WR Stephen Burton hauls in a 52 yard completion from QB Christian Ponder

Well, the good thing is football is back.  The bad thing is the Vikings lost their preseason opener.  Thankfully, it is only preseason and these games don’t count so there is no need to panic….yet!

These four preseason games are used to evaluate the players the Vikings have and who they will keep when the cut the roster down to 53 men.

On Friday night, all of Vikings’ fans’ eyes were on second year quarterback Christian Ponder.  Fans could notice a great deal of improvement in Ponder’s play during the first two drives of the game with the first team offense.

Ponder finished 4-of-9 for 80 yards.  Although Ponder had more incompletions then completions, three of the five incompletions were “drops” that hit the receivers on their hands and the other two were intended throwaways.   After the game, head coach Leslie Frazier complimented Ponder’s decision making.

» Continue reading “Recapping The Vikings 17-6 Loss To San Francisco”

Christian Ponder connects with Percy Harvin
Credit: Mike Wobschall

Day two of padded practice (and day four of practice overall) is now complete in Mankato.  Below is all the news from the final day of July’s practice.

Injury notes:

• Did not practice: Josh Robinson, Adrian Peterson, Robert Blanton, and DeMarcus Love.
• Limited due to CBA rules: Stephen Burton and Chris Stroud
• TE John Carlson injures knee during practice.  Carlson will be out “a few weeks” with a sprained MCL.  There is no tear and surgery will not be needed

Practice notes:

• Quarterback update on 11-on-11 drills: Christian Ponder went 3 of 8; Joe Webb went 3 of 6; Sage Rosenfels went 10 of 14; and Bethel-Thompson went 0 of 3
• Leslie Frazier on Christian Ponder’s less than stellar day: “We are so early in the camp. You don’t panic about those moments.”
• Stand outs on defense: Harrison Smith with a pick and Mistral Raymond and Eric Lattimore with pass deflections
• Hit of the day: Everson Griffen lays out Lex Hillard
• Almost fight: Harrison Smith versus Mickey Shuler 

The Minnesota Vikings report to training camp next week, so I figured what better way to prepare for the 2012 season than to look at who will be competiting for a roster spot.  First up, the most important position on offense: quarterbacks.

Without improvement from Christian Ponder at QB, the Vikings will remain in the cellar of the NFC North.  In case of an injury to Ponder, Joe Webb, Sage Rosenfels and/or McLead Bethel Thompson need to prove during camp they can run the Vikings offense.

Christian Ponder

2011-2012 stats — 11 games:

• 158 completions — 291 attempts — 54.3% completion rate
• 1,853 yards — 6.37 average yards/pass
• 13 touchdowns
• 13 interceptions

Christian Ponder will be entering his second season in the NFL, but only his first with a full off season of OTAs after last years lockout.

“It was weird being a rookie.  Not only a rookie, but a rookie that shows up right at training camp,” Ponder said in May.  ”It’s hard to establish yourself as a leader….Now being in a position where I can comfortably say, ‘This is my team,’ it definitely helps.”

Ponder heads into the season being the starter, unlike last year where he lost reps in practice due to the fact the Vikings also had newcomer Donovan McNabb also learning the playbook.  This training camp Ponder will likely see all first-team reps to get up him to speed with all of his wide receivers, tight ends, and his offensive line, including fourth overall draft pick and blind side protector, Matt Kalil.

Best moments of his rookie season:

» Continue reading “Training Camp Preview: A Glimpse At The Quarterbacks”

Minnesota media flooded Winter Park today to get a glimpse of the 2012 Minnesota Vikings on the field during their first day of their three day mandatory mini-camp.  Below are the top tweets from the reporters in attendance.

Tom Pelissero (1500ESPN)

» Continue reading “Twitter Recap of Vikings Mini-Camp Day 1″

Credit: Aj Mansour (KFAN)

Jerome Simpson impressive catch: New Vikings WR Jerome Simpson turned heads with an impressive “circus” catch over CB Chris Cook during an 11-on-11 drill.  Although Simpson will sit out the Vikings first three games of the season due to a suspension, he is becoming a go-to receiver in practice for QB Christian Ponder, who lacked a deep threat during his rookie season. Video of the catch.

“Christian just threw a great ball,” Simpson said. “I just did what I was supposed to do: catch it.”

“Anybody that witnessed that play (Wednesday), you’re going to get jacked up,” coach Leslie Frazier said. “That was an incredible play and one of the reasons we get excited about him. We’re hoping to see that on Sunday afternoons, plays like that. That will really help our team, help our quarterback’s confidence, and we need that.”

» Continue reading “News From Vikings OTA #5″

Percy Harvin and Chad Greenway participates in OTAs: For week one of OTAs, WR Percy Harvin was a spectator while rehabbing, along side teammate Adrian Peterson, from off-season shoulder surgery.  LB Chad Greenway was also absent from week one of OTAs while he was attending to a family issue.  However, for OTA #4, according to the Vikings.com, Harvin and Greenway joined their teammates on the field and looked “refreshed and explosive.”

ESPN analysis of the Vikings back-up QB situation: Christian Ponder will enter the 2012 season as the #1 QB on the Vikings depth-chart.  However, Ponder faced multiple injuries during his rookie season.  It’s important for the Vikings to have a reliable back-up QB in case Ponder, who has the reputation as being “injury prone,” goes down sometime during the season.

» Continue reading “Minnesota Vikings News Bulletin: June 4th-5th”

Final product | Credit: Ann Carroll

Following day three of OTAs, the Minnesota Vikings helped construct a playground alongside  Toro Company and KaBOOM!  This year, their efforts helped Sheridan Arts Magnet School in Northeast Minneapolis.

“Just finished our last OTA for the week – offense looked great today. A lot of improvement through the week,” tweeted QB Christian Ponder. “Now we are heading to help build a playground in Minneapolis.  Excited to give back to those who give so much to us.”

According to Vikings.com Mike Wobschall, more than 250 volunteers, including 100+ Vikings staff members, team executives, Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders, Head Coach Leslie Frazier, the Vikings coaching staff and current Vikings players were in attendance.

“Going to do a playground build,” tweeted Brian Robinson. “Feels good doing good deeds for the community that rallies around us.”

Below are pictures of the Vikings giving back to the community:

» Continue reading “Vikings Give Back To Minnesota”

The NFL will allow all teams to take 90 players to training camp, which is where the current Minnesota Vikings roster stands (however, the 10 draft picks remain unsigned).  Below is the breakdown of each position, as of May 21st, 2012:

Offense

Quarterbacks: **Christian Ponder, Joe Webb (back-up), Sage Rosenfels and McLeod Bethel-Thompson

Running backs: **Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Jordan Todman, Derrick Coleman, Lex Hilliard and Jerome Felton

Wide receivers:  **Percy Harvin, **Jerome Simpson, Manny Arceneaux, Devin Aromashodu, Stephen Burton, Michael Jenkins, Greg Childs, Jarius Wright, Chris Carr, Bryan Walters, Kamar Jorden and Kerry Taylor

Tight ends: **Kyle Rudolph, **John Carlson, Mickey Shuler, Allen Reisner and Rhett Ellison

Offensive linemen: **Matt Kalil (LT), **John Sullivan (C), **Phil Loadholt (RT), **Charlie Johnson (LG), Geoff Schwartz (OL), Kevin Murphy (OT), DeMarcus Love (OT), Brandon Fuscco (OL), Chris DeGeare (OG), Pat Brown (OL), Joe Berger (OL), Tyler Holmes (OG), Darrion Weems (OT), Quentin Saulsberry (C) and Austin Pasztor (OG)

Fullbacks: Ryan D’Imperio and Matt Asiata

Defense

Linebackers: **Chad Greenway, **Erin Henderson, **Jasper Brinkley, Tyrone McKenzie, Larry Dean, Audie Cole, Marvin Mitchell, Tyler Nielson, Corey Paredes and Solomon Elimimian

Defensive linemen: **Jared Allen (DE), **Brian Robinson (DE), **Kevin Williams (DT), D’Aundre Reed (DE), Letroy Guion (DT), Everson Griffen (DE), Fred Evans (DT), Christian Ballard (DL), Trevor Guyton (DL), Nick Reed (DE), Anthony Jacobs (DE), Chase Baker (DT), Terrell Resonno (DT), Tydreke Powell (DT), Ernest Owusu (DE) and Eric Latimore (DE)

Safeties: **Harrison Smith, Robert Blanton, Eric Frampton, Mistral Raymond, Jamarca Sanford and Andrew Sendejo

Corner backs: **Chris Cook, **Antoine Winfield, Marcus Sherels, Brandon Burton, Asher Allen, Josh Robinson, Zach Bowman, Reggie Jones, Bobby Felder, C.C. Whitlock and Nick Taylor

Special Teams

Kicker: Blair Walsh

Punter: Chris Kluwe

Long snapper: Cullen Loeffler

** indicates likely starter/will receive major reps

Minnesota Governor explains decision to pay for part of Vikings Stadium: During an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Gov. Dayton explained that the current stadium deal (that just passed) was the best available option at the time.

“I’m not one to defend the economics of professional sports.  It’s a world unto itself.  Any deal you make in that world doesn’t make sense from the way the rest of us look at it.  That’s just a given.

“The bottom line was:  do we want to create several thousand jobs by building this new facility?  Do we want to keep the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota?  Do we want an NFL franchise here in our state?  We accomplished all that.  We’re going to have a chance to build something that I think Minnesotans can be very proud of.  It’s going to distinguish the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota for decades to come.

“It can be used 355 days a year when the Vikings aren’t playing in it as the people’s stadium, for all sorts of other uses that will enhance the quality of life in our state.  Time will tell whether we get a deal or not, I think it’s going to be a good deal when we look back with the perspective of time.”

Will the Vikings new stadium be able to host the Super Bowl?: Gov. Dayton believes so:

“I will do whatever I possibly can. I worked for (Gov.) Rudy Perpich when he spearheaded getting the Super Bowl here in 1992.”

Dayton said he figures chances of Minnesota getting a second Super Bowl should be “reasonably good. I don’t mean within a decade. They (NFL) don’t just jump at the chance to go to northern climes. But we’ll get one — I’m very confident.”

Will the Vikings put forth the extra money for a retractable roof?: Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf hinted that is possible:

“We’re going to try to get the maximum number of features within the budgets that we can make this a facility that is going to be exciting to the fans,” Mark Wilf said. “We know it’s a competitive landscape to attract our fans to the facility and we’re going to want to make it something special. To the extent that (a retractable roof) can get there, we’re going to try to do it.”

State lawmakers put a provision in the bill that allows for a retractable roof, but the Vikings would have to pay the extra cost.

The price tag of such a feature isn’t immediately known because the architects have yet to be hired…

Packers announce they will eventually retire former-Vikings QB Brett Favre’s #4: However, they are waiting to do so at the appropriate time.  Most likely, until the wounds can heal from Favre wearing purple for two seasons.

Packers president Mark Murphy said the team will wait “probably in a year or two,” according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Will E.J. Henderson be back wearing purple in 2012?:  E.J. Henderson is still unsigned on May 20th, while his younger brother signed a one-year contract with the Vikings back in March.  Sid Hartman believe E.J. will re-join the Vikings and his younger brother on the field in Minnesota next season:

There is still a good chance that E.J. Hendersonwill sign with the Vikings once he agrees to a contract paying the linebacker quite a bit less than the $6.7 million he was paid last year. Henderson still is demanding the same pay he got last year.

What’s Adrian Peterson’s probability for training camp?:  We all know AP will be coming back from a season-ending knee injury, but Peterson is keeping a positive, yet realistic mindset throughout off-season training and rehab:

“To be honest with you I feel like 50-50,” Peterson said. “I feel like honestly, sitting here telling you the truth, I’ll be able to participate doing certain things. I think I’ll be able to participate.”

Minnesota Vikings players spend their off-season in the weight room:  Last season, the Vikings didn’t have a normal off-season due to the NFL lockout.  This season, the players are taking full advantage of the Vikings facility:

Nearly the entire team is at Winter Park for Phase 2 of offseason conditioning, and most of the veterans have been working with Kanavy intensely since Phase 1 began in late April. Rookie draft picks arrived this week.

“With all we’ve been through the last two years, I thought they would come back in April maybe a little disorganized, willing to work but not sure about the direction,” Kanavy said. “But they’ve been impressive. They are determined to be in the conversation this year.”

And leaders are emerging. Kanavy cites second-year quarterback Christian Ponder, third-year backup quarterback Joe Webb, sixth-year defensive end Brian Robison and seventh-year linebacker Chad Greenway as a few of the tone-setters in the weight room and in on-field conditioning.

Ponder, who was hampered by several minor injuries the past two years, appears clearly bigger than his NFL-listed weight of 229 pounds and is working toward injury prevention due to “increasing strength and a balanced nature throughout his entire physique,” Kanavy said.

Ponder went from a college conditioning program to training for the draft, which Kanavy says is often drill-specific and doesn’t account for the entire body. Now he has time to build strength so he can better absorb bodily trauma on Sundays and recover from injuries more quickly, Kanavy said.

2012 Training Camp Dates Released: This week, the Minnesota Vikings announced the dates for training camp in Mankato, Minnesota.  The Vikings will report to camp on Thursday, July 26 and it will break three weeks later on Thursday, August 16.

Matt Kalil | Credit: KFAN

The Minnesota Vikings are currently in the middle of having their three day rookie mini camp at Winter Park.  There are 71 players in attendance: 10 draft picks, 15 undrafted free-agent signees,  seven players signed before the draft, and 39 tryout players. The Vikings even had some veterans on the sidelines looking at their new teammates.

Below are some nuggets of information people in attendance have noted.

Matt Kalil is awesome and makes Christian Ponder smile:

The rookie receiving the most attention at camp is the fourth overall pick, Matt Kalil.

“Really impressed with how he moves,” said right tackle Phil Loadholt.

“He’s a big man,” said Frazier of Kalil, who stands 6 feet 7 and 310 pounds.  ”You can see why we have high hopes for him.  He was excellent for us today.  His ability to pick up information is encouraging as well.”

Christian Ponder was even in attendance to look at his future left tackle and blind-side protector for years to come.  During open workouts on Wednesday, Ponder admitted he was happy with the Vikings selection of Kalil.

“[Me and Adrian Peterson] cracked a pretty big smile,” Ponder said.

Kalil….is expected to start immediately at left tackle.  That’ll move Charlie Johnson to left guard, upgrading the protection unit if everything goes to plan.

And no one would benefit more from that than Ponder, whose struggles as a rookie were magnified by an increasing tendency to stare down the rush, rather than keeping his eyes down field.

“It is huge,” Ponder said. “A lot of time last year, it didn’t necessarily have to do with the protection.  A lot of time I wasn’t comfortable getting to my third, fourth reads, checking the ball down.  Instead of just checking it down when a guy is wide open, I’d just run.

“That’s something I have to get away from.  It’s easy to break the habit.  It’s just going to make it so much better having full confidence in the protection.  Offensive line is looking good.  They got stacked up pretty quickly and they’ve got a lot of depth now. I’m excited about that as a quarterback.”

With the addition of Kalil to the offensive line, I will look for Ponder to make a huge step forward this upcoming season.

Greg Childs and Jarius Wright are a package deal, so it seems:

Childs and Wright played high school football together.  Then they both went to Arkansas.  Then they were both drafted in the fourth round by the Minnesota Vikings. Oh, and they both play wide receiver, but excel at different aspects.

“We always do things together.  This just makes us get even closer,” Childs said Friday as they both began their NFL careers at Minnesota Vikings rookie minicamp.

….

They grew up together and became two of the four players from Warren High School to sign with the University of Arkansas in 2008.  The 6-foot-3, 219-pound Childs blossomed first, leading the Razorbacks in nearly every receiving  category as a sophomore in 2009, including 48 catches for 894 yards and seven touchdowns.

He was on track for an even bigger junior year with 46 catches for 659 yards when he tore the patella tendon in his right knee in the eight game against Vanderbilt.  His senior year was rough after, he later acknowledged, he returned too soon.  The Vikings watched him fall down the draft board, anticipating his bounce-back season will be this one.

“If that’s the case, we’ll be the beneficiaries and he could be the steal of the draft,” Frazier said.

Childs said he has a “very big chip” on his shoulder.

“Before I got hurt I was considered one of the top receivers.  Since I got hurt I might not have gone in the round I wanted to go in, but I’m going to come out here and give it my all,” he said.

Wright is only 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, but he has exceptional speed and the ability to return punts and kickoffs as well.  His breakout came last season, including a 13-catch, 281-yard game against Texas A&M  for a season total of 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns.  He spoke eagerly about joining and learning from Percy Harvin, one of his inspirations

Childs is considered an outside threat, while Wright is one in the inside game.  Wright will likely back-up his inspiration in Percy Harvin.

Veterans look-on | Credit: Aj Mansour of KFAN

Day 1 nuggets (only day open to media):

• WR Jarius Wright sat out Friday’s second practice after hitting his head in the morning practice

“I’m doing good,” Wright said after the conclusion of the first day of practices.  ”No real problems with the head.  I was feeling a little sick earlier so for precautionary reasons they didn’t want me coming back out here and getting sick again .”

• Marks Lesie Frazier’s first “official” off-season with his players.  Last year, the Vikings were burned due to the lockout and never had proper a off-season.

“The coaches and I have talked about that repeatedly,” Frazier said.  ”We were in meetings yesterday just going through some of the final touches for this camp that we’re having and we just looked at one another, to be able to have this discussion and know it’s going to happen, it’s a big deal for us to be able to come on the field with so many players that we think are going to be able to help us and to spend time with them.”

• Veterans in attendance, included QB Christian Ponder and Joe Webb, TEs John Carlson and Kyle Rudolph, OL Brandon Fusco, Charlie Johnson, Phil Loadholt, DeMarcus Love and John Sullivan, DL Everson Griffen, WR Manny Arceneaux and RB Jordan Todman

“Some of (the veterans) asked me about it,” Frazier said.  ”They wanted to be able to come out and watch and we said, ‘Come out and look.  Just make sure you don’t jump in a drill or pick up a dummy or anything like that.’ It’s good that they want to come out and watch.  They’re hungry to get out there as well.

“The participation we’ve had in the offseason program has been superb.  The fact they want to come out here when they could leave and do other things on a Friday, that’s a good sign.”

• CB Josh Robinson is F-A-S-T!!!

“I was watching the guys return punts this morning,” Frazier said, “and we still have those cheat sheets with the guys numbers (on them).  Josh caught a punt and he took off like a guy shot out of a rocket.  I thought, ‘Man, that guy has a nice little burst, let me see who that is.’

“It was Josh Robinson and I said, ‘That’s a good sign.” That burst, it sticks out.  You can see why he ran a 4.2, 4.3 40(-yard dash) at the combine.  He can get from A to B pretty quickly.  So that’s encouraging.”

• Kickers Galore! Vikings picked Georgia kicker Blair Walsh in the sixth round, when they signed Ryan Longwell to a four-year,$12 million deal last season

Frazier said he does not know if the Vikings will keep two kickers — the possibility would be to start off Walsh as a kickoff specialist — and added that’s “not in the game plan right now.”

Asked about evaluating Walsh, Frazier said: “We are obviously going to take a close look at him.  Obviously, when you draft a kicker you are drafting for a reason.”

• Minicamp invitees on a tryout basis include LB coach Mike Singletary’s son Matt Signletary and Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald’s brother, Marcus Fitzgerald.

The Vikings had two more practices today and one final practice on Sunday.