Vikings Spin’s 2019 Training Camp Preview

By Jason Wisniewski

 

The Minnesota Vikings will kick off their 2019 Training Camp on July 26 and it will run through August 16th.  Let’s take a look at where the Vikings are by each position group as they head into Training Camp and what the team can expect to accomplish during this preparation for the Regular season.

Quarterbacks

There is no QB controversy in Minnesota in terms of the starting QB spot.  Kirk Cousins has that locked up and he is busy helping to implement the offense being installed by Kevin Stefanski & Gary Kubiak which will transform the Vikings offense into a more balanced unit with an emphasis on a play action passing attack based off of it’s primarily zone running game.  Cousins is looking to build on a season where he threw for over 4,000 yards & 30 Tds.  The numbers from 2018 looked good but with an improved rushing attack it will give the Vikings a better chance to translate those passing stats into more wins so efficiency is mostly what the Vikings will be looking for from Cousins.  According to reports he looked very sharp during OTA’s & Mini-camp which bodes well for the 2019 season. As for the #2 QB spot to be Cousins primary backup that spot is completely up for grabs.  During OTA’s and mini-camp Sean Mannion & Kyle Sloter were hot and cold with neither separating themselves from one another.  Training camp & the Pre season will determine who wins this battle.  I believe the loser of this battle between Mannion & Sloter will likely be cut with 4th QB UDFA Jake Browning likely headed to the practice squad.

Running Backs

Dalvin Cook is the unquestioned starter but the primary backup job & 3rd RB spots are up for grabs.  Thus far 3rd rd rookie Alexander Mattison is the favorite for the RB2 spot.  His skill set fits the mold of a change of pace back from Dalvin Cook and so he is likely to see plenty of touches when the Vikings want to use a power run game in short yardage and goal line situations.  He’s also a 3 down back which is nice in that he can catch the ball and pass block so it is not a tell when he is in the game.  Also in the mix are veteran Ameer Abdullah and 2nd year RBs Mike Boone & Roc Thomas.  Abdullah has seen time on special teams as a KR with Boone also getting reps there as well.  It is possible that the Vikings keep 4 RBs plus a FB so Boone & Abdullah could both make the roster as the Vikings do like Boone’s long term upside as he possesses both speed & power and can catch the ball.  Roc Thomas is likely the odd man out as he could be facing a suspension from the league for marijuana possession.  He might have a spot on the practice squad though if he shows enough in pre season.

Fullbacks

CJ Ham is the incumbent starter from last season and will likely be the starter again in 2019.  Khari Blasingame is a UDFA that the team likes and offers a similar skill set to Ham in that he is a former Halfback.  He’s likely headed for the practice squad for a year of development though while the veteran Ham mans the role this season.

Wide Receivers

Stefon Diggs & Adam Thielen are the undisputed starters as the top 2 WRs on the team and are arguably the best WR duo in the NFL but after that it gets very interesting.  Both Jordan Taylor & Chad Beebe separated themselves from the rest of the pack with both their receiving skills and special teams play during OTA’s & Mini-camp.  Both players took reps at PR with Beebe being the favorite to win that job.  As far as the WR3 spot it could be a rotation of Beebe & Taylor depending on the situation as Taylor is more of a big bodied outside WR and Beebe is more of a smaller shiftier slot WR.  If those 4 are the top 4 WRs the Vikings could possibly look to keep 1 or 2 more on the 53 man roster depending on if they want to have 5 or 6 WRs on the active roster.  This will likely depend on the number of RBs and/or TE’s they decide to keep.  Candidates include rookie 7th rd draft picks Bisi Johnson & Dillon Mitchell, veteran Laquon Treadwell, 2nd year pros Jeff Badet & Brandon Zylstra and UDFA rookies Alexander Hollins & Davion Davis.  Treadwell could be on the chopping block as he has been a 1st rd bust thus far in his career and has had an uninspiring off season to this point.  He’ll need a great camp and pre season in order to stick.  Johnson & Mitchell have flashed at times but haven’t found consistency just yet.  Davis has impressed as a return man & Zylstra also has special teams prowess but his WR upside is limited.  Badet is a wild card with his blazing speed but will need to prove he can run routes consistently and stay healthy.  It is likely that the Vikings will place at least 1 or 2 of these young players who don’t make the 53 man roster on their practice squad as their is future upside with most of these players.

Tight Ends

With the new emphasis on 2 TE sets don’t be surprised if the Vikings decide to keep 4 TE’s on the 53 man roster.  Kyle Rudolph is the clear cut TE#1 but expect a heavy dose of 2nd rd rookie Irv Smith JR as TE#2 with David Morgan also seeing some time as a blocking specialist and in 3 TE sets.  The Vikings also like 2nd yr pro Tyler Conklin who has been reportedly making improvements to his game thus far in OTA’s & Mini-Camp.  Cole Hikutini & Brandon Mitchell are likely just camp bodies.

Offensive Line

The Vikings O-line starters appear set going into Training Camp with Reiff/Elflein/Bradbury/Kline/O’Neill being the starters from Left to Right and that is a marked improvement from the dumpster fire the team fielded a year ago.  1st rd Rookie Center Garret Bradbury appears to be everything the Vikings could have hoped for thus far and young players like Pat Elflein & Brian O’Neill appear to be taking steps forward in their development as well according to reports.  The Vikings could keep anywhere from 8-9 O-lineman on the 53 man roster.  The primary backups appear to be Brett Jones as a backup Center with some ability to play Guard in a pinch, Backup swing Tackle Rashod Hill & promising 4th rd rookie Dru Samia, a Guard with starter upside but that has to iron out some holes in his game.  After that guys like Aviante Collins, Danny Isidora & 6th rd rookie Oli Udoh could be fighting for 1 last roster spot.  Udoh is a likely practice squad candidate as he is far from polished at this point so the battle is likely between Isidora & Collins for the final spot.  I would give the edge to Collins if he is fully healthy because he has the position flexibility to play either Guard or Tackle and has the physical traits the Vikings new zone scheme calls for.  Storm Norton, John Keenoy & Cornelius Edison are also in the mix but will need to separate themselves from the pack during camp to grab spots on the roster or practice squad.

Defensive Line

This is perhaps the strongest and deepest unit on the Vikings roster with the starters from right to left etched in stone with Griffen/Stephen/Joseph/Hunter being the base defensive starters.  Coming off the bench in rotational roles will be DE#3 Stephen Weatherly and DT’s Jalyn Holmes & Jaleel Johnson who figure to spell Stephen & Joseph at the DT spots.  The Vikings will likely put 3 DE’s on the field at the same time on passing downs with Weatherly kicking inside as he did last season.  With the top 3 subs plus the 4 starters pretty much determined that leaves anywhere from 2-3 more roster spots open with guys like DE’s Ifaehdi Odenigbo & Tashawn Bower vying for the 4th DE spot along with players like Hercules Mata’afa, Ade Aruna & 6th rd rookie Armon Watts also in the mix for backup DT spots.  Some players that do not make the final 53 could also be considered for the practice squad.

Linebackers

The Vikings starting LBs appear to be set with Eric Kendricks in the Middle and Anthony Barr & Ben Gedeon manning the Outside spots. The primary backup LB is Eric Wilson who is an Outside LB that can also play in the Middle if needed.  It is possible that Wilson pushes Gedeon for playing time though but we’ll see how it shakes out in camp & pre season.  Beyond the top 4 guys there is room for 2 more spots as the Vikings generally like to keep 6 LBers on the 53 man roster.  Veteran Kentrell Brothers could be a surprise cut this off season since he is in the final year of his rookie deal and has not been anything more than a special teams player thus far for the team.  The Vikings drafted Cameron Smith in the 5th rd this season and he is likely to grab a backup roster spot.  The team also has 2nd year pro Devante Downs who made the roster last season and played on special teams.  He’s another year removed from a major injury he sustained in college so he could take a step forward this year in his development and grab the 6th and final roster spot.  Greer Martini & Reshard Cliett are likely just camp bodies with a chance to make the practice squad.

Cornerbacks

The Vikings are set at the top of their CB depth chart with Xavier Rhodes & Trae Waynes manning the starting outside CB spots.  It is likely that with Mike Hughes still recovering from a torn ACL that veteran Nickel back Mackensie Alexander begins the year as the starter in the slot.  Once healthy again Hughes is likely going to see time rotating in at both outside CB and Nickel as well as be in on Dime packages.  With backup CB Holton Hill suspended for the first 4 games of the season the Vikings will need 2 more CBs to place on the 53 man roster to at least begin the season.  Rookie 7th rd CB Kris Boyd figures to be one of them and Craig James who made the 53 man roster last season will likely be the other one.  Once Hill returns to the 53 man roster it is likely that one of Boyd or James will revert to the practice squad.

Safeties

The starters are set with All Pro Harrison Smith & the ascending Anthony Harris penciled in at Free & Strong Safety respectively.  The backups are starting take shape now as well with Jayron Kearse a lock to make the team as he doubles as both a 3rd safety and a “Big Nickel” CB in specific sub packages to counter offensive match ups.  Rookie 6th rd pick Safety Marcus Epps has also been getting work as a backup slot CB too increasing his chances of making the roster by showing position versatility.  Also in the mix for a backup Safety spot is veteran Deron Smith who has both NFL & AAF experience under his belt.   It is likely between Epps & Smith for the 4th safety spot.

Specialists

The Vikings Kicker spot is locked up with Dan Bailey returning from last season but the rest of the spots appear up for grabs.  As mentioned before players like Jordan Taylor, Chad Beebe, Ameer Abdullah & Mike Boone are all being considered for return man spots as well as backup CB Holton Hill once he returns from a 4 game suspension.  The Vikings currently have Matt Wile on the roster as a punter but have been trying out other punters with holding experience to possibly bring more competition in for Wile.  We will see what happens once we get into training camp and pre-season as to whether those try outs materialize into roster additions before this battle is decided.  As far as the Long Snapper position is concerned things just got a bit more interesting with the US government’s recent decision on Pro Athletes with Military service obligations as Austin Cutting was cleared to play this season for the Vikings.  The fact that the Vikings used a 7th rd pick on a Long Snapper is telling and they would save close to $1 million in salary cap space by releasing veteran Long Snapper Kevin McDermott.  This will be something to watch closely as new ST’s coordinator Marwan Maalouf  decides which players he wants as his specialists for the 2019 regular season.

Conclusion

The biggest story for the 2019 Vikings is the installation of the Kevin Stefanski/Gary Kubiak offense and the greater emphasis it will place on play action passing & running the ball in a zone blocking scheme which plays to the strengths of QB Kirk Cousins, RB Dalvin Cook & the young & athletic Vikings O-linemen.  The Defense is largely intact from a season ago and appears ready to be a top 5-10 unit once again this season.  If the offense can get itself into the top 10-15 range overall the Vikings should be able to make the playoffs and challenge for the NFC North crown.  Early signs are pointing to that if the team can stay relatively healthy.  The key for this is a solid training camp which should translate into a strong start to the regular season in which the Vikings will need to get themselves back into the post season.  Early momentum could be just what this team needs to get it’s 2017 swagger back and they have the pieces in place as well as the coaching staff this season to do it.   #SKOL

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