Vikings Training Camp Notes: Joint practices with Patriots highlighted by quarterback play
First day of joint practices was structured and solid without issue on either side
The Minnesota Vikings are hosting joint practices with the New England Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Both practices will give us a lot of information about both teams, arguably better info than the preseason game on Saturday will tell us.
It was a beautiful day at TCO Performance Center, and the practice was lively, but controlled with no fights. Here are my biggest takeaways from the first joint practice.
Vikings vs. Patriots joint practices
Jeff Okudah struggles early
The first set of drills in practice was 1-on-1 sessions. It’s a fun drill to watch for the fans, and it allows defenders to get experience covering wide receivers, who have a significant advantage.
Even with that context, the drill was a struggle for cornerback Jeff Okudah. He got worked on an out route by Stefon Diggs and beat to the inside by another receiver, where he lived dangerously and allowed them to get quick positioning and leverage. It’s not something to be majorly alarmed about, but noteworthy in the sense that it’s worth remembering for down the line.
Jordan Addison and J.J. McCarthy’s connection is real
It’s been frustrating without Justin Jefferson during practice because you’d want him to build up a connection with McCarthy. It’s also not that big of a deal, as other players are getting that time.
The main beneficiary is Addison, who is the guy to step up in Jefferson’s place. You can see the rapport between McCarthy and Addison building, and it manifested throughout the first part of practice. They were consistently connecting on a multitude of routes in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 settings. It’s a great sign for the Vikings moving forward.
Drake Maye picks apart Vikings’ defense
The header is a smidge extreme, but Maye had a nice day. He was consistent and explosive, but it was the consistency and poise that separated his day from just being good.
One of the things that stood out about Maye’s day was the touch on his deep ball. There were a couple of misses, but he was consistent in finding players down the field. He’s got a tremendous arm, and it showed in a major way.
Max Brosmer shines in limited reps
In a joint practice setting, there aren’t a lot of reps for a player like Max Brosmer. He’s the fourth quarterback on the roster, and there isn’t enough time to truly get enough reps to show your stuff. When you get a chance to do so, you need to make the most of them.
It’s safe to say that Brosmer is making the most of his opportunity. During just a handful of reps in team drills, Brosmer threw one of the best footballs of the day, finding Tim Jones down the sideline with perfect ball placement for a touchdown.
Offensive line was up and down on the day
One of the main things that I wanted to see with joint practice was how the offensive line would handle an impressive defensive front from the Patriots. Needless to say, it was an up-and-down day.
It was a streaky day for the group. They had stretches where they blocked really well for McCarthy and crew, but there were a few sacks allowed, including a couple in a row.
On one screen pass, Donovan Jackson ran down the field with Aaron Jones and pancaked a couple of players.
Ryan Wright might be a liability
Punter isn’t a crucial position, but it’s one that you still want a good player because flipping the field gives you an advantage. With that said, the Vikings might have a punter problem.
Ryan Wright is entering his fourth season, and he is far from consistent. He also had four punts in a row that were rough, including missing horribly on a couple of coffin corner style kicks. It’s not the biggest area of concern, but it’s worth keeping an eye on. His contract will have $650,000 in dead cap if he gets cut, but that’s not enough to keep him around. If Oscar Chapman starts to show out, keep an eye on this battle.