2015 Season General Comments (pressers, practice notes, etc)

[Mothman]

Regarding Walsh, I thought this comment about kickers and kicking in the nFL from Peter King's latest MMQb column might be iinterest:

• Kickers now fail, just like real people. PATs missed in 256 games last year: eight. PATs missed in 62 games this year, with the scrimmage line moved back 13 yards: 17. This was a particularly brutal weekend, with 10 kicks (six field-goal attempts, four extra points) missed from 40 yards and in. Missing two on Thursday night cost Josh Scobee his job in Pittsburgh, and don’t be surprised to see rookie Kyle Brindza, who missed five in the past two Bucs games, walk the plank in Tampa. I think the trend has to do with the youth at the position—12 of 32 teams are using kickers in their first years with their teams—and the mental game that the longer PAT has forced kickers to deal with. Kickers are lottery tickets. You just pick one and pray.

King doesn't mention Walsh but his comments may provide a little more insight into why Spielman's content to stick with his kicker.

[Texas Vike]

Notes from Rick's annual bye-week media session:

Spielman on Walsh, Cordarrelle, AP, Bridgewater and more

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... s-vikings/

Not a lot there as he's good at using a lot of words to say very little but it's the bye week so it's something. Sounds like Wallace might be dealing with an injury. No real answer on why Diggs can come right in and be targeted 10 times and Patterson not being involved. Reading between the lines I think it's still route-running and being in the right place at the right time, something that apparently a fifth-round rookie can do better than a guy entering his third year. After seeing the route that turned one of the best corners in the game around (Talib) it's probably hard to argue that. Even Wallace is impressed with Diggs and offered up praise (highlight my emphasis)

Wow, that's great. I love how Wallace is so supportive of him. Clearly, they have some good chemistry.

[dead_poet]

@GoesslingESPN The #Vikings are in the top 10 in the NFL in turnover margin for the first time since 2009: http://es.pn/1MhPehP

[Pondering Her Percy]

Damn I really wish we drafted DeAndre Hopkins. He would've definitely been worth trading all those picks away. The guy is a legit #1 WR that I'm starting to think is un-guardable. I had him in literally every mock I did and we decide to take CP instead

[Grashopa]

Damn I really wish we drafted DeAndre Hopkins. He would've definitely been worth trading all those picks away. The guy is a legit #1 WR that I'm starting to think is un-guardable. I had him in literally every mock I did and we decide to take CP instead

I was thinking the same thing last night. However, I do not believe that we chose Patterson over Hopkins, but we did chose Floyd and Rhodes over Hopkins. For all we know the Vikings did try to trade up for Hopkins, or maybe thought that he would last 2 more picks. who knows. There are 32 teams, everyone doesn't get to just pick and choose which players they get to draft. Teams have to make the best use of the picks they have and the trade opportunities that they get.

[Purple bruise]

I was thinking the same thing last night. However, I do not believe that we chose Patterson over Hopkins, but we did chose Floyd and Rhodes over Hopkins. For all we know the Vikings did try to trade up for Hopkins, or maybe thought that he would last 2 more picks. who knows. There are 32 teams, everyone doesn't get to just pick and choose which players they get to draft. Teams have to make the best use of the picks they have and the trade opportunities that they get.

Yeah I am still p.o. that the Vikings did not draft Tom Brady

[fiestavike]

Damn I really wish we drafted DeAndre Hopkins. He would've definitely been worth trading all those picks away. The guy is a legit #1 WR that I'm starting to think is un-guardable. I had him in literally every mock I did and we decide to take CP instead

I was a huge proponent of drafting "nuk" as well. Oh well.

[Just Me]

Yeah I am still p.o. that the Vikings did not draft Tom Brady

Would you say you are feeling a bit "deflated?"?

[Purple bruise]

Would you say you are feeling a bit "deflated?"?

That is putting it mildly

[Cliff]

Yeah I am still p.o. that the Vikings did not draft Tom Brady

Meh ... even the team that drafted Brady skipped over him like 5 times. It was an unknowable kind of thing.

[dead_poet]

@Andrew_Krammer Eric Kendricks took over for the traded Gerald Hodges at middle linebacker during today's open portion of practice. #Vikings

@Andrew_Krammer Rhodes has been flagged 7 times through 4 games, including three in #Vikings' last game at Denver. First time we've seen the boxing gloves

Cornerback Xavier Rhodes drew three penalties, and a $17,363 fine, for illegal use of the hands during the Vikings' most recent game in Denver.

Returning from the bye week, the Vikings employed a different practice tactic -- boxing gloves.

Rhodes, 25, went back to the basics on a Monday as teammate Captain Munnerlyn took the brand new gloves out of their box and strapped them on Rhodes' hands before defensive backs coach Jerry Gray began working on individual technique with his players. "Now you can't grab," Gray told Rhodes.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Viki ... odes101215

[dead_poet]

@christomasson Mike Zimmer has little to say about Eric Kendricks stepping in at LB for Gerald Hodges. "He's a good player. He's done a good job.''

@christomasson The way Mike Zimmer is giving short answers about the Gerald Hodges trade, one wonders how gung-ho he might have been about it.

@Andrew_Krammer Zimmer said one pitfall of bye week is guys not being as sharp after weekend off. How'd they respond today? "Started off average, but good."

‏@christomasson Mike Zimmer says newly acquired center Nick Easton has quickness and is smart.

@mattvensel Mike Zimmer doesn't have much interest in talking about the Gerald Hodges trade today. He's in a mood.

@christomasson Mike Zimmer still sore about Stefon Diggs putting the ball on the ground twice at Denver.

[Mothman]

@christomasson The way Mike Zimmer is giving short answers about the Gerald Hodges trade, one wonders how gung-ho he might have been about it.

Trouble in paradise? Did Rick surprise another coach with an unexpected move?

‏@christomasson Mike Zimmer says newly acquired center Nick Easton has quickness and is smart.

Great, but can he block?

@mattvensel Mike Zimmer doesn't have much interest in talking about the Gerald Hodges trade today. He's in a mood.

That's when I like Zimmer best.

[808vikingsfan]

#Vikings rookie LB Edmund Robinson said he is being put on special teams and is optimistic of first career activation Sunday against KC.

Mike Zimmer said he "can't disclose" why Mike Wallace hasn't been practicing. Will he play Sunday. "We'll see.''

[Purple bruise]

I hope that Wallace did not get into trouble