Vikings Training Camp Diary: August 3

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Aug 3, 2018
Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Welcome to the Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Diary! Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the Vikings’ training camp practice on August 3 in an easy-to-read bullet form.

THE GOOD

  • First of all, to clear up any confusion from Thursday, Anthony Barr is not being traded. The reason Barr missed practice was a “tweak,” according to head coach Mike Zimmer. During a press conference Friday Zimmer shot down the rumor, stating that the team is “unequivocally not trying to trade Anthony.” The head coach made it blatantly clear that he wants Barr around long-term. In fact, he may have hinted that the team is trying to extend the linebacker’s contract. “We’re trying to get him signed,” Zimmer said. “Hopefully we can, but that’s between upstairs and his people.” Barr practiced in full Friday afternoon.

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  • Zimmer also said that running back Dalvin Cook will likely receive snaps this preseason. Cook is clearly a fan favorite in Eagan. He pumped up the crowd as he jogged onto the field with a ton of energy Friday.
  • In practice, Kirk Cousins was downright nasty. He delivered strike after strike, consistently put the ball right where it needed to be. In terms of passing ability he’s clearly at another level compared to the other quarterbacks on the roster.
  • Trevor Siemian looked solid as the team’s No. 2 QB. He showed impressive accuracy and touch, placing a number of passes where only his receivers could catch them. Unfortunately most of them were dropped.
  • Third stringer Kyle Sloter was impressive late in practice but struggled early on. He completed five out of six passes in the team’s two minute drill, with the lone incompletion coming on a dropped pass that should have been caught. Earlier, during team passing drills, his timing appeared off with the receivers. After practice he told reporters that he tends to plays better in game situations.
  • Marcus Sherels again made his presence felt Friday. He made a fantastic play when he broke up a deep pass from Cousins intended for Treadwell. To quote veteran defensive back Terence Nemwan, all Sherels does is make plays.
  • The RB3 competition is heating up. Mack Brown had an impressive goal line run for a TD while Mike Boone showed off his speed in 11-on11 drills, yet the fan favorite still seems to be Roc Thomas. It’ll be interesting to see if one player can separate himself from the pack before the first preseason game next Saturday.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

  • Not everything was hunky dory Friday as something happened to the wide receivers… they got the case of the drops. The whole group did push-ups after practice, presumably due to the high number of dropped passes.
  • Kendall Wright had a rough day. He dropped multiple balls that should have been caught, including one in the flat that was inexcusable.
  • One of his competitors, receiver Korey Robertson, also dropped multiple passes that hit him in the numbers.
  • The offensive line gave up pressure on a fairly regular basis. Luckily for the Vikings, their $84 million investment seemed to handle it rather well.

  • Although he also had his share of drops today, Laquon Treadwell continues to receive consistent targets. He hauled in a deep pass from Cousins during 11-on-11 drills after Everson Griffen caused a free play with a false start. Treadwell got open with regularity during today’s practice.

  • Both Zimmer and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo took extra time to intently watch the offensive line drills early in practice. The coaches continue to focus on the unit that could be the team’s achilles heel.
  • OL Mike Remmers (ankle), WR Tavarres King (hamstring), and WR Chad Beebe (undisclosed) did not practice due to injury.
  • Kicker Daniel Carlson hit 3 of 4 field goals, missing once from 45 yards out while Kai Forbath went 3 of 5, including misses from 35 and 60 yards out.

ALSO

  • Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs appeared on KFAN radio Friday with host Paul Allen. He gave listeners the following nuggets:

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