Training Camp 2023

[SemperFeist]

 

[AP_allday2869]

 

[Ozzy]

47 minutes ago, AP_allday2869 said:

 

That is awesome but not a huge surprise.  At times I had him as a late 1st rounder or 2nd rounder but ended up with him as a 3rd rounder.   Still shocked he was a UDFA, he gets off blocks so well and he is a run and hit linebacker, that is what the NFL needs is for the position, LBs who can play in space, get to the football downhill and rush the passer when needed.  

 

Pace could play LB in a nickel defense, ILB in a 3/4, OLB in a 3/4 or LB in a 4/3.  Asamoah is good but unless something has greatly changed, he does not take contact well, can really run but Pace can run and take a hit and really get off blocks well.  Dude would be hell to go up against.

 

Here he knocks down what a 350 OG

https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/09/28133302/VIDEO-1_Ivan-Pace-vs-IU.mp4?_=1

Great to have that type of toughness at the LB position and still shocking so many thought he could not play because of his height.  

 

 

 

2 hours ago, SemperFeist said:

 

What was his issue originally, what kind of injury?  

[vike daddy]

The Minnesota Vikings recently conducted Week 2 of training camp, leading up to the first preseason game in Seattle on August 10th. At the second week of camp, these four players stood out in particular (listed alphabetically):

 

Lewis Cine (FS)
This man needed a jolt after a somewhat quiet first week of camp, and a jolt is what he delivered inside Brian Flores’ new defense. The second-year safety put together some fancy highlights in training camp’s second week, starting to erase the memory of an ill-fated rookie campaign where he struggled to win a starter’s job and later broke his leg. Flores will probably allot equitable playing time between Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, and Cine at free safety, but Cine could become ‘the guy’ in crunchtime down the stretch of the season.

Akayleb Evans (CB)
Last week, all the CB2 pizazz belonged to veteran CB Joejuan Williams. But Week 2 of camp was a different story as Akayleb Evan stepped into the first-team defense and did the thing. For now, he’s running opposite Byron Murphy as the Vikings other starting cornerback. Evans showcased several glimpses of proficiency as a rookie before his season was undone by concussions. And at training camp this week, he asserted himself in a big way.

Josh Oliver (TE)
or starters, Oliver didn’t have a quiet or bad first week of camp. Instead, folks started to realize after several practices that Oliver was the real deal. T.J. Hockenson will always overshadow him on the depth chart, but the team can employ and deploy two productive tight ends. Oliver is much more than a ‘run-blocking tight end.’ With the Ravens, he had to up his run-game skillset to get playing time. The man can also catch the football — that was his modus operandi in college — and the masses are starting to see that in living color.

Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
Pace Jr. excelled in Week 1 of training camp; Pace Jr. excelled even more this week. This gentleman could even be vying for a starter’s job — forget a mundane 53-man roster spot. He was a machine in college and curiously went undrafted in April. But the Vikings rushed to the UDFA wire for his services, and so far at camp, they’re not regretting the decision.

 

https://vikingsterritory.com/2023/news/top_news/risers-from-vikings-2nd?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

[wcblack34]

1 hour ago, vike daddy said:

The Minnesota Vikings recently conducted Week 2 of training camp, leading up to the first preseason game in Seattle on August 10th. At the second week of camp, these four players stood out in particular (listed alphabetically):

 

Lewis Cine (FS)
This man needed a jolt after a somewhat quiet first week of camp, and a jolt is what he delivered inside Brian Flores’ new defense. The second-year safety put together some fancy highlights in training camp’s second week, starting to erase the memory of an ill-fated rookie campaign where he struggled to win a starter’s job and later broke his leg. Flores will probably allot equitable playing time between Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, and Cine at free safety, but Cine could become ‘the guy’ in crunchtime down the stretch of the season.

Akayleb Evans (CB)
Last week, all the CB2 pizazz belonged to veteran CB Joejuan Williams. But Week 2 of camp was a different story as Akayleb Evan stepped into the first-team defense and did the thing. For now, he’s running opposite Byron Murphy as the Vikings other starting cornerback. Evans showcased several glimpses of proficiency as a rookie before his season was undone by concussions. And at training camp this week, he asserted himself in a big way.

Josh Oliver (TE)
or starters, Oliver didn’t have a quiet or bad first week of camp. Instead, folks started to realize after several practices that Oliver was the real deal. T.J. Hockenson will always overshadow him on the depth chart, but the team can employ and deploy two productive tight ends. Oliver is much more than a ‘run-blocking tight end.’ With the Ravens, he had to up his run-game skillset to get playing time. The man can also catch the football — that was his modus operandi in college — and the masses are starting to see that in living color.

Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
Pace Jr. excelled in Week 1 of training camp; Pace Jr. excelled even more this week. This gentleman could even be vying for a starter’s job — forget a mundane 53-man roster spot. He was a machine in college and curiously went undrafted in April. But the Vikings rushed to the UDFA wire for his services, and so far at camp, they’re not regretting the decision.

 

https://vikingsterritory.com/2023/news/top_news/risers-from-vikings-2nd?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Love reading all of that!

[vike daddy]

Suspicions were raised on Thursday when T.J. Hockenson was dressed for practice but only ran routes on the side with an assistant. That was very curious, especially with his contract status up in the air. There was no word of injury then and we still haven’t heard anything about an injury.

We got more information Saturday when Hockenson was in shorts and not pads, then walked off the field with a trainer shortly into practice. What is the deal with him? We don’t know for sure, and it’s very peculiar.

https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/minnesota-vikings-saturday-training-camp-practice-takeaways/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2Soepn8HYEqLFX5jh7T6-uN6-tncjEpD8GYKwutEssnWJ4zSf7qqgGvTA

[wcblack34]

1 hour ago, vike daddy said:

Suspicions were raised on Thursday when T.J. Hockenson was dressed for practice but only ran routes on the side with an assistant. That was very curious, especially with his contract status up in the air. There was no word of injury then and we still haven’t heard anything about an injury.

We got more information Saturday when Hockenson was in shorts and not pads, then walked off the field with a trainer shortly into practice. What is the deal with him? We don’t know for sure, and it’s very peculiar.

https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/minnesota-vikings-saturday-training-camp-practice-takeaways/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2Soepn8HYEqLFX5jh7T6-uN6-tncjEpD8GYKwutEssnWJ4zSf7qqgGvTA

No likey. 

[vike daddy]

26 minutes ago, wcblack34 said:

No likey. 

or he just has an undisclosed boo boo, and some "journalist" is deciding to dramatize the unknown.

Edited August 6, 2023 by vike daddy

[wcblack34]

10 minutes ago, vike daddy said:

or he just has an undisclosed boo boo, and some "journalist" is deciding to dramatize the unknown.

No likey that either 😂

[VikeManDan]

I'll be concerned if he isn't out there on 9/10.

[vike daddy]

Two weeks ago, the Minnesota Vikings began training camp with the rookies and quarterbacks reporting. Since then, they have practiced nine times with multiple practices in pads. These have given us the ability to get a really good synopsis of who has been performing well and who hasn’t been. The biggest takeaway from the last two weeks is that the wide receivers have been really good so far and it’s not because the cornerbacks have been poor.

I have been live at three practices so far and have followed reports closely. With all the information I have gathered, here are the top 10 performers through two weeks of training camp:

 

WR Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson is the best football player in the world and is proving it each practice. Everything he does is so explosive, yet smooth and under control. There isn’t anything that he can’t do at a high level and Jefferson is arguably the best football player I’ve ever seen live.

LB Ivan Pace Jr.
The Vikings seem to have found gold in UDFA inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. Known for his ability to rush the passer, Pace has shown that in droves by shooting gaps and blitzing. He has gotten multiple sacks and blown up numerous running plays in the backfield. He won’t be a starter barring injury due to this struggles with shedding blocks, but there will be a role for him in this defense, and likely a big one.

QB Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins has had an excellent camp. He looks to have a better command of the offense than last year and is hitting his receivers down the field consistently. His best throws have been hitting Justin Jefferson on dig routes through narrow windows. This is the first year that Cousins will have the same play caller in back-to-back seasons and it appears to already be paying dividends.

WR Jordan Addison
If you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t think that Jordan Addison was a rookie. He looks like a seasoned pro in how he runs his routes and creates separation with a technical ability that is tremendous. There have been a few warts here and there, but the overall performance has been excellent. The Vikings have been really good at drafting wide receivers and have likely found the next one.

ILB Brian Asamoah II
The Vikings will be counting heavily on Brian Asamoah II this season at linebacker and he is performing like a player ready to step up. However, things aren’t perfect with the 66th overall pick from 2022. He still shows struggles in picking gaps, but when he diagnoses the play correctly, he turns into a game wrecker. With Jordan Hicks as the thumper, Asamoah will be allowed to do what he does best.

S Harrison Smith
Last season, Harrison Smith wasn’t used to the best of his abilities. He was deployed deep more often than not and didn’t have a sack for the first time since his second season in 2013. Brian Flores isn’t going to be doing that, but rather let him do a bit of everything. Smith got three sacks in a practice last Tuesday and looks to be very comfortable with the defense.

WR Brandon Powell
Both coming out of the University of Florida and with the Los Angeles Rams, Brandon Powell hasn’t shown a lot of receiving utility. He was mostly a return man/gadget guy. Thus far in training camp, he has looked like a really good wide receiver. His route running has been crisp and explosive, especially out of breaks. Believe it or not, he’s been confused with Justin Jefferson a couple of times with how impressive his route running and that 19 is eerily close to 18 when you are looking from the bleachers. Powell is making the decision on which receivers to keep difficult.

CB Mekhi Blackmon
Joejuan Williams was the nickel cornerback initially when training camp started, but Mekhi Blackmon got all those reps once the pads came on. He has been solid throughout camp and the plays he is getting beaten are more in zone coverage than in man, which is Blackmon’s specialty. Getting good production out of this year’s 102nd overall pick is objectively great.

WR Blake Proehl
This wide receiver group has been solid overall and Blake Proehl has been a part of that. Having missed most of the past two years with a torn ACL, Proehl has worked his tail off during camp. He is snapping off routes with violence and creating separation. Proehl is also making the acrobatic catch look easy. It’s going to be a long road to him making the roster, but he has almost certainly made the practice squad.

TE Josh Oliver
When the Vikings signed Josh Oliver, it came as a surprise, especially with T.J. Hockenson having just been acquired via trade. Once we took a step back and looked at all the other moves, it made a lot more sense. The shift to 12 personnel was in full effect. Oliver has looked every bit worth the money so far. He is a mammoth at tight end and has shown promise in the passing game as well, especially with his body control.

Honorable mentions:

OLB Danielle Hunter: It’s only been one practice in pads, but he looks ready to go.
RB Ty Chandler: He’s been inconsistent, but the good has been really good.
NT Khyiris Tonga: His pass-rushing ability is carrying over from last season.
RB Alexander Mattison: Looks ready for the role of RB1 this season.
CB Byron Murphy Jr.: Even when he’s getting beat, Murphy is right there every time.

https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/minnesota-vikings-top-10-performers-training-camp/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR32QmW6dnuJejG2-ZqAxfwUJzJV6SQLpwyTdVM4WHIxsHMoGce9FrVaYSs

[swede700]

On 8/6/2023 at 10:26 AM, vike daddy said:

or he just has an undisclosed boo boo, and some "journalist" is deciding to dramatize the unknown.

He only had an illness.  Nothing that will likely prevent him from being ready for the season.

 

[wcblack34]

2 hours ago, swede700 said:

He only had an illness.  Nothing that will likely prevent him from being ready for the season.

 

How long has Kene been limited? If he doesn't show anything as an actual RB, I don't see the sense in keeping him on the roster as just a KR. 

[SteelKing728]

So who are the bottom performers of Training Camp? lol

[vike daddy]

defense had five INT's at practice today, mostly in red zone work.

would have been six, but a receiver saw that another was likely and ended up batting the ball away.

Edited August 8, 2023 by vike daddy