Vikings Training Camp 2019: Top 4 takeaways from Day 3

Offense getting back under center

Last season saw the Vikings running a ton of plays in the shotgun formation and it was probably something they actually did too much. With this year’s new offensive scheme though, it seems like the plan will be to include more plays that begin with Kirk Cousins under center.

On Sunday and during Minnesota’s other two full-team practices, the majority of the team’s offensive play-calls have begun with Cousins under center and not lining up in shotgun.

Cousins is actually a much better quarterback when he lines up under center versus when he gets the ball lined up in the shotgun formation. Unlike last year though, this Vikings offensive staff is actually trying to put their signal-caller in a position that will utilize his best skills as much as possible.

In addition to more plays being called from under center, Minnesota is using more offensive packages that can exploit the opposing defense out on the field. On Sunday, the Vikings ran one play that featured three tight ends, an empty backfield, and Dalvin Cook lining up as a receiver.

It’s the little things like this that seemed to be missing from Minnesota’s offense last season. But it seems like the new leaders of the Vikings’ offense are getting the unit back on the path to success this year.