CENTER of Attention for the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday

CENTER of Attention for the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday

[Music] What’s going on, Jeromes? So, for many years, many, many, many years, the center position for the Minnesota Fed Vikings was, you know, like Bradberry tried hard, but it just wasn’t meant to be, right? And so many seasons, it was like, this is the year. This is the year that the smalish athletic center gets things together, you know, like Tyler Linder Bomb. and it was going to be good, but just didn’t work out, right? And the Vikings brought in uh veteran Ryan Kelly. Uh he of the Indianapolis Colts, formerly of the Alabama Crimson Tide Tide, right? And uh he’s going to be at center at the pivot position for the Vikings, but he did turn 32 years young in May. So he he’s not the answer for the future, right? And long story longer, center two, Michael Jurgens, it puts the lotion on his skin or else it gets a hose again. and he has been given plenty of opportunities, right? So, he is last year’s seventh round pick out of Wake Forest and he’s been center to Ramosa camp and has had some high moments, has had some low moments, but could you see him as the heir, the the successor for Ryan Kelly, who like we said is 32 on a two-year contract here with the Vikings. Could come 2027, could Michael Jurgens be the guy? Right. And also, it’s paramount because the communication with quarterback young JJ McCarthy as well as protecting his ass, it’s paramount. It’s going to be really damn important. Also, you have UDFA Z Coral Coral because it it’s almost a federal mandate that we have to have undersized NC State center on this roster at all times. Right. Also, Vers Lee uh is in the mix coming in from South Carolina. Come on, raise up. Longster, longer. center position is going to be front end center on Saturday against the Texans first preseason game. Uh so this from Alec Lewis the athletic. You talk about a couple players who uh are on the bubble and need to step up. Uh first up is center Zeke Coral. A few positions on Saturday are worth monitoring as closely as center. Veteran Ryan Kelly is the Surf Surefire starter, but his injury history places more importance on the backup options, especially since Kelly’s already missed some time with a danged up elbow. Yeah, Carl was an undrafted addition this spring. He played 51 games in college between Notre Dame and NC State. He has mostly been the third team center in training camp. Uh oh, Notre Dame, NC State, meaning he has he’s he’s an amalgamation of Jonathan Sullivan and Garrett Bradberry. There you go. He’s been playing mostly third team center in training camp, meaning he’ll probably get a meaningful run alongside rookie quarterback Max Broer. Also, there were some snaps where Jurgens had had a bit of a rough go of it. Uh I think he had a muff snap and then uh Coral came in and subbed in for him. So it’s something to monitor. Uh Jurgens, this is a massive weekend for Jurgens. Uh the Vikings picked him in the seventh round of the 2024 draft. He struggled in the preseason last year. Struggles is a is a it’s a loaded word. Yeah. Uh but another year marinating in the system should better prepare the Wake Force product for a second go around. If Kelly does not play Saturday, I doubt it. Doubt it. Uh the Vikings will be relying on Jurgens for protection in front of McCarthy. A significant ask even if he’s snapping to Howell, ensuring the pre- snap procedure runs smoothly will be critical. That that’s an illusion to uh How and uh Jurgens having a miscommunication uh earlier in the week. But you know, with Jurgens like he at least he does have some game experience protecting McCarthy because he he was McCarthy’s center last year during the Raiders game. And like like we said, Jurgens, seventh round pick out of the Wake Forest University. And overall in preseason last year, like it was okay. 145 snaps all at center uh over the three preseason games. 72.1 PFF run blocking grade. Five pressures, zero sacks allowed. Uh four of the five pressures were against Cleveland. And Cleveland played the majority of their starters in the preseason game. Uh had zero goose, DAR Russell pressures uh with JJ. Now, I I think that his preseason uh performance last year is tainted because uh Will Reer got a kick blocked and uh I believe Jurgens was playing guard uh on on that um on that unit. So, that’s why his entire preseason sort of poo pooed. But, ideally, Ryan Kelly is going to be that guy that that kickstarts JJ McCarthy’s uh career. So far, they’ve had great communication about calling out protections and line of communication is great there. But Kelly, like we said, already is dinged up with the elbow. Only on a two-year contract is 32. And if Jurgens isn’t the guy, if Zeke Coral is not the guy, if Vers Lee’s not the guy, we we got to go find the guy, right? Cuz everyone else on this rooster, like not really a ton of center flexibility there. So th this is a massive weekend for Jurgens and to a degree Z Coral because we got to be able to find the solid backup to Kelly, you know, given Kelly’s age and injury history as well as the air apparent in a couple of seasons. So there you go. Anyways, your thoughts or thoughts uh this weekend center of attention is center. Let us know your thoughts, our thoughts, comment section. You guys are the best. You know what to do. Skull production value. Hey, hey, hey.

Center is a position to watch Saturday in preseason vs the Houston Texans. Will Michael Jurgens solidify himself as Ryan Kelly’s heir apparent? What about Zeke Correll?

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