Three Things We Learned from Rookie Mini-Camp [Video Edition]
Joe Johnson
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The Vikings held rookie mini-camp this week and with it came an abundance of video content that you’ll have to click over to Vikings.com to actually watch. It’s always fun to get our first glimpses of newly drafted Vikings in their purple and white practice jerseys, with this draft bringing in so many new faces thanks to the draft weekend wheeling and dealing that was done by Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, it was… Even more fun.
There is actually a lot to learn about the newly minted Vikings and the team as a whole, if one knows where to look, so without drawing this process out too much. Here are three video highlights from the 2017 Rookie Mini-Camp.
Again, you’re going to have to click over to actually watch the videos so I’ve linked the interview that this idea came from in the title itself and will continue to do so below. Dalvin Cook came into Eden Prairie by showing off the dazzling speed that made him a first round talent in last month’s draft. His speed even impressed head coach Mike Zimmer, which is saying something (With one eye one has to run twice as fast!). However, he does have some baggage (Which is why he fell into the second round). His on the field baggage? If you can call it that, or weaknesses, are in his ability to pass protect and and hold onto the ball.
He’s apparently acutely aware of those weaknesses as he stated in the above video that he came into mini-camp with the goal(s) of focusing on said weaknesses. Regardless of where you stand on Cook it’s really, really encouraging that he no only is aware of those flaws but is looking to address them head on. My faith in Cook starting before the bye just shot up about 100 … points (Or however you gauge faith). While he is the de facto successor to Adrian Peterson, it looks like he’s at least attempting to not follow in his turnover/botched blitz pick up footsteps.
So far, so good, rook.
2. The Vikings Still Believe in Boehringer
The Vikings added a crap-ton of players during this year’s draft and subsequent signing of undrafted free agents. Five of which were established wide receivers. While there was a need at the position that obviously lead to the Vikings taking both Rodney Adams and Stacy Coley in the draft (and three others UFA’s) some Boehringer fans were concerned that the sheer addition of late round players and undrafted free agents as a whole but especially at the position would make the long term project expendable. While there hasn’t been any definitive statements regarding Boehringers future with the Vikings, the above video at least shows that the Vikings know that they have a commodity on their hands in Boehringer.
To Boehringer’s credit, he also seems to have improved greatly from the tape we saw of him last year. He has always been a physical specimen, but last year he looked to be thinking too much while running his routes which slowed him down and made him look almost… Human. Now he looks a lot looser, faster and more dangerous, which is something you never want a German to be. So, as a huge Boehringer fan, I am hoping that he will take the opportunity presented this season and step into a playing role with the team either as a wide receiver or tight end. Not solely because I’ve been advocating for him since before the Vikings drafted him, but because I do think that once he learns the in’s and out’s of the position he’ll be pretty much un-coverable. The video above shows that he’s well on his way there.
3. The Jury is Still Out on Where Pat Elflein Will Play in 2017…
When the Vikings selected center Pat Elflein of Ohio State is was initially assumed that he’d start… At center. However, some fans found the move to be superfluous as the Vikings had greater needs at the right guard position and have two serviceable centers on their roster in Nick Easton and Joe Berger (Who was one of the best centers in the entire NFL when he last played the position in 2015). It turns out that Elflein only has played center for one season, his last at Ohio State, and that he’s played guard as well.
According to the above video, Elflein takes pride in that versatility and wanted to show the Vikings exactly that during rookie mini-camps. With his main goal being that he wanted to show the Vikings that he can play both positions, it could mean great things for the Vikings offensive line. The idea of Elflein at right guard is a lot more tempting than him at center, mainly due to the Vikings lack of a quality starter at the position. So, stay tuned for any updates on whether or not the Vikings and their offensive line coach Tony Sparano will actually start him there, but simply knowing that he can play the position means that the Vikings made the right move in selecting him in the third round.
What do you think? Learn anything else during Camp? Let us in in the comment section or our Message Board!