1 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: You know, it's time that we need. We need to 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: do some things differently and change and adapt, And I'm 3 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: actually really excited. I can't wait to get back on 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: the field with the players and get them going. These 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: guys wanted me, Vikings wanted me. I told my Asian 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: day I wanted to be here. I want the opportunity 7 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: to play with and learn from Harrison and Pat Pe 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: and the Lords blessed me with that opportunity. What is 9 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: going on? Vikings fans? Welcome to episode number eighty six 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. We have a few moves 11 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: that were made over the last week that we are 12 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: excited to introduce and talk about. And with that, I 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: bring in Vikings dot COM's Lindsay Young right away, who 14 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: we have on the show every so often. We need 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: to have her on more as long as producer Jane Nelson, 16 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: but we'll start with saying hi to Lindsay since she's 17 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: not here every week. What's going on, Lindsay? How are 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: your overall thoughts and feelings of the Vikings free agency 19 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: period so far? Well, first of all, thanks for having 20 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: me on. I always enjoy hanging out with you guys 21 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: and jumping on the show. But I think, you know, 22 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: the first couple of weeks of free agency have been 23 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: really fun. Like there obviously have been some players who 24 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: have departed, which is always hard to see that, but 25 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: the Vikings have brought in some really great additions too, 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: especially on the defensive side of the ball. And I 27 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: know that we'll talk about that a little bit more 28 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: in detail here in a second, but I'm just excited 29 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: to kind of see if there are any more moves 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: in free agency, and you know, depending on that kind 31 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: of which way the Vikings go in the draft as well, 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: and maybe some of the offensive moves that are made. 33 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: So but overall, I think it's been a fun couple 34 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: of weeks so far, and we'll see what happens. Fun 35 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: for Mike Zimmer, to say the least, because I feel 36 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: like most of the moves free agency wise have been 37 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: made on the defensive side of the ball. I mean, 38 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: we covered the Patrick Peters and signing, the Stephen Weatherly signing, 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: and of course Dalvin Tomlinson in the middle of the 40 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: Vikings defensive line, and now you add a few more 41 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: pieces onto that secondary of Mike Zimmer's defense. Safety Xavier Woods, 42 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: former Dallas cowboy in the league. He was signed by 43 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 1: the Vikings to fill that spot next to Harrison Smith 44 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: in the Vikings secondary. And we bring back an old 45 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:31,239 Speaker 1: friend in cornerback and former second round pick Mackenzie Alexander, 46 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: who spent one season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Now he's 47 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: back with the Vikings, happy to be coached by Mike Zimmers. 48 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: So those are the two big moves on the defensive 49 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: side of the ball over the last week. There was 50 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: another move that was made on the offensive line, which 51 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: has received all the reviews in the world. That coated Dozer, 52 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: a veteran who played multiple spots on this Vikings offensive 53 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: front last season. So there was one signing on the 54 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: offensive side of the ball as well, Jay, I think, 55 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: I mean, from a depth perspective, you have to at 56 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: least be excited to bring back another offensive line. Yeah, 57 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: and I think part of the reason, you know, people 58 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: are citing, you know, why is he coming back? Why 59 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: would we bring him back, is because he's got a 60 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: relationship with Rick Dennison from back when he was with 61 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: the Jets as well. I think the nice thing about 62 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: him is we've seen him play multiple positions on that 63 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: offensive line when when needed to. I know last season 64 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: he played all sixteen games. You can hear all the 65 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: noise and everything that's going on. At the same point, 66 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: I think if the offensive line coach and the head 67 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: coach in the front office all identify that that he 68 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: is a valuable part of this offensive line for multiple reasons, 69 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: and I think that across the board, you know, bringing 70 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: him back in a guy that already knows the system. 71 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: They're just looking at this at a position where we 72 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: tend to have some some needs and some death needs. 73 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: It feels like he can be kind of a Swiss 74 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: Army knife and plug and play in some of these 75 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: different positions if called upon. And to be honest with you, 76 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, if we do end up making a bunch 77 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: of of draft choices coming up here in an upcoming 78 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: draft at the offensive line position, there's going to be 79 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: a competition across the board. So we'll see how this 80 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: all plays out. But at the same point, I feel 81 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: like if the coaching in the front office feel like 82 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: this guy is a valuable part of what they could 83 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: do and what they could could need for twenty one 84 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: coming up here, I think, you know, it's a good 85 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: move on the Vikings part. Yeah. Absolutely. I know a 86 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: lot of the Vikings fans on Twitter have cited some 87 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: of the Pro Football Focus numbers and things along that 88 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: of along those lines of how he performed last year. 89 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, like I said, 90 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 1: you add another member to the Vikings offensive line and 91 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: a member who is familiar with Rick Dennison, the Vikings 92 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: offensive line coach, and I think there will be some 93 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: more additions that will be made to this position group 94 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: in the draft. So we're gonna touch on just about 95 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: all of these moves. We have Jay cut soundbites from 96 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: McKenzie Alexander and Xavier Woods, as well as Mike Zimmer 97 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: Happy Mike Zimmer speaking to the media on Monday afternoon, 98 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: so I think we're gonna be pretty excited to hear 99 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: what he has to say later on in the show, 100 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: and we'll also react to that. So let's start. Let's 101 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: start getting in and diving into safety Xavier Woods and 102 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: cornerback Mackenzie Alexander. We'll start with the new guy, Xavier Woods. 103 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: He's from Louisiana, played at Louisiana Tech, and he goes 104 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: back a long way Lindsay with Carl Scott, who actually 105 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:32,239 Speaker 1: coached him in college at Louisiana Tech, and Carl Scott 106 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: is a member of the Vikings defensive coaching staff. Yeah. 107 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,239 Speaker 1: I think it's interesting because obviously Carl Scott is new 108 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: to the coaching staff this season, and so you bring 109 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: in a new coach and you bring in a new 110 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 1: player with Davier Woods, but they already have familiarity with 111 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: each other, which is sweet. You know, Xavier talked to 112 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: the media earlier this week and he talked about how 113 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: coach Scott played a big part in him wanting to 114 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: come here, just at that familiarity. He knows his coaching style, 115 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,559 Speaker 1: Coach Scott knows Xavier's playing style, and so I think 116 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: that that's only going to be a benefit, especially when 117 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: you're coming into a new team and a new system, 118 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: to kind of have that familiar face to work with. Yeah, 119 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: I think that's an awesome connection, Lindsay Carl Scott. I mean, 120 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: just talking to some members of the Vikings defensive staff 121 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: this past week, they love what he brings to the table, 122 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: not only from Louisiana Tech, but obviously what he did 123 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: at Alabama and the way he was able to recruit players. 124 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: I think he might have taken part in recruiting Xavier 125 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: Woods to this defensive backfield. So that's an awesome connection 126 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,119 Speaker 1: to have. It's always good when you have a coach 127 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: who knows a player, goes back a long way with 128 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: a player. All these connections are good for Vikings young 129 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: players across the rosters. So looking at what he did 130 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: in his first few years with the Dallas Cowboys, I mean, 131 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: this guy was a starter. He played in sixty games, 132 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: started in forty eight and his first four seasons with 133 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: the team five in orptions, eighteen passes deflected, and two 134 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: fumble recoveries, two hundred and forty seven total tackles, as 135 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: Jay has written down here. So this is an impact player. 136 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: He's a player that literally, in his press conference, starts 137 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: off the press conference by saying, I cannot wait to 138 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: play alongside Harrison Smith. Lindsay, I mean you were there 139 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: when you heard him say that we're gonna play a 140 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 1: clip waiter in a little bit here. But what does 141 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: it mean when you have a player who literally says, oh, yeah, 142 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: I know who I'm playing next to. That's part of 143 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: the reason why I came to the Vikings in free agency. 144 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that says just so much about 145 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: one who we have on our roster, right and the 146 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: fact that you know, you know that players across the 147 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: league are watching Harrison, they're watching other guys on the team, 148 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: and so for him to be that excited to come 149 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: in and be able to play with Harrison, hopefully compliment 150 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: him on the defense, is incredible. And I think you know, 151 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: he had started been asked because obviously he's on defense. 152 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: So when he was with the Cowboys and they're scouting 153 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: the Vikings, he's mainly watching the Vikings offense. But he 154 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: did say that he's watched plenty of Harrison Smith film 155 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: and is just really excited to work with him. So 156 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: I think that makes it even more fun to just 157 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: see where this group will go in twenty twenty one. Yeah, 158 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: I agree. Let's take a listen to a sound bite 159 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: from Xavier Woods presser earlier in the week. Oh hey, Xavier, 160 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: welcome to Minnesota. How did it just come about that 161 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: you ended up with the Vikings. I mean, you obviously 162 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: knew that there was this opening at safety with Anthony Harris. 163 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: Just how did the whole process come about and you 164 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: coming to Minnesota and then it's being wrapped up on Saturday. 165 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: These guys wanting me, the Vikings wanting me, and I 166 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: talked to coaching. He told me that I had the 167 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: opportunity to come and play in That's all I can be. 168 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: That's all I can ask for the opportunity. And like 169 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: I said, I told my Asian that I wanted to 170 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 1: be here. I want the opportunity to play with and 171 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: learned from Harrison and Pat Pe and the Lord Bless 172 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 1: mean with the opportunity. Hey, Vivi, you're welcome to the team. Um, 173 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: I know you played one season I think for for 174 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: Carl Scott and then how much did he play a role? 175 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: And what would your your one season like with him? 176 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: He played he played a major role as well. Uh, 177 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: just knowing a familiar face, having a familiar face here 178 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: and a guy that I know he is coaching technique 179 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: style one that I love to play. Love to play 180 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: for it before I know the other play for it now, 181 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: yes you heard it there. I mean he has the 182 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 1: connections as we talked about with Carl Scott. Obviously he 183 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: sees a Patrick Peterson signing free agency that has to 184 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: have a positive light on on wanting to come play 185 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: for the Vikings. So I mean anytime as a young 186 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: safety who definitely had a down year last year. We talked. 187 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: We talked about all the playmaking ability that he had 188 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: in his first couple of seasons with the Cowboys. He 189 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: didn't have an interception or a fumble recovery last season. So, lindsay, 190 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,839 Speaker 1: I think you stepped into that press conference with a 191 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: question right after Eric's question there, So what was your 192 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: next question and kind of what was his overall vibe 193 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: when you asked that question. I thought it was big 194 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: of Xavier to talk about how he did have a 195 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: down year last season and really acknowledge that and talk 196 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 1: about reviewing that self scouting and wanting to be better 197 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: and bounce back this season. And then that's kind of 198 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: why I wanted to ask him about working with Mike Zimmer, 199 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: because he had just talked about his familiarity with Carl Scott, 200 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: and obviously coach Zimmer is kind of known around the 201 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: league as a dB guru. And I think it's cool too, 202 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: because obviously Zimmer and Woods had no overlap in Dallas, 203 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: but you know, Mike Zimmer got kind of his he 204 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: gained his reputation for being so good with DBS back 205 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: with the Cowboys, and so now to have a former 206 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: Cowboy coming to Minnesota and work with Zimmer, I thought 207 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: was pretty cool. And you know, Xavier's answer to that 208 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: was just that he was very excited to work with 209 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: somebody who has such a strong reputation around the league 210 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: with defense, with the secondary especially, and just excited to 211 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: see what else he can learn from Zimmer and what 212 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: else he can kind of pull out of his game, 213 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: which I think is always exciting with a new team. Well, 214 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: it's definitely obvious that while Xavier wanted to come to 215 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 1: the Vikings, it's pretty clear that the Vikings sought him 216 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: out as well. We talked about all the connections with him, 217 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: from the coaching staff to players to just about everything. 218 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: But obviously you lose a guy who led the league 219 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: and interceptions two years ago and Anthony Harris a key 220 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: member of this defense inside the locker room, on the field, 221 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: a leader on this team. So, Jay, what do you 222 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: think Xavier Woods role is going to be like in 223 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: that spot because he's not the same player as Harris, 224 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: but he's gonna be filling the same position in this 225 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: Vikings defense. Yeah, you know, I think a guy like 226 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: him coming in part of the reason why it's attractive 227 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 1: is that he has multiple years of service. He's already 228 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: played four years in the league, and I think, you know, 229 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,599 Speaker 1: we're automatically assuming that this guy is going to be 230 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: a starter, right, But we had some really good draft 231 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 1: picks last year as well that are in here that 232 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: we're pretty young, and I think part of the times 233 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: watching the games, you'd see Harrison Smith getting frustrated once 234 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 1: in a while if somebody was out of position or 235 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: didn't quite necessarily know what was happening with the scheme. 236 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: I think when you look at this influx of a 237 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: guy like Patrick Peterson and now Xavier Woods who have 238 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: multiple years of service in the NFL kind of understand 239 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: the game a little bit more, and you've got some 240 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: of these younger guys that came in last year that 241 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: have a ton of talent. I think the secondary room 242 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: in general has definitely gained a lot of knowledge, and 243 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be interesting to see how 244 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: this whole thing gets revamped with Carl Scott coming in too, 245 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 1: and everybody has to get on the same page of 246 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: what Mike Zimmer wants. Like Mike Zimmer, this is his area. 247 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: He is the secondary guy. Like Lindsey said, he's known 248 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: as the guru. So I think a guy like Xavier 249 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: Woods stepping in here, there's gonna be a lot of 250 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: expectations that you are a veteran leader now on this 251 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: team as well with what you know, but there's also 252 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: a lot of things technique wise that Zimmer's probably going 253 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: to hammer into all of these guys as what he 254 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: really wants. You know. Patrick Peterson might have been a 255 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: little bit more of on an island in Arizona, but 256 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 1: now he's coming into a cover two scheme where there 257 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: are definitive ways that they want these different people to play, 258 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: and it's basically, do your job, don't do everyone's job. 259 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: So I think a guy like Xavierwood's coming in here, 260 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: he's going to have some expectations of you're a veteran, 261 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: but everyone's got to get on the same page in 262 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: order to work right, otherwise we're going to have some 263 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: of the similar issues we had last year. And I 264 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: just think that's everyone knows at this point, whether it's 265 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: the front office or the coaching staff, that that's not 266 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: acceptable because they were so upset about what happened last 267 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: year with the defense, which is why you're seeing all 268 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: of these guys get brought in at all positions, whether 269 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: it's the line, D line, or the secondary. At this point, 270 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: they're really trying to address all the issues that we 271 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: had last year. And so a guy like Xavier walking 272 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: in this room, you know, he's even talked about Harrison 273 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: and Patrick Peterson being able to pick their brains is 274 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: going to help his game. And I think across the board, 275 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: those two guys are going to be leaned on as 276 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: as the veterans, and these guys that are kind of 277 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: mid tier and newer are all gonna have to step 278 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: up their games as well. So they're hoping you're gonna 279 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: get from Xavier Woods what he did in his first 280 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: three seasons, not necessarily last year, even though he still 281 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: had you know, seventy two combined tackles last year. But 282 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be interesting to see how 283 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: well he comes in and meshes with all these guys 284 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: and the secondary as a whole. And I think that's 285 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: a great point to Jay because you mentioned, you know, 286 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: he's not coming. He is a veteran, he has lots 287 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: of experience, he's had several very successful seasons, but he's 288 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: not walking in here assuming that he knows it all right, 289 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: like he wants to continue picking the brains of Harry 290 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: like you said and Patrick Peterson, And I think that 291 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: just shows a lot of maturity and high character from 292 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: a player as well, which is exactly the type of 293 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 1: guy that that coach Zimmer and Ricks Filman like to 294 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: have in the locker room. I think what kind of 295 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: is happening here as you're seeing a turning of the 296 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: tide in a way that Mike Zimmer wants to call 297 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: this defense in a way that he wants that other 298 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: safety position to play outside of Harrison Smith. You don't 299 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: need two guys who are gonna run all over the 300 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: field and make certain plays. Sometimes you need that secondary 301 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: safety kind of like Andrew Sendejo was for so many years, 302 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: who's kind of more of the safety net than the 303 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: guy who's gonna jump up and make those big plays 304 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: on the line and obviously go for interception. So it'll 305 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: be interesting to see what his role is compared to 306 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: Anthony Harris. I know Carl Scott did a lot of 307 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: good things at Alabama with that defensive secondary group. I mean, 308 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: they were one of the best in the country. And 309 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: I think that there's gonna be a little wrinkle that 310 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: Carl Scott is able to put in to this Vikings 311 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: defense along with what Zimmer is able to do as 312 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: the secondary guru, as Lindsay calls him. I love that. 313 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: We'll keep that going along with the show. But on 314 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: to the next player. It's McKenzie Alexander. It's a familiar face, Lindsay. 315 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: You've covered him since he's been here. You've seen what 316 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: he's like in the locker room, You've seen what he 317 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: was like as a second round pick coming in with 318 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: the Vikings just a few years ago. Why do you 319 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: think the Vikings wanted to bring McKenzie back and what 320 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: do you think his role is going to be like 321 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: on the team going forward. Yeah, I love that McKenzie's 322 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: back for a number of reasons. I think just the 323 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: familiarity with the system and having that consistency bringing him 324 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: back after just a season away is going to be awesome. Obviously, 325 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: he is going to have a new DB's coach in 326 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: Carl Scott, like we've talked about, but just that familiarity 327 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: with Zimmer is always a plus. You know. I think 328 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: over the first four seasons that he was here, before 329 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: leaving for a year to go to Cincinnati. He showed 330 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: a lot of growth. Like, I don't think it's any 331 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: surprise that initially coming in he was not thrilled to 332 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: be asked to work on the inside because he had 333 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: seen success playing outside corner and then was asked to 334 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: play nickel. But I think when he kind of made 335 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: that mental switch and embrace that role is when you 336 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: really saw him like step up and succeed there and 337 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: really learned the defense, you know, really master that that 338 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: slot corner role. And so it will be interesting this 339 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: season seeing exactly how he's used because obviously last year 340 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: the Vikings drafted Jeff Gladney and he played a lot 341 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 1: of his time in the slot. So I'm interested to 342 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,199 Speaker 1: see kind of how they how they work all of 343 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: that out. But I did like hearing from Mackenzie when 344 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: he spoke with media earlier this week. He was asked 345 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: about his role in which position he thinks he'll be 346 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 1: playing um and he really focused on just kind of 347 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: the big picture and you know, succeeding as a defense 348 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: as a whole, and whatever that means for him, you know, 349 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: he's willing to do. So I think that that was 350 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: a cool mentality to see from him as well, and 351 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: will be you know, like I said, interesting to see 352 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: kind of how it all plays out here the follow Yeah, 353 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: it's gonna be interesting to see what happens at that 354 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: nickel cornerback position. As you talked about, Um, Jeff Gladden, 355 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: he seems to taking over that role in this Vikings defense. 356 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: Obviously a first round pick in the organization, and a 357 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 1: lot of the coaches have very high opinions of him 358 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: in that spot. So mackenzie did talk about the big picture. 359 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: He constantly said he would play on the outside, he'd 360 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: play on the inside. He'd played pretty much wherever the 361 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 1: coaches will will have him. So let's take a listen 362 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: to his press conference earlier in the week. Hey McKenzie, 363 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: welcome back. UM, just wondering, obviously the cornerback room does 364 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: look quite a bit different right now than when you 365 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: were last here. Just what are you looking forward to 366 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: about working with some of those younger guys and what 367 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: can you add as a veteran presence in that room. 368 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean, besides me, we got, in my opinion, 369 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 1: you know, we got two future Hall of famers, you 370 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: know what I mean already in the secondary, you know 371 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: what I mean, me just being there, it's a it's 372 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: just it's just a little bit of a bonus about 373 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 1: with those two guys. Who's going to help out tremendously. 374 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: I think for me, just about bringing energy and excitement 375 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 1: and and just bringing maturity, you know what I mean, 376 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,239 Speaker 1: A maturity presidents to be around and allow us as 377 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: a unit to get to be better and compete and 378 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: have a good time and take care of business as 379 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: a unit and getting things back where they need to be. 380 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: And mckenday, you mentioned the secondary of two future Hall 381 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: of famers. You know one of them pretty well, but 382 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: but how much how well do you know Patrick Peterson? 383 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: And have you followed his game at all? Oh? I 384 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: followed a lot of his game, you know what I mean. 385 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 1: I watched him in high school, watched him in college, 386 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: and watched him in the pros, you know what I mean. 387 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: So that's definitely a guy that I can sit next 388 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,199 Speaker 1: to and pick its brand about some things and have 389 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 1: some conversations with him about. So that's gonna be fun 390 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: to have him around, for sure. I mean, when when 391 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: you have a guy like that McKenzie Alexander, who's just 392 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: a member of this organization for so many years and 393 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 1: then he literally leaves for one year and things are 394 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: so much different. I really appreciated, but both of those 395 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 1: questions from you Z and Eric Eric Smith from Vikings 396 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: dot com, So it's crazy. It's crazy how much has 397 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: changed in this Zimmer defense in just one year, the 398 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: amount of players that we've added on the secondary at 399 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:17,120 Speaker 1: the linebacker position, Dalvin Tomlinson and Michael Pierce who will 400 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,719 Speaker 1: be playing their first games with the Vikings this season. 401 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: So it's a totally different defense. So it will be 402 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: really interesting to see where he fits in in this 403 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 1: big picture that he's talking about. Jay, where do you 404 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: think he fits in in this Vikings defense? I think 405 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: he and Xavier Woods are in a very similar position. 406 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 1: They're both guys that have four to five years of service. 407 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,479 Speaker 1: I think, you know, Mackenzie's coming in here thinking that 408 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: whether it's the nickel position or even the cornerback position, 409 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: that he's going to have a full competition in order 410 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: to try to prove himself. And the one thing he 411 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 1: does have is he's got the ability and the knowledge 412 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: of this system, at least from before now. The whole 413 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: like we talked about before Carl Scott coming in and 414 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: changing some some things up is going to be a 415 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 1: little bit of a new wrinkle for him that he's 416 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: gonna have to grow. But one of the things within 417 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: the press conference that happened was he was all talking 418 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 1: about the system, the big picture, growing in ways that 419 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: can help the team, and he's saying all the right things, 420 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 1: which is great. So now it just turns into translating 421 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: it on the practice field, right, So whether it's the 422 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: old guys or the new guys from last season that 423 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: are going to be competing at these positions, I think 424 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: if you want to look at something almost like the 425 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: defensive line, at least in the last couple of years, 426 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 1: with the way they've done it, and they've had a 427 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: lot of rotation in order to keep people fresh, I 428 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: think you're now going to potentially go from having a 429 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: young and inexperienced group last year to a group that 430 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: has a bunch of veterans that are very, very high 431 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: caliber veterans coming in here and working with these younger guys. 432 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: So that's why before with Xavier, I was kind of saying, 433 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, it's going to be a little bit of 434 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 1: a competition, but these older guys are going to be 435 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: leaned on to say, you already know what's going on 436 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: at least in the NFL, Now get with the system. 437 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: I think all of this is going to come across, 438 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:02,919 Speaker 1: whether it's Mackenzie's of your Patrick Peterson, who who already 439 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: has the pedigree, and then some of these younger guys, 440 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: they're all going to have to prove they're they're worth 441 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 1: within this secondary system in order to get their their 442 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,239 Speaker 1: playing time. Because the thing in the NFL is it's 443 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:16,199 Speaker 1: all about trust. Do you trust them? Do they know 444 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: the system? Do they know what they're supposed to do? 445 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: And given what you said before, Corso, if if there 446 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:23,119 Speaker 1: was a feeling of some people kind of go in 447 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: rogue a little bit last year and trying to do 448 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: too much, you know, I think they're trying to get 449 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: back to trust us. We know what we're doing, We've 450 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,880 Speaker 1: done this forever, we know this system works. Get in 451 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: here and do it the right way. And if Mackenzie's 452 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: able to really hone in on that and do what 453 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: he says he was going to do in the press conference, 454 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: then he's going to get a lot more playing time 455 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: than not. So I am I'm looking forward to what 456 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: this is going to turn into, and hopefully they get 457 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: more of a full offseason with all the mini camps 458 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: in order to install this stuff versus having to try 459 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: to chewhorn everything in when it comes to training camp. Yeah, 460 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: it's amazing looking back at his stats that you have 461 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: listed here. I mean from twenty sixteen to two nineteen, 462 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: you played fifty five games of the Vikings, only had 463 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: ten starts, two interceptions, twenty one pass deflections, a few 464 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: other stats as well. I know he had four and 465 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: a half sacks in his career with the Vikings, nine 466 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: tackles for losses, so he clearly was an impact player 467 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 1: in the Mike Zimmer defense. He never really became the 468 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: full potential player at that second round pick at a 469 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 1: Clemson that he was supposed to be. I think a 470 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: little bit of immaturity earlier on in his career was 471 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: something that has always been questioned by the Vikings coaches 472 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: and questioned by Mike Zimmer. So, lindsay, do you sense 473 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: that he's kind of bringing a new found maturity to 474 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: this Vikings defense following being in a situation that didn't 475 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: seem as great as the one that we have here 476 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: in Minnesota. I mean you walk, He's walking around the 477 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: Vikings facility and we have our cameras following him around. 478 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: He's like, it's like he had never been there before. 479 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,959 Speaker 1: Walking around, He's like, this place is amazing. So do 480 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: you think this he has like a new found sense 481 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: of maturity, because I mean that's what he's saying in 482 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: that press conference. I mean, I think so. I think he. 483 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: I think, like I mentioned, he showed a lot of 484 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: growth while he was here, and then I think when 485 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: you leave for a season and come back and kind 486 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: of value what you had, value what you can bring 487 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: to this defense. You know. I obviously I can't speak 488 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: for him, but I have to imagine that after the 489 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: Vikings did have a down year defensively last season, it's 490 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: got to be a little bit exciting to want to 491 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: come back and be a part of helping that unit 492 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: bounce back, and like you said, having kind of a 493 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 1: newfound appreciation for just Minnesota, the Vikings organization, the Vikings facilities, 494 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: whatever it may be. I think, you know, he's really 495 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: pumped to be back, which which says a lot about 496 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: the organization, but it also says a lot about him 497 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: as a person and as a player as well. One 498 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: of the things that I found interesting was a lot 499 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: of the things when he was talking about that, whether 500 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 1: it was in the press conference or during that video 501 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: course so just mentioned you can go find it on 502 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: Vikings dot com. He and Stephen Weatherly sounded very similar 503 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: and that they are both gone for a year and 504 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 1: when they came back, they're like, man, I love being 505 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: back at this place. This feels comfortable. You know, Mackenzie's 506 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: pointing out like this is where I sit in the cafeteria. 507 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 1: Those kind of things that there is a familiarity that 508 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 1: they were gone for a year and kind of came 509 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 1: back saying, you know, I really did miss this place. 510 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 1: That's the kind of motivation. I think that that is 511 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: encouraging where these guys are wanting to come back here. 512 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 1: Whether it's the facilities or the coaches or whatever, but 513 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: they see an opportunity here to help get things back 514 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 1: on track, and that should be really exciting to Vikings fans. 515 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: My last thing on McKenzie before we move on to 516 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:39,159 Speaker 1: the offensive lineman, but when you look at this Vikings 517 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: cornerback group, I mean it's pretty amazing. I mean last 518 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: year we like we're dying for more depths. We need 519 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: more players, We need a guy to not get injured. 520 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 1: We needed Mike Ques to be healthy and out on 521 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: the field. But now, I mean, you add Patrick Peterson, 522 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: you add McKenzie Alexander, and you have Jeff Gladney along 523 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: with Cameron Dance are coming back after a full year 524 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: where they were pretty much just thrown out there on 525 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 1: the field to learn from their mistakes. And then you 526 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: think about a guy like Mike Hughes, who I know 527 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: he's he's probably pretty still dealing with some of those 528 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 1: injuries with that neck. We don't know where he's going 529 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 1: to be at when it comes to his injury standpoint. 530 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: But you start to look down, up and down this 531 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: cornerback room, Lindsay, and I didn't even mention Chris Boyd yet, 532 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: who I know the Vikings are pretty excited about. So 533 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: it's gonna be pretty interesting to see how this position 534 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,719 Speaker 1: group pans out. Yeah, I mean, I think exactly like 535 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: you said, everything looks so different in that room right now. 536 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: But then you add, like you mentioned that one full 537 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: season of experience to the guys last year who kind 538 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 1: of for better or for worse, you know, had to 539 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: get thrown into the fire. But that does a lot 540 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: to you know, give them that experience, to give them 541 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: that character. And like Jay mentioned, if there can be 542 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 1: more of a quote normal offseason program this year where 543 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 1: they can get you know, their feet wet, or continue 544 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: to have practices before they go into the preseason, like 545 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: that's gonna speak volumes for their game as well. So 546 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 1: I just think it's really exciting looking at the guys 547 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: coming back from next year, looking at the guys that 548 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: we've added, bringing back McKenzie, you know, it just seems 549 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 1: like you have a lot of depth in that group 550 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: right now, certainly one of the most interesting groups on 551 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: the Vikings defense heading into the new season. I expect 552 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: a lot of improvement there, especially when you have a 553 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: defensive line that is adding three players that didn't even 554 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,680 Speaker 1: get to play, two that didn't get to play last year, 555 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: one big man in the middle from the New York Giants. 556 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 1: I like the I just think it's gonna be a 557 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 1: better year for the defense all around. Going from the 558 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 1: defense to the offense, we added a few offensive lineman 559 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 1: for depth purposes to the interior offensive line. Mason Cole 560 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,640 Speaker 1: was added from the Arizona Cardinals for a late round 561 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: draft pick. I know he has some ties to Minnesota, 562 00:27:55,680 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 1: and then the Vikings bring back guard Dacoda Dozer, who 563 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 1: who obviously has had some seasons with Rick Dennison with 564 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: New York Jets, had a season last year with the Vikings. Jay, 565 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: what what are your overall thoughts on some of these 566 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: depth interior offensive lineman that the Vikings were able to 567 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: bring back and add to the roster. That's been one 568 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: of the criticisms that's been out there, at least for 569 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: the last couple of years. And there's still some you know, 570 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: if you if you go from the internet experts at 571 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: this point, there's still some moves that need to be made. 572 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,399 Speaker 1: But I think when it's guys like Mason, Cole and 573 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: Dakota get Dozer again, it's a similar feel where these 574 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: guys can play multiple positions. Where Mason had played some guard, 575 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: but he also played center. Dakota, like we talked about before, 576 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: for the last couple of seasons, at least for us, 577 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: he was playing all across that offensive line, kind of 578 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: plug and play when they need someone to help fill in. 579 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: I think these guys are coming in here knowing that 580 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 1: if there is going to be some youth that's going 581 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: to be popping in because of the loss of guys 582 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: like Riley Reef, There's going to be some positions that 583 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: are going to be open that if they can step up, 584 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:58,120 Speaker 1: there's a chance that they could be a starter. You know, 585 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: at least early in the season. We'll out have to 586 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:02,959 Speaker 1: see what's gonna happen here in the draft. But across 587 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: the board, you're adding guys again similar like Xavier Woods 588 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: and McKinsey Alexander that have some seasons in some years 589 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 1: within this league and have the ability to play multiple positions. 590 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 1: So as many of those those guys that you can 591 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 1: use that are plug in play, I think they'll be 592 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:20,479 Speaker 1: at least helpful to have on this roster given you know, 593 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 1: there are attrition and there are some injuries that happen 594 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: every single season with some of these guys. So these 595 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 1: guys here, plus with the expectations of some some drafted 596 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 1: players coming in, I think these guys are going to 597 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 1: be helpful for this offensive line group this year. You 598 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: have to wait and see what's gonna happen in the draft. 599 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: You have to wait and see if Ezra Cleveland is 600 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: going to move over to tackle from the guard position 601 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: where he played last year. We don't know if Brian 602 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: O'Neill is going to be a left tackle or a 603 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 1: right tackle with Riley Reef departing, so there's a lot 604 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: of pieces that have to fall and place, lindsay on 605 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: this Vikings offensive line, where guard Bradbury is at the 606 00:29:55,240 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: center position, where Ezra Cleveland is going to be from 607 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 1: an interior standpoint or outside, and then obviously if Brian 608 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: O'Neill is going to play on the right or the 609 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,719 Speaker 1: left side. I think you just want to add a 610 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: few more pieces in the draft. I think that would 611 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: be the expectation Linda, Yet I don't know. Yeah, I mean, 612 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,880 Speaker 1: i'd agree, I would expect there to be moves at 613 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 1: that position in the draft. I think the question is 614 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: how early, right you know, is that something that they 615 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: do right away or is it something that they address 616 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: in the later rounds. I don't think we'll obviously know 617 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: that until the end of April. But I think you're 618 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 1: exactly right that it just you want to have as 619 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 1: many people in there, as many good players in there 620 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: for competition, that you can have players for OTAs in 621 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 1: training camp and see where everybody best fits so that 622 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: when the season comes along, You've got the best five 623 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: guys in there. So I think it's, you know, way 624 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: too early to tell exactly what that lineup will be. 625 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 1: But I think to your point, you know, the more 626 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: people that we can have and bring you back guy 627 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 1: like Dakota, who is very familiar with the system, is 628 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 1: only a plus at this point in the season or 629 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 1: the offseason. Absolutely, And we are going to hear from 630 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: the head coach later on in the show as he 631 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 1: updated the reporters on all of the free agency moves 632 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: that were made throughout the free agency process for the Vikings. 633 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: We will have a nice reaction to that as well 634 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: from Lindsay who was there at the press conference. But 635 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 1: first I want to talk about one thing that happened 636 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: on the league level which will obviously impact all of 637 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 1: us and will impact every single Vikings fan out there. 638 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: The NFL officially announced the adoption of a seventeen game 639 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 1: season moving forward. It will be obviously the first time 640 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 1: that they play seventeen games in a season. There will 641 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 1: be one preseason game that has moved to a regular 642 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: season game, so total it will be the same amount 643 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: of games, just one more that actually matters. Jay what 644 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: were your overall thoughts on this, and maybe throw in 645 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: some of the notes that you have here about what 646 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: the NFL announced in this In this a pretty big 647 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:04,320 Speaker 1: move that was made for the league. Yeah, as the 648 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 1: resident old guy, this is the first time in my 649 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 1: lifetime that we've seen it changed like this. Like you said, basically, 650 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: we're going to keep the same twenty games. One of 651 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: those preseason games is being converted to a regular season game. 652 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 1: It's gonna work a little bit on a rotational scale. 653 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: Every year. It's going to kind of flip back and 654 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 1: forth between AFC and NFC hosting an extra game. You're 655 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 1: either going to get one preseason game with nine home 656 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,280 Speaker 1: games of the regular season, or you're gonna get two 657 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: preseason games with eight home games for the regular season. 658 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: So again, every two years, that's gonna even out. It's 659 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: gonna be a flip flop and a switch every two years. 660 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: But it basically for the fans, for the critics, everybody 661 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,560 Speaker 1: else has been saying there's too many preseason games. We 662 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: should try and see if there's something we can do here, 663 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: and I think they're gonna they kind of get their wish. 664 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:53,920 Speaker 1: So you're gonna have an extra game, No more eight 665 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 1: and eight seasons, no more heads in your bets by saying, oh, 666 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: they're just gonna go eight and eight for whatever team 667 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: that you're you're rooting for. At this point, the only 668 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 1: thing that really changes is going to be the addition 669 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: of this extra game for the Vikings against another AFC team. 670 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: So you're gonna have your normal three home games, three 671 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 1: away games versus your divisional opponents of the Packers, Bears, 672 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:17,480 Speaker 1: and Lions, and then there's going to be your four 673 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:20,360 Speaker 1: teams from an NFC division this year. We get the 674 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 1: NFC West, which is going to be home against the 675 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 1: Rams at Arizona, home against Seattle, and at San Francisco. 676 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: You're gonna get four teams from the AFC Division, which 677 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: is the AFC North this year, home against Cleveland in 678 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh and at Baltimore and Cincinnati, and then you get 679 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: your one game against NFC South in an NFC East 680 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: team that finished at the same position in your division. 681 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: So we have a game at Carolina and then home 682 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:47,600 Speaker 1: versus Dallas, and then that seventeenth game this year for 683 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 1: the NFC North is going to be against the AFC West, 684 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 1: and so the Packers are going to get at Kansas City, 685 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:56,719 Speaker 1: the Bears are going to get at Las Vegas Raiders, 686 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 1: we get at the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Lions 687 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: will be at the Denver Broncos. So that's kind of 688 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: how it shakes out, kind of the brief overview, But 689 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 1: that's going to be an interesting seventeen games. And on 690 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:11,839 Speaker 1: top of all of this, people were curious if there 691 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 1: was going to be an extra bye week. There is not, 692 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 1: so you will have one bye week mixed into this 693 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 1: seventeen home game regular season. So yeah, it's gonna be 694 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: crazy to have an extra game. I think a lot 695 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 1: of people are gonna be happy. I saw a lot 696 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:27,879 Speaker 1: of people mentioning things like, well, what's going to happen 697 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: to some of these NFL records. You're gonna have an 698 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,040 Speaker 1: extra game for some of these wide receivers and quarterbacks 699 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 1: and different people to break some records. It's gonna shake 700 00:34:36,760 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: up the league a little bit here, and I think 701 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: for everybody it's going to be some extra cash, which 702 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 1: is going to make the players and the owners happy. 703 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:44,799 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's a it's a big shift for the 704 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: first time in almost forty three years that they've actually 705 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 1: done this. But it's gonna be fun to watch. You 706 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:52,800 Speaker 1: have to think the pandemic and the amount of money 707 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: that the NFL lost his past year has something to 708 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: do with the extra game. I always like the Green 709 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 1: Bay pas Backers adding a game at Kansas City. That 710 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:05,919 Speaker 1: certainly helps the Vike That's what I heard lindsay when 711 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 1: Jay was running through that long list of notes that 712 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:12,160 Speaker 1: we had here. But my only issue with this is 713 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:14,479 Speaker 1: there's some teams that are going to have more home 714 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 1: games than others. Like I just think that that um 715 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:21,680 Speaker 1: is unfair from a from a fairness standpoint, even like 716 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:23,839 Speaker 1: if you look at the MLB, there's there was like 717 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,399 Speaker 1: for the longest time there was one division that had 718 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 1: more teams than the other division like that, and they 719 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 1: even did out. I just think it's pretty unbelievable that 720 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:35,399 Speaker 1: like the Vikings have to play one extra road game 721 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: this year. I mean, it's against not the opponent of 722 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 1: the Kansas City Chiefs, that it'll be the LA Chargers, 723 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:44,840 Speaker 1: where we've had some success as of late. But yeah, Lindsay, 724 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:46,879 Speaker 1: I don't know what are your overall thoughts on this. 725 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:51,279 Speaker 1: It's one game, but it changes things up so much. UM, 726 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 1: Like Jay mentioned, you're still having the one the one 727 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 1: bye week, and so there's more you know, wear and 728 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:58,879 Speaker 1: tear and things like that. And that was my first 729 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 1: thought too, was about out. You know, half the team's 730 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,799 Speaker 1: getting an extra home game and half the team's getting 731 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:05,959 Speaker 1: an extra road game. But I know it'll it'll flip flop, 732 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:08,760 Speaker 1: like Jay mentioned, so you know, I have to imagine 733 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:10,759 Speaker 1: it all evens out. But it is tough when the 734 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: first season that we do this, we have an extra 735 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:16,840 Speaker 1: away game, you know, I think to your point, hopefully 736 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: there are fans back in the stands this year, and 737 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:23,359 Speaker 1: Vikings fans travel really well, so hopefully there's a large 738 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,319 Speaker 1: amount of purple in LA when we do face the 739 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:30,319 Speaker 1: Chargers whenever that is so, so I'm looking forward to it. More. 740 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:32,839 Speaker 1: Football is never a bad thing, I agree, And one 741 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 1: of the things for me that actually, yeah, it stinks 742 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: having an extra road game, but because it's all of 743 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 1: the NFC has an extra road game this year, that 744 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 1: I think kind of helps balance it just a little 745 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:45,840 Speaker 1: bit where it's not like, you know, we're playing on 746 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:47,840 Speaker 1: the road, but the Packers are playing at home against 747 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:49,840 Speaker 1: the Chiefs like that I think would cause more of 748 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,839 Speaker 1: a disparity or at least an issue, but I think 749 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 1: the fact that everyone in the NFC is going to 750 00:36:54,719 --> 00:36:57,320 Speaker 1: play an extra road game and then next year everybody 751 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:58,640 Speaker 1: in the NFC is going to get to play a 752 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 1: home game. Everyone's kind of in a similar boat. I 753 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:03,320 Speaker 1: just think the level of competition is going to be interest. 754 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,120 Speaker 1: We all know how big of a shift happens every 755 00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:08,320 Speaker 1: single year when it comes to playoff teams. It's usually 756 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 1: fifty percent of turnover. I just think, like you cited, 757 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:15,439 Speaker 1: you know, the Packers having to go to Kansas City, 758 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:19,400 Speaker 1: that is a rough one to start off with. But 759 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:21,840 Speaker 1: at the same point, I just think there is a 760 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: little bit of fairness there, just that everyone is in 761 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:26,320 Speaker 1: the same position when it comes to the entire division. 762 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:28,200 Speaker 1: Can we all take a moment to appreciate that we 763 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 1: are hosting the Seahawks this season instead of going out 764 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,560 Speaker 1: to Seattle, because I know there's always a system and 765 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:37,440 Speaker 1: there's a rhyme and a reason for why that's happened, 766 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:39,839 Speaker 1: But we've gone out there's so many times. So I'm 767 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,000 Speaker 1: excited to have a home game against Seattle this year. 768 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: Thank God, lindsay that we are not going back to 769 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:48,919 Speaker 1: see Yeah, I'm sick of the nine six losses over 770 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 1: there that they just find a way to win. It's 771 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:53,560 Speaker 1: just it's happened every time, and it's always on Monday 772 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,200 Speaker 1: night or Sunday night football and we go there. So 773 00:37:56,239 --> 00:37:59,480 Speaker 1: that's a positive also, as we as we said the 774 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:03,279 Speaker 1: d road game, playing where you're most likely going to 775 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:06,399 Speaker 1: have a lot of Vikings fans is never a negative either. 776 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,359 Speaker 1: So as we move along in the show with head 777 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 1: coach Mike Zimmer, who addressed just about everything that has 778 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:16,040 Speaker 1: gone on in free agency so far, with the main 779 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:20,560 Speaker 1: word and topic being rejuvenation, let's hear from head coach 780 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:23,919 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer of a little four minute cut that Jay 781 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 1: put together as you address the media on Wednesday. Yeah, Mike, 782 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:30,440 Speaker 1: I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about 783 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 1: how you've been able to rebuild your defense so far 784 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,960 Speaker 1: in free agency and did you take an account in 785 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:39,720 Speaker 1: this process. I know you said in January that maybe 786 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:45,279 Speaker 1: you probably miscalculated losing all the defense of veterans last year, 787 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:47,319 Speaker 1: or did you kind of take that into account as 788 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:51,960 Speaker 1: you move forward into free agency this year. Well, initially, 789 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,920 Speaker 1: when we got done with with the season, we evaluated 790 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:58,640 Speaker 1: everything and we knew that we had quite a few 791 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:03,040 Speaker 1: areas that we needed a fulfill and um, you know, honestly, 792 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:06,400 Speaker 1: Rob and and Rick, they've done a great job and 793 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:09,880 Speaker 1: doing that. But we've you know, we've we've been really 794 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:11,640 Speaker 1: fortunate too that we've had a lot of guys that 795 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:14,200 Speaker 1: have played here in the pass that I've wanted to 796 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:18,240 Speaker 1: come back. They understand the way that we do things 797 00:39:18,239 --> 00:39:22,480 Speaker 1: in the program, type of program that we run. So um, 798 00:39:22,640 --> 00:39:25,239 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's it just continually going and we'll 799 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:28,319 Speaker 1: continue to try to improve through the draft as well. 800 00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:32,719 Speaker 1: And Mike personally, how much did having a defense not 801 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:35,480 Speaker 1: up to your standards last year push you here at 802 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:39,600 Speaker 1: this offseason and it is driving you now? Well, I'll 803 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,560 Speaker 1: tell you, Joe, Um, you know, I'm not used to 804 00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:46,160 Speaker 1: that that level of performance from one of our groups, 805 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:50,759 Speaker 1: and so, um, honestly, we've we've had some of the 806 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:53,839 Speaker 1: best you know, It's it's crazy because you know, all 807 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:56,200 Speaker 1: the coaches are in the building here now, but we've 808 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:59,239 Speaker 1: had some of the best meetings that I've had in 809 00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 1: eight years probably. I mean, we're dissecting every little thing 810 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:05,239 Speaker 1: that we do, going through it, like I said before, 811 00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:08,560 Speaker 1: going through everything with a fine tooth comb. Um, I've 812 00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:10,719 Speaker 1: been really impressed with the coaches that are in there, 813 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:14,400 Speaker 1: but also, um, just all you know, the offenses has 814 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:18,400 Speaker 1: changed so much in the last four or five years. Um, 815 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:20,120 Speaker 1: you know it's time that we need we need to 816 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:24,040 Speaker 1: do some things differently and change and adapt and um. 817 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:28,040 Speaker 1: And so I've been really I'm actually really excited. I 818 00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:29,520 Speaker 1: can't wait to get back on the field with the 819 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:32,359 Speaker 1: players and get them going. Yeah, Mike, he talked about 820 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:34,480 Speaker 1: making it said it was time for you to make changes. 821 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:37,680 Speaker 1: Are these uh, and I know you can't give details, 822 00:40:37,719 --> 00:40:43,080 Speaker 1: but in general, are these tweaks or these big changes 823 00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 1: or and what what made you finally realize that, Well, 824 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:49,319 Speaker 1: you know, number one thing that we want to do 825 00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:51,719 Speaker 1: on defenses, we want to play fast, we want to 826 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:54,520 Speaker 1: play physical. Um. You know, we don't want to be thinking. 827 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:57,359 Speaker 1: And the offenses lately have been getting us to think 828 00:40:57,360 --> 00:40:59,399 Speaker 1: because we've had it just to here and just there 829 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:01,839 Speaker 1: and do this and do that. And you know, some 830 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:04,160 Speaker 1: of these things we've talked about and it's just too 831 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:08,160 Speaker 1: hard to implement during the season. So you know, some 832 00:41:08,280 --> 00:41:11,759 Speaker 1: of it is I would some of it is big 833 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 1: change and some of it is minor tweaks. But the 834 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,319 Speaker 1: thing I've been pressed with and I told coaches is 835 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:21,120 Speaker 1: today you know these meetings that we've had, if we 836 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:24,000 Speaker 1: were in twelve different cities and doing this on a 837 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:28,040 Speaker 1: zoom meeting, we couldn't get this done. We're sitting in 838 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 1: the room, we're watching tape together, we're going over everything. 839 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:33,440 Speaker 1: We get on the blackboard, we talk or the whiteboard 840 00:41:33,440 --> 00:41:36,480 Speaker 1: now get and talk about you know, okay, if they 841 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:38,279 Speaker 1: do this, how do we do this? What if they 842 00:41:38,480 --> 00:41:41,399 Speaker 1: line up and do this? And all the different scenarios 843 00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:44,040 Speaker 1: that are going through our minds that we don't have 844 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:49,080 Speaker 1: to try to get done in three days getting ready 845 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:52,279 Speaker 1: for a game. It seemed like the kind of the 846 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:54,719 Speaker 1: first team that you had, the way you build it up. 847 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:58,000 Speaker 1: The veteran players were able to have a big influence 848 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:01,240 Speaker 1: on the younger players, like Terrence Newman with Xavier Rhodes. 849 00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:03,719 Speaker 1: I guess when you bring in Tomlinson, when you bring 850 00:42:03,719 --> 00:42:05,919 Speaker 1: in Peterson with still a lot of young players around, 851 00:42:06,040 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: is that sort of the hope of the expectation or 852 00:42:08,680 --> 00:42:11,759 Speaker 1: just like what value can they bring beyond just sort 853 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:13,839 Speaker 1: of the exes and OUs? Well, I do think every 854 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:16,520 Speaker 1: guy's different. You know, some guys, you know, like Harrison 855 00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:19,080 Speaker 1: Smith Want. He's going to help the players, but he's 856 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:20,719 Speaker 1: going to do his own thing. He doesn't want to 857 00:42:20,760 --> 00:42:23,439 Speaker 1: be uh, you know, and so I don't I don't 858 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:26,480 Speaker 1: want these guys to be someone that they're not. If 859 00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:28,640 Speaker 1: they want to help them and do all those things 860 00:42:28,719 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 1: or lead by example, that's great too. Um. You know, 861 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:35,080 Speaker 1: I think I think it'll be great for Watts. He's 862 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:37,520 Speaker 1: been in here working out, want him has been in 863 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:40,120 Speaker 1: here working out. You know, some of these younger defensive 864 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:42,440 Speaker 1: linemen have been in here and they're they're doing so 865 00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:45,640 Speaker 1: I think I think it'll be big for those guys 866 00:42:45,719 --> 00:42:50,000 Speaker 1: to have other good players around him, and it'll help 867 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,239 Speaker 1: us with depth and rotations and everything else. Well. As 868 00:42:54,239 --> 00:42:57,320 Speaker 1: I said at Lindsay, I mean, rejuvenation is the word 869 00:42:57,360 --> 00:42:59,400 Speaker 1: that really stood out to me. I mean, when you 870 00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:01,160 Speaker 1: hear the head coach say he was down in the 871 00:43:01,239 --> 00:43:04,120 Speaker 1: dumps a little bit, uh, looking over the tape from 872 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,600 Speaker 1: last season, it's not the group that he's used to having. 873 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:10,480 Speaker 1: With some of the stats and numbers that you can 874 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:13,279 Speaker 1: look at from last season, the injuries that occurred that 875 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:16,879 Speaker 1: we've covered already in the show. Now he's excited. He's 876 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:19,600 Speaker 1: got everyone back in the building. He's an old school 877 00:43:19,640 --> 00:43:23,040 Speaker 1: coach talking about drawn up plays on the whiteboard. I mean, 878 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:27,759 Speaker 1: you gotta love the word rejuvenation when you look at 879 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:31,480 Speaker 1: what happened at that press conference yesterday, lindsay, Yeah, I mean, 880 00:43:31,600 --> 00:43:33,520 Speaker 1: I always think it's so fun to hear from coach 881 00:43:33,560 --> 00:43:35,480 Speaker 1: Zimmer at this point in the offseason. It's been a 882 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:39,560 Speaker 1: while since he's talked to reporters. Um, but I totally agree. 883 00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:42,319 Speaker 1: I loved hearing him say rejuvenation, and I think I 884 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:45,200 Speaker 1: put together, you know, in my in my recap of 885 00:43:45,239 --> 00:43:47,120 Speaker 1: his talk, just the fact that you know, some people 886 00:43:47,239 --> 00:43:49,600 Speaker 1: like go to the beach, some people like go and 887 00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:52,240 Speaker 1: like work on their golf game, but like coach Zimmer 888 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:56,480 Speaker 1: gets rejuvenated by signing defensive players and shoring up his defense. 889 00:43:56,520 --> 00:44:01,359 Speaker 1: And so UM, I liked how honest he was about 890 00:44:01,680 --> 00:44:06,400 Speaker 1: not only the problems last year, but about feeling down 891 00:44:06,400 --> 00:44:09,600 Speaker 1: in the dumps, right like about looking at the salary 892 00:44:09,640 --> 00:44:13,520 Speaker 1: cap space, the depth chart and feeling like the numbers 893 00:44:13,560 --> 00:44:16,920 Speaker 1: just didn't add up. But when you have Rob Berzinski 894 00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:19,080 Speaker 1: and Rick Spielman working on it, I think, you know, 895 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:22,120 Speaker 1: they made things happen. And it's exciting to see how 896 00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:25,400 Speaker 1: optimistic coaches about that. Yeah, I mean you bring up 897 00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:28,839 Speaker 1: how he gets rejuvenated over something like that. I think 898 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:32,359 Speaker 1: he's also rejuvenated talking about blackboards and white boards, and 899 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:35,200 Speaker 1: I mean, as old school as it gets for a 900 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:38,520 Speaker 1: head coach, I'm sure he's happy that all the coaches 901 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:41,080 Speaker 1: are not on zoom calls as he calls them and 902 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:43,680 Speaker 1: they're back in the building in the room looking at 903 00:44:43,719 --> 00:44:45,799 Speaker 1: some of these players on tape. I mean, there's so 904 00:44:45,880 --> 00:44:48,879 Speaker 1: much to get excited for with his Vikings defense, and Jay, 905 00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:51,879 Speaker 1: I mean Lindsey brought it up. Rob Brazinsky and Rick 906 00:44:51,960 --> 00:44:55,680 Speaker 1: Spielman did just an incredible job bringing in some of 907 00:44:55,719 --> 00:44:59,120 Speaker 1: these players. I mean, I know when this offseason started, 908 00:44:59,160 --> 00:45:03,520 Speaker 1: I didn't expect Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson. I mean they 909 00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:05,680 Speaker 1: were able to bring in a lot of different players. 910 00:45:06,040 --> 00:45:08,719 Speaker 1: I know when Anthony Barr restructure helps out things of 911 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:11,160 Speaker 1: that nature, But how are these guys able to get 912 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:13,480 Speaker 1: all of these players in the building and added to 913 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:16,520 Speaker 1: this Vikings defense. Yeah, every single season we always kind 914 00:45:16,520 --> 00:45:18,279 Speaker 1: of have a little bit of an eyebrow raiser where 915 00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:20,200 Speaker 1: you're sitting there saying, how did we make this happen? 916 00:45:21,239 --> 00:45:24,920 Speaker 1: And everyone always we've joked about it in past shows, 917 00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:28,600 Speaker 1: and it's the Shia Lebouf magic, you know meme kind 918 00:45:28,680 --> 00:45:32,000 Speaker 1: of just everyone always feels it's that way, and it 919 00:45:32,200 --> 00:45:37,000 Speaker 1: just is a testament to the professionalism and the savvyness 920 00:45:37,239 --> 00:45:40,799 Speaker 1: of guys like Rapperzinski and his entire crew that are 921 00:45:40,840 --> 00:45:43,560 Speaker 1: working on this all year long, three hundred and sixty 922 00:45:43,600 --> 00:45:46,680 Speaker 1: five days a year. It's like everyone on our end 923 00:45:46,680 --> 00:45:48,880 Speaker 1: pays attention to it for about a month, month and 924 00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:52,480 Speaker 1: a half or so, and then once the cutdown days happened, 925 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:55,120 Speaker 1: and there's some you know, smaller moves typically made during 926 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:57,839 Speaker 1: the season. You're hearing and seeing some of this, But 927 00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:01,359 Speaker 1: I think the fact that it was just sprung on 928 00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:03,799 Speaker 1: teams as far as what they thought the number was 929 00:46:03,840 --> 00:46:06,000 Speaker 1: going to be, they were given enough warning on the 930 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,080 Speaker 1: front end saying there's going to be a reduction here 931 00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:10,600 Speaker 1: in the cap number versus what you guys have thought 932 00:46:10,640 --> 00:46:13,680 Speaker 1: in years past and planned for. I'm sure they went 933 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:17,239 Speaker 1: through probably hundreds of scenarios as to what they could 934 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:19,600 Speaker 1: do to actually address this stuff and make it happen. 935 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:23,359 Speaker 1: But it, as Coach pointed out, he's like listen, Rob 936 00:46:23,400 --> 00:46:26,320 Speaker 1: and Rick and those guys, they saw the problem and 937 00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:30,480 Speaker 1: knew everybody else was in the same predicament. Some teams 938 00:46:30,480 --> 00:46:33,920 Speaker 1: were way worse than we were. But it also meant 939 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:37,080 Speaker 1: having to make some tough decisions on guys like Riley 940 00:46:37,120 --> 00:46:40,920 Speaker 1: Reef and Kyle Rudolph and some of these guys that 941 00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:43,759 Speaker 1: have been here for a long time in order to 942 00:46:43,800 --> 00:46:48,920 Speaker 1: try to, as this league happens, get younger in a 943 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:53,000 Speaker 1: cheaper fashion in order to make sure that those this 944 00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:56,840 Speaker 1: team continues to evolve and doesn't get stagnant. So in 945 00:46:56,960 --> 00:46:58,720 Speaker 1: order to do that, there's a lot of tough decisions 946 00:46:58,719 --> 00:47:01,799 Speaker 1: that have to happen, and these guys, it seems like 947 00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:05,080 Speaker 1: so far, have threaded that needle in order to get 948 00:47:05,160 --> 00:47:07,040 Speaker 1: us to a healthier place here where not only are 949 00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:10,640 Speaker 1: we still dealing with stuff in free agency, but also 950 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:12,520 Speaker 1: coming up here for the draft and having to sign 951 00:47:12,600 --> 00:47:15,560 Speaker 1: those players too. And one other piece, you know, to 952 00:47:15,840 --> 00:47:18,839 Speaker 1: j that that coach mentioned in his presser was the 953 00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:22,719 Speaker 1: fact that these players want to come to Minnesota, which 954 00:47:22,760 --> 00:47:26,360 Speaker 1: I think you know speaks volumes about the coaching staff, 955 00:47:26,400 --> 00:47:29,239 Speaker 1: about the culture that's here, that even after a down year, 956 00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:32,120 Speaker 1: after the defense struggled last year, these players want to 957 00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:35,279 Speaker 1: come here. He talked about. He said he that he 958 00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:37,480 Speaker 1: thought it took about five hours to get the deal 959 00:47:37,520 --> 00:47:41,359 Speaker 1: done with Patrick Peterson, which is lightning fast. The fact 960 00:47:41,400 --> 00:47:43,239 Speaker 1: that he wanted to come here. You know, after ten 961 00:47:43,280 --> 00:47:47,120 Speaker 1: seasons in Arizona, Guys like Stephen Weatherley, McKenzie, Alexander, after 962 00:47:47,120 --> 00:47:48,520 Speaker 1: they leave for a year, they want to come back. 963 00:47:48,520 --> 00:47:50,719 Speaker 1: So I think that's just one other piece of it too, 964 00:47:51,160 --> 00:47:53,719 Speaker 1: that you know, says a lot about the organization. And 965 00:47:53,760 --> 00:47:56,640 Speaker 1: I think part of that too is it's built on reputation, right, 966 00:47:56,800 --> 00:47:58,840 Speaker 1: you know the fact that for years and years and 967 00:47:58,920 --> 00:48:02,040 Speaker 1: years people understand I think what happened in twenty twenty 968 00:48:02,080 --> 00:48:05,799 Speaker 1: is an aberration and not the rule as to what 969 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:08,640 Speaker 1: they can expect being here in Minnesota. And I think 970 00:48:08,760 --> 00:48:13,080 Speaker 1: the fact that Zimmer's reputation that he's built over all 971 00:48:13,120 --> 00:48:15,120 Speaker 1: of these years working in the league, let alone being 972 00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:18,240 Speaker 1: the head coach in Minnesota, has made guys like Patrick 973 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:21,560 Speaker 1: Peterson trust the process and trust the fact that we 974 00:48:21,600 --> 00:48:23,480 Speaker 1: are going to address this and it is going to 975 00:48:23,520 --> 00:48:26,000 Speaker 1: get better in twenty twenty one. So that is that 976 00:48:26,120 --> 00:48:29,440 Speaker 1: is very promising, not only probably as a front office 977 00:48:29,480 --> 00:48:31,400 Speaker 1: and a player who are dealing with this on a 978 00:48:31,480 --> 00:48:33,640 Speaker 1: daily basis, but as a fan base that you should 979 00:48:33,920 --> 00:48:36,399 Speaker 1: understand and trust the fact that there are a lot 980 00:48:36,440 --> 00:48:39,759 Speaker 1: of people in place that feel like this team is 981 00:48:39,960 --> 00:48:42,719 Speaker 1: a lot closer than we were last year dealing with 982 00:48:42,760 --> 00:48:45,879 Speaker 1: what we did, and I think with a lot of 983 00:48:45,920 --> 00:48:49,160 Speaker 1: the injuries that coach cited from last year is going 984 00:48:49,200 --> 00:48:50,879 Speaker 1: to have a big impact getting a lot of those 985 00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:53,040 Speaker 1: players back too. So yeah, it should. There should be 986 00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:55,239 Speaker 1: a lot of excitement so far, and we haven't even 987 00:48:55,320 --> 00:48:57,920 Speaker 1: hit the draft yet. It's almost like there's like a 988 00:48:58,040 --> 00:49:02,320 Speaker 1: law of averages or gravity or something along that nature 989 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:05,200 Speaker 1: of you have a season like that and you think 990 00:49:05,239 --> 00:49:08,160 Speaker 1: that all is lost when the salary cap being so low, 991 00:49:08,480 --> 00:49:11,280 Speaker 1: and then you have McKenzie Alexander wanting to come back 992 00:49:11,520 --> 00:49:15,160 Speaker 1: on a veterans minimum deal. Same goes for Stephen Weatherly. 993 00:49:15,200 --> 00:49:17,879 Speaker 1: Anthony Barr wants to restructure his contract to help out 994 00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:21,200 Speaker 1: coach Zimmer. Patrick Pearson calls up the Vikings and says, hey, 995 00:49:21,239 --> 00:49:25,000 Speaker 1: I want to join your program after being in the 996 00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:27,600 Speaker 1: conference with another team for a decade. I mean, it's 997 00:49:27,640 --> 00:49:31,560 Speaker 1: unbelievable the reputation that coach Zimmer has has brought all 998 00:49:31,560 --> 00:49:34,000 Speaker 1: of these players here. It's kept a lot of these 999 00:49:34,040 --> 00:49:38,200 Speaker 1: players here to go through with these restructurings and help 1000 00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:40,879 Speaker 1: rob Berzinski out. When it comes to the salary cap. 1001 00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:43,280 Speaker 1: I don't know, man, Jay, I think the salary cap 1002 00:49:43,360 --> 00:49:45,560 Speaker 1: is like a myth at this point. With Rob Berzinski 1003 00:49:45,640 --> 00:49:48,120 Speaker 1: in the office, I mean, every year, they're able to 1004 00:49:48,120 --> 00:49:50,680 Speaker 1: get it done. And that is why rob is so 1005 00:49:50,719 --> 00:49:53,200 Speaker 1: good at his job. That's why he has been here 1006 00:49:53,200 --> 00:49:55,799 Speaker 1: for so long, and that's why he has so many 1007 00:49:55,800 --> 00:49:58,879 Speaker 1: connections within the league. But another thing that stood out 1008 00:49:58,880 --> 00:50:00,560 Speaker 1: to me, We're gonna go over to the offensive side 1009 00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:02,920 Speaker 1: of the ball. Coach Zimmer was asked for the first 1010 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:07,160 Speaker 1: time Lindsay about the new offensive coordinator and Clint Kubiak, 1011 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:10,040 Speaker 1: And this is a topic that we've talked about all offseason. 1012 00:50:10,800 --> 00:50:13,359 Speaker 1: He's a young, young guy. He's never called a play 1013 00:50:13,400 --> 00:50:18,920 Speaker 1: before as an offensive coordinator. Obviously, the Kevin Stefanski comparisons 1014 00:50:18,960 --> 00:50:21,280 Speaker 1: come up, and that's what came up from Coach Zimmer. 1015 00:50:21,280 --> 00:50:24,600 Speaker 1: He compared Clint Kubiak to a Kevin Stefanski. And just 1016 00:50:24,680 --> 00:50:27,359 Speaker 1: from my point of view, I remember seeing Kevin walk 1017 00:50:27,640 --> 00:50:30,160 Speaker 1: up and down Winter Park and the way he carried 1018 00:50:30,239 --> 00:50:34,440 Speaker 1: himself and kind of quiet around the building and a confident, cool, 1019 00:50:34,520 --> 00:50:37,880 Speaker 1: collective sort of guy at his young age. I think 1020 00:50:37,920 --> 00:50:41,799 Speaker 1: the similarities are pretty They're pretty spot on because these 1021 00:50:41,840 --> 00:50:44,440 Speaker 1: two guys were great friends. Kevin was one of the 1022 00:50:44,440 --> 00:50:47,320 Speaker 1: reasons why Clint was brought in here when he was 1023 00:50:47,719 --> 00:50:50,560 Speaker 1: when he was maybe going to be the offensive coordinator. 1024 00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:53,919 Speaker 1: I don't know, I see all the comparisons in the world. 1025 00:50:54,040 --> 00:50:57,520 Speaker 1: What do you expect from Clint Kubiak and his first 1026 00:50:57,600 --> 00:51:00,600 Speaker 1: year as offensive coordinator of this team? Yeah, I think 1027 00:51:00,600 --> 00:51:05,400 Speaker 1: you're right about when when Coach compared him to Kevin Stefanski. 1028 00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:08,120 Speaker 1: I definitely saw a lot of that. And I don't 1029 00:51:08,160 --> 00:51:10,760 Speaker 1: know Clint very well, you know. I think, like you said, 1030 00:51:10,840 --> 00:51:12,800 Speaker 1: he's kind of a quiet guy around the building. I 1031 00:51:12,840 --> 00:51:14,840 Speaker 1: don't think many of us have had a ton of 1032 00:51:14,880 --> 00:51:18,960 Speaker 1: interaction with him at this point. But I love seeing 1033 00:51:18,960 --> 00:51:21,719 Speaker 1: Coach Zimmer's confidence in him, like he doesn't have a 1034 00:51:21,760 --> 00:51:24,600 Speaker 1: doubt in the world that that Clint can take over 1035 00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:27,920 Speaker 1: and do this role. And I think, um, you know, 1036 00:51:28,120 --> 00:51:30,680 Speaker 1: the similarities with Kevin as well, just talking about sort 1037 00:51:30,719 --> 00:51:34,279 Speaker 1: of how his wheels are always turning. He's always thinking about, um, 1038 00:51:34,800 --> 00:51:37,000 Speaker 1: what little tweaks maybe can be made, like how to 1039 00:51:37,080 --> 00:51:40,120 Speaker 1: best utilize the guys on this team. And so I 1040 00:51:40,160 --> 00:51:45,279 Speaker 1: don't personally expect the offensive system to change a ton right, 1041 00:51:45,600 --> 00:51:48,600 Speaker 1: Like I expected to stay similar, but it will be 1042 00:51:48,680 --> 00:51:52,520 Speaker 1: really interesting to see if and what kind of wrinkles 1043 00:51:52,600 --> 00:51:54,960 Speaker 1: or tweaks he adds into it with it being his 1044 00:51:55,040 --> 00:51:58,920 Speaker 1: system this year. Yeah, and Zimmer has really instilled confidence 1045 00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:00,920 Speaker 1: in some of these play callers. I mean he did 1046 00:52:00,920 --> 00:52:04,440 Speaker 1: it with coach Stefanski. He said, you know, we're all 1047 00:52:04,239 --> 00:52:07,280 Speaker 1: we've all been first time play callers at some point, 1048 00:52:07,560 --> 00:52:10,160 Speaker 1: and Kevin was given that opportunity at a young age. 1049 00:52:10,480 --> 00:52:13,239 Speaker 1: Now Clint's given that opportunity in this offense. Jay, So 1050 00:52:13,719 --> 00:52:17,960 Speaker 1: when Clint is calling plays week one of the NFL season, 1051 00:52:18,000 --> 00:52:19,680 Speaker 1: what do you think this offense is going to look like? 1052 00:52:20,520 --> 00:52:23,160 Speaker 1: I think they have cited, you know, part of the 1053 00:52:23,200 --> 00:52:25,440 Speaker 1: reason why he was here as well is because they 1054 00:52:25,480 --> 00:52:28,680 Speaker 1: didn't want to make wholesale, across the board offensive changes. 1055 00:52:29,080 --> 00:52:31,840 Speaker 1: I think the smart thing that they've been able to 1056 00:52:31,880 --> 00:52:34,279 Speaker 1: do is make sure that they can, you know, keep 1057 00:52:34,280 --> 00:52:36,640 Speaker 1: that continuity. I think last year, I mean even in 1058 00:52:36,719 --> 00:52:39,640 Speaker 1: the pressor, zimm was citing the fact that the offense 1059 00:52:39,719 --> 00:52:42,759 Speaker 1: was sixth in the league and some of those categories, 1060 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:44,640 Speaker 1: and so I think they were happy with the way 1061 00:52:44,760 --> 00:52:47,240 Speaker 1: the offense clicked last year in a lot of ways, 1062 00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:49,360 Speaker 1: so I think Clint coming in is going to be 1063 00:52:49,719 --> 00:52:54,000 Speaker 1: a fresh set of eyes. The fact that he has, 1064 00:52:54,080 --> 00:52:57,759 Speaker 1: for basically his lifetime seen kind of the blueprint that 1065 00:52:57,800 --> 00:53:00,200 Speaker 1: his father laid out there. But you all know and 1066 00:53:00,280 --> 00:53:03,360 Speaker 1: we all know that whenever people like this get a 1067 00:53:03,360 --> 00:53:05,000 Speaker 1: hold of something for the first time on their own, 1068 00:53:05,040 --> 00:53:06,399 Speaker 1: they want to be able to put their own their 1069 00:53:06,680 --> 00:53:08,920 Speaker 1: thumb print on it. So I think you're going to 1070 00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:11,080 Speaker 1: see a lot of similarities. But I think there's also 1071 00:53:11,120 --> 00:53:13,360 Speaker 1: a lot of things that Clint has seen over the 1072 00:53:13,440 --> 00:53:16,320 Speaker 1: years working with Kirk Cousins as well, that he knows 1073 00:53:16,320 --> 00:53:18,600 Speaker 1: where his strength and weaknesses are and he'll probably set 1074 00:53:18,680 --> 00:53:20,920 Speaker 1: him up to succeed that way too. And to be 1075 00:53:20,960 --> 00:53:22,960 Speaker 1: honest with you, you know, we cited the fact he's 1076 00:53:23,000 --> 00:53:25,000 Speaker 1: going to be a first time play caller. I think 1077 00:53:25,000 --> 00:53:28,920 Speaker 1: it's going to be an evolution throughout the entire season 1078 00:53:29,320 --> 00:53:31,120 Speaker 1: of him having to go through and just kind of 1079 00:53:31,120 --> 00:53:33,879 Speaker 1: evaluate game to game what works and what doesn't. And 1080 00:53:34,200 --> 00:53:35,640 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to it. I think it's going to 1081 00:53:35,680 --> 00:53:37,239 Speaker 1: be fun to see kind of a breath of fresh air, 1082 00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:40,000 Speaker 1: and not only on offense, but defense here as well. 1083 00:53:40,080 --> 00:53:43,160 Speaker 1: And it's it's gonna be fun. I'm really looking forward 1084 00:53:43,160 --> 00:53:45,080 Speaker 1: to the season coming up here. Can't get your fast enough. 1085 00:53:45,480 --> 00:53:47,840 Speaker 1: Last topic that stood out to me, and I'm going 1086 00:53:47,880 --> 00:53:51,000 Speaker 1: to hop over back to the defensive side of the ball. Lindsay, 1087 00:53:51,000 --> 00:53:53,520 Speaker 1: you said earlier how honest coach Zimmer was in this 1088 00:53:53,680 --> 00:53:56,440 Speaker 1: press conference, and one of the things he said is 1089 00:53:56,480 --> 00:53:59,880 Speaker 1: we gotta do make some changes. We gotta whether it's 1090 00:54:00,320 --> 00:54:03,640 Speaker 1: implementing new schemes or going to Carl Scott and seeing 1091 00:54:03,719 --> 00:54:06,400 Speaker 1: kind of what he did at Alabama. So what do 1092 00:54:06,400 --> 00:54:09,080 Speaker 1: you think he's talking about kind of when he's when 1093 00:54:09,080 --> 00:54:11,400 Speaker 1: he's saying, we need to adjust, we need to move forward, 1094 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:13,720 Speaker 1: we need to change what we do on the defensive 1095 00:54:13,719 --> 00:54:16,880 Speaker 1: side of the ball. I thought that that really stood 1096 00:54:16,880 --> 00:54:19,040 Speaker 1: out to me from an old school head coach who's 1097 00:54:19,280 --> 00:54:22,160 Speaker 1: who's done it his way for so long, and it 1098 00:54:22,200 --> 00:54:24,799 Speaker 1: looks like he's looking to make some adjustments, he's looking 1099 00:54:24,840 --> 00:54:27,719 Speaker 1: to grow. And I think Carl Scott has a lot 1100 00:54:27,760 --> 00:54:31,600 Speaker 1: to do with that statement. Yeah, I mean, I think 1101 00:54:31,680 --> 00:54:33,920 Speaker 1: it's hard to say right now, and I you know, 1102 00:54:33,960 --> 00:54:36,520 Speaker 1: I'm not necessarily comfortable making predictions as to what it 1103 00:54:36,520 --> 00:54:38,279 Speaker 1: will look like. But I think just the fact that 1104 00:54:38,360 --> 00:54:43,160 Speaker 1: coach is talking about those potential changes adjustments while those 1105 00:54:43,239 --> 00:54:45,719 Speaker 1: remain to be seen. I love just hearing him talk 1106 00:54:45,719 --> 00:54:48,000 Speaker 1: about that. And like you had mentioned earlier, him talking 1107 00:54:48,040 --> 00:54:51,000 Speaker 1: about you know, I think he mentioned something along the 1108 00:54:51,000 --> 00:54:53,279 Speaker 1: lines of the meetings that they've been having have been 1109 00:54:53,360 --> 00:54:56,360 Speaker 1: some of the best most productive meetings like in his 1110 00:54:56,480 --> 00:54:58,480 Speaker 1: time here. And so I think when you kind of 1111 00:54:58,520 --> 00:55:01,200 Speaker 1: bounce back from a season where you to do everything virtually, 1112 00:55:01,239 --> 00:55:04,960 Speaker 1: you didn't have the you know, quote luxury of even 1113 00:55:05,000 --> 00:55:07,279 Speaker 1: being in the same room with these guys, he's able 1114 00:55:07,320 --> 00:55:10,040 Speaker 1: to take advantage of that. You mentioned the whiteboard and 1115 00:55:10,640 --> 00:55:13,280 Speaker 1: digging in. So I think it's just exciting that they're 1116 00:55:13,800 --> 00:55:17,200 Speaker 1: really picking apart everything that they've done and figuring out 1117 00:55:17,239 --> 00:55:20,520 Speaker 1: what stays the same, what needs to change, and going 1118 00:55:20,560 --> 00:55:22,560 Speaker 1: with that. So I'm just excited to see what that 1119 00:55:22,640 --> 00:55:26,319 Speaker 1: looks like. I'm so excited to see what that looks like. 1120 00:55:26,360 --> 00:55:29,920 Speaker 1: I'm excited to see what happens. As the NFL Draft 1121 00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:33,280 Speaker 1: is approaching us some thirty days away to the Vikings 1122 00:55:34,040 --> 00:55:36,840 Speaker 1: get on the clock at the number fourteen overall pick. 1123 00:55:37,239 --> 00:55:39,560 Speaker 1: So that'll do it for this edition of the Minnesota 1124 00:55:39,640 --> 00:55:42,160 Speaker 1: Vikings podcast. I'm going to go to you, Jay, Do 1125 00:55:42,200 --> 00:55:45,120 Speaker 1: you have any final thoughts before we head out of here. Yeah, 1126 00:55:45,200 --> 00:55:48,160 Speaker 1: four weeks from today is the NFL Draft. It's getting 1127 00:55:48,200 --> 00:55:50,719 Speaker 1: crazy just how quickly this stuff is wrapping up. You're 1128 00:55:50,760 --> 00:55:54,120 Speaker 1: seeing a lot of pro days out there obviously on 1129 00:55:54,200 --> 00:55:56,600 Speaker 1: TV and some of these different clips you've seen Rick 1130 00:55:56,719 --> 00:56:00,560 Speaker 1: out and about doing their full evaluations for top tier 1131 00:56:00,560 --> 00:56:03,359 Speaker 1: talent that's across the league. And so yeah, four weeks 1132 00:56:03,360 --> 00:56:05,360 Speaker 1: from today, there's going to be a bunch of stuff 1133 00:56:05,360 --> 00:56:07,920 Speaker 1: on Vikings dot com. And up until that point we 1134 00:56:07,960 --> 00:56:10,680 Speaker 1: can still be potentially signing free agents, so there's going 1135 00:56:10,719 --> 00:56:13,439 Speaker 1: to be a lot to pay attention to. Just check 1136 00:56:13,440 --> 00:56:15,760 Speaker 1: out all your your Viking social media apps and Vikings 1137 00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:18,840 Speaker 1: dot com for the latest info and stay tuned because 1138 00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:22,640 Speaker 1: as exciting answers to band, it's just gonna get crazier. Lindsey, 1139 00:56:22,640 --> 00:56:25,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tee you up here. You've been doing such 1140 00:56:25,200 --> 00:56:28,160 Speaker 1: an awesome job on this Getting Open series on Vikings 1141 00:56:28,200 --> 00:56:32,600 Speaker 1: dot Com. I believe there was a new episode or 1142 00:56:32,800 --> 00:56:36,360 Speaker 1: series of that this week, which was really cool. Chris 1143 00:56:36,360 --> 00:56:39,759 Speaker 1: Hockey from Kafan really opened up about his story, So 1144 00:56:39,800 --> 00:56:41,880 Speaker 1: can you just tell us a little bit about that 1145 00:56:42,280 --> 00:56:45,400 Speaker 1: and what you have kind of looking forward for that series, 1146 00:56:45,440 --> 00:56:48,160 Speaker 1: and I know it's been such a great experience for 1147 00:56:48,239 --> 00:56:51,520 Speaker 1: you being able to cover these stories and tell these 1148 00:56:51,520 --> 00:56:55,280 Speaker 1: stories for our players and people around the organization. Yeah, thanks, Chris. 1149 00:56:55,600 --> 00:56:58,959 Speaker 1: It's definitely become a passion project for me for sure. 1150 00:56:59,760 --> 00:57:02,280 Speaker 1: And it was really fun this past week, like you mentioned, 1151 00:57:02,320 --> 00:57:05,279 Speaker 1: to roll out this story on Chris Hockey, and he's 1152 00:57:05,320 --> 00:57:09,160 Speaker 1: shared kind of his experience before with depression and with 1153 00:57:09,200 --> 00:57:11,359 Speaker 1: mental illness and what that looks like for him, So 1154 00:57:11,360 --> 00:57:14,520 Speaker 1: it wasn't necessarily a new story, but it was really 1155 00:57:14,520 --> 00:57:17,560 Speaker 1: cool to see him continuing to open up and talk 1156 00:57:17,600 --> 00:57:20,920 Speaker 1: about the things that he's dealt with, including OCD when 1157 00:57:20,960 --> 00:57:22,960 Speaker 1: he was younger, and just kind of what that's looked 1158 00:57:22,960 --> 00:57:26,040 Speaker 1: like for him. And you know, I think it's really 1159 00:57:26,080 --> 00:57:29,560 Speaker 1: making an impact. We've seen some people, some fans on 1160 00:57:29,560 --> 00:57:32,240 Speaker 1: Twitter and whatnot just kind of respond and share that 1161 00:57:32,280 --> 00:57:34,920 Speaker 1: it's been helpful for them. And so what I've loved 1162 00:57:34,920 --> 00:57:37,240 Speaker 1: about this series is just the broad spectrum of people 1163 00:57:37,280 --> 00:57:42,000 Speaker 1: that we've had on different ages, different backgrounds, different experiences, 1164 00:57:42,040 --> 00:57:45,520 Speaker 1: and so we do have a few more here coming 1165 00:57:45,520 --> 00:57:48,439 Speaker 1: down the pipeline, so we'll continue to roll those out, 1166 00:57:48,480 --> 00:57:53,600 Speaker 1: likely on Tuesdays. We do have another player too, and 1167 00:57:53,640 --> 00:57:57,400 Speaker 1: also a Vikings legend that will be talking as well, 1168 00:57:57,520 --> 00:58:01,440 Speaker 1: so keep an eye on Viking digital platforms that and 1169 00:58:01,720 --> 00:58:05,480 Speaker 1: definitely appreciate the support absolutely. It's been such an awesome 1170 00:58:05,480 --> 00:58:09,000 Speaker 1: project to see to consume, and I'm sure Vikings fans 1171 00:58:09,000 --> 00:58:11,680 Speaker 1: have enjoyed seeing some of their favorite players and people 1172 00:58:11,680 --> 00:58:15,240 Speaker 1: are around the organization tell their stories and really come 1173 00:58:15,240 --> 00:58:18,640 Speaker 1: out and support such an important cause. So that'll do 1174 00:58:18,680 --> 00:58:22,000 Speaker 1: it for this episode of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. As 1175 00:58:22,000 --> 00:58:24,840 Speaker 1: we said, four weeks away from the twenty twenty one 1176 00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:28,560 Speaker 1: NFL Draft, I know Jay is very excited. It's one 1177 00:58:28,560 --> 00:58:31,240 Speaker 1: of our favorite, most favorite times of the year, and 1178 00:58:31,320 --> 00:58:33,800 Speaker 1: of course we will have a podcast just about every 1179 00:58:33,880 --> 00:58:38,160 Speaker 1: single night recapping everything that happened each day. I'm sure Lindsay, 1180 00:58:38,640 --> 00:58:42,280 Speaker 1: Eric Gabe and all at the Vikings Entertainment Network will 1181 00:58:42,400 --> 00:58:45,200 Speaker 1: make an appearance on one of those shows, so we 1182 00:58:45,280 --> 00:58:48,200 Speaker 1: look forward to that and until then, we will see 1183 00:58:48,240 --> 00:58:50,240 Speaker 1: you next time and have a great week.