Tuesday
August 3rd 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
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