DAILY CLIPS

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 LOCAL NEWS: Saturday, May 16, 2020

Star Tribune

For Vikings great Steve Hutchinson, getting his Hall of Fame bust completed is a virtual reality By Mark Craig https://www.startribune.com/for-vikings-great-steve-hutchinson-getting-his-hall-of-fame-bust-completed-is-a-virtual- reality/570523042/

SKOR North

Zulgad: Vikings and their fans should be in Love with Packers’ plan at By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/05/zulgad-vikings-and-their-fans-should-be-in-love-with-packers-plan-at- quarterback/

Purple Insider

Friday mailbag: Should the Vikings get Larry Warford? Josh Rosen? A corner? By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/friday-mailbag-should-the-vikings

NATIONAL NEWS: Saturday, May 16, 2020

NFL.com

Joe Burrow's Year 1 impact; top five edge rushers; ' role By Bucky Brooks https://www.nfl.com/news/joe-burrow-s-year-1-impact-isaiah-simmons-role-and-much-more

Maven Media

Vikings LB Eric Kendricks Selling Paintings for COVID-19 Relief Funds By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-eric-kendricks-selling-paintings-covid-19-relief-funds

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Saturday, May 16, 2020

Eric Kendricks Opens Up About Losing His Grandfather To COVID-19, How He's Raising Money Via His Own Paintings By NFL Network https://www.vikings.com/video/eric-kendricks-opens-up-about-losing-his-grandfather-to-covid-19-paintings

Garafolo: Vikings Are 'A Really Dangerous Team' Entering 2020 By NFL Network https://www.vikings.com/video/garafolo-vikings-are-a-really-dangerous-team-entering-2020

NFL Allowing Facilities to Open on Limited Basis By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=835b9d53-b28d-48a4-a263-cf5ec19e6f66

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Saturday, May 16, 2020

Lunchbreak: Harrison Smith Makes PFF's All-Decade List at … No. 22 By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/harrison-smith-makes-pff-s-all-decade-list-at-no-22

Vikings Announce Dates & Times of 2020 Preseason Games By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/2020-preseason-games-announce-dates-times

Zimmer Preparing for 'Normal' But Mindful of Possible Adjustments By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/zimmer-preparing-for-normal-but-mindful-of-possible-adjustments

10 Intriguing Non-Division Matchups on Vikings Schedule By Craig Peters, Lindsey Young and Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/10-intriguing-non-division-matchups-on-vikings-schedule

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 5/16/20

For Vikings great Steve Hutchinson, getting his Hall of Fame bust completed is a virtual reality

By Mark Craig

There isn’t a proverbial wall Steve Hutchinson wouldn’t run through, if necessary, for his newest teammates at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But even one of the greatest guards in NFL history wasn’t comfortable with the thought of having to battle coronavirus for 3,300 miles over 48 hours as he traveled from his home in Nashville to American Fork, Utah, and back for his bronze bust sitting with sculptor Ben Hammond.

“I rescheduled my trip at least twice because I would have rather gone out there and done it in person,” the former Vikings standout said by phone Monday. “And if this coronavirus ordeal hadn’t happened, I would have been out there [Monday and Tuesday]. No questions asked. I guess everyone is having to alter how they do everything nowadays.”

Hutchinson canceled Monday’s travel plans and did the first of three virtual sittings with Hammond. According to Hammond, all 12 living members of the Hall’s 20-member Centennial class have or are expected to do virtual sittings.

“Typically, when guys come sit for us or we go to them, it takes six to 10 hours,” said Hammond, one of three Hall of Fame sculptors — along with Texan Scott Myers and Blair Buswell, Hammond’s acclaimed mentor and a 37-year veteran of creating Hall of Fame busts from his studio in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

“Eight to 10 hours is ideal. It makes for a long day, but it makes a big difference in trying to get that likeness just right. Doing it virtual isn’t ideal, but it’s definitely doable. And I don’t expect anybody to travel with all that’s going on.”

Hutchinson originally had a direct flight to Salt Lake City. He was going to fly out early, rent a car, drive 90 minutes to Hammond’s studio, do the sitting and catch a flight home the same day.

“Then I got an e-mail from Delta that my flights were canceled,” Hutchinson said. “Then the only way to get there was through Atlanta. One of the busiest airports in the world. And taking the little train between terminals and all that. Throw in having to stay in a hotel and … to me, it’s just too many unnecessary steps. I just didn’t feel comfortable.”

Still, Hutchinson was reluctant to ask out of doing it in person.

“I didn’t want to be that guy,” he said. “I didn’t want to be the one person who didn’t want to do it and be difficult.”

He knew the sculptors had done many posthumous busts over the years. And this year, for example, Hammond had only seven photos to work with in creating a bust for Mac Speedie, who died in 1993.

“And I’m not sure who will be doing Duke Slater’s bust,” said Hammond, referring to one of the NFL’s black pioneers from the 1920s. “I got like only four pictures of him on my computer.”

Hutchinson called the Hall of Fame to see if any of the living members had done any sittings in person.

Nope.

“They said some had done virtual sittings,” Hutchinson said. “At that point, I was like, ‘There you go.’

“The [first] virtual sitting was good. We talked about the expression we wanted, the hair. Went through some sideline photos from back when I was playing. And then Ben did a lot of screen grabs from every conceivable angle. Had me sit real close to the camera. Looking for my imperfections, I guess.”

Getting the look

Notorious for his scowl back in the day, Hutchinson laughed when asked if he made sure to tell Hammond not to put a smile on clay Hutch’s face.

“No smile,” he said. “We went with a more stoic look. When I saw it [Monday], it wasn’t done yet, but if you looked at it, you’d already definitely say, ‘That looks like Hutch back in the day.’ It’s amazing what they’re able to do.”

Current-day Hutch is 75 pounds lighter and has a distinctly slimmer face. But things like that don’t distract what Hammond is looking for when he conducts his sittings.

“That’s not as hard as people think because the thing that doesn’t change is from about your teeth up,” Hammond said. “I did Harold Carmichael, who’s considerably older now. And with someone like Hutch, I’m just adding some weight to mostly his neck and his jaw.

“Really, when guys sit for me, I’m just trying to wrap my head around their head. You try to capture their personality as you sit and visit with them. And normally we’re able to take an 360-degree HD video all the way around, underneath, over the top.”

Sinking in

Nothing about being in the Hall’s Class of 2020 has been normal for Hutchinson since about the time he left Miami the day after the Super Bowl.

On Feb. 1, the day before the Super Bowl, he heard his named called in his third year of eligibility. He celebrated with his wife, Landyn, and kids, Lilly and Luke.

“The next morning, the day of the Super Bowl, [Buswell] came with these big calipers and measured my skull, the distance between my eyes, my nose, everything,” Hutchinson said. “That’s how they start the process for the bust.”

Hutchinson and his classmates were introduced at the Super Bowl. A month later, everything would begin to change for the Class of 2020 and the world.

“It’s strange because in a way it really hasn’t sunk in because we haven’t been out as a Hall of Fame class yet,” Hutchinson said. “There’s a big golf event in Chicago they normally have for the Hall of Fame in June. I want to do all that stuff. But that’s already been canceled.”

Delay probable

Two enshrinement ceremonies are scheduled in Canton, Ohio, this year. The first one, which includes Hutchinson, is Aug. 8. The second one is Sept. 18. Of course, whether they go on as planned is anyone’s guess at this point.

“They’ve told us there are contingencies in place,” Hutchinson said. “It could be moved back this year. It could happen next year. I don’t know how that would work with the Centennial class and then another new class next year. It would be like Mardi Gras in Canton.”

Hutchinson said no matter what happens, he is thankful that he doesn’t have to go through the voting process ever again.

“If the ceremony gets pushed back, it’s understandable,” he said. “But it’s disheartening at the same time. You waited so long for this. I totally understand.

“But, selfishly, it’s been such a goal of mine, I want the jacket, I want the bronze bust and I kind of want to wear that big old ring around.”

PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 5/16/20

Zulgad: Vikings and their fans should be in Love with Packers’ plan at quarterback

By Judd Zulgad

When takes the first snap of the season, whenever that might be, it will mark 28 years of a Hall of Fame or future Hall of Fame quarterback starting for the Green Bay Packers. Brett Favre made his first start for the Packers on Sept. 27, 1992 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and 16 years later Rodgers took over.

While Rodgers has no desire of retiring anytime soon, his time under center with the Packers is nearing an end and that has to be considered good news for the Vikings. The Packers surprised many, including Rodgers, when they elected to trade up in the first round of the draft last month in order to select Utah State’s Jordan Love with the 26th pick.

That fueled speculation regarding how the 36-year-old Rodgers would feel about having his successor on the roster and Favre only added to that in the interviews he did. But Rodgers did not address the media until Friday when he made his thoughts known on a conference call. Rodgers did everything in his power to take the high road when talking about the Love pick, acknowledging it wasn’t Love’s decision to come to Green Bay, just as it wasn’t Rodgers’ decision to go to the Packers in the 2005 draft.

“(I’m) not going to say I was thrilled by the pick necessarily, but I understand the organization is thinking about the future and the present,” Rodgers said.

Near the end of the call, however, ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky got Rodgers to open up in a way that made it clear the veteran’s time in Green Bay is almost certain to come before he’s ready to call it quits. And, unlike Favre, Rodgers hasn’t made it a habit of talking about walking away on a yearly basis.

Those are the words of a man who knows his time with a team is nearing an end.

Rodgers’ contract runs for four more years and if he’s going to play into his 40s that means he’s likely going to want another contract when this one is done. According to ESPN, if the Packers move on from Rodgers after the 2020 season they would save only $4.76 million in salary-cap space and have $31.556 million in dead money. It gets easier to move on after 2021, when Green Bay would save $22.648 million in cap space but would still have $17.204 million in dead money.

Rodgers sat for three seasons behind Favre, but it seems unlikely Green Bay will force Love to do the same. Is Love destined to be the Packers’ next great quarterback? That seems unlikely. At some point, their fortune has to run out. Former general manager Ron Wolf’s trade with the Falcons for Favre was a genius move, but Rodgers fell to the 24th pick in the first round of his draft before then-new Packers GM Ted Thompson felt as if he had no choice but to stop the free fall.

Since Favre’s first start with the Packers, the Vikings have had 26 make starts for them, including Favre in 2009 and 2010. The Packers have had six starting quarterbacks in the same time and Favre and Rodgers have missed a combined 16 games. All of those have been since Rodgers inherited the starting role. Green Bay has been to three Super Bowls and won two in that time with Favre and then Rodgers.

But coming off a 13-3 finish and loss in the NFC title game last season, it’s clear the Packers are preparing for a change. Will Rodgers attempt to force his way to Minnesota in a few years after ’ time in purple is done to try to get the type of revenge that Favre did in 2009? That remains to be seen, although it wouldn’t be shocking.

That’s something that doesn’t currently concern the Vikings or their fans. What does is seeing the Packers’ streak of great quarterback play come to an end and for the first time in a long time that end appears to be near.

PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 5/16/20

Friday mailbag: Should the Vikings get Larry Warford? Josh Rosen? A corner?

By Matthew Coller

Welcome to Purple Insider: A daily newsletter covering everything by Matthew Coller. With credentialed access combined with a creative and fun approach, my goal is to keep you informed and entertained. Please subscribe if you’d like to read more!

Happy Friday, everyone. Before we get into answering some of the common questions that I’ve received in the comment section and on Twitter, I have to say that our first week together here on Purple Insider has been amazing. The amount of comments on articles — and the constructive nature of those comments — has been absolutely great. So keep it up! We can do this every Friday.

Alright, let’s have a look at some of the things that Vikings fans have on their minds…

Should the Vikings sign Larry Warford? Any time An offensive lineman becomes available, it’s like a flare going up into the sky for Vikings fans to ask whether he could be an upgrade. Of course, the Vikings have earned that with struggles to protect QBs since who knows when. So it’s no surprise when someone as good as Warford hits the market that the Vikings would seem like a fit.

There’s some debate over the zone scheme and his lack of speed (he ran a 5.58 40-yard dash at the Combine in 2013). Makes sense since their recent draft picks like , Brian O’Neill and have been among the quickest 40s. But New Orleans didn’t completely avoid zone and overall Warford was given a 76.6 (out of 100) grade by PFF in run blocking, good for seventh best in the NFL.

Even if he isn’t a perfect fit, his pass blocking would be such a massive upgrade that it would make up the difference. He ranked 28th by PFF last year in pass pro whereas Josh Kline was 41st and Pat Elflein 57th (of 64).

The problem is the price tag. You’d easily take Warford to start over any of the present options but if he’s looking for $7 million per year as NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport suggested, that’s a no-go without another move to create cap space.

Brandon Thorn @BrandonThornNFL Saints OL run-blocking clips from week 6

Warford/Ramczyk backside combo blocks x 2, Warford's assist each time with his drag hand = key

McCoy climbing to the 2nd level for the seal + Armstead climbing to the 3rd level & picking off DB

McCoy bang, climb, jolt = 🕳️ created October 15th 2019

29 Retweets96 Likes Should the Vikings trade for Josh Rosen? This idea seemed great when Rosen was on his way out of Arizona and we didn’t know whether Kirk Cousins would be sticking around long term. Now after another brutal showing in Miami — albeit with the worst supporting cast in the NFL — it’s less attractive. Getting outplayed by Ryan Fitzpatrick last year doesn’t exactly inspire you to throw draft capital Miami’s way.

However, the risk is pretty low. After drafting Tua, the Dolphins should be willing to take just about anything for Rosen. He can’t be worth more than a sixth-round pick, which is a solid deal for a former top-10 pick who’s been given nowhere near the supporting group the Vikings can offer. Heck, it’s not even a bad play for a backup quarterback whose cap hit maxes out a $3 million in 2021.

If you’re arguing that the Vikings should still want Rosen, here’s your best argument: He’s younger than No. 1 overall pick . Maybe you find lightning in a bottle or maybe you give up basically nothing and we forget this whole thing ever happened.

Should the Vikings sign a free agent corner? Over the past few years the Vikings have made some late adds that didn’t work out, like signing Tramaine Brock in 2017 and George Iloka in 2018 so maybe we won’t see another bite at that apple but there are a lot of solid veteran corners out there. Here’s three that are interesting:

Dre Kirkpatrick — In a small sample he struggled last season but Kirkpatrick did not give up a QB rating over 100 on throws into his coverage in a full season from 2013-2018.

Darqueze Dennard — Had another deal fall apart now might be short on options but he’s a good player. Allowed only a 79.6 rating against last year and graded overall above average three straight seasons. Still only 28.

Ross Cockrell — Had some decent years with Pittsburgh. Gave up under 70 rating into his coverage last year.

Getting one of these guys on the cheap makes a ton of sense. will be a starter — likely at outside corner with Mike Hughes playing nickel — and has a shot at winning an outside corner job over Holton Hill but depth is everything at corner. If a veteran loses a job to Hill or Dantzler, that’s a good sign. If they aren’t ready or you land a starter like Logan Ryan, they can mix in and get some experience.

How is the Vikings’ schedule different in terms of strength if there’s no fans? This is going to be a longer article for next week but my feeling is that will even out. Sure you don’t get to drive Aaron Rodgers crazy at US Bank Stadium but you also don’t have to deal with it when you travel to Seattle and New Orleans. The Vikings shouldn’t need extra help against Carolina and Jacksonville so maybe there’s a handful of games where it would have been really helpful and a handful that play in your favor on the road.

Players are also crazy good at adapting to weird circumstances. They send these guys to London, they play on Thursdays, they play at all sorts of different starting times. They’ll adjust.

Should broadcasts pipe in fan noise? Bleh. No. Please don’t.

Not only does it feel like entering a Twilight Zone universe where The Man is tweaking reality but it actually might offer a unique sounds-of-the-game opportunity. Yes it will also sound like Joe and Troy are being held hostage but there will be calls and pads popping that you’ve never heard before in real time. Be creative, broadcasters.

After and Anthony Harris sign extensions, what will their cap hits be for 2020? Rough guess is that they even each other out. Harris’s deal will lower his Year 1 cap hit down from $11 million to somewhere in the ballpark of $6-7 million. The Vikings did this with Anthony Barr when he only made $5.6 million on the cap last year and Dalvin Cook’s will increase into the $6-7 million range. We should get some clarity on this soon.

Any chance Everson Griffen comes back? You can’t close the door entirely because seemed confident in his return at the Combine. Maybe we end up pretending his “goodbye Minnesota” post on Instagram never happened. It seems like everyone is waiting to find out what is going to do. If he signs back with Seattle, Griffen might not have that many other options but if Clowney lands elsewhere, it seems like a natural fit for him to sign with Pete Carroll. Let’s put it about 20% chance he comes back. The Vikings do feel confident in Ifeadi Odenigbo’s growth so it wouldn’t seem like they’ll be begging Griffen to return.

When is the Purple Insider podcast coming? Soon! Episodes are recorded, things are just about ready to roll out. Just waiting on a couple of things to come into place but it will be available on all the platforms (iTunes/Spotify etc.) when it drops.

Some must-reads from around the interwebs this week: — This Saints website looked at what would have transpired if the hadn’t happened.

— This behind-the-scenes with is… something.

— Cool look at some of the technology the NFL is using to keep players in shape during quarantine PUBLICATION: NFL.com DATE: 5/16/20

Joe Burrow's Year 1 impact; top five edge rushers; Isaiah Simmons' role

By Bucky Brooks

Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. The topics of this edition include:

The top five edge rushers in the NFL today. Tom Brady must adapt to Bruce Arians' offense, but the coach should tweak his scheme in particular ways. Why Arizona is taking the right approach with Isaiah Simmons. But first, a look at why Joe Burrow could have the Bengals back in contention sooner than you think ...

It's quite difficult for a rookie quarterback to immediately engineer a dramatic turnaround, but Joe Burrow could help the re-emerge as a competitive team in the AFC quicker than many anticipate. I'm not proclaiming the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is an overnight savior, but he's stepping into a program that is undergoing a cultural change while retaining enough weapons to significantly smooth a rookie quarterback's transition to the NFL.

I know, I know: The Bengals just went 2-14, which is why they were in position to draft Burrow at No. 1 overall in the first place. It's difficult to envision such a franchise being a group on the rise. But trust me: This isn't your typical top- pick-holding team.

It's uncommon for a two-win organization to have a blue-chip (Joe Mixon) and a pair of top-tier pass catchers (A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd) already in the fold. Not to mention, Cincy spent the first pick of the second round on Clemson WR Tee Higgins, a big-bodied vertical playmaker who's excellent on 50-50 balls. That's plenty of firepower at the skill positions. On the line, the Bengals essentially add another first-round pick in , the 11th overall pick from the 2019 NFL Draft who missed all of last season after injuring his shoulder during team activities in June. Williams, who was the first offensive lineman selected in last year's draft, slots in at left . Although questions persist about the Alabama product's ability to emerge as a five-star blind-side protector, given his less-than-ideal physical tools, the Bengals are betting on Williams' polished technique and competitiveness to enable him to hold his own against superior athletes on the edge.

If Williams develops into a blue-chip bookend, the Bengals can check off two of the boxes on the "3 Ps" formula (play caller, playmakers and protection) that enables young quarterbacks to enjoy early success in the league. This leaves second-year head coach Zac Taylor as the critical factor to Burrow's success.

Taylor's still acclimating to calling plays in the NFL while overseeing the entire operation, but when I spoke to him at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, he told me that he was getting more comfortable in his role and felt better prepared to handle all of the responsibilities on his plate. I believe we will see a more confident and composed play caller in 2020.

With a year under his belt, Taylor will be able to build better game plans for his quarterback. And I loved what I heard from Burrow on a recent RapSheet + Friends podcast, where the rookie signal-caller talked about how Taylor is fully soliciting his input on the playbook.

"I think the direction that they're heading is going to fit me even more. They're going to do things that I'm comfortable with, and that's a great sign," Burrow said to my colleague Ian Rapoport. "They had me put down my top 10 plays that I had and send it to them, so they can study them and see if they [can] have them in the offense, if they don't [already] have them in the offense."

The collaboration between Taylor and Burrow is essential to building a championship-caliber offense. Moreover, the trust developed between the head coach and his new franchise face is part of creating a culture that fosters a turnaround.

Urban Meyer joined the "Move The Sticks" podcast earlier this week and discussed Burrow, who spent his first three years of college with the coach at Ohio State before transferring to LSU.

"He's at the Cincinnati Bengals now and they were 2-14 last year," Meyer said. "Do you want to help Joe become great? Surround him with a great culture with great leadership and some great players. If you do that, he'll be great. If not, he won't."

Meyer's points regarding culture shouldn't be ignored. Young players need to be nurtured in the right environment to maximize individual and collective potential. Taylor is attempting to transform the Bengals' culture by bringing in players who understand and embrace a championship standard.

"We're not just trying to win games -- we're trying to win championships," Taylor told reporters shortly after the draft. "Ultimately, you have to think long term with that championship mindset. People that are willing to work harder than any team in the league. We feel like we've added the right people. Not for one second did we compromise talent with the guys we added.

"Sometimes you can say someone is a high-character guy, but you maybe have to research to find out if the talent is good enough. Our staff did an excellent job of finding the right guys with combinations of both things -- character and talent. That's going to make us a better team."

Many coaches believe in taking players from winning programs, particularly championship programs, because that signals that they're willing to do the little things required to win at a high level. From their work ethic and discipline to their competitive spirit, the best players on championship teams are also the hardest workers.

That's why the Bengals signed six defensive free agents that were on playoff teams and drafted six players who were team captains. The addition of the captains, in particular, is important due to their proven leadership skills. Captains understand how to carry out the head coach's message and hold their teammates accountable.

"When you say a guy with an edge, that's a guy who's not afraid to hold his teammates to a higher standard," Taylor told reporters. "They have a killer instinct on the field playing against an opponent, but at the same time, that's not where most of your time is spent. Most of your time is spent in meeting rooms, on practice fields or doing individual stuff. We're going to get to where we want to go if not just the coaches hold the players to a high standard, but the players hold themselves to that standard."

The Bengals aren't likely to make a worst-to-first turnaround in this AFC North with a rookie quarterback at the helm, but Burrow's arrival coincides with a culture change that could result in the team forging a quicker-than-expected climb up the charts.

TOP FIVE EDGE RUSHERS: Studying how they win I spent some time this week evaluating QB hunters around the league. After reviewing my notes and assigning grades based off my film study, here are the top five edge rushers in the NFL right now:

1 Chandler Jones · DE Since entering the league as a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2012, Jones leads the NFL in sacks (96) and forced (27). And he has actually cranked up his production since moving to the desert in 2016. In 64 games with the Arizona Cardinals, Jones has racked up 60 sacks and 17 forced fumbles. Last season alone, when Jones was the runner-up to Stephon Gilmore in Defensive Player of the Year voting, he logged 19 sacks and eight forced fumbles (seven strip-sacks). And here's another thing: During Jones' tenure in Arizona, the Cards haven't exactly lit the world on fire as a team. Consequently, they've rarely been playing with a lead, thus limiting Jones' opportunities to hunt quarterbacks without worrying about the run. So, yeah, Jones is the rare home-run hitter who can hit for average. When it comes to his playing style, Jones is a sneaky-explosive pass rusher with an array of hand-to-hand combat maneuvers that overwhelm blockers. He has the capacity to turn speed into power while also using a little finesse to win on inside or outside moves.

2 Cameron Jordan Cameron Jordan New Orleans Saints · DE The five-time Pro Bowler has 58 sacks since 2015 and an ongoing streak of eight straight seasons with at least 7.5 sacks. As a high-motor rusher with a combination of strength, power and nastiness, Jordan simply overwhelms blockers on the edges on his way to wrecking offensive game plans each week. Without a consistent threat on the opposite side, the 10th-year pro's steady production is a testament to his skill level and overall dominance.

3 Danielle Hunter Minnesota Vikings · DE The former third-round pick has quickly joined the ranks of the elite, notching 48.5 sacks over the past four seasons. Hunter has outstanding first-step quickness, and he's capable of winning with speed or power off the edge. He uses a slippery dip-and-rip maneuver to turn the corner and complements it with a variety of hand-to-hand combat moves that enable him to win with power. Hunter is an artistic technician with a refined game that's about as polished as you'll find at the position.

4 Khalil Mack Chicago Bears · OLB No. 52's sack total was down in 2019 -- 8.5, the lowest total since his rookie season -- but he still created plenty of disruption off the edge. Mack has 21 sacks and 11 forced fumbles in 30 games with the Bears. He employs a power- based game that creates headaches for offensive tackles lacking balance, body control and anchor ability.

It didn't take Watt long to figure out how to consistently get to NFL quarterbacks off the edge. The No. 30 overall pick in 2017, Watt has piled up 27.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles over the past two seasons. He was a splash play machine in 2019, finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Watt's energy, athleticism and hand skills make him a nightmare to block when he is in attack mode off the edge.

BUCS' OFFENSE: Tom Brady's fit with Bruce Arians Can you teach an old dog new tricks? We will find out this season in Tampa, with Tom Brady apparently tasked with mastering the Buccaneers' scheme, as opposed to the team implementing the system that enabled the quarterback to earn G.O.A.T. status in New England during a 20-year run that included six Super Bowl wins. Bruce Arians isn't expected to radically overhaul his offense to accommodate the 42-year-old, despite his new QB1's unparalleled success.

"I think what we'll see here (in Tampa) is Bruce's offense with a Brady influence," Bucs quarterback coach Clyde Christensen told The Athletic's Bob Kravitz. "Bruce wants to keep the offense the same. We did some good things last year. Tom has been terrific as far as saying, 'Just tell me what you want to do.' And honestly, there's a lot of carry-over from all these offenses; it's just what you call certain things.

"We're looking forward to seeing how he can influence the offense. He'll make it better. That's what the great ones do. He'll have some great ideas, so we're anxious to get his take on things."

I certainly understand Arians' desire to maintain some continuity for the rest of the offense. The veteran coach is entering his second year in Tampa, implementing a Brady-led blueprint with a fast-approaching expiration date, so he doesn't want to stunt offensive growth by installing a brand-new playbook for everyone. It is much easier to put the onus on Brady to adjust to the Buccaneers' scheme, while incorporating a few ideas from the Patriots' system to help the three-time MVP get comfortable.

With that in mind, I would expect to see more multi-tight end packages from the Buccaneers, with a heavy emphasis on "12" personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs). Last season, Tampa Bay only featured "12" personnel on 20 percent of their offensive snaps, per Next Gen Stats, but the individual and collective skills of Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate could prompt Brady to nudge Arians to incorporate this look more in 2020. Heavy personnel packages would enable the Buccaneers to create extra gaps in the running game, while also setting up Brady for big- play chances through the air on a variety of complementary play-action passes. Considering the size, strength and athleticism of the tight ends -- as well as the stellar receiving duo of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans -- the Buccaneers could become more formidable and efficient with an old-school approach. And it makes sense when you review last year's passing output in Tampa Bay.

In 2019, Bucs QB connected on 67.6 percent of his play-action pass attempts (69 of 102 passes, per Next Gen Stats) with an average of 12.3 yards per attempt, an 8:2 -to- ratio and a 127.8 passer rating. On non-play-action passes, Winston posted a 59.4 percent completion rate with an average of 7.3 yards per attempt, a 25:28 TD-to-INT ratio and a 75.8 passer rating. Considering those numbers, the Buccaneers should've featured the play-action passing game more prominently to maximize their offensive potential.

With TB12 under center, you can expect to see more play-action, particularly from run-heavy formations and personnel groupings. The combination of condensed formations and play-action fakes could open up the middle of the field on seams and deeper in-breaking routes behind over-aggressive . Last year, Brady posted the seventh-highest passer rating (107.6) on deep passes, according to Next Gen Stats, with an average of 11.8 yards per attempt and a 7:2 TD-to-INT ratio. Given a better supporting cast with blue-chip playmakers on the perimeter, Brady could look like a different player if the Bucs lean into a vertical passing game built off play-action throws.

Brady could also encourage Arians to feature empty formations with big bodies on the field. The no-back set with tight ends and/or running backs aligned outside of wide receivers will make it easy for No. 12 to identify coverages and target favorable matchups. The Buccaneers used empty formations on 9.2 percent of their offensive plays in 2019 (13th-highest in NFL, per NGS), but Brady's experience and efficiency directing no-back sets could make it a staple in the game plan this season.

Arians might largely hold on to his old playbook with Brady coming onboard, but the 14-time Pro Bowler can make a few tweaks to a scheme that could help the Buccaneers' offense go from good to great under his direction.

ISAIAH SIMMONS' ROLE: Rookie settling in at LB Credit the Arizona Cardinals' coaching staff for avoiding the temptation of making Isaiah Simmons the NFL's next "jack of all trades, master of none" on defense. Despite GM Steve Keim dubbing the Clemson standout a "Swiss Army Knife" on draft night, just a few days later, Cards defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said the team plans to play the 6-foot-4, 238-pounder at to start.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury reiterated the one-position philosophy for Simmons earlier this week, saying that strategy may pay off the biggest dividends.

"Our thought process is, if he is really able to focus on one position, having the flexibility to still move around, but really focus on one, what does that look like?" Kingsbury said during a Monday conference call. "And the sky can really be the limit.

"That's why we were so excited about him. The athleticism is through the roof. But his ability to play different positions and not really have any chance to focus on one, we just think the sky can be the limit for what he could be if we really lock him into one position the majority of the time."

Bravo!

I love this approach with young players. The transition from college to the NFL is tough, and freeing blue-chip players from mental clutter is the best way to help them play fast early in their careers. Although Simmons played a multi- faceted role at Clemson as an upperclassman, he was on campus for a few years before the coaching staff put more on his plate.

As a redshirt junior in 2019, Simmons already had an extensive amount of reps and experience that allowed him to master the defensive scheme. Consequently, the Tigers were able to expand his role in his final college campaign.

That's why it's smart for the Cardinals to start the rookie out as a one-position player before increasing his responsibilities as he becomes more comfortable. At linebacker, Simmons will still get a chance to play multiple roles as a second-level defender with the capacity to blitz or cover from his weak-side linebacker position. He was a disruptive force for the Tigers on blitzes (8.0 sacks and 16.0 tackles for loss in 2019) -- a fact certainly not lost on Joseph.

"I've seen him pass rush and, obviously, when you're a blitzer, you have to have some kind of pass-rushing technique," Joseph told reporters during a teleconference on April 28, via ESPN. "Because if they have a blocker for you -- which, in this league, they probably will most of the time -- you have to have some technique to make moves and flip the hips to be a pass rusher. I've seen him do that. I've also seen him rush when he's clean, and if a quarterback stands in a pocket clean, I mean, he can finish on quarterbacks.

"I've seen him also beat backs and tight ends one-to-one as a pass rusher, so he's both. I mean, when you're that tall and long with that kind of burst, being a blitzer or pass rusher, it's kind of one and the same."

While Simmons should certainly see action attacking from the second level, he might also provide a significant impact in coverage. The Cardinals allowed a league-high 1,148 receiving yards, 9.0 yards per target and 16 to opposing tight ends last season, and the rookie defender's rare combination of size, speed and athleticism makes him uniquely suited to defend that position. Obviously, this is key in a division that features All-Pro George Kittle, savvy vet Greg Olsen and a couple of athletic pass catchers in Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee.

Simmons should have his work cut out for him in Year 1 in an absolutely loaded NFC West. Encouraging him to get acclimated and comfortable at one position before adding more on his shoulders should not only help in his long-term development, but enable him to contribute immediately.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 5/16/20

Vikings LB Eric Kendricks Selling Paintings for COVID-19 Relief Funds

By Will Ragatz

Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks is using his creative talents to help make a difference during this difficult time. Kendricks has been painting as a hobby for a while, and at the end of March he decided to start selling his art to raise money for COVID-19 relief.

Kendricks sells each painting for $1,000, and then matches the price for a $2,000 donation to a food bank of the buyer's choice.

"I know the price is high, but this is really to try to help people give back to others who need help in their cities," Kendricks said on Instagram. "I’m gonna find ways to give away more paintings in the future."

Here are a few of the paintings Kendricks has sold via his Instagram.

“I spend a lot of my time during quarantine obviously doing what everybody else does – Instagram, video games," Kendricks said in a video made by the NFL. "The best days, honestly, are the days I just paint all day. Hours will just go by listening to music and painting."

Kendricks grew up in Clovis, CA, a suburb of Fresno. As a kid, he attended Bullard Talent School, a magnet school that focuses on the arts. He said he used to paint all the time until his career as an athlete really began to take off in high school. "As I got further in my career, college, I missed that creative side I used to just explore often," he said.

In 2019, Kendricks got back into painting, an activity that helps him "re-focus, relax a little bit, get my mind off things." Since the coronavirus pandemic started, it has turned into something that helps him give back.

Kendricks has always made an effort to help out in the community. He has worked extensively with Sheridan Story, a Minneapolis organization that gives food to children in need. But with Kendricks stuck in quarantine and unable to be as involved in the community as usual, he figured out a different way to help out.

"I was just sitting here painting, obviously I can’t go out and do as much as I want to do, so I was like ‘man, maybe I should sell these, match the money that I sell them for and give it back to food banks,'" Kendricks said. "It was kind of nerve-wracking at first because I was painting for myself and kind of just having fun with it, and I didn’t really want to put myself out there like ‘here, I’m an artist, I’m going to sell my paintings,’ but I decided to use my platform to try to raise money for COVID-19."

"It’s super important to give to others. We can all think of some time when we were down and out, and someone either gave us a helping hand to get us up off the ground or gave us food to eat. I can relate to that personally, so now I’m just doing it to help everybody, help the fans, friends, family. You never know who might need it.”

This pandemic has affected millions of families around the world, and Kendricks' family is among those. He lost a grandfather to the virus a few weeks ago and has dealt with the pain of losing a family member and not being able to go see them during their final days because of necessary precautions.

"My dad wanted to go back there and see his family, we all wanted to go back there," Kendricks said. "But it’s just like, how can we do that without jeopardizing our own health, how can my dad go back there without jeopardizing his own health? Everything has just been a little bit different and...it’s real.”

On the field, Kendricks is coming off of a career-best season. He was the second-best linebacker in the NFL in 2019 according to Pro Football Focus, made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement, and was named a First Team All-Pro. The 2015 second-round pick out of UCLA posted his fourth consecutive season with over 100 tackles, as well as career-highs with 12 pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

As the middle linebacker, he's the quarterback of Mike Zimmer's vaunted defense, getting everybody on the same page and making plays against both the run and the pass.

According to Kendricks, there are some similarities between football and painting.

“Football is definitely an art," he said. "There’s times where I feel like I’m out there painting the Mona Lisa. There’s times where I really feel like you have to use your creativeness, just being spontaneous and just kind of doing things, trying things out to be successful, and that’s an art in itself."

Kendricks' football talent helped lead the Vikings to the NFC divisional round, and his off-the-field talent is helping him raise money for those most affected by this virus.

Check out the full video feature the NFL did on Kendricks right here: PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 5/16/20

Lunchbreak: Harrison Smith Makes PFF's All-Decade List at … No. 22

By Lindsey Young

As we look ahead to the 2020 NFL season, there's also time to reflect back.

Analytics site Pro Football Focus rolled out its All-Decade Top 101 list Thursday, which ranked players over the past 10 seasons by "production, efficiency and performance." PFF's Sam Monson included two names on the list that will be familiar to Vikings fans, starting with All-Pro safety Harrison Smith.

Interestingly, Smith's placement in the ranking matched his jersey number: 22. Monson wrote the following of Smith, who is entering his ninth season in Minnesota:

Coverage is one of the most inconsistent grading elements PFF looks at; it is, by definition, dependent on the opposition more than most areas, and consistently grading well on the back end is incredibly hard to do. Harrison Smith hasn't had a healthy season result in a grade lower than 75.0 overall, and he has four seasons above 85.0 overall. Smith has been a do-it-all safety for the Minnesota Vikings and has been equally comfortable in deep center field as he is in the box or covering the slot, whether that be against backs, tight ends or even wideouts. At his best, Smith has been the best safety in the league, and the fulcrum that allows [Head Coach] Mike Zimmer's defensive scheme to function.

Smith was bracketed on the list by tackle Andrew Whitworth at 21 and Darrelle Revis at 23. He was one of nine safeties included in the top 101, joining Eric Weddle (15), Earl Thomas (20), Devin McCourty (26), Kam Chancellor (55), Troy Polamalu (63), Tyrann Mathieu (66), Kevin Byard (93) and (101).

Former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson made Monson's list at No. 35. The 35-year-old, who was drafted by Minnesota seventh overall in 2007, is currently on Washington's roster and poised for his 14th pro season.

Monson called Peterson "one of the most dominant ball carriers the game has ever seen."

For him to rank this highly despite being such a limited factor on passing downs just speaks to how devastating he was with the ball in his hands. Peterson's MVP season of 2012 was the highest single-season grade we ever gave to a running back over the decade. In over 10 years of action, he gained more than 6,000 rushing yards after contact, breaking 364 total tackles over the regular season.

Who led Monson's rankings, you ask? Here are the top 10 players listed, starting with No. 1: QB Tom Brady, DT , QB Drew Brees, CB Richard Sherman, TE Rob Gronkowski, QB Aaron Rodgers, EDGE , WR Julio Jones, DE J.J. Watt and LB .

The Vikings are scheduled to play against six of PFF's top 10 of the decade during the 2020 season: Rodgers (Weeks 1 and 8), Watt (Week 4), Jones (Week 6), Brady/Gronkowski (Week 14) and Brees (Week 16).

To see Monson's full all-decade 101,click here.

NFL All-Time Team: John Randle Randle among 6 Hall of Famers who would 'kick butt' in modern-day NFL

Every year, new names are enshrined forever in the Pro Football Hall.

It's fair to say the NFL, along with its players, has evolved over the years, as Hall of Fame Head Coach Bud Grant pointed out in a recent KFAN interview with Fran Tarkenton.

But looking at the athletes in Canton Ohio, which ones could still fit into modern-day NFL? New York Daily News NFL writer Charles McDonald weighed in on the question for SB Nation, highlighting six Hall of Famers he believes "would still kick butt" in today's game.

Included on McDonald's list was former Vikings defensive tackle John Randle, who played for Minnesota from 1990- 2000. During that time, he received seven Pro Bowl nods and was named First-Team All-Pro six times. McDonald wrote:

Before Aaron Donald, there was John Randle. Like Donald, Randle was an undersized defensive tackle (6'1 and 290 pounds) who was a menace as a pass rusher. Randle totaled at least 10 sacks in nine of his 14 NFL seasons and led the league in sacks in 1997 with 15.5.

Unlike Donald, Randle went undrafted — but that didn't stop him from putting together a Hall of Fame career.

Randle was simply a better athlete than the offensive linemen he was playing against.

Randle joined LB Lawrence Taylor, QB Dan Marino, RB Barry Sanders, WR Sterling Sharpe and DE Bruce Smith on McDonald's list.

2019 Season in Photos: Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph View the top photos of Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph from the 2019 season.

Rudolph 'meets' with Notre Dame TEs

College and NFL teams alike are navigating restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and prepping for their seasons remotely until allowed to meet as a team.

While Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph participates in Minnesota's virtual offseason program and gets in some at-home workouts, he also made time to address the position group at his alma mater.

Notre Dame tight ends coach John McNulty shared a screenshot of Rudolph "meeting" with the players earlier this week.

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 5/16/20

Vikings Announce Dates & Times of 2020 Preseason Games

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — Times and dates have been set for all Vikings 2020 preseason contests, the team and its opponents announced Friday.

Minnesota is scheduled to open the 60th preseason in franchise history by hosting Houston at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14.

The Vikings will then visit Cincinnati at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21 before heading to Cleveland for a nationally televised contest with the Browns at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Minnesota is slated to close the exhibition slate by hosting Seattle at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3.

In addition to hosting Houston and Seattle in the preseason, Minnesota is scheduled to visit both clubs in the regular season.

All times listed are Central.

An Inside Look at The NFL's Schedule Release Call To The Vikings A little more about each matchup follows:

Preseason Week 1: Vikings vs Texans

Time/Date: 7 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Aug. 21

Broadcast Info (TV/Radio): FOX 9 in the Twin Cities/KFAN 100.3-FM and Vikings Radio Network

Preseason series: Vikings are 2-2 in four games (2009 Away, 2011 Home, 2012 Away, 2013 Home)

Roots: The Vikings hired Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant this offseason. He was the first head coach of the Texans. His successor on the Gulf Coast, Gary Kubiak, is the Vikings offensive coordinator. Kubiak was at Houston's helm from 2006-13.

Preseason Week 2: Vikings at Bengals

Time/Date: 6 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Aug. 21

Broadcast Info (TV/Radio): FOX 9 in the Twin Cities/KFAN 100.3-FM and Vikings Radio Network

Preseason series: Vikings are 3-3 in six games (1976 Home, 1977 Away, 1989 Home, 1991 Away, 1999 Away, 2002 Home, 2016 Away)

Tigers tandem: The game also will provide an opportunity for Vikings first-round pick to reconnect with Joe Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Cincinnati tabbed Burrow, an Ohio native who teamed with Jefferson from 2018-19 after transferring from Ohio State. Burrow won the Heisman Trophy last fall. Jefferson helped by catching a school single-season record 111 passes.

Preseason Week 3: Vikings at Browns

Time/Date: 3 p.m. (CT) on Sunday, Aug. 30

Broadcast Info (TV/Radio): FOX Nationwide/KFAN 100.3-FM and Vikings Radio Network

Preseason series: Vikings are 9-3 in 12 games (1967 Home, 1969 in Akron, 1970 Away, 1972 Away, 1976 Away, 1977 Home, 1980 Home, 1990 Away, 1991 Home, 1992 Away, 1999 Away, 2002 Home)

Purple-hued Browns: Former Vikings assistant coach Kevin Stefanski is in his first year of leading the Browns. Stefanski was with the Vikings from 2006-19, most recently as the offensive coordinator. Cleveland also signed former Vikings QB Case Keenum and S Andrew Sendejo during free agency.

Preseason Week 4: Vikings vs Seahawks

Time/Date: 7 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, Sept. 3

Broadcast Info (TV/Radio): FOX 9 in the Twin Cities/KFAN 100.3-FM and Vikings Radio Network

Preseason series: Vikings are 10-8 in 18 games (1979 Away, 1982 Home, 1983 Away, 1985 Home, 1986 Away, 1993 Home, 1994 Away, 1997 at Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, 2004 Away, 2005 Away, 2007 Away, 2008 Home, 2010 Home, 2011 Away, 2016 Away, 2017 Away, 2018 Home, 2019 Home)

Streaks continue: Would it really be a preseason without a game against the Seahawks? At this point, no. The teams are scheduled for the fifth consecutive preseason (and third consecutive regular season). PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 5/16/20

Zimmer Preparing for 'Normal' But Mindful of Possible Adjustments

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — The offseason program for NFL teams is obviously far from normal this year.

Players are distance learning and making workout accommodations, and Head Coach Mike Zimmer is blending football, farming and family time at Zimmer Ridge Ranch in Northern Kentucky.

Zimmer explained Wednesday during a call with media members that he and the team are approaching plans for the season as if everything that has been altered because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be returned to normalcy by the scheduled go time.

One has to start somewhere, right?

"We're planning on the season being normal, as best we can, and then obviously we'd have to adjust with everything," Zimmer said. "It's just the uncertainty of knowing where we're at … like everybody in the world right now. 'When can we go to dinner? When can we go to a restaurant? When can we go to the gym?' Really, for us, it's not any different other than we have an assumption of when we might get back, and then we'll adjust to it when that happens."

FOX 9's Hobie Artigue (Die Hard LSU Fan) Breaks Down the Top Moments of Justin Jefferson's College Career The 2020 schedule was released last week, and Minnesota is slated to open its 60*th*NFL season by hosting Green Bay during a Kickoff Weekend for the first time, but NFL facilities have been closed for two months. Players voted and approved (by just 60 votes) a new CBA in March as much of the sports world was screeching to a halt.

Zimmer was asked if the current uncertainty could be compared to what occurred during the lockout/work stoppage of 2011. When teams and players were unable to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement, facilities closed in March and didn't reopen until July 25. An agreement on a 10-year deal allowed the reopening.

Zimmer, who was an established defensive coordinator with the Bengals at the time, didn't remember the exact timeline but said "there was plenty of time to get the season ready."

"I'm not really concerned about if they give us five weeks or three weeks or whatever it is; we'll figure out how to best utilize those particular weeks," Zimmer said. "It's fortunate for us, like I said, we have a lot of veterans offensively. I'll be more concerned about working with the technique of each and every player when they get here. That might take three weeks – who knows? Each player's a little bit different. But that will be the biggest factor. Because you can't just roll the ball out and play. You can't just say, 'Hey, here's your playbook; now you go out and play.' It doesn't work like that. They know what to do, but they don't know how to do it."

Zimmer is preparing for his seventh season as Minnesota's head coach.

The Vikings were able to build a strong degree of continuity around quarterback Kirk Cousins by promoting Gary Kubiak to offensive coordinator after Kevin Stefanski's departure to become head coach of the Cleveland Browns. There are returning players up front, in the backfield and at tight end. is back as well, but the receivers room will have multiple new additions, including free-agent signee Tajaé Sharpe and first-round pick Justin Jefferson.

The defense is poised to have the biggest overhaul of starters during Zimmer's tenure, but Co-Defensive Coordinators Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer have several years of experience with the defense and returning players.

Some have wondered if the scheduling of Cincinnati (close to Zimmer Ridge Ranch) and Cleveland (the connection with Stefanski) as Minnesota's road preseason opponents could lead to joint practices. Prior to opening the 2016 preseason, the Vikings held joint practices with the Bengals in Cincinnati where Zimmer was an assistant for from 2008-13. Lewis was replaced by Zac Taylor last season.

Garafolo: Vikings Are 'A Really Dangerous Team' Entering 2020 The Vikings are scheduled to host the Texans and Seahawks for their preseason home games. Minnesota held joint practices with Jacksonville before hosting the Jaguars during the 2018 preseason. Houston and Seattle, however, are on Minnesota's regular-season schedule, and it would be hard to fathom teams wanting to give any kind of direct scouting report, even if they could perhaps glean information in return.

Zimmer explained his current mindset when asked if teams might be more or less likely to schedule joint practices.

"Before all of this happened, I had a couple of teams call and ask if we would want to practice together," he said. "I've thought about it a little bit. The problem I foresee in having the joint practices is you may not be able to get your guys up to speed fast enough for what they have to do, as opposed to worrying about another player.

"If it gets down to it, I can see there might be, again, depending on how much time we have during training camp or before the games, or all of those things, I could possibly see having maybe a one-day practice against a team," Zimmer added. "I don't know that I want to spend two or three days when you're trying to get your team ready to play."

Zimmer said the virtual meetings are going well but added that the rookies are behind, which isn't an uncommon sentiment this time of year. The biggest discrepancy is a lack of opportunity to make on-field corrections, a valuable part of developing young players and helping them transition.

Zimmer also is staying informed of plans through communication with Vikings Vice President of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer Eric Sugarman.

"Eric Sugarman is the head of a committee, so he fills me in all the time on where they're at and what they're thinking and what they're hoping for," Zimmer said. "I let him talk to the team a fair amount. I just tell them, 'The better we prepare ourselves to understand what we may have to go through, and what we have to do initially, especially early, it may end up giving us an advantage in how we can go out and go play.' "

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 5/16/20

10 Intriguing Non-Division Matchups on Vikings Schedule

By Craig Peters, Lindsey Young and Eric Smith

The Vikings 2020 schedule was released last week, and there are a plethora of matchups and storylines to anticipate.

Minnesota is scheduled to play six contests against division rivals in Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay. The Vikings are slated to open the 2020 season in historic fashion at home against the Packers, and will then close out the regular season on the road against the Lions.

But take away the recurring NFC North battles, and there are still 10 games that include plenty of top-level competition.

Intriguing matchups between the Vikings and their non-division foes include the following:

Week 2 at Colts: WR Adam Thielen and CB Xavier Rhodes | by @Eric_L_Smith

In recent years, one of the best battles in training camp practices was when Adam Thielen lined up against Xavier Rhodes.

This was especially true in 2017 when Thielen made his first Pro Bowl and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors after recording 91 catches for 1,276 yards and four scores. Rhodes, meanwhile, turned in a First-Team All-Pro season at cornerback and was a Second-Team All-Pro selection as a defensive back.

In 2017, and other years, the Thielen vs. Rhodes matchup made for great practice theater. Now, the former teammates will try to best one another in Indianapolis, and both should have something to prove.

Thielen navigated through a frustrating 2019 season in which he dealt with a nagging hamstring injury that limited him to 30 catches, 418 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. He had 26 of those catches for 366 yards and five touchdowns in Minnesota's first six games before suffering the injury during a touchdown catch at Detroit.

Rhodes was released by the Vikings in March, seven years after the team made him a first-round pick. He was recently signed by the Colts, and will make his home debut against his former team.

Eric Kendricks' 77-Yard Pick-Six vs. Titans RELATED LINKS Analyzing Vikings 4th Quarter of 2020 NFL Schedule: Buccaneers, Bears, Saints and Lions Analyzing Vikings 3rd Quarter of 2020 Schedule: Bears, Cowboys, Panthers and Jaguars Analyzing Vikings 2nd Quarter of 2020 Schedule: Seahawks, Falcons, Packers and Lions Analyzing Vikings 1st Quarter of 2020 Schedule: Packers, Colts, Titans and Texans Vikings Historic Season Opener vs. Packers Generates Most Buzz on Twitter Vikings to Visit Saints for Rare Christmas Day Game Week 3 vs Titans: LB Eric Kendricks and RB Derrick Henry | by @Eric_L_Smith

This matchup features two of the best players at their respective positions.

Kendricks stands at 6-foot and 232 pounds, and is actually smaller than the bruising Henry, who is listed at 6-3 and 247 pounds.

But there's a reason the linebacker has led the Vikings in tackles since he was a 2015 second-round pick. He also raised his national profile in 2019 by nabbing First-Team All-Pro honors.

Kendricks could face his toughest challenge of the year in Henry, who led the league with 1,540 rushing yards and tied for first with 16 rushing scores in 2019. And that was before he ripped off back-to-back games with 180-plus rushing yards in the playoffs to help the Titans reach the AFC title game.

This early-season matchup could have a playoff feel with the physicality that is expected between these two.

Week 4 at Texans: RT Brian O'Neill and DE J.J. Watt | by @Eric_L_Smith

Brian O'Neill blossomed into one of the NFL's top young right tackles in 2019, as analytics website Pro Football Focus noted he did not allow a sack during 969 offensive snaps in the regular season.

A second-round pick in 2018, O'Neill has bulked up and become a leader on the Vikings offensive line.

But he'll face a likely future Hall of Famer on the road in Week 4 when lining up against Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who is tied for fourth among active players with 96.0 career sacks.

Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and has garnered five First-Team All-Pro nods and five Pro Bowls in his nine-season career. He has been bitten by injuries in recent years, playing in just 32 total games over the past four seasons.

But when healthy, Watt is among the most dominant players in the game. It's a test that O'Neill will certainly welcome and embrace. hunter-wilson Week 5 at Seattle: DE Danielle Hunter and QB Russell Wilson | by @LindseyMNSports

Stop me if you've heard this one before … the Vikings will face the Seahawks on the road – in prime time.

It will be the third consecutive season for Minnesota to play in Seattle, but this matchup will take place on Sunday Night Football and in October rather than December. Will the Vikings be able to end their four-game losing streak at CenturyLink Field?

Hunter could play a big part in the equation when Week 5 rolls around.

In the Vikings past two regular-season meetings with the Seahawks, Minnesota defenders have been able to sack QB Russell Wilson just four times total; Hunter has accounted for two of those. Wilson has proven to be Houdini-like, demonstrating an ability to scramble, get out of tough situations and make a play at the last second.

Wilson notched his third career 4,000-yard season in 2019. He finished the campaign 341-of-516 passing for 4,110 yards, 31 touchdowns and just five (a career-low). His passer rating was 106.3.

Hunter had quite the season himself.

The defensive end started all 16 games and racked up 14.5 sacks. Hunter, who turned 25 in October, became the youngest player in NFL history (since 1982) to record 50 career sacks when he surpassed the benchmark against the Lions in Week 13.

While Wilson isn't Seattle's only weapon, containing him will be key in having a shot at the West Coast win – and Hunter is raring for his third-straight chance at the six-time Pro Bowler.

Week 6 vs Atlanta: Vikings Young CBs and WR Julio Jones | by @pcraigers

The Vikings rebuild at the cornerback position this offseason is well-documented with the selection of Jeff Gladney (first round), Cameron Dantzler (third round) and (fifth round). The Vikings longest-tenured corners are 2018 first-round selection Mike Hughes and his classmate Holton Hill, an undrafted free agent.

It's also no secret the Falcons can air it out. Even though Atlanta has given quarterback Matt Ryan multiple options, Julio Jones remains the focal point. The receiver ranks third among active players with 12,125 career yards.

Jones' total of 1,394 yards in 2019 ranked second in the NFL but was 283 fewer than his league-leading 1,677 in 2018.

The seven-time Pro Bowler has averaged 96.2 receiving yards over the course of 126 regular-season games. In four games against Minnesota since 2014, however, Jones has averaged just 48.3 yards per game.

Minnesota implemented a variety of methods that included Rhodes shadowing Jones, as well as blending some other coverages. The Vikings pressured Ryan with a sack by Anthony Barr on the first play of the game and never really let the quarterback settle into a rhythm.

Anthony Harris recorded the first of two interceptions on the day by taking advantage of help over the top and undercutting Jones' route. Eric Kendricks also recorded two pass breakups on passes intended for Jones, who finished the day with six catches, 31 yards and a late touchdown on 11 targets.

Full Highlights: Vikings 28, Cowboys 24 Week 11 vs Dallas: HC Mike Zimmer and HC Mike McCarthy | by @LindseyMNSports

Seeing Head Coach Mike McCarthy on an opposing sideline is nothing new for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer.

Seeing McCarthy leading Zimmer's original NFL team, however, certainly is.

Zimmer, who served as the Cowboys defensive coordinator from 2000-06 (and as the DBs coach from 1994-99), will face Dallas in its first season under McCarthy after the team moved on from Jason Garrett.

McCarthy most recently served as the Packers head coach from 2006-18, during which Green Bay was 125-77-2 in the regular season and 10-8 in the playoffs. In the five seasons McCarthy and Zimmer overlapped in the NFC North division, Minnesota went 5-4-1 against Green Bay.

The two coaches have faced each other a total of 14 times since McCarthy became an offensive coordinator (Saints) for the first time in 2000; in that span, Zimmer's teams are 7-6-1 against McCarthy's squads.

Since Zimmer took the helm in Minnesota in 2014, the Vikings are 1-1 against the Cowboys.

Worth noting, however, is that Zimmer missed the 2016 Thursday Night Football game at U.S. Bank Stadium due to emergency eye surgery.

Week 12 vs Carolina: S Harrison Smith and QB | by @pcraigers

Smith has shown his talents as a blitzer and a bluffer over the years, particularly within Zimmer's system since 2014, which conveniently was Bridgewater's first season in Minnesota.

The safety has made five consecutive Pro Bowls, is the franchise leader among defensive backs with 13 career sacks and ranks seventh in team history with 23 career interceptions.

Bridgewater won 17 of his first 28 starts for the Vikings and was ready to take another step forward in 2016 but suffered a devastating, non-contact knee injury during the final practice before the regular season. He only appeared in one game thereafter for the Vikings, a sentimental reward for his perseverance in 2017.

After two seasons in New Orleans, including 2019 when he went 5-0 in filling in for Drew Brees, Bridgewater is poised to be Carolina's top QB and make his first start against the team that drafted him.

Week 13 vs Jacksonville: RB Dalvin Cook and Jaguars Run Defense | by @pcraigers

Call it Dalvin against "DUUUVAL."

The Miami native will face the team that is located in Duval County, which has lended itself to a chant embraced by Jaguars fans, for the first time.

Jacksonville ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing touchdowns allowed (23) and average yards per rush by an opponent (5.1) in 2019. The touchdowns allowed were up from 16 in 2018 and nine in 2017, which ranked 21st and sixth, respectively, in the NFL.

Cook burst loose for 13 rushing touchdowns a year ago, which ranked fourth in the NFL, after totaling four scores on the ground through his first two seasons.

The Jaguars also ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed last season at a clip of 139.3 per game after ranking 19th in 2018 (116.9) and tying for 21st in 2017 (116.3).

A total of 1,069 of the 2,229 rushing yards allowed by Jacksonville in 2019 were gained after contact, which was the second-greatest yardage allowed in the NFL last season behind only Cincinnati.

Cook ranked ninth in the NFL with 596 yards after contact in 2019 when he rushed for a career-best 1,135 yards.

Barr Wins The Game In Overtime Week 14 at Tampa Bay: LB Anthony Barr and QB Tom Brady/TE Rob Gronkowski | by @LindseyMNSports

Fans will see a famed duo in Week 14 … but in different colors and at a different stadium.

When the Vikings travel to Tampa Bay, they're slated to match up against former Patriots QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski, the latter of whom did not play in 2019 but came out of retirement and was acquired by the Bucs via trade.

After a full two decades in New England, Brady is entering Season 21 with a new team but will be plenty settled in by the time the Vikings come to town.

While his numbers did see some decline last season, he's a six-time Super Bowl champ. Brady finished the 2019 campaign 373-of-613 passing for 4,057 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His passer rating was 88.0, the lowest since 2013 (87.3).

Gronkowski played 13 games for the Patriots in 2018 and recorded 47 catches for 682 yards and three touchdowns, a drop-off from 2017's 1,084 yards and eight scores.

The longtime teammates should be a fun matchup for Barr, who's played against them as Patriots twice since being drafted by the Vikings in 2014. Most recently, Barr made six solo tackles (press box stats) – including a stop of Gronkowski that helped stop New England's drive just before halftime – against the Patriots in 2018.

None of Barr's 15.0 career sacks have come against Brady, but he'll have a chance come December.

The last time Barr played at Tampa Bay was his rookie season when he forced a by tight end Austin Seferian- Jenkins and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown in overtime.

Week 16 at Saints: QB Kirk Cousins and DE Cam Jordan | by @Eric_L_Smith

Kirk Cousins has had plenty of big wins in his career, but perhaps none have been as massive as the Vikings 26-20 overtime thriller over the Saints in the Wild Card round in January.

The Vikings quarterback — who played turnover-free football and had a passer rating of 96.4 — engineered a beautiful, game-winning drive in overtime that helped him notch his first postseason win.

Cousins will now return to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the site of that win, for another big-time matchup against an emerging rival. And this one comes on Christmas Day for a national audience.

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan knows the Vikings well. He was at U.S. Bank Stadium last year when his father, former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan, was inducted to the Vikings Ring of Honor.

But there's no love lost between Jordan and the Vikings. The prolific pass rusher with 87.0 career sacks and five Pro Bowl appearances has also been on the losing end of some bitter postseason losses to Minnesota.

Cousins will try to replicate his sterling performance in a high-stakes matchup, while Jordan will be the one trying to bring him down.

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