2014 Vikings Training Camp notes/interviews

[Raptorman]

I think people were expecting too much coming into camp. When you see guys like Wilson and Luck succeed so well you set high standards, but most NFL rookies won't be ready to light it up out of the gate, so just give him some time and he will come around.

Yup. You know how many times the Seahawks have drafted a top QB like Wilson? Once. Wilson. The Colts have been lucky to do it twice in 20 years. The Packers twice in 70. Just goes to show you how tough it is to draft a QB of that caliber. (Not that Wilson and Luck are that top caliber, yet.)

[DK Sweets]

Yup. You know how many times the Seahawks have drafted a top QB like Wilson? Once. Wilson. The Colts have been lucky to do it twice in 20 years. The Packers twice in 70. Just goes to show you how tough it is to draft a QB of that caliber. (Not that Wilson and Luck are that top caliber, yet.)

They actually traded for Favre; Atlanta picked him. They probably should have reconsidered that trade.

Unless you're talking about Bart Starr, of course.

[Mercy Percy]

For a bunch of avid vikings fans, I really dont understand how you can read to much into practice interceptions or training camp completely, relax lmao heard TB gonna be a bust like 1203912039127 times now in 1 weeek.

[DK Sweets]

For a bunch of avid vikings fans, I really dont understand how you can read to much into practice interceptions or training camp completely, relax lmao heard TB gonna be a bust like 1203912039127 times now in 1 weeek.

I don't think more than a handful of people have said or believe that. However, many of us are trying to make clear that he is very likely not the immediate upgrade we all hoped for.

[Webbfann]

10 plays! Before he touched the ball once the mindless fans at TCF are chanting TED-DY. 10 plays later judgement has been handed down and the verdict is PON-DER. I realize football fans aren't exactly known for their gray mattter but puh-lease! The smart money is always on a QB taking a bit of time to develop, and we have a nearly perfect situation for him to develop in. With Cassel there is no desperate need to insert him too soon and ruin his confidence. And there is a need to support Cassel because he's going to be our starter for at least a while.

[Eli]

and we have a nearly perfect situation for him to develop in.

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.

[Mothman]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 78661.html

Secondary improves

With the injury bug biting his defensive backs throughout camp, Zimmer was asked if he is concerned about the state of his secondary with Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers on the early-season schedule.

“You forgot Matt Ryan and those two receivers they got,” Zimmer said about Week 4 foe Atlanta.

While he acknowledged that his defensive backs “still have a long ways to go,” he feels the healthy ones have shown signs of improvement, specifically contesting passes and playing bump-and-run coverage.

“I’m not concerned about it,” Zimmer said. “We’re going to come out there and challenge receivers and hopefully play very, very good. My expectations are always high. I know that stretch is a tough stretch, but it is what it is. They’re not going to cancel the games. And neither am I.”

[mansquatch]

I love Zimmer. His quotes are football gold.

[Mothman]

I love Zimmer. His quotes are football gold.

LOL! He's definitely proving to be a quotable head coach. I'm enjoying that.

[losperros]

LOL! He's definitely proving to be a quotable head coach. I'm enjoying that.

I agree. Zimmer has a signature take on everything.

[Purple bruise]

I agree. Zimmer has a signature take on everything.

Zimmer's latest presser: http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/J ... 31d881be12

[dead_poet]

@Andrew_Krammer: All accounted for except for Linval Joseph and Dom DeCicco at last #Vikings walkthrough of training camp.

Andrew Krammer ‏@Andrew_Krammer -- Robert Blanton is participating in walkthrough with scout team. A step toward returning.

Andrew Krammer ‏@Andrew_Krammer -- Josh Robinson isn't doing much, he left practice early yesterday and did not return. Still dealing with a hamstring injury

[dead_poet]

‏@MasterStrib -- Zimmer said Josh Robinson had a tight hamstring yesterday. Doubtful vs. Cardinals #Vikings

@MasterStrib -- Zimmer said Adrian Peterson won't play vs Cardinals either #Vikings

@Andrew_Krammer -- Zimmer: I've got four guys I want to get a hard look at safety: Crocker, Sendejo, Jamarca and Coleman. Not sure if Crocker starts

-- No Blanton, Exum, Raymond. Blanton an interesting omission. Probably due to injury but it sounds like it has cost him the opportunity to start in Week 1.

@Andrew_Krammer -- Zimmer: "Good idea" of who starting LBs will be. Safety position most in flux. #Vikings

@BrittMcHenry -- Mike Zimmer says the date hasn't changed when he'll name his starting QB. He said it's a "secret date"

[dead_poet]

@MasterStrib -- Zimmer said Cassel has a chance to play the entire first half #Vikings

[dead_poet]

Pelissero's notebook from Vikings camp:

F-bombs, Teddy Bridgewater and other nuggets from Vikings camp

http://q.usatoday.com/2014/08/14/f-bomb ... ings-camp/

The Vikings’ defense remains a mountain of questions. They haven’t settled on a middle linebacker (Jasper Brinkley and Audie Cole were rotating Wednesday) or a second safety (Chris Crocker was signed recently as a possible pairing with Harrison Smith). The likes of UT Sharrif Floyd and RE Everson Griffen are talented but remain projections, at least to a degree. It also remains to be seen how things shake out at cornerback, considering Captain Munnerlyn is probably best suited to play the slot in nickel. Josh Robinson is the other option opposite Xavier Rhodes, but Robinson was in a familiar place Wednesday: working with trainers on a side field after suffering his latest hamstring injury. Zimmer has his work cut out.