2014 Vikings Training Camp notes/interviews

[dead_poet]

Linval Joseph ready to roll; Zimmer's excited, too

“I feel good coming in,” the 25-year-old said. “I battled back from my injury and I’m just ready to go and help this team win games and take us to the promised land.”

Joseph admitted it was frustrating this spring standing off to the side while watching his new teammates practice. He tried to make the most of it by taking mental reps to learn the plays, but there is no substitute for lining up against center John Sullivan and learning the playbook while butting helmets. He will get to do that today and start to acclimate himself in Zimmer’s defense.

“I’m going to do whatever they want me to do,” Joseph said. “My job right now is to stop the run and make plays and try to get sacks -- do it all.”
Zimmer said the nose tackle position is critical in his defense, which explains why he was about as giddy as Mike Zimmer can probably get during a long news conference after a walkthrough.

In Cincinnati, Zimmer had unheralded nose tackle Domata Peko to eat up double teams and allow linebackers like Vontaze Burfict to roam and make plays. The Vikings paid Joseph big bucks this spring so that he can be that guy for Zimmer here in Minnesota.
“That helps the middle linebackers not get blocked very much,” Zimmer said. “So they do a lot of dirty work that a lot of people don’t see, but it helps to give the linebackers an opportunity to stay healthy and make tackles.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... um=twitter

[Eli]

Why would you place a guy with a "minor" hamstring injury on the Active/PUP list? The only reason to have someone on the Active/PUP is so that you could potentially move him to the Reserve/PUP when the season begins. At which point he's not even eligible to practice or play until at least week 7. That would NOT be a minor hamstring injury.

[Eli]

Vikings Corner ‏@VikingsCorner 10m
Teddy and Cassel are both throwing the ball very well. Ponder on the other hand, One pass over Colter's head, another behind Cruse. Rough.

Sporty Sports ‏@hotakesonsports 9m
Cordarrelle Patterson not practicing? Tell him he is not literally supposed to fill in Percy Harvin's shoes.

[Funkytown]

...

[Eli]

Didn't WR Josh Cooper supposedly have a good spring with the Vikings? I'm surprised they'd cut him just to sign a another practice-squad-level receiver.

[S197]

Why would you place a guy with a "minor" hamstring injury on the Active/PUP list? The only reason to have someone on the Active/PUP is so that you could potentially move him to the Reserve/PUP when the season begins. At which point he's not even eligible to practice or play until at least week 7. That would NOT be a minor hamstring injury.

It's different during camp, lots of guys would start on the PUP and get moved off. Pat Williams was always on the list.

[Eli]

It's different during camp, lots of guys would start on the PUP and get moved off. Pat Williams was always on the list.

What is different? The only reason to be on the PUP at the start of camp (which is the only time that a player _can_ be placed on the PUP) is for the possibility, however small, that the player may not be ready to practice before the first week of the season. The team doesn't even get a roster exception during the preseason, since the player is considered active.

[S197]

What is different? The only reason to be on the PUP at the start of camp (which is the only time that a player _can_ be placed on the PUP) is for the possibility, however small, that the player may not be ready to practice before the first week of the season. The team doesn't even get a roster exception during the preseason, since the player is considered active.

There's a preseason PUP and a regular season PUP. It's only the latter that has any sort of ramifications. You can move a guy off the preseason PUP at any time, it's not a big deal. Like I said, Pat Williams started on the PUP all the time. Probably others who traditionally came in out of shape too (like McKinnie). Lets put it this way, if the guy can't practice today, what is the disadvantage of putting him on the preseason PUP? You still participate in meetings and workouts/rehab. If you can't practice, you can't practice, the designation isn't huge at this point when guys are still in shorts and shells.

[Dirtyswabby]

Whoooooooooo Zimmer does not mess around.


http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 45b583fc69


"We got any corners that can cover? Eh....I can find a cover two corner anywhere......I can walk over to 7/11 in Bloomington and find a cover 2 corner"

[frosted]

Whoooooooooo Zimmer does not mess around.


http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 45b583fc69


"We got any corners that can cover? Eh....I can find a cover two corner anywhere......I can walk over to 7/11 in Bloomington and find a cover 2 corner"

That's tremendous!

[HornedMessiah]

Ya, wow. What a change compared to Frazier. There's actually some enthusiasm and energy, and that will come through in the players eventually. No more laid-back pleasantness and calm. Time to wake up. I like how he's already ribbing Harrison Smith and other DBs.

One thing that stood out in that video: Greenway seems like he might be having some kind of issue. Interesting exchange between those two, off to the side.

[PurpleHalo]

Whoooooooooo Zimmer does not mess around.


http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 45b583fc69


"We got any corners that can cover? Eh....I can find a cover two corner anywhere......I can walk over to 7/11 in Bloomington and find a cover 2 corner"

For the first time in a long time, it sorta feels like we have a true motivator in charge. But his players love him, so he praises good things as well. He seems like he has learned to balance them both for a purpose, he will be a success.

[S197]

A number of Vikings players were a little grumpy on Friday morning, thanks to a fire alarm that went off in the team's dorm around 1:30 a.m. and forced players outside. Cassel said he experienced a similar situation at one other training camp, "but I didn't leave the room that time," he said. "I smelled for smoke, I swear. I opened the door. I was trying to be sneaky." Zimmer, though, quashed a rumor he had pulled the alarm to keep players on their toes. "I told them they have to be aware of every situation that might come up, but no, that was not me," Zimmer said. "Now that I think about it I wish it was. I’ll have to use it next year."

[Texas Vike]

Ya, wow. What a change compared to Frazier. There's actually some enthusiasm and energy, and that will come through in the players eventually. No more laid-back pleasantness and calm. Time to wake up. I like how he's already ribbing Harrison Smith and other DBs.

One thing that stood out in that video: Greenway seems like he might be having some kind of issue. Interesting exchange between those two, off to the side.

I read something recently where Zimmer said Greenway was overly critical of himself. The video conversation between them seemed along the same lines.

[DarthBrooks]

Whoooooooooo Zimmer does not mess around.


http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 45b583fc69


"We got any corners that can cover? Eh....I can find a cover two corner anywhere......I can walk over to 7/11 in Bloomington and find a cover 2 corner"

I've watched this thing three times straight.

"800 pound corner"