4 take-out from day 8 of the Viking training camp

by



[ad_1]

Now we are rebuilding.

Not a 7-9 season – but a vaccine-related typhoon that engulfed the Minnesota Vikings for five days. Rookie quarterback Kellen Mond contracted the virus last weekend, sidelining himself and two other quarterbacks – Kirk Cousins ​​and Nate Stanley – who were in close contact with the former Texas A&M student.

And that’s all someone inside Viking Orbit has been talking about for much of the week.

Although both of these quarterbacks resumed training, the vaccine chatter still surrounded the team. But today should serve as a temporary bookends for the COVID frenzy.

Here are the four takeaways from Day 8 of Vikings 2021 training camp.

1. Kirk’s return

It was bittersweet.

Cousins ​​is back in charge of the Viking offensive after a five-day hiatus. He made headlines on Thursday, however. Asked about the COVID vaccine, Cousins ​​spoke of the distancing measures he will take to avoid a redux this week. He insists his approach is solutions-driven, but seemed to skate the idea of ​​getting physically vaccinated against COVID.

Everyone to his own tastes.

The Vikings will sail into the 2021 season with several leaders in the field without a vaccine. It’s just like that when the individual choice the aspect of a pandemic comes up against the greater good [and health] of the feeling of the community.

Some people trust doctors and scientists; others prefer a wait-and-see or holistic mindset to managing a pandemic. The Vikings employ men on both sides of the spectrum.

Nonetheless, the QB1 is back, and he mostly looked sharp on the pitch on his comeback.

2. Michael Pierce Gets Live Representatives

The Vikings’ “new” nose plating suffered a calf injury during training a few weeks ago. Immediately doomsayers drew parallels between this injury and Danielle Hunter’s neck disease from 2020. There is no evidence to suggest that either injury had anything to do with it. ‘other – but Vikings fans are trained to expect the worst.

Well, Pierce will be fine. He waltzed into the camp today, receiving live reps for the first time as a member of the Purple and Gold. Minnesota’s defense was terrible in 2020, so returning a mammoth to the middle is vital.

Pierce was padless, but spectators welcome the “Baby Steps” concert here.

3. Wildcat stuff

This is a running formation in which the half-back (usually, anyway) receives the ball directly as a quarterback.

The Vikings are experimenting with this trend of the 2000s. Maybe it’s a Klint Kubiak wrinkle – or it could be nothing at all, designed for the wrong direction. But the Vikings apparently use it on a daily basis.

In a league that tends towards launch the ball more, this formation feels counterproductive on the surface. Yet not all NFL teams have Dalvin Cook. The Wildcat trickery probably won’t be used to nauseousness like the Miami Dolphins of 20 years ago, but centering Dalvin at point QB every now and then is intriguing.

The team is practicing it, and it’s likely a sequel to its use in the 2021 season. Be prepared.

4. Mackensie Alexander issues a bold statement

Start with this quote.

Many players will use a roster as a tool for hype and team camaraderie. It’s daring, however.

The 2017 squad Ragatz mentioned was magnificent, led by evil defense and unsung playmakers on offense. Alexander was there, contributing to the 13-3 record in his second professional season. The follow-up season, 2018, presented a hell of a good list, but the team failed miserably at the end of December of the same year.

Alexander claimed today that the 2021 team has a better team than he has ever known. It’s notable because Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer usually compile fancy lists. This one, to Alexandre, looks different and more talented.



[ad_2]

Source link