2013 OTA/Offseason Schedule

[Eli]

Vikings OTAs start today. Open to the media beginning tomorrow (Wednesday).

OTAs 1-3: May 28-30
OTAs 4-6: June 4-6
OTAs 7-10: June 10-13
Mandatory Mini-Camp: June 18-20

The Vikings will hold their 8th annual Playground Build following OTA #3 on Thursday, May 30, set to take place at Howe School in South Minneapolis.

http://www.vikings.com/news/blog/articl ... 61c4f7b678

[dead_poet]

Some storylines to watch:

Here are just 10 of the storylines we’ll be chasing during the Vikings 10 OTAs and 3-day mini-camp…

1. Greg Jennings in Purple and Gold

The Vikings passing game is poised to take a big step forward in 2013, and Jennings is a big reason for that. The 29-year old 2-time Pro Bowler will be a leader of the WR group, both in production and in the meeting room.

2. Jared and Adrian Return

The team’s 2 biggest stars are also 2 of its hardest workers, and it won’t be surprising to see either Allen or Peterson attend the voluntary OTAs.

3. Will Rhodes and Patterson Steal the Show?

As Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier said in last week’s Wobcast, it’s easier to notice skill position players in OTAs than it is players who do their work in the trenches. Expect WR Cordarrelle Patterson and CB Xavier Rhodes to standout first among the draft class, even ahead of DT Sharrif Floyd. There’s no concern about Floyd contributing right away, but with the restrictions applied to football activities this time of year it’s harder for a DT to make an impact.

4. Man in the Middle: Erin Henderson?

A big question all offseason has been about the Vikings fix for the middle LB position. Last year’s starter – Jasper Brinkley – moved on via free agency to the Arizona Cardinals. So the Vikings have decided to go the organic route to find a long-term answer rather than look to the quick fix of free agency. Erin Henderson, a starter at outside LB last year, will get a crack at it. So too will veteran Tyrone McKenize and 2nd-year player Audie Cole. Rookie 7th-round pick Michael Mauti is in the mix, too.

5. Changes Coming in the Passing Game?

Jennings is here, Percy Harvin is gone, Kyle Rudolph is coming off a 9-TD season capped by a MVP performance in the Pro Bowl, Jarius Wright is a year more experienced and Cordarrelle Patterson, a 1st-round pick, has been added to the mix. The substance of the passing game has changed, but will the style change?

6. Joe Webb at WR

A move many Vikings fans have desired – Webb to WR. We’ll get our first look at the athletic playmaker with his new position group.

7. How Does Greg Childs Look?

Another popular player on the roster, at least in terms of fans emailing me about his progress. There is a lot yet unknown about Childs and his prospects for playing football, but we know he’s been working tirelessly since last August to rehab and recover. OTAs and/or mini-camp represent another landmark in his attempt to make it back from a serious injury.

8. Calling For Backup

The Vikings signed Matt Cassel this offseason to be Ponder’s backup, and while the 8-year pro has experience both as a starter and a backup in the NFL, he has work to do in terms of getting to know the Vikings offense inside and out.

9. Daily Highlight Package

vikings.com is your place to see on-field highlights during OTAs and the mini-camp, so don’t forget to check each day to stay on top of the latest Vikings news and see the latest highlights.

10. You Tell Us

The website is your playground, Vikings fans. Please let us know what you want covered during OTAs and mini-camp by leaving your thoughts in the comments section below this entry.

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/1 ... e6b9c1d54a

[dead_poet]

Vikings OTAs: Six under-the-radar players to keep tabs on

ROBERT BLANTON

Quietly, Blanton put together a terrific season on special teams as a rookie. And in the one game where he saw extended action on defense – in Week 5 after Harrison Smith was ejected from the win over Tennessee – Blanton held his own, convincing the coaching staff that the game is not too big or too fast for him at this level. So what kind of role can Blanton carve out for his second season? While Jamarca Sanford will open training camp as the second starting safety alongside Smith, Blanton and Mistral Raymond will be given every opportunity to make a run at that job. Having made a successful transition from cornerback to safety last year, Blanton should hit the ground running this week. His confidence and passion always needles at high. A significant emergence may not be far off.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 26661.html

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Vikings OTAs: Six under-the-radar players to keep tabs on
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 26661.html

Robert is a guy I have had high hopes for since we drafted him last year. I think he is perfect for what we do defensively. He has good instincts and has good form tackling. I don't care about his 4.67 speed, the guy is a football player. I hope he can grab the starting job opposite Harrison Smith.

[Eli]

I'd love to see Robert Blanton step up and become the starter at safety opposite Harrison Smith. I really liked the idea behind that draft pick - taking a larger, slower college cornerback with the plan of converting him to safety. Jamarca Sanford and Mistral Raymond are really 3rd tier talent at the position. Good depth to have in backup roles, but neither is a quality player in either the run or passing game. They both looked lost on the field at times and neither one is clearly better than the other.

[dead_poet]

I'd love to see Robert Blanton step up and become the starter at safety opposite Harrison Smith. I really liked the idea behind that draft pick - taking a larger, slower college cornerback with the plan of converting him to safety. Jamarca Sanford and Mistral Raymond are really 3rd tier talent at the position. Good depth to have in backup roles, but neither is a quality player in either the run or passing game. They both looked lost on the field at times and neither one is clearly better than the other.

Sanford is strong in run support.

[Eli]

Sanford is strong in run support.

Average, at best. He's a very good special teams coverage guy. He can tackle a ball carrier. But he plays out of position at safety and takes bad lines to both running backs and receivers.

[dead_poet]

Average, at best. He's a very good special teams coverage guy. He can tackle a ball carrier. But he plays out of position at safety and takes bad lines to both running backs and receivers.

I thought last year he improved upon those things quite a bit. YMMV. I'd still prefer an upgrade, as he remains a liability in coverage.

[losperros]

Some storylines to watch:

5. Changes Coming in the Passing Game?

Jennings is here, Percy Harvin is gone, Kyle Rudolph is coming off a 9-TD season capped by a MVP performance in the Pro Bowl, Jarius Wright is a year more experienced and Cordarrelle Patterson, a 1st-round pick, has been added to the mix. The substance of the passing game has changed, but will the style change?

As I've said in other threads, I'm interested in this one. I'm thinking we'll see more successful downfield passing and, maybe most importantly, a greater variety in the passing game. Seems as if the Vikings currently have more WRs that can run well so that will hopefully translate into better YAC as well.

[dead_poet]

Seems as if the Vikings currently have more WRs that can run well so that will hopefully translate into better YAC as well.

Wouldn't surprise me if, as a team, this drops. Percy was a YAC machine and one of the best (if not THE best) YAC receiver in the league. You'll probably see Ponder's YPP average increase, though likely not dramatically. They're still going to have to manufacture touches for Patterson, reminiscent of that done with Percy. Though I'd be surprised if it was done with as much frequency.

[mondry]

I thought last year he improved upon those things quite a bit. YMMV. I'd still prefer an upgrade, as he remains a liability in coverage.

I really hope Blanton improves enough to win the starting job. I absolutely can't stand Mistral Raymond, I've never seen a guy take such poor angles on open field runners, so many times he runs himself right out of the play. Sanford is the better option, but I'd agree with both of you that he's probably just average. (which is better than below average raymond lol)

Wouldn't surprise me if, as a team, this drops. Percy was a YAC machine and one of the best (if not THE best) YAC receiver in the league. You'll probably see Ponder's YPP average increase, though likely not dramatically. They're still going to have to manufacture touches for Patterson, reminiscent of that done with Percy. Though I'd be surprised if it was done with as much frequency.

While that's true about Percy I think where we will see an increase of Yac is in the intermediate portion of the field. Jennings is known for catching 10-15 yard passes and running 25+ with them and I think what losperros is getting at is that many of our receivers are capable of that as opposed to Jenkins who wasn't going to get really any YAC. Aromashadou was fast but not really a YAC guy and a hobbled simpson just didn't have the top line speed / separation for YAC and might this year.

[S197]

2. Jared and Adrian Return

The team’s 2 biggest stars are also 2 of its hardest workers, and it won’t be surprising to see either Allen or Peterson attend the voluntary OTAs.

I thought Allen usually works out on his own?

[Eli]

I thought Allen usually works out on his own?

That's always been the story. He doesn't attend OTAs. Hardest worker?? I think he has a set of Sears weights and bench in his garage that are gathering dust.

[dead_poet]

I thought Allen usually works out on his own?

He does. He wasn't there today (labeled a "family obligation"). Peterson was there, though.

[dead_poet]

Hardest worker?? I think he has a set of Sears weights and bench in his garage that are gathering dust.

Probably, as he's likely at a gym doing weight or MMA training.

Not sure what gives you the idea he's not a hard worker? Lots of players train individually during voluntary offseason programs.