**2012 practice/presser notes**

[Eli]

WTF?

10/18/2012 Released DE Ernest Owusu from the practice squad and filled that spot with OG Tyler Holmes.
10/11/2012 Released OG Tyler Holmes from the practice squad and filled that spot with DE Ernest Owusu.
10/05/2012 Released DE Ernest Owusu from the practice squad and filled that spot with OG Tyler Holmes.
09/29/2012 Waived OL Tyler Holmes from the practice squad and signed TE Allen Reisner to the practice squad.

http://www.vikings.com/team/transactions.html

[Crax]

Not Vikings news, but could be a big deal for 1 of our division games against the packers. He'd be back for the second, but I didn't feel right for quite awhile longer than 6 weeks when I broke my collarbone. I'm no NFL player, but I don't think it'll be 100% for quite awhile.

Jay Glazer ‏@JayGlazer

Big loss for packers. Charles Woodson broken collarbone out 6 weeks

[Mothman]

Some fun stuff from the Strib:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 67551.html

A good first impression
In the wake of rookie safety Harrison Smith’s first career interception, which turned into his first career TD, linebacker Erin Henderson said he wasn’t surprised by Smith’s play this season, and told a story to illustrate why.
Seems the two first met during OTAs in the off-season. One day the two of them were in the sauna when Henderson made a demand. “ We were sitting in the hotbox one day and I told him to hit a freestyle for me. Rookie had just come in, I wanted some entertainment.’’
Harrison refused.
“Part of you gets (upset),” Henderson continued. “He isn’t going to do what you asked him to do? But then there is another side of it, where you think, ‘I like that, you can stand up for yourself.’ He was going to be the guy he knows how to be. And I think you see that coming out on the football field as well. He goes out and lets his swag be his swag and goes about business the way he does.”

--Brian Robison on his career-best three sacks on Sunday: “I hope it’s a game you look back on and say it wasn’t my best game. I want to keep getting better each week."

--Peterson when asked if he was surprised the Vikings were 5-2: “I felt we would be undefeated, to be honest with you. No joke.’’

I love those quotes from Peterson and Robison.

[dead_poet]

Some fun stuff from the Strib:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 67551.html
I love those quotes from Peterson and Robison.

Great stuff. Thanks for posting. I love the attitude of this team. I also saw a promising stat: the Vikings are ranked #10 in pass defense. Credit to the entire coaching staff, GM and players for one of the biggest turnarounds in a key problem area that has plagued this team for YEARS. Does anybody know the last time the Vikings fielded a top-10 pass defense? Remarkable.
---

Chris Cook - DB - Vikings
Coach Leslie Frazier believes RCB Chris Cook has "really taken a leap over the last two or three weeks."

"I think his confidence has just grown," Frazier said. "I've been very, very impressed with the progress he's made." An athletic corner with ideal size, Cook helped limit Larry Fitzgerald to 29 yards on Week 7. Although they've won without trailing in four games, the Vikings still rank 10th in the NFL in pass defense.
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

[Mothman]

[quote="dead_poet"]Great stuff. Thanks for posting. I love the attitude of this team. I also saw a promising stat: the Vikings are ranked #10 in pass defense. Credit to the entire coaching staff, GM and players for one of the biggest turnarounds in a key problem area that has plagued this team for YEARS. Does anybody know the last time the Vikings fielded a top-10 pass defense? Remarkable.

Believe it or not, it wasn't long ago. Their pass defense finished 10th in the league in 2010. That's in terms of yards allowed. They were actually 10th from the bottom in passing TDs allowed.

NFL.com has them currently ranked 12th in passing TDs allowed. Much better...

Jim

[Eli]

And again, today. There must be a reason for doing this.

10/23/2012 Released OG Tyler Holmes from the practice squad and filled that spot with DE Ernest Owusu.
10/18/2012 Released DE Ernest Owusu from the practice squad and filled that spot with OG Tyler Holmes.
10/11/2012 Released OG Tyler Holmes from the practice squad and filled that spot with DE Ernest Owusu.
10/05/2012 Released DE Ernest Owusu from the practice squad and filled that spot with OG Tyler Holmes.

http://www.vikings.com/team/transactions.html

[Mothman]

And again, today. There must be a reason for doing this.
http://www.vikings.com/team/transactions.html

It IS odd. You should write or tweet one of the Vikes beat writers and ask them about it. It would be interesting to get an explanation.

[PurpleMustReign]

It IS odd. You should write or tweet one of the Vikes beat writers and ask them about it. It would be interesting to get an explanation.

That's the strangest thing I've ever seen. I would be curious for an explaination on that as well.

[9man]

It IS odd. You should write or tweet one of the Vikes beat writers and ask them about it. It would be interesting to get an explanation.

I remember reading an article about a member of the Patriots going through something like this. I don't remember the details but I think it was all business not really talent or comptetion related.

That may not add any insight on anything

[Crax]

Probably arranged with both guys. Both guys get paid every other week and stay in town. Lets the vikings develop both a OG and DE instead of one or the other on the practice squad.

[Eli]

It IS odd. You should write or tweet one of the Vikes beat writers and ask them about it. It would be interesting to get an explanation.

No word yet:

Brian Hall ‏@MNBrianHall
The #Vikings have made their weekly roster swap, bringing back Ernest Owusu and dropping Tyler Holmes on practice squad. 4th straight week.

11h Carson Dyle ‏@CarsonTDyle
@MNBrianHall What is the reason they keep doing this? The two players are OK with it?

34m Brian Hall ‏@MNBrianHall
@CarsonTDyle Not sure. Trying to figure it out. Talked to Owusu yesterday and he had fun with it.

The only thing I can figure is that they've come to an understanding with each player that he'll get "1/2 a practice squad spot". You wouldn't think those spots are so highly valued that the Vikings absolutely need nine of them and can't release someone else if they truly want to keep those two players around.

[Mothman]

No word yet:

Judd Zulgad mentioned the latest transaction at teh end of an article today so I asked him about it in the comments section but there's been no response.

The only thing I can figure is that they've come to an understanding with each player that he'll get "1/2 a practice squad spot". You wouldn't think those spots are so highly valued that the Vikings absolutely need nine of them and can't release someone else if they truly want to keep those two players around.

Good point. I'm thinking this may have something to do with the scout team and preparations for upcoming opponents. Each of these moves was made 2-3 days before a game. Maybe, as you said, they have an agreement with these two players and they are trying to use whichever one benefits them most in practice/preparation each week. It's essentially a way to have an extra player on the practice squad over the course of the season.

It's a theory anyway...

I sent Kevin Siefert an e-mail about it. Hopefully, we'll hear from someone!

[sdranger]

You know there are a lot of un-writen rules in the NFL, guidlines so to speak. How many other teams do this is a question I have.

[Mothman]

Chop Scoggins wrote an article about this curious Holmes/Owusu situation but it doesn't contain any definitive answers:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 08701.html

[glg]

Chop Scoggins wrote an article about this curious Holmes/Owusu situation but it doesn't contain any definitive answers:

I'm not surprised that Spielman didn't comment. I could see there being some minor rules avoidance if the Vikes really did promise each a half spot. Though I guess it's blatantly obvious if the league decided to look.