Day one at training camp for the Minnesota Vikings is officially in the bag and football season is here!
It was a standard introductory practice for the purple today lacking too much heavy lifting but putting an emphasis on being crisp, installing the system and working hard after a longer off season than anybody had planned for.
For Mike Zimmer it might seem like just another year but a handful of changes on the offensive side of the ball have left everybody leaning on the consistency of the defense as the cornerstone of the team.
Here are a handful of other observations from today's first practice...
Cousins working on off schedule throwing...
Those on hand for practice today might have seen Kirk Cousins moving around the pocket quite a bit, but unlike last year it didn't have to do with the struggles on the offensive line. Rather, there was a large emphasis placed on off schedule throws and scrambling, moving the pocket to both keep the defensive line from rushing blindly but it also gives Cousins a slight advantage with the movement of his receivers.
It's not clear yet if this will be a large part of the new offensive plan under Stefanski and Kubiak or if it's more just something that Kirk needs to work on. Stay tuned for more on this.
Bailey struggles on FGs, team runs laps as a result...
Kicker Dan Bailey went 4-for-7 in today's opening round missing kicks from 39, 41 and 47 yards with the latter resulting in a full team session of three wind sprints the width of the field to close out practice. According to Mike Zimmer on KFAN after practice, the sprints were not necessarily a result of the missed kick but it was pretty convenient that they came right after the third miss on the day.
Rudolph paying forward what Kleinsasser taught him...
Now that we can put the whole "Irv Smith Jr. is replacing Kyle Rudolph" narrative behind us and we know that Rudy will be supplanted here in Minnesota for years to come, it's been fun to watch Kyle take on a role of mentor to the younger players which was filled by Jim Kleinsasser years ago. When Kyle joined the league he had a 13-year veteran in Kleinsasser there to show him the ropes. Jim never felt threatened, and he shouldn't have. Different players, different skill sets and Kleinsasser might be one of the all-time greats.
Fast forward to this season and Kyle is taking that experience he had as a rookie and paying it forward with rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr. He's showing him the ropes, answering his questions in the meeting room and teaching him the way that a good teammate should.
Chad Beebe continues to shine...
One of the names that popped up on a lot of people's radars during the offseason programming for the Vikings was that of wide receiver Chad Beebe. Playing a small role, but establishing himself in the organization a year ago has gone a long way for him behind the scenes but it's his football skills and won't quit work ethic that will take him places on the field.
It was much the same on day one as Beebe was working with the first team most of the day, catching everything thrown his way, even making some highlight reel grabs along the sidelines. It got the fans out of their seats and earned him a swarm of about twenty reporters after practice concluded.
During that session he credited his dad, his faith and the giant chip on his shoulder for his work ethic and recent success. He's not the biggest, he's not the fastest but I'll be darned if you find somebody that is more fundamentally sound and that will work as hard as Chad Beebe. That will go a long ways for him as he fights for the #3 WR spot behind Diggs and Thielen.