DAILY CLIPS

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020 LOCAL NEWS: Saturday, June 20, 2020

Pioneer Press

Expect to see Vikings rookie in slot ‘quite a bit’ next season By Dane Mizutani https://www.twincities.com/2020/06/19/expect-to-see-vikings-rookie-justin-jefferson-in-slot-quite-a-bit-next-season/

Star Tribune

Vikings mailbag: What's the plan at guard? Expectations for Justin Jefferson, ? By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/vikings-mailbag-whats-the-plan-at-guard-expectations-for-justin-jefferson-jeff- gladney/571367702/

Purple Insider

Friday mailbag: NFL Blitz, odds of Cousins regression and hot seats By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/friday-mailbag-nfl-blitz-odds-of

NATIONAL NEWS: Saturday, June 20, 2020

Maven Media

86 Days Until Vikings Football: Brandon Dillon Player Preview By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/86-days-vikings-football-countdown-brandon-dillon-preview

Top Five Candidates to be the Vikings' Punt Returner in 2020 By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/top-five-candidates-vikings-punt-returner-2020

Chris Simms Ranks 13th on His Top 40 NFL Quarterbacks List By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/chris-simms-kirk-cousins-top-40-nfl-quarterbacks-ranking

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Saturday, June 20, 2020

Pick 6 Mailbag Featuring PA: Vikings Over or Unders For The 2020 Season By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/pick-6-mailbag-featuring-pa-vikings-over-or-unders-for-the-2020-season

Anthony Harris Joins Fox Football Now By Fox Sports 1 http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=4e44f70b-28d6-4652-af2a-47708e853b2d

Vikings Diving into Defense By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=b9ba6adc-5d1b-4f64-9429-89d131dd5ca0

Time to Schein Ranks Division by QBs By CBS Sports Network http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=44604058-62f0-45d4-b0d5-6ed13c723e1b

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Saturday, June 20, 2020

Lunchbreak: Spielman's View Through 'A Totally Different Lens' By Craig Peters and Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/rick-spielman-family-through-a-totally-different-lens

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 6/20/20

Expect to see Vikings rookie Justin Jefferson in slot ‘quite a bit’ next season

By Dane Mizutani

Whether he likes it or not, rookie receiver Justin Jefferson has big shoes to fill next season as the replacement for former fan favorite . That much was set in stone when the Vikings made him the No. 22 pick in April’s NFL draft.

As for where Jefferson is going to line up, offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak offered a hint this week, saying he expects to use him “quite a bit” out of the slot.

“That”s something he’s exceptional at,” Kubiak said. “We have to get Justin caught up on all those things (we do offensively) and then it’s my job to put him in the best possible position to be successful.”

To say Jefferson excelled out of the slot last season at LSU would be putting it lightly. He finished with 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns while showcasing soft hands and impressive route-running skills as a separation savant.

The biggest concern about playing Jefferson out of the slot is that has thrived in that spot in the past. In a perfect world for the Vikings, Jefferson and Thielen would be able to move inside and outside seamlessly to keep opposing teams off balance.

In that sense, it’s good that Jefferson has proven capable of playing all over the field throughout his collegiate career.

“I think what he was asked to do last season was very beneficial,” Kubiak said. “He was playing inside in a lot of bunch sets. He was playing in the backfield sometimes. He was moving around a bunch. He runs a lot of choice routes. That’s a way of getting the best player the ball in our league.”

It sounds like the Vikings are committed to getting Jefferson the ball next season, though Kubiak noted he wants to make sure not to inundate his young receiver with too much information.

“We have to be smart when we get these guys in here,” Kubiak said. “It’s going to be about the season and not about the first day. We have a plan in place and Justin is doing his part. Now, hopefully here pretty soon, it’ll be time for us to do our part.”

TALENT UP FRONT While the Vikings lost veterans Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph this offseason, co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson still seems genuinely excited about the defensive linemen on the roster.

Aside from superstar leading the charge, the Vikings boast tons of depth up front, including the recently signed Michael Pierce, the up-and-coming Ifeadi Odenigbo, plus depth players like Shamar Stephen and Jaleel Johnson, among others.

“Don’t forget Hercules Mata’afa, too,” Patterson said. “I’m excited about that group. There’s great talent within the group. There’s a good mix of experience and youth. You’ve still got a good group of guys that are working to continue to progress their games, and I think we’ve got some guys that are ready to turn the corner. It’s going to be a great competition with that group throughout training camp to see how it’s going to figure itself out.”

This could be a breakout season for Odenigbo, in particular, as he’s likely to garner more playing time than ever before.

“He made great strides last season and he’s a tremendous hard worker,” Patterson said. “I know he’s busting his tail right now to continue to improve. As a matter of fact, I have to talk to him about not over-training and not working too hard. And I think the leadership part of it comes natural. You can’t make anybody be a leader. It just comes natural.”

BIG, BIG UPSIDE It seems like only a matter of time before the dynamic Irv Smith Jr. takes the torch from longtime tight end Kyle Rudolph.

As a rookie last season, Smith learned the intricacies of the position, refining his skills as an offensive weapon, while also developing his skills as a blocker.

He started to find his niche as time wore on and it’s reasonable to think he will take on an ever bigger role next season.

“I think there’s a big, big upside here,” Kubiak said. “I love him as a kid and as a competitor. He really enjoys coming to work every day and he’s benefited from sitting back there right next to Rudy every day and watching a seasoned pro go about it. I think there’s a lot more there, and he’s going to give it to us, and I’ve got to make sure that I get him in position to do that.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 6/20/20

Vikings mailbag: What's the plan at guard? Expectations for Justin Jefferson, Jeff Gladney?

By Andrew Krammer

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for this week’s Vikings mailbag, via social media or e-mail. The team ended its virtual offseason program this week, sending players away from the digital classroom with tentative plans for training camp in late July. Let’s get started:

From @KiddCann: What the heck are we going to do about our guard situation? The position was terrible last year and it looks to have gotten worse.

AK: Josh Kline, who refused a pay cut in March and was cut, is still a free agent. As are veteran guards Larry Warford, Ronald Leary and Mike Person. Only a handful of NFL offensive lines are truly settled at this point and the Vikings are not among them. If a game were played tomorrow, the guards project to be Pat Elflein and ; the duo started three games (Bears, Eagles and Broncos) together last season. But the Vikings also have three open roster spots and could fill them with veteran help once facilities reopen for practices. Behind Elflein and Dozier, the Vikings coaching staff has expressed optimism about second-year guard after he was essentially redshirted as a rookie. Aviante Collins, the fourth-year lineman, can also play every position and shouldn’t be overlooked after injuries have stunted his career so far.

From @Ornelas_Edward: What do you expect the defensive line rotation to look like this season?

AK: Perhaps not as robust this time around, at least at defensive end where journeyman Anthony Zettel and rookie D.J. Wonnum have been the replacements for Everson Griffen and . The Vikings have high expectations for Ifeadi Odenigbo, who may earn a starting role in his fourth NFL season; said co-coordinator Andre Patterson: “I’m excited about Ifeadi to continue to improve as a player. He made great strides last year, and he’s a tremendously hard worker. I know he’s busting his tail right now … as a matter of fact, I have to talk to him about not over-training.” But inexperience mostly trails star end Danielle Hunter, even if the group includes DE/DT . The middle could provide a broader mix. Defensive tackles Michael Pierce and Shamar Stephen are flanked by Jaleel Johnson, , Hercules Mata’afa and rookie James Lynch.

From @SnakeEyez1997: Better No. 2 receiver opening day: Justin Jefferson or Tajae Sharpe?

AK: Justin Jefferson. The Vikings’ first-round pick is expected to be a Week 1 starter after he was the receptions leader in an historic LSU offense. Jefferson should have multiple roles based on what Vikings coaches view as a solid foundation thanks to his college coaching. Said coordinator Gary Kubiak: “What he was asked to do last year was very beneficial. You turn on the film, he was playing inside, but he was playing inside in like a lot of bunch sets. He was playing in the backfield sometimes. He was moving around a bunch. He runs a lot of choice routes; that’s a way of getting your best player the ball in our league.”

As Kubiak said, Jefferson made his mark as LSU’s slot receiver. That’s where the Vikings envision playing him “quite a bit,” according to Kubiak, but he’ll also run routes from the outside, especially if paired with Adam Thielen in the common two-tight end formations. Veteran Tajae Sharpe, the former Titans receiver who signed a one-year deal in March, provides reliable depth and a potential No. 3 receiver. He’s a smooth route runner. But Jefferson is a stud athlete and is expected to arrive ready to be the Vikings’ present and future.

From @weinstock_jake: If I told you only one of and Anthony Harris would receive an extension this offseason, which one would you bet on? What terms would you predict?

AK: Dalvin Cook, in this hypothetical scenario where one must be chosen. If only because Cook is the spearhead to how head coach Mike Zimmer wants his offense to attack. Zimmer is also a few months removed from saying, “if you put up the positions most important on defense, it’s probably not going to be safety.” That’s without context that the Vikings have clearly valued Harrison Smith and, with an $11.4 million franchise tag, eventually stuck by Anthony Harris after initially trying to trade him to Cleveland. That doesn’t mean the Vikings will make Cook a higher-paid running back than Christian McCaffery ($16 million/year), but it’s possible to get his average annual salary among those top backs (No. 2 is Ezekiel Elliott at $15 million) with fine print tying much of the guarantees to Cook’s health. The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling went further into Cook’s negotiations in this Access Vikings podcast.

From @bigbadragz: What’s the plan behind both starting safeties? Are we rolling with the two rookies?

AK: The Vikings’ turnover behind Smith and Harris might be overlooked with the focus on new . But after Jayron Kearse and Andrew Sendejo signed elsewhere in free agency, the Vikings will be relying on youth in sixth- round pick and seventh-round pick Brian Cole II. Fifth-round corner has some traits to possibly play safety, according to director of college scouting Jamaal Stephenson. The Vikings front office had inquired about signing at least two veteran safeties in Jeff Heath and Will Parks, according to league sources, but they signed elsewhere.

From @JoelStegman: Do you think that the Vikings’ perfect plan for is one where Hughes, Hill, and Dantzler are the outside corners with Gladney in the slot? Or do they hope someone else is their slot guy?

AK: Not many rookies start in the nickel role under Mike Zimmer, with Mike Hughes in 2018 being an exception; was inactive in the opener due to injury. One of the Vikings’ first moves under Zimmer was to sign veteran slot defender Captain Munnerlyn in 2014. Then Terence Newman held the position down until Alexander proved ready. If Hughes is healthy, I’d guess he’ll get the first say as the most experienced corner (just 20 starts into his NFL career). First-round pick Jeff Gladney moved inside and followed star receivers for TCU’s defense, which attracted the Vikings. He’ll probably play often, but at this point it’s easier to project Hughes moving inside with some duo out of , Gladney and third-round pick defending the outside in nickel.

PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 6/20/20

Friday mailbag: NFL Blitz, odds of Cousins regression and hot seats

By Matthew Coller

Happy Friday everyone, let’s have a look what Vikings fans have on their minds this week…

@KyleBueckert: “What NFL player that is labeled a bust would have been elite if they were drafted by a different team?” Most recent guy to come to mind is Josh Rosen. In his first year he plays for the worst O-line in the NFL, his OC gets fired early in the season, his head coach is fired after the season, they trade him to a team that was tanking and might have had a worse offensive line. Now he looks like a bust.

Think about how opposite of that situation someone like Pat Mahomes fell into with a year behind Alex Smith to grow, Andy Reid as his head coach and weapons all over the field. Not that Rosen would be Mahomes but could he have been Jared Goff or Dak Prescott, who both had outstanding situations early in their careers? Maybe. Or maybe he is just awful. I don’t feel like we’ll get the answer to that any time soon.

Jabrill Peppers was a pretty exciting college player and played well against the Vikings last year but his defenses have been awful. Gregg Williams didn’t do him any favors. Maybe Curtis Samuel? The QB and OC situation in Carolina has been a mess the last few years and they’ve never really figured out his role.

Always wondered if Sam Bradford went somewhere else other than St. Louis. Certainly the injuries were his main issue but those early teams had horrific rosters. We saw his true talent come out in Minnesota with Diggs-Thielen. The top receiver in his fourth year with the team was Tavon Austin with 40 catches. Whew.

@gavrico26: “Will Cleveland be starting by Week 6? I think we might actually see a legitimate redshirt year from . The Vikings brought back because he actually did a terrific job filling in for Riley Reiff last year and I think after camp is over Hill is still the swing tackle. With a lack of OTAs and minicamps they would be asking Cleveland to take a massive leap forward into the NFL from Boise State.

I know it’s been mentioned that Cleveland could be like Brian O’Neill but they actually wanted O’Neill to sit for that first year, circumstances just forced him into action. Cleveland developing in practice/preseason etc. isn’t a bad thing. If he’s in the game by Week 6, my guess is that there were a bunch of injuries. With that said: Neither the Vikings or I have seen him actually practice yet so we’ll get a much better feel for how far he has to go when camp arrives.

@J_D_Cameron: “Can you give an overview of the defensive tackle positional battle?” First, Shamar Stephen will be playing. Think about someone in your life that you are completely irrational about — maybe your wife/husband or best friend — that’s the Vikings with Shamar Stephen. He’s a decent run stuffer who was solid in that role when they were the No. 1 defense in 2017 but Tom Johnson carried the load. Yet they played him almost 600 snaps last year (and he had six total pressures).

Stephen aside, Armon Watts is the favorite to see a good deal of playing time. His Week 17 last year was really excellent and everyone I’ve talked to was impressed with his quickness and bevy of pass rush moves at a young age. James Lynch will have a shot at an early pass rushing role. Beyond that, Jaleel Johnson, Jayln Holmes and Hercules Mata’afa’s jobs are all up in the air. Johnson played nose as Linval Joseph’s backup last year but Watts can handle that role if need be. Neither Holmes or Mata’afa made the slightest impact last year but we’ve seen so many players develop under Andre Patterson you can’t count them out.

@Andrew_Schuba: “Seems like the Vikings drafted a lot of team captains. Does that translate to the NFL at all? I know they like playbookworms like Harris and .” Often times the best player on a college team is going to wear the “C.” Think of it like the best kid in Little League playing shortstop. I’ve asked both Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer about this subject in the past and their answers were really interesting. Spielman said he always looks into a player’s “why.” Meaning their driving factor. Are playing to prove people wrong or for their loved one who supported them, that kind of thing. Zimmer said you don’t really know how bad somebody wants it until you have them there. The Vikings have drafted guys who were captains and great people who simply couldn’t handle the heat. It’s a really tough job that requires an insane amount of dedication.

Anthony Harris and Bisi Johnson have something the Vikings obsess over: Smarts. Two of the brightest guys in the locker room. Smarts isn’t just an IQ test, it’s also awareness. Both of them understood the path to becoming a regular. In Harris’s case, as a special teamer. In Bisi’s case, being the most prepared. He broke down his study habits last year in detail and basically he was spending all of his time working to get it right.

You’ll always have physical freaks who make it based on that alone but the Vikings have a great sense for which character traits translate best to an NFL atmosphere.

@Robertwrogge: “What are the odds that Cousins regresses this year due to the receiving corps? If Jefferson isn’t up to speed and Smith breaks out, is that enough?” Depends on what we mean by regress. He could end up with a better stat line because they’re in more shootouts but not play as well or win as many games because of Diggs’s absence. The X factors are certainly Jefferson and Smith. If we think about his first two years, there hasn’t been a single difference-making receiver not named Diggs or Thielen. If Jefferson and Smith are even decent (and Cook plays), Kirk will have the deepest group he’s had since 2016 with Washington. I think the NFL has always been this way but it really shows with more focus on the passing attack that having four or five guys who can do a few things well might be better than having one guy who is a superstar.

But if things go wrong — Smith/Jefferson both aren’t game-changers or there are injuries on the O-line etc. — we could see a more 2018-like performance from Cousins. And even without any of these things, the sheer fact that he set a career high in PFF grade and rating points to a drift back to the mean. Do we expect another month this year like his October last season? You wouldn’t bet on it.

@JesseJames3ball: “How can we trust this team to be anything other tham mediocre with a QB that is terrified to play in big games or in primetime?” I studied the primetime thing in 2018 and didn’t find any sort of trend that suggested he was actually worse, it was usually just the fact that his team was playing someone good. Though it’s hard to lose every MNF game. And one playoff game in which his team actually blew a lead and was forced to come back and win doesn’t prove his clutchness. The more I’ve investigated the “big game” Kirk thing, the more it seems to be that good teams can exploit his weaknesses. The Packers and 49ers with their interior rush, for example, just destroy Cousins because he doesn’t move off his spot in the pocket. There’s also times over a season where you need the QB to do something that wasn’t drawn up on a chalkboard and he isn’t really athletic enough to go off script and make miraculous throws — and he doesn’t have that gunslinger gene either.

So I don’t think he’s terrified, I think he’s vulnerable to certain circumstances that will pop up against good defenses. How can they be anything more than mediocre? We saw it last year. Kubiak moves him out of harm’s way, Dalvin Cook is great, he’s given the chance to throw downfield and he gets strong offensive line play. They can win the division with all that. That’s about as high as I’d put the ceiling at the moment.

@SirChrisAlot11: “Why did Peyton never get [criticized] for getting his slot receivers killed repeatedly?” Assuming we’re talking about Peyton Manning, nobody in history has ever thrown the seam route to tight ends and slot receivers better than him and he knew he was capable of getting it there even when he shouldn’t have. We remember Manning as the guy who was messing with people’s minds and throwing ducks late in his career but his early-2000s arm talent was ridiculous. The league was just switching into being less, uh, traumatic on receivers around that time. Used to require guts to go over the middle (and I don’t say this like I want those days back).

@Scott_Roberts25: “Why do so many organizations stress building strategically and then fall victim to knee-jerk reactions? Ex. would be Kirk/front office continuity after the Saints win.” Pressure. There are no cool heads in an NFL building. When things are going wrong it feels like the entire earth is caving in. You feel the tension in everyone from players to staff by the end of a roller coaster season. If we look at last year, it was dead-on expectations. Ten wins and a playoff win. Yet by the end of the year ownership is putting out press releases about the GM and coach’s status. Because after the loss to the Packers, it felt like they would never win another football game. And after the win over the Saints, it felt like Kirk was going to go and win the dang Super Bowl.

Sticking with Cousins puts a high floor on the team (and maybe a fairly low ceiling) which allows everyone to be in the hunt. If they didn’t sign Cousins to an extension and drafted Jalen Hurts with the intention of starting him in 2021, everyone knows they’re getting fired if he goes bust. Like that one guy said in Tommy Boy, “the guarantee is on the box” with Kirk. You know what you’re getting and now the coaches and GM can look at their jobs as finding the rest. There’s value in that, even if it would have been more exciting (and maybe better?) to let him go into the final year of the deal.

@Jeffcn16: “Do you see a change this preseason on how starters are used given the changes with COVID-19?” If the report that there are only going to be two preseason games comes to fruition, we might either see very little of the starters on the field (which is how it should have been anyway) or more key guys playing deep into those preseason games than we’d expect. Position battles are usually decided in practice (right Kyle Sloter fans?) but the guys who need to see some live action before they step into real NFL roles will eat up most of that playing time. Fourth quarters might include second and third teamers rather than being all the guys who will never see the field. You might see Justin Jefferson or Jeff Gladney play a whole game.

The ones who will get the shortest end of the stick are probably the undrafted players who can grab some attention with a big first preseason game and ride the momentum into a job. They might never touch the field. But it’s distinctly possible teams will be too afraid to have key guys out there with COVID still lurking and play only the inconsequential players. With everything COVID-related, it’s a complete guess because we’ve never seen anything like it before.

@SportsFanHoov: “Was last season the best that we will see from Kirk Cousins?” If I had to guess, I’d say yes but going to have another run at it in 2021. This year’s team should still be competitive and he has the system and OC in place to succeed but the O-line is still shaky and weapons have question marks. In the best case scenario for 2021, Jefferson will have a chance to emerge as a really good player, Smith will be a borderline star, Thielen will still be in his prime and Ezra Cleveland taking over at left tackle will give the Vikings a strong tackle duo and a chance with Riley Reiff’s big contract off the books to sign a top guard (if one doesn’t emerge) or even take one high in the 2021 draft. That’s a flowery outlook but not an unreasonable one.

If things don’t go as planned, Cousins is going to give you more 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 type seasons and get eliminated pretty quickly in the playoffs. Because he’s so dependent on the things around him, the answer to “how far can Kirk take them” is answered with: What’s his team look like and who are they playing?

@_RobYo: “Why should we think the O-line will be improved this year?” The best argument for improvement is that Year 1 for most linemen is a disaster so ’s rough debut wasn’t a surprise or indicative of what he may be able to do in the NFL. We’ll find out this year when he’s had a full offseason to prepare. They can’t get worse at guard so there’s that. And I think we’ll see Brian O’Neill be considered one of the best in the NFL at his position by the end of this year. Maybe some things break their way and Ezra Cleveland plays tackle and Riley Reiff moves inside or someone like Aviante Collins comes out of nowhere. That’s what they have to hope for. I would not guess that they are massively better though. The same weakness in the drop-back passing game will be there.

@PalpatinesRobes: “Do you think Anthony Barr’s role will change this year?” Someone else had a good reply to this question: We’re going to be talking about Barr changing roles until he’s retired, aren’t we? It makes sense and he’s brought it up in the past, it just never seems to happen. He’s had an extremely consistent pass rushing rate throughout his career at about one of every five pass plays, which is actually quite high for traditional linebackers, and he’s been very successful in his pressure rate during that time.

But beating tackles and rushing on blitzes are two completely different skills. I’d guess that Dom Capers’s impact is seen on more early-down blitzes than they’ve used in the past so maybe that results in more rushes for Barr but him consistently lining up as a defensive end doesn’t feel likely.

@KrisKUSTRADIO: “Did you ever play NFL Blitz? What was your team on the game? And did you ever play NFL Street? Easily Doug Flutie on the on NFL Blitz. He was so much fun to watch and one of the all-time great NFL stories. I don’t need them to create an updated game because my favorite part of playing old games is the players. My experience is basically just playing it with friends. I’m not good at the game, honestly. I usually just throw Da Bomb and see what happens. And I haven’t played NFL Street.

@BenJackson0812: “Which NFL coaches have the hottest seats going into the season?” Matt Nagy, Adam Gase, Dan Quinn and Matt Patricia come to mind. Low key ones might be Sean McVay, Doug Pederson and Mike Tomlin. I’m not sure I’d qualify Mike Zimmer as being on the hot seat but if things go south early, it could get there.

@TDerych: “Being that the league is pushing for social justice, if you had the chance to rename the Redskins, what would it be?” Call me crazy but The Washington Football Club sounds cool to me. I know it has a soccer feel but it has an historic feel to it for a franchise with a lot of history (albeit some of which is pretty darn regrettable). I wouldn’t want them to pick some random animal to replace it with or a lame reference to our forefathers.

@EzekielSayGrace: “What advantages do you think the stability/experience of Zimmer/Kubiak will have on the chaotic offseason?”

I can’t say for sure how the stability will translate to the field because these guys are professionals who can handle just about anything the NFL throws at them but it stands to reason that having only a few players on an entire roster that need to learn the system would be beneficial. Kirk Cousins knowing the offense well enough to help teach it when they do get on the field combined with some adaptations from last year of things that worked or didn’t work should play in their favor. And on defense, even though there’s new starters, a lot of those guys like Ifeadi Odenigbo, Mike Hughes etc. have been with Zimmer and know their jobs already.

But how different is that from other NFC contenders? The NFC North doesn’t have any new coaches. Neither does the NFC South, who they play this year. Tom Brady can handle a system change and has been working with teammates already. Ryan Tannehill is back in Tennessee. If anything having the same system keeps them from falling behind rather than helping them get ahead.

@PurplePeople80: “What are the differences between pass blocking for a traditional pass play vs. play-action? Why are O-linemen who are better run blockers better at play-action?

Blocking for play-action both gets D-linemen moving and it makes them hesitate with fear that they might overrun a running back coming out of the backfield if they rush upfield too quickly.

I don’t think O-linemen who are better run blockers are better at play-action, I think that everyone’s better at blocking with play-action it’s just that the teams that use it most usually design their O-lines around a running game like the Vikings or San Francisco.

@LiamSmith2002: “Assuming camp will be dramatically impacted, how big of a loss will the veterans on the roster be? Can see teams with continuity on the roster benefitting.” The cornerback position could be a problem if they need Jeff Gladney and Cam Dantzler to start but aside from that the Vikings still have players who know the system filling most of the openings on both sides of the ball. If Dru Samia starts at guard or Holton Hill is a starting outside corner or Irv Smith plays more of a role or Armon Watts starts at three-technique, all those guys know the systems. That’s why a particular year’s draft doesn’t have as much to do with the team’s W-L record as the previous year or two of drafting and development. They’re in a pretty good place with that. Whether someone like Odenigbo can play like Everson Griffen is highly questionable but he’ll know what Zimmer wants.

@BigRose9: “If you had to go with starting corners today, who would they be?” I’ll go Jeff Gladney, Holton Hill and Mike Hughes at nickel. They had every chance to cut Hill last year and stuck it out with him. You’d think that was because he can make a difference as a press and man coverage corner. That’s if I only get my choice of guys presently on the team. I’d prefer a veteran get added to the mix. Maybe a prove-it deal for Logan Ryan? Or Darqueze Dennard? Having no weak link is a big deal and right now we don’t know what the Vikings will get out of any of these players.

@Eli_Dewey: “How much do you think we’ll see of Gladney, Dantzler and the other rookies?” Gladney is a starter in pencil right now. That could definitely change. Zimmer didn’t play , Mack Alexander or Trae Waynes right away. Dantzler has a shot but I’d only put it at about 15-20% that he starts. I do have him as a “draft steal” though. The other guys are totally up in the air but one guy who could surprise everyone in some type of role is UDFA Nevelle Clark. He played 41 college games and is 23 years old, which gives a little leg up in terms of experience.

@BillFehlberg: “Is there a good book to look at the evolution of the modern offense? I’ve got the perfect thing for you: “The Genius of Desperation” by Doug Farrar. You’d be amazed by the arc of NFL innovation and how far back it goes. Great book.

@BIG_dannn: “Create the greatest Vikings practice squad in the past five years” Let’s see…

QB: Taylor Heineke

RB: CJ Ham

WR: Adam Thielen,

TE: MyCole Pruitt

OL: Uh…Colby Gossett?

DL: Stephen Weatherly, Ifeadi Odenigbo

LB: Eric Wilson and Elijah Lee

CB: Craig James?

S: Anthony Harris

@Cral_Pls: “O/U 6 wins for Chicago” Perfect over-under. It’s just so hard to see them being good. Mediocre, sure. But good? With two QBs who can’t get their career quarterback ratings out of the 80s? I’ll say over but at exactly seven wins.

@DanielVroman2: “What is the biggest challenge of Kubiak calling plays vs. Stefanski calling Kubiak’s system? Chemistry between Kubiak and Kirk, maybe? Stefanski was Cousins’s QB coach the year before and they seemed to be on the same page after the first few weeks when it came to play calling. Kubiak has as much experience as anyone in NFL history calling plays, so you would expect him to be as good or better. But play calling is tricky and judging it from the outside is even harder.

@mourlam720 “I have this weird feeling the Vikings are going to be a dumpster fire this year am I crazy for thinking that?” It’s the Vikings so you are never crazy for anything that you think might happen. There’s a scenario where they’re just straight up bad. Schedule is tough, defense can’t get on the same page, Kirk regresses etc. and all of the sudden you’re 5-11. Happened to Jacksonville pretty quick. I don’t think the odds are high but is it insane to be dreading that possibility? Nope.

@nonamesleft53 call me crazy but a Dalvin Cook for Jamal Adams trade would be intriguing OK, you’re crazy. Or at least the Jets would be to make that deal. Harrison Smith and aa 2021 first-round pick for Adams? Anybody in on that one? The asking price is gonna be crazy high after what Jalen Ramsey went for last year and that’s un-Vikings-like to make a deal like that.

@KyeBaxter “What is the most athletic combination we could have on the offensive line and would that level of athleticism be ideal for a Kubiak offense?” Pure athleticism it would be: Cleveland-Collins-Bradbury-Hinton-O’Neill

Is that the ideal combo? Probably not because of the severe lack of experience but the door is open for a guy like Collins or Hinton to get a shot. This is why 2021 ends up being kind of a target for the Vikings to be a Super Bowl contender again if things go right. At that point they would be aiming for Cleveland to be starting and one of these athletic guys at guard developing into a quality starter. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 6/20/20

86 Days Until Vikings Football: Brandon Dillon Player Preview

By Will Ragatz

As we count down the days until the Vikings' opener against the Packers on September 13th, InsideTheVikings will be previewing every single player on the roster. The amount of days remaining corresponds with the jersey number of the player being examined on that day. Today is June 19th, and there are 86 days until kickoff for the 2020 regular season. That means it's time to look at a young tight end who took an unlikely path to the NFL.

Countdown to Vikings-Packers on September 13th: 86 Days

Player Preview: Brandon Dillon (No. 86, Tight End) College: Marian (NAIA) Drafted: 2019 UDFA NFL experience: One season on Vikings PS Age: 23 (Birthday was in April) Size: 6'5", 250 2019 PFF Grade: N/A Notable 2019 stats: N/A

The most unlikely player to make the Vikings' initial 53-man roster in 2019 was Brandon Dillon, an undrafted tight end from a small NAIA school in Indiana. One year later, he'll try to make the team once again – and this time stick around on the active roster all year.

Dillon attended Carroll High School in tiny Flora, IN, and played at Marian University in Indianapolis. Over his four years at Marian, Dillon totaled 105 catches, 1,661 yards, and 14 touchdowns, including a 35-603-5 (17.2 yards per catch) line as a senior. He then ran a 4.7 40-yard dash at Purdue's pro day.

In April 2019, the Vikings signed Dillon as a college free agent. For a team that had just drafted Irv Smith Jr. in the second round to join a tight end room featuring Kyle Rudolph, , David Morgan, and Cole Hikutini, adding Dillon may have seemed like a low-upside move.

Then training camp and the preseason happened.

Zone Coverage @ZoneCoverageMN TE Brandon Dillon with the one handed snag during #VikingsCamp.

Dillon impressed the coaching staff with his work in camp, proving himself to be an athletic receiving option at the position. He translated that success into the preseason by catching all eight of his targets and leading the Vikings with 95 receiving yards in four games. Much of that production came in a five-catch, 48-yard performance in the preseason finale.

With Morgan on the PUP list due to a knee injury, Dillon was able to beat out Hikutini for the fourth tight end spot. But the Vikings didn't just stick him on the practice squad, they kept him on the 53-man roster when they broke camp. Dillon played seven snaps in the Week 1 win over the Falcons, and then was waived to make room for Brett Jones. He spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.

Entering 2020 training camp, the opportunity is there for Dillon to seize an expanded role. The Vikings' top two tight ends are locked in as Rudolph and Smith, but the No. 3 TE job is within reach. That's an important role in Gary Kubiak's offense even if neither of the top two miss any time with injuries. Last year, Conklin played 27 percent of the Vikings' offensive snaps and caught eight passes.

Conklin is the presumptive favorite to win that battle, but he'll receive significant competition from Dillon and 2020 UDFA Nakia Griffin-Stewart (read about his background here). Of those three players, it's likely that one will make the roster, one will make the practice squad, and one will be cut.

Dillon's upside as a receiver gives him a legitimate chance to beat out Conklin, but he'll have to continue to prove he has what it takes as a blocker in the run game. Ultimately, that's the most important skill for the No. 3 TE in Kubiak's offense. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 6/20/20

Top Five Candidates to be the Vikings' Punt Returner in 2020

By Will Ragatz

The Vikings have room for improvement in numerous facets of the game as they head into the 2020 season. One unheralded area where they could get better is on punt returns, and there are quite a few players who could step up in that role.

For much of the last decade, the Vikings have been among the top teams in the NFL when it comes to punt return average. They finished atop the league in that statistic in 2013 and have ranked in the top eight in six of the last seven seasons.

Almost all of that success can be attributed to the consistency of Marcus Sherels, who returned more punts than any player in the league during the 2010s. Sherels was the Vikings' primary punt returner from 2011 to 2018, averaging an impressive 10.3 yards per return over that span and scoring five touchdowns, second only to Devin Hester.

With Sherels gone for most of last season – he signed with the Dolphins but came back to Minnesota briefly late in the year – the Vikings' punt return game fell off in a major way. Their average yards per return fell from 10.9 in 2018 to 6.8 last year, which ranked 21st in the NFL. The team's longest punt return of the season was just 23 yards.

Table: Vikings punt return average and NFL rank, 2013-2019

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Yards per punt 15.2 11.0 9.1 10.4 9.5 10.9 6.8 return

NFL rank 1st 6th 13th 8th 7th 6th 21st

Sherels, who turns 33 in September, is now a free agent who is reportedly considering retirement. Even if he does remain in the NFL, it won't be with the Vikings. Minnesota has a number of players on the roster who could step up in that role, and it's an area where special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf would like to see improvement.

"I'd really love to see our punt return phase kind of come together a little more," Maalouf said during a media session on Wednesday. "Our return phases need to contribute a little bit more to our field position."

Here are five players who could emerge as the Vikings' primary punt returner in 2020.

K.J. Osborn One of the main reasons why the Vikings drafted Osborn out of Miami in the fifth round this year was his experience and success as a punt returner. Last season, Osborn's 15.9 yards per return ranked third in the NCAA FBS among all players with double-digit attempts. Across his entire college career with Miami and Buffalo, Osborn averaged 12.1 yards on 49 punt returns.

"He gets downhill very quickly [and] has a knack for catching the ball," Maalouf said of the rookie receiver. "You can see his explosiveness, his vision and anticipation. Before he catches the ball, he's got his eyes scanning. I'm really looking forward to getting together with him."

Osborn – who has a firm build at 5'11", 203 pounds to go with 4.48 speed – should probably be considered the favorite to win the job at this point.

Mike Hughes The most experienced NFL punt returner on the Vikings' roster is Hughes, their first-round pick in 2018. He handled a couple returns as a rookie and took over that role with Sherels gone last year, averaging a modest 7.4 yards on 14 returns. During his 2017 season with UCF, Hughes averaged 16.6 yards per return and took one back for a touchdown.

"I think Mike was getting really, really good, especially towards the end of the season," Maalouf said. "You could kind of see his returns, 15 yards or more, closer towards the end of the season. Remember, he missed those first six games due to injury. Took him a little while to get the hang of it and he was trending in the right direction, which is good."

Maalouf is right. After returning from the ACL injury he suffered in 2018, Hughes averaged just 4.2 yards on his first nine punt returns of last season. That average jumped up to 13.2 on his last five returns, including gains of 17 and 23 yards.

The reason why I think Osborn is the favorite over Hughes has to do with the roles they are projected to have outside of special teams. While Osborn is deep down the depth chart at receiver, Hughes is expected to be the team's No. 1 cornerback. They might not want to risk him getting injured while returning punts, especially given that he's already had one major injury during his NFL career.

Justin Jefferson It was a bit of a surprise to hear Maalouf mention Jefferson as a possibility to return punts in 2020. That's not something the Vikings' first-rounder did much of during his career at LSU.

"He's definitely going to be back there to catch punts [in practice], Maalouf said. "I think the more options we have – we've talked to coach [Zimmer] possibly about putting two guys back there, depending on who we play. He could possibly be one of those guys."

Jefferson's athleticism and speed in the open field could theoretically translate well to the return game. However, like Hughes, he's expected to have a big role this season. I'd be surprised to see Jefferson returning punts during the regular season, but it sounds like that's a legitimate possibility.

Bralon Addison The three players above were the only ones mentioned by Maalouf during his Zoom press conference on Wednesday, but there are several other players on the roster who could factor into the competition. Addison, a former CFL star who the Vikings signed in January, averaged 12.2 yards per return during his career at Oregon, including three touchdowns. He's a long shot to make the roster, but his ability on special teams could give him a chance.

Chad Beebe Beebe had the second-most punt returns for the Vikings during the regular season last year, averaging 6.6 yards on seven attempts. His injury history makes him another player who will need to impress in training camp and the preseason to make the team.

Other candidates: Bisi Johnson, Kris Boyd, Dillon Mitchell, Quartney Davis PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 6/20/20

Chris Simms Ranks Kirk Cousins 13th on His Top 40 NFL Quarterbacks List

By Will Ragatz

Former NFL quarterback and current NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms has been slowly unveiling his annual ranking of the top 40 quarterbacks in the league. This past week, we finally found out where Vikings QB Kirk Cousins falls in Simms' list: No. 13.

Chris Simms @CSimmsQB Will be answering #SimmsTop40QB questions on @PFT_Live today, along with revealing #10 & #9. Fire away.

As you can see, Simms has Cousins ahead of Tom Brady and Drew Brees, but behind Ryan Tannehill and Kyler Murray. It has since been revealed that No. 10 on his list is Cam Newton, who currently does not have a team.

The other quarterbacks in Simms' top 10 – the order hasn't been announced yet – are Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, and Matt Ryan.

Right away, it's worth noting that Simms' rankings should be taken with a grain of salt. Yes, he's a former NFL QB and knows what he's talking about, but certain aspects of this list give off the impression that he's just trying to stir up some controversy or discussion and get more people listening to his podcast. For example, ranking Brees at No. 16 is ridiculous and laughable. The Saints QB finished second in both passer rating and PFF grade last year. It's a joke to rank him outside of the top seven, much less the top 15.

But still, it's worth talking about Cousins' place in these rankings. I get the feeling that the national perception of Cousins is still lagging behind his actual talent level, likely due to certain narratives about big games that – while pointless – can be hard to shake.

Based on last year's performance, Cousins should be firmly in the top 10. He ranked sixth in PFF grade, fourth in passer rating, third in completion percentage above expectation (CPOE), sixth in touchdown percentage, and seventh in adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A). Pick an efficiency-based metric and Cousins is in the top 10. Based on the stats, you can pretty easily make an argument that he's the best quarterback in the NFC North.

The main criticism against him is that he struggles to create plays off script. I get that, and that's why I have no problem keeping him out of the top seven or so. But that's just one element of quarterback play. Cousins is one of the most accurate passers in the league, made very few mistakes with the football last year, and can stand in under pressure and deliver a strike to any area of the field.

Is he perfect? No. Is he better than Tannehill, Murray, and Newton, with strong arguments to be above Ryan, Prescott, Wentz, and Stafford? Absolutely. It's not quite as disrespectful as Brees at 16, but Simms has Cousins too low in his rankings. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 6/20/20

Lunchbreak: Spielman's View Through 'A Totally Different Lens'

By Craig Peters and Eric Smith

Today is Juneteenth, a day of remembrance and celebration of the emancipation of African Americans after more than two centuries of enslavement in the United States.

The observance can be traced to June 19, 1865, when the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas, and declared all slaves were now free, which applied to roughly 250,000 people in Texas.

The Emancipation Proclamation had been issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, but slavery continued through the end of the Civil War and until news of the new-found freedom was delivered.

Other states followed Texas' designation of Juneteenth as a holiday, including Minnesota in 1996.

The quest for equality has been a winding and painful journey, but a global effort toward social justice has grown in the weeks since the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 was recorded on video.

Some may never fully know what Juneteenth can mean to others, but empathy is an admirable goal, one with great potential for helping facilitate meaningful changes because it brings an understanding of what someone else has gone through or is currently encountering.

Listening to others with an open mind and heart is a good start, but how does one fully appreciate incomparable experiences?

Spielman Joins PA To Discuss Social Justice Conversations, Wilf Family Donation, More That brings us to Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman. He and his wife, Michele, adopted all six of their Black children through the foster care system.

Spielman recently participated in a Q&A with Sports Illustrated's Greg Bishop on what it's been like to have a multiracial family and see the world "through our kids' eyes … a totally different lens."

"When they were little, kids playing with kids, no one sees color," Spielman told Bishop. "Then I asked one of my sons: 'When does that change?' And one of the responses I got was, 'When we become 13, 14 years old, become teenagers. All of a sudden, things change for us.' They live in a world of white privilege. When they're out on their own as they got older, they are exposed to what Black and brown people have to live with from a racism standpoint on a daily basis."

Bishop followed by asking, "They've dealt with incidents?"

Spielman explained that one son was pulled over while driving Michele's car.

"I'll never forget that," Spielman said. "We were sitting at home and one of my sons was out eating with his friends in a restaurant. They were the only Black and brown people in the restaurant. Supposedly there was a call that came in to the police that there was a robbery or burglary. The police [came] into that restaurant and [pulled] my son and his friends out because they automatically thought that was them. Watching when they go into stores without us and they're being followed by the security while they're in the stores … or they describe one incident where the person working in the store told them to get what they want and get out as quickly as they can. There's just numerous examples like that."

These examples highlight that there is still much work to be done in establishing freedom for all.

Wair to receive award during ESPYs

Former Minneapolis North standout Taquarius Wair will receive the "Jimmy V Award" during the ESPYs on Sunday night. The annual awards show is set to air at 8 p.m. (CT) Sunday.

Hometown Hero: Taquarius Wair Wair survived severe burns suffered during a devastating house fire that took his sister's life when they were children.

He and his family persevered through the tragedy, and Wair enrolled at Mesabi Range College last year, continuing his gridiron dream.

Wair continues to inspire others. He sounded the Gjallarhorn and was honored as the Hometown Hero of Minnesota's preseason game against Seattle last August.

Hutchinson Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame View the best photos from the career of Vikings G Steve Hutchinson who has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2020 Pro Football Hall of Famer Hutchinson on college ballot for 2021 | By Eric Smith

Steve Hutchinson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February and is scheduled for enshrinement in August, but he could also double up on accolades in 2021.

The former Vikings guard was recently announced on the ballot for the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame. In order to be eligible for the NFF & College Hall of Fame, a player must have recorded at least one First-Team All-American season, and be 10 years removed from his collegiate playing days.

Hutchinson, who starred at the University of Michigan, will find out in early 2021 if he is selected.

Hutchinson's bio on the announcement read:

Unanimous First Team All-American [in 200] who led the Wolverines to four bowl wins, including the 1997 National Championship at the Rose Bowl. One of only seven players in conference history to be named a four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. Three-time Big Ten champion.

He played in the NFL from 2001 to 2012, spending half of his career in Purple with the Vikings from 2006 to 2011.

A member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s, Hutchinson was a seven-time All-Pro selection (five-time First- Team All-Pro) and seven-time Pro Bowler who started all 169 games in which he played.

Hutchinson is among 78 players and seven coaches who are finalists from the Football Bowl Subdivision, while 99 players and 33 coaches from lower levels of college football are also finalists.

Others with Vikings ties who are finalists include Morten Andersen, Eric Bieniemy, Brad Culpepper and Jack Del Rio.