Vikings Training Camp & Practice Notes
Jul 30, 2024 12:32:17 GMT -6
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Funkytown, diehardtwinsfan, and 3 more like this
Post by FSUVike on Jul 30, 2024 12:32:17 GMT -6
What happens in Training Camp and Pre-Season Games is not nearly as important as how Darnold plays in the real games. Unless he is truly a bad QB, (or JJ picks up the KO Offense so quickly and cannot be denied as the Starter), Darnold is the likely starter in Game 1. The good news is that Darnold seems to have three legitimate receiving threats in Jefferson, Addison, and Nailor. And Hockenson will be back. He has a good Offensive Line. The interior weakness is less of an issue if Risner ends up as a backup. That should open up running lanes for Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler. What if pass protection is good and the Vikings' running game is noticeably better with a relatively big OL, Ham, Oliver, and two RBs who run well? Besides the QB, the Vikings' Offensive players could be excellent if they stay healthy.
Darnold has a very good supporting cast and no excuses. He is in position to succeed, and if he struggles, then JJ McCarthy will play sooner than later. The Vikings' Offense is set up well to compete. They just need a good QB, and if it does not happen in 2024, JJ gives them a good shot to compete in 2025.
I think facing Flores and his unique style of attacking Defense is a double-edged sword. On the one hand the QBs should feel comfortable diagnosing and adjusting to blitzes and simulated pressure looks.
On the other hand they aren't going to see that style of Defense consistently for an entire game. More than half the League is playing the Fangio 2 High Safety look to stop guys like Mahomes, Allen et al from completing bombs to all the amazing WRs that are in the NFL now. Very few Teams blitz even remotely as often as Brian. Or utilize so many stunts and twists and other games at the LOS.
I wonder if part of the Offense struggling out of the gate last year was not facing regular Defenses during Camp and then sitting all the Starters in Preseason where they would be facing extremely vanilla defensive schemes.
The other thing to note is that the pass rush was giving the O-Line fits in Camp last season too. The O-Line went on to be above average in Pass Blocking and outside of Hunter the D-Line was abysmal at generating pressures. So I'm not going to read too much into what sounds like a repeat of last offseason in terms of praise or criticism for either Line.
As for Darnold, it's early. Cousins also struggled to pick up the playbook in Year 1 and in Year 2 had issues with Flores and his crazy Defense in the Preseason. But Sam is likely who he is at this point: wildly inconsistent. I wouldn't rush McCarthy because of that. But when and if JJ is ready, he should start. The kid needs to get used to throwing the ball 40 times a game. He won't get that on the bench.
Again, when he's ready. If he's ready at all this year. And I fully expect he will be.
... and neither is this Chris guy.