Report From Vikings Training Camp

August 10, 2010

Where are all of the Vikings Skill Players? Harvin is in Eden Prairie, Favre is still in Hattiesburg living it up with the high school kids, AP is not at camp [Albert Young although is looking good] , and overall the Vikings team has not resembled fully.  This gives Vikings fans even more reason for anxiety and heart attacks because our best three players have started a trickle down effect of skipping out on camp, commencing with Favre at the top. I mean, seriously, The Vikings cannot be projected for the Superbowl if we can't even see their pre-season play. This is the time to get down the new plays, work out the kinks in your game [AP fumbling] , and prepare for the Saints come regular season. Where are these star-studded superstars? Have they lost focus on the big picture, winning the Superbowl in Dallas?  Speculation has to lead you to believe that the Vikings camp is not so tightly organized and that problems will start budding if we don't see the return of our full roster, Favre included. Realistically, with Favre we are a Superbowl favorite, without Favre; we are a wild card favorite, BIG difference. So when will Favre end this onslaught of indecisive waffling? Come, the end of training camp August 14 or perhaps on the 1st regular season game Vs The New Orleans Saints? Well, enough prediction, This is what we do know about the Vikings Training Camp progression:

The Good:

• Chris Cook.  Cook went into camp as a long-shot to win anything higher than a fifth cornerback spot, but now, after a few stellar days, he looks like a legitimate threat to claim at least the nickelback role.  Observers are in love with his size, athleticism and ability to go up and get the ball.  Judd Zulgad said he is the best-looking rookie in Vikings camp.  It would be fantastic to have a young, talented corner playing outside, allowing Antoine Winfield to move inside or, perhaps, to safety.

•   Percy Harvin got hurt over the weekend, and has now left the team because of a death in the family.  Sidney Rice is on the PUP list with a bad hip.  These unfortunate situations opened the door for other receivers to get reps, and former Gopher Logan Payne has been the one to take advantage of it.  Judd Zulgad tweeted that Payne is “catching everything.”  He’s still a very long-shot to win a spot on the roster, but stranger things have happened.

• Chris DeGeare.  Once again, injury has paved the way for a younger guy to get reps with the first team.  In this case, the younger guy is rookie Chris DeGeare, who stepped in at left guard after Steve Hutchinson hurt his shoulder.  DeGeare reportedly looked good in his time at Hutch’s position.  Considering Hutch’s age and the injuries he’s suffered the last couple years, it would be reassuring to have a capable guy to step in should something bad happen.  And just in general, with Artis Hicks now gone, the Vikes need all the offensive line depth they can get.  It may be too early to declare DeGeare a legit threat to Anthony Herrera at right guard, but Brad Childress did say that DeGeare will get snaps at that position.  Clearly, Chilly wants someone to push Herrera.

• Toby Gerhart.  Toby had an eventful first couple of days.  He signed late and showed up a day late to camp, which irritated the veterans and his coach.  Once he did get on the practice field, a couple people noted that he tends not to play through to the whistle.  Perhaps wanting to test Toby’s mettle, Pat Williams flattened him during a drill.  Toby took it like a man and moved on.  We’ll see.

The BAD:

• Everson Griffen.  A Twitter follower of Judd Zulgad’s asked him which version of Everson Griffen showed up at camp (Griffen being a guy who is sometimes known for a lack of motivation).  Zulgad’s reply, “The one playing third team right end.”  This doesn’t mean anything yet.  But, if Griffen is still playing third team right end by the end of camp…well, then we’ll know we don’t have a new starting defensive end on our hands.

• Joe Webb. Those wishing to anoint Joe Webb the future of the Vikings may have been at least somewhat alarmed by the 0-8 performance he put on during drills the other day.  Pretty much every assessment of Webb is the same:  he has a strong arm but his accuracy is brutal, and he is a long, long way from ever being an NFL quarterback.  The lesson?  OTAs and mini camp mean nothing.  Of course, camp doesn’t mean everything either.  Webb could still rebound.  But, for now, he looks like a wide receiver playing quarterback.