With Vikings OTAs in full swing, I stopped by practice this week to get a first hand look at the 2019 team post free agency and draft.
It was a spirited, confident group of players and coaches that I observed and spoke with following practice. Of course we know that this is a time of optimism for all NFL teams but there are many positives in Vikings camp, starting with a talented group of players who are all present and participating in OTAs except for Stefon Diggs who was expected shortly.
Two of Minnesota's Pro Bowlers--wide receiver Adam Thielen and Harrison Smith--spoke positively on the value of OTAs and minicamps along with their strength and conditioning work in the offseason.
"I have the same mindset I've always had, just trying to get better," Thielen said. "I'm focusing on getting better and feeling comfortable in the scheme and showing every day that I can play at a high level. I don't want to feel rusty and I think this is another opportunity to show and feel what I've done in the offseason to get better."
Smith talked of the team building element of the offseason program that I always felt was a big benefit. "It starts us on becoming a team and gelling as teammates, not just offense and defense," he said. "Being around one another and learning what makes guys tick and becoming smarter football players. Figuring out how to drill in the fundamentals and just starting from the ground up."
Thielen spoke of the new offensive system being installed this offseason by offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski with input from offensive advisor Gary Kubiak. "It's been great, both those guys are great leaders and teachers of the game," he said. "You learn more in one meeting than you ever thought you could learn about this game. It's really cool and a special opportunity. These young guys don't know how good they have it to have two guys like that in the offensive room."
Quarterback Kirk Cousins also talked highly of the new offense as he enters his second year in Minnesota.
"I've always felt that continuity is a big part of having success and being back for a second year should help," Cousins said. "There's more of a command and I have a little more control over what I had last year but then you add that it's really a new system so it's starting over a little bit. There's a lot of changes--terms, formations, motions, the way philosophically we're handling things but it's a positive thing and we're excited about the scheme."
Other Observations at OTAs:
1. In team drills, Kyle Rudolph was very much in the mix of the passing game on short and deep routes. It was good to hear the optimism of Coach Mike Zimmer about contract discussions between the Vikings and Rudolph as it's apparent at OTAs that the team would like to have Rudolph and second round pick Irv Smith Jr. working in tandem whenever two tight ends are in the game. And Rudolph is showing his commitment to the team by being present at OTAs while contract discussions are taking place.
2. First round pick Garrett Bradbury lined up at center with the first unit and Pat Elflein was at left guard. Bradbury is focused on learning the new system and is less concerned about where he plays. ""We're trying to find the five best offensive linemen," he said. "Whatever's best for the team, that's how it's going to be. We're all learning the new system. If you're an interior lineman, you're learning all three spots and we're trying to play as fast as we can. That's the key right now."
3. Highlight play I saw at OTAs: a terrific back shoulder throw and catch from Cousins to Thielen, going against top corner Xavier Rhodes.
4. Watching the receivers at work, I think Laquon Treadwell will have his hands full trying to hold onto the third receiver spot. Treadwell made some nice catches in practice and then had a drop along the sideline in team drills. That inconsistency also was evident in his first three seasons and could open the door for super quick slot receiver Chad Beebe or smooth and sure handed Brandon Zylstra along with seventh round picks Dillon Mitchell and Bisi Johnson.
5. With Zimmer's defensive scheme in place and 10 of 11 starters back along with key rotation players such as defensive end Stephen Weatherly, the Vikings D should be solid and formidable this season. Only defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson is gone via free agency (to Cleveland) and Shamar Stephen was signed to replace him and sixth round DT Armon Watts is a raw talent who could be a force as he develops.
Around the NFL Observations:
1. As I observe the mess that is the New York Jets after they fired their GM Mike Maccagnan last week, I think of the tremendous run of success of the early Vikings with NFC Central Division titles in 10 of 11 years from 1968-1978 due in part to the other teams in the division having little management stability compared to the solid leadership in Minnesota. Kind of like the Patriots of the last two decades and their AFC East foes such as the Jets.
For the Vikings of that era, there were Hall of Famers galore including Coach Bud Grant, quarterback Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page and Carl Eller from the Purple People Eaters' defensive line. But a major key was the organizational stability with Max Winter as the president/lead owner, only one head coach in Grant and two general managers in Jim Finks and Mike Lynn.
Just as the Vikings were the beneficiary of instability and constant leadership changes among our division foes, so too do the Patriots benefit from the multitude of management and coaching changes within the AFC East with the current Jets the latest example (along with a new head coach in Brian Flores at the Dolphins).
During Bill Belichick's 20 years as Patriots coach and de facto GM, the Jets have had six head coaches and four GMs. For Miami: 10 head coaches and seven GMs over that span and for the Bills, it's been nine head coaches and six GMs. This excessive turnover has clearly helped lead the Pats to an unprecedented run of 16 division titles in the last 18 years including 10 straight division crowns.
Belichick and Tom Brady won't be around forever and perhaps the balance of power will someday shift in the AFC East. But judging by what's transpired recently in New York, Miami and Buffalo, we're likely to see the Patriots as division champs for at least the near future and probably longer. Because New England is a franchise that knows how to build a championship organization and team with staying power, unlike the rest of their division as currently constituted.