Minnesota Vikings Team Press Conferences | Training Camp, August 7

Minnesota Vikings Team Press Conferences | Training Camp, August 7

Let me hit you on this. You guys were fourth in the NFL last year in sacks, 49. I think you guys are capable of being number one this year. Would you agree? Yeah, I I think why not? Um I feel like we definitely have the people um the tools and obviously just the capability of doing it. It’s just a matter of just continuously not being satisfied and uh trying to continue to build our craft so that we can be the best one-on-one uh individuals and obviously working as a team, but just individually we can be the best uh on paper. Yeah, I mean as good as you were last year, I think there’s still maybe a couple more and then I’m thinking like Dallas Turner is probably going to take a big jump too. 100%. I think everybody’s taking that jump. I think if you just watch how he’s progressed and everybody else from last year until now, um just building up on the stuff that’s already put out there on tape and I think that that’s just the biggest thing just uh going back to him. Um he’s just basically worked on every single aspect of his game from film room, getting his body right, mental right, um passers, drops, you literally name it, he’s literally just soaking up all that knowledge. Um and and like I said, the sky is the limit for him and we got guys like him. Um it gets me excited because I mean I’m just a guy obviously I’m a little bit older than him but just seeing how you know he’s I’m correcting the things that I wish somebody would have corrected me as as a younger um player and um him just you know accepting that role and understanding know what it takes to be in this league being a pro um it’s going to be infectious to everybody on this team for sure. Do you cherish being a mentor and now that you’re you know a season vet? Yeah, I mean I think it kind of came with the territory. I I had uh his other counterpart Will Anderson in Houston um and and having him now. So it’s kind of like I I’ve been thrown in that big brother role and I’ve been the baby I’m the baby in my family. So I don’t have any I have an older brother and older sister. So I never was the younger. Uh I never had younger siblings. So to have those uh guys there, I mean man, I just pretty much just treat them as if they are the little brothers, but at the same time letting them be have space to uh be men and understand how to grow and progress and mature in this league and how to sustain this and obviously excel. Maybe after this your individual game, how many more tricks of the trade do you have? Like will we see some new things this year? Did you work on some stuff this summer? Uh like I said, I’m not going to reinvent the wheel. Um definitely have added some things for sure. Um, but I just just want to add up on and build upon what I’ve already done and just solidify it and um, be perfect at it. I feel like just perfecting the craft is the main thing now. I mean, anybody can be good at anything, but um, I’m trying to be great at it. BA, what are we 12 practices in, six in full pads today? Maybe a slight bit lighter, but just overall what stands out through these 12 practices. Uh, collectively, I think we’ve been uh, honing on to the details, f focusing on the fundamentals and just getting better every single day. How big a year is this for you? I think every year is an important year uh for an individual because you know every year you get to step on that grass is how did you improve from the year before. So um I think this year I think I’ve improved on just my mental aspect of the game and now it’s being able to go put it out there on on the football field and that’s what I’m excited about. I mean I thought you were a pretty smart player coming out of Oklahoma. So like when you say mental aspect like there was a lot more still to go though. there’s a lot more still to go and that’s every year like every year you can improve and and I feel like I’ve definitely took another step in just understanding what offenses are trying to do, how they’re trying to uh attack us um and playing fast and freely from there. Special teams, too. I mean, just continuing to excel in special teams. Is that your pathway to making the 53 man? I think uh for me, whatever helps the team win, um that’s my role. Um so, whatever I need to do is going to I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. I mean, the reason I alluded to this being such a big year, it is a contract year. So, oftentimes contract year is a really big year. It’s just another year in my book to play football, but I mean, it is my last one um on my contract like you’re saying. So, we we’ll see how it goes. Um but, you know, I focus on what I can focus on and control what I can control. A lot of things are, you know, outside of your realm. Um but I think, you know, I leave that to God. I just focus on what I can do on that that green grass. Like you’re preparing for the Super Bowl. you know, the last thing you want to do is, you know, go out there and, uh, make mistakes that you can control. So, uh, you know, the coaches give the, you know, they’re going to give us the the game plan, the call sheet ahead of time, so you can get a, you know, head start on understanding each assignment you have within the call and the adjustments you have to make within it. And then enjoy the moment. um you know to take in your first NFL game and uh the excitement of putting on that helmet like very few people get that opportunity. So um just appreciate that moment and you know be excited and and play fast out there. From your perspective, what do you think JJ McCarthy looks like? I think uh that’s a that’s a player with scary talent and he’s uh done a great job in training camp. Was actually talking on was Monday’s practice earlier this week, our night practice. I was standing next to the sideline with Flo and was watching JJ go through his just his drop his reads and we were like wow like every day he’s getting better and better making major strides and um you know that’s what you want to see out of your young quarterback and uh you know the guy’s a winner. He’s a leader and we have all the faith that he’s going to um help us win a lot of football games this year. Just to start off I don’t know if we’ve really had the chance to talk to you too much but just how has your training camp experience been going? Yeah, it’s been great. Um, you know, it’s been a lot of fun just coming out here each and every day and um just trying to get better. Um, it’s just it’s a great opportunity to get to go against coach Flores’s defense and um, shoot, they do a good job and one of the best in the league, if not the best. So, um, it’s been fun. We got a lot of good players on offense. It’s been fun to, you know, learn this system. Um, and I feel like I’m getting better every day. So, it’s been exciting. So, we’re excited to get out there on Saturday for sure. Yeah. And if I’m correct, I think this is third third NFL team in about three years. So, I’m just curious like what that’s been like and just what was your reaction when you got the call from Seattle to be traded here? Yeah, I was excited. Um, you know, obviously I love the people in Seattle, but I was excited to get to come to this organization. Um, and they they’re they’re building something special here and I’m just happy to be here and be a part of it. Um, and I’ve been been a lot of places, but um, I’m really enjoying it here. Yeah. Talking about you a little bit yesterday. You said you’re kind of at that point where everything’s starting to more instinctive and kind of clicking a little bit. Do you kind of feel that way? Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I feel like I’m every single rep I get, I get more comfortable with the offense. Um, and I feel like I’m in a pretty solid groove right now. So, they’re going to try to go carry that in Saturday. How challenging is it to grasp this offense? Uh, yeah. I mean, you just got to put the time in. Um, and we get a lot of good coaching here. Josh Mac’s a great quarterback coach and obviously spending some time with coach Okonnell as well has been great. U, but it’s it’s fun. I mean, it’s a good offense. You know, it’s we we we have a lot of a lot of good stuff and uh makes it hard on the defense, but as long as you put the time in and do what you’re supposed to do, you can learn it. How about your strengths and and what you can do at a high level? How does that fit what KOC is trying to accomplish? Yeah, I mean I think you know at the end of the day, I mean, you know, I’m a competitor. You know, I feel like every time I go out there, you know, I get I give my ch team a chance to win. Um, and that’s what I’m trying to bring here. And, you know, shoot, I’m not trying to think too far ahead. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and just try to keep getting better. Do you know what kind of the plan is as far as the first preseason game? Are you do you want to play a lot or is it kind of limited? I always want to play. Um, we I don’t really know yet what the what exactly we’re going to do. Um, but I’ll be ready to go if I’m if I’m called to go in. What are your thoughts about the fans here and stuff like that? That night scrimmage was pretty crazy. Yeah, it’s it’s been fun. Um, training camp here is awesome. You know, great weather, great fans. It’s it’s my first experience with Vikings fans. I actually It’s my fourth year in the league, but we haven’t played the Vikings yet in Minnesota. So, it’ll be fun to get in there on Saturday. I haven’t even seen the stadium yet. So, uh, it’ll be exciting. I’m very excited for it. Yeah, just growth. Uh, just coming out here with the mindset every day to just try to get better. Um, you know, not really too focused on anything else other than that. Uh, just trying to take each rep that I get the opportunity to get and get better from it. How much further along are you today compared to I mean had to be a fire hose. You get here and actually know it was week one last year. Yeah, way further along. uh just knowing, you know, how we uh operate with footwork around here and um you know, what Kevin and Josh expect as far as reads go. And then just being able to get reps during the spring on those same plays, um you know, that I was trying to learn at the beginning of uh season last year is just it’s been night and day um in terms of my knowledge and ability to anticipate and know where guys are going to be. What Kevin and Josh want to accomplish? How does that fit what what you’re good at? Yeah, I think just being able to stay grounded in the pocket, uh being able to process quickly and uh be able to get off reads when I need to and uh but still stay in the rhythm and timing um with my feet and eyes. So, uh it’s been it’s been a lot of fun. I apologize I jumped in late, but just um what does it do for you to be practicing against Flo’s defense every day? It does a lot. Yeah, especially getting a lot of reps against the number ones. um with the number two offense, you know, you got to get the ball out quick and uh Flo is obviously he brings a lot of different looks at you and uh really for the guys up front, it’s uh it’s really tough. So, from our standpoint, you know, we know that we have to uh identify, you know, where pressures are coming. Um you can’t really see what’s going on in the back end a whole lot just because they do so much different stuff and they move guys around. But as long as you trust your eyes and your feet, uh you usually find the right spot with the ball. Yeah. Year two. Year two, baby. How are you feeling? Feel great. Feel confident. Uh feel productive, you know. Um feel like I’ve taken a big step. Um after year one. Yeah. What do you feel like those big steps are? Uh knowing ball more. Yeah. Being a a fly on the wall, still learning, being a sponge, soaking up all that I can. Um and just playing free, knowing the playbook, and playing fast, physical, and free. How are you feeling about Saturday? What are you looking forward to? Pumped up, baby. We in the bank. I’m excited. Can’t wait. What are some veterans that you’ve been leaning on this season? Um JG um just picking his brain about stuff in the pass rush, you know, um of course Ja, Hard Grave, um HP. So just picking their brains um trying to get better in all ways. Yeah. Well, I do want to ask a little bit more about Saturday. Um I just wanted to give everybody else a chance if they wanted to ask. Um just what are some goals and expectations that you have for yourself this preseason? Yeah, right. Um, I would say just be on my technique. Um, be physical at the point of attack. Uh, reading pass, playing the run hard. Um, and being dominant. I want to know what your offseason was like, too. Oh, we was in Texas the whole time. Hot hotter than this. This This wasn’t nothing today, but it was hot in Texas. Grinding uh six days a week outside for so yeah, it was a great offseason. Um, I always want to know after the offseason pickups and things like that, um, how different is the locker room and and what’s just kind of the vibe? Yeah, the vibe is great. Yeah, the vibe is great. If y’all could be in there, y’all would be laughing, having the best time of your lives. Um, best co-workers in the world. I I mean that sincerely. I mean, the brotherhood that the Vikings have here, the culture that they built over the years, uh, it’s second to none, really. I mean, it reminds me of when I was back at Utah, so it’s like it’s a familiar feeling for me, really. Is this what you thought it would be? I mean, presumably you had some options post draft, right? You chose to be a Viking. Is this what you envisioned? This is exactly what I thought it was going to be. And I’m And it actually exceeds my expectations a little bit cuz I was told that when you got here a lot of people weren’t going to look out for you, but it’s been the exact opposite. They actually helping me in every way they can. So, your skill set, how does it fit what Flo is trying to accomplish on defense? Um, I feel like, um, I’m getting better at my physicality, uh, my speed. um I could tackle a little bit. Still working on it, but you know, I’m getting better at it. And um really, I’m just doing whatever wherever he put me at, I’mma do it. So, how much you looking forward to Saturday and just even Saturday is the start of a pretty hectic but but important week. Yeah. Um I’m really looking forward to it. I mean, it’s the first time we get to go out there and hit for real, you know, somebody other than our teammates. So, I can’t wait to see what we got. So, I mean, just and overall just the whole week. I mean, just with these joint practices next week with the Patriots as well. Oh yeah. And I mean I’m gonna leave next week to next week, but right now my focus is just on Saturday. How much do you embrace special teams? Figuring that if there’s a pathway to to sticking here, you got to be able to play special teams. Uh I love special teams. That was something that was instilled in me in college. I mean, it’s part of the game. It can win or lose your game. So, I try to get on special teams, any team, like any way I can

Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, linebacker Brian Asamoah II, linebacker Blake Cashman, quarterback Sam Howell, quarterback Brett Rypien, defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez and cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn addressed the media after 2025 Training Camp practice at the TCO Performance Center.

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