1
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,680
Speaker 1: Lifetime, the official athletic country Club of the Minnesota Vikings,

2
00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,560
Speaker 1: has something for every member of your family. Get your

3
00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:16,200
Speaker 1: family going today at Lifetime dot Life Forward slash kits.

4
00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,680
Speaker 1: When you're evaluating wide receivers, now Justin Jefferson would there

5
00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:21,759
Speaker 1: be the standard? Right? So everyone that you talk about,

6
00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,560
Speaker 1: when you look at these guys, how do they compare

7
00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,000
Speaker 1: to Justin jeff will use him as the gold standing

8
00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,760
Speaker 1: because he's a top five receiver. When you look at

9
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,400
Speaker 1: the blueprint of the Vikings, historically, when they've been good,

10
00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,559
Speaker 1: you've been able to get sacked. So do you have

11
00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,400
Speaker 1: enough bodies up front to be able to get after

12
00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,480
Speaker 1: because you have to be able to knock your quarter

13
00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:44,040
Speaker 1: back down the way. Welcome inside the Indiana Convincing Center

14
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,080
Speaker 1: at Lucas Oil Stadium for the NFL Combined edition of

15
00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,960
Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings Podcast presented by Twin Cities Orthopedics. My

16
00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,160
Speaker 1: name is Gabe Henderson. I'm alongside my co host Tatum

17
00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,840
Speaker 1: Everett from Vikings dot Com, and today we have the

18
00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,920
Speaker 1: special privilege I've been joined by my guy fan of

19
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,840
Speaker 1: the show. Guy we talked about it before and Take One,

20
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,360
Speaker 1: a guy that I grew up watching in North Carolina

21
00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,120
Speaker 1: in the same area. And mister Bucky Brooks from NFL Network,

22
00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,240
Speaker 1: how are you doing, man? What's up man? My favorite people?

23
00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,319
Speaker 1: What's going on? Not much? Yeah, this is an exciting

24
00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,920
Speaker 1: time for you. I mean, I know that's cliche to

25
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,640
Speaker 1: say it's your super Bowl, but it is kind of

26
00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,320
Speaker 1: one of those times where it all starts to click. Yes, Look,

27
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:23,960
Speaker 1: it's a big time because for scouts, this is what

28
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,679
Speaker 1: it is. Scouts is all about the draft. It's about

29
00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,800
Speaker 1: the combine. You're amongst it. This is a big convention.

30
00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,160
Speaker 1: You have all the football folks, with the exception of

31
00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,280
Speaker 1: the teams that didn't bring their coaches. Yeah, it's the

32
00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,959
Speaker 1: one time that everybody is in one location. You get

33
00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,120
Speaker 1: a chance to really have a meeting of the minds,

34
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,120
Speaker 1: not only talking about prospects and what teams are gonna

35
00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,360
Speaker 1: do with the draft, but what's the latest trends in

36
00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,640
Speaker 1: the league. You catch it up with old friends. It's

37
00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,520
Speaker 1: really a great week to kind of be a football person,

38
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:50,960
Speaker 1: to be in the league, right. I mean, over the

39
00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,559
Speaker 1: next few days we'll see what nearly three hundred draft

40
00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,320
Speaker 1: prospects compete against themselves, and a handful of drills and

41
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,360
Speaker 1: hopefully you know those drills to fit the Vikings outside

42
00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,280
Speaker 1: of the other I mean, I'll posted the other thirty

43
00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,640
Speaker 1: one teams, but for this team, right this Minnesota Vikings team,

44
00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,960
Speaker 1: the team that works purple. How do you define success

45
00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,720
Speaker 1: in a week that you know there won't be any

46
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,440
Speaker 1: wins and losses on a scoreboard? Well, I mean the

47
00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,360
Speaker 1: way that you go about it is you're looking for

48
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:22,160
Speaker 1: guys that fit the profile whether Vikings want to be

49
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,519
Speaker 1: about the culture that's been created in the locker room.

50
00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,320
Speaker 1: Everyone on the outside has seen Keevin O'Connell's postgame speeches

51
00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,200
Speaker 1: and the affinity that the team appears to have for

52
00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,960
Speaker 1: each other, And so how can you identify a handful

53
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,200
Speaker 1: of prospects that fit that locker room? Because now that

54
00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,320
Speaker 1: you've established the culture, you want to make sure that

55
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,720
Speaker 1: everybody that you bring in they have those characteristics to

56
00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,040
Speaker 1: make sure that they are a part of the fabric

57
00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,399
Speaker 1: of the team and what appears to be a championship

58
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,680
Speaker 1: pedigree going forward. When you say a word like fit

59
00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,200
Speaker 1: and you're looking at these prospects, we kind of we

60
00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:58,440
Speaker 1: understand litle bit more about what to see in the

61
00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,600
Speaker 1: Chevin O'Connell offense. And we know what to expect potentially

62
00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,880
Speaker 1: from a Brian Flores defense. So what kind of prospects

63
00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,600
Speaker 1: when you mentioned with a Flores defense, Well, I mean

64
00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,600
Speaker 1: when you think about defensively and what Flores comes from,

65
00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,239
Speaker 1: he's gonna have some of those traits and intangibles that

66
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,040
Speaker 1: came with him from the New England Patriots. Kevin O'Connell

67
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:19,880
Speaker 1: knows that he played for the Patriots, and so some

68
00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:21,839
Speaker 1: of those character ristics are always gonna be the same.

69
00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:23,960
Speaker 1: And it doesn't sound cliche like, hey, they're going on

70
00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,040
Speaker 1: smart guys, tough guys, Guys that are about the team,

71
00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,600
Speaker 1: Guys that selfless nature helps the team and that unit

72
00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,679
Speaker 1: play at a higher level. The other thing that you

73
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,520
Speaker 1: can do is you can see a level of physicality

74
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:38,440
Speaker 1: that's going to be expected of everybody that takes to

75
00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,160
Speaker 1: field on defense. When you think about Brian Flores, what

76
00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,280
Speaker 1: he's been able to do, first as a defensive coordinator

77
00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,560
Speaker 1: in New England, then as a head coach with a

78
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,960
Speaker 1: defensive mindset in Miami, Man, those guys played hard, they

79
00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,760
Speaker 1: were super physical, they were versatile, which means they were

80
00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,839
Speaker 1: adaptable to a bunch of different schemes and so they're

81
00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,160
Speaker 1: gonna be the same core characteristics that you saw from

82
00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,360
Speaker 1: Kevin O'Connell's offense. And in terms of the intelligence, the versatility,

83
00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,960
Speaker 1: the adaptability, all those things are being played and all that,

84
00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,520
Speaker 1: you know, starts this weekend right with you know, the

85
00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,600
Speaker 1: handful of drills they'll they'll take care of. And for

86
00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,800
Speaker 1: you just covering this draft for so long being the

87
00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,480
Speaker 1: expert that you are with NFL Network, Like, how do

88
00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,640
Speaker 1: you or what other drills outside of the forty yard

89
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,880
Speaker 1: dash do you really pay attention to that can make

90
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,560
Speaker 1: or break someone? You know, it's important for everyone to

91
00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,880
Speaker 1: understand like a lot of the combine happens away from

92
00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,400
Speaker 1: what we'll see. Yeah, the interviews in the medical are

93
00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,160
Speaker 1: the two most important things that the guys get out

94
00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,159
Speaker 1: of there. The medical part to get the physicals to

95
00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,240
Speaker 1: see where they are physically, the durability projections, all this

96
00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:43,120
Speaker 1: stuff is important. The character assessment, having the interviews to

97
00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,119
Speaker 1: see what the people are like, not only your more character,

98
00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,440
Speaker 1: but your football character. Do you love the game, are

99
00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:50,080
Speaker 1: you willing to work at the game, How do you

100
00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,320
Speaker 1: get along with your teammates? All of those things are

101
00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,520
Speaker 1: super important on the field. The forty will get a

102
00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,559
Speaker 1: lot of the attention, but it might be the least

103
00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,880
Speaker 1: important drill when it comes to what you're sessing. Yes,

104
00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,599
Speaker 1: you get the fast time, but you also want to

105
00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,520
Speaker 1: see how high they jump, how far they jump the

106
00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,800
Speaker 1: shuttles change the direction. Then you get into the positional drills.

107
00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,720
Speaker 1: Each position requires a battery of kind of skills that

108
00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,080
Speaker 1: will enable you to have a level of success. So

109
00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,400
Speaker 1: by each position, you'll look at some of those drills

110
00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,720
Speaker 1: to see how guys performed that because it gives you

111
00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,880
Speaker 1: kind of a baseline of what their athleticism is, and

112
00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,359
Speaker 1: it allows the scouts to huddle up with the coaches

113
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,640
Speaker 1: to then figure out who do we need to go

114
00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,760
Speaker 1: on the road and see so we can kind of

115
00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,120
Speaker 1: dig a little deeper when it comes to the pro days.

116
00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:39,360
Speaker 1: Every draft class has a signature where there is a

117
00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,240
Speaker 1: couple of positions that are just really rich in talent,

118
00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,400
Speaker 1: and it varies from year to year. Obviously, what would

119
00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:49,359
Speaker 1: you say is the most depth at a position in

120
00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,080
Speaker 1: this draft? Tight end is really special. The tight ends

121
00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:53,960
Speaker 1: and this draft class have an opportunity to be special

122
00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,640
Speaker 1: like guys that come in and make a media contributions.

123
00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:01,320
Speaker 1: So Michael Meyer from Notre Dame Kin Cave from Utah,

124
00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,920
Speaker 1: Danielle Washington from Georgia. Those guys are outstanding. Cornerback is

125
00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,320
Speaker 1: another position that has a lot of talent. I will

126
00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,719
Speaker 1: say it doesn't necessarily have the Blue Chippers like last

127
00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,080
Speaker 1: year we saw a Sauce Gardener and Darryl Stingley, but

128
00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,280
Speaker 1: there are a lot of guys that from about the

129
00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,120
Speaker 1: middle of the first round to the top of the

130
00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,760
Speaker 1: third round are gonna be immediate starters that make contributions.

131
00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,520
Speaker 1: And so the Cam Smiths of the world, the Kaylee

132
00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,360
Speaker 1: ring goes even the lighter. Emmanuel Forbes, those guys are

133
00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,200
Speaker 1: going to be able to come in and start and

134
00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,240
Speaker 1: make big time contributions in your scheme, man, And that's

135
00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,760
Speaker 1: what you've mentioned. So many names that this Minnesota Vikings

136
00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,440
Speaker 1: team when it comes to cornerback are looking to, you know,

137
00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,320
Speaker 1: hopefully slide to them, especially Emmanuel Forbes. I've heard that

138
00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,440
Speaker 1: name a lot, but you know, you know, cornerback is

139
00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,679
Speaker 1: going to be probably an option for the Vikings every

140
00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,239
Speaker 1: year every team drafting offensive linemen. But the tackle position

141
00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,159
Speaker 1: is a position that I know you talked about it,

142
00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,960
Speaker 1: but also and Griggson Senior Senior vice presidentive player personnel

143
00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,760
Speaker 1: for the Vikings basically said, that's a position that doesn't

144
00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,840
Speaker 1: have the premium talent, but it's a very talented group. Yeah,

145
00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,240
Speaker 1: there is a talented group of offensive tackles. And you're

146
00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,040
Speaker 1: right when we talk about this draft, most drafts have

147
00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,320
Speaker 1: anywhere from eighteen to twenty four first round picks, like

148
00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,480
Speaker 1: guys that are consensus first round grades no matter what

149
00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,760
Speaker 1: team you work for, no matter what scheme you run

150
00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,960
Speaker 1: this year, that number may move down to like fifteen,

151
00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,119
Speaker 1: and so you have fifteen like what we call upper

152
00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,160
Speaker 1: end blue chip prospects. However, there are a bunch of

153
00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,200
Speaker 1: what we call rids and goals, guys that are real

154
00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:40,160
Speaker 1: solid players, Guys that are starters, Guys that have the

155
00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,280
Speaker 1: ability to walk in the field and make contributions, but

156
00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:44,800
Speaker 1: they may not be that I Media Pro Bowl Player,

157
00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,640
Speaker 1: All Star level player at offensive tackle. You have some

158
00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,960
Speaker 1: of those guys, and so you're here names like Darnielle

159
00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:56,000
Speaker 1: Wright from Tennessee right tackle, big physical, mala brawler type

160
00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,320
Speaker 1: from up your way, Cody Mark from North Dakota State,

161
00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,240
Speaker 1: guy that has played five different positions in college. The

162
00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,200
Speaker 1: versatility will lend him to be a guy that could

163
00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,600
Speaker 1: be a swing player that is coveted. And so that

164
00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,040
Speaker 1: offensive tackle class has guys they may not have the sizzle,

165
00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,360
Speaker 1: but they'll give you a lot of substance. Sub Sancho

166
00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,520
Speaker 1: play right away. And adding on to that point, Ryan

167
00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,040
Speaker 1: was like, you know, with the tackle position, there's a

168
00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,000
Speaker 1: thin line when you know a guy's going to be

169
00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,160
Speaker 1: a good tackle in the NFL versus a good guard.

170
00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:29,240
Speaker 1: From an expert analysis, what are some traits that kind

171
00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,760
Speaker 1: of separate that. Well, the guys on the edges then

172
00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,040
Speaker 1: there have to have like the size of a bear,

173
00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,080
Speaker 1: but dance like ballerinas, you know. And so we think

174
00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,760
Speaker 1: about the division. And I had this conversation with a

175
00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,679
Speaker 1: former NFL head coach today. He said, the biggest mismatch

176
00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,640
Speaker 1: that you have in football is the offensive line versus

177
00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,320
Speaker 1: defensive linement. You have athletes on offense that are running

178
00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,240
Speaker 1: five two five, four forties versus guys that are running

179
00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,200
Speaker 1: four sixes. So now you're talking about being in space,

180
00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,120
Speaker 1: having to deal with those superhero roles that can leap

181
00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,520
Speaker 1: tall buildings in a single bound. So, man, when you

182
00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,560
Speaker 1: think about your tackles, they have to have quickness to

183
00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,640
Speaker 1: lateral slide and mirror and shuffle and stay in front

184
00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,000
Speaker 1: of those guys while having the strength and balancing body

185
00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,960
Speaker 1: control to anchor when those guys engage and take them on.

186
00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,080
Speaker 1: So the difference is an athletic difference between a tackle

187
00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,240
Speaker 1: and a guard. In a guard, we always talk about

188
00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,880
Speaker 1: a good guard can use his neighbors, meaning he has

189
00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,600
Speaker 1: the center or the tackle to his right or left.

190
00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,840
Speaker 1: So he understands that if I can win in a

191
00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,960
Speaker 1: small space, I can use body help to help me. Well, you,

192
00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,680
Speaker 1: when you're out on noland, you can't do that. And

193
00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:41,240
Speaker 1: so the difference is those guys inside they're scrappy, they're tough,

194
00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:44,040
Speaker 1: they have a level of like strength and physicality with

195
00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,720
Speaker 1: it can move people. Were also balanced. The problem is

196
00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,360
Speaker 1: now people have gotten wise to those guys. They play

197
00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,040
Speaker 1: with body help and they take that talented outside guy

198
00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,360
Speaker 1: and put them over the guard and they wear them out.

199
00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,320
Speaker 1: So now you getting to the point where you can't

200
00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,000
Speaker 1: really hide as they say, the fish, you can't hide him.

201
00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,040
Speaker 1: You have to be able to have five guys up front.

202
00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,240
Speaker 1: And so that's why it really is important that when

203
00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:07,560
Speaker 1: you're evaluating the old line as a whole, you try

204
00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,679
Speaker 1: and get five really good guys out are talented. I

205
00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,400
Speaker 1: think that the Vikings have been trying to do that

206
00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,120
Speaker 1: for a while now, drafting a couple of offensive linemen

207
00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,520
Speaker 1: and in the first round, you know, I know, corners

208
00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,320
Speaker 1: a lot is a very popular opinion about where the

209
00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,400
Speaker 1: Vikings will go with pick number twenty three. But would

210
00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,319
Speaker 1: there be a value pick at twenty three if you

211
00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,200
Speaker 1: go offensive linemen? I mean, look, there could be, because

212
00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:27,840
Speaker 1: you never know how to draft's gonna play out. Like,

213
00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,200
Speaker 1: we're still waiting to see how the trades are gonna happen.

214
00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,960
Speaker 1: If the Chicago Bears decide to trade out of number one,

215
00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,400
Speaker 1: who knows how the rest of the dominoes dropped. All

216
00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:40,439
Speaker 1: it takes is like one unexpected pick to leave someone

217
00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:44,559
Speaker 1: somewhere there. Osire's Torrence from Florida is a guard that

218
00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,760
Speaker 1: everyone wants. Now for him to get down to twenty three,

219
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,160
Speaker 1: take a couple of things to happen right now. I

220
00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,880
Speaker 1: would say he probably graze out in the middle, maybe fifteen.

221
00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:55,839
Speaker 1: We're talking about him coming off the board in the

222
00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,000
Speaker 1: top fifteen, but you never know. He's a dominant player

223
00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,800
Speaker 1: at the point of attack. Ask baller, brawler type. The

224
00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,840
Speaker 1: big thing is the reason talked about the Vikings drafting

225
00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,520
Speaker 1: so many linemen over the past couple of years. Whenever

226
00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,720
Speaker 1: you change schemes yea, and change your emphasis on how

227
00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,000
Speaker 1: you want to run the ball, which you want to

228
00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,920
Speaker 1: pass protect, it requires different guys. So for instance, when

229
00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,240
Speaker 1: Gary Bradberry came, it was a team that wanted to

230
00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,520
Speaker 1: get on skates because the old KUBIEC system zone run,

231
00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,120
Speaker 1: you want to run elephants operade is kind of what

232
00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,320
Speaker 1: they talked about. When it's a little different, kevil O'Connor

233
00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,120
Speaker 1: may want to come downhill a little more, so then

234
00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,320
Speaker 1: you have a little more mass, a little more girth.

235
00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:33,600
Speaker 1: And we're also seeing a sea change in how defenses

236
00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,319
Speaker 1: are playing. So then if you have that light offensive line,

237
00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:39,280
Speaker 1: they're getting mauled and broad by these big defensive linemen.

238
00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,520
Speaker 1: So that's why you have so much change and turnover.

239
00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,440
Speaker 1: It'll be interesting to see what they decide to do

240
00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,400
Speaker 1: from an identity standpoint offensive. Maybe this is a dumb

241
00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:52,480
Speaker 1: question question you always talk about. You know, the best

242
00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,000
Speaker 1: players and the best team, and the best player on

243
00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,040
Speaker 1: our team is Justin Jefferson. So for teams that are

244
00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,160
Speaker 1: looking to draft a corner back in the first is

245
00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,480
Speaker 1: that your threshold, like can this guy come in right

246
00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,240
Speaker 1: away and guard some of the top receivers or is

247
00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,080
Speaker 1: one of those guys you know, like the sauce Gardners

248
00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,160
Speaker 1: of the world. Yeah, So that's the thing, and I

249
00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,960
Speaker 1: think that's really important, the distinction because as we're teaching

250
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,760
Speaker 1: you guys to scout and as you guys can be

251
00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:22,080
Speaker 1: the experts in Minnesota Vikings, that's the standard. So what

252
00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,559
Speaker 1: you have to do is so when you're evaluating wide receivers, now,

253
00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,200
Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson wouldn't be the standard. So everyone that you

254
00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,319
Speaker 1: talk about, when you look at these guys, how do

255
00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,880
Speaker 1: they compare to Justin Jefferson and what he was able

256
00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,720
Speaker 1: to do right away coming into the league, Because we'll

257
00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:36,480
Speaker 1: use him as the gold standard because he's the top

258
00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,720
Speaker 1: five receiver. So that so now in reverse, when I

259
00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,199
Speaker 1: look at cornerbacks, who are the guys that are going

260
00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,680
Speaker 1: to be able to match up with him and all

261
00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:46,880
Speaker 1: the stuff that he does because we saw him twist

262
00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,079
Speaker 1: and turn all kinds of guys around. Topiculous. So now

263
00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,960
Speaker 1: when you're looking at your cornerback, who has the athleticism,

264
00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,880
Speaker 1: who has the movement skills that can turn and transition?

265
00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,320
Speaker 1: Who are the guys that are the Catholics that can

266
00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,360
Speaker 1: do all those things to deal with that, because if

267
00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,199
Speaker 1: you don't have a certain set of skills in your toolbox,

268
00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:06,760
Speaker 1: you have no chance. And so that's why you want

269
00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,040
Speaker 1: to keep the standard high when it comes to evalua.

270
00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,160
Speaker 1: And that's why everyone can't have a first round grade.

271
00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,880
Speaker 1: We can't give out goal stars to everybody, Like we

272
00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,080
Speaker 1: have to make sure that there's a level of discretion

273
00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,280
Speaker 1: that you have to really be special to say, hey,

274
00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,520
Speaker 1: your first round pick and that's how we view you.

275
00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,559
Speaker 1: How do you refine your scouting skills year after year

276
00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,760
Speaker 1: with the way that the game changes and the level

277
00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,200
Speaker 1: of talent or the body types of these guys coming out,

278
00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,640
Speaker 1: and how has it changed a look at it, Sarah.

279
00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,280
Speaker 1: He just los his hair every year. You know, it's

280
00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,680
Speaker 1: so great about these things. What's so great is like

281
00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:40,720
Speaker 1: a lot of guys around the league, like we'll call

282
00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,480
Speaker 1: and they'll give you a hard time while also offering advice.

283
00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:47,000
Speaker 1: And so when I talk to the guys or whatever

284
00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,080
Speaker 1: like that are working in the league and doing it

285
00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,520
Speaker 1: for their teams, like that kind of leads you to

286
00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:53,280
Speaker 1: the ward and they'll talk about the way the league

287
00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,120
Speaker 1: is changing, we'll have conversations about that. And then what

288
00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,360
Speaker 1: you do is you learn from your previous mistakes. Guys

289
00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,440
Speaker 1: that you thought gonna be great that weren't, Guys that

290
00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,480
Speaker 1: you didn't think highly up but end up becoming really

291
00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,719
Speaker 1: great players. Um, it's funny that you bring up J. J.

292
00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:14,480
Speaker 1: Jefferson because his old college wide receiver coach Jerry Sullivan.

293
00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:18,360
Speaker 1: So years ago when JJ was coming out, I think

294
00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,040
Speaker 1: I might have had him either five in my top

295
00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,320
Speaker 1: five or maybe he might have been out the list early.

296
00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:26,440
Speaker 1: And Jerry Sullivan called me. It was like, you're wrong,

297
00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:29,760
Speaker 1: You're going to be wrong. This dude is legit, and

298
00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,480
Speaker 1: he said, I'm telling you right now. He was the

299
00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,200
Speaker 1: dog of our offenses. So even though Jamar Chase was

300
00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,920
Speaker 1: the dude, the dog was justin Jefferson. Wow. I had

301
00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,280
Speaker 1: to call him and text him after his rookie season

302
00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,440
Speaker 1: be like I got you got it? But he did.

303
00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,320
Speaker 1: He lit me up because he saw something. I was like, coach,

304
00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:51,840
Speaker 1: what are we doing. He's like, he's like, hey man,

305
00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,040
Speaker 1: I'm telling you you're wrong. And I told him, but

306
00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,560
Speaker 1: there are things that you do. It's just like, as

307
00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:58,880
Speaker 1: we continue to improve in our business, you look back

308
00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,240
Speaker 1: at your performances. You trying to figure out where you

309
00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,920
Speaker 1: can get better at it, and if you have pride

310
00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:05,560
Speaker 1: in what you do, you always kind of work on

311
00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,200
Speaker 1: that and build on it. That's a really good point,

312
00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:08,720
Speaker 1: and I guess that kind of brings me to my

313
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,560
Speaker 1: next point because cornerback, offensive line. Those are two positions

314
00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,680
Speaker 1: for sure that the Vikings will most likely try to attack.

315
00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,920
Speaker 1: But for you on the expert side, is there a

316
00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,720
Speaker 1: position or an underrated position that you can see the

317
00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,360
Speaker 1: Vikings targeting with their five five picks? That's far well.

318
00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,720
Speaker 1: Talking about Brian Floyd's coming over on defense, I think

319
00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,200
Speaker 1: we always say that the defense might have held the

320
00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:34,400
Speaker 1: Vikings back from fully maximizing their potential. And so you

321
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,560
Speaker 1: want the team to be fast on defense because when

322
00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,360
Speaker 1: you're fast on defense, you create more turnovers, you make

323
00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,440
Speaker 1: more splash plays. And so at the second level, linebacker

324
00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,040
Speaker 1: could be inspired. Were you're looking for guys that can

325
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,520
Speaker 1: make impact plays. Eric Kendricks has been in the middle

326
00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:50,600
Speaker 1: for a long time, but you gotta have some guys

327
00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,400
Speaker 1: that can run, that can make plays or whatever, maybe

328
00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,880
Speaker 1: to play alongside him while these continue to dispense the

329
00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:59,520
Speaker 1: knowledge up front. Someone being a playmate with Daniel Hunter,

330
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,080
Speaker 1: I can create sack production in this league. There are

331
00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:04,640
Speaker 1: a few different ways that you can build a team,

332
00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,040
Speaker 1: but if the offense is going to be what the

333
00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:10,360
Speaker 1: offense has been, then it's about pass rushers and corners

334
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,920
Speaker 1: because to close the game out, you got to be

335
00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,040
Speaker 1: able to sack the quarterback and you got to be

336
00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,720
Speaker 1: able to cover on critical downs pass rushers in corners,

337
00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,200
Speaker 1: so we can talk about those other spots. Someone has

338
00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,120
Speaker 1: to be able to hunt. And when you look at

339
00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,760
Speaker 1: the blueprint of the Vikings, historically, when they've been good,

340
00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,640
Speaker 1: they've been able to get sacks. And you can get

341
00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,680
Speaker 1: sacks with a four man front, that is the best

342
00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:33,920
Speaker 1: because then you don't have to blitz. So do you

343
00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:35,640
Speaker 1: have enough bodies up front to be able to get

344
00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:37,760
Speaker 1: after because you have to be able to knock the

345
00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:39,800
Speaker 1: quarterback down to win, and I guess not. You know.

346
00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,640
Speaker 1: That kind of brings me to my next point. I

347
00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:44,640
Speaker 1: think we talked a little bit about this last year.

348
00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,040
Speaker 1: It's just, you know, how do you build a defense,

349
00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,680
Speaker 1: you know, outside in or inside out. The new way

350
00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,000
Speaker 1: to play great defense in the league. You gotta have

351
00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:55,880
Speaker 1: at least one gay on the inside that can dominate

352
00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,960
Speaker 1: and then you have to have at least one but

353
00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,000
Speaker 1: maybe two. But you have to have someone up the

354
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:05,200
Speaker 1: middle to impact the quarterback because those guys like Aaron

355
00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,320
Speaker 1: Rodgers that are sitting from the middle of the pocket,

356
00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,320
Speaker 1: they're uncomfortable when someone's right in their face and so

357
00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,800
Speaker 1: the ball is out before the edge guys can get there.

358
00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,679
Speaker 1: So if you think about you mean a pass rushing

359
00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,240
Speaker 1: defensive tackle that can dominate on the inside, give me

360
00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,240
Speaker 1: speed guys on the edges that understand how to rush

361
00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,480
Speaker 1: the passes without getting past the depth of the quarterback.

362
00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,560
Speaker 1: You can do it that way, and then on the outside.

363
00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,919
Speaker 1: A lot of it depends on style of defense, on

364
00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,000
Speaker 1: how you want to play. You can elect to be

365
00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,639
Speaker 1: a high pressure man demand cover team when now you

366
00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,600
Speaker 1: need athletes on the outside to cover if you're gonna

367
00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,800
Speaker 1: be one of the teams, and we saw the Philadelphia

368
00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,000
Speaker 1: Eagans do this. They didn't necessarily bliss a lot, but

369
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,680
Speaker 1: they were able to get home with their front four.

370
00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,000
Speaker 1: When now you play coverage, you're playing zone, eyes on

371
00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,119
Speaker 1: the quarterback, take the ball away and those things. A

372
00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,480
Speaker 1: lot of it is being able to look at what

373
00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,399
Speaker 1: you have. Only have five picks how much money do

374
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,840
Speaker 1: I have in free agency? What's the quickest way for

375
00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,920
Speaker 1: us to get up and going Kevin O'Connor and say, hey, offensively,

376
00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:02,760
Speaker 1: we're always gonna be able to score twenty seven to

377
00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,120
Speaker 1: thirty points when there were maybe a little bit more

378
00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,960
Speaker 1: ben but don't break. Let them have the yards between

379
00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,000
Speaker 1: the twenties and be really good in the red zone.

380
00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:11,640
Speaker 1: So a lot of it is looking at your team.

381
00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,000
Speaker 1: People always talk about complimented reball, but complimented reball is

382
00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:19,000
Speaker 1: understanding all of that. Where's the strength of the team. Okay,

383
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,520
Speaker 1: the strength of team is their offense? Well, defensively, how

384
00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:23,640
Speaker 1: can we compliment them? All? Right, we just need to bimba,

385
00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:26,160
Speaker 1: don't break, don't give up big plays, make them drives

386
00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:27,480
Speaker 1: into the field, and we can win that way. Man.

387
00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,280
Speaker 1: Kevin O'Connell use that he kind of summarized that to

388
00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,399
Speaker 1: situational football, and he said that's what the Minnesota Vikings

389
00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,760
Speaker 1: team last year. I guess defense would summarize as you

390
00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:37,040
Speaker 1: give up a lot of points, but it's kind of

391
00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,880
Speaker 1: bamber don't break, and you play well in certain situations

392
00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:41,639
Speaker 1: and you can win those close games. So that's a

393
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,200
Speaker 1: really good point. So with Kevin, he would probably say,

394
00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:45,719
Speaker 1: like it probably drove him crazy that they gave up

395
00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,720
Speaker 1: so many points. He probably doesn't care about yards, points

396
00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,760
Speaker 1: other thing. And so if you think about it, turnovers, points, allow,

397
00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:53,639
Speaker 1: those are the things that the side games. So hey,

398
00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,360
Speaker 1: let's turn the ball over. Let's make sure that we

399
00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,320
Speaker 1: don't give up the big plays and if they bogged down,

400
00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:00,920
Speaker 1: kick a bunch of feel goes. You're not gonna beat

401
00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,359
Speaker 1: us kicking field goal. Right. My last question for you,

402
00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,560
Speaker 1: I know you cover a lot of teams and there's

403
00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,200
Speaker 1: always a theme for every team. Well, what's your biggest

404
00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,159
Speaker 1: theme for the Vikings? Just overarching general review of the

405
00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,879
Speaker 1: Vikings that can help them get over that edge. Well,

406
00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,119
Speaker 1: the thing that you want to see from the Vikings

407
00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:18,680
Speaker 1: to take the next step, they want a lot of

408
00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,400
Speaker 1: close games. Last year, you don't know if Lady Fate

409
00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,640
Speaker 1: is going to play out the same way this year.

410
00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,000
Speaker 1: So if I'm Kevin O'Connell standing for the team, how

411
00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,119
Speaker 1: can we get to the point where we dominate? Like

412
00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,240
Speaker 1: we want to dominate on offense, and so to create

413
00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:34,879
Speaker 1: a dominant offense, what does that look like? Is that

414
00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,199
Speaker 1: us being able to run the clock out? Is that

415
00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,639
Speaker 1: finding someone else to go with Justin Jefferson to be

416
00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,440
Speaker 1: able to put more points on the board. Who can

417
00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,760
Speaker 1: occupy the middle? I mean t J. Hopkinson coming over

418
00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,880
Speaker 1: gave them another guy. But how you can you continue

419
00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,000
Speaker 1: to build upon what you've been able to do on

420
00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,480
Speaker 1: offense to be a dominant offense instead of a really

421
00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,760
Speaker 1: good offense. I could talk to you all day about

422
00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,359
Speaker 1: draft content. This is, you know, the podcast version. I

423
00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:00,159
Speaker 1: know before the draft I'll be reaching out to a

424
00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,800
Speaker 1: video version of it once everything gets, you know, settled down.

425
00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,040
Speaker 1: But from North Kallinia and North Carolinia and we talk

426
00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:06,960
Speaker 1: about it all the time. I appreciate you. Oh man,

427
00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:08,800
Speaker 1: it's all good. Thanks so much for having me on. Yes, sir,

428
00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:12,320
Speaker 1: that's Bucky Brooks for Tatum Everett. My name is Gabe Henderson.

429
00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,320
Speaker 1: Thank you again for tuning into this combined edition of

430
00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,520
Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. Talk to you next week.