Training Camp Master Thread

[jackal]

who are the two girls that were in several of the PA videos ?

production people for KFAN ??

[Mothman]

Strib writer Matt Vensel's notes from last night's team practice:

http://www.startribune.com/what-you-mis ... 320710031/

TEDDY TWO PICKS: Second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a rough practice that included a pair of poor interceptions. In one team drill, he appeared to be targeting tight end Kyle Rudolph but threw it directly to middle linebacker Audie Cole, who was sitting in zone coverage and easily ran the interception back for a TD. Late in practice in the two-minute drill, Bridgewater tried to lob one into the end zone to wideout Mike Wallace, but cornerback Xavier Rhodes was all over it for another pick.

According to Vensel, Rhodes is having a strong camp.

WHIFFIN’ ON GRIFFEN: Left tackle Matt Kalil hasn’t had the best camp, but it certainly doesn’t help that he is constantly lining up against a pretty good defensive end in Everson Griffen. In the two-minute drill, Griffen beat Kalil at least twice on nine dropbacks, continuing an early theme in camp.

Floyd and Yankey were injured during practice.

Floyd was injured in the two-minute drill near the end of practice. After one play, he walked toward the sideline before slowly dropping down on all fours. Then athletic trainers surrounded him for a couple of moments before he got up and slowly walked to the sideline.

Floyd, who battled injuries last season, did stand on the sideline for the rest of the practice, giving hope that his injury might be minor.

[dead_poet]

Not good. By my count that's Floyd, Yankey, Crichton and Barr (in addition to Josh Robinson) that are currently dinged up. Hopefully all are minor. Barr's injury is my biggest concern right now. He's a linchpin of what Zimmer wants to do on defense, particularly rushing the passer.

[Mothman]

Not good. By my count that's Floyd, Yankey, Crichton and Barr (in addition to Josh Robinson) that are currently dinged up. Hopefully all are minor. Barr's injury is my biggest concern right now. He's a linchpin of what Zimmer wants to do on defense, particularly rushing the passer.

Yes, and once he was lost from the lineup last season, the difference was notable. They really need what Barr brings to the defense.

[losperros]

Yes, and once he was lost from the lineup last season, the difference was notable. They really need what Barr brings to the defense.

I agree. Barr is a big part of the team's defensive signature.

If Floyd would only stay healthy, he would be an important part as well. His quick first step creates opportunities around him.

[dead_poet]

Another training camp report from last night from Daniel House:

Loadholt and Fusco are rocks, Thompson and Clemmings have growing pains

Phil Loadholt continues to dominate every drill in training camp. In team drills, he laid a beautiful block in the second level to open a hole for Adrain Peterson. Later in the session, he forced Brian Robison to the outside on an inside rush stunt. Brandon Fusco did more of the same and continues to look comfortable on the left side of the offensive line. He pancaked Chad Greenway to open a lane for Jerick McKinnon in the running game. Fusco didn’t allow a quarterback pressure in team drills and has been doing a nice job of trying to help Matt Kalil on the left side. After starting camp strong, Tyrus Thompson has really struggled down the stretch. In work with the third team at left tackle, Thompson was beaten twice by Caesar Rayford in the final session of team drills. He was beaten off the edge and hardly gained any initiation with Rayford off the snap. To start practice, the entire team huddled around T.J. Clemmings and Danielle Hunter at the 50-yard line as they battled 1-on-1. Hunter beat Clemmings off the outside on the first try, but on the second occasion, Clemmings got the best of the him. After those two worked the 1-on-1 drill, the players roared and moved onto their individual position drills.

http://www.mnvikingscorner.com/2015/08/ ... l?spref=tw

Good to hear about Fusco & Loadholt.

[mosscarter]

what is the deal with barr other than the fact he is obviously injury prone. his original injury last year was a long time ago and he is still sitting out practices? did he injure his other knee at some point? i believe he sat out ota's too. i have huge concerns about him. and is is just me, or does he not look as "ripped" as most other nfl linebackers. there may be more behind the scenes going on with; work ethic wise.

[dead_poet]

what is the deal with barr other than the fact he is obviously injury prone.

I wouldn't go there yet. He's only missed some practice time. And I'm starting to be in the Chip Kelly camp where there's no such thing or that everyone is "injury-prone" in this full-contact game.

his original injury last year was a long time ago and he is still sitting out practices? did he injure his other knee at some point?

It was reported that this was a new injury (pre-OTAs) that he had surgery on during the offseason that is not related to the one he injured last year. I think it's to the other knee. The Vikings are mum on what the injury is/was.

and is is just me, or does he not look as "ripped" as most other nfl linebackers. there may be more behind the scenes going on with; work ethic wise.

Some reporters have said he doesn't look as in shape as he was last year. But that's to be expected when you're rehabbing knees for the last eight months. Hard to do a lot of cardio. I wouldn't worry about work ethic. That's never been a knock on him. He just needs to get over the injury and get his conditioning back.

[dead_poet]

Kalil putting in extra time. Granted this comes under a negative heading with some caveats but hopefully this helps put to rest the notion of his lack of work ethic or caring.

2. I’m still not a Matt Kalil fan
I just can’t get over how much I’m frustrated by Kalil and his lack of production. Granted, I will say that I’ve seen him putting in quite a bit of extra work with assistant offensive line coach Hank Fraley. So, I can’t give a poor grade on effort, at least in that sense. I don’t know if it’s a mental thing, a coachability issue or just lack of talent, but there is still much left wanting from Kalil. He’s still unable to hold guys at the line, and if we’re seeing these issues during camp I don’t have high hopes for them being any different during the year.

http://vikingsterritory.com/2015/opinio ... -reactions

[CbusVikesFan]

Man...I'm getting unbelievably excited for this season.

You're not the only one brother!!!!!

[dead_poet]

Another recap of Tuesday's practice: http://www.dailynorseman.com/2015/8/6/9 ... ons-day-10

Notable:

•Rhett Ellison is the best picking up the blitz (perhaps not surprisingly) and always won his duel.

•Best battle in this group was between Gerald Hodges and Adrian Peterson. Hodges is a beast and the best blitzing LB I saw, if not as refined as Smith, but AP was up for the challenge and they really battled, but for the most part AP held him off, but it took everything he had. I was a bit surprised how well AP did, as I've never seen him do that much pass blocking or picking up blitzes in games before. Could be the fact that its a drill, and the only thing he needs to do in the play is pick up the blitz... nevertheless he did better than I thought.

•Jerick McKinnon, by contrast, did not do very well. He lost his battles pretty much every time. Something he really needs to work on as a 3rd down type of RB.

•Eric Kendricks was fairly lackluster as a blitzer I thought. No where near the speed or power of Hodges, nor the technique of Smith. He has the skill set, but he needs reps and some learning.

Another reason why I hope we see AD on more third downs this year than ever in his career. Like the fumbling issue of years past I think he's been working hard on pass protection as he knows it is/was an area of weakness.

Too bad to hear about Kendricks but pass rushing was never his calling card. But it's obviously something he can improve on with practice and experience.

Then there's, you know...

Matt Kalil: In the full speed scrimmage plays, which were the only ones worth evaluating, Matt still struggled against Griffen in pass protection, taking more than he dished out, I don't know that I saw him give up what would have been a sack, but certainly some hurries. It's not pretty though, nor does it inspire confidence. But with some modest improvement over the rest of training camp, he could prove adequate. In run blocking he does fine. If he is able to find some consistency with his technique in pass protection, that will help build his confidence, and likely generate a little more time for Bridgewater to throw. I hope the coaching staff is not shy about playing him in pre-season games to help his progression.

The whole thing is worth the read. This writer's opinion of the connection between Teddy & Wallace could be seen as concerning at this point. The opposite is true of Charles Johnson.

[dead_poet]

@Andrew_Krammer Looks like Anthony Barr, Scott Crichton and B.J. Dubose are not participating in #Vikings walkthrough this AM.

@eric_j_thompson The needle on the Concern-O-Meter is rising with Barr. #Vikings

@Andrew_Krammer Sharrif Floyd left Tuesday night's practice, but is participating in walkthrough. Appears David Yankey is not.

@GoesslingESPN #Vikings going through walk-through inside this morning. Mike Zimmer and John Sullivan are both back.

[dead_poet]

@Luke_Spinman Teddy Bridgewater "This is a new and improved offensive line.. Lot of the sacks last year I take credit for"

@Luke_Spinman "Matts looked very good.. He gets to go against one of the top pass rushers in the league in Everson so I'm excited for him"

@Luke_Spinman Teddy on AP "He's Gona be running like a caged animal.. He's been caged for too long.."

@ArifHasanNFL Teddy is "excited" for the preseason game, and "excited" to see the guys play. Sounds like it's "fun" to play football.

@murphPPress LB Anthony Barr (knee) uncertain for Sunday's preseason opener vs. Pittsburgh, per DC George Edwards. DT Shariff Floyd "seems fine" #vikings

@ArifHasanNFL George Edwards not at liberty to talk Anthony Barr. Won't say if he can practice tonight, much less for HOF game.

-- I'm starting to believe Barr's latest injury is not insignificant. Like some of Kalil's, the minor ones are usually described as "minor" or "clean-out procedure." It took a long time to disclose Sullivan's microfracture and I'm not sure we've ever learned the exact nature of Kalil's surgeries. This is officially in that category for me and I'm officially concerned because of it. The fact that George Edwards is "not worried" about Floyd but won't talk about Barr tells me quite a bit.

[Mothman]

I'm starting to believe Barr's latest injury is not insignificant. Like some of Kalil's, the minor ones are usually described as "minor" or "clean-out procedure." It took a long time to disclose Sullivan's microfracture and I'm not sure we've ever learned the exact nature of Kalil's surgeries. This is officially in that category for me and I'm officially concerned because of it. The fact that George Edwards is "not worried" about Floyd but won't talk about Barr tells me quite a bit.

It certainly seems like a bad sign.

I liked that quote about AD being "caged for too long".

Jim

[jackal]

Is that the same injury from last season ? I wouldn't call that small, if that is the case...