Training Camp

[dead_poet]

Quick hits from day 4:

• Coach Leslie Frazier set no timeline and said "it's hard to say" if receiver Greg Childs (PUP), who is rehabbing two torn tendons in both knees, will make it onto a Mankato practice field before training camp ends on August 14. Frazier said linebacker Nate Williams (ankle), also on the PUP, should return soon.

• Fullback Jerome Felton missed his second consecutive day of practice, but Frazier said he should return from a personal matter on Wednesday.

• First-round pick and cornerback Xavier Rhodes is known for his physical play, but needs to adapt to the NFL's stingy no-contact after five yards rule. Rhodes was called for pass interference on receiver Stephen Burton after he jammed him at the line and didn't let go of Burton's jersey as they were seven to 10 yards downfield.

• Linebacker Desmond Bishop, working with the second-team defense, deflected a pass from quarterback Matt Cassel to tight end/fullback Rhett Ellison in team drills. Defensive Coordinator Alan Williams on Bishop: "I thought he was going to be rusty getting back into it, but he's really not."

• Williams said he doesn't envision a scenario where he plays both rookie defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and veteran Kevin Williams on the line at the same time, but said "I'm not going to rule anything out."

• Reserve cornerback A.J. Jefferson leapt to deflect a Matt Cassel pass in 7 on 7 passing drills to receiver Jarius Wright and safety Robert Blanton scooped up the interception.

• Receiver LaMark Brown beat out reserve cornerback Greg McCoy and caught a 40-yard touchdown catch off of a McLeod Bethel-Thompson pass in one-on-one drills.

• Linebacker Tyrone McKenzie rocked tight end Chase Ford in the back as he leapt to catch a pass. Ford was on the ground for a moment, but Frazier said he just got the wind knocked out of him and should be fine.

• On a day where the defense set the tone, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said it was noticeable.
"They probably had some built up frustration yesterday, because we handed it to them," Peterson said. "Once we got into the full contact, those guys picked it up a little bit more than us."

• Starting quarterback Christian Ponder, who will speak to media on Wednesday, ended Tuesday's practice with a redzone touchdown pass to tight end John Carlson at the back corner of the endzone.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Trai ... turn073013

[Mothman]

RIght. Just to hell with sound fundamentals, defensive strategy and managing responsibilities. Everyone knows the best way to do it is the old coaching cliche' "Do whatever."

LOL! They should run around the field randomly like players in an old electric football game. Attack THAT scheme, opposing offenses!

[Mothman]

Quick hits from day 4:

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Trai ... turn073013

Thanks for the info. It's nice to read about Carlson catching a TD. Hopefully he'll do some of that this season too.

[Demi]

RIght. Just to hell with sound fundamentals, defensive strategy and managing responsibilities. Everyone knows the best way to do it is the old coaching cliche' "Do whatever."

And to hell with instincts, reading the play, or jumping a route. Our middle linebackers have been top 10 pro bowlers because of this amazing robo-coaching they receive. Hit hard and tackle. And give up game winning receptions. The best way to coach is to neuter players and force them to play "the system". Just ask the twins.

[PurpleHalo]

And to hell with instincts, reading the play, or jumping a route. Our middle linebackers have been top 10 pro bowlers because of this amazing robo-coaching they receive. Hit hard and tackle. And give up game winning receptions. The best way to coach is to neuter players and force them to play "the system". Just ask the twins.

The cover 2 defense is very boring in that way. You have to stick to the plan, stay in your spaces. The special LBs range away and make splash plays, but Henderson isn't Brooks.

[vikeinmontana]

And to hell with instincts, reading the play, or jumping a route. Our middle linebackers have been top 10 pro bowlers because of this amazing robo-coaching they receive. Hit hard and tackle. And give up game winning receptions. The best way to coach is to neuter players and force them to play "the system". Just ask the twins.

you don't like the Vikings very much do you...?

[Mothman]

you don't like the Vikings very much do you...?

I suspect he's trolling again, just posting to provoke...

[HardcoreVikesFan]

All I am saying is why not play both Kevin Williams and Sharrif Floyd at both tackle spots? Why the rotational crap? I know they want to 'ease' him in, but FFS, the guy had the talent to be a projected top ten player, let alone has the talent to be a force for us. IMO, we need to start both players so that our defense has a chance to take the next step.

[dead_poet]

Watching DeMarcus Love against Everson Griffen, Are we sure it wasn't performance dehancers?

MLB Erin Henderson in back to back plays stuffs Toby Gerhard behind the line.

Musgrave said he wasn't happy with short yardage practice for O yesterday. Not going well today either, Xavier Rhodes picks off Cassel

[dead_poet]

Offense strikes back, Cassel to Carlson in the back of the endzone, TD.

[Demi]

All I am saying is why not play both Kevin Williams and Sharrif Floyd at both tackle spots? Why the rotational crap? I know they want to 'ease' him in, but FFS, the guy had the talent to be a projected top ten player, let alone has the talent to be a force for us. IMO, we need to start both players so that our defense has a chance to take the next step.

Because it's "the system". They want guys who are better against the run and clogging up lanes in that other spot. Even if they're inferior players. That way Aaron Rodgers can better take advantage of personnel, especially on those draws on passing downs when they sub in Griffen. And eat the defense up on early "rushing" downs when we have some space clogger in their getting no pressure instead of floyd.

They're practicing against the Vikings offense, so it probably seems like a good idea to run your defense with the traditional 1990s big ten offense run run check down in mind. But the NFL has adjusted to it and is more and more starting to abuse those type of defensive packages. From Rodgers and the Packers run game, to the Patriots and what they did with multiple tight end packages. We saw a bit more of Griffen as the season went on, and if the rest of our tackles continue to be below average maybe he'll get a look at some point. Remember even AD didn't start early on. Coaches can be stubborn.

[Mothman]

All I am saying is why not play both Kevin Williams and Sharrif Floyd at both tackle spots? Why the rotational crap?

Because it's not crap. Rotating defensive lineman helps keep them fresh, which should help them maximize their level of play when they're in the game. It should enable Floyd learn the position they clearly believe he is best-suited to play while potentially allowing Williams to be more effective.

I know they want to 'ease' him in, but FFS, the guy had the talent to be a projected top ten player, let alone has the talent to be a force for us. IMO, we need to start both players so that our defense has a chance to take the next step.

Does playing either Floyd or Williams out of position necessarily help them do that? Floyd can be a force as part of a rotation too. Why not see how it works out before getting so worked up about it? If Floyd proves to be an unstoppable force they will probably find ways to get him on the field more often.

There's always the possibility that some of this is just the Vikings a.) motivating Floyd to work hard rather than handing him a starting job and b.) not tipping their hand about plans they may actually have to use Floyd in a capacity other than as a rotational player with Kevin Williams. If I'm not mistaken, the only rookie essentially being treated as a starter right now is Locke. Everybody else is practicing with the second or third team, which is probably a way to create accountability and motivate players to earn their eventual roles.

[dead_poet]

Erin Henderson sat out of practice briefly today, Frazier said he has a sore groin. Will wait and see how he feels tomorrow

[King James]

Time for Michael Mauti to use this opportunity to outshine Henderson.

[Eli]

Time for Michael Mauti to use this opportunity to outshine Henderson.

I would imagine McKenzie and Cole are ahead of Mauti on the depth chart at MLB right now.