EAGAN
http://www.thevikingslockerroom.com/authentic-fran-tarkenton-jersey , Minn. (AP) — Three seasons ago, when the Minnesota Vikings stumbled after a 5-0
start and finished just 8-8, one of their many problems was a negligible
contribution by their collection of first-year players.The following summer,
school started early for the new students. Coach Mike Zimmer hasn’t looked
back.“That was the rookie class that didn’t really give us much that year,”
Zimmer said, reflecting on the 2016 draftees, “so I figured the more that we
could help them with these kinds of things, the faster that they can get up to
speed, they might be able to help us a little bit.”Headlined by center and
first-round draft pick Garrett Bradbury, a group of 37 rookies and assorted
other players took the field at team headquarters on Tuesday for the first
official practice of training camp. The balance of the squad will join them on
Friday.The Vikings in 2019 will be a decidedly veteran team, molded with a Super
Bowl-or-bust mentality and featuring 12 players with a salary with an average
annual contract value of $9 million or more. They likely won’t last long in the
postseason, let alone qualify for it, without a productive core of players still
on rookie-level salaries.Bradbury will be leaned on heavily
Womens Paul Krause Jersey , the anchor of an offensive line that has struggled more often than not in recent years and must better protect
quarterback Kirk Cousins. Tight end Irv Smith Jr. (second round) and running
back Alexander Mattison (third round) will be asked right away to play
supporting roles in the offense.Long snapper Austin Cutting, his military
service requirement ironed out with the Air Force Academy, would not have been
drafted had the Vikings not believed he could beat out Kevin McDermott for that
specialist’s role. Perhaps cornerback Kris Boyd, another seventh-rounder, will
prove his worth as needed depth behind starters Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes,
with Holton Hill facing an eight-game suspension and Mike Hughes returning from
reconstructive ACL surgery on his left knee.Three years ago, wide receiver
Laquon Treadwell was the first-round pick with only one catch to show for his
first NFL season, second-rounder cornerback Mackensie Alexander was slow to warm
to the slot position, and fourth-round offensive tackle Willie Beavers was
overmatched. The draft classes from 2017 and 2018 have so far proven to be more
impactful.Given his draft status and critical position, Bradbury will face the
most pressure to perform from the outset. The North Carolina State product
clearly has the confidence to meet the expectations that have surrounded
him.“It’s just trusting the preparation,” Bradbury said. “I’ve been studying the
playbook a lot, and I just need to be confident with my calls.”Said Zimmer:
“He’s a brilliant kid, so that helps a lot. He’s going to have a big
load.”Cutting will
John Randle Jersey , too, but in a different way. He’s a second lieutenant in the Air Force, which has assigned him to recruitment. So he’ll be
able to fulfill that post-graduate duty while not having put his NFL dream on
hold.“The Academy has helped me a lot, not just in the football aspect but in
everything and life, too, so I have people there that have my back,” Cutting
said, adding: “It’s definitely a stressor taken off of me. It was stressful,
because it was nothing that I could control yet was still something that I had
to keep up with and monitor. Now it’s nice to be able to be here and focus on
football.”These rookies, from Bradbury to Cutting, likely won’t feel the same
type of burden that so many others in the organization will carry into this
season, whether it’s acknowledged publicly or not.“The expectations or the
pressure are no different than they are any other year,” general manager Rick
Spielman said. “I know last year was disappointing from where we felt we were
and where we ended up. I know we did a lot of things to try and correct those
areas that we needed to address during the offseason
http://www.thevikingslockerroom.com/authentic-cris-carter-jersey , and I think we’ve accomplished that so far. But it’s yet to be determined.”
Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a
back injury. He did not practice Thursday, increasing concern about his
availability for Sunday. So what do the Packers do if they don’t have Bakhtiari?
Right guard Billy Turner could move to tackle and have Lucas Patrick start at
right guard, Rob Demovsky of ESPN reports as the most likely scenario. The
Packers also have Alex Light and right tackle Bryan Bulaga as options to play
left tackle.“I don’t know if we’re at that point right now, to be honest with
you,” Bulaga said, via Demovsky. “So I don’t even want to go down that path.
Obviously, Dave’s one of the best tackles in the game, so obviously whenever you
remove a really good player, you’re not putting in a better player than that
really good player. So it obviously hurts the front, but guys have to step up.
Just like if someone gets nicked up in a game, someone’s got to go in and play.
They’re expected to win and play at a high level. But to my knowledge, we’re not
at that point.”
