OTA

[bleedspeed]

Things got started today.

I would say the biggest improvement for the team this offseason is DL. We added a lot of help in Sutton, Jones, and Johnson. Next would be OL with 3 new starters. WR/RB have a chance to be strengths too.

I would say we got worse in KR and CB. Losing Captain hurt and Newman is another year older.

Write-up here.
http://www.startribune.com/ota-primer-its-dalvin-cooks-backfield-as-vikings-ramp-up-practices/423842453/

[Monster]

Things got started today.

I would say the biggest improvement for the team this offseason is DL. We added a lot of help in Sutton, Jones, and Johnson. Next would be OL with 3 new starters. WR/RB have a chance to be strengths too.

I would say we got worse in KR and CB. Losing Captain hurt and Newman is another year older.

Write-up here.
http://www.startribune.com/ota-primer-its-dalvin-cooks-backfield-as-vikings-ramp-up-practices/423842453/

Hard not to say online is the most improved. We went from having 1 legit above average starter in Berger to adding 2 averagish Tackles and drafting a top interior online prospect that probably starts day one and we really didn't lose anyone significant that played many snaps on that line. Fusco was let go but he was below average. I like what they did with the Dline and it did need help but the oline was a disaster. It has legit promise to be average which would be a massive upgrade

[bleedspeed]

I could go either way. I just think the D might get even better this year because of the DL which a few months ago didn't seem possible. I really think the additions will be huge. Ranking wise we surely will move up on OL, but if the DL is better that is just hard to accomplish.

[Monster]

I could go either way. I just think the D might get even better this year because of the DL which a few months ago didn't seem possible. I really think the additions will be huge. Ranking wise we surely will move up on OL, but if the DL is better that is just hard to accomplish.

You really love DL don't you? Lol

[bleedspeed]

The Sutton and Jaleel Johnson additions put me over the top.

[bleedspeed]

Some news.

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/3-Observations-Offensive-Line-Combos-Kick-Returns--Defending-Passes/acaba64f-5f52-4368-93a8-710a13f309dd?sf83283886=1

The Vikings have penciled in the same five offensive linemen on the first-team unit through the first four OTA practices.

LT - Reiff - Hill
LG - Boone- Sirles
C - Easton - Elfein
RG - Berger - Kerin
RT - Remmer - Clemmings

Surprised to see Silres at LG. I figured he would be competing for RG. If we have 8 guys on the 53 man roster I would figure Kerin and Clemmings are the odd men out.

[Monster]

Some news.

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/3-Observations-Offensive-Line-Combos-Kick-Returns--Defending-Passes/acaba64f-5f52-4368-93a8-710a13f309dd?sf83283886=1

The Vikings have penciled in the same five offensive linemen on the first-team unit through the first four OTA practices.

LT - Reiff - Hill
LG - Boone- Sirles
C - Easton - Elfein
RG - Berger - Kerin
RT - Remmer - Clemmings

Surprised to see Silres at LG. I figured he would be competing for RG. If we have 8 guys on the 53 man roster I would figure Kerin and Clemmings are the odd men out.

That is a somewhat unexpected lineup. One thing that I could think of is with Sitles backing up Boone he is a bigger tackle sized guy like Boone. Kerin is a former center an inside guy more like Berger. It's interesting they moved Berger to RG and have Easton and Elf at C. I mean honestly it makes sense but it's a little unexpected because he has been such a good center.

I thought Cook and McKinnon returning kicks was plenty interesting. Both guys have a nice physical profile for that position.

Also it's just OTAs but it seems like Tre Robertson has made plays at least a couple days. They really need a guy to step up out of bucket of young CBs.

[bleedspeed]

He is back.

http://kfan.iheart.com/onair/vikings-blog-38526/the-vikings-signed-a-new-safety-15872126/?cmp=managed_social

[Monster]

He is back.

http://kfan.iheart.com/onair/vikings-blog-38526/the-vikings-signed-a-new-safety-15872126/?cmp=managed_social

I was wondering who they let go to bring in Armstrong. With Floyd on board and Adams looking to be a KR suddenly the Vikings may not need quite so many WRs around and Matthews was a big WR. They may have seen enough between Treadwell and Floyd they figured Matthews was even more of a long shot to make the roster and they could use more DBs and this give Matthews a better shot to stick on a roster.

I have no idea if Armstrong can make it or not even as a PS guy. Brian Russell was a college QB before he switched to play safety his final 2 years in college and needed up with a decent career with a few teams starting with the Vikings.

A couple more things about Tommy. He got engaged last year. His fiancé is a former Husker Women's soccer player. She my not look like it but she was a tough player that was fun to watch. There was a joke from some Nebraska fans she was tougher than Tommy was. That wasn't a knock on Tommy (dude is pretty tough) it was just saying how tough she was.

I don't know if Tommy is an elite athlete but he is a pretty good athlete. I saw him live a couple years ago and he escaped a few times from a scrum of dlineman like it was nothing. He was an athlete that played QB but he did actually have a good arm. He couldn't really make the progressions to be able to be a more complete QB but he made a lot of plays other guys wouldn't have along with making some poor plays too. Maybe his time as a QB helps him but he also will have to be disappointed and he often did what a few local media peeps call yolo bombs thrown of his back foot etc. sometimes it was a big play in a good way and...sometimes it was a pick. Zimmer won't be happy if he is freelancing in his defense. He won't be able to use that big arm to bail him out and so maybe he will stick to and work on his technique. It's all a long shot but it's interesting having a few Huskers in camp.

[Monster]

2 minutes of video of Teddy. Thoughts?

https://twitter.com/vikingupdate/status/869974000612630530