It's the rookies first day on the job

[Purp1eOne]

[Purp1eOne]

Vikings rookie camp kicks off today. Lots of action: 10:30 Walk-thru 11:40 Zim presser 3:00ish Practice 5:00ish Player interviews

[badgervike]

min.247sports.com/Gallery/Rookies-react-to-first-day-on-the-job-52637306

[Uncle]

Some of the more interesting quotes today...

Dalvin Cook: Ball security, pass protection top the list on needed improvements. Goal is to start right away.

Elflein: "I'm still learning all the guard calls." Will start off at center

Mike Zimmer is more optimistic now than ever about teddy Bridgewater returning to play.

Mike Zimmer said he is optimistic about Teddy long term being a Viking.

[SmokedPears]

May 5, 2017 11:46:09 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Some of the more interesting quotes today...

Dalvin Cook: Ball security, pass protection top the list on needed improvements. Goal is to start right away.

Elflein: "I'm still learning all the guard calls." Will start off at center

Mike Zimmer is more optimistic now than ever about teddy Bridgewater returning to play.

Mike Zimmer said he is optimistic about Teddy long term being a Viking.

I'm no Oline guru but isn't Center the QB of the Oline? How could that be easier to play than guard? And what does he mean by "still learning"? Still learning the Vikings calls? It's been a week. I doubt anyone expects him to know them all already, lol.

[Uncle]

May 5, 2017 12:47:03 GMT -6 SmokedPears said:

May 5, 2017 11:46:09 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Some of the more interesting quotes today...

Dalvin Cook: Ball security, pass protection top the list on needed improvements. Goal is to start right away.

Elflein: "I'm still learning all the guard calls." Will start off at center

Mike Zimmer is more optimistic now than ever about teddy Bridgewater returning to play.

Mike Zimmer said he is optimistic about Teddy long term being a Viking.

I'm no Oline guru but isn't Center the QB of the Oline? How could that be easier to play than guard? And what does he mean by "still learning"? Still learning the Vikings calls? It's been a week. I doubt anyone expects him to know them all already, lol.

Correct - the Center is the one who calls out the blocking schemes prior to the ball being snapped based on how the defense is lining up and point out who is picking up who and basically organizes the line to all be on the same page. And since Ohio St's "spread" system is a bit more "simple" than a complicated, NFL West Coast style run by Shurmur, I would think there is plenty to learn for Elflein on all the different zone blocking schemes he'll be asked to employ. This is where Berger's experience will come into play. So from a learning standpoint, I would say that you're correct, learning to play C in the NFL would be more difficult than G. 

However, Elflein's strength right now is literally his pure strength and wrestling background - he excels at just pushing/driving his man back vs. pulling (better run-blocker than pass-protector) - and if Shurmur is expecting the G's to pull more, then Elflein's "driving" would be better suited for C where he can snap the ball and just drive his man back. His lack of pass-protection abilities could also be masked more behind C than G, too - it's just the learning curve of knowing the blocking schemes and getting the OL lined-up correctly. 

The good thing about Elflein is his character - he has a high football IQ and a willingness to learn so even if he's not fully prepared Wk 1, I think many expect him to get there eventually.