield is what I could see. I love this activity as in the stands it was fairly loud but I am guessing down on the goal line it was very loud.

The practice schedule is 2:15-4:15 every day but I have noticed about 4:00 the whistle blows part of the team heads back to the building and a different position group comes to the south end zone and signs autographed footballs and throw them in the crowd. Thursday was the defensive line as we got to see just how big some of these guys are and yes they are large.

That's all for now 

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

SKOL!!!

Vikings 2nd day in pads saw some good an some not so much

 

Wednesday August 4^th as another beautiful weather day at TCO Performance Center Vikings Training Camp as we get ready for day two of pads.

I was on my way up to the camp as listened to the PA show who had Michael Pierce on to do a radio and was it ever a great interview as I drove, listened and thought as Michael was speaking.

I know the games have not started but I do know this team has a lot of scary potential and I mean that in a great        way.                                                                                                                                              12-Chad Beebe ready to make another great catch

I will refer to the defensive line as who will teams double team on the Vikings defensive line. If you double either inside tackle whether it be Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, Sheldon Richardson the other will be singled up. It teams try to attack our tackles it opens it up for Danielle Hunter or whoever plays right end. It’s a scary line and the fact the line destroys who does that help? Yes, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr or whoever they decide as 3^rd linebacker which like Nick Vigil for now.

The fact if the defensive line can cause havoc like I believe they can it also help the secondary on coverage. I go to camp every day and watch and only envision the potential this defense has. I will guarantee it will be much better that last year.

The kicking game is concerning for now and I need to give it a chance but today Joseph missed 2 of 3 including a 55 yarder. I know I heard a fan yell as soon as he kicked it, “Cut him.” It’s a work in progress so I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

I love watching practice more and more the older I get seeing who is lining up where and what unit is he playing with.

I saw today for the first time since camp start #one pick, Christian Darrishaw had a helmet on and did a little work more work individual and not team but with time we will see him with the number one unit. 2021 Draft choice, Wyatt Davis was back working with the line again which is encouraging.

The line is definitely a work in progress but if these two can get healthy and stay healthy it’s going to be fun to see how the coaches use them and when they finally decide to use them more in practice.

We are still waiting for Kirk Cousins and Nate Stanley to return for covid protocal and that sounds like Thursday so we saw plenty of Jake Browning, Case Cookus and Danny Etling running the units.

What I am liking is the wide out making plays on balls that may have been off a little and force the guys to dive or stretch for the ball.

I am seeing KJ Osborn and Chad Beebe really becoming quite good at laying out for balls. I am a big fan of Beebe as every route and I mean everyone is run full tilt. He made a diving catch in the end zone that brought a great reaction from the fans.

It might sound redundant but one of my favorite players in camp is Tight End, Irv Smith Jr who honestly I don’t know if I have seen him drop any balls.

It’s crazy but seven days into camp there has not been one bad weather day until Thursday I see a potential of rain. It’s been a great camp and the fields are in perfect condition so I have to believe players are loving these conditions.

Thursday Cousins returns so I am real excited to see how fans react to #8 back on the field. Will they cheer or will they boo?  Stay tuned.

That’s all for now

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

First day in pads is in the books at Viking Training Camp

 

Tuesday August 3^rd has come and with that the first Minnesota Vikings full pad practice. The weather was absolutely beautiful with mostly sunny skies with an occasional could and mid 80’s so it’s time to see the team to come out of TCO onto the practice squad.

It has not been since the Vikings last game of last year that the team has been in pads. I know ever since Saturday the talk has been nonstop Covid and vaccinations. You hear it talked about on the radio, you hear fans talk its nonstop but bottom line is the players that are clear I am ready to see practice. There is nothing I can do about the talk of vaccination and its’s out of my hands so I just want to watch football.

The next issue was the report of Jeff Gladney being released with court issues so the distractions tend to mount.

I mentioned yesterday for whatever reason the practice was extremely hard to watch as in my opinion did not seem to be on any pace.

That was yesterday and today is today and I saw a much crisper practice. The offensive line has been an issue for years and now this season a new hope however waiting for first round pick, Christian Darrisaw to return to action after off season surgery and now 2021 Draft choice, Wyatt Davis being held out it makes it difficult to feel good as no idea what the line will eventually look like.

It seems to be Rashod Hill at left tackle or #74-Olissaemaka Udoh taking snaps while left guard is Ezra Cleveland. The center is Garett Bradbury while right guard is Udoh or Dakota Dozier and right tackle in Brian O’Neil.

The play makers continue to make plays as Tuesday Tight End. Irv Smith Jr. made a great catch in the end zone and Adam Thielen made a diving catch down the right side line beating Patrick Peterson. These are just a couple examples of guys making the catch.

The quarterback trio Tuesday was #3- Jake Browning, #5 Case Cookus and just picked up off of waivers on Monday was Danny Etling who will wear #6.

The next man up mentality really can apply to the Vikings with the quarterback Covid isues along with Olabisi Johnson tearing his SACL last week leaving the young receivers fighting even harder to make it. I am a big fan of Chad Beebe if you have not seen runs every route at full speed and it’s obvious on the field tracking down balls and making the catches.

I have not seen a lot of the kickers until today when I watched Greg Joseph for 4 for 5 including hitting a 52 yard game winning field goal as the team was working on the end of the game drills. I did read he has made 17 of 20 thus far in camp but today honestly is the first time I remember seeing him kick.

The wind which was slight seemed to be going west to east so I was interested to see how his kicks would fare. I was sitting at his backside and at an angle so it was hard to see the yard he kicked from but did enjoy seeing it go through the uprights and hearing the fans cheer.

Wednesday will be day seven of camp and now that pads are on should make for exciting to watch as every day that passes is one day less for these youngsters to prove they belong.

That’s all for now

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

SKOL

Thoughts on camp early on

 

3-Jake Browning

The Minnesota Vikings continue their daily schedule including Saturday night family night where the team played in front of a close to full house. The atmosphere was awesome with so many purple clad fans in their jerseys and other purple shirts. The weather was beautiful and add the SKOL chant made for a great way for fans to be involved.

I know I found out that Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond and Nate Stanley were all out due to Covid Protocol. I really think since people were so excited just to watch football the news was not the end of the world. If this was a game day obviously fans would have reacted to a much different degree. I really believe most fans knew before they sat as I talked too many and they acknowledged they knew.

The Vikings have had 4 quarterbacks in camp since Day 1 and with three out due to the protocol it left one and that was #3 Jake Browning, This is a huge opportunity for him to take advantage not only for the Vikings but if he would be cut later in camp lots of teams may have interest.

It’s early in camp but a few guys I want you to watch for when you watch preseason on TV are young guys starting with two wide receivers I love in camp and that is KJ Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette. KJ is making catch after catch and Smith-Marsette is blazing fast and making catches. The unfortunate season ending ACL injury suffered by Olabisi Johnson has perhaps opened the door for Osborn or Ihmir or both.

                                                                        17-KJ Osborn

                                                            15-Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Chad Beebe is having a good camp with hustle and good route running and is a very good punt returner however with the late signing of Dede Westbrook could present a problem for Beebe but again this is why they have camp to see who is going to step up and pull the so called upset if you want to call it as far as making the roster.

There are two wide receivers who do not have to worry about making the team and that is Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. These two receivers are making catch after catch and some even leaves the crowd in a collective wow like sound,

I believe maybe the player with the best camp offensively is that of Irv Smith Jr who day in and day out in the first five days is so consistent with his routes and beating defenders either by out jumping or just flat out beating on the route. I predict a huge offensive season for Irv.

We all know Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison as well as CJ Hamm but please watch for a rookie out of the University of Iowa State, Kene Nwangwu as all I can say is man is he ever fast. He is a burner so when he gets through the line of scrimmage good luck catching him.

I mentioned quarterback, Jake Browning being the only quarterback Saturday night and I thought he played extremely well considering the circumstances. It looks like he has a very good arm hitting guys down the field.

I will say on the flip side the defense couldn’t touch him so some of his throws may not have happened as he would have been sacked at least a couple times but they didn’t count it so I credit Jake for keep on looking down the field for an open receiver.

It was just last season the defense really took a hit injury wise and thus the defense really didn’t play up in my opinion to the normal standards Coach Zimmer usually produces.

It is 2021 Camp I leave every day excited seeing how big and fast the defensive side of the ball is.

I will say without a doubt the toughest position to make cuts will be the defensive line as I would keep everyone if I could. This D-Line is going to be a tough unit to penetrate and good luck opposing quarterbacks with the likes of a fired up Danielle Hunter coming fast and furious.

I love what I see out of the secondary adding so much veteran help back there. I am willing to guarantee we will see a defense like we have not seen in a very long time.

Monday was a very strange practice almost seeming boring to watch as the pace seemed very slow to me so I look forward to Tuesday when they put their pads and helmets on for the first time in 2021.

Football will officially be back and I can’t wait!!!!!!!

That’s all for now

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

SKOL