Early thoughts on TCO Performance along and Vikes practices

2018 Training Camp has begun and I have made it the last 3 days feeling like I lived m Eagan. It was Saturday night when I didn’t sleep well with so much anticipation of a new experience in a new city.

I have gone to Mankato the last 24 years so I as anxious to compare which may not be fair and I understand that but I am human with maybe too many emotions.

I got to Eagan TCO facility and my first thought was how impressed I am with the parking of cars organization as I took a left to the parking lot I was met by many workers who had directing sticks pointing where I should park. The first thing I should say is everything at the new facility s on my Vikes app. I had to make sure the bar code was ready for the parking lot so I as scanned and proceeded.

I parked and made my way to camp but first I was greeted by a few employees who were willing to take pictures of people before they entered camp. I then walked downhill to the entrance where I had to put my valuables in a bowl then walk through the metal detector and once through I had to make sure my phone had the Vikes app open to my ticket bar code where once I got scanned I was free to walk farther into camp.

I made my way and I was simply in awe as it was so open and not congested I felt no pressure trying to get through people. As you walk you see a Viking Locker Room which was packed and I understand that. This pace even does customized jerseys. I found going out the back of the Vikes Locker Room and hall way with bathroom and then the Vikings Museum which was 20.00 and worth every penny. I did not do that until Day 2 but so worth it.

I could sit and write trying to describe everything at camp but feel I would miss telling you things. I feel the pricing of food is very reasonable as example bottle of water was 1.00 just as an example.

I also feel there are plenty of bathrooms all over camp. I also thought the idea of bringing your own water bottle in was awesome. The bag policy is this, there is no size not allowed however the bag is subject to search.

When you first walk in there is a stadium to the right which has bleachers that I believe are not as steep as Blakeslee Field which is good.

This stadium for the time being is set up for kids to do things such as football toss, flag football, kicking field goals and obstacle course to name a few. I was there 3 days and will say it did not seem over crowded for the kids. It is early so maybe as time goes on it will be busier. I know Saturday night is the night scrimmage and that will be played in the stadium with player introduction and fireworks after the night session.

We keep walking west and go up steps and you encounter 3 more fields with 2 going North and south and one going East and west.

There are bleachers for general admission as well as grass you can sit on and watch practice. The first practice is 10:30-11:30 which is the walk through and then 2:45-5:15 with the players starting to wear pads on Monday and Tuesday and I will assume the rest of camp.

If you then look west you will see blue bleachers which are the Kwik Trip seats and they are 20.00 which you must purchase ahead. The parking, general admission and the Kwik Trip seats all must be pre purchased which is one disadvantage from MSU days for Training Camp which you could decide to last minute go and you could buy parking passes same day. It is a difference but I will say again the Eagan facility is extremely organized.

The autograph lines each day are still intact with different position players each day. Tuesday was Running Back day and was that ever packed.

It has been a tremendous experience in Eagan and perhaps better than I expected. The one thing I truly miss is the interaction with players after practice against the old fence lines in Mankato. Maybe one day that will change in Eagan. I have not heard many people complaining about that which is good but for 24 years of my life I miss it. In the same breath I offer up it’s just great to watch football.

As for players in 3 days I have really seen an improved Laquon Treadwell catching all thrown his way which truly will be needed. Kirk Cousins throws the football maybe harder than I have ever seen but also throw out it doesn’t seem to bother the receivers as they seem to have worked with Cousins there whole career. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen just continue to impress.

Dalvin Cook looks as he was never hurt watching him run without a brace and yet I must caution myself because yes I understand its practice vs game days with the speed increasing.

The defensive side of the ball is filled with so many defenders of name but the one guy making a name for himself again is Marcus Sherels with 2 interceptions in 2 days. I have also enjoyed watching first round pick, Mike Hughes step up not looking like a rookie at least so far.

That’s all for now from Eagan’s TCO Center at Vikes Training Camp

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

SKOL!!!!

A look at first round picks facing the Vikes in 2018

The schedule was released and the draft is over so let’s look at who will see from the first round face the Vikes

Preseason

Week 1 at Denver who drafted DE Brandon Chubbs at Pick 5

Week 2 home vs Jacksonville who drafted DT Tavon Bryan at pick 29

Week 3 home vs Seattle who drafted Rashaad Peny RB at pick 27

Week 4 at Tennessee who drafted Rashaan Evens LB at pick 2

Regular Season

Week 1 home vs San Francisco who drafted Mike McGlinchey OT at pick 9

Week 2 at Green Bay who drafted Jaire Alexander DB at pick 18

Week 3 home vs Buffalo who drafted both Josh Allen QB at pick 7 and Tremaine Edwards at pick 16

Week 4 at LA Rams who had no first round pick

Week 5 at Philadelphia who traded out of first round

Week 6 home vs Arizona who drafted Josh Rosen at pick 10

Week 7- home vs NY Jets who drafted Sam Darnold at pick 3

Week 8-home vs New Orleans who drafted Marcus Davenport DE at pick 14

Week 9- home vs Detroit who drafted Frank Ragnow C at pick 20

Week 10-Bye

Week 11- at Chicago who drafted Raquon Smith LB at pick 8

Week 12- home vs Green Bay who drafted Jaire Alexander at pick 18

Week 13- at New England who drafted Sony Michel RB at pick 31

Week 14- at Seattle who drafted Rashaad Penny RB at pick 27

Week 15- home vs Miami who drafted Minkah Fitzpatrick S at pick 11

Week 16- at Detroit who drafted Frank Ragnow at pick 20

Week 17- home vs Chicago who drafted Raquon Smoth LB at pick 8

Vikes see picks 3,8,9,10,11.14.16.18,20,31

What a great bchance to see how other teams first round picks fare and we get to see # 3 overall and 10 quarterbacks potentially depending on Tyron Taylor and Sam Bradford

Thanks for reading

Purpelstick

2018 NFL DRAFT- A one with incedible storylines and fun

The draft goes 3 days as well know and each pick is so highly anticipated by thousands of fans and with all the radio and TV coverage I think this year’s draft might go down as one of the best I have ever seen but all the storylines that developed.

The host city Dallas I think got blindsided by all the roasting of the players who announced their teams picks.

Let’s starts with Philadelphia Eagles, Davis Akers who I give an A + for his effort and I actually worried about his safety after he was done with his roasting. I am not nor will ever be an Eagle fan but I still must give props for his speech.

I loved 49er’s Merton Hanks announcing to the thousands of booing fans the fact as I held his hand up looking at his fingers stating the 49ers were the first ever team to win 5 rings.

Falcon Michael Vick telling the booing fans he never lost to the Dallas Cowboys, Giants’ Justin Tuck talking about his version of the best city, New York. I loved watching all of this and kudos to each speaker.

The story lines that went down seeing 2 brothers for the first time in the NFL draft history get drafted in the first round with the Edmund Brothers with one to Buffalo and one to Pittsburgh so 2 AFC teams. It will be fun for the family when Buffalo plays Pittsburgh.

The story of all stories and I will never forget as Seattle picked with the 141^st pick, Shaqueem Griffin so he is reunited with his brother on the Seahawks. It’s a story that is on one of so many reasons I love sports. It proves once again anyone can do anything any time they want as long as you put your mind to it.

As a Vikings fan I loved the way the 4^th round pick, Jayln Holmes was announced as the USA Gold Medal team curled the card all the way down to the center and when it center the card was taken off and was read. I give an A ++++ for the creativity for this way the pick was done.

The hours of watching mock drafts and the draft are over but that doesn’t go without saying I truly enjoyed the whole weekend.

Thank you NFL

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

Looking at the 2018 Viking draft

The 2018 NFL draft is complete and in the books and now we see how these players develop and see if they can make the 53 man roster later in August.

I have seen draft experts give the Vikes anywhere from an A to a C- and I have also seen plenty of fan speak again people who either like or love the picks and I have also heard people with their dislike. I read Sunday an article with Vikes GM, Rick Spielman say he had fellow GM’s congratulate the team on the picks.

Does anyone really know how these players will do? All the mock drafts and fan wants are finally done.

I know I wanted an Offensive lineman with the first pick and that did not happen and instead at pick 30 the team took a cornerback.

I will admit the entire first round players drafted in the NFL I have heard of and even some of the 2^nd but honestly the rest a very small percent I have ever heard of.

I love football so much and IU honestly don’t read book but when it comes to drafts I enjoy reading bios from different sources and after reading I am excited as I am every year to see the now 2018 Vikings draft class.

Let’s start with Mike Hughes, first round pick 30 comes out of Central Florida and I found he went to school there in 2017 after transferring from another school. Central Florida ended last year undefeated and Hughes was a big part of it. Mike had 44 tackles and 4 interceptions in 2017 and he also is a talented kick returner with 20 returns for 635 yards and 2 TD’s and punt return he had 13 for 233 and 1 TD. His big thing here is versatility and  I look for him to compete for the Nickelback and compete with Mackenzie Alexander and Terrance Newman who is 39 still is awesome but how many more years does he have in him?

2^nd round the team took Brian O’Neil with the 62^nd pick out of Pittsburgh University. Brian came to Pitt as a tight end and was converted to Offensive tackle and played there the last 3 yards. O’’Neil is 6’7” and 297 and with that comes the statement that Brian is extremely quick and athletic. O’Neil ran the 40 in 4.82 in the combine which was the fastest amongst all O-Linemen. Brian only allowed 1 sack in his last 2 years and can play right or left tackle.

4th round the team drafted out of Ohio State at pick 102, Jalyn Holmes who is 6’5” and 283 pounds. Holmes had 84 tackles of which 40 were solo, also had 5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. Jalyn is the 12^th Buckeye drafted by the Vikes in their history. I was really hoping for additional depth on both lines and with O’Neil and now Holmes we have 2 more to compete.

5^th round Tyler Conklin was taken at pick 157 coming out of Central Michigan and is 6’7” and weighs 240. I loved the highlights I saw on him and his big asset id his athleticism. The Vikes have added another tight end weapon to join Kyle Rudolph and Davis Morgan. Conklin had 83 catches, 1159 yards and 11 TD’s in his career. Tyler is his senior year came up huge with 35 catches, 504 yards and 5 TD’s.

5^th round saw the team trade up and take at pick 167, Kicker, Daniel Carlson who is 6’5 “ and 213. The last tall kicker I remember in purple was Steven Hauschka who was in camp when Ryan Longwell was here.  Daniel is the highest drafted kicker by the Vikes in their history. Carlson kicked for Auburn University had 480 career points, was 92-114 in FG and 198-198 in extra points. Carlson was a 3 time Lou Groza award finalist,2 time SEC scoring champ, 2 time SEC first team All-conference. He was also Special team’s player of the year in the SEC both 2016 and 2017.

The 6^th round saw Colby Gossett and was the 213 pick out of Appalachian State. Once again the team got some more offensive line help. Gossett was called by Mel Kuiper Jr an “under the radar gem.” He played right guard in college but played left guard in the Senior Bowl. This man is incredibly strong as at the combine he did 32 reps of 225 pounds.

The 6^th round saw Ade Aruna at pick 218 out of Tulane University stands 6’5 and weighs 262. This man is extremely talented as he played basketball for many years including AAU where he guarded Timberwolve, Andrew Wiggins and held him to 11 points. Ade started playing football his senior year in high school and the off to college. Ade has 12 sacks in his 4 years at Tulane. The combine saw him with a 38.5 vertical jump and broad jump 10’8” which is the best amongst all best defensive linemen at the combine. Ade trained with former Vike, the great Keith Millard.

The last draft pick came in the 7^th round was Devante Downs with pick 225 out of the University of California. Downs is 6’3”and weighs 245. He played linebacker for the Golden Bears. Downs was hurt his Senior year but before that had 84 tackles in his Junior year.

The Philadelphia Eagles had depth at lines sending wave after wave of defensive lineman and with the Vikes draft I was happy to see the team address this.

I said to start no one truly knows the future but after reading the bios I am happy at least on paper so only time will tell.

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

Credit- Vikings PR for some of the info.

2018 Vikings Draft Party and more

The 2018 NFL draft was finally here and all my waiting to go to US Bank Stadium for the Vikings draft party was finally over we just had to wait to 6:00 when the gates opened and when they did the sight to see hundreds of people wearing their Viking jerseys was a sight I just will never stop smiling. The only negative of the crowd was a fan that had his Eagles Carson Wentz jersey on but I thought Minnesota fans did a nice job of being Minnesota nice.

The draft as you know did not actually start to 7:00 so it was a great time to go down to the ground of US Bank Stadium and walk around and see all they had to offer. The turf was not down so instead was a plastic like flooring and my night turned out electric not literally but everything I touched I got a shock. It was good for a laugh and finally the shock went away.

As we walked around and looked we found your overpriced food vendors but it is part of what we are used to. I did have a brat for 8.00 and my wife had a hot dog for 6 so this was the cheapest we could find as we found a cheeseburger for 11.00.

The experience I have had in the past draft parties is you will see an occasional player walking around and Thursday night we ran into Dalvin Cook who was very nice in taking pictures with fans including my wife and myself. We also ran into former Vike, Ben Leber and Vikes play by play guy, Paul Allen who were also very gracious in stopping.

We continued exploring and found an autograph zone so I asked how much and they said free as 200 wrist bands were to be had free and if you got a wrist band you were guaranteed to get in a line. There were 3 sessions so you pick which session which had 2 players each. You could only pick 1 session so we took the 7:00-8:00 session which had Latavius Murray and Randall McDaniel so we got in line at 7 and met the guys.

We then went over and got a seat to watch the NFL draft. This is one of the best features of going to the party because we have KFAN show with Paul Allen, Pete Bercich and Paul Charchian live and an occasional guest like Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray and Andrew Sendejo. The guys are live and talking to the crowd but behind them is a huge screen TV that is showing the draft so when the Pick is In shows up on TV the talk show stops and the TV is turned up so we can all hear Commissioner Roger Goodell and all his fans booing him announce the teams pick.

We were at the draft party and when your team is pick 30 you know its going to be a long wait unless they trade up so when pick 29 by Jacksonville was called we all saw whether you were at home or at the party you saw on TV the words Vikes on the clock you hope or at least I had hoped they do not trade. We have waited 4 hours with eager anticipation when the Skol chant breaks out and then silence and then the words I love to see appear on the screen, THE PICK IS IN!!!! I have been predicting offensive line and I saw a summary of 8 NFL experts who all had the Vikes take O Line so when the Goodell announced the Vikes take Central Florida’s Mike Hughes, defensive back I think the crowd was a little shocked including myself.

I honestly didn’t know much about Hughes but as the night went on I listened and read I really like this pick and with an already top ranked defense another guy in the fold makes them just that much better.

The draft itself as I look at it saw a lot of things I like and a few surprises. I would like to start with the way the draft started as Commissioner Goodell comes out and with that a huge chorus of booing as he was joined by Troy Aikman, Jason Witten and Roger Staubauch. I personally feel Roger enjoys the booing but this night I credit him with him starting out by saying I can’t believe you are booing these Cowboy players.

One of the greatest stories of the draft came with pick 28 by the Steelers and the man who announced it was Ryan Shazier. The scene of him walking slowly out with a cane and then seeing the people at the draft in tears was amazing and a true tribute to Ryan for staying strong.

I am a big fan of the first 2 picks seeing Baker Mayfield go to the Browns and Sequon Barkley going to the Giants.

It was an historic night with all 5 quarterbacks in Dallas going in the first round. I will say the players outfits were different as pick 32 Lamar Jackson and his green suit.

It was a great night to see 2 brothers go in the first round for a first ever with brothers ass Tremaine Edmunds went 16 to Buffalo and 28^th pick Terrell Edmunds going to the Steelers.

I really think some of these teams hit home runs as I love Brandon Chubbs going to Denver Broncos, the  Bears taking Raquon Smith and look how the Bears have had successful linebackers.

The pick by Atlanta Calvin Ridley out of Alabama now joins for Crimson Tide player Julio Jones as Atlanta made their wide outs scarier.

How about the Patriots taking Sony Michel running back out of Georgia as I feel this kid has a dream team to play on.

The surprises to me to name a few was: Cleveland Browns having a chance to take Chubbs take Denzel Ward out of Ohio State. The Saints trading up 12 picks to the Green Bay Packers and see the Saints take Marcus Davenport out of UTSA. The speculation I heard was the reason they went up this far was to take QB, Lamar Jackson. The Buffalo Bills make a trade which is fine but they gave up way too much and then they take Josh Allen when most felt Josh Rosen would be the Bills quarterback.

The storyline of 2 former Vikes quarterbacks, Sam Bradford goes to Arizona for massive money and the Cardinals pick QB, Josh Rosen. How about the New York Jets sign Teddy Bridgewater and the Jets take with the 3^rd pick QB, Sam Darnold. The Jets would not take a QB at 3 if they wanted Teddy to be the man. I guess I feel bad for both Bradford and Bridgewater but I guess time will tell.

It’s only the first day with so many storylines with Friday and Saturday to come. As a huge Vikings/NFL fan I can’t wait.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

2018 Vikes schedule full of great challenges

The 2017 season ended not the way I wanted but looking at the record and seeing just how good it was including winning the NFC North title the next season will reflect on the previous year and thus you are given a first place schedule.

The speculation for as long as I can remember was the first game of the year would be a Thursday night trip to Philadelphia which made logical sense to me but when I watched the NFL schedule reveal show it did show in fact the rumor was wrong. I will admit I saw most of the afternoon on twitter that the first game was leaked so I had a hunch.

Yes,Week 1 the home opener vs the up and coming San Francisco 49ers and we as Viking fans will see the return of Jerick McKinnon.

The first month we see 2 home and 2 away games and all 4 games are going to be extremely tough because after facing the 49ers the team gets to go to Lambeau and face a hungry Aaron Rodgers and company. What an early showdown this will be.

The next 2 sees the purple play at home vs the Buffalo Bills and then head west to face 2017 surprise playoff team although the way the Rams played last season the playoff was well earned. This is a very scary team as we have seen the Rams dump a lot of money in free agency to better the defense and I believe they succeeded. The game is also magnified even more as it is a Thursday night prime time game.

The month of October again sees 2 home and 2 away and the first away game of the month? None other than the Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles. Are we going to hear a lot more of horrifying fans stories and this game is a 3:25 Fox National TV game so I believe there will be tv viewer records shattered with this game.

The end of September saw the Vikes go west to face the Rams and the next week fly out east for the big rematch vs the Eagles. Can you say frequent flyer miles?

The team will come home after the Eagles game and face Sam Bradford and the Arizona Cardinals. I would love to see Sam do great in 2018 except vs the Vikings. I am also wondering if this will be the last year for Super Star Wide Receiver, Larry Fitzgerald?

The Vikes get to fly east again as they go play the New York Jets and for the 2^nd week in a row face a quarterback on last year’s roster in Teddy Bridgewater. I have no idea if he will be the starter but just know he will be on the Jets roster.

The team comes back home to end the month of October and who do they face? The New Orleans Saints with this game I believe will be the most intense home game of the 2018 campaign knowing the last home game of 2017 with the Minneapolis Miracle catch by Stefon Diggs. I feel very secure in saying the Saints will have not forgotten losing a game on a miracle play.

The month of November sees only 3 games as the Vikes will have a bye in Week 10. The month starts out with a home game vs the Detroit Lions so this will be the 2nd home game in a row following the Saints game.

The bye follows and then it’s off to the Windy City and face the tough Bears in their own stadium. It’s hard to get a win there although last season the Vikes pulled off a Monday night win.

The next week another NFC North team comes to US Bank for a Sunday night National TV game as we see the Green Bay Packers come back to the scene where Aaron Rodgers got hurt and ended his season very early on. I can’t even imagine the 2 fan bases and just how loud it will be as I can only imagine.

The last month of the season sees 5 games with 2 home and 3 away with the first one at New England for a 3:25 tilt. The next week sees the team flies west again for a Monday night game at Seattle in the stadium with the 12^th man. The team then comes back and faces the Miami Dolphins then goes to Detroit before closing out the 2018 regular season campaign with the Chicago Bears once again for like the 100^th time in a row. I love NFC North battles but honestly can’t the NFL change the last week opponent just one time?

Overall it is great to get 2 out 3 at home to start the season and 2 out of 3 at home to end the season.

The draft is next weekend and each of these teams will be adding draft choices but I just wanted to speculate about the potentials.

Football is a sport I just can’t get enough of and when I have a chance to wrote my thoughts I want to take full advantage.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Super Bowl week memories keep on forming

As Super Bowl week is now upon us and the Vikes have to wait another year I am too big of football fan not to want to take everything I can on this. My mindset is I have no idea if the big game will be back in Minnesota my lifetime so the time is now to do everything I can with no regrets.

Yes last Saturday my wife took in the Super Bowl experience at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the price of 35.00 each.

This was one of the best things I have ever done in my life that was sports related other than Viking events. We stood in line 45 minutes and got to see and get a picture with the Lombardi Trophy. We visited a small sampling of Canton, Ohio and just took in NFL history left and right as the day goes down in my mind as unforgettable. I can’t speak highly enough of the day and so hope fans can get there before it’s all over.

I wanted also to get up to Mall of America and take in what’s known as radio row. I got to the Mall really not knowing what I was getting into as I went up escalators to the 3^rd floor food court and there it was, radio row.

Wow was my first initial taking in thought looking upon seeming less endless tables full of radio stations all in action. It at first was overwhelming trying to figure out where to stands and watch but as I watched people they seemed to keep moving all in one direction.

The line would stop as a former NFL player was spotted amongst the radio stations being interviewed. I was in jaw dropping awe as I saw Hall of Famer, Terell Davis being interviewed by ESPN’s Stephen A Smith. If this was not a perfect photo op I don’t know what is.

I kept walking and found the NFL access area and who was in there? I saw at times Kurt Warner, Brian Billick, and then Terrell Davis later.

You keep walking and I spot a CBS booth a little higher up and I see Jim Rome conducting an interview with Carolina Panther tight end, Greg Olson.

This was an event where I simply could not stand in one spot as the people watching was as intense as I can ever remember.

I looked through radio row and spot Charles Haley, Melvin Gordon, Matt Birk, Nate Burleson, Terrell Owens, Ronde Barber, Travis Kelce just to name a few players.

The radio best of the best were up and running with the best talk radio hosts from all over the US right here at MOA.

There were a few separate booths conducting interviews and I found Greg Jennings in action. I came back to the mob of tables known as radio row and saw on a higher perch the Doug Gotlieb show and there he was interviewing Michael Irvin.

There are signs all over that state no autographs and that is ok because I took more pictures than I could ever have dreamed of seeing NFL stars past and present.

I left for a while and took a walk and looked over a railing on the north side of MOA and saw Sirius radio set up in 3 different booths.

The thing about walking the MOA on a week like this is you must keep your eyes open at all time because who have no idea what celebrity you may or may not run into.

I was just walking and minding my own business when I see 5 or 6 security so I figured something was up and then I see Vikings player, Xavier Rhodes coming.

The same area I saw Rhodes I noticed a bunch of fans over in an area with a Patriots sign that said access media so the curious person I am went over to wait and see who is coming like everyone else that was waiting.

I then saw what the fans were looking for as I saw Bill Belichick heading back to his hotel area after his press conference. A little while later I saw Tom Brady heading to the media area so I tried to get a good picture but the good picture did not turn out as I hoped but oh well I did get a picture pf Brady. It seemed strange as Tom headed to the media in regular clothes and later his teammates were coming and they were in all their white jerseys. We could not get very close and that is ok I was just excited for my first time in my life to see a Super team in person during Super Bowl week.

The thing about this day is was a complete football day with just not the Vikings its was players and fans from teams all over the NFL. It was awesome to see Jaguar, Bengals, Steelers, Broncos fans to name a few teams.

I also had a great privilege to be interviewed by a TV station out of Jacksonville, Florida called Newsaction Jax. I had my Purple hoodie on that said Skol on it and the Jacksonville people wanted to talk to a Vikings fan to talk about how I handled the loss as their beloved Jaguars too fell to the Patriots so here we have 2 fan bases talking about our period of mourning which I thought was outstanding.

The radio row continues into the weekend so if you have time please by all means go up and take it in. It is a lifetime memory waiting to happen.

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

Go Patriots