Top-5 Storylines of Minnesota Vikings Training Camp (So Far)

Top-5 Storylines of Minnesota Vikings Training Camp (So Far)

[Music] What’s going on, Jeromes? Minnesota Fighting Vikings are finally back at TCO Performance Center Bar and Grill Training Camp. Fans have already been in the stands on day one on Saturday. And also, uh, first P of practice today, Monday, Monday, Monday. It’s good stuff. So, there there’s a lot of things going on right now. It’s like trying to drink from a fire hose. There’s so much information and all the training camp storylines. Mattelis being extended. You love that. and wanted to run through. So, here are the top five. I think it’s five. Probably going to be seven uh storylines of Vikings training camp so far. Of course, number one, number one, number one. How’s JJ looking? So, basically, I I I feel like you train camp really is like the the stock market. I mean, in general, I mean, if you zoom out, it’s going in the right direction, right? But everyone lives and dies by every single throw. Greatest quarterback of all time, bust, all that stuff. And basically train training camp is sort of a a roar shack test. Like you see what you want to see. Like if you think that JJ McCarthy is the cat’s ass and the bee’s knees like he can do wrong and if there’s a mistake ah it’s training camp. All right. Or if you hate JJ McCarthy everything he does well it’s just practice. Talk about practice man. But overall the soft skills of being a quarterback getting in and out of the huddle call controlling things to the line of scrimmage communicating with Ryan Kelly calling out protections checking at the line of scrimmage. It’s there. It is there. Plus, I mean, the value of his red shirt season, it’s between the ears. Maybe not physically, but between the ears, it’s certainly there. Plus, it we’ll see as training camp goes along, but Kevin McConnell remarked on how uh how JJ McCarthy learns from his mistakes and doesn’t make the same mistake twice. And, you know, the fact that the Vikings have 20 practices and like 12 in pads, uh there’s not a lot of time, right? So, got got to get things going. And the arm the arm talent is evident, right? So he he’s able to spread the ball around, goes through his progressions well, uh can make throws at all three levels, has a solid footwork, and you know, the eyes are matching up with the feet and all that stuff. So overall, like you got to be pretty happy, right? So there there’s small things that you could nitpick here and there, sure, and no one’s ever going to be 100%, but in general, you got to feel good. You got to feel good about the Vikings quarterback one, and you can see why this franchise had so much confidence in him this off seasonason. Number two, Jordan Addison’s going feast mode. So Addison, we’re still waiting. So Addison likely facing threeame suspension to start the season. Actually, by the time you see this on Monday morning, he I mean the announcement might be out, so who knows? But Addison like he he’s he’s definitely shown up and shown now. So even if he’s suspended, Addison can participate in all training camp, all preseason if applicable, and he can actually practice uh the second half of his suspension. All right. So he he’s not going to be able he’s not going to be that far behind the eightball, right? And you can see especially with with Jefferson up on blocks, Addison’s b the deacto wide receiver one, he’s looking good. And also, you know, JJ McCarthy’s arm talent plus Kevin McConnell’s uh predisposition to go vertical and and also Addison is so good at the catch point downfield. Like things are sinking up. Like Addison also you can say Speedy Naylor’s looking good. It’s pretty damn fantastic. also to Haku. H no, we’re too far removed from Hakua. Thank God. But I can see how we stepped into that joke. Anyways, but Hawinson uh especially the practices uh where was just a media, especially that one indoors uh because of the rain hog. Hawinson’s looking really damn good. and uh moving out there without a sleeve, without a brace, and another year removed from the ACL, MCL where I feel like last year and we he he came back the back half of the season, he was still a little bit tentative, which you can’t blame him. Uh but this year, this year he’s going to be the guy, right? And also, you look at what McCarthy has done uh with tight ends at Michigan, whether it’s uh Loveland or Scoomaker, I want to say tight end from 2022. Yeah. Um, I’m pretty sure there was a scooter maker who went to Ohio State as well. I wonder if they’re related. Too lazy to look that up. But Hawinson, it’s all I ever had redemption song number three, Living on the Edge. So, first off, Jonathan Gernard, Jonathan Gernard’s looking all pro, all world, man. Just just the speed, the tenacity, and just the creativity on the edge, like everything’s going to be good to go. And with Diamond Dallas Turner uh added added good size as well as the speed of quickness is still there. Plus, you know, Okonnell and Flores have been adamant like they’re going to find a way to have all three of them on the field at the same time where Andrew Van Genko as well just got paid himself a pick six almost had another one on Saturday. I mean there’s too much talent like finding your best 11 getting them on the field and Dallas Turner is gonna be one of the best 11. Plus I I lowkey obviously this is like a homer take. I mean, if the Florida’s defense is number one, Vikings win the division, Vikings lead the league in sacks or are up there, and Jonathan Gennard just goes off, you know, say high teens, maybe flirting with 20 sacks. I mean, defensive player of the year one time. I wonder what the odds are. I have to look to see if it’s a good spot for a jelly bean or two. It’s going to be good. And also, Dallas Turner year too, man. Like, I’m fired up. We’re going to be good. Next up, number four, Justin Jefferson, mild hamstring strain. Well, it’s not really that big of a story in the grand scheme of things, like they’re the Vikings are being overly cautious. Now, I I understand the whole Zimmer, oh, Denil just tweaked his neck or uh even Kevin Oonnell’s like uh routine soreness on JJ McCarthy’s knee. I I get it. But, you know, the fact that Jefferson has dealt with the hamstring before, it reportedly it is the other leg. It is the other hamstring. Uh, and the Vikings feels like they’re being just proactive here. Now, it it does stink because Jefferson won’t be getting the reps in with with McCarthy, but I mean, did get a fistful of reps in with McCarthy last year as well as this off season and OTAAS and mentor mini camp as well. So, it’s not as it’s not as terrible as it seems on its face. Plus, Jefferson wasn’t going to play in preseason anyway. So, get them right. Get them good to go. We got five weeks before Monday Night Football, so it’s going to be fine. That’s why it’s sort of low in the list. Next up, number five, Kevin McConnell’s confidence in the running game where he’s talked about uh basically Jordan Mason, a Aon Jones are similar players, similar skill sets, a lot of overlap there. Could be spots where both of them are in the same both two running backs at the same time, man. Both in the back field at the same time. CJ Ham’s usage uh if they want to get the running game going. Also, OK O’ Okonnell expressed his belief in Tai Chandler in year four, you know, his final year of his rookie deal. Can a click and, you know, not so thinly availed shot at his pass protection and consistency, right? That’s what it comes down to where, you know, with Kevin Oonnell, if you’re a wide receiver, you have to run block, you know, minus Addison his rookie year, but he learned uh as well as if you’re a running back, you have to pass block, right? So, it’s it it’s sort of like flippy floppy, but it does make sense here and it does lead to a more complete offense where I’m really excited about Jordan Mason. I I think that he has a chance to really shine uh in in this scheme. You know, he’s perfect for outside zone. He’s got size, he’s got power, but also he’s got uh one cut and go quickness. He’s very adept, very knowledgeable with outside zone from his time with the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan. Plus, this offensive line, it’s gonna be good. It’s gonna be good, man. I I honestly think like, could this be this year’s version of Gibbs of Montgomery? Sonic and Knuckles. It’s possible. H bonus one number six, quarterback to an issue. So, it’s it’s funny like u the first days of practice uh Sam Hall and Brett Ribbon basically threw backtoback pick sixes. AVG and Ivan Pace Jr. doing the work. But overall like how like the arm is is certainly there, right? As well as uh he does have starting experience. Ripen I feel like has a higher floor, right? Uh but both of them have had good moments. Both of them have had bad moments. Brazmer’s also uh pretty pretty interesting as well. So I I I don’t think it’s it’s a complete issue. Like I don’t think we should be checking the rolodex. God, who uses rolodexes anymore? Quy probably does of you know backup quarterbacks available. Um, but it’s just something to note right now. This could all be washed away where, you know, sam or Brett Ripen or Bromer, you know, shows up and shows out in night practice in a week or the three preseason games or the joint practices. So, I think we’ll be fine. Kevin Connell, quarterback whisper, every little thing is going to be all right. Going to be good to go. Also, let’s not discount that the fact that, you know, the Vikings rotate in seven on seven, 111. Ones versus ones, one versus twos, twos versus ones, ones versus threes, threes versus blah blah blah. So, and even if it’s a third team defense, like Flores isn’t going to take his foot off the gas, man. Like, like you’re getting the full you’re getting the full value, right? And if you’re ripping or howl with the second or third team and you’re going up against the ones, which it does happen occasionally, like what what are you going to do, right? So almost have to grade this on a curve. Like overall, they’ll be fine, right? Anyways, that’s it. That’s it. Uh top I guess a seven uh training camp storylines uh for the Vikings so far heading into the first pet of practice today. Let us know your thoughts, our thoughts, comment section. you guys the best you know to do skull production value.

Top-5 Storylines of Minnesota Vikings Training Camp (So Far)

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