WEBVTT - Minnesota Vikings Podcast: 2020 Vikings Training Camp Preview | Episode 52 0:00:06.519 --> 0:00:10.520 Mike Us, the eldest member of the quarterback group. I 0:00:10.560 --> 0:00:12.399 want to see if he can become a player who 0:00:12.400 --> 0:00:14.480 plays in the slot or if he's gonna play on 0:00:14.600 --> 0:00:20.079 the outside. If and when Pat Alpline has the year 0:00:20.120 --> 0:00:22.880 that I think he's capable of this year, something like 0:00:22.920 --> 0:00:33.720 that could could completely transform what we do. Hey, guys, 0:00:33.840 --> 0:00:39.400 welcome to the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. This is episode fifty two. 0:00:39.479 --> 0:00:42.200 I'm Siam, it's in your host. I'm joined by Chris 0:00:42.280 --> 0:00:47.360 Corso and Jay Nelson from Vikings dot Com and boys, 0:00:48.080 --> 0:00:52.200 we are nearly all systems a go. As the start 0:00:52.240 --> 0:00:56.760 of the twenty twenty Verizon Vikings training camp is underway. 0:00:56.880 --> 0:01:02.200 Rookies and quarterbacks have officially started hoarding today. Veterans start 0:01:02.240 --> 0:01:08.160 reporting on Monday. And this thing is going to be interesting. 0:01:08.360 --> 0:01:11.080 Chris cors So, tell me a little bit about we're 0:01:11.120 --> 0:01:14.800 talking before the show, the process. What it takes just 0:01:14.880 --> 0:01:18.840 for these guys to get in the building and be 0:01:19.040 --> 0:01:23.160 allowed to start working out. Yes, it's gonna be an 0:01:23.200 --> 0:01:27.320 interesting process. Each player that comes into the building has 0:01:27.360 --> 0:01:32.000 to have two negative tests for coronavirus that are seventy 0:01:32.040 --> 0:01:35.600 two hours apart. So if one player comes in on Monday, 0:01:35.840 --> 0:01:38.040 they're gonna have to test negative and then they will 0:01:38.040 --> 0:01:41.800 have to test negative again on Thursday. To be able 0:01:41.840 --> 0:01:46.839 to do anything in the building. Every employee, front office member, 0:01:46.880 --> 0:01:50.880 coach staff will have to do a survey as they 0:01:51.000 --> 0:01:55.520 enter the building every single day to talk about their symptoms, 0:01:55.560 --> 0:01:59.600 their temperature, a variety of things to make sure that 0:01:59.640 --> 0:02:02.080 they get that approval to come into the building. And 0:02:02.120 --> 0:02:04.560 the last thing is that everyone in the building is 0:02:04.560 --> 0:02:08.000 going to have to wear a mask covering when they 0:02:08.040 --> 0:02:11.400 walk around the TCO Performance Center. So and that includes 0:02:11.440 --> 0:02:14.040 the players as well. So it's gonna be interesting, it's 0:02:14.040 --> 0:02:18.360 gonna be different. There's going to be these contact tracer 0:02:18.840 --> 0:02:23.440 devices that are on the staff and players to show 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:26.560 who has come into contact with whom. So if you're 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:30.520 in contact with someone who someday has a positive test, 0:02:31.200 --> 0:02:35.040 the Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugerman will know exactly 0:02:35.080 --> 0:02:39.600 who came close to that positive test person in the 0:02:39.639 --> 0:02:42.240 MA makes it really easy for them to find people. 0:02:42.240 --> 0:02:44.000 And isn't there in terms of because for those of 0:02:44.000 --> 0:02:46.600 you haven't known, there's tiers. There's Tier one, Tier two, 0:02:46.680 --> 0:02:50.040 and Tier three in terms of who can you know 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:52.160 report and when they can report and when they can 0:02:52.200 --> 0:02:55.400 be in the building. And I believe I heard Tier 0:02:55.480 --> 0:02:59.280 one and two are allowed to intermingle and Tier three 0:02:59.560 --> 0:03:02.680 is not allowed to intermingle and on those same systems. 0:03:03.200 --> 0:03:05.160 Was this a joke or did I hear that? Literally 0:03:05.200 --> 0:03:07.600 a buzzer will go off if they're within a certain 0:03:07.639 --> 0:03:10.440 amount of feet of T two or T one. Yeah, 0:03:10.520 --> 0:03:13.000 that is that device that I was talking about. So me, 0:03:13.200 --> 0:03:16.560 it's amazing a Tier three employee. If I go near 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:20.200 anywhere near somebody like Kirk Cousins, my buzzers going off 0:03:20.240 --> 0:03:23.079 and it's going to start ringing. So I will definitely 0:03:23.160 --> 0:03:27.239 make sure that myself being one of the Tier three 0:03:27.320 --> 0:03:30.639 would be a great name for Chris Corso's book, Chris Corso, 0:03:30.800 --> 0:03:35.880 Tier Three, Tier Three, Chris Corso, Jay, it sounds like 0:03:35.920 --> 0:03:39.120 there's not going to be any preseason games happening this year. 0:03:39.480 --> 0:03:41.680 I mean, it's not set in stone, but it feels 0:03:41.760 --> 0:03:45.240 slim to none at this point. There will officially be 0:03:45.400 --> 0:03:49.600 no fans at any NFL training camps. Do you see 0:03:49.640 --> 0:03:52.760 that hindering their preparedness for the season or are you 0:03:52.880 --> 0:03:56.000 confident that the things are in place to get guys 0:03:56.000 --> 0:03:59.960 ready to play? For me, The biggest bummer of it 0:04:00.120 --> 0:04:02.800 is the preseason being eliminated. That is where in the 0:04:02.840 --> 0:04:05.000 past you've been able to find your diamonds in the rough, 0:04:05.120 --> 0:04:08.600 like you're Adam Feelins, who were more of your undrafted players. 0:04:09.000 --> 0:04:11.440 I think with between that and the fact that they're 0:04:11.480 --> 0:04:13.640 going to be it sounds like paring down the rosters 0:04:13.680 --> 0:04:16.440 to eight instead of ninety during camp as would be 0:04:16.480 --> 0:04:19.960 normal during a normal year. Those kind of opportunities for 0:04:20.000 --> 0:04:22.280 some of those guys are going to be fewer and 0:04:22.360 --> 0:04:24.279 far between. It's going to be very slim for some 0:04:24.360 --> 0:04:26.279 of them to be able to make that happen. But 0:04:26.640 --> 0:04:29.920 in general, for me, I think given the fact there 0:04:30.000 --> 0:04:32.599 was no offseason for these guys as far as being 0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:35.480 on the field and being able to work together the camaraderie, 0:04:35.680 --> 0:04:38.000 I think this buffer zone at the beginning of camp 0:04:38.120 --> 0:04:39.800 is going to be something that they can use to 0:04:40.320 --> 0:04:42.599 gel as a team and then finally just be able 0:04:42.600 --> 0:04:45.800 to concentrate on football on the field. Yeah, it's going 0:04:45.880 --> 0:04:47.320 to be way different. You're not going to have the 0:04:47.400 --> 0:04:49.240 roar of the crowd and the excitement and the kind 0:04:49.240 --> 0:04:52.039 of the buzz at camp. But in general, I think 0:04:52.080 --> 0:04:54.800 once those guys are able to just focus on football 0:04:55.240 --> 0:04:57.599 that might actually be a little beneficial to the team 0:04:57.640 --> 0:05:00.320 since they've missed out on so much this past offseason. Yeah, 0:05:00.320 --> 0:05:03.360 and let me hammer a couple of those things home. One, 0:05:03.560 --> 0:05:06.640 you know, I think one of the negatives is, you know, 0:05:06.720 --> 0:05:10.240 just the mass amount of draft capital spent in the 0:05:10.320 --> 0:05:13.440 second half of the draft this year, which we were 0:05:13.480 --> 0:05:16.560 all really enthused about. Those are the types of guys 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:18.480 I think you really would have liked to see get 0:05:18.560 --> 0:05:20.840 run in preseason, and like you said, see a few 0:05:20.880 --> 0:05:23.279 of them separate themselves. So in a year when the 0:05:23.400 --> 0:05:27.560 Vikings had an abnormal amount of light round draft picks, 0:05:27.800 --> 0:05:31.880 that that definitely is a source of frustration. But to 0:05:31.960 --> 0:05:33.880 the other side, I love training camp and I love 0:05:33.920 --> 0:05:36.000 the fan aspect of training camp. I think you know, 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:37.799 I used to go on man Cato all the time. 0:05:38.080 --> 0:05:40.200 I was at the one last year up and Egan. 0:05:40.320 --> 0:05:43.720 It's just a wonderful experience. But I think you're right. 0:05:44.200 --> 0:05:48.680 I think it gives the team and all the units 0:05:48.720 --> 0:05:51.480 that compose the team, coaching, training, all of it. It 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:55.479 just gives them this focus that'll allow it to be 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:59.520 strictly about football on every single level, at every single moment, 0:05:59.520 --> 0:06:02.800 and that might end up being a benefit for the team. Yeah, 0:06:02.800 --> 0:06:06.440 And ultimately, I think having that ability to focus, like 0:06:06.480 --> 0:06:08.680 you said, because of the amount of rookies and young 0:06:08.720 --> 0:06:11.320 people we have on this team, is the critical component 0:06:11.360 --> 0:06:13.880 that we've all been kind of raising an eyebrow at 0:06:13.920 --> 0:06:16.440 this past offseason. Is just saying they're missing out on 0:06:16.480 --> 0:06:19.800 this critical time. Yes, they're doing zoom classrooms or you know, 0:06:19.960 --> 0:06:23.359 some sort of online learning, but that is going to 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:25.240 be the critical piece. And so now it sounds like, 0:06:25.279 --> 0:06:26.800 at least for a chunk of time, they're going to 0:06:26.880 --> 0:06:29.480 get that to start. Well, let's go through a couple 0:06:29.480 --> 0:06:32.560 of training camp talkers here, and we'll be doing this 0:06:32.640 --> 0:06:37.240 every week. But I think the one that everyone is 0:06:37.360 --> 0:06:40.479 most interested in, or nearly most interested in, is the 0:06:40.520 --> 0:06:44.920 wide receiver situation. Anytime you trade a superstar, that position 0:06:45.040 --> 0:06:49.320 group comes underneath a microscope in the next season, So 0:06:49.400 --> 0:06:52.839 Digs is out, you got Jefferson and Taj Sharpe in. 0:06:53.160 --> 0:06:55.479 You know a lot of people forget Chad Bbe is back. 0:06:55.560 --> 0:06:57.280 Chad Beebe had to sit out. A lot of people 0:06:57.320 --> 0:07:00.240 were excited about him going into last year. He's now year. 0:07:00.560 --> 0:07:04.200 So I think there's gonna be a lot of comparative analysis. 0:07:04.560 --> 0:07:06.599 But I want to put you guys on the spot 0:07:06.680 --> 0:07:10.080 with a fun question, and uh I was I was 0:07:10.120 --> 0:07:13.400 talking with a writer you guys familiar with, Chris Shaddy. 0:07:14.040 --> 0:07:17.480 Chris had Chris had a really interesting piece where he 0:07:17.640 --> 0:07:22.000 pointed out that this is the third Superstar wide receiver 0:07:22.200 --> 0:07:25.440 trade for the Vikings in the last fifteen years or so. 0:07:25.600 --> 0:07:29.800 Moss gooes to Oakland, Percy Harvin goes to Seattle, and 0:07:29.880 --> 0:07:32.800 now Stefan Diggs and they were all kind of you 0:07:32.920 --> 0:07:35.480 all with a little bit of drama, all with a 0:07:35.520 --> 0:07:39.160 little bit of like interesting pieces. And you know, the 0:07:39.240 --> 0:07:42.400 Moss trade for most fans, that is still a thorn 0:07:42.480 --> 0:07:45.320 in their side. They are very they feel like they 0:07:45.360 --> 0:07:48.480 got the raw end of that. Now the Harvin one, 0:07:48.880 --> 0:07:53.480 uh Spielman spun that into Xavier Roads and that Xavier became, 0:07:53.640 --> 0:07:56.720 amongst other things, became a cornerstone to one of the 0:07:56.760 --> 0:07:58.800 best defenses in the leagues for a lot of years. 0:07:58.800 --> 0:08:03.400 So it's it's almost as if this Superstar wide receiver 0:08:03.480 --> 0:08:06.640 trade is the tie breaker. And that was the crux 0:08:06.640 --> 0:08:09.080 of his article that I thought was so interesting. So 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:12.400 my question to YouTube is when it's when this year 0:08:12.520 --> 0:08:14.480 is said and done. Do you think fans are going 0:08:14.560 --> 0:08:17.120 to be looking at the Diggs trade more on the 0:08:17.200 --> 0:08:20.680 Harvin side or more on the Moss side. I think 0:08:21.000 --> 0:08:24.480 it's going to be something like Justin Jefferson is always 0:08:24.520 --> 0:08:28.000 going to be linked to Stefan Diggs, especially for Vikings fans. 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:30.600 I mean, when you pull a trade like that and 0:08:30.640 --> 0:08:32.880 you're able to get a first round pick from the 0:08:32.920 --> 0:08:36.280 Buffalo Bills, which many did not expect after that DeAndre 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:41.400 Hopkins trade. I think Jefferson coming in, he's shown the confidence. 0:08:42.040 --> 0:08:44.319 He already said he can't wait to be tackled by 0:08:44.400 --> 0:08:47.800 Eric Kendricks in practice. Once they start tackling each other, 0:08:48.040 --> 0:08:50.400 he's ready to go against the top players on the 0:08:50.480 --> 0:08:53.719 Vikings defense, and I think he's ready to go. I mean, 0:08:53.800 --> 0:08:56.640 it's going to be exciting to see what he can 0:08:56.679 --> 0:08:59.360 do because he not only has the skill in the 0:08:59.400 --> 0:09:02.520 talent and college, but he has the opportunity like it's 0:09:02.559 --> 0:09:05.040 there for him, it's waiting for him. It's up to 0:09:05.120 --> 0:09:07.600 him what he's gonna do with it. Eighteen touchdowns in 0:09:07.640 --> 0:09:10.199 college last year. I think there's gonna be a lot 0:09:10.240 --> 0:09:12.520 of chances for him to make big plays for the 0:09:12.640 --> 0:09:16.120 Vikings this year. Jay, let me let me just say 0:09:16.120 --> 0:09:18.160 that I would like to be the first to donate 0:09:18.200 --> 0:09:22.079 to Chris Corso's political career because he did not remotely 0:09:22.120 --> 0:09:26.880 answer that question, you weak little boy. It is because 0:09:26.880 --> 0:09:29.319 that's the interesting thing. Much like the moss trade, it's 0:09:29.360 --> 0:09:32.360 receiver for receiver. I think the difference between the moss 0:09:32.400 --> 0:09:35.959 trade and the digs trade is Troy Williamson was kind 0:09:35.960 --> 0:09:39.560 of a little bit unexpected at that pick, and you know, 0:09:39.600 --> 0:09:41.480 it was a little bit of a surprise, whereas I 0:09:41.559 --> 0:09:45.760 think Justin Jefferson, the common opinion on him, I would say, 0:09:45.880 --> 0:09:47.920 is higher at the time than what I think the 0:09:47.960 --> 0:09:50.959 common opinion was on Troy Williamson. Jay, why don't you 0:09:51.000 --> 0:09:55.160 go ahead and dodge the question gladly? To be honest 0:09:55.200 --> 0:09:57.040 with you, that was your point that you just made 0:09:57.080 --> 0:09:58.319 is actually what I was going to bring up to 0:09:58.880 --> 0:10:01.520 given what Chris said, I'm super smart. Thank you the 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:06.800 linking of this piece with Justin Jefferson because of the 0:10:07.000 --> 0:10:10.640 Troy Williamson situation that happened after Randy left. That is 0:10:10.679 --> 0:10:12.680 the thing that I think has always kind of made 0:10:12.840 --> 0:10:16.040 Vikings fans gunshy just in general, just saying like, listen, 0:10:16.200 --> 0:10:19.079 you can say that yes, this trade happened, and are 0:10:19.080 --> 0:10:20.920 you going to feel one way or the other. But 0:10:21.520 --> 0:10:24.240 what it turns into is what happened the following year 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:26.120 and who was the person that possibly came in to 0:10:26.160 --> 0:10:29.160 replace them? And since Williamson did not live up to 0:10:29.160 --> 0:10:32.280 the expectations of what he was drafted at, and Jefferson 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:35.440 by all accounts at this point, seems like he's going 0:10:35.480 --> 0:10:39.079 to be an absolute stud on this team. Having Diggs 0:10:39.160 --> 0:10:41.080 produced the way that he did, having it be the 0:10:41.160 --> 0:10:44.120 Diggs and Feeling combo, and now having a guy like 0:10:44.200 --> 0:10:47.240 Justin Jefferson step into those kind of shoes. That is 0:10:47.280 --> 0:10:50.120 the thing that on a local and national level everyone's 0:10:50.160 --> 0:10:52.360 looking at to say, will the Vikings miss a step 0:10:52.480 --> 0:10:55.000 or not? And I think for guys like Kubiak and 0:10:55.120 --> 0:10:57.880 everyone within the Vikings wide receiver room, they're going to 0:10:57.920 --> 0:10:59.520 be looking at a guy like Jefferson to be able 0:10:59.520 --> 0:11:02.360 to step up and fit that production. Since the Vikings 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:07.000 offense was pretty dang solid last season, I'll answer it. 0:11:07.040 --> 0:11:08.880 I think it's going to be more Harvin. I think 0:11:08.960 --> 0:11:13.080 Randy Moss was a transcendent athlete for this team, and 0:11:13.440 --> 0:11:16.800 he left with a return that was very questionable and 0:11:16.960 --> 0:11:19.480 I think I just I'm with you, guys. I think 0:11:20.040 --> 0:11:23.240 I think the return and and that's and we're just 0:11:23.280 --> 0:11:25.640 talking about the one pick. We're just we're strictly talking 0:11:25.679 --> 0:11:28.319 about Justin Jefferson. Here. It doesn't start and end there. 0:11:28.360 --> 0:11:31.480 You have to look at the whole docket. But you know, 0:11:31.960 --> 0:11:35.559 there wasn't this sort of steam heading into camp with 0:11:35.600 --> 0:11:40.200 Troy Williamson like there is Justin Jefferson. Next question that 0:11:40.320 --> 0:11:42.480 you guys won't want to answer, this is fun for me. 0:11:44.480 --> 0:11:49.080 Now grow up, Chris Corso and handle this question. Gary 0:11:49.160 --> 0:11:53.320 Kubiak's taken over play calling. Are we going to Stefanski? 0:11:53.520 --> 0:11:56.600 Could be? Stefanski was? It was All of us were 0:11:56.679 --> 0:12:00.640 huge fans of him, and he's was interestingly wide open 0:12:00.720 --> 0:12:04.440 at times and then very conservative at times. Will we 0:12:04.600 --> 0:12:09.400 see with Gary Kubiak, Chris, will he fall more conservative 0:12:09.920 --> 0:12:13.679 then Stefanski or will he fall on a more aggressive 0:12:13.720 --> 0:12:16.720 side than Stefanski? Well, we all know Gary Kubiak has 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:19.280 been linked to the running backs throughout his career and 0:12:19.400 --> 0:12:23.520 having one of the top running offenses every single year 0:12:23.559 --> 0:12:26.040 he's been in this league as an offensive play caller, 0:12:26.160 --> 0:12:29.720 so I expect him to do more of the running 0:12:29.800 --> 0:12:32.280 Dalvin Cook as many times as he can a game 0:12:32.320 --> 0:12:34.840 and be able to use that to set up the 0:12:34.880 --> 0:12:37.960 play action for Kirk Cousins. So I think we're gonna 0:12:37.960 --> 0:12:42.559 go conservative in that aspect. Cousins through ten interceptions the 0:12:42.640 --> 0:12:47.560 year before and had just six this previous year with 0:12:47.640 --> 0:12:51.600 Gary Kubiak on staff kind of directing Stefanski, so I 0:12:51.600 --> 0:12:54.240 think you'll continue to see him try to limit the 0:12:54.280 --> 0:12:57.400 mistakes for Cousins. But I definitely yeah, I'd say it 0:12:57.400 --> 0:13:01.199 will be a little more conservative than last year. Well, 0:13:01.320 --> 0:13:03.880 let me just point out that too often people you know, 0:13:04.160 --> 0:13:07.520 conservative in terms of offensive play call and is connected 0:13:07.520 --> 0:13:10.080 to maybe maybe as a negative connotation, And that's not 0:13:10.160 --> 0:13:13.160 the way the question was posed because to me, I 0:13:13.200 --> 0:13:16.600 think you look at your pieces and your assets around 0:13:16.640 --> 0:13:19.200 your entire football team and you decide what the proper 0:13:19.240 --> 0:13:21.520 approach is, and so that this is more of a 0:13:21.600 --> 0:13:24.560 question of how do you think he'll use our pieces 0:13:24.640 --> 0:13:29.240 than naming either of the approaches as right or wrong. So, Jay, 0:13:29.280 --> 0:13:32.840 I've now allowed you to answer that question with free conscience. 0:13:32.880 --> 0:13:35.400 Go ahead, you want to see somebody sit on a fence, right, 0:13:35.480 --> 0:13:38.280 watch this one here. Yeah, I think the conservative side 0:13:38.280 --> 0:13:40.199 of it is going to be the running back side 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:42.120 of it, and that they're going to try to move 0:13:42.160 --> 0:13:44.240 the ball, especially if you get a guy like Dalvin 0:13:44.679 --> 0:13:47.679 on the field consistently and he can stay healthy. I 0:13:47.720 --> 0:13:51.160 think that will be viewed as conservative. But what that does, 0:13:51.520 --> 0:13:54.480 like you said, Corso, was set up the play action pass. 0:13:54.559 --> 0:13:58.120 And I think given the confidence that Kirk had even 0:13:58.200 --> 0:14:01.280 in that final or in the news playoff game where 0:14:01.320 --> 0:14:03.960 he was hitting the deep shot in overtime going for 0:14:04.080 --> 0:14:06.600 the throat to try to win the game, that is 0:14:06.600 --> 0:14:09.200 what I think will happen within this Kubiak offense. I 0:14:09.240 --> 0:14:11.840 think you went from essentially the student to the teacher 0:14:11.960 --> 0:14:14.360 now doing the play calls. And I think as a 0:14:14.400 --> 0:14:17.079 guy like Kubiak when he was in Denver, they would 0:14:17.240 --> 0:14:19.600 pound the rock, but then they would take those shots 0:14:19.640 --> 0:14:22.360 downfield and they would connect. And if you have some 0:14:22.440 --> 0:14:24.800 of your speed burner guys, you have a feeling healthy 0:14:24.840 --> 0:14:27.600 back and if, like we said before, if Justin Jefferson 0:14:27.680 --> 0:14:30.800 steps up, you have some serious weapons, including the tight 0:14:30.880 --> 0:14:33.360 ends in order to take some deep shots here and 0:14:33.440 --> 0:14:36.080 pound the rock and then take those shots when necessary. 0:14:36.360 --> 0:14:39.360 Next question for the two of you in this new 0:14:39.440 --> 0:14:41.840 game that I've just slowly slid into as the show 0:14:41.880 --> 0:14:45.480 has developed, What exactly and when will it get done? 0:14:45.720 --> 0:14:49.080 Dalvin's contract? Tell me the money amount. I'm just kidding, Chris, 0:14:49.320 --> 0:14:52.960 Chris almost dropped in his pants. That was a joke. 0:14:54.640 --> 0:14:56.840 We are not going to dive into that. We're just 0:14:56.880 --> 0:14:59.560 gonna sit and hope that our favorite running back has 0:14:59.600 --> 0:15:01.880 a great season. I do want to talk about the 0:15:01.920 --> 0:15:04.760 offensive line. I think a big thing for the offensive 0:15:04.760 --> 0:15:08.400 line this year is we have stacked it over the 0:15:08.480 --> 0:15:12.000 last number of years with youthful potential is what I'll 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:15.320 call it. There's youthful potential all over this line. In 0:15:15.440 --> 0:15:17.680 order for this team to take a giant step forward, 0:15:17.920 --> 0:15:21.600 I think some of that youthful potential needs to turn 0:15:21.720 --> 0:15:26.920 into on the field high level productivity. So, and I 0:15:27.000 --> 0:15:30.600 know we on this show, I think, are a lot 0:15:30.680 --> 0:15:34.680 higher on the offensive line than some other people. So 0:15:34.800 --> 0:15:37.440 I'm curious to hear what you guys think if you 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:40.440 had to pick a spot to see that potential turn 0:15:40.480 --> 0:15:43.600 into production on the old line, where do you see 0:15:43.640 --> 0:15:46.000 that most likely coming from? Chris? Yeah, I mean you 0:15:46.040 --> 0:15:49.240 have Brian O'Neill. I think he's pretty much become one 0:15:49.240 --> 0:15:52.320 of the anchors of this offensive line, probably the best 0:15:52.360 --> 0:15:55.640 player at such a young age, and I expect him 0:15:55.680 --> 0:15:57.600 to take a big step this year, whether it's at 0:15:57.640 --> 0:16:02.280 that right tackle position where he's played, or if or 0:16:02.320 --> 0:16:04.720 if we push him over to the left side and 0:16:04.880 --> 0:16:08.720 Riley Reef goes into the interior part of the offensive line. 0:16:08.760 --> 0:16:11.960 But I really expect him to be the most consistent 0:16:12.280 --> 0:16:14.320 player on the offensive line. But I want to see 0:16:14.320 --> 0:16:18.760 Garrett Bradbury, last year's first round pick, really grow in 0:16:18.840 --> 0:16:21.600 this offense and become more of a leader out there. 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:25.200 Obviously last year was just his rookie year. So those 0:16:25.200 --> 0:16:27.240 two players are the ones that bet are going to 0:16:27.320 --> 0:16:30.280 be anchors of this offensive line for years to come. 0:16:30.560 --> 0:16:32.560 And I really want to see those two guys take 0:16:32.560 --> 0:16:36.840 a big step here, Jay, I agree with that. I 0:16:36.880 --> 0:16:40.240 also think that not only having Bradbury back for another year, 0:16:40.400 --> 0:16:43.480 and like you said, I think O'Neill being an anchor 0:16:43.480 --> 0:16:45.080 on the one side, I want to see what's going 0:16:45.120 --> 0:16:47.320 to happen with that other tackle and ken a guy 0:16:47.360 --> 0:16:49.960 like an Ezra Cleveland who just got drafted here, can 0:16:50.000 --> 0:16:52.240 he step into that role. Because if you're telling me 0:16:52.320 --> 0:16:56.400 that essentially the outside tackles and the center are solidified 0:16:56.400 --> 0:16:58.960 and now we've we've had some you know, solid work, 0:16:59.080 --> 0:17:00.920 but we've also had some questions. Yet'm know what's going 0:17:00.920 --> 0:17:02.640 to happen with the guards. If you're telling me that 0:17:02.680 --> 0:17:05.359 the corners and the middle are solidified, and then we 0:17:05.400 --> 0:17:07.399 can work out what's going to happen with the guards. 0:17:07.760 --> 0:17:10.600 You are looking at a young core for a team 0:17:10.640 --> 0:17:14.240 that has a Delvin Cook type running back playing for them, 0:17:14.359 --> 0:17:17.439 that can produce for many, many years to come. And 0:17:17.480 --> 0:17:19.640 I think that would be huge for this team to 0:17:19.680 --> 0:17:21.639 finally answer the question of what's going to happen with 0:17:21.640 --> 0:17:24.480 the offensive line. The fans are gonna of this podcast, 0:17:24.480 --> 0:17:26.399 are gonna get sick of hearing it. I am dying 0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:29.000 on the Pat elf line hill this year. I think 0:17:29.080 --> 0:17:31.679 he I think I've said it a bunch of times. 0:17:31.680 --> 0:17:33.440 He's had a lot of He's had a lot of 0:17:33.480 --> 0:17:36.680 position coaches, a lot of coordinators, a lot of position switches. 0:17:37.080 --> 0:17:40.600 And this year is the year that I think you 0:17:40.640 --> 0:17:44.400 see Pat rise up against that criticism and have a 0:17:44.760 --> 0:17:49.000 really really strong year. Check in with me on Twitter 0:17:49.160 --> 0:17:52.080 in about three and a half months and see how 0:17:52.080 --> 0:17:54.880 people are reacting to that consistent thought process of mine. 0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:57.960 But I'm really I'm really looking for a good year 0:17:58.000 --> 0:18:00.359 from pat elf Line for a couple of reasons. I 0:18:00.400 --> 0:18:03.840 just think he's in line for it, and two, if 0:18:03.880 --> 0:18:07.479 it happens, I think it could be transformative for the 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:11.760 offensive line. If and when pad alf Line has the 0:18:11.840 --> 0:18:14.439 year that I think he's capable of this year, I 0:18:14.480 --> 0:18:16.680 think people could look at this line and go, oh wow, 0:18:16.720 --> 0:18:19.639 look look at this now, look look at as something 0:18:19.720 --> 0:18:22.639 like that could could completely transform what we do. And 0:18:22.800 --> 0:18:26.320 I'm a believer that that's that's in the realm of 0:18:26.359 --> 0:18:31.600 possibility this year. Let's do Uh, since we're on position groups, 0:18:31.960 --> 0:18:35.000 let's do what as as training camp is about to start, 0:18:35.040 --> 0:18:40.520 what position group battle are you looking forward to the most? 0:18:41.040 --> 0:18:44.760 For me, it's obviously the cornerback position. It's the position 0:18:44.760 --> 0:18:48.040 where we lost two of the starters for the past 0:18:48.160 --> 0:18:52.240 three to four years, and Trey Wayne's and Xavier Rhodes 0:18:52.240 --> 0:18:54.679 there they are both gone now. So it's Mike Hughes, 0:18:54.720 --> 0:18:59.200 who is the eldest member of the cornerback group, so 0:19:00.119 --> 0:19:02.240 he's he's gonna have to step up this year. I 0:19:02.320 --> 0:19:04.120 want to see if he can become a player who 0:19:04.119 --> 0:19:06.280 plays in the slot or if he's gonna play on 0:19:06.320 --> 0:19:08.639 the outside. We've seen him do a little bit of both. 0:19:09.000 --> 0:19:11.480 Um when he's healthy. But you look, you go down 0:19:11.520 --> 0:19:14.879 this list and the top seven guys I think are 0:19:14.920 --> 0:19:17.199 the ones that are really gonna have a chance to 0:19:17.240 --> 0:19:20.600 get reps with the starters, and that's Mike Hughes Uh, 0:19:20.720 --> 0:19:24.720 Jeff Gladney, Holton Hill, and Chris Boyd, the two young 0:19:25.280 --> 0:19:29.240 cornerbacks out of Texas. And then Cameron Danzler, Harrison Hand 0:19:29.280 --> 0:19:34.080 and Novelle clark U the UDFA from Central Florida. That's 0:19:34.119 --> 0:19:36.720 my group of seven that I really want to see 0:19:36.720 --> 0:19:39.639 battle it out. Chris Boyd and Holton Hill had some 0:19:39.720 --> 0:19:42.600 games last year where they really stepped up and looked 0:19:42.600 --> 0:19:44.600 like they could do it. But they also had moments 0:19:44.640 --> 0:19:47.439 where they they showed their their youth out there and 0:19:47.480 --> 0:19:50.719 they were beat on big plays. Um. I can remember 0:19:50.720 --> 0:19:53.720 the Cowboys game was a game where these these guys 0:19:53.800 --> 0:19:57.639 really struggled. So, um, let's see who rises to the 0:19:57.720 --> 0:20:00.520 cream of the crop. Jeff Gladney the first pick for 0:20:00.520 --> 0:20:03.840 the Vikings. There's gonna be a lot asked of him 0:20:04.200 --> 0:20:07.760 this year, So I don't know what's gonna happen. They're 0:20:07.800 --> 0:20:09.879 all it's a bunch of young guys, Chris, let me 0:20:09.920 --> 0:20:12.400 tell you a couple of things. One great, great answer, 0:20:12.480 --> 0:20:19.159 great pick and anytime somebody combines two common phrases into 0:20:19.280 --> 0:20:22.919 one common phrase. You just said, rise to the cream 0:20:22.920 --> 0:20:25.760 of the crop, and it's maybe the funniest damn thing 0:20:25.800 --> 0:20:29.920 I've heard in a hundred years. I too, am very 0:20:30.080 --> 0:20:32.480 curious to see who will rise to the cream of 0:20:32.520 --> 0:20:34.800 the crop with the cornerbacks, and I love it. Another 0:20:34.840 --> 0:20:37.800 thing I keep hammering home on this show is I 0:20:37.880 --> 0:20:42.639 love that we have two stud all pro level capable 0:20:42.760 --> 0:20:45.800 safeties and now we can just let these guys fight, 0:20:45.920 --> 0:20:48.680 these young guys fight, and just cycle them out there 0:20:48.720 --> 0:20:50.919 and see who are the guys that want it the 0:20:50.960 --> 0:20:53.000 most and who are going to produce the best. I'm 0:20:53.080 --> 0:20:57.560 really excited about that, Jay, Who in what group are 0:20:57.560 --> 0:20:59.560 you curious to see who rises to the top of 0:20:59.560 --> 0:21:02.760 the cream of the crop. That should be a new 0:21:03.040 --> 0:21:05.760 TV show title, that'd be that'd be fun to watch. 0:21:06.840 --> 0:21:08.879 One A and one B for me are the secondary, 0:21:08.960 --> 0:21:11.320 but the one B for me is the wide receiver group. 0:21:11.600 --> 0:21:14.320 The fact that you essentially have a number one in 0:21:14.480 --> 0:21:17.120 what we assume is Adam feeling and then you literally 0:21:17.160 --> 0:21:20.040 have eleven more guys on the roster that are going 0:21:20.080 --> 0:21:21.960 to be duking it out not only for the wide 0:21:22.000 --> 0:21:26.200 receiver position but also skill positions for kick returner, put returner. 0:21:26.760 --> 0:21:29.520 These guys are where we found our diamonds in the 0:21:29.600 --> 0:21:31.760 rough for the last how many years on this team. 0:21:32.280 --> 0:21:35.359