2020 Vikings Training Camp

[Uncle]

Here is yesterday's (8/18/20) Day 4 notes from Sam Ekstrom at Zone Coverage: link

Here are the highlights if you don't want to read through:

- Offense started running more downfield throws / play-action passes for the first time. There was some good from both the offense (long bombs to Justin Jefferson, Alexander Hollins, etc) and the defense (Dantzler with another pick and more pass breaks-up from the young CB's Nevelle Clarke and Holton Hill).

- Did not practice: D Hunter was out again (I get the feeling it's very, very minor and Zimmer is being extra cautious so everyone - including the "stars" - is healthy for Wk 1), and Drew Samia was out, which puts him behind in the RG battle spot.

- Starting outside CB's seem to be solidified with Hughes & Hill on the outside and the battle going on for CB3 with Dantzler and Gladney. Dantzler has impressed more but it's primarily been on the outside, so I think the general thought is as long as Gladney progresses, he'll start in the slot in "base" defense sets with Hughes/Hill on the outside. In zone looks, Hughes has been popping down to the slot and Dantzler comes in on the outside. UDFA Nevelle Clarke has stepped up it seems and is really making a case to make the 53-man roster as a depth CB spot - he'll probably need to play more ST coverage to start though.

- This was the first time I've seen Kenny Willekes being mentioned as he rotated in w/ the 2's at DE. Interesting that 4th Rd rookie DJ Wonnum is still with the 3's, so a 7th Rd draft pack in Willekes is getting #2 reps above a 4th Rd draft pick in Wonnum - not great value for a 4th Rd pick there if that continues, and it's a little more concerning considering how little we've got recently from 4th Rd picks Jaleel Johnson and J Holmes, both considered "busts" at this point, IMO. Practice squad pickup Eddie Yarbrough is also still rotating in w/ the 2's, too.

- Josh Metellus was mentioned again as solidifying that the 3rd S spot behind Harrison & Harris, with Brian Cole II, Nate Meadors and newly acquired Steven Parker battling for the 4th S spot.

- A Collins and D Dozier still battling for the starting LG spot. Samia was out so at this point you have to consider Elf the presumed starting RG, and with Collins' injury history, I'm more apt to go w/ Dozier over him...but it's ultimately disappointing to me that Dozier and Elf are the starting OG's entering Wk 1. I honestly would have liked to see Samia, Udoh or someone else really step up and win those battles...

[greylock]

Aug 19, 2020 8:13:53 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Interesting that 4th Rd rookie DJ Wonnum is still with the 3's, so a 7th Rd draft pack in Willekes is getting #2 reps above a 4th Rd draft pick in Wonnum - not great value for a 4th Rd pick there if that continues,

Interesting that Wonnum is the guy Andre Patterson was banging the table for on draft night, supposedly.

[Uncle]

Aug 19, 2020 9:52:07 GMT -6 greylock said:

Aug 19, 2020 8:13:53 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Interesting that 4th Rd rookie DJ Wonnum is still with the 3's, so a 7th Rd draft pack in Willekes is getting #2 reps above a 4th Rd draft pick in Wonnum - not great value for a 4th Rd pick there if that continues,

Interesting that Wonnum is the guy Andre Patterson was banging the table for on draft night, supposedly.

Yeah, I didn't like the pick at that time because it seemed like a complete "overdraft", meaning we took someone with some physical qualities we like way too early than he would have normally been drafted. I'll give Andre Patterson his due because he's been key in the development of late Rd and UDFA prospects like Odenigbo and Weatherly - turning them into solid depth pieces at their positions at the very least - but in the 4th Rd you are looking for at least a depth piece early and then a potential starter in 2+ yrs, similar to B Robison or E Griffin (both of whom did not start early and were rotating DE's their first few seasons, but then developed into starters later on in their rookie contract). 

It's obviously still way too early to be reading a great deal into Wonnum, but at this point he's looking more like Scott Crichton ("bust" DE we drafted in 3rd Rd in 2014) than Brian Robison (4th Rd pick in 2007) or even Ifeadi Odenigbo (7th Rd pick in 2017). 

[Uncle]

Interesting nugget from Zimmer this morning: the starting LG spot has not been decided between A Collins and D Dozier...

[Uncle]

[Uncle]

Day 5 practice wrap writeup from San Ekstrom at Zone Coverage - link

As always, if you don't want to click on the link, here are the highlights:

- Big story of day was Cook's contract negotiation (refer to Cook Thread for more details). The takeaway from a Training Camp perspective from today's write-up is that Mattison is getting the lion's share of 1st team RB reps while they keep Cook's workload "light". Is the reduced Cook workload tied to preventing injury to a major offensive weapon, or his shelved contract talks? We don't officially know.

- Primary redzone drills with several drops from WR's, including Tajae Sharpe, whom we haven't seen much of this entire preseason. Because he signed for so cheap (1 yr at $1m with only $675k guaranteed), we'd only eat $675k of dead cap if he didn't make the 53-man roster, so I would have expected him to really shine in Training Camp. So far, this is all I've seen - drops. We definitely don't need another Treadwell on this team.

- Absent today were D Huner (4th straight practice missed), DT Armon Watts, WR Quartney Davis and DB Nate Meadors.

- Interesting DL situation: "The Vikings used their sixth second-string defensive end in five camp practices with D.J. Wonnum rotating in. Meanwhile, Jalyn Holmes — who has primarily transitioned to end — took some 3-technique reps with the second-team and opened up a spot for Eddie Yarbrough with the first team. Hercules Mata’afa also took some first-team DT reps."

- Dantzler got the bulk of 1st Team reps over Gladney who came in during nickel looks. Zimmer: "He just seems to be able to take it from the meeting room to walkthrough to the practice.”

Just to piggyback off that last note about Dantzler, Will Ragatz at the Vikings SI Insider site tweeted this today w/ The Athletic's Arif Hasan agreeing:

From all the reviews you read, the Wk 1 starting outside CB's should be Holton Hill and Cameron Dantzler. And Mike Hughes will battle Gladney for the nickel/slot CB role, with both having the ability to slide outside if need be. UDFA Nevelle Clarke has been getting good reviews on the outside but I haven't seen anything about Kris Boyd at all.

[rf54]

Aug 19, 2020 10:00:41 GMT -6 Uncle said:

It's obviously still way too early to be reading a great deal into Wonnum, but at this point he's looking more like Scott Crichton ("bust" DE we drafted in 3rd Rd in 2014) than Brian Robison (4th Rd pick in 2007) or even Ifeadi Odenigbo (7th Rd pick in 2017). 

A little early to declare a 4th round pick as a bust isn't it?  I would point out that Griff, Weatherly, Robison,and Odenigbo all took a few years of development before they started making their mark.  With the lack of practices and OTAs this year most rookies are behind where they could be.

[Purp1eOne]

Aug 19, 2020 15:05:28 GMT -6 Uncle said:

[Purp1eOne]

Aug 19, 2020 15:42:37 GMT -6 Uncle said:

- Primary redzone drills with several drops from WR's, including Tajae Sharpe, whom we haven't seen much of this entire preseason. Because he signed for so cheap (1 yr at $1m with only $675k guaranteed), we'd only eat $675k of dead cap if he didn't make the 53-man roster, so I would have expected him to really shine in Training Camp. So far, this is all I've seen - drops. We definitely don't need another Treadwell on this team.

Not sure why he was available as a free agent, obviously not a top WR but with a few drops on a day of practice not sure its time to cut him loose yet.

Aug 19, 2020 15:42:37 GMT -6 undefined said:

Dantzler got the bulk of 1st Team reps over Gladney who came in during nickel looks. Zimmer: "He just seems to be able to take it from the meeting room to walkthrough to the practice.”

Sounds like so far they like Dantzler on the outside and Gladney in the slot. I think as of right now Hughes is better in the slot than the outside and its either been Dantzler or Hughes on the outside in camp so hopefully Dantzler continues his good play.

[Uncle]

I saw that Sean Borman depth chart earlier and I'm not sure I totally trust it to put much stock in it...and I'm not sure he totally trusts it himself w/ him putting the "shrugging shoulders" symbol in his tweet...

Some head-scratchers:

- Wonnum under Stacy Keely at DE? I know Wonnum isn't having the best Camp so far, but I would think he's at least above Keely.

- He has Justin Jefferson above Bisi Johnson as WR2 and that's not what we've been reading; Jefferson is getting a few WR2 reps opposite Thielen but it appears Bisi is holding down that WR2 job.

- He has Dozier as LG1, Cleveland as LG2 and Collins as LG3; we've seen all throughout Camp that Dozier and Collins are battling for the LG1 job, so at the very least I would have both tied at LG1 w/ Cleveland as LG2.

[Purp1eOne]

According to this video:

- Kirk looked good in the red zone
- Hill has been consistent at CB
- Kendricks looked good in the pass rush
- A slide they had listed the OL starters all set but for the LG with Elf slotted in for the right guard so I guess Dru must not be taking that next step yet

[Purp1eOne]

Aug 19, 2020 16:19:31 GMT -6 Uncle said:

I saw that Sean Borman depth chart earlier and I'm not sure I totally trust it to put much stock in it...and I'm not sure he totally trusts it himself w/ him putting the "shrugging shoulders" symbol in his tweet...

Some head-scratchers:

- Wonnum under Stacy Keely at DE? I know Wonnum isn't having the best Camp so far, but I would think he's at least above Keely.

- He has Justin Jefferson above Bisi Johnson as WR2 and that's not what we've been reading; Jefferson is getting a few WR2 reps opposite Thielen but it appears Bisi is holding down that WR2 job.

- He has Dozier as LG1, Cleveland as LG2 and Collins as LG3; we've seen all throughout Camp that Dozier and Collins are battling for the LG1 job, so at the very least I would have both tied at LG1 w/ Cleveland as LG2.

I would guess with the amount of time they got with these guys and the limited actual practice sessions unless they are forced to go with the younger guys like they are at CB they will go with experience at least until they get further into the season or there is an injury.

[Uncle]

Will Ragatz at the Vikings SI Insider site had these observations from his write-up today in regards to the CB battle (link):

- Mike Hughes had another solid day, continuing a good camp for him. He intercepted Cousins at one point and almost always appears to be in good position.

- Right now, Jeff Gladney might be the odd man out of the starting lineup in the Vikings' nickel package. On Wednesday, it was Hill and Cameron Dantzler on the outside with Hughes in the slot. Gladney missed Friday's practice with a "flare-up" and might not be 100 percent as he continues recovering from offseason meniscus surgery.

[Purp1eOne]

Aug 19, 2020 16:25:50 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Gladney missed Friday's practice with a "flare-up" and might not be 100 percent as he continues recovering from offseason meniscus surgery.

With this off-season being what it is and I have not really been following things like I usually would that explains part of the reason why the "Needle" looks to have jumped him on the depth chart.

[Uncle]

Aug 19, 2020 16:28:32 GMT -6 Purp1eOne said:

Aug 19, 2020 16:25:50 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Gladney missed Friday's practice with a "flare-up" and might not be 100 percent as he continues recovering from offseason meniscus surgery.

With this off-season being what it is and I have not really been following things like I usually would that explains part of the reason why the "Needle" looks to have jumped him on the depth chart.

Yep, and what's better is Needle took advantage of the opportunity and is still cashing-in on it. Some guys get an opportunity and Camp or the regular season to get snaps they didn't think they'd get and don't take advantage...and some other guys take advantage...

It's still only Day 5 of practice in an unprecedented offseason with not OTA's or preseason games and we haven't seen many of these guys in NFL-level action....

Still though, I really like guys who really shine when given the opportunity.