1 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,639 Speaker 1: You know, super Bowl has to be the number one 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: thing that you think about when you come to work 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: every day for sure, no doubt. And so to be 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: around a big umbrella of those guys and learn from 5 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: those guys, what better way to do that? You know? 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: For me, performance is all encompassing. It's not just weight room, 7 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: it's nutrition, it's all of it. And so for me, 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: like I'm very excited about being able to work with 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: these guys. This is the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, Episode number 10 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty five is the final one of 11 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: this offseason before training camp. I'm your host, Tatum Everett. 12 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: We've got producer Jay Nelson here today, but we also 13 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: have Gabe Henderson here after a few weeks hiatus. How's 14 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: it going? It's going, feel reston. I feel like a 15 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: grown up about a house, figured out how to fix 16 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: the garage, figured out how to break a TV, and 17 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: then figured out how to make it back to work 18 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: in one piece. So everything is good. Wow, I think 19 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: you strategically broke the TV so you could get a 20 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: bigger one. Oh so you didn't actually fix it, you 21 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: bought a bigger one. Yeah, that was a good guess 22 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: on my end. I understand that mentality. Yeah, this one fell. No, 23 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: we have to get the eighty four. Yeah, I know Julia, 24 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: she's not Damn she knew. Oh she told me to 25 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: get it. Oh there you go. See that's another story 26 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: for another day. But yeah, we basically figured out a 27 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: way to put some stuff in the house in areas 28 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: that she didn't get mad. So I've key to happiness. 29 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: I've visited the house every night and I come to 30 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 1: work every day she lives there. Yeah, no, I like that. 31 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: I might have to start using that in my house. 32 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: Hey like that. That's the thing for the two of you. 33 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: You now have new dwellings that you get to kind 34 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: of figure out whose room is, who's who gets to 35 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: you know, decorate and deal with everything else. And I 36 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: know any females that are listening right now can totally 37 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: relate to this one. I said, you can have a 38 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: room to put all of your sports stuff, all of 39 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: your you know, video game nerdy kind of things like 40 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: keep it all collectibles, keep it all in one room. 41 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: As long as I get the bigger closet, maybe another closet, 42 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: maybe an extra closet, and you know all that stuff. Man, 43 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,839 Speaker 1: that's I respect that from Josh, because like Julia knows, 44 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: I get the bigger closet, but she gets everything goes 45 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: like I have the most. I have been most closed. 46 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: So funny anybody that she's ever met. So it's my closet, 47 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: her house. I am still living out of a wardrobe box. 48 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: We don't have enough things to hold the clothes. Yeah, 49 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: I don't know. It's an older home. See, I'm on 50 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: the flip side. I've been in that house now for 51 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: fifteen years, and I'm at the we need to purge. 52 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: We got to get rid of a life. I mean, 53 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: we really try to. But I think the biggest, the 54 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: biggest thing I've noticed is so I've been here a year, right, 55 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: Josh has been here about two and a half years. 56 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: We have like eight pairs of snowshoes. We have an 57 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: entire clothing rack of snow jackets in the basement, and 58 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: literally the closet in the basement is probably now seventy 59 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 1: five percent winter clothes. We are those people. It's get 60 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: into that time of year though. Don't tell me that 61 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: I just put them all away. Please don't tell me 62 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: that it's July. No, no, no, no, no, It's like 63 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: out there camp starting camp is starting, the weather is 64 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: going to start turning at least we're hoping for. Oh 65 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: it's gonna be so hot at camp though, it really well, 66 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: welcome to camp in Minnesota. You know that happens every year. 67 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: I enjoy that. I enjoyed like training camp, being out 68 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: there and getting a sweat on, seeing the fans, seeing 69 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 1: everything happen, Like I look forward to that. It really 70 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,839 Speaker 1: does kind of ring it all together because we've been 71 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: waiting for this for so long. I feel like we 72 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: have because you think, well, I guess maybe because it's 73 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: just been talking season for so long and I'm really 74 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: tired of talking season. Yeah. It's just like when training 75 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: camp comes, it's just like a whirlwind of stuff. So 76 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: like I look forward to like the fourth of July, 77 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: and then after the week of the fourth of July, 78 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: it's just like can training camp coming like a month 79 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: and set of two weeks. So like, now that we're 80 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: in it, it's like it is what it is, no 81 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: turning back. But like training camp, to your point, it 82 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: is arguably the most fun time of the year. Everyone 83 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: is back in business. We're all I mean, we got 84 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: fans back here. I mean, especially after two years ago 85 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: and I having fans and having fans for the first 86 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: time back last year, but I feel like we'll be 87 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: closer to one hundred percent this year. Have that energy. 88 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: There's been a lot of excavation around training camp this year, 89 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: so having all of that put together into a two 90 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: or three week period, I think that the level of 91 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: excitement does go up when you think about it from 92 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 1: that perspective. Yeah, And the schedule is also located on 93 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: vikings dot com backslash training Camp because sometimes even I 94 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: have to go to that website to kind of figure out, Okay, 95 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 1: what's this day, when's the night practice, what's the theme 96 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: this day. It's a great tool to use and buy 97 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: your tickets because Ascape said, there's gonna be so many 98 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: opportunities to watch this team. It's an exciting time. Autographs return, 99 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: you know, that's a big draw. That's a huge deal, 100 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: and I know that that's something that for years and 101 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: years and years everyone always look forward to. In man 102 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: Cato when he came here, we were doing autograph lines 103 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: as well. Again, COVID changed everything for the last kind 104 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: of couple of years, and they were trying to figure 105 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: out what they were going to do in that realm. 106 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: But that is one of the things that I also know, 107 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: not only professionally, but personally. I would hear from people saying, 108 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: you are they doing autographs this year? It's a big deal, 109 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,799 Speaker 1: and it's something fun because it's that that one personal 110 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: moment they might get with a player that might stick 111 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: with them for the rest of their lives. And I 112 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: think especially when you see kids in those lines and 113 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: just kind of the smiles on their face looking for 114 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: those autographs, it's a huge deal. So it's great to 115 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: see it coming back. And I know that they're they're 116 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: working really hard to get people as much access as 117 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: they can, and I think the autograph line is something 118 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: that's going to be a huge, huge fun thing for 119 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: people to be a part of it. I feel like 120 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: this might be a stupid question, but the number one 121 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: name out there that that fans are going to get 122 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: signed things as JJ right, Yeah, Jay Nelson, Yeah took 123 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: the fact is I mean Justice has never done that before. Yeah, 124 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: and so fans for the first time a training camp. 125 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: Can you know anyone drafted from twenty twenty on, this 126 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: is this is it? This is They haven't really interacted 127 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: with them necessarily like this in this capacity. Yeah, it's 128 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: it's something that you know, they do a really good 129 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: job in the planning stages of all this stuff, getting 130 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: everything organized as much as possible and just trying to 131 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 1: make sure that they have, you know, kind of the 132 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: adequate amount of people and time and everything allotted for it. 133 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: So if they're doing it in a similar fashion as 134 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: previous years, that'll be something fun. And again, i mean 135 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: a guy like that, where else do you typically get 136 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: access to him? You don't, And so for someone like him, 137 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 1: I think it'll be fun for him, especially with the kids. 138 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: I mean, there'll be so many eighteen jerseys. Yeah, yeah, sure, 139 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 1: so it'll be it'll be fun to see that dynamic, 140 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: you know when that happens, And I think there's just 141 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: gonna be a lot of people that are gonna be 142 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: really excited to be able to have that personal moment 143 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 1: with players this year. I think on top of that, 144 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: I'm just thinking of guys like the Cam Dancelers of 145 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: the world or the Patrick Peterson's of the world that 146 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: just got here the last two years, and they're just like, dude, 147 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: we get a chance to be our own fans. Also, 148 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: I'm just thinking of Patrick Peterson in particular. Of course, 149 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: we know the story of being Arizona and then last 150 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: year things of being weird. So I think a lot 151 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: of people understand that he's going to be a future 152 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer and now he's on our team, so 153 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: it's like, oh, we get a chance to see JJ, 154 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: but we also get a chance to see a future 155 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer in Patrick Peterson that we've been watching 156 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: for for years and years. So I think just from 157 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: kids to twenty five or thirty year olds or grown men, 158 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: and they're going to be excited to see grown women. Also, 159 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: they're gonna be excited to see all these players that 160 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: are going to be here. So it's gonna be fun. Yeah, 161 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: I think it's fun for the entire family. Well, we're 162 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: gonna get to training Cam talk a little about that 163 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: in just a second. But this episode does have a 164 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: really cool guest that we're having. We're really kind of 165 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: putting a bow and wrapping up our big series with 166 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: coaching staff interviews of guys maybe that you haven't really 167 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: heard too much from, especially since they're new to the staff. 168 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: But our one today is actually another carryover from the 169 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: last couple of seasons. It is assistant director of Player 170 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: Performance Derek Keys, and really there's rarely a guy who 171 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: knows the players better than Derek. He's always working with them, 172 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: working on their performance as far as like you know, 173 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: if you listen to last week's podcast with Tyler Williams, 174 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: it's their weight training, it's their overall health. And so 175 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: I thought he was a really really interesting interview. Yeah. 176 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: I know he has the title of Assistant Director of 177 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: Player Performance, but a lot of people don't understand that 178 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: he's a he's a life coach. Also, these players really 179 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: they were a magnet towards him because of the energy 180 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: he brings. And I know he spends probably ninety percent 181 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: of his time in the weight room, but the majority 182 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: of his time is spent teaching these guys how to 183 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: be grown in and be humans at life. So I 184 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: think you need that like you need that in factor 185 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: when it comes to a coach, because a lot of 186 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: these guys, with their millionaires they come in the world 187 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: is in their hands. You have to have somebody there, 188 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: especially in the way room, that balances those guys out. 189 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: And we know players spend most of their time in 190 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: the way room. Ninety percent of their time is spent 191 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: with the training staff and the weight training staff. The 192 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: other ten percent or five percent spent on the field 193 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: and other five percent spent in the meeting room. So 194 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: it's always great talking to him, especially a guy like 195 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: this with the resume. He was in Cleveland for I 196 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: think eight years. I think he did some time in 197 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: San Francisco. He has a long history of a track 198 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: record of understanding how to connect the players and getting 199 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,559 Speaker 1: the most out of them. So hopefully that will ultimately 200 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: turn into a super Bowl or at least a deep 201 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 1: playoff run for this Vikings team, and looking forward to 202 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: talking to him. I think the thing about Keys is 203 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: that if you really think about the personnelity these guys 204 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: work with, Yeah, they do their off season work outside 205 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: of here with their own trainers and those kind of people. 206 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: Keys and those guys are basically the people that make 207 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 1: sure that the foundation is solid with these guys on 208 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: a week to week basis throughout the season, let alone 209 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: for the off season is setting their kind of their 210 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: regiment of what they want them to be able to do. 211 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: But more than that, you know, given the discussion we 212 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: had last week, you're trying to make sure that you 213 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: triage as much injuries as you can, and the best 214 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: way to do that is to prevent it on the 215 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: front end, and that is where guys like Derek Keys 216 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: and his group, that is what they're doing on a 217 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: weekly basis, is not only trying to work out the 218 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: kinks and make sure that they're staying healthy during the season, 219 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: but they're also trying to make sure that they're preventing 220 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: as many injuries as possible by working on certain muscle 221 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: groups and whether it's physically or even mentally, getting them 222 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: in the right headspace week to week. So a guy 223 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: like Derek Keys is doing more than just making sure 224 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 1: guys lifting the weights that he needs to do. Yeah, 225 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: and if you want to check out the interview with 226 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: Tyler or Williams from last week, he came here from 227 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: the Rams. It's a good listen to right before you 228 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: listen to this one as well. So I would definitely 229 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: check that one out because I think they kind of 230 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: go hand in hand, which is really kind of cool. 231 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: But we'll get to that in just a second. The 232 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: countdown is on. Though training camp is just days away, 233 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: the players are wrapping up their final days off before camp. 234 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: The rookies and quarterbacks report on Sunday, Meanwhile, Vets arrive 235 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, just ahead of the first training camp practice 236 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: on Wednesday. And obviously, as we talked about earlier, the 237 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: first time fans can come out is Saturday for the 238 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: Back Together Day. So this show, just like every other 239 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: sports media outlet, has been talking season. We've already kind 240 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: of you know, talked about that actually a little bit 241 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 1: as well. Seven months, everything that's been going on in 242 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 1: the storyline. Yes, Juno, Yes, the storylines have been just 243 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: dissected every which way. So I thought that maybe as 244 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: we head into training camp, instead of talking about that, 245 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 1: we'll talk about maybe our most overlooked or underrated training 246 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: camp storyline. And so, Gabe, I'm going to pass the 247 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 1: mic to you. What do you think's the most overlook 248 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: storyline of camp. Oh, it's got to be our outside linebackers. Right, 249 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: I'm just thinking about the Madden ratings. Everybody's talking about 250 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: the Madden ratings. This guy is doing this, or this 251 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: guy has his number, the Neil Hunter nor Zadarius Smith. 252 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: We're in the top ten Madden ratings when it came 253 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: to defensive end slash outside linebackers. We're talking about one 254 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: hundred and five sacks between these two guys that were 255 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: drafted both in the twenty fifteen NFL Draft. So when 256 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 1: you look at just those numbers a loan the Neil 257 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: Hunter leads his draft class in sacks with sixty. Dadarius 258 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: Smith it's fifth in that twenty fifteen draft class with 259 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: forty four and a half. I haven't even brought up 260 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: dj Wanham, who has eleven sacks and has a budding career. 261 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: And then you've got Patrick Jones Jenarius Robinson, we haven't 262 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: seen him play. Just the depth and the talent alone 263 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: at that position. Nobody's talking about it. And it's like, dude, yeah, 264 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: we get it, Kurk and JJ and Dalvin and all 265 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 1: these offense right, but like this outside linebacker group has 266 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: has a chance to be the best outside linebacker group 267 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: in the NFL. Like, you got two all Pro outside 268 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: linebackers literally sitting there, healthy, probably as healthy as they've 269 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: ever been in their life, ready to go attack Aaron 270 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: Rodgers on Week one. So that needs to be a 271 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: topic of discussion closer to training camp, as we as 272 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: we get closer to how this thing is going to 273 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: work out for this Vikings team, and nobody's talking about it. 274 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: I feel like that's probably like a national offing, right, 275 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: Like I feel like maybe here in Minnesota we're well 276 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: aware of what's going on there, and so let it 277 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: be a secret to everyone else at this point, and 278 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: like rightfully so right because people are like, well, these 279 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: guys haven't been healthy the past couple of years, but still, 280 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: like dude, we got two like legit outside linebackers that 281 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 1: a lot of opposing tackles are going to be scared of. Yeah, 282 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: we're well aware of the potential. That's the thing, Like 283 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: we've seen, We've seen what they can do. Yeah, the 284 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: question is that they know elephant the room is can 285 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: they stay healthy? And I think that again goes back 286 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: to whether it was Tyler last week or Keys this week, 287 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: Like that is their job is to make sure that 288 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: these two ridiculous specimens can stay on the field and 289 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,719 Speaker 1: absolutely recav it because if they can, it's going to 290 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: be a lot of fun to watch. Yeah. No, that 291 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: was a good one, Gabe, Jay, can you what you're 292 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: going to give us? I'm essentially taking that exact same line, 293 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 1: but I'm going from the outside to the inside. So 294 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: for me, it's kind of weird, you know, the stack 295 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: he's getting thrown around. If the Vikings hadn't let up 296 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: scores in the final two minutes of the half and 297 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: the end of the game, they'd be fifteen and two 298 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,719 Speaker 1: last year exactly. I think one of those areas, though, 299 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: that is most intriguing to me, is the middle linebackers 300 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:35,839 Speaker 1: of this three or four defense and the change in 301 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: the Donetel defense. You have Eric Kendricks, who we all 302 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: know what he can do. There's a lot of excitement 303 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: around Jordan Hicks as well coming in as assigning. Anthony 304 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: Barr has gone at this point, then he's still out 305 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: there as a free agent. But in that PFF ranked 306 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: our inside linebackers as the number five group in the 307 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: entire league, behind the Niners, Cults, Saints, and Packers. So 308 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 1: that's kind of a cool thing to look at and say, 309 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: you have two proven veterans here that everyone knows, but 310 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: then what's behind them. We have a bunch of people 311 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: that have some to little experience, and so what were 312 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: to happen if these guys got injured or we're out 313 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: In some facet, you're looking at Troy Dye, Ryan Connolly, 314 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: Blake Lynch Chess, are at William Kenweku and rookie Brian Assimoa. 315 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: Those are who are behind those two guys. So and 316 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: for me in camp, I want to see which group 317 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: of those people jump out, not only as kind of 318 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: the fill in or at least the people that are 319 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: going to spell We kind of look at Troy Dye 320 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: or Blake Lynch, they and even chess are at they 321 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: had some run last year, But who's going to be 322 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: that player that's going to step up and solidify themselves 323 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: as the third metal linebacker let alone which ones of 324 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: these guys are going to make the team special teams 325 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: wise and be a contributor. So there's a lot of 326 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: I think expectations on a guy like Brian Assimoa as 327 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: a day. I mean a lot of people picked him 328 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: as they're like stand out at rookie camp and mini camp. 329 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: But besides that, you're right though, no one's really talking 330 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: about it besides his potential there and that's just it 331 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: as you're looking at the rookie, but you've got your 332 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: Troy Die, Connolly, Lynch sir At who have equity, but 333 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: they weren't with this defensive coaching staff. So again I'm 334 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: intrigued during camp to see what happens with this group 335 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: if the outside guys you know, can jump up and 336 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: do what they're supposed to do, and you want to 337 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: watch that. I think that entire four of the three 338 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: four defense is what I think a lot of people 339 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: are gonna be watching to see what happens because we 340 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: think we know what that starting group is, but who's 341 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: in the backup roles that are really going to jump out? Now, Jay, 342 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: you met a good point equity like they have, so 343 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say mileage, but they have so much experience 344 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: behind Eric Kendrickson and Jordan Hickson and speaking of that 345 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: a guy and Brian Asamoa, that only forces him to 346 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: get better. So even if he doesn't start, he's going 347 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: to be learning from guys who've already seen it and 348 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: from different defenses, from different offenses. So I think that 349 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: that only makes that group better. And if you have, 350 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: you know, a solid interior defensive line those guys, it 351 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: makes their job a lot easier. This linebacker, I mean, 352 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: that's a really good point. This linebacker unit, with all 353 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: that experience, you can only expect him to make another step. 354 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: All those guys in their careers, especially like a Blake 355 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: Lynch But that's the thing that you see with these 356 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: guys is you have clear cut starters in Kendricks and Hicks. 357 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: The other guys have come in, they've all had potential. 358 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: You know, they've in college they were the best of 359 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: their group, but nobody has really jumped up to really 360 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: take that mantle or when they're out there flash when 361 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: they're playing that linebacker position. So that's the thing is 362 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: who's going to take the next step? And if you know, 363 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: maybe Brian Asamoa has that physical talent for him, it's 364 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: going to be trying to catch up mentally to the 365 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: speed of the game. If he can take that next 366 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: level jump, he's going to leap frog all of these 367 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: guys that have this equity, which is, you know, something 368 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: we're going to be excited about as fans. At the 369 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: same point, if he's still kind of trying to figure 370 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: it out, especially during camp, let alone the beginning of 371 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: the season of his first NFL season, which one of 372 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: those kind of veteran backups is going to be the 373 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: one that really helps during camp, That's what I'm curious about. Yeah, 374 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 1: I'm bringing up those guys. It's kind of an interesting 375 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 1: storyline because some of them are obviously used to coach 376 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: them are some of them are used their college coaches, 377 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: and now they have at Dontel who is very well 378 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: known as being a teacher, and you're not in this 379 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 1: industry for as long as he has. If you're not 380 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: connecting with players adapting to their new generational learning styles, 381 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: I guess you could say a fancy word for that, 382 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: but I think that's an exciting group for sure. I'm 383 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 1: actually going to go to the other side of the 384 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: ball for my over looked underrated training camp storyline because 385 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: I do feel like the amount of questions and this 386 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: whole entire team or they're obviously probably the most than 387 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: we've ever seen in recent years, just because of the 388 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: new coaching staff. But I think we all can agree 389 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: we will see the Vikings pass the ball more. If 390 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: you look at the Rams last season, they only ran 391 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: the ball forty percent of the time. But you've got 392 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: a guy like Dalvin Cook now, And so I'm going 393 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: to go to the running back room because I think 394 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: more than anything, I'm interested to see what will this 395 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: coaching staff do with the run game. After you know, 396 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: the expectation for this team is for it to really 397 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: kind of be the bell Cow the last three four seasons. 398 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: So my question, what's the running game look like. Dalvin 399 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: Cook obviously the starter, You've got Alexander Madison back there. 400 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: But I think for me, the other two names that 401 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,919 Speaker 1: are interesting that are kind of hanging out there are 402 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: Canai Wongwu and Ty Chandler. And you know, two recent 403 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: draft picks. You gotta think they have a fighting chance 404 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 1: on the roster. And plus Canay led the league in 405 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: kick return touchdowns last season, so he's really carved a 406 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: space out in special teams. So I'm I'm ready to 407 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 1: see what they do with him. But what is Alexander 408 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: Madison going to do this season? I mean, it's a 409 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: contract year for this guy. Dalvin Cook obviously has had 410 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: health issues, so it's always good to have something in 411 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 1: the cupboard just in case he does get injured. But 412 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: when you see all these names, I mean, it's the 413 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: potential as there. I mean, you want to see it. 414 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: I mean Ti Chandler was great in college. Mean, he's 415 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: a very versatile player. He can catch the ball in 416 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: the backfield, he's got speed, he has special team talent, 417 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: so I mean, you know, he was a volunteer for 418 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: Way longer just saying what have you done for me lately? 419 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: But he's from Nashville actually, so I appreciate that. But 420 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: but yeah, I think for me that's pretty much what's 421 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: most overlooked because we talk so much about Kirk and 422 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:26,679 Speaker 1: this wide receiver room and oh it's the offensive line, 423 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: like who's at right guard blah blah blah. But I'm like, 424 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: this running back room is an interesting mix of guys 425 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 1: because then you also got t J. Hamm. What are 426 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: they going to do with a fullback? It's a running 427 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: back battle for sure this year. Like for that number 428 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: two spot, like that, that is an Alexander Madison spot. 429 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: As much as I love the guy, like you got 430 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 1: kna wangu here for a reason, you dropt a running 431 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: back in the fifth round for a reason, he has 432 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 1: to show up and show out. And I feel like 433 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: special teams is going to be away for him to 434 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: show up and show out. Usually in this Zimmer led team, 435 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: the backup running back has never had to play special 436 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: teams outside of kickoff return. So who's going to se 437 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 1: to five place on the special teams unit. If that's 438 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: Alexander Madison, he has a better chance of being the backup. 439 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: Ifs Cane, he has a better chance of being the backup. 440 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: And I think this offense is built around the quarterback. 441 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:13,719 Speaker 1: Now if around Kirks or there's going to be more 442 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: pressure on Kirk. So honestly, I think that ultimately helps 443 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:21,959 Speaker 1: Tyler and Derek Keys because we won't see Dalvin having 444 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: thirty carries a game and running ISOs up the middle 445 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: and being one on one with a linebacker. He's going 446 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: to be out in space where when he catches the 447 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: ball he can either get hit or he can run 448 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: out of bound. So that backup running back position it's 449 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: up for grabs right now. So this is an underrated 450 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: running back room because Curtis mockins he's got a really 451 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: good problem to have. He's got a position battle, and 452 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: that's what you want as a position coach and or 453 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 1: a head coach. So you look at that and say, 454 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: all right, Dalvin, you're the guy who's going to step 455 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 1: up for me. It's the question of the Vikings have 456 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: been a smash mouth running back team for basically my 457 00:20:55,440 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 1: entire life. Chance Oh, it feels like it every morning 458 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 1: when I wake up last year, like twenty years. But 459 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: that's the thing. As the Vikings have been known as 460 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 1: the kind of this smash mouth running back team, and 461 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: so now the attitude of shifting it towards the new 462 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:13,360 Speaker 1: age NFL style of quarterback play and getting people out 463 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: in space. If that's what we're going to do like 464 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: they did with the Rams, it's exciting for a lot 465 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: of people. But if you think about when Alexander Madison 466 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: was drafted, you had Delvin who was kind of your 467 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: shifty back, and Alexander was seen as kind of this 468 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: more bruising guy who could be the short yardage guy 469 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: and possibly hurtle a guy in space if he gets 470 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: a chance. I think now if you look at of 471 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: the rest of them, Delvin is tough and he will 472 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,239 Speaker 1: get those kind of yards, but he's not seen as 473 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: the guy who's going to be able to take that 474 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,239 Speaker 1: kind of punishment. Typically. You know, he's gotten hurt over 475 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: the last few years. He's had those kind of issues. 476 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: Alexander's had to step in. But if you look at 477 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 1: the guys behind him, like you said, between ty Chandler 478 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 1: and Knee, those guys tend to be more shifty guys 479 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: that you would think that they're not going to be 480 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: potentially having to smash through and get three yards on 481 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: a third and two situation. What does this offense look like? 482 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 1: Is it going to be the thing of getting everyone 483 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 1: out in space? And if it is, then Alexander's kind 484 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 1: of a little bit stylistically, a little bit of an 485 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: odd man out in the typical frame of everybody else 486 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: is more of your shifty in space guy. But do 487 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: you need that juxtaposition when you have shortyarded situations like 488 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: you mentioned exactly. So that's the question with these guys, 489 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: and especially with Alexander, with it being a contract year 490 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: for him. We've always we've tended to have these dynamic 491 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,479 Speaker 1: running back kind of abilities where you have one guy 492 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 1: who's a smash mouth and one guy who's been the shifty. 493 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,159 Speaker 1: Delvin is so good you don't want to not have 494 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: him on the field. So he's in the debate of 495 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: would you rather have Adrian his prime or Delvin. A 496 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: lot of people put point at Delvin because he's more versatile, 497 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: you can catch out of the backfield, he can do 498 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: what he does, can block exactly. So with all of 499 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: these different elements, that is why this is intriguing as 500 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: a camp piece, is because Alexander's in the last year 501 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: of his deal. What's his future going to be not 502 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 1: only with us or potentially elsewhere if he doesn't resign 503 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: with us, Because what is his role in this offense? 504 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: So if we do you switch it to more of 505 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: a shifty, twitchy offense, you know, Alexander's either got to 506 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: fit in that mold or you know, the everybody else 507 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 1: is going to get more playing time. So yeah, that's 508 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: a it's a huge thing to pay attention to here 509 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 1: in camp. Also, they have all cute kids in that 510 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: that room. Alex As a new dad, Cane as a 511 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:24,160 Speaker 1: new dad, motivation, Larry CJ's Hams, got his little unit. Yep, 512 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: there you go like that. I just I'm looking at 513 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: Vikings dot Com. I didn't know Dalvin was only twenty six, 514 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: Like he's in his prime right now. Like I don't 515 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: whoa that? Yeah, that's crazy. I mean, I mean if 516 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 1: we all we all felt we all felt that. But 517 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: I'm just looking at But when you think of like 518 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: a longevity of like a running backs career, like what 519 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:46,639 Speaker 1: you get more than three years, you're good. You hit 520 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: twenty nine and you're seen as kind of a rat, 521 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 1: a huge you know, aging vat at that point, which 522 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: is crazy. That's why I'm so excited about Dalvin this year, right, 523 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 1: because like this should be his best year of football, 524 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,159 Speaker 1: Like he's in his best year. If you look at 525 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: the lungs, every ever running back, when you know if 526 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 1: they had a ten to twelve year career, year six 527 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,879 Speaker 1: or year seven is when they have like their peak years. 528 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: So I think Vikings fans should be excited about that. 529 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: And that is another point of this room is very 530 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: overlooked because you have a running back that is in 531 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,160 Speaker 1: his prime and then you have some young guys behind 532 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: him that are budding in their career starting to trend upwards. 533 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: And they got a running back of top five running 534 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: back in the NFL to learn from. So exciting times. Well, 535 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: one guy who knows all those guys and works extremely 536 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: close with all of them is Assistant director of Player Performance, 537 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: Derek Keys, and he is our MVP guest this week, 538 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: all right now joining the Minnesota Vikings podcast. A really 539 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 1: good friend of the show, really good friend of mine, 540 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: really good friend of this Minnesota Vikings team, mister Derek Keys, 541 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: who just got a promotion to Assistant director of Player Performance. 542 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to the show, my man. He appreciate you. Appreciate you, 543 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,360 Speaker 1: thanks for having me. So first things first, you got 544 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 1: this promotion, what what does that consist of? Because you've 545 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: been here the past few years, I've seen you in 546 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: the weight room. We know there's there's more than just 547 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: a strength and conditioning coach. But now with this new 548 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: title and this new uh add of responsibility, what does 549 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,640 Speaker 1: that look like enhancing this team. I am very very 550 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: excited for the promotion, UM, you know, and I'm very 551 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 1: excited that this organization trusted me that I deserve the promotion. UM. 552 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: As we speak, I'm in school full time, so I 553 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: graduate next month and I finish up my classes right now. 554 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: So I had to visit this process of going back 555 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 1: to get my master's last year. API, No, thank you, 556 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. So the NFL like changed the rule. UM. 557 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: I want to say, like a year or two ago 558 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 1: with the new CBA that you had to have a 559 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: master's degree in order to become a head guy in 560 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: your field. And you know, I was kind of bummed 561 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 1: out about it in the beginning. But you know, at 562 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: the same time, I'm not against education. I'm not against 563 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 1: learning more. I'm always you know, super excited about learning 564 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: new things. I'm a nerd at the end of the day, 565 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: I might not look might not look like it. Yeah, yeah, 566 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: I'm like I'm a super nerd. And you know I 567 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: love football. Yeah I love football, but outside of football, 568 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,159 Speaker 1: like you know, I'm into history and the body and everything, 569 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: and so very excited about the opportunity to grow with 570 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: the team once again. Very excited that Tyler, Kevin O'Connell, 571 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: I work with Mike Petton in Cleveland, Quacy, all those 572 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: guys trusting me to do a job for this organization, 573 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: that they know that I have value. That's right. You 574 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,239 Speaker 1: are a familiar face to these players, and so now 575 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: you're heading your sixth season. You said, you know you 576 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: weren't frustrated by the news about needing your masters, But 577 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: what have you noticed about You're obviously at the doorsteps 578 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: of graduating. What have you noticed about getting that degree 579 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: that's maybe changed the way that you approach your job 580 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: or you see the difference that it can make moving forward. 581 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: For me, I've always been like a big picture thinker, 582 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: like I see everything with the big picture and then 583 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: the game of football and I work back from it. 584 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,679 Speaker 1: So what are the demands of the sport. How do 585 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 1: I work back from it when it comes to getting 586 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: a guy ready to play football? So our goal is 587 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: to get the guys to the race every week, every week. 588 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: And so I'm a big picture thinker. I start there, 589 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: and so for me to go through that process going 590 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 1: back to the basics and fundamentals, a lot of times 591 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 1: people don't realize how important that is. It's like, yeah, 592 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: I went through school, you know, ten, eleven, twelve years ago. 593 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 1: I know what I'm doing. You know I've coached, you know, 594 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,360 Speaker 1: I've had all this experience, like I'm good man, I'm fine. 595 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,359 Speaker 1: But in reality, you know, the thing that you don't 596 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: work on every year is the basics and the fundamentals, 597 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,679 Speaker 1: and when you get away from it, you're doing yourself 598 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 1: a disservice. And so for me to go back through 599 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 1: that process of just like going through it again, you 600 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: learn something new every time. It's been a crazy year 601 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: for me because at the same time when I started school, 602 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: my wife got pregnant, and so crazy year, full time, 603 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: you know, thirty six hours one year. You know, baby 604 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: on the way. So I'm managing baby, you know, the 605 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: season and the entire thing, and all I could focus 606 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: on was like, Okay, how can I add value? How 607 00:27:57,359 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: can I help my team? You know, how can I 608 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: help these players? And? Um, for me, you know, I 609 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: learned a lot more about leadership or different ways to 610 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 1: approach it, because I think that's very important these days. Um, 611 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 1: you know, in this game and in the changing environment, 612 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: changing culture, the way football's changes. Um, I think leadership 613 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: is very important. And a lot of people they say, hey, well, 614 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: if you got talent and then you can coach, then 615 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: you should be able to do you know, certain things. 616 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 1: And my personal opinion is that I think leadership matters 617 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 1: just as much as talent does because you can learn 618 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,360 Speaker 1: skills as a coach. You can learn skill as a coach, 619 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 1: But it's it's tough to manage people. It's tough to 620 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: manage personalities, and it's tough to be the type of 621 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:35,199 Speaker 1: person who's going to come in every day with this 622 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: mindset of like, Okay, how can I think about everyone 623 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: else and not myself? You know, how how can I 624 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: how can I get my staff better? How can I 625 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: get the players better? Um? You know, how can I 626 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: cheer up? There's one person who I know is struggling 627 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: with something very personal. Um, I'm a I'm the type 628 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 1: of coach that you know, if you talk to any 629 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: one of my players or probably anybody in the building 630 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: that know me on this side, like I'm I'm a 631 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: straightforward person. You know. Sometimes people like think that I'm 632 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 1: unapproachable because I have a straight face all the time. 633 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 1: In reality, I have a crazy sense of humor. And 634 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: my goal is start. Yeah, no, I do, And my 635 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: goal is start always be a good teammate because I 636 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: play football my entire life, and so in order for 637 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: me to be successful at what I do is like, 638 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: how can I be a good teammate to you? You know, 639 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: I'm steal in the process of dealing with football, So 640 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: I still can be a good teammate while I'm in 641 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 1: the building, while I'm in the organization, And so that's 642 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: how I approach the daily aspect of work. We're gonna 643 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: talk football a little bit more. But how much has 644 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: being a dad helped with being a leader? Being a 645 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 1: dad has helped me tremendously because you know, people always say, oh, 646 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 1: you know, having a child changes you, and it's like, yeah, 647 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: you know, I get it. I know, you know, bills 648 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: and all these things, man, but yeah, no, sleep and 649 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: all the stresses that come with it, but in reality 650 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 1: to like really see that you were a part of 651 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: a process where you're responsible for a human being that 652 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: you made, Like it's so weird, Like, man, like this 653 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:02,479 Speaker 1: child is a part of me. This is my DNA. 654 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: This is so weird to see this thing and at 655 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: the same time be so motivated and driven like I 656 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: have to protect my little girl. I gotta protect I'm 657 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: I'm a daddy, I'm a I'm a girl dad, and 658 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 1: I love being a girl dad. Because I was very 659 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:18,959 Speaker 1: nervous about it because you know, I've been a part 660 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: of football in my entire life. I was like, having 661 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 1: a son's gonna be easy for me, bringing in the 662 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: weight room. Life is good what my dad did with me, 663 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: But having a girl made me very nervous. It made 664 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: me shake to my core because it was like, man, 665 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: I do not want to miss this up. Like I 666 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: do not want to mess this up. I want to 667 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: be the right type of person where you know, she 668 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: knows what it's like for a person to to love 669 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,120 Speaker 1: a woman, to love her mom, to love her and 670 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: and treat her right way, and so um for her 671 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 1: giving me that motivation every day when I go in 672 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 1: and I deal with my players. I'm more patient, I'm 673 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 1: more considerate. Um, I have more empathy. Yeah. Yeah, it's 674 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:59,040 Speaker 1: those little things on the other side of you that 675 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: come out of you that you didn't know that you had. 676 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: And so I could say that my sensitive side came 677 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: out a little bit more. So. You just posted a 678 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: video on Instagram of basically you working the players off 679 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 1: this off working the players out this offseason, and Tristian Jackson, 680 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 1: receiver for the Vikings here commented and basically said motivator 681 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 1: and influencer. How much of motivating and influencing goes into 682 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: being director Assistant director of Player Health and Performance for 683 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 1: the Vikings. I mean, I think you know, at the 684 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: end of the day, like this is what we have 685 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,480 Speaker 1: to do because we're asking guys to come in and train, 686 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: and no one likes working out. In reality, no one 687 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 1: likes to put themselves under stress. No one likes to 688 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: come in and sweat and feel tired. No one likes 689 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: to do that. And so for me, it's my job 690 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: to convince guys that, to say, hey, you know this 691 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 1: is gonna help you throughout your career. This is this 692 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: is where you plant the seeds you know every day 693 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 1: investing in your body to become a great player on 694 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: the field. And so for me, my approach, like I say, 695 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: is I build with the guys one on one. I 696 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 1: want to know about you. I want to know where 697 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: you're from. I want to know how many brothers and 698 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 1: sisters you have. I want to know about your experience 699 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 1: with football, How did you get into it? What's your 700 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 1: favorite sport outside of it. I'm the type of person 701 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 1: who likes to create dialogue and have subjective information so 702 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: that I can deal with someone too, to grow with them. 703 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,000 Speaker 1: You come in here as being, like I've mentioned earlier, 704 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 1: a familiar face for these guys, but there are a 705 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: lot of faces around here that are brand new to them, 706 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: new to you, and obviously, as you mentioned, really have 707 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: accepted you and have put a lot of face and 708 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: trust in you. How has getting to know this new 709 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: sports science performance and kind of and watching all of 710 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 1: the I mean to be fair, watching all of the 711 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 1: titles change and kind of figure out this new way 712 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: that things are being run around here. Um, To be 713 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:46,040 Speaker 1: completely honest with you, I am super excited about this, 714 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: this entire process and what we are part of right now. 715 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,560 Speaker 1: And like I said, I want to give so much detail, 716 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 1: but I can't. I can't give you all of it 717 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 1: good anything. You can't give secrets secrets, but I can 718 00:32:58,040 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 1: tell you this. I interview with the Rams two years 719 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: ago for the head job, and so I met Tyler 720 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: one on one for about an hour. And when we met, 721 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 1: we hit it off instantly because I was I came 722 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 1: in and I just started rattling off the m familiar 723 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 1: with it, some familiar with Adham. For me with this, 724 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: I worked with this part. He pulls up this big 725 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 1: screen and it's a player. Anything that you can think 726 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 1: of from that type of information on a player and basically, 727 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: like you would see an ESPN game, you would see 728 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: a guy up and you'd have all his measurements. Basically, 729 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: that's what he pulled up to me. And I was like, wow, 730 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 1: like this is insane, and he's like, this is our approach. 731 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:32,479 Speaker 1: When I saw the light bubb went off for me. 732 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: And when I heard that he was coming here and 733 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 1: had a chance to contact them when he first got 734 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 1: here and he just said, hey, you know, he was 735 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:41,520 Speaker 1: straight up and honest with me, and that's what I 736 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 1: respect about him. And he's a man of his word. 737 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 1: And that's what I respect about a lot of these 738 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:47,280 Speaker 1: guys that are here right now, is that, Hey, I 739 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: got a plan for you. I'm going to show you 740 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: the plan. So he pulls me in the offer, shows 741 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 1: me his plan that he has for me personally and 742 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: my development of my growth as a coach. And you know, 743 00:33:57,160 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: like I said, once again, made me super excited because 744 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 1: because I know we're ten years ahead of the NFL 745 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,560 Speaker 1: in my personal opinion, I've been in the NFL going 746 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: on ten eleven years. I can tell you guys this. 747 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 1: I've been NFL going on ten eleven years. I've worked 748 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: for seven hit strength coaches in this business, I've worked 749 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: for three different organizations, won a lot of games, lost 750 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: a lot of games. And the approach to the way 751 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: we approach sports performance and dealing with managing player, managing load, 752 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:30,120 Speaker 1: it's ten years ahead of everyone. And I can honestly 753 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:31,840 Speaker 1: say that, hands down. If anybody want to debate me 754 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 1: about it, we can do it. Man, do that, do 755 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:37,520 Speaker 1: that offer. But I don't think they will win that debating, 756 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 1: be honest with you, because just just understanding what this 757 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 1: new regime brings to this this organization and how that's 758 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:46,840 Speaker 1: going to affect on the playing field. You look at 759 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: that and say, Okay, I know your your your office 760 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:52,319 Speaker 1: is in the weight room. You you focus a lot 761 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: on strength and condition I know that's not that I 762 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:58,120 Speaker 1: feel like I'm disrespecting you by saying strength and conditioning. Yeah. Yeah, 763 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:00,440 Speaker 1: and you know like it's not disrespectful. Like I've been 764 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: around in my entire life, everyone has different names for 765 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: It's like high performance in the conditioning, you know, performance enhancement. 766 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: There's so many different names and how people approach it. 767 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:11,239 Speaker 1: And to be honest with you, some of those names 768 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 1: are completely different. Like some of those names are completely 769 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 1: different with guy's approach to how they do things. So 770 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,960 Speaker 1: why would you describe it? You know, for me, performance 771 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:24,360 Speaker 1: is all encompassing. It's not just weight room. It's returned 772 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:27,720 Speaker 1: to play, it's managing player load, it's the sports science, 773 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:30,879 Speaker 1: it's nutrition, it's all of it. And so, like I say, 774 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: from Tyler's aspect, you know, what he's doing for me 775 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: is that he's teaching me. And I appreciate that because 776 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 1: if someone's willing to sit down and show you everything, 777 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,680 Speaker 1: then man, you you really have to really respect him 778 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:46,839 Speaker 1: because a lot of people in this business they won't 779 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,440 Speaker 1: do that. And so for me, like, I'm very excited 780 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:51,719 Speaker 1: about being able to work with these guys. Have you 781 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:53,839 Speaker 1: had well, I know you had to because I don't 782 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:56,280 Speaker 1: want to ask any names, but I'll bring up Harrison 783 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: Smith because I asked you about him the other day 784 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:00,600 Speaker 1: and I was like, how we're some of these guys 785 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 1: in the weight room. How do you you know, let 786 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 1: those guys work, but like save them from themselves because 787 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 1: you I mean you were saying, like Harrison Smith and 788 00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 1: you're what, he's in double digit years, you still have 789 00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:13,600 Speaker 1: to save him from himself. Yeah, So Harry is a 790 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:16,520 Speaker 1: very unique guy um with his approach to the weight 791 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,920 Speaker 1: room and he likes to train on his own outside 792 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:21,759 Speaker 1: of the building when he goes back to Tennessee. He 793 00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:23,440 Speaker 1: spends a lot of time in Tennessee and he has 794 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:25,920 Speaker 1: a trainer that he's been working with since high school. 795 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 1: And you know, he has that comfort with with him 796 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:32,840 Speaker 1: because his trainer always challenges him to do, you know, 797 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 1: things that are not traditional. And so when he comes in, 798 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 1: it's like, all right, Harry, like you know, let's put 799 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,120 Speaker 1: that down. You know, you know he's but he's very 800 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,360 Speaker 1: It's crazy what he can do because he's so acrobatic 801 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 1: man like people you know, they think, oh, because of 802 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:52,640 Speaker 1: his age, Harry is free. He's sharp, bro. People. If 803 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 1: people think that this guy lost a step, you're you're 804 00:36:54,719 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 1: sleeping right now. He is. He is very special because 805 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:00,520 Speaker 1: he's a true professional in the way that he takes 806 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:02,320 Speaker 1: care of his body, in the way that he approaches 807 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:04,240 Speaker 1: the game when it comes to film, and all those things. 808 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:06,640 Speaker 1: I can give you a story. I remember one day 809 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 1: we got back late um from a game and like 810 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 1: maybe three four o'clock in the morning, and he came 811 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 1: in the following day and I was like, oh, what 812 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:16,480 Speaker 1: you know, what did you do? Did you get a 813 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:17,759 Speaker 1: chance to get to sleep? He was like, no, I 814 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 1: call on massage. Therapis over and she gave me hi 815 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:21,680 Speaker 1: massige for like two three hours and then out with 816 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 1: to sleep. And I was like, wait, what, Like, you 817 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: got a massage soon as you got home after we 818 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 1: got off the planet. That's next level. A lot of 819 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:30,919 Speaker 1: guys won't do that, and he felt like he needed it. 820 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:33,239 Speaker 1: And so you know, he's that type of person that's 821 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 1: gonna really be in tune with his body and know 822 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:37,319 Speaker 1: how to take care of him. And let's just be clear. 823 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 1: It's not like a massage that like is going to 824 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:43,879 Speaker 1: feel great at that point, Like that's like something that's nice, 825 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 1: like yeah, this is Hey, I'm here to relax, you know. 826 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: This is like deep tissue. Let me get the sowred 827 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:51,160 Speaker 1: and inside after you play a game side Yeah, absolutely, yeah, 828 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 1: thank you. Yeah. I just wanted to make that clear 829 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:55,600 Speaker 1: because I think that might be a common misconception because 830 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:58,760 Speaker 1: that's why this is that that story significant. These guys 831 00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:01,919 Speaker 1: can deal with pain. Man, they're paying talance is insane. 832 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 1: It's a car wrect every week. Rookies come in. They 833 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 1: don't really know their body like that. So what is 834 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:10,080 Speaker 1: the balance of a veteran guy he knows his body 835 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:12,320 Speaker 1: in year eight, year nine, year ten, versus a rookie 836 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:14,680 Speaker 1: guy that's working out with this rhetoran guy that's still 837 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:16,800 Speaker 1: trying to figure out where he belongs on this team 838 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,319 Speaker 1: as far as like getting his strength up. Yeah, I 839 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:21,799 Speaker 1: think from a lot of rookies when they come in, 840 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,719 Speaker 1: they feel the need to prove themselves, and so they 841 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:26,239 Speaker 1: can be over zealous and times they want to come 842 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:27,680 Speaker 1: in and lift the weight room their first day and 843 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,160 Speaker 1: it's like, hey, we're not going to approach it like this, 844 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:31,200 Speaker 1: we need to play football. We're not We're not here 845 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:34,880 Speaker 1: to win the World Wrestling you know, Federation Championship of Weightlifting. 846 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:37,440 Speaker 1: We're not doing that. We want you to play football. 847 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 1: And so some of these guys can get over zealous, 848 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:42,600 Speaker 1: but they're not too bad because I can tell you 849 00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:45,640 Speaker 1: what colleges are doing right now, because they're getting a 850 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:48,839 Speaker 1: little bit more hip to sports science. I think they 851 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:51,280 Speaker 1: do a great job of like introducing things to players, 852 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:52,960 Speaker 1: and so by the time they get here to us 853 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:56,279 Speaker 1: and you know, it's time for us to measure it's 854 00:38:56,360 --> 00:38:59,759 Speaker 1: great compliance. In the past, guys would be totally against it. 855 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,359 Speaker 1: Six seven years ago. Oh no, man, you know I'm 856 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 1: not putting that GPS on you. You know you're trying 857 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:06,640 Speaker 1: to do this to me, and in reality, we're trying 858 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:08,520 Speaker 1: to protect you and save you and prolong your career. 859 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:14,120 Speaker 1: And so with the rookies, the only difference is having 860 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:17,040 Speaker 1: a strategic plan of how do you go about your 861 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:23,400 Speaker 1: weekly process. I think that's the difference. Like professionals, I 862 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:25,360 Speaker 1: do this some mondays, I do this on Tuesdays. I 863 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:27,600 Speaker 1: do this on Wednesdays, like every week weekend. They have 864 00:39:27,640 --> 00:39:30,080 Speaker 1: everything mapped out these guys are very detailed. What year 865 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:32,839 Speaker 1: do players figure it out, like figure their bodies out. 866 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:34,759 Speaker 1: It's different for everyone. It's different for everyone, And my 867 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:37,080 Speaker 1: personal opinion is like always like week three for I 868 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:39,240 Speaker 1: mean not year three for for a lot of guys. 869 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:43,399 Speaker 1: Like year three. Some guys kind of have their their 870 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:45,480 Speaker 1: their system in place to say, Hey, you know, I 871 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:48,719 Speaker 1: like to do this type of training. I like to 872 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:51,279 Speaker 1: go to this trainer. Um, you know, I want to 873 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:52,640 Speaker 1: get a massage on this day. I want to do 874 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:55,880 Speaker 1: polities on this day. Um you know, I want to 875 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 1: do recovery on this day. And that's where you know, 876 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 1: having Tyler and the rest of the performance staff and 877 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:02,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to shout all these guys out in a minute. 878 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:05,440 Speaker 1: Having the rest of the performance staff, we get them, 879 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:07,799 Speaker 1: We give them a sustainability plan of how to go 880 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:09,640 Speaker 1: about doing things, and I think, you know, that's where 881 00:40:09,640 --> 00:40:12,200 Speaker 1: we come in and teach these guys during OTAs or 882 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:15,400 Speaker 1: having the guys in the building for involuntary workouts than 883 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:18,760 Speaker 1: going into mandatory mini camp. Is there been one person 884 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:22,040 Speaker 1: that really sticks out is really embracing this new mindset 885 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:25,000 Speaker 1: or at least benefited maybe the most from this new 886 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:29,880 Speaker 1: staff coming in kind of injecting this newer way of things. Um, 887 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:32,520 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be the veteran guys. You know, 888 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:35,360 Speaker 1: the guys have been here for a long time. You know, 889 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:39,160 Speaker 1: in the past, Um, you know, things were done a 890 00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: little bit more traditional, and a lot of guys in 891 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:44,920 Speaker 1: the NFL they're they're kind of a different They're kind 892 00:40:44,920 --> 00:40:49,200 Speaker 1: of against the traditional way because they feel like that 893 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 1: it wasn't saving them in their career. They feel like 894 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,839 Speaker 1: they were getting hurt in the offseason and they wanted 895 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:55,960 Speaker 1: to play for the season. They wanted to be ready 896 00:40:56,000 --> 00:41:00,799 Speaker 1: and prepared. And for us, our approach to the way 897 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:03,280 Speaker 1: we do things as far as you know, training, practice, 898 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:08,440 Speaker 1: the entire part of performance. You know, the older guys 899 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:11,640 Speaker 1: are always gonna, I think, in my personal opinion, gonna 900 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:15,319 Speaker 1: embrace it more. For sure. It's it's good to have 901 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:17,560 Speaker 1: that attitude change from the top down. Two, as far 902 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:21,080 Speaker 1: as veterans and rookie's not really knowing and just buying in, 903 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:23,120 Speaker 1: because the veterans are buying in right and right. And 904 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 1: I'll tell you this about our veterans. Our veterans still 905 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:27,880 Speaker 1: work like they work really really hard. You know, a 906 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:30,440 Speaker 1: lot of our veterans are over zealous guys sometimes too 907 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:33,920 Speaker 1: where you gotta like stop them from going too heavy, 908 00:41:34,040 --> 00:41:36,359 Speaker 1: you know, too fast. Like I remember the first day, 909 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:37,879 Speaker 1: the first week, we came in and we were doing 910 00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:40,279 Speaker 1: like an upper body lift and I got guys, you know, 911 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:42,760 Speaker 1: they're going above three fifteen and we're doing like sets 912 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: of six, and I'm like, hey, hey, man, hey, hey, 913 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:46,800 Speaker 1: let's ease into this process. I don't know where you 914 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:48,520 Speaker 1: guys come from. You guys haven't been with me for 915 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:50,880 Speaker 1: two months. That's one thing in the past that I 916 00:41:50,960 --> 00:41:53,640 Speaker 1: dealt with with some teams is that some veteran guys 917 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 1: don't feel like they don't they don't need to work anymore. 918 00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:59,040 Speaker 1: And that's where you when you get complacent, is where 919 00:41:59,040 --> 00:42:01,840 Speaker 1: you're probably gonna fire your self out. I love Kobe Bryant, 920 00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:04,680 Speaker 1: I love Jordan and those guys and their mindset and 921 00:42:04,680 --> 00:42:07,560 Speaker 1: their approach to where they train and the way they 922 00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:10,480 Speaker 1: go about things to win a championship is in my 923 00:42:10,520 --> 00:42:12,600 Speaker 1: personal opinion that the best I've been around is the 924 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:15,479 Speaker 1: best I've seen in sports as far as like doing 925 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:17,400 Speaker 1: research and guys and when it comes to mindset and 926 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:20,560 Speaker 1: getting ready to be an athlete, do you send these 927 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:23,960 Speaker 1: players home with a workout plan or do you let 928 00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:25,839 Speaker 1: them kind of figure it out based off of their 929 00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:28,719 Speaker 1: bodies with their trainers first and foremost. You know, there 930 00:42:28,719 --> 00:42:31,640 Speaker 1: are guys, this is our team, and so we send 931 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:35,840 Speaker 1: them home with detailed instruction on what you should do 932 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:38,279 Speaker 1: from here to when you get back to training camp. 933 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:43,560 Speaker 1: And so Josh put Josh Hainks the director. He put 934 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:46,160 Speaker 1: together a great plan and he sat down with me 935 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:49,560 Speaker 1: Marquis Dan, our sports scientists, and we went over the 936 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:51,760 Speaker 1: plan of like, Okay, how are we going to approach 937 00:42:52,040 --> 00:42:55,800 Speaker 1: the summer training What do we need to do leading 938 00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:57,839 Speaker 1: back up to a training camp? Like I always say, 939 00:42:58,040 --> 00:42:59,480 Speaker 1: look at the big picture of work back from the 940 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:01,279 Speaker 1: demands of the game. What do we need to do 941 00:43:01,320 --> 00:43:04,080 Speaker 1: to get ready for training camp? And so we sat down, 942 00:43:04,360 --> 00:43:07,839 Speaker 1: came up with a strategic detail plan, went over the 943 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:10,319 Speaker 1: entire plan with the entire performance team. And that's something 944 00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:13,560 Speaker 1: I haven't done in the past, where you know, hey Tyler, 945 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:15,520 Speaker 1: we need to talk about this, Hey you're Ryan, we 946 00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:17,799 Speaker 1: need to talk about this anybody. That's a part of 947 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:20,319 Speaker 1: the process where we have guys who are injured here 948 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:23,480 Speaker 1: right now, Like we are very structured in the way 949 00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:25,760 Speaker 1: and very organized in a way that we do things 950 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:28,759 Speaker 1: that our days are mapped out, our weeks are mapped out, 951 00:43:28,960 --> 00:43:31,319 Speaker 1: that they have a detail plan going into training camp. 952 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:33,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm pretty sure that everyone listening now can 953 00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:37,000 Speaker 1: just see how passionate you are about this and just 954 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:41,360 Speaker 1: the excitement that honestly, like you're you have exuded excitement 955 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,719 Speaker 1: about this whole system, which which for fans should also 956 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:47,200 Speaker 1: make them really excited to see the results in the 957 00:43:47,239 --> 00:43:51,040 Speaker 1: field and hopefully, you know, a turnaround to what has 958 00:43:51,080 --> 00:43:53,200 Speaker 1: been happening in recent years as far as the number 959 00:43:53,239 --> 00:43:58,080 Speaker 1: of injuries. Yeah, and yielding more wins. Yeah, that's always 960 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:00,480 Speaker 1: the goal, and that's what you're the business of her. Sure, 961 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:04,399 Speaker 1: not just winning winning, like but winning a championship. Yeah, 962 00:44:04,640 --> 00:44:06,040 Speaker 1: you know a lot I think a lot of people 963 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:08,800 Speaker 1: like that's a misconception where it's like, all, yeah, I 964 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:10,000 Speaker 1: just I just want to compete, I just want to 965 00:44:10,040 --> 00:44:11,879 Speaker 1: win it. Though I want to win a championship. I'm 966 00:44:11,880 --> 00:44:13,360 Speaker 1: here to win a Super Bowl. Like when I go 967 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:15,480 Speaker 1: to work every day, I'm thinking about trying to win 968 00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:17,520 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl. That's why I was so excited for 969 00:44:17,640 --> 00:44:19,239 Speaker 1: Tyler to come, because he just wanted a Super Bowl. 970 00:44:19,880 --> 00:44:23,000 Speaker 1: Just won a super Bowl, Um, Josh, our director, he 971 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:24,400 Speaker 1: won a super Bowl in Philly. A lot of our 972 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:26,280 Speaker 1: coaches have won super Bowls. They know what it takes, 973 00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:29,399 Speaker 1: and so to be around a big umbrella of those 974 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:32,160 Speaker 1: guys and learn from those guys, It's like, what better 975 00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:34,600 Speaker 1: way to do that? You know? Super Bowl has to 976 00:44:34,640 --> 00:44:36,279 Speaker 1: be the number one thing that you think about when 977 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:38,600 Speaker 1: you come to work every day for first, no doubt, 978 00:44:38,680 --> 00:44:40,839 Speaker 1: no doubt. Well, thank you so much for taking time 979 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:43,360 Speaker 1: out of data be on the middle of the podcasting 980 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:47,600 Speaker 1: you assistant director of Player performs. No, this has been great. 981 00:44:47,640 --> 00:44:50,719 Speaker 1: Anytime you want to come talk about it, talk all 982 00:44:50,800 --> 00:44:52,200 Speaker 1: day like you know. That's why guys let me in 983 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:54,239 Speaker 1: the weight room too. You know I'll talk their head off, 984 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:56,720 Speaker 1: you know, depending on how field I got enough caffeine 985 00:44:56,760 --> 00:44:59,359 Speaker 1: at me, so, oh caffine or not, you're gonna be talking. 986 00:44:59,560 --> 00:45:02,400 Speaker 1: I know that. Yeah. Not appreciate you for sure. Now 987 00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:04,239 Speaker 1: you have a great sense of humor, straight faced, a 988 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:11,439 Speaker 1: great sense of humor. I'm a funny guy. Big thank 989 00:45:11,480 --> 00:45:14,160 Speaker 1: you to Derek Keys for taking the time to speak 990 00:45:14,200 --> 00:45:16,840 Speaker 1: with us. Just as you said, Gay, I like the 991 00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:19,560 Speaker 1: analogy used earlier. Just a life coach for these guys, 992 00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:22,080 Speaker 1: but also just looking out for the good MS people 993 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:23,920 Speaker 1: and his players, and that's that's what counts in this 994 00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:25,720 Speaker 1: building for sure. I think that's I mean, that's obviously 995 00:45:25,719 --> 00:45:29,040 Speaker 1: why you keep someone like that on despite a coaching chef. 996 00:45:29,080 --> 00:45:31,480 Speaker 1: You need that in every department, whether that's v in 997 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:34,680 Speaker 1: or marketing or activation and on the football side. And 998 00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:37,520 Speaker 1: I feel like Keys is a staple for this Minnesota 999 00:45:37,600 --> 00:45:39,680 Speaker 1: Vikings football team and it's only going to continue to 1000 00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:42,680 Speaker 1: be shown as this Viking seam continues to elevate throughout 1001 00:45:42,680 --> 00:45:45,640 Speaker 1: the season. I just think it tends to show reputation 1002 00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:48,799 Speaker 1: has helped him. You know, he's earned his reputation here. 1003 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:51,880 Speaker 1: He's been able to survive and go through those different changes, 1004 00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:54,279 Speaker 1: and I think a lot of times the voice of 1005 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:58,240 Speaker 1: the player is somebody that they also kind of survey 1006 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:00,480 Speaker 1: just to see, you know, how you're feeling about, who 1007 00:46:00,719 --> 00:46:02,200 Speaker 1: do you like working with, who do you think is 1008 00:46:02,239 --> 00:46:04,680 Speaker 1: really helping you. And the fact that he survived this 1009 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:07,560 Speaker 1: long through these changes, I think speaks volumes for his 1010 00:46:07,600 --> 00:46:09,799 Speaker 1: reputation at this point. So it's great to have him 1011 00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:12,719 Speaker 1: still in the building. He brings that former player mindset, 1012 00:46:13,520 --> 00:46:16,640 Speaker 1: stand out running back himself at Louisiana Lafayette shout out 1013 00:46:16,719 --> 00:46:20,120 Speaker 1: raging Cajuns, but it is really nice to see him 1014 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:21,920 Speaker 1: in the building for him to take the time to 1015 00:46:21,960 --> 00:46:24,279 Speaker 1: talk to us. We hope that you've enjoyed getting to 1016 00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:27,080 Speaker 1: know our coaches and staff a little bit better throughout 1017 00:46:27,200 --> 00:46:29,880 Speaker 1: this summer. But guys, I mean, the players get here Sunday, 1018 00:46:29,960 --> 00:46:32,760 Speaker 1: so it is go time. This will be our last 1019 00:46:32,840 --> 00:46:36,200 Speaker 1: podcast with no players in the building. So excited to 1020 00:46:36,239 --> 00:46:38,680 Speaker 1: see what we have in store for you guys as 1021 00:46:38,719 --> 00:46:41,640 Speaker 1: training camp kicks off. So just to make sure, make 1022 00:46:41,680 --> 00:46:44,080 Speaker 1: sure that you are ready to go, be sure to 1023 00:46:44,120 --> 00:46:47,319 Speaker 1: subscribe to this podcast. You can download the Vikings app 1024 00:46:47,320 --> 00:46:50,160 Speaker 1: if you don't already have it, subscribe to our YouTube channel, 1025 00:46:50,160 --> 00:46:52,640 Speaker 1: bookmark Vikings dot com. Whatever you need to do to 1026 00:46:52,760 --> 00:46:55,960 Speaker 1: keep up to date on everything Minnesota Vikings is we 1027 00:46:56,120 --> 00:46:59,440 Speaker 1: kick off the twenty twenty two training camp, which I 1028 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:01,480 Speaker 1: feel like I should just say kicks off really the 1029 00:47:01,560 --> 00:47:04,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two season. I'm excited, guys, I mean, this 1030 00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:06,760 Speaker 1: is what we've all been waiting for. One day closer 1031 00:47:06,920 --> 00:47:09,959 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame games coming for the league. Where yeah, 1032 00:47:10,040 --> 00:47:13,080 Speaker 1: forty nine days out from the official kickoff to the 1033 00:47:13,200 --> 00:47:16,600 Speaker 1: NFL season. Yeah, it's definitely no time. One more full 1034 00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:18,640 Speaker 1: week without football for the rest of the year. I'm 1035 00:47:18,640 --> 00:47:21,000 Speaker 1: excited about all right. Well, thank you so much for 1036 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:23,439 Speaker 1: listening to the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. Be sure to head 1037 00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:25,520 Speaker 1: over to vikings dot com Slash Training Camp to get 1038 00:47:25,560 --> 00:47:28,319 Speaker 1: your tickets. Gabe, Jay and I hope to see you 1039 00:47:28,320 --> 00:47:31,320 Speaker 1: guys out there. At All begins next week Back together 1040 00:47:31,360 --> 00:47:33,120 Speaker 1: Saturday on July thirtieth,