Training Camp Battles

[Loki]

I think between the draft and undrafted free agents we are going to have some very intense competition between the 1st and 2nd teams on offense and defense. I wanted to list what I think will be the 1st and 2nd teams, then highlight some of the things that intrigue me about them. Feel free to comment on any offense vs defense battles you think will be interesting or Depth chart battles and who might win a starting/backup job.

1st team offense

QB: Matt Cassel
FB: Jerome Felton
RB: Adrian Peterson
LT: Matt Kalil
LG: Charlie Johnson/Jeff Bacca
C: John Sullivan
RG: Brandon Fusco
RT: Phil Loadholt
TE: Kyle Rudolph
WR1: Greg Jennings
WR2: Cordarelle Patterson
WR3: Jarius Wright

2nd team offense

QB: Teddy Bridewater
FB: Zach Line
RB: Jerick Mckinnon
LT: Mike Remmers/Kevin Murphy/Matt Hall
LG: David Yankey
C: Zac Kerin
RG: Valdimir Ducasse
RT: Antonio Richardson
TE: Chase Ford
WR1: Jerome Simpson
WR2: Rodney Smith
WR3: Lestar Jean

1st team Defense

RDE: Everson Griffen
DT: Sharrif Floyd
NT: Linval Joseph
LDE: Brian Robison
SLB: Anthony Barr
MLB: Audi Cole
WLB: Chad Greenway
CB1: Xavier Rhodes
CB2: Captian Munnerlyn
CB3: Josh Robinson
FS: Harrison Smith
SS: Jamarca Sanford

2nd team defense

RDE: Scott Crichton
DT: Shamar Stephen/Tom Johnson
NT: Fred Evans
LDE: Corey Wooten
SLB: Gerald Hodges
MLB: Michael Mauti
WLB: Larry Dean
CB1: Shaun Prater
CB2: Kendall James
CB3: Jabari Price
FS: Kurt Coleman
SS: Antone Exum

[Loki]

The depth chart battles that intrigue me are Cassel vs Bridgewater for starting QB. Jerome Felton vs Zach Line for the starting fullback job, even though Felton made a probowl recently Turner doesn't usually use a traditional fullback, so i think Line could be more versatile in in doing the things Turner wants to do. Every guard on the roster basically competing for the LG spot, Im hoping David Yankey can manage to win it. I think if Antonio Richardson would be willing to play guard it would be an awesome battle between him and Fusco. Fusco has played very well lately but the shear size and power of Antonio Richardson combined with Phil Loadhoalt on the right side would be devastating in the run game, probably wont happen but I can always dream about Peterson running behind those monsters. The battles on defense that are intriguing are the MLB spot between Audi Cole and Michael Mauti, I'm pulling for Mauti just because he seems like a classic MLB and an incredible defensive leader. I think Cole played very well last year and will excel in Zimmers system so in the end I'm guessing he wins the job though. The other 2 battles that Intrigue me are the 3rd Corner spot playing outside when Munnerlyn moves to the slot. I honestly have no Idea who will win this. I'm rooting for Shaun Prater because he's from Iowa and I thought he played well last year although he doesn't have elite speed and is more of a zone corner so I'm Guessing someone else wins and if thats whats best for the team i'm fine with that. The final battle that I'm interested in is Sanford, Coleman, and Exum for the Strong Safety spot. I'm rooting for Exum since he has the ability to cover TE's and free up our LB's to blitz. I also think he has high upside so I want him to start gaining experience as soon as he can.

[Eli]

With a mostly new coaching staff, a rookie draft class of ten players, and a nearly total rebuild on defense, it goes without saying that there's going to be a lot of competition at a lot of positions.

Yes, it will be very interesting to see who emerges as the starting middle linebacker. A starting linebacker trio of Michael Mauti, Anthony Barr and a healthy Chad Greenway could prove to be one of the better linebacking corps in the NFL. That would be quite a change from recent years.

Just as interesting will be the competition for special teams. A number of the players they drafted late, and a few of the undrafted free agents that they've signed, are raw, but have a lot of athletic ability. Some of that should translate well to special teams, where these guys will have to make it if they're going to make the roster. It will be interesting to see if guys like Larry Dean still have jobs come September, or whether the Vikings decide to populate STs with younger guys with better upside at their respective positions.

[Ally]

I'm really looking forward to the QB competition. I think it's funny how every article I've read since we got Bridgewater completely fails to mention Ponder. They always say that it will be "Cassel vs Bridgewater" or they just flat out say that Cassel is the starter but I really think Norv Turner can get Ponder back on track and playing solid football. Ponder and Cassel weren't statistically that far apart last year. Yes, Cassel "looked" better but his numbers weren't much different than Ponder's. I think Ponder has a legit shot at winning the QB competition and I'm looking forward to seeing how it will play out. I don't think Bridgewater will be anywhere near ready to start but, who knows, he could pull a "Russel Wilson" and surprise us all.

We drafted and signed so many players over the past three-four days that, other than QB, I don't really know who is competing for which position. Training camp will be very interesting this year and I'm glad I live near Mankato so I can witness it in person.

[Purple bruise]

I'm really looking forward to the QB competition. I think it's funny how every article I've read since we got Bridgewater completely fails to mention Ponder. They always say that it will be "Cassel vs Bridgewater" or they just flat out say that Cassel is the starter but I really think Norv Turner can get Ponder back on track and playing solid football. Ponder and Cassel weren't statistically that far apart last year. Yes, Cassel "looked" better but his numbers weren't much different than Ponder's. I think Ponder has a legit shot at winning the QB competition and I'm looking forward to seeing how it will play out. I don't think Bridgewater will be anywhere near ready to start but, who knows, he could pull a "Russel Wilson" and surprise us all.

We drafted and signed so many players over the past three-four days that, other than QB, I don't really know who is competing for which position. Training camp will be very interesting this year and I'm glad I live near Mankato so I can witness it in person.

I agree and I feel that an open competition will have Ponder starting day one.

[Webbfann]

I agree and I feel that an open competition will have Ponder starting day one.

God help us then. But it isn't going to happen. Ponder can never catch up to good Cassel on the strength of his own merits; the only way he can surpass Cassel is if bad Matt shows up every day, and then we will just be starting the same old Ponder as before, ie horrible, 0-3 Ponder. But even if he passed Matt like that he couldn't possibly play better than Teddy. So forget Ponder; he's a lame duck backup for a year (if we don't unload him somehow) and then he's done. He is never going to be a starter in the NFL again.

[Purple bruise]

God help us then. But it isn't going to happen. Ponder can never catch up to good Cassel on the strength of his own merits; the only way he can surpass Cassel is if bad Matt shows up every day, and then we will just be starting the same old Ponder as before, ie horrible, 0-3 Ponder. But even if he passed Matt like that he couldn't possibly play better than Teddy. So forget Ponder; he's a lame duck backup for a year (if we don't unload him somehow) and then he's done. He is never going to be a starter in the NFL again.

Save this post.

[oldskoolvikingfan]

I think that Charlie Johnson vs. David Yankey will be a very interesting battle for the starting LG position. Also I think that Jasper Brinkley will be in the running to start at MLB since he is good at stopping the run which is what Coach Zimmer likes in his MLB. Other than that I think your 1st team offense and defense are pretty accurate to what I was planning to see.

[saint33]

Michael Mauti will be the starting MLB. Book it

[Purple bruise]

Michael Mauti will be the starting MLB. Book it

Man I really hope that you are right. I love his spirit and upside

[Eli]

Michael Mauti will be the starting MLB. Book it

Yep. No sense in saving him for a special occasion. Last year he may not have been quite 100% recovered from his last knee injury and surgery. If he's the best MLB on the roster (and I have little doubt that he is), put him out there.

[PacificNorseWest]

Most exciting position battle will be linebacker. No doubt. Hodges, Mauti, and Cole are all coming into camp hungry. Real hungry. Greenway, Brinkley and Bishop better come to play. I can't wait to see how it it all sorts itself out, but I have a feeling that our LB corp will be a lot different next year.

Only other battle of note, in my opinion, is quarterback. Week 1 starter: Cassel or Bridgewater? How quick can Teddy learn the offense and how quicly can he peform what he learns on the field?

[Purple bruise]

Most exciting position battle will be linebacker. No doubt. Hodges, Mauti, and Cole are all coming into camp hungry. Real hungry. Greenway, Brinkley and Bishop better come to play. I can't wait to see how it it all sorts itself out, but I have a feeling that our LB corp will be a lot different next year.

Only other battle of note, in my opinion, is quarterback. Week 1 starter: Cassel or Bridgewater? How quick can Teddy learn the offense and how quicly can he peform what he learns on the field?

The DBs will be fighting it out as much or more than the linebackers IMO

[PurpleHalo]

Most exciting position battle will be linebacker. No doubt. Hodges, Mauti, and Cole are all coming into camp hungry. Real hungry. Greenway, Brinkley and Bishop better come to play. I can't wait to see how it it all sorts itself out, but I have a feeling that our LB corp will be a lot different next year.

Only other battle of note, in my opinion, is quarterback. Week 1 starter: Cassel or Bridgewater? How quick can Teddy learn the offense and how quicly can he peform what he learns on the field?

I don't think Bishop makes the team, and Greenway better come ready or he may not either, unless his contract is such that they almost have to keep him. Greenway just doesn't make many splash plays, and he has lost a step for sure. I don't think they will have much faith in Bishop staying healthy.

[Purple bruise]

I don't think Bishop makes the team, and Greenway better come ready or he may not either, unless his contract is such that they almost have to keep him. Greenway just doesn't make many splash plays, and he has lost a step for sure. I don't think they will have much faith in Bishop staying healthy.

Desmond Bishop is not even on the roster anymore, he is a free agent.