2014 Vikings Training Camp notes/interviews

[HardcoreVikesFan]

No. The situation in Minnesota for Bridgewater is FAR from perfect. The perfect situation is that you have an aging, but still highly capable QB who has lead the team to glory in the past and can still do it, and who will be stepping down in a couple of years. The situation in Green Bay for the Favre to Rodgers transition was perfect. The situation in New England right now is perfect for whoever may be Brady's successor. The situation in Minnesota is that you have a guy who has been a starter, but a shaky one, a guy who may be on a very short leash, has only a two year contract, and is playing for a team that may not even win five games. It's a pretty awful situation, actually.

No, it is not an awful situation. An awful situation is the one in Oakland where Derek Carr resides or in Cleveland where Johnny Manziel resides, or in Jacksonville, where Blake Bortles resides.

Sure, we may not have Tom Brady and the Hoodie on this team, but our coaching staff is FAR from dismissible. You have two guys coaching who have won two super bowls. These are veteran coaches who have been around the league a long time. They are not green horns. This isn't Bill Musgrave trying to teach Teddy Bridgewater how to throw a check-down.

Our offensive supporting cast, though they are learning a new system, is young and has huge upside. What other rookie quarterback has the offensive supporting cast we have in Minnesota? What other rookie QB has a former pro-bowl MVP at tight end? What other rookie QB has the best running back in the NFL? What other rookie QB has a solid and depth filled receiving corps? Hell, even our offensive line is above average. The only questionable position on our offense is the guard spot.

Bridgewater is coming into a good situation. Whether he starts or sits this year is remain to be seen. However, regardless of what happens, Bridgewater has a good situation to come into as a quarterback in the NFL and I strongly believe it will help him develop into his role as an NFL QB.

[Webbfann]

No. The situation in Minnesota for Bridgewater is FAR from perfect. The perfect situation is that you have an aging, but still highly capable QB who has lead the team to glory in the past and can still do it, and who will be stepping down in a couple of years. The situation in Green Bay for the Favre to Rodgers transition was perfect. The situation in New England right now is perfect for whoever may be Brady's successor. The situation in Minnesota is that you have a guy who has been a starter, but a shaky one, a guy who may be on a very short leash, has only a two year contract, and is playing for a team that may not even win five games. It's a pretty awful situation, actually.

I said nearly perfect. I knew it wouldn't be good enough for some. You have him playing behind someone who in the improved situation here is likely to be average or better. Except for impatient fans, there is no reason for him to play this year at all if he isn't ready. I don't think Cassel will have a short leash, I think he'll have the right length leash.

[Eli]

An awful situation is the one in Oakland where Derek Carr resides or in Cleveland where Johnny Manziel resides, or in Jacksonville, where Blake Bortles resides.

The Vikings should be so lucky as to have the "problems" that Jacksonville faces with Bortles on their roster. He looks like he's ready to start.

[Funkytown]

The Vikings should be so lucky as to have the "problems" that Jacksonville faces with Bortles on their roster. He looks like he's ready to start.

He did look good tonight. Made some nice plays. I was impressed. We'll see if it continues.

[Cliff]

They also have Greg Jennings starting at 2 WR positions and Chris Crocker listed as "other" string so I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock into that.

Greg Jennings starting at 2 WR positions kind of makes sense.

All it means (I think) is that Jennings will be moved between the 2 and 3 spot. When he's in the 3 spot, Simpson will be in the 2 spot, when he's in the 2 spot, Wright will be in the 3 spot.

That's not to say that the depth chart is set in stone, of course. With as many young players are on the team, I expect some of them to move around after the pre-season.

[dead_poet]

Zimmer's first 'productive' Vikings' camp in Mankato comes to a close

“We’re starting to get an identity,” safety Harrison Smith said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done. But as far as kind of getting our mind-set and knowing what Coach wants from us, we’ve made a lot of progress.”

Zimmer wants his players to be fast and physical. But above all else, he wants them to be smart, which is why so much of this camp was spent teaching technique and drilling them on situational football so that nothing will surprise them.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 33051.html

[dead_poet]

Vikings' plan is to bring Bridgewater in with 2s tomorrow. More than anything, they wanna get a longer look at Cassel before making call ...

So Cassel will play deeper into the game than he did last week, when he only got 10 snaps. My guess is a decision comes next week.

[Texas Vike]

What odds to do you guys put on the 2 QBs?

I'd have to believe it's like 85% chance that Cassell is the starter to begin the season. Maybe even as high as 90%.

[Cliff]

What odds to do you guys put on the 2 QBs?

I'd have to believe it's like 85% chance that Cassell is the starter to begin the season. Maybe even as high as 90%.

I think it depends on how he plays in this preseason game.

I think he can seize the starting job tonight. However, if it's another ride on the Cassel roller coaster and he takes a step back then I think the competition is still on. Especially if Teddy plays well with the 2's.

[Mothman]

Zimmer's first 'productive' Vikings' camp in Mankato comes to a close
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 33051.html

Thanks for the link. I thought this line was interesting:

But as it turns out, the gruff guy we thought we saw on “Hard Knocks” a few years back is much more compassionate — and much savvier — than given credit for.

This is interesting too:

Rookie Teddy Bridgewater has experienced growing pains over the past week, leading to questions about his confidence level. Meanwhile, Matt Cassel has hardly wavered and with another sharp performance against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night can lock down the starting job — if he hasn’t already.

I wonder if the Vikings have questions about Bridgewater's confidence or if the media is just fishing for an angle and making more out of practice INTs than necessary. Zimmer doesn't seem concerned about it at all.

[Mothman]

I think it depends on how he plays in this preseason game.

I think he can seize the starting job tonight. However, if it's another ride on the Cassel roller coaster and he takes a step back then I think the competition is still on. Especially if Teddy plays well with the 2's.

Seizing it tonight might be difficult since the Vikings play tomorrow night.

I think it's Cassel's job to lose right now, at least as far as starting the opener. I'd put the percentage right up there at 85-90% too, mainly because I don't think they really want to start Bridgewater right away unless he makes such a strong case that there's no reason not to start him. I think they'd prefer to give him more time to adjust to the pros, to all the new information being thrown at him, etc.

[Crax]

I'd put the percentage right up there at 85-90% too, mainly because I don't think they really want to start Bridgewater right away unless he makes such a strong case that there's no reason not to start him. I think they'd prefer to give him more time to adjust to the pros, to all the new information being thrown at him, etc.

That's my feeling as well and I'd say close to 100% that Cassel starts game 1. Let Cassel start against what may be a pretty tough opening schedule and go from there.

[dead_poet]

Seizing it tonight might be difficult since the Vikings play tomorrow night.

I think it's Cassel's job to lose right now, at least as far as starting the opener. I'd put the percentage right up there at 85-90% too, mainly because I don't think they really want to start Bridgewater right away unless he makes such a strong case that there's no reason not to start him. I think they'd prefer to give him more time to adjust to the pros, to all the new information being thrown at him, etc.

You know, somebody brought something interesting up on Twitter today. The Jags have publicly said all the time that Bortles will sit the entire year. I wonder how much that philosophy (essentially a "no pressure" year) has played in his solid performance to date? I wonder if the Vikings took a similar stance with Teddy if he may have been more relaxed (he recently said he's thinking too much)? Interesting to ponder (not Christian Ponder). Jags could be a contender in '15.

[S197]

You know, somebody brought something interesting up on Twitter today. The Jags have publicly said all the time that Bortles will sit the entire year. I wonder how much that philosophy (essentially a "no pressure" year) has played in his solid performance to date? I wonder if the Vikings took a similar stance with Teddy if he may have been more relaxed (he recently said he's thinking too much)? Interesting to ponder (not Christian Ponder). Jags could be a contender in '15.

We'll see how long they stick with the whole redshirt philosophy. Bortles is going to get 1st team reps in practice and possibly even play with the 1s next game. I don't think that's indicative of a change of heart, yet. However, if he continues to look good and Henne struggles to start the season, I think there will be a lot of pressure to put Bortles in mid-season.

As for TB, it's tough to say, I think Tom P was saying 2 of his 3 interceptions on one day wasn't his fault and I think the comment about he needs to make mistakes in order to push himself makes a lot of sense. We've seen in the past where QBs continually make the same mistakes and I think it's at that juncture you need to start being concerned. Right now it's more of a matter of discovering the increased speed of the NFL and the decreased windows of opportunity. The only way to really understand those boundaries is to overstep them.

[Eli]

You know, somebody brought something interesting up on Twitter today. The Jags have publicly said all the time that Bortles will sit the entire year. I wonder how much that philosophy (essentially a "no pressure" year) has played in his solid performance to date? I wonder if the Vikings took a similar stance with Teddy if he may have been more relaxed (he recently said he's thinking too much)? Interesting to ponder (not Christian Ponder). Jags could be a contender in '15.

That's certainly not a revolutionary viewpoint. Bridgewater is clearly feeling the pressure of being a first round draft pick. Maybe it's the high expectations of Zimmer that have created the situation, or maybe it's his inexperience as a head coach. Cassel should have been named the starter already.

Bridgewater says he thinks too much

“Basically, I have to stop overthinking,” Bridgewater said Thursday, via Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I haven’t been pressing, but I have been overthinking.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -too-much/

Please, God. Not again. Don't let the Vikings #### up another quarterback.