Vikings Message Board.Com

8/20

#Vikings will limit Jerome Simpson's work this week and will keep going "to the well" in trying to get the ball to Devin Aromashodu.

---Blurgh. Give Manny a shot!

Alan Williams said Erin Henderson and Marvin Mitchell are in a battle at WLB. Left Brinkley out of it but says there's competition all over.

-- Curious Erin doesn't have this locked up.

A lot of talk today in Bill Musgrave's press conference about the push to have Christian Ponder do more headfirst diving. Musgrave cited Brees and Elway as guys who are successful as headfirst guys and said he gave Ponder film on why headfirst can be safer. Musgrave clarified Christian Ponder can slide feet-first when he has open field, but if defenders are converging, he's going headfirst. Beyond that, nothing groundbreaking this a.m. at Winter Park. DC Alan Williams did say S Mistral Raymond is starting to play w comfort.

--- Raymond/Smith will be our starting safeties. Bank on it. Probably a best-case. Hopefully both continue to impress/improve.

I hope that Devin Aromashodu can come through the way the Vikings want because it's going to be tough without Jerome Simpson's athleticism for the first three games. I can't wait for Simpson's return. He brings explosiveness to the offense.

Also, I hope the Vikings give Stephen Burton a look on some deep routes. Burton has speed and will fight for the ball.

Regarding Erin Henderson, he doesn't have a starting role locked up because Marvin Mitchell is looking good. What I can't figure is why the Vikings don't utilize Mitchell solely inside as direct competition with Brinkley. Wouldn't they prefer to have both Henderson and Mitchell on the field?

From what little I've seen, I think Raymond/Smith might be the best combo at safety for the Vikings. Both those guys stepped up during the last preseason game.

losperros wrote:I hope that Devin Aromashodu can come through the way the Vikings want

I wouldn't hold your breath. He's Bernard Berrian with more passion/work ethic but less overall talent. I'm curious to see more of Emmanuel Arceneaux.

Also, I hope the Vikings give Stephen Burton a look on some deep routes. Burton has speed and will fight for the ball.

I've been completely underwhelmed by Burton. I hope he can perform but, to me, he's a very pedestrian talent. Hopefully he can develop. But if he ends up with the starting job in weeks 1-3, I'm not expecting much.

Regarding Erin Henderson, he doesn't have a starting role locked up because Marvin Mitchell is looking good. What I can't figure is why the Vikings don't utilize Mitchell solely inside as direct competition with Brinkley. Wouldn't they prefer to have both Henderson and Mitchell on the field?

That's the speculation from the beat writers. According to them, Plan B is Erin in the middle and Mitchell in Erin's former spot. I kind of wish the VIkings would've been savvy enough to trade a fourth away to acquire DeMeco Ryans.

give manny the ball, he had 2 for 50 in the last game. there is pretty much no hope for aroshamadu.

smoothoperator wrote:give manny the ball, he had 2 for 50 in the last game. there is pretty much no hope for aroshamadu.

Eh... if Webb hadn't kept leading Aromashodu OOB the other night against Buffalo, he would have had a nice stat line too. I don't think there's no hope for him. As an NFL receiver, he's just a relatively known quantity.

That said, I'd like to see them continue giving both players opportunities and see who ends up winning the job. Let whoever gets that position earn it!

I seem to be in the minority in the fact that I like Aromashodu. He came around late last season when Percy was the only other legitimate WR on the roster. He also has some speed which the Vikings really lack lately.

PurpleMustReign wrote:I seem to be in the minority in the fact that I like Aromashodu. He came around late last season when Percy was the only other legitimate WR on the roster. He also has some speed which the Vikings really lack lately.

I like him I just see him as a backup, a 4th or 5th WR on the depth chart, not someone who should have a much more substantial role than that.

Aromashodu is a speedster with not very great hands. Loves to catch with his body. No idea how that endzone pass to him on Friday wasn't PI.

NextQuestion wrote:No idea how that endzone pass to him on Friday wasn't PI.

Two words: Replacement refs.

It was textbook PI. Defender had his hands all over him and wasn't even attempting to look back at the ball.

that was kind of my point. aroshamadu has had the opportunity in front of him for the second year in a row and he has essentially done nothing with it.

TE Kyle Rudolph was back in pads for practice. CB Chris Cook was not suited up. Both are/were dealing with concussion symptoms.

WR Kamar Jorden (hand), LB Solomon Elimimian (hamstring), G Geoff Schwartz (sports hernia surgery) and TE John Carlson (knee) still out.

Vikings NT Letroy Guion (knee) is wearing a brace on his right knee but he was taking part in at least a portion of practice.

Fullback Matt Asiata, who was absent from Sunday's practice because of a death in his family, is back with the Vikings.

dead_poet wrote:

IO thought they said over the weekend that Rudolph didn't have concussion symptoms. Did I imagine that?

Fullback Matt Asiata, who was absent from Sunday's practice because of a death in his family, is back with the Vikings.

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I really liked the way Asiata ran with the football against Buffalo. The announcers were saying he might be able to do double duty as a FB and backup RB. It would be nice to have a FB who can block and truly run the ball well.

Mothman wrote: IO thought they said over the weekend that Rudolph didn't have concussion symptoms. Did I imagine that?

I recall the same. I think Rudolph himself mentioned he passed the tests. Not sure about Cook.

dead_poet wrote: I wouldn't hold your breath. He's Bernard Berrian with more passion/work ethic but less overall talent. I'm curious to see more of Emmanuel Arceneaux.
I've been completely underwhelmed by Burton. I hope he can perform but, to me, he's a very pedestrian talent. Hopefully he can develop. But if he ends up with the starting job in weeks 1-3, I'm not expecting much.

For the beginning 3 regular season games the Vikings may not have any kind of deep threat if neither Aromashodu nor Burton can do the job. Well, there will be Harvin, who can turn a 5 yard pass into a 50 yard gain. But someone who can run an outside fly? Probably not Jenkins. Maybe Emmanuel Arceneaux steps up, but the guy sure as heck doesn't have speed. Not speed like Aromashodu or Burton, anyway.

I'm hoping we see more of Aromashodu and Burton during the last two preseason games, and I'm hoping that they get the opportunity to make catches downfield. If they flunk out, then so be it. Of course, if Webb is throwing, I also hope that the ball is delivered in bounds. I want to see more of Arceneaux too, but I think he's someone who stretches the field.

Adrian Peterson - RB - Vikings

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Vikings do not plan to play Adrian Peterson (knee) in Friday's preseason game against the Chargers.

Per Schefter, the Vikings are still expecting Peterson to "argue his case for playing time in game." If Peterson doesn't play Friday, it would probably mean he'll get zero preseason reps, as the Vikings are highly unlikely to run him behind their second-team line (or trot out their first-team line) in their exhibition finale. According to ESPN 1500 Twin Cities, Peterson "got more reps" in Monday's practice, and coach Leslie Frazier wants to see how he responds on Tuesday.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter Aug 20 - 6:34 PM