Vikings Coach Praises “Popular,” “Goofy,” and “Weird” Depth Player
Nick Muse won over a lot of Vikings fans during the offseason, so the comments from a recent Vikings coach aren’t altogether surprising.
Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips spent some time unpacking what makes Muse so unique at his press conference. In response to a question about Muse’s growth, Phillips suggests that the tight end’s progression needs to be measured “from the day he got here through this training camp.” A “good football player,” Muse is “probably the most popular guy on [the] team.”
“He’s got a personality,” Phillips notes, “that you worry at first that maybe he wasn’t locked-in. But when it comes to football, he’s been really, really good.” A follow-up question seeks clarity on Muse, prompting Phillips to describe him as both being “goofy” and “weird” (descriptors the coach uses, to borrow his words, “with love”).
What’s in store for the TE4 as the regular season inches ever closer?
Vikings Coach Praises Nick Muse, Minnesota’s Ascending TE
Nick Muse is someone we’ve discussed before.
His rookie season featured 108 snaps on special teams but 0 on offense. The effort in the preseason points toward someone who may be capable of picking up a few offensive snaps in 2023.
Coming out of college, the word was that he’d do better as a blocker. Take a look at what the NFL’s website had to say: “Athletic tight end with good size and the ability to be flexed around formations. Muse is a willing run blocker at the point of attack and has the body control and agility to handle move-blocking duties with some success. He’s average at uncovering within the route but lacks the length and hand talent to consistently win contested catch battles.”
The “ability to be flexed around formations” is actually something Phillips covers, noting how Muse is someone who “can be trusted to do a lot of roles” and how the depth TE can fill-in whether the main job is blocking or catching passes.
The most recent news has obviously hovered around TE1 T.J. Hockenson and his large extension. Bascially no one will be surprised if the former Lion piles up more than 100 catches and 1,000 yards in the upcoming season. Oozing with talent, Hockenson can hopefully shake loose for more explosive gains since he has the benefit of a full offseason in Minnesota to help him (as recently discussed on Notes from the North).
Partnering that large payday for Hockenson with Josh Oliver’s presence — a tight end who has previously been praised by the OC — means tight end snaps could be scarce for someone like Nick Muse. The key for the sophomore will rest in continuing to cultivate the versatility that coaches covet while demonstrating that he can be one of the best options for Matt Daniels on special teams.
Muse, 24, goes into the season carrying a modest $870,000 cap charge. If he can provide strong snaps on special teams while being an upside TE4, then Muse will be well worth the number. Kickoff between the Buccaneers and Vikings is scheduled for 12 p.m. CDT on Sunday, September 10th.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.