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MONDAY, JULY 27, 2020

LOCAL NEWS: Monday, July 27, 2020

The Athletic

Vikings Training Camp Guide — DE: Who’ll emerge next to ? By Arif Hasan https://theathletic.com/1947745/2020/07/26/vikings-training-camp-guide-de-wholl-emerge-next-to-danielle-hunter/

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Monday, July 27, 2020

Top 100 Players of 2020: | No. 83 By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/top-100-players-of-2020-eric-kendricks-no-83

Alexander Mattison on Preparation heading into Second Season By KSTP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=1460655d-fcac-49d4-ae05-2e8ac332f4f9

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Monday, July 27, 2020

Monday Morning Mailbag: Zimmer's Impact on Vikings in 2020 By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/mike-zimmer-impact-vikings-defense-2020

Eric Kendricks Cracks NFL Network's 'Top 100' at No. 83 By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/eric-kendricks-nfl-network-top-100-no-83

PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 7/27/20

Vikings Training Camp Guide — DE: Who’ll emerge next to Danielle Hunter?

By Arif Hasan

(Editor’s note: This is part of a series of position-by-position articles breaking down every non-specialist player on the Vikings roster as we build up to the start of training camp later this month. We’ve already covered the , running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and offensive line. Next up, the defensive ends. Still to come: Defensive tackles, , and safeties.)

It’s been quite some time since the Vikings didn’t feature a high-level defensive line, but that streak could this season if there’s only one player they can rely on to produce. With a few investments made at some positions previously occupied by talented vets, Minnesota is hoping the combination of their excellent defensive line coaching and the injection of youth will allow the unit to continue its success uninterrupted.

The Vikings have long had a unique approach to the defensive line that has paid enormous dividends. They could very well end up starting a former defensive at , a former three-technique at nose tackle and a former nose tackle at three-technique. That’s all while Danielle Hunter was projected as an “outside ” coming out of college, though that designation would be identical to his defensive end role with the Vikings. Still, with so many players “out of position,” it’s fascinating to see how the Vikings’ successful defensive line was built and continues to be constructed.

How that unusual dynamic plays out might mean more to the defense this year than it does most, with so many inexperienced players expected to pick up the mantle in the secondary. Without a strong defensive line to support them, Minnesota could see its defense collapse.

At defensive end, there are no questions about Danielle Hunter. But behind him, several players will be vying to show they can help fill the role vacated by Everson Griffen.

Danielle Hunter (Robert Hanashiro / USA Today) Danielle Hunter Among the 50 players with the most sacks over the past two years, Hunter ranks first in tackles, second in pressures (per Pro Football Focus), second in tackles-for-loss, third in hits, third in sacks (and sacks per game) and fifth in pressure rate. Take out of the equation and Hunter moves up in each category — meaning that there have been virtually no edge rushers that have rivaled Hunter’s overall production in the past two years despite the fact that he hasn’t hit his prime yet. There’s every chance that Hunter becomes the defining player of the defense for the Vikings over the next several years.

Strengths: Matches phenomenal physical frame with athleticism in every dimension. Explosion off the allows him to get into the backfield quicker than most tackles can respond. Also uses lower-body strength to bull-rush tackles into the pocket. Quickness and flexibility gives him the capability to bend under the edge or change footwork in counters. Upper-body strength allows him to win club moves, excel in hand-fighting and disengage. Coordination and balance allows him to re-engage or set up new moves after the snap if necessary. Great pass-rush arsenal and has added new moves to it every year, and perfected his spin move and counters to cross-chop moves. Lengthy frame gives him unique capability on stab moves and generates leverage on counters. Has done an increasingly effective job stringing moves together to set up opposing linemen. Does a good job tailoring pass-rush approach to the weaknesses of the linemen he’s facing. Great on twists and stunts — played well inside when tasked. Decisive pass-rusher. Plus run defender — was initially a run-defending specialist in college, and ability to set the edge and shed blocks remains. Diagnoses run/pass reads quickly. Crashes down on play-action.

Weaknesses: Stronger tackles can bully him, especially in the run game. Tackles have begun to overset against him and he doesn’t always track inside instinctively. Countermoves aren’t always fluid. High sack-to-pressure conversion rate implies a regression in sack numbers might be coming. Can get turned around on option and read plays.

Ifeadi Odenigbo (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today) Ifeadi Odenigbo Odenigbo has been given a bit of a runaround when it comes to establishing a consistent presence in the NFL. Having switched positions between and defensive end several times among several teams, Odenigbo now finds himself a favorite in the competition to earn a starting job as an for the Vikings. His production has been impressive in relief of Griffen and the rotating company of tackles the Vikings rolled out last year, but now he’ll have to prove he can be consistent and threatening on every snap.

Strengths: Power rusher with significant lower-body strength. Can bull his way through tackles to get to the quarterback. Explosiveness translates well to interior play. Maximizes explosive power with good uncoil. Smart pass- rusher — recognizes oversets and exploits them. Does a good job using first contact to initiate additional pass-rush moves. Reads run/pass keys well. Disengages in run game quickly to create tackles. Reasonable arsenal of pass- rush moves. Reacts well to sudden changes — like surprise chips or play-action. Good balance and coordination. Does a good job focusing on hands and plays with more length than his frame suggests — he can club low hands to create an outside rush. Production rate remarkably high given what he’s been asked to play.

Weaknesses: Decent get-off but sustained speed isn’t there. Limited range of flexibility — can bend into pass protectors but not around them. Might not ever develop a suitable speed-rush to keep tackles off-balance on the edge, particularly not a dip-and-rip. Can’t ride the arc if tackles push him out of pass-rush path. Despite playing with significant strength, can get overwhelmed at the point of attack. More of his production came from the inside than the outside — might suggest he can only ever be a tweener. One-note pass rushers can fall off when given a full-time role.

(Jeff Blake / USA Today) D.J. Wonnum A more classic pass rusher with the traditional 6-foot-5 frame and with 34-inch arms, Wonnum looks a lot like what Zimmer has said he values in the position. As a three-year captain for South Carolina, Wonnum likely has the intangible characteristics the Vikings are looking for to go along with the clear measureables he brings.

Strengths: Length for days. Knows how to use it — locks blockers out in both the run game and passing game. Stab move effective at setting up a number of his other moves. Complements that with strong punch and general ability to stun offensive linemen during the set. Upper-body strength allows him to consistently win when hand-fighting. Good first step and explosive ability; gains ground quickly. Great at hitting landmarks against zone in run game — doesn’t get outpaced to edge. Extremely high motor and good pursuit capability.

Weaknesses: Very poor college production — barely any of the 13 elements of production measured clocked in above the 30th percentile, with most hovering around the 20th. Some of it limited by scheme — required read/react pause but even on third-and-long had poor pressure production. Didn’t produce as a run stopper or pressure producer and low tackle totals come despite ability to win edge. Stacking linemen didn’t lead to shedding linemen. Poor bend; not enough flexibility to bend around the edge. Agility is lacking. Testing numbers are generally above average for a draftee but fail to meet the thresholds for successful edge rushers in the NFL. Needs to finish — tackle radius is theoretically large but doesn’t seem to have closing burst and has an issue with missed tackles.

(Brad Rempel / USA Today) Anthony Zettel One of the few free-agency signings the Vikings made this offseason, Zettel is on his third team and looks to be on the outside looking in. Still, he has significant experience and even started at defensive end for the Lions in 2017. Perhaps most well-known in the draft process as the player who speared a tree, Zettel turned out to be a high-level athlete that might have gained weight to play defensive tackle or lost some weight to play on the edge. The NFL decided the edge was a better place for his talents and with a functionally open competition for one of the starting spots, Zettel could make good on that judgment by using that athletic ability to win the job outright.

Strengths: Significant lower-body strength and explosive power paired with good upper-body strength and torque capability. Eats up ground quickly off the snap and good snap timing. Great balance, difficult to cut block or bring to the ground. Good production in his sole year as a starter, demonstrated starting-level capability. Great at flowing into pass lanes if the pass rush is dead. Active hands, continues to fight through the snap to disengage. Can read run/pass keys quickly and can set the edge. Good closing burst.

Weaknesses: Allows offensive linemen to get into his chest fairly regularly — needs to work on timing in pass-rush moves. Poor hand placement too, often going too high or wide. Lacks bend and flexibility — getting an outside edge doesn’t help much because he doesn’t flatten the arc. Can lose track of the ball and end up chasing on play-action or run redirects. Counters aren’t fluid and can get caught up on second move. Plays too high; pops up off the snap. Without length or leverage, he loses a lot of ground. Agility is an issue and gets turned around on outside runs.

Eddie Yarbrough (Timothy T. Ludwig / USA Today) Eddie Yarbrough A productive player without an extraordinary set of tools coming out of college, Yarbrough found himself in an unenviable position of competing with Shane Ray and Shaquill Barrett for an edge-rushing job behind and Demarcus Ware in Denver — while being part of a 21-player undrafted free agency class. He wasn’t able to make that team, but he joined Buffalo shortly thereafter and even earned significant playing experience through 2017 and 2018. He impressed the Vikings enough in the 2019 preseason for them to sign him off the Bills practice squad at the end of the season, and he could earn a backup spot in a wide-open competition at the edge position.

Strengths: Improved dramatically in the NFL against his college play. Surprising tackle radius for his size — combination of an efficient understanding of what he can do and his closing burst. Relentless motor, continues to fight throughout the snap or get his hands in the air. Good at hand-fighting; great punch timing that can long-arm much longer offensive tackles and continues to club pass protector’s hands. Already has a few pass-rush moves. Has some impressive reps bullying 320-plus-pound tackles into run lanes. Good first step. Can get skinny against double teams to get upfield. Great testing in both three-cone and 40-yard dash, which tracks best with the position. Remarkable run defense capability — top three in run stop rate in 2018 among NFL edge rushers.

Weaknesses: Lacks physical tools to be an all-around presence, despite on-field testing. Doesn’t show the bend or flexibility one typically sees with a good three-cone. Despite good technical skill and some surprising power, mostly loses ground against the run because of size. Length concerns prevent him from effectively disengaging on a consistent basis. Poor pressure production in the NFL, combined for 23 pressures on 390 pass-rush snaps (5.9 percent pressure rate) — though it could be the product of a primary run defense assignment set. Seems to be late to react to the pass. Good explosion out of step but times snap jump very poorly — seems to consistently be late off the snap. Doesn’t seem to have fluidity after the first move — can’t counter intuitively or efficiently.

Kenny Willekes (Mike Carter / USA Today) Willekes isn’t too different from Yarbrough when it comes to overall profile — a college team captain who excels against the run and generated a lot of production at the FBS level. Yarbrough tested better than Willekes, but both seem to have on-field athletic limitations that require them to win with technique more than anything else. They did that in college, and Yarbrough has already exceeded expectations by finding his way onto a field and plying a multi- year career despite his undrafted status. If the seventh-round pick Willekes does the same, he could not only earn a rotational spot but even push for a starting position.

Strengths: PFF’s top run stopper in the class — given their superlative for top run-defending prospect among all edge defenders. Does a great job setting the edge and keeping runs bouncing inside. More power than his size suggests and does a good job getting his hands inside on long-arms and outside on swipes and chops. Great understanding of leverage and generates advantages through staying low. Tenacious; relentless motor. Significant physicality. Great at keeping square to the . Good at tracking the ball through the play.

Weaknesses: Power rusher with a size problem, whose strength may not translate to the NFL level. Length issues implicate his tackle radius — fine in college but perhaps lacking in the NFL, especially without significant closing burst. Not a wide array of pass-rush moves in his arsenal. Doesn’t have the speed, agility or explosion to threaten on a consistent basis with his physical skills. Shorter arms might mean his go-to moves, which include stab/long-arm type moves, are not relevant in the NFL. Lack of flexibility prevents him from flattening the arc and can get ridden out of the play. Tends to get swallowed up when countering inside. A bit of a penalty magnet, perhaps a result of his relentless style of play.

Stacy Keely After making the practice squad last year against stiff competition, Keely has an opportunity to prove that his success in college — an edge rusher from the top third-down defense of the 2018 FBS season — will translate into the NFL. Keely already overcame one hurdle by becoming the rare rookie to break out of rookie minicamp and get signed to the actual camp roster. While that hasn’t turned into regular-season play quite yet, it follows the path of , C.J. Ham and Marcus Sherels.

Strengths: Remarkable length, and uses it well. Regularly long-arms opposing tackles to set up moves to the inside or outside. Uses a variety of pass-rush moves and complements his flexibility to dip under tackles. Good punch power. Keeps leverage in check; doesn’t pop shoulders too high off the snap. Good first step, can explode off the snap into the pocket. Productive in college, especially against the run — did a decent job of disengaging to shed blocks.

Weaknesses: Low win-rate in camp, only winning about 34 percent of snaps in one-on-one drills after adjusting for competition level. Had issues getting to the edge on speed rushes against third-string tackles as well as problems getting into the pads on power rushes. Needed to add significant weight from his FBS play (weighed 232 pounds at his pro day) and didn’t look to have all that bulk added by the time 2019 camp started. Had issues in college against the run, washed out of plays and moved out of running lanes. Poor athletic tester — especially in the workouts that matter most to the position (three-cone, 10-yard split and vertical jump) that showed up on the field. Injury concerns in college and used primarily in rotation, not as an every-down player. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/27/20

Monday Morning Mailbag: Zimmer's Impact on Vikings Defense in 2020

By Eric Smith

Do you have a comment or question? Send it to the vikings.com Mailbag! Every Monday we'll post several comments and/or questions as part of the vikings.com Monday Morning Mailbag. Although we can't post every comment or question, we will reply to every question submitted.

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With all the new faces on the defense, I have heard many questions and concerns. Seems that a lot of so-called experts have forgotten where Coach Zimmer cut his teeth in the NFL. Given the current roster, speed is all over the place. Talent being equal, coaching and scheme should be at an all-time high. My confidence in Zimmer and the other coaches is also at an all-time high! Some may think that the will be the strength of the 2020 , and that may prove true. I am looking forward to seeing a defense built by Zimmer, with the attitude and physical dominance that will equal the offense and deliver big plays all year long! SKOL.

— Larry Lujan

Thanks for starting us off, Larry. You are correct that pundits and experts appear to have many questions about the Vikings defense going into the 2020 season. With so much turnover on that side of the ball, people are wondering what Zimmer has up his sleeve this year.

To recap, the Vikings will have multiple new starters at and will have two new starters on the defensive line as Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph are no longer on the roster. There are still plenty of familiar faces in Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith, but roughly half of the defensive starters will be new.

Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 2020 roster as of July 19, 2020.

I think you're spot on to point out that Zimmer made his name as a defensive backs coach with the Cowboys in the 1990s, because he will likely need to draw on that experience to help mold this young but talented group. Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Kris Boyd each have two years of experience or less, while everyone else are either rookies or have little to no NFL experience.

One thing is certain though, and that is Zimmer will make sure this defense continues to meet the standard he has set since arriving in Minnesota in 2014. Remember that the Vikings were among the league's worst units in 2013, and he quickly turned them from respectable to dominant in a few short years. Zimmer is a prideful coach, and he will take it upon himself to make sure his defense plays well again in 2020.

When are the Vikings going to sign their rookies? The only one I saw was the rookie QB from Iowa.

— Alan Tiseth

Great timing on this question from Alan, who sent this in last Monday. The Vikings announced Thursday that all 15 members of the Vikings 2020 draft class — the largest harvested in a seven-round draft in NFL history — have signed their rookie contracts.

That means that everyone from first-rounders and to seventh-rounder are under contract and ready for the 2020 season.

Vikings Draft Class Sign Rookie Contracts View photos of the Vikings 2020 draft class signing their rookie contracts.

With the news of their signings, the focus now turns to how those players can make an impact in their first season in the NFL.

Jefferson and Gladney could be immediate starters, as could second-rounder . Others such as , D.J. Wonnum, James Lynch, play situational roles on defense and special teams.

And while we're talking about special teams, fifth-rounder K.J. Osborn is a candidate for return duties.

The 15-player draft class is going to be counted upon to provide both play-making ability and depth in 2020 and beyond.

I see as our backup behind . What are your thoughts on that?

— Demarous Davis

Obviously, the starting QB job is set with Cousins, especially since he's coming off a season and signed an extension this offseason.

But the No. 2 job could be one of the most hotly-contested jobs in training camp. Sean Mannion, the backup in 2019, could get the nod if he performs well. The Vikings know the professionalism and support he provides for Kirk based on last season.

Browning spent 2019 on the practice squad as a rookie, and many are interested to see how that helped him progress as he heads into Year 2. The next month or so will be critical in his development as he tries to win the job behind Cousins.

Nate Stanley was a seventh-round selection and is also in the mix for the No. 2 gig. He had a strong career — and won a lot of games — at Iowa, but likely have to deal with the rookie transition to the NFL.

With preseason games up in the air, practice reps will be more important than ever. We'll be sure to track those and let you know how the competition shakes out throughout camp. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/27/20

Eric Kendricks Cracks NFL Network's 'Top 100' at No. 83

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — Accolades for Eric Kendricks keep mounting.

The Vikings middle linebacker on Sunday was announced at No. 83 overall in the NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2020.

The honor, bestowed by players' votes, joins a First-Team All-Pro selection from The Associated Press and his first trip to the Pro Bowl for his work in 2019.

The program pointed out that Kendricks is one of 18 players born on a Leap Day (Feb. 29) to ever play in an NFL game and the only one since 1980. It also included a segment in which Kendricks was asked about never having been selected to the Top 100.

Top 100 Players of 2020: Eric Kendricks | No. 83 "I have not been on the Top 100. I guess I'm a little salty about that," Kendricks said.

When asked by a producer, "Tell us about that," Kendricks replied, "I don't know. It's pretty dumb."

Kendricks recorded 130 tackles (team stats), four tackles for loss, two forced , two recoveries and tied for the NFL lead among linebackers with 12 pass breakups last season.

The most dramatic of Kendricks' PBUs occurred at Dallas to preserve a 28-24 Minnesota win on Sunday Night Football. He tipped away a pass intended for Ezekiel Elliott on a fourth-and-5 from the Vikings 14-yard line with under a minute to go.

"Fourth-and-short in Dallas, they were driving down to take the lead, and he makes an unbelievable PBU on the out in the flat," Vikings fullback C.J. Ham said. "It just showed his athleticism. He's the smartest player out there because of the stuff that I see him do day-in and day-out is special."

Wide receiver Adam Thielen said he considers Kendricks "one of the best covering linebackers there is in this game."

"I see him covering receivers, covering backs, some of the best receiving backs, tight ends, things like that, and he's locking them down," Thielen added. "You see him in the backfield making negative runs and thinks like that. On game day, he's out there balling."

Vikings Re-Wired Featuring Eric Kendricks Running back said Kendricks is "not the strongest, not the fastest, but he flies around."

Cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who teamed with Kendricks from 2015-19 and signed with Indianapolis this offseason, said Kendricks is "a linebacker that can cover like a nickel."

"That's a kid whose motor never stops. I think it doesn't stop at home. It doesn't stop on the field, in the meetings. It doesn't stop anywhere. That's how he makes all of his plays, because he doesn't stop," Rhodes added. "The heart he has, he doesn't play like his size (6-foot, 232 pounds). He plays like he's 6-5, 250 or something and plays with a lot of heart, a lot of passion."

Kendricks has shown he can cover running backs and tight ends, be active against the run and perplex quarterbacks with his ability to blitz (or bluff).

The Vikings have known they can count on Kendricks for quite some time. The 2015 second-round pick has started 70 of 74 games played, taking over the role in the middle as a rookie. He has four career , including two returned for , and 9.0 sacks.

2019 Season in Photos: Vikings LB Eric Kendricks View the top photos of Vikings LB Eric Kendricks from the 2019 season.

Heading into his sixth season, Kendricks has led the Vikings in tackles in each of his years in the NFL. He can tie a franchise record set by Scott Studwell (1980-85) and tied by Chad Greenway (2008-13) if he tops Minnesota in tackles in 2020.

Teammates will continue to spread the word about his talents. When Kendricks was assigned an overall 89 in "Madden 21" ratings released last week, quarterback Kirk Cousins said it was too low.

"I'm not just saying this – I think Eric's the best middle linebacker in football. I saw his Madden rating the other day, and it really ticked me off," Cousins said. "I'm tired of him flying under the radar, and it was just a reminder again that even Madden doesn't get it. His rating belongs up in the mid-to-high 90s, and people don't get it.

"I'm going to go on a crusade this fall to spread the word about Eric as a middle linebacker," Cousins continued. "All you've gotta do is watch the tape – not just read the hype or go by where guys are drafted but watch the tape. As far as middle linebackers go, I don't know how you beat Eric Kendricks."

Kendricks is one of five Vikings — and first announced — that cracked the Top 100 Players of 2020.

The series, which was created in 2011, continues on NFL Network Monday night at 7 p.m. (CT) with players 70-61, 60-51 and 50-41 revealed over the course of three, one-hour episodes.

The listing of the players in the 90-81 grouping were as follows:

90. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona

89. Cooper Kupp, WR,

88. , LB, Dallas

87. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo

86. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Baltimore

85. , TE, Philadelphia

84. Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh

83. Kendricks

82. Ryan Ramczyk, T, New Orleans

81. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seattle