Post by Purple Pain on Jun 25, 2024 10:38:03 GMT -6
Huge respect for Aaron Jones
Shortly after signing his contract extension, Justin Jefferson was asked about the talent on the Vikings' offense. The first name he mentioned was Jones, the running back who signed a one-year deal as a free agent in March.
"We have a whole bunch of different weapons on our offense," Jefferson said. "Just getting Aaron Jones into this offense, with his ability to run the ball and being able to be explosive, it just goes back to having Dalvin Cook back on this offense. Having that same type of mindset, having that same type of similarity. I feel like he's going to do fantastic with us."
Jefferson's excitement matched that of other players who are thrilled and still a bit shocked that Jones is on their side. Since entering the NFL in 2017, Jones has more all-purpose yards against the Vikings (1,005 in 11 games) than any other player in the league. And Jefferson's connection of Jones to Cook is notable as well: In three seasons as Jefferson's teammate, Cook produced an average of 1,590 total yards and 11 touchdowns per year.
It seems unlikely that Jones, 29, will get enough touches in 2024 to match those raw numbers. And it remains to be seen how much O'Connell will re-balance the offense following the departure of quarterback Kirk Cousins. During O'Connell's 34-game tenure, the Vikings ranked No. 29 in the NFL in percentage of designed runs (33.6%).
But when they do run the ball, it's clear that players from all corners of the locker room trust that it will be in good hands.
Shortly after signing his contract extension, Justin Jefferson was asked about the talent on the Vikings' offense. The first name he mentioned was Jones, the running back who signed a one-year deal as a free agent in March.
"We have a whole bunch of different weapons on our offense," Jefferson said. "Just getting Aaron Jones into this offense, with his ability to run the ball and being able to be explosive, it just goes back to having Dalvin Cook back on this offense. Having that same type of mindset, having that same type of similarity. I feel like he's going to do fantastic with us."
Jefferson's excitement matched that of other players who are thrilled and still a bit shocked that Jones is on their side. Since entering the NFL in 2017, Jones has more all-purpose yards against the Vikings (1,005 in 11 games) than any other player in the league. And Jefferson's connection of Jones to Cook is notable as well: In three seasons as Jefferson's teammate, Cook produced an average of 1,590 total yards and 11 touchdowns per year.
It seems unlikely that Jones, 29, will get enough touches in 2024 to match those raw numbers. And it remains to be seen how much O'Connell will re-balance the offense following the departure of quarterback Kirk Cousins. During O'Connell's 34-game tenure, the Vikings ranked No. 29 in the NFL in percentage of designed runs (33.6%).
But when they do run the ball, it's clear that players from all corners of the locker room trust that it will be in good hands.
Top 2022 draft picks on the ropes
Jobs are neither won nor lost during spring practices, but anyone watching could see that three of the Vikings' top four picks from the 2022 draft remain personnel afterthoughts.
As you might recall from that draft -- the first of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's tenure -- the Vikings traded out of their original No. 12 spot and eventually ended up with the Nos. 32, 42, 59 and 66 selections. Those picks netted safety Lewis Cine, cornerback Andrew Booth, guard Ed Ingram and linebacker Brian Asamoah II, respectively.
During the practices open to reporters, Cine appeared to be no better than the sixth safety on the roster, if you include all-purpose defender Josh Metellus. Reserves Theo Jackson and Jay Ward, not to mention starters Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum, were all working ahead of him. Booth got some runs with the second team, but he'll have to contend with at least two newcomers -- likely starter Shaquill Griffin and rookie Khyree Jackson -- for a roster spot.
Asamoah was working behind Pace and Cashman. Ingram remained the first-team right guard, as he has been since the start of his career, but O'Connell indicated there will be a three-way competition for playing time at the two guard spots among Ingram, Blake Brandel and Dalton Risner.
Cine was the top pick, but he might have the toughest chance of earning a roster spot. For a variety of reasons, most notably a compound fracture of his left leg in Week 4 of his rookie season, Cine has played in only 10 NFL games and received a total of 10 defensive snaps.
His 2024 base salary of $1.7 million is fully guaranteed, so in theory he could return for emergency depth and special teams. But it would take a wild swing during training camp for Cine to get back into contention for playing time on defense.
The new kicker ... can kick
The Vikings don't stage many competitive periods during spring practices, so there were only a few opportunities to see kickers in game-like situations. The remainder of rookie Will Reichard's efforts came during positional drills, without a defense pressuring him and sometimes without even a snap. But he still managed to put on a display that confirms, if nothing else, he has the leg to kick in the NFL for a long time.
During the team's final OTA, which was moved indoors because of rain, Reichard nearly hit a balcony that is perched on the wall behind -- and above -- the goal posts while moving through a progression of 40+ yard attempts. Later, in a full drill with a defense, he drilled a 60-yarder that landed in a net that sits 10 feet behind the goal post and 10 feet off the ground.
The NFL doesn't award additional points for kicks that sail well above or beyond the goal posts, and Reichard's success as a rookie will depend as much on his mental makeup as it does on his leg strength. But he passed all the tests you could reasonably pose a kicker during spring practices.
Jobs are neither won nor lost during spring practices, but anyone watching could see that three of the Vikings' top four picks from the 2022 draft remain personnel afterthoughts.
As you might recall from that draft -- the first of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's tenure -- the Vikings traded out of their original No. 12 spot and eventually ended up with the Nos. 32, 42, 59 and 66 selections. Those picks netted safety Lewis Cine, cornerback Andrew Booth, guard Ed Ingram and linebacker Brian Asamoah II, respectively.
During the practices open to reporters, Cine appeared to be no better than the sixth safety on the roster, if you include all-purpose defender Josh Metellus. Reserves Theo Jackson and Jay Ward, not to mention starters Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum, were all working ahead of him. Booth got some runs with the second team, but he'll have to contend with at least two newcomers -- likely starter Shaquill Griffin and rookie Khyree Jackson -- for a roster spot.
Asamoah was working behind Pace and Cashman. Ingram remained the first-team right guard, as he has been since the start of his career, but O'Connell indicated there will be a three-way competition for playing time at the two guard spots among Ingram, Blake Brandel and Dalton Risner.
Cine was the top pick, but he might have the toughest chance of earning a roster spot. For a variety of reasons, most notably a compound fracture of his left leg in Week 4 of his rookie season, Cine has played in only 10 NFL games and received a total of 10 defensive snaps.
His 2024 base salary of $1.7 million is fully guaranteed, so in theory he could return for emergency depth and special teams. But it would take a wild swing during training camp for Cine to get back into contention for playing time on defense.
The new kicker ... can kick
The Vikings don't stage many competitive periods during spring practices, so there were only a few opportunities to see kickers in game-like situations. The remainder of rookie Will Reichard's efforts came during positional drills, without a defense pressuring him and sometimes without even a snap. But he still managed to put on a display that confirms, if nothing else, he has the leg to kick in the NFL for a long time.
During the team's final OTA, which was moved indoors because of rain, Reichard nearly hit a balcony that is perched on the wall behind -- and above -- the goal posts while moving through a progression of 40+ yard attempts. Later, in a full drill with a defense, he drilled a 60-yarder that landed in a net that sits 10 feet behind the goal post and 10 feet off the ground.
The NFL doesn't award additional points for kicks that sail well above or beyond the goal posts, and Reichard's success as a rookie will depend as much on his mental makeup as it does on his leg strength. But he passed all the tests you could reasonably pose a kicker during spring practices.
... and neither is this Chris guy.