What has the Minnesota Vikings training camp taught us thus far?
Minnesota Vikings training camp in Eagan has plenty of percolating plots this year. We know all of the men on the roster and for the past couple of weeks, we are learning how the puzzle pieces will fit together.
This year’s edition of Vikings training camp is particularly vital as the NFL canceled all preseason games due to COVID-19 precautions. That means the pathway for the scrappy players on the bubble to make the team is less certain.
In an ordinary season, a player could shine in four preseason contests and make a case for himself to join the team’s active roster. But not this year as Minnesota’s 53-man roster will be filled based on the observations of the coaching staff during training camp alone.
The Vikings have some notable camp battles at a smattering of positions. The starting cornerbacks are undecided, all but one wide receiver position is solidified, the defensive line looks a lot different than it did 2019, and the offensive line is a work in progress (per tradition).
Overall though, most of Minnesota’s other positional depth situations are firmly locked in such as quarterback, running back, safety, and linebacker. There may be a few tweaks to those spots, but no blind-siders will likely occur.
So, what are some things we know for sure about this year’s Vikings team that we might not have known a month ago? Let’s explore.
Cleveland will be groomed and won’t start right away
Minnesota spent a second-round pick on Ezra Cleveland from Boise State a few months ago in the 2020 NFL draft.
Cleveland is an offensive tackle by trade and he was selected by the Vikings to eventually start at the left tackle spot. For now though, Minnesota has Riley Reiff plugged in as their starting left tackle.
Reiff is paid handsomely as he will make the fourth-highest amount of money on the Vikings in 2020 behind safety Anthony Harris, defensive end Danielle Hunter, and quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Early whispers are that Cleveland will not be part of the team’s starting offensive line corps for Minnesota’s Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. This is not overly stunning, but there was some hope that the rookie would be a Day 1 starter.
Unless multiple Twin Cities reporters are blatantly incorrect, Reiff will retain his starting gig, and either Dakota Dozier or Aviante Collins will line up next to him as the Vikings’ starting left guard.
This should not be construed as an indictment of Cleveland’s ability or future outlook. Instead, the training camp breadcrumbs only forecast that the young offensive lineman will not start immediately.
Depending on the performance of players like Reiff, Dozier, Collins, and center-turned-guard Pat Elflein, Cleveland could still see some substantial playing time in 2020 down the line.
Despite holdout chatter, Cook will play in 2020
This news is critical. Earlier this offseason, it was announced far and wide that Dalvin Cook would potentially hold out until the Vikings blinked on a new contract for the 25-year-old.
We drew up contingency plans on what a Minnesota offense would look like with halfbacks Alexander Mattison and Mike Boone leading the way. Debates were held on the effectiveness of paying a running back top dollar.
The problem was, nobody asked Dalvin Cook point-blank if he would play in Week 1. Or if they did, he didn’t offer a response. But then training camp kicked off, Cook got in front of a microphone, and voilà, he announced he would play in the Vikings first game of the season. Who’da thunk it?
Cook’s active presence on Minnesota’s roster is momentous. In a pinch, his supporting cast could potentially succeed. But that is a whole lot of “maybes” to hitch your wagons to. In a verifiable manner, the Vikings know the engine revs when Cook is touching the ball.
Compared to what we knew in June, the Cook-will-play news is significant. Minnesota will continue to work toward a deal with the running back, although the timetable is unclear.
Stephen is this season’s nose tackle
Defensive tackle Michael Pierce, a free-agent signing by the Vikings this offseason, will not participate in the 2020 NFL season due to COVID-19 concerns. Pierce was tapped to replace nose tackle Linval Joseph who left for the Los Angeles Chargers during free agency this year.
For a series of days, we were unsure as to who would play nose tackle for Minnesota this season. All Mike Zimmer has known at the 1-technique spot is Joseph. After they switched to a man similar in stature to Joseph with Pierce, we figured Zimmer wanted a big-bodied run-stuffer.
Now, however, the Vikings don’t have one of those on the roster. So, the team would scour the free-agent market to find a replacement, right? Not quite.
Minnesota co-defensive coordinator Adam Zimmer revealed earlier this month who the team’s starting nose tackle would likely be this season.
"“Shamar Stephen’s done it before and he’s as good a nose (tackle) as there is. We really think a lot of him. He’s really good in the running game. He’s an extremely smart player.”"
You can passionately debate the merits of thinking Stephen is the best nose tackle in all of football, but it won’t matter. Barring an abrupt change of heart, that statement is currency that mandates Stephen will be the Vikings’ starting nose tackle this year.
Pump the brakes on Jefferson as the unquestioned WR2
We did the “assume” thing. Almost all of us. Because wideout Justin Jefferson was drafted by the Vikings in the first round this year and there was a hole at the No. 2 receiver spot on the depth chart.
Jefferson was supposed to be the guy to fill Stefon Diggs‘ shoes. He still could, it just might take a little longer than some had thought previously.
Jefferson has put some neat highlights on tape, but that doesn’t always rubberstamp a player into the starting lineup.
Second-year wideout Bisi Johnson is the one turning heads during Minnesota’s training camp this summer and he has one year of experience under his belt. Johnson did not have the college career at Colorado State that Jefferson had at LSU. But for Week 1 purposes, that won’t matter.
At some juncture in the 2020 season, Jefferson could shimmy his way into the No. 2 receiver slot. Yet, we did ourselves a good-natured disservice by believing that would happen out of the gate.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disallowed any live-game action against other NFL teams this summer. So what the Vikings coaching staff must use as source material for a starting lineup is practice. Yes, that’s what we’re talking about.
Minnesota’s new-look cornerback squad looks ready, rookies included
The summer talking point that ricocheted around the internet about the Vikings defense was that the team’s cornerbacks were too young to trust. That could still be true once the season starts, but in training camp, things look just fine.
Minnesota rookie corners Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney are making plays in Eagan, and the seasoned vets (Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, Kris Boyd) appear to be holding their own. By seasoned, we mean not rookies since every current cornerback on the Vikings’ roster is under the age of 24. This is a very young group.
We touched on Justin Jefferson and the possibility of easing him into the offense. For corners, Minnesota has no choice but to wholeheartedly embrace youth.
The luxury of letting the 23-year-olds watch and learn is nonexistent because the Vikings have no veteran corners. The two veteran corners they did have in 2019 were the mushy part of an otherwise terrific defense.
And that’s probably why Minnesota went with a new, youthful look for 2020. It’s a young man’s game.