Posts by Carl Knowles

Camp Battles: The Linebackers

August 2, 2013, by 9 comments

Linebackers coach Fred Pagac and the rest of the Vikings’ staff will have a tough time in camp and preseason trimming this group of linebackers down to the top 7 guys. The 2012 squad had 7 backers on it, so unless the Vikings eliminate the 3rd QB spot to make room for an extra linebacker this year, I think the Vikings will be forced to cut 3 of the 10 linebackers in camp.

At this point the only certainty is that 2012 All-Pro Chad Greenway will be back as the starting strong-side linebacker. The 2006 first round pick from Iowa started all 16 games last year and finished with 148 combined tackles which ranked 3rd in the NFL. Greenway’s leadership will be needed again this year as Pagac will probably rotate the other linebackers in and out as he did last season.

With some degree of certainty I can say that undrafted rookie Nathan Williams has no chance to make the 53 man roster. An ankle injury that required surgery in June has him sidelined on the PUP list which may put the screws to any opportunity show what he can do.

This off-season the Vikings moved Erin Henderson, last year’s starter on the weak side, to the middle linebacker spot. It looks like this move will stick through camp and preseason but I wouldn’t mortgage the farm that he will start all 16 games in the middle. Henderson was the Vikings 7th leading tackler with 50 solo stops last season on the outside. So far in camp Leslie Frazier is encouraged by Henderson’s transition to the middle, and Erin appears hungry to hold on to his new job. Some early camp notes and highlights include a couple big hits from Henderson and some overall solid play.

Continue Reading →

Cordarrelle Finds Percy’s Glass Shoes

July 31, 2013, by 19 comments
Training Camp 2013 Cordarrelle Patterson

Photograph Credit: Chris Price

This fairy tale seemed more like a nightmare back on March 11th when playmaker Percy Harvin’s glass slippers were left behind in exchange for three draft picks. Credit GM Rick Spielman for turning a pumpkin patch full of draft picks into a magical New York night that not only landed the Vikings two defensive gems but also uncovered Cinderella in the process.

Cordarrelle Patterson, the 29th overall pick also known as “Flash”, is a fan favorite in Mankato. His golden colored dreadlocks hanging from under his purple helmet is a camp fashion highlight even a story book princess would envy. Patterson’s dynamic athletic highlights on the practice field are also wowing the eye of the beholders in Minnesota. Between his one handed grabs and his incredible ability to change direction and make defenders look silly, fans have plenty of reasons to cheer and not give another thought to Percy Harvin.

Continue Reading →

CAMP BATTLES: The Pass Rushers

July 23, 2013, by No comments yet

The Vikings return all 4 defensive ends from the 2012 squad. The top of the depth chart is loaded with talent but Rick Spielman still signed guys that could steal that final roster spot away from D’Aundre Reed. Reed was a 7th round pick by the Vikings in 2011 but has yet to earn a single tackle in 2 regular seasons with the team. As a matter-of-fact he has collected only 1 solo tackles in the preseason games. The writing might be on the wall for D’Aundre because the Vikings signed free agent Lawrence Jackson from Detroit in the off season. Jackson was a 1st round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2008 NFL draft. Jackson started 51 games at USC… Phillip Rivers is the only other NCAA player to accomplish that statistic. The 6 year pro is listed at 6’4’ 271 pounds and has played in 69 NFL games. Jackson has 19.5 sacks and 141 total tackles in his career. Yea, I would say that’s and upgrade.

The Vikings also signed undrafted rookie free agent Marquis Jackson from Portland State. Last season Marquis had 36 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Prior to Portland State, he racked up 14 sacks and 36 TFL in 2 seasons with Texas Southern. Marquis has terrific movement skills and explodes at the point of attack. At one time he was highly rated player that just didn’t play with consistent urgency in 2012. USC had interest in Marquis, but academic problems stop him from becoming a Trojan.

At the bottom of the defensive end depth chart is undrafted free agents Collins Ukwu and George Johnson. The good news is the Vikings will not need to play Jared Allen, Brian Robison or Everson Griffen much in preseason so those 2 might see some playing time. The bad news is Ukwu and Johnson are long shots with the Vikings.

Continue Reading →

Camp Battles: The Offensive Line

July 22, 2013, by 2 comments

The Vikings return all 5 starters on the offensive line that was ranked 2nd in the NFL in rushing last season. In 2012, under second year offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, the big boys up front took important steps forward in production and consistency. The team saw all 5 guys as a unit start all 16 games, while giving up just 32 sacks compared to 49 the previous year. I would not be surprised to see all 5 guys win the starting jobs again this year and continue to improve as a unit.

Center John Sullivan, a 6th round draft pick in 2008, is the longest standing offensive lineman on the team and has been the leader and anchor in the middle as a starter since 2009. If Sully can stay healthy, he might have a chance to earn a spot in the Pro Bowl before his career is over.

Tackle Phil Loadholt owns the next longest tenure as a Vikings’ lineman. The Mammoth 2009 2nd round pick made headlines this off-season by signing a new 5 year contract. Loadholt is one of the top run blockers in the league and will lock down the right tackle spot again this season.

The left tackle spot belongs to 2012 first round pick Matt Kalil. The former USC star was chosen for the Pro Bowl after debuting as a rookie starter. The Vikings are counting on Kalil to have another Pro Bowl year protecting Ponder’s blind side.

Continue Reading →

SIMPSON FLIPS OVER A NEW LEAF

July 20, 2013, by 2 comments

Infamous for his flip over a defender and his extra curricular activity with a funky leaf, Jerome Simpson’s now scores some “honest” credit for a recent off-season workout. Simpson was spotted running sprints and catching passes at the private training camp of the All-Everything wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

The CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) doesn’t allow players to use team facilities during this time period before the start of training camp, so Fitzgerald brings his camp home to Minnesota. Every July since 2009, The University of Minnesota has allowed Larry and 25 to 50 of his friends to workout and use the stadium, practice fields, weight rooms and other facilities.

This camp is known for being very intense with conditioning, lifting in the weight room, and the competition on the field. Fitzgerald has a reputation for being a workout warrior, so I’m hoping some of that work ethic will rubs off on Simpson. Wide receivers at the camp also get quality instruction on route running techniques by former Vikings’ great Cris Carter.

Sidney Rice had a Pro Bowl season in Minnesota after attending his first Fitzgerald camp in 2009. Last year Everson Griffen attended the camp and he went on to have a solid year collecting 26 tackles and 8 sacks in a rotational roll.

Jerome hopes that his time at the Fitzgerald camp will be a step in the right direction for him as well.

“I wanted to work with one of the greats,” Simpson said, via Chip Scoggins. “I got an opportunity to come down here and work with him so I wanted to take full advantage of it.”

“I’m trying to pick his brain while I’m here and try and get in the same position that he is,” Simpson said. “He’s a great receiver. When I was in college, I always looked up to him. It’s an honor to be able to train with him.”

Last season Simpson had 26 catches for 274 yards for the Vikings. Can Simpson “flip” those numbers into something more productive this year?

KEEP TALKIN’ ADRIAN, KEEP TALKIN’

July 16, 2013, by 26 comments

Buried at the bottom of my bucket list, right above win a mirror ball trophy on Dancing with the Stars, is a desire I’ve been craving for nearly 40 years – watch the Minnesota Vikings win a Super Bowl World Championship. If I believe what Adrian Peterson is saying, and I have no reason not to, I just might be checking one of those items off my list in the near future.

Last year at this time, I was hearing Peterson say he was planning to come back better than ever by week one. My heart was telling me “that sounds great,” but my mind was focused on how good Toby Gerhart was going to play while filling the gap until I actually saw a healthy #28 on the football field. Little did I realize that Peterson was speaking the truth. Toby would be nothing more than an afterthought as Peterson chased Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record.

At the Pro Bowl, Peterson predicted he would win the NFL’s MVP award. He was right. On that special night in February when All Day accepted his MVP trophy… he told the world he was going to win it again next year, then looked at coach Frazier with a twinkle in his eyes and added, “I’m going to win the most important award, the team award, the Super Bowl.

A couple months later, Peterson told Maggie Gray of Sports Illustrated in a video interview, “I want a couple of rings. We’ve got to start at one and we need to get it this year. We have the potential to get to the Super Bowl and win. It’s all about coming together”. The big quote that stole the show was when Peterson said “I’m going to let the chips fall. I got my bar set at 2500 yards. If that happens, the record will be shattered.”

Adrian Peterson has earned the right to talk. In 2012, he had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history falling just nine yards short of Dickerson’s rushing title. Unfortunately for Viking fans, all the experts are saying Peterson’s goals can’t be reached. They say the odds are stacked against the Minnesota Vikings and their superstar. The consensus is the goals are simply too unrealistic even for the immortal Adrian Peterson.

Nope, I’m not buying that. No way. No how. ESPN and all the naysayers need to take notice. Adrian Peterson and the upstart Minnesota Vikings will contrive the greatest multi-game sports event since Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire battled it out for the MLB home run title in 1998. One thing is for sure, America will slow down this fall to soak it all in.

Keep talking Adrian. I believe. Coach Frazier and your young impressionable Vikings’ teammates believe… and the world will soon follow.

As Adrian speaks, so may it be written and so shall it be truth!

The Bottom Line On Zach Line

July 12, 2013, by 7 comments

Don’t be fooled. Zach Line might be listed as a 230 pound fullback on the Vikings roster, but the undrafted star from SMU has the versatility, production and work ethic of a featured running back. As a matter-of-fact, the more I read about him, the more I believe he has the talent to make the Vikings 53 man roster. Greg Maiola Senior Analyst for Bleacher Report called Line the best kept secret in the 2013 draft. Maiola also writes that Line fights through and breaks tackles like Mike Alstott. He is patient like Arian Foster and pass block as well as Joseph Addai did with the Indianapolis Colts.

In June Jones’ spread offensive attach, Line proved to be a versatile workhorse earning 2012 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Honors as a senior. His outstanding career would see him tie the great Eric Dickerson with 47 touchdowns and surpass him in total all proposes yards with 4715.

SMU Head Coach June Jones was planning on using Zach as a linebacker early on, but after watching him as a lead blocker, Jones moved him to fullback. Line looked good as a freshman fullback helping lead the way for Shawnbrey McNeal to rush for 1,188 yards. The SMU coaches promoted Line to be the featured back after McNeal departed for the NFL. And Line didn’t disappoint, rushing for 3 straight 1,000 yard seasons for the Mustangs.

Jones is outspoken about Zach’s character. “If Bill Walsh were still alive, Bill would take this kid right now, and he would be a star. You cannot have too many Zach Lines on your football team, and that’s why he’s going to make it in the NFL.”

Zach knows he will need to compete and work hard to earn a roster spot in the NFL. He prides himself on the effort he spends preparing for a game. “My practice habits and work ethic are unmatched. I train like I play.” Line’s hard work shows in the passing game as he proved to be a reliable target catching 75 balls out of the backfield over his career. This old-school football player also mastered the craft of pass blocking in a high octane offense.

The big knock on Line is that he is not fast enough to be a featured back in the NFL. With Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart at the top of the depth chart, the Vikings don’t need Line to be the head-line back anyway. But just for the record, Zach Line’s 4.77 combine forty-time is identical to Matt Asiata’s combine time… yet Zach is 2 inches taller and 10 pounds heavier. It might also be worthy to note that Line out performed Asiata in the bench press with 26 reps to 22.

Zach did have fumbles against Baylor and TCU as a senior. So, Zach must convince the coaching staff that this opportunity is not too big for him and that rookie mistakes like fumbles, drop ball and missed assignments will not be a part of his game. If Line can find a way to contribute consistently on special teams during camp and preseason, he just might have chance to steal the #3 running back job away from Matt Asiata.