Matt Kalil

VT Mankato Update: Made It Rain

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Aug 4, 2016

On the ground in Mankato. Some AM showers rolled over the Crown Jewel of South Central Minnesota Thursday morning, but it didn’t stop the Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings from taking the field for walkthroughs. It also didn’t stop me from rounding up Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL), Sam Ekstrom (@SamEkstrom) and Eric Thompson (@Eric_J_Thompson) at the media center and playing a quick NAME GAME.

Names Include:
• Jayron Kearse
• Willie Beavers
• Matt Kalil
• Tre Roberson
• Charles Johnson
• Matt Kalil
• Tom Johnson
• Brian Jerome Robison
• Mortiz Boehringer
• TJ Clemmings
• Laquon Treadwell
• Chad Greenway
• Jeff Locke

All that and other “How You Gonna Get Fired on Your Day Off?” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint

Continue

The Champs and Chumps of Vikings Camp so Far

by Adam Patrick - Aug 2, 2016

tempprac-4-080116-1-020--nfl_mezz_1280_1024 — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Four days into Minnesota Vikings training camp and there is already plenty to talk about. There have already been a few fights, head coach Mike Zimmer has been cussing out his players, and there was even a rain delay.

Minnesota gets the day off today from camp and then it is four straight days of practice until the team’s next day off on Sunday. So let’s take this opportunity to gage who the best and worst performers of Vikings camp have been so far.

Continue

Mankato Sunday Afternoon Practice Delight [PODCAST]

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Jul 31, 2016

Had time to kill on a Sunday afternoon (and I don’t golf), so I swung on down to Mankato to take in the Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings afternoon practice. Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL), Sam Ekstrom (@SamEkstrom) and Daniel House (@DanielHouseNFL) joined me to recap the session, what’s been impressive (and not so impressive) so far, and I finally get a definitive answer on “HOW’S TEDDY LOOK?” (This is also the first pod where we got rained on and Arif list trying to move a patio umbrella.)

Show Topics Include:
• How’s Teddy Deep Ball Looking?
• Adam Thielen Rising?
• Jabari Price’s Place on This Team
• Mackensie Alexander is the Future Slot. Period.
• Matt Kalil’s Change in Technique
• Overall Philosophy Changes Under Tony Sparano
• Why Willie Beavers Might Prove Us All Wrong
• What is Going on with Mike Harris?
• The Defensive Line is on FIRE Early
• Roster Moves. Sign a Punter and/or Nick Foles?
• Sam Defends Jeff Locke
• Adrian Peterson’s Hamstring
• Jerick McKinnon vs Adrian Peterson?
• Cordarrelle Injury UPDATE
• Taylor Heinicke LOLs
• Standouts & Disappointments

All that and other “All that and other “If you don’t think this song is the greatest song ever, I will fight you.” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint

Continue

10 Camp Questions: Predicting The Final 53

by Adam Warwas - Jul 29, 2016

Training Camp Teddy — Image courtesy of Chris Price

Over the course of the last few weeks, Austin Belisle and myself have asked you to make predictions about how the Minnesota Vikings’ 2016 training camp will play out. Meanwhile, Adam Patrick compiled consensus rankings of the “Top 30” most important Vikings players of 2016, with help from 14 knowledgable Vikings writers. Below is the genesis of all that work.

We’ve used your votes, combined with the rankings, to try and assemble one of the most collaborative roster predictions you’ll be able to find anywhere.

Of course, a few questions remain despite the compilation of input, so Austin and I did our best to fill in the blanks. That leads us to our final installment of “10 Camp Questions” in which the tenth question for you, the readers of Vikings Territory, are invited to answer.

Continue

10 Camp Questions: Is the Offensive Line Fixed?

by Austin Belisle - Jul 5, 2016

This 10-part series focuses on the biggest questions facing the Vikings as they head into Mankato for their training camp festivities. Be sure to answer the first five questions HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

CAMP QUESTION #6 – MENDED OR MAKESHIFT?

There’s a belief hanging around the Minnesota Vikings that the team will suddenly contend for a Lombardi Trophy. After an offseason of free agent signings and coaching changes, the Vikings appear destined for greatness beyond the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Veterans are returning to full strength, new additions are pushing for starting jobs, and Teddy Bridgewater appears ready to take the next step.

But they won’t have a shot at a Super Bowl if the offensive line is broken. It’s the most crucial question facing the Vikings heading into 2016, and it’s a question that won’t be answered until the regular season begins. General manager Rick Spielman set his roster up to succeed, but it’s on the players at each position to embrace the competition and improve on a disappointing 2015 season.

Old faces, new names, and unknowns make up the 16-man depth chart, which will surely experience changes as the team runs through training camp. A step-by-step walk down the line reveals the strengths, weaknesses, and question marks facing the unit as they prepare for a challenging offseason.

Continue