 |
| COACH MIKE ZIMMER |
It’s been a
while since I have written a blog and it’s time to get back to work. I had
worked at a company for over 25 years and in May it ended. I decided enough of
frustration and time to look for a fresh start.
This
decision affected heavily my training camp times since I started over and had
no vacation time. I had gone to camp the previous 20 years with the last 16
years of that only missing 5 days. In 2014 camp I made it a total of 5 days.
I still have
my season tickets so that has not changed. I have been to 154 games with 150 at
home and 4 road games.
TRAINING CAMP OBSERVATIONS
I want to
give you my take of the Training Camp I did take in. I only made it the 5 days
so I put more of myself into it than normal. I studied hard as I watched
practice and came out thoroughly impressed.
The first
change I noticed was the fact the players ran some drills and then the entire
team went to the middle of the 3 fields to do stretches I do not believe I have
seen that since the Dennis Green days. It was refreshing to see the coaching
staff implement this.
The next
change I noticed was about halfway through practice the team would take a water
break. It was so nice to see that once again this coaching staff believes in
keeping the players hydrated.
The one
observation that I really enjoyed as watching closely as coaches from the
different groups really worked on fundamentals.
I really
wanted to keep an eye on Coach Mike Zimmer and see just how hands he was during
practice. It did not take long as I watched Zimmer get into the faces of the
defensive backs in different drills.
One drill
that I saw Mike really on top of things was when the offense was on the 5 yard
line and some of the defensive backs were in the end zone. Zimmer abruptly
stopped the play and yelled at the players to get on the 1.5 yard line instead
of the end zone. How many years have we seen the Vikings defenders defending
the end zone while they were in the end zone. How is this going to stop the
opponents I thought to myself way to many times?
 |
| 19-ADAM THIELEN |
THE 53 MAN SQUAD
I do not
believe or even want to attempt to guess who makes the 53 man squad except for
one in particular. I will say that one player I know will make the squad and
that is former Minnesota State University player, Adam Thielen. He is so good
at his route running and has tremendous hands. His long punt return for a near touchdown
Saturday night in Kansas City. I noticed in camp that players really support
him and hang with him such as Patterson and Jennings. He works his butt off and
deserves his shot at the NFL.
TCF BANK STADIUM SEATING
Friday
August 1st was our first experience in our new seats. We have bench
seats in the upper deck. TCF is a smaller stadium so our seats seem closer that
they were at the Metrodome. We are in seats one and 2 and thus far it is great
to be close but so far through 2 games fans seem to be up and down the steps
every play making it difficult to watch at times.
The one big
complaint I heard not once but several times as the bench seating has numbers
and if the person is a little bigger they may end up squishing you a little
more. In the dome each person had a seat and that was their designation.
We me an
adjustment for the Arizona game and that was we orders seat back chairs. It was
55.00 dollars per seat but it was well worth it. They were extremely
comfortable and we now have a seat designation. The seats are set up for us
before the game and then taken down after the game for us.
TRANSPORTATION TO THE GAME
I am
recommending you take the light rail. We park down by the dome for 4.00. We
park about a couple blocks north of the old Metrodome and then catch the new
Green Line light rail at the Metrodome stop and that drops you off right across
from TCF on the back side. The cost for 2 of us was 7.00. The total for the
night was 11.00 I feel it is easier and less stress that parking down by the U
and sitting in traffic jam before and after the game. Yes, the light rail is
busy after the game but I am still convinced this is the way to go.
THE 2014 VIKINGS
Yes, the
team is 3-0 and that is exciting so I will be cautious to be predicting an
undefeated season. I will go down as saying without a doubt and 110% that this
team will be improved vastly over the last few years.
The coaching
style, the players speaking in the media along with the excitement fans are
showing at TCF leaves me with a feeling like I had in 1998.
The Arizona
game watching Teddy Bridgewater lead the team to the comeback and listening to
the fans chant Teddy, Teddy, Teddy the entire 4th quarter gave me sent
purple chills through this 50 year old body. The fans leaving the game with the
chants continuing and were really echoing down the stairs as we left TCF.
FIRST ROUND PICKS
The last 3 seasons
may go down as the best in many years. Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Sharrif
Floyd, Cordarelle Patterson, Xavier Rhodes and now Teddy Bridgewater and
Anthony Barr are the new cornerstone for the long future. Smith may be one of
the top safeties in the game.
VIKINGS FANS, I TRULY FEEL WE HAVE A
RIGHT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS SEASON.
Thanks for
reading
GO VIKES
Purplestick
No comments:
Post a Comment