I think that there is way too much over analysis on practice reps and the preseason games. Every throw, drop, missed block or tackle, etc. is being scrutinized heavily right now. There seems to be very little patience. The amount of takes over individual reps in a game is ridiculous. We really will not know until week one.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Notable PFF grades, standouts from Vikings’ preseason win over Texans
Top 5 grades on offense (minimum 10 snaps)
RG Joe Huber — 94.7 (55 snaps)C Michael Jurgens — 80.0 (43)WR Jordan Addison — 79.6 (12)LT/RT Walter Rouse — 78.4 (36)WR Myles Price — 76.8 (15)
Jurgens and Rouse also impressing is an encouraging sign for the Vikings’ offensive line depth. Those two second-year players should have a good shot to make the roster alongside veteran backups Justin Skule and Blake Brandel if the Vikings keep nine offensive linemen.
Top 5 grades on defense (minimum 10 snaps)
OLB Gabriel Murphy — 80.2 (30 snaps)DL Elijah Williams — 79.9 (21)CB Reddy Steward — 76.5 (11)S Tavierre Thomas — 76.5 (32)CB Ambry Thomas — 75.4 (12)
“Gabe’s been a guy that has shown up daily at camp, I’ve highlighted it in front of the team,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “He’s, it feels like a man on a mission right now, in a lot of ways. And I’m just proud of him, proud of where he’s at in camp right now, and now he’s just gotta set his sights on continuing to compete.”
Williams was also outstanding. He had four pressures on 15 pass-rushing snaps. Williams, who starred at FCS Morgan State, signed with the Vikings after attending their rookie minicamp as a tryout player.
“I remember vividly (assistant D-line coach) Marcus Dixon coming to me after day one of that tryout,” O’Connell said. “And I always like to check in with all the coaches. ‘Anybody catch your eye for me to look at tomorrow?’ Just observing (Williams), the effort, had a little pop to him throughout the drills, and that’s really what’s shown up throughout training camp. He sits in the first row of my team meetings every single day. There’s a lot to like about him, and it was good to see him make some plays tonight, too.”
Vikings Training Camp Report: J.J. McCarthy Earning High Praise, Added Pressure
J.J. McCarthy has the unseen advantage of intelligence. Just ask Aaron Jones.
Jones, 30, spent six seasons standing alongside Aaron Rodgers as a member of the Packers. And on Monday after a light, cool practice before fans at the TCO Performance Center, Jones shared his feelings that from a mental standpoint, the four-time MVP and a 22-year-old without a single NFL regular-season rep are on the same plane.
“[McCarthy] is a very, very hungry and driven player, but also a leader,” Jones says. “He’s different. In terms of the smarts, I put him in that category with Aaron Rodgers, in terms of how smart he is and really having an understanding for the game.”
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Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah beefed up both the offensive and defensive lines, signing a quartet of big bodies including defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, along with a pair of former Colts in guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly.
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“We’re making each other better,” Fries says. “There are some really good players on that defensive side of the ball and it’s helping me get so much better going against Jonathan Allen, going against Hargrave. Those guys are freaks. Those guys are tremendous rushers, play really stout in the run game. I’m really thankful I’m about to go against those guys every snap because it makes me a better football player.”
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made a living finding talented UDFAs that make the roster. Over the first three seasons as general manager, the Vikings have kept eight UDFAs on the 53-man roster.
2022: EDGE Luiji Vilain
2023: LB Ivan Pace Jr.
2023: EDGE Andre Carter II
2023: CB NaJee Thompson
2024: EDGE Gabe Murphy
2024: NT Taki Taimani
2024: CB Dwight McGlothern
2024: EDGE/LB Bo Richter
Elijah Williams is the next big UDFA for the Vikings
Now, Williams is an interesting case across the board. He wasn’t one of the original UDFA class that Adofo-Mensah signed right after the NFL Draft. The Vikings did sign him after rookie minicamp, which makes you significantly more likely to make the 53-man roster.
What’s really interesting with Williams’ profile is how productive he was at Morgan State. He notched 33 sacks and 52.0 tackles for loss at the FCS level. However, that is the FCS level and the National Football League is three tiers higher than where he played in college.
Vikings Get Eye-Opening J.J. McCarthy Revelation From QB Rankings
In The Athletic’s annual quarterback tiers rankings, voted on by a panel of 50 coaches and executives, McCarthy was unanimously voted as a fourth-tier quarterback and No. 29 overall, not garnering a single vote in any of the other four tiers.
It’s a fair consensus, considering he has yet to play in a regular-season game after missing his rookie year with a meniscus injury. Most voter testimonies discussed more his health than his ability at just 22 years old.
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“I would have hope for him with that coach and that system if he can stay healthy,” a former GM told Sando. “He has that slight build. He looked pretty good in the (2024) preseason, in a short period of time. I believe in the head coach and the system. He has the arm strength, he is athletic, he is smart, he has all those things.”
While McCarthy had a healthy college career, the year-long chatter about his recovery from meniscus surgery has permeated into NFL offices.
“I just hope he is not an (injury-prone) guy,” one coach said.
Another head coach pointed to the lack of national buzz around McCarthy, who has had a full year to learn the offense.
“I don’t just hear slam dunk stuff out of there,” the head coach told Sando.
The consensus from local beat reporters has been that McCarthy has performed well, and is progressing, which comes with ups and downs.
This week’s joint practices with the New England Patriots will be the litmus test for McCarthy’s readiness for Week 1 at Soldier Field.
“How healthy is he going to be?” another coach said. “They are only doing one joint camp, with New England. He plays on Monday night at Chicago to open the season. I’m pretty interested to see what that looks like.”
New Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster projection: Who’s in and who’s out?
Training Camp Notebook: Patriots Prep for Vikings Joint Practices
Looking ahead to Minnesota, McDaniels expects a major test. “We’re going to see a lot of different things… they’ll align in different spots, pressure us in different ways,” he said of Flores’ defense. “What happens in these practices is you find out how well you know your rules because you can’t anticipate everything. Hopefully, it’s a great couple of days up in Minnesota.”
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