adrian peterson

14 Vikings Mankato Thoughts From My Mind Grapes [PODCAST]

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Aug 8, 2016

Minnesota Vikings Mankato Training Camp Stefon Diggs — Photo Courtesy of Luke Inman

My time at Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings Training Camp has concluded. I enjoyed my time watching the team in the Crown Jewel of South Central Minnesota. Everyone loved Ribfest, but it’s time to get serious about some football. Here’s 14 observations from Mankato.

Today’s Topics Include
• How’s Teddy Look?
• Everson Griffen Might Be a Top-5 Edge Player
• I Don’t Know About Xavier Rhodes – Elite or Just a Guy
• Adrian Peterson Is Ready to Go
• MyCole Pruitt & David Morgan II Look to Be Big Factors
• I Believe in Matt Kalil 2016
• Sully/Berger Will Be a Matchup to Watch
• Charles Johnson is Going to Start. Deal with It
• Laquon Treadwell is Not Going to Start. Deal with It
• Stefon Diggs is Disgusting
• Trae Waynes is Massively Improved
• I Think the Vikings Keep 4 Safeties
• Blair Walsh and Jeff Locke Update
• BONUS: Moritz Jerome Boehringer Is…

All that and other “Damn You, Ribfest” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint

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VT Mankato Update: The Calm Before the Night Practice

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Aug 6, 2016

Minnesota Vikings Mankato Training Camp — Photo Courtesy of Luke Inman

The annual dead period between the Saturday morning walk-through and the famous Night Practice is upon us. No worries though as we’ve set up at Boulder Tap House again with Sam Ekstrom (@SamEkstrom), Luke Inman (@Luke_Spinman), and Eric Thompson (@Eric_J_Thompson) to talk a little Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings and what we’ve seen from the squad as they round out their final weekend in Mankato this season. (Note: Eric’s audio kicked out about 3/4 of the way through the show. Ah well.)

All that and other “THIS. IS. NIGHT PRACTICE.” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint

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VT Mankato Update: Deep Cut Analyis with Josh Zimmer & Luke Inman

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Aug 5, 2016

Another picturesque day in sunny and 77 degree Mankato. I welcomed in Josh Zimmer (@JZimmer_NFL) of NGSC Sports and Luke Inman (@Luke_Spinman) in to have a frank and open conversation about the latest happening with the Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings as Training Camp draws to a close.

Today’s Topics Include:
• Why Tre Roberson is Impressing
• Trae Waynes Made a Leap in Year 2
• Vikings Have the Deepest Defensive Line Unit in the NFL
• Thoughts on Matt Kalil
• The Great Berger or Sully Debate
• Andre Smith has Locked up the Starting Right Tackle Job
• What Chad Greenway Can Give This Team in 2016
• Who’s Going to be the Backup QB?
• #FreePruitt and #FreeMorganII
• How’s Teddy’s Deep Ball Look?
• Adrian Peterson Looks Like 2007 Adrian
• How Treadwell Can Contribute Early (Even Without Starting)

All that and other “Was That a Bang 8?” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint

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The ‘Free McKinnon’ Movement Takes Flight in Mankato

Training Camp

by Austin Belisle - Jul 30, 2016

The 'Free McKinnon' Movement Takes Flight in Mankato — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Jerick “Jet” McKinnon is enjoying the open skies in Mankato, taking most of the Minnesota Vikings’ first-team reps through two training camp practices. He’s filling in for Adrian Peterson, who arrived Monday nursing a pulled hamstring. According to head coach Mike Zimmer, the Vikings are “being careful” with their star running back, holding him out of 11-on-11 drills and any physical contact.

With the fleet’s most reliable plane grounded, the runway is clear for “Jet” to take flight. All reports indicate McKinnon is soaring; he looks faster than most defenders and perfectly capable as a receiver. Thrown into the spotlight this offseason, McKinnon is proving he can do it all for the Vikings.

It won’t be long before Peterson can “cut it loose” at practice, but McKinnon’s pseudo-tryout is raising eyebrows — and questions — in Mankato; more specifically, questions about McKinnon’s role in what’s sure to be a more balanced attack in 2016.

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Depth Takes a Hit for Vikings on Day 1 of Training Camp

by Austin Belisle - Jul 29, 2016

With one walkthrough practice in the books and nearly two weeks of training camp ahead, the Minnesota Vikings are already struggling with depth. More concerning is the fact that the injuries impact positions where depth isn’t just important; it’s crucial to Minnesota’s 2016 success.

As announced on the team’s official website, the Vikings have officially placed Taylor Heinicke and Mike Harris on he Non-Football Injury/Remains on Active List. They’re joined on the sidelines by Kenrick Ellis and Rhett Ellison, who start training camp as members of the Physically Unable to Perform list.

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