The Minnesota Vikings took to the field again today in shells and shorts for another training camp practice at TCO Performance Center. It was hotter and sunnier than yesterday and the pace of practice was a bit slower. There was more special teams work early and another install period later in practice which also slowed things down.
So let’s get into it.
Quarterback Competition
This is probably the point to remind everyone that the Vikings defense allowed the second-fewest passing yards and touchdowns last year, and the passing defense ranked
third overall in DVOA. I mention that now because in the competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy today, the defense won. Neither quarterback completed anything particularly impressive today. Most completions (and attempts) have been short- under ten yards- and routine throws. And with a relatively few exceptions, that’s really been the case since the start of training camp.
Murray has the only successful over-the-top throws against the defense- both against the first-team defense- in Wednesday’s full-pad practice. Murray had a nice deep back-shoulder pass to Jauan Jennings at the sideline today, but Jennings was unable to keep his feet in bounds- but was in position to do so- in team drills. Murray had another deep attempt to Jefferson during team drills where he might have been sacked- it was close- but the throw fell incomplete. It was a couple yards ahead of Jefferson but Murphy got flagged for either a DPI or holding call. So probably not a bad pass by Murray if he got it off in time, given the penalty on Murphy. Murray also had an intermediate pass
One other point of interest in today’s practice was that Murray and Justin Jefferson, together with Kevin O’Connell, were trying to sync a back shoulder throw. The first attempt happened in a red zone drill and didn’t connect, which led to O’Connell getting involved and some conversation between Murray and Jefferson after the play. The red zone drill had ended, but Murray and Jefferson tried the same play one more time and connected. But later, in team drills, Murray once again targeted Jefferson on a back shoulder throw which Jefferson got a hand on but was unable to catch. It was difficult to tell if it was Murray’s pass that was a bit off or if Jefferson took an extra step in his route before coming back for the ball, but it didn’t connect. Jefferson was upset that he didn’t make the catch after the play, so perhaps it was on Jefferson. Anyway, that is something Murray and Jefferson are working on as part of developing a rapport during training camp.
For McCarthy in 11-on-11 team drills, he had one attempt in which he scrambled and may have been sacked but threw down the field to Tai Felton, who made the catch though the ball was low. However, a flag on the play negated it. He had another attempt to Felton- roughly 15 yards- that was broken up by Charles Demmings. I couldn’t tell if ball placement was an issue or not, but Demmings looked to have pretty tight coverage. Other than that, there really wasn’t anything beyond short passes from McCarthy today, and not all of those connected either.
It’s fair to credit Murray for making more attempts downfield in 11-on-11 team drills, even though they didn’t connect for one reason or another, but overall credit the Vikings’ defense for making it difficult for either quarterback to connect on anything but short passes.
There was also two periods of install today, with Murray working with the first team receivers on screen passes, and another where McCarthy mostly stood around while O’Connell was coaching receivers on route patterns.
Other 11-on-11 Team Drill Notes
- Charles Demmings had 2-3 more pass break ups today, continues to shine.
- Demond Claiborne had an impressive jump cut after coming right up to the back of his offensive lineman, jumping over one gap and instantly accelerating through the hole for what I think may have been a genuine touchdown run if he was able to break what would’ve been a diving arm tackle.
- Domonique Orange ‘Big Citrus’ had a nice penetration for a TFL
- I did not see Levi Drake-Rodriguez at practice today, both initially for stretching or in team drills. Not sure why. Brian O’Neill also did not participate although he was there in uniform with a baseball hat on. Probably just a day off for him.
- Defensive tackle Eric Johnson II tipped a McCarthy pass on a scramble. Of the longer-shot defensive tackles to make the roster, he may be toward the top of the list.
- Eric Wilson had another would-be sack on McCarthy today and was playing some edge rusher. It doesn’t appear that Wilson, based on who is participating in special teams drills, will have much of a role on special teams this year after being a core special teamer last year.
- From Matt Daniels’ press conferences, it appears that he is counting on Ivan Pace Jr. to be a leader on special teams. He’s mentioned this in two press conferences now, which would seem to indicate he has a roster spot. That has seemed very much in doubt after the additions of Jake Golday and Jamal Adams, but it appears the Vikings want him as a core special teamer.
- Defensive tackle Elijah Williams has been getting regular rotation with both first and second team defenses and had nice stop today on a Jordan Mason run.
- Tai Felton took over for Jordan Addison on the first-team offense with Addison still nursing a stubbed finger. Addison did catch some balls in drills, however, suggesting he is near to returning to full-go.
That’s all I have for today. Tomorrow is the Vikings’ night practice, which I will not be able to attend. I will return to Vikings’ training camp next week.
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