Daily Clips Monday, August 20, 2018
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DAILY CLIPS MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2018 LOCAL NEWS: Monday, August 20, 2018 Star Tribune Lower your heads and ponder new NFL rules By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/lower-your-heads-and-ponder-new-nfl-rules/491229931/ As Mike Boone shines against Jaguars, Vikings' RB competition heats up By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/as-mike-boone-shines-against-jaguars-vikings-rb-competition-heats-up/491209591/ Pioneer Press With injuries piling up, Aviante Collins proving to be utility man Vikings need By Dane Mizutani https://www.twincities.com/2018/08/19/with-injuries-piling-up-aviante-collins-proving-to-be-utility-man-vikings-need/ Vikings.com Monday Morning Mailbag: Battle For Third RB Spot, Situation at Offensive Line, More By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/monday-morning-mailbag-battle-for-third-rb-spot-situation-at-offensive-line-more VIKING Update Sunday slant: Backup linemen quickly learn value of versatility By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Vikings-linemen-quickly-learn-value-of-versatility-120820568/ Vikings backups gained valuable experience, team ‘wakeup call?’ By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Vikings-vs-Jaguars-Backups-gained-valuable-experience-starters-get- wakeup-call-120819992/ 1500 ESPN Where every position battle stands after the Vikings’ second preseason game By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/08/every-position-battle-stands-vikings-second-preseason-game/ Zulgad: When is a sack not a sack? Answer won’t thrill most By Judd Zulgad http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/08/zulgad-sack-not-sack-answer-wont-thrill/ Report: Vikings CB Alexander ‘escaped serious injury’ with ankle issue By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/08/report-vikings-cb-alexander-escaped-serious-injury-ankle-issue/ PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/20/18 Lower your heads and ponder new NFL rules By Mark Craig Halfway through the NFL preseason, the Vikings haven’t lowered their heads. But they sure are scratching them as they try to understand the league’s new rules on player safety. “At the end of the day, this whole rule deal is sketchy, at best,” Vikings defensive end Brian Robison said after Saturday’s 14-10 loss to Jacksonville at U.S. Bank Stadium. “I don’t think we know exactly what’s supposed to happen. … I think we’re all confused about it. You ask the refs and they might be confused about it.” In two preseason games, no Viking has been flagged for lowering his helmet to initiate contact. Opposing teams have been called for it three times, including twice on Jacksonville. But Vikings backup linebacker Antwione Williams was penalized for what, apparently, was a violation of another point of emphasis this preseason: driving the quarterback into the turf. With five minutes left in Saturday’s game and the Vikings leading 10-7, Williams made what appeared, in real time, to be exactly what the NFL wants in a sack. His head was to the side of Cody Kessler. Contact was initiated by the shoulder. The perfect midfield sack to secure field position late in a game, right? Not exactly. Roughing the passer. Fifteen-yard penalty. Goodbye, field position. Goodbye, lead. Hello, confusion, controversy and conflicting views on the future of the NFL. Coach Mike Zimmer was angry. He yelled at the officials while pointing to the replay on the big screen. But, by the time he spoke to reporters after the game, Zimmer was in agreement with the officials. “If [Williams] had just rolled [off Kessler],” Zimmer said. “But he kind of pumped him into the turf. So, I think that was a good call.” Zimmer probably knows that any complaining he does about the new rules just makes it tougher to continue teaching the players how to accept and abide by them. Asked how tough it would have been for Williams to do what Zimmer explained, the coach shrugged and said, “That’s the rule, so we have to do it.” Williams accepted the penalty as a learning experience in a new league order. “I just have to try and lay to the side more,” he said. “Just try to get used to the new rules. The refs are trying to get used to it, as well. We’re all in the learning process right now.” The Jaguars were flagged 13 times for 140 yards. Four of those were 15-yarders for the kinds of hits the NFL wants out of the game. Besides the two for lowering the helmet, Jacksonville was flagged for a blind-side block and hitting a defenseless receiver. The first flag for lowering the helmet came early in the first quarter when cornerback A.J. Bouye initiated contact with Vikings fullback C.J. Ham. Ham also lowered his helmet to brace for contact right after catching a short pass. “That could have easily been called on me, too,” Ham said. “But playing the game, the first thing you do when bracing for contact like that is to lower your whole body. I suppose both of us could have done a better job keeping our heads up in that situation. We’re all learning.” Bouye told reporters after the game that he was just trying to go low so he wouldn’t be run over by a bigger player. He also said Ham should have been penalized as well. Another week, another feeling-out process for the players, coaches and officials. “It’s leading to less aggressive play,” Robison said. “Now guys are slowing up on a play, they might get hurt. To me, if you slow up on a play, it’s going to weaken the strength of our game. “And I understand what the NFL is trying to do. They’re trying to cut down on a lot of the head injuries and stuff like that. But it’s just confusing, to be honest with you.” PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/20/18 As Mike Boone shines against Jaguars, Vikings' RB competition heats up By Ben Goessling In the Vikings’ first preseason game, Roc Thomas stole the show with a pair of receiving touchdowns, including a 76-yard score off a screen pass that highlighted the rookie free agent’s versatility as an option to help replace Jerick McKinnon in the Vikings’ offense. On Saturday, it was Mike Boone’s turn. The Cincinnati product gained 91 yards on 13 carries, including a 26-yard burst that turned out to be the Vikings’ longest play of the day. And a week after allowing a sack when he reacted late to a blitz up the middle, Boone appeared to take a step forward in pass protection in the Vikings’ 14-10 loss to the Jaguars. “Mike stepped up on that last drive on the fourth down and blocked the defensive end,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “You could hear the pads pop; he displaced the guy and gave Kyle a chance to step up and make the throw. It’s stuff like that too, with a trained eye, you love to see from a young running back.” And so the Vikings’ competition for the third running back spot is on, with Thomas chipping in another 37 yards from scrimmage on Saturday. The Vikings will likely give their starters more playing time on Friday night against Seattle — and while coach Mike Zimmer continued to play coy after the game about using Dalvin Cook in the preseason, it stands to reason the Vikings would do so Friday night if they decide to use the running back before the regular-season opener. That might leave fewer opportunities for Boone and Thomas against the Seahawks, but they’d have plenty in the preseason finale on Aug. 30 in Tennessee. The running back competition figures to remain close until then. “That’s what we come here to do: to compete, to make plays,” Boone said. “That’s the goal every game — not just because Roc played well in that game [against Denver]. I try to come every game and put my best foot forward.” Here are some other quick-hit thoughts after the Vikings’ second preseason game: Busy day for Aviante Collins: The second-year tackle started on the right side in place of Rashod Hill on Saturday, playing ahead of second-round pick Brian O’Neill. “I just thought he had a better week,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “He battled all week long, I thought he had a better week. Aviante is a very good athlete, got good strength and size to him. The way they were rushing some of the guys, some of the power rushes, I felt like he would be better.” Collins shifted to left tackle after Riley Reiff came out of the game with the rest of the Vikings’ established starters, then moved to left guard after injuries forced the Vikings to shuffle the group further. In total, he played 49 snaps, more than any other offensive player. The Vikings kept Collins on their 53-man roster last year, and he’d seem like a good bet to make the team again. Vikings keep moving Hughes: First-round pick Mike Hughes got some work with the Vikings’ top nickel defense after Mackensie Alexander left with an ankle injury in the first quarter, and the Vikings followed by playing Hughes for a few snaps at left cornerback with their top base defense. Before Alexander was injured Saturday, the Vikings returned to a similar plan at the nickel spot to the one they used last year, playing Terence Newman when they were in nickel in potential running situations and bringing Alexander in on obvious passing downs.