1 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Rain track for self years of pencil Bad and it's 2 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: a great outset of mine. I put earth you, running rouletes, 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: running guys off, trying to use that to my advantage. 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: You know. For me, it's just been about taking it 5 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: one day at a time, controlling what I can control 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: and just going out and competing every day and let 7 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: all that other stuff to your itself out and sort 8 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: it out. Hey, everybody, Welcome to the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, 9 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: Episode fifty seven. I'm your hosts. I Amindson, joined by 10 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: Chris Corso and Jay Nelson from Vikings dot Com. Today's 11 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: podcast is brought to you by Verizon, the network more 12 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: people rely on, gives you more and Jay and Chris. 13 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Verizon Vikings training camp is coming up on its final 14 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: weeks year. We're about to get reacclimated to our downtown home, 15 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: US Bank Stadium. We got a few things to go over. Obviously, 16 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: the news has come down about fans for the first 17 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: two weeks at US Bank Stadium. Let's get into that 18 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: a little bit. Corso has an interview with Vikings Undrafted 19 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: wide Out Dan Cesena and ESPN's first NFL Power Rankings 20 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,279 Speaker 1: list is out, so we'll show you where the Vikings 21 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: are at. And I will complain about that a bunch 22 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: because I think it's garbage where they got ranked. But 23 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: that is what we in the business call a teaser. 24 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: Let's start with the news that everybody's talking about. Guys, 25 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: the Vikings have officially announced that there will be no 26 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: fans in attendance at least our first two home games 27 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 1: during the month of September. And before we kind of 28 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: go about breaking that down, what I want to do 29 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,639 Speaker 1: is I'd like to read the official statement from the team, 30 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: just so everybody knows where this is coming from. This 31 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: is the official team statement. Over the past several months, 32 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: we have collaborated with US Bank Stadium Partners, the NFL, 33 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: the State of Minnesota, and the City of Minneapolis to 34 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: determine the best way to safely and responsibly host a 35 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: limited number of fans at Viking home games. We have 36 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: sought to balance the opportunity to provide fan access with 37 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: the responsibility to adhere to public health and medical guidance 38 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: in order to maintain the health and safety of fans, players, 39 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: staff members, and the broader community. Ultimately, public health is 40 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: our top priority. Based on our conversations and the current 41 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: Minnesota Department of Health guidelines that specify an indoor venue 42 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: capacity of two hundred and fifty. We have determined it 43 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: is not the right time to welcome fans back to 44 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: US Bank Stadium. As a result, the first two Viking 45 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: home games, Sunday September thirteenth and Sunday September twenty seventh, 46 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: will be closed to the public. We will continue to 47 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: work with the appropriate officials on our plans with the 48 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: hope of bringing fans back in a safe manner later 49 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,519 Speaker 1: this season. So there it is. That's the official team statement. 50 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,399 Speaker 1: Not unexpected, you know. I think to this point, sixteen 51 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: teams have announced that they won't have fans in attendance 52 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: at least at the beginning of the season. Six teams 53 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: have announced that there will be fans week one. I 54 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: know there's also six teams that have announced there won't 55 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: be fans at all all season. So everybody's kind of 56 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: all over the map here. But the Vikings, I think 57 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: doing the responsible thing, adhering to state guidelines and playing 58 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: it by ear. It sounds like Chris, you know, the 59 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: first two games, let's do what's right and then let's 60 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: reassess the situation. Yes, I think watching other sports and 61 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 1: what's going on in the world today, you wouldn't at 62 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: all expect the fact that the Vikings would have fans 63 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: on Opening Night when they take on the Packers at 64 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: US Bank Stadiums. So I think this is the way 65 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: to go. It keeps it open for the future, which 66 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: is probably a little sense of hope, which is awesome. 67 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: But yeah, definitely upsetting to see that there will be 68 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: no fans Week one. Mike Zimmer is not happy about 69 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: it because he knows the home field advantage. Each Friday 70 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: during the regular season, he'll be like, well, it's here 71 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: that skull chant going on at the stadium. So Mike 72 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,799 Speaker 1: Zimmer made it clear this week he's not happy about 73 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: the no fans at the stadium. Now I should clarify. 74 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 1: I think he understands the gravity of the situation. I 75 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: think what he was saying was, we have such a 76 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: tremendous home field advantage, it's a disappointment. I'll go on 77 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: other podcasts and I was on a podcast with an 78 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: Eagles fan and a Giants fan, and we were breaking 79 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: down the Vikings schedule, and just listening to those guys, 80 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: you forget that this is the pinnacle of stadiums currently 81 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: in the NFL. We are number one with a bullet 82 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: It's like US Bank Stadium is like a space ship 83 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: from the future that people play football and the energy 84 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: and the environment is incredible and whatever it takes to 85 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: have football, That's where I'm at. I want to see 86 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: week one and two. So if this is how it goes, 87 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: this is how it goes, but it will be different. 88 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: It will be odd to see that giant, beautiful building 89 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: without the fans energy. Jay. I think the biggest bummer 90 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: for me is the fact not only that there won't 91 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: be fans, but who it's against, because the environment at 92 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: Viking Packer games are always off the charts, and I 93 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: think what Zimmer is really alluding to here is just 94 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 1: the disappointment knowing that when you have that many fans 95 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: in attendance, you have them that loud, that boisterous, especially 96 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: on defense against a guy like Aaron Rodgers, who you know, 97 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: we can take all the help we can get at 98 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: this point, I think not having fans for those first 99 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: two games will potentially be a detriment, especially defensively, but 100 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: that just means, as Zimmer likes to say, they'll figure 101 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: it out. They just have to play. Nobody's gonna feel 102 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: sorry for them, and I really wish they could be 103 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: there in attendance and to feel that energy. But you're 104 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: going to do whatever you can to get these games 105 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: come hell a high water. I mean, the truth is, 106 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: eight times a year you have to prepare to play 107 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: a team well at a crowd noise disadvantage. So these 108 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: guys know how to do it. It's a bummer that 109 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: they don't get to have that in their in their 110 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: back pocket. You still get to sleep in your home bed, 111 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: you still get to not travel, you still get to 112 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 1: have some of the advantages of being the home team. 113 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: But you know, like you said, it's nice to have 114 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: people screaming when Aaron Rodgers is making mistakes. That's that's 115 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: what you want. I get why it's going this way, 116 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: but it's a little hard to come to terms with 117 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: as a fan. Is leaving it up to communities and teams. 118 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: That's that's where you go. Okay, so six teams, I 119 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: think it's Kansas City is at twenty five percent capacity, 120 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: Miami twenty percent, Indianapolis twenty five, Jacksonville twenty five, and 121 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: the Cowboys fifty percent, which has been permitted by their governor. 122 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: I believe right, Jay, it's basically the Yeah, it's it's 123 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: the maximum amount allowed by the governor's edict down in Texas. 124 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: I'm curious. It's it can become an interesting and this 125 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: is a one time season, it's a once in a 126 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: century pandemic. It's all these things. But there's there's the aspect. 127 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: I think you have a lot of fans. I saw 128 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: a lot of pieces written today. I'm seeing a lot 129 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: of comments online. One of my good friends who's on 130 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: one of my shows constantly is harping on the competitive balance. 131 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: You know, how do you suss out the fact that 132 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: each team in each state if you happen to be 133 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: a team in a state that has different rules and 134 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: another team in a state, Uh, it's it's an interesting factor, 135 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: and it's it just gets tacked onto the long line 136 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: of interesting things about this season where I've I've said 137 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: this before. I think the team that takes health the 138 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: most serious, whoever seriously approaches that aspect the most. That 139 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: was not a great sentence, whoever does hail the hardest 140 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: with the biggest smart brain. But you guys know what 141 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: I'm saying, Like, whoever approaches that the best you know 142 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: is going to be in an advantage. So it just 143 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: throws another piece into this pile of interesting aspects of 144 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty NFL season. The biggest thing for the 145 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: Vikings is that this is being harped on from the 146 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: top down, and it seems like the players are actually 147 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: sticking to it. And it's not just the players, it's 148 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: not just the coaches, it's everybody in the entire organization, 149 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: because that is exactly what we've been told is if 150 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: we take this serious and we at here to these 151 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: rules and these standards, it's something that we're all willing 152 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: to do if it means it's going to give the 153 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: team an edge and it means that we might have 154 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: a little bit more success than other people. It's just 155 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: frustrating not to have fans and everybody else get to 156 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: enjoy it that way. But listen, at this point, it's 157 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: turned into, however, we can get football done on a 158 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: field and make it happen for the entire season and 159 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: get to an end of a season. People are willing 160 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: to do it, and I think that's what's most encouraging 161 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: working with this team and seeing how it's being handled. 162 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 1: Behind the scenes at this point, absolutely, and I'm not 163 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: going to get you know, there's enough arguing on Facebook 164 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: to fill a thousand a thousand worlds. You know, I 165 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: don't want to sit here and have a discussion about 166 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: whether or not you know about the mandates and different 167 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: governments and the health you know, and how all these 168 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: things are laid out. I'm not interested in that. The 169 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: only thing that I'm interested in is one what you said, Jay, 170 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: I think the major advantage that the Vikings have going 171 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: into this very strange season is consistency from the top down. 172 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: The Wills have owned the team this long. Their staff 173 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: has been in place this long. Spielman has been in 174 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: place this long, Zimmer has been in place this long. 175 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: So many assistance a shug has been in place this long. 176 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: You have such cohesion, You have veteran leaders all over 177 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: the team that have been in their positions for so long. 178 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: And when you have that, it's easy to get people 179 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: to buy in down the ladder and get everybody focused 180 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: on a mission, a singular mission that we know could 181 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: be beneficial for us. And to go back to what 182 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: I was saying about arguments, I just I'm not going 183 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: to sit here and say whether or not I think 184 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: fans and stadiums are going to affect the ability for 185 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: there to be games in week seven and eight and nine. 186 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: But if these are the decisions that are made, these 187 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 1: are the decisions that are made. What I want to do. 188 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: I love this football team and I want to watch 189 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: them on Sunday, and guys like us, we get to 190 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: we get to go down on the field. So you know, 191 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: that is a big part of our lives and something 192 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: we really love, and I think we definitely can empathize 193 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: with fans who want to be in that stadium. You know, 194 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 1: I remember I remember my growing up. My cousin Al 195 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: and his friends bought one of those shorter school buses 196 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: and they painted it into a Vikings bus and every 197 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: Sunday for years, he and his idiot friends would roll 198 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: up to the stadium, tailgate and fly back down. And 199 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: you know, that's part of the wonderful, you know, reality 200 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: of being a sports fan. You get to be involved 201 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: in that environment, but just to sit down and watched 202 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: the games on TV. Given how these past six months 203 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: have gone, I'm very much looking forward to that. So 204 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: whatever it takes. Chris absolutely and the Vikings were hit 205 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: with an obstacle this week. A few players were given 206 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: the positive test, and we don't know if it's a 207 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: false positive or not, and a bunch of we don't know. 208 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: I thought we did know. It's it's it's a false positive, 209 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: isn't it Wasn't it a lab lab issue? Right? So 210 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: the lab in New Jersey had some sort of issue 211 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: where famous home of Chris Corso, New Jersey native Chris Corso. 212 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: Keep going with your point in New York. Chris is 213 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: from New Jersey. He might as well be from New Jersey. 214 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: There's I need to let listeners of this podcast understand 215 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: that it is not uncommon for Chris Corso to finish 216 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: an episode of this show and then look me in 217 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: the eyes like it's a normal thing to say and go, 218 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: I've got some sauce on the stove that i gotta 219 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: go work on. There is a nice Corso is Chris 220 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: Corso is New Jersey. So you can stay long island. 221 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: You are New Jersey, Chris. But keep going, keep going 222 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: with your with your lab talk. There's a nice there's 223 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: a nice body of ra there's a nice river that 224 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: separates uh New Jersey from where I'm from. But it's 225 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: just the sauce you spilled. That's for another that's for 226 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: another time. But uh, yeah, the Vicers were hit with 227 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: this big time. I guess fluke of false tests that 228 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: that a lot of teams had to deal with. And 229 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 1: and you heard it from Andre Patterson this week like 230 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: he's like, you know what, a couple guys are gonna 231 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: set out of practice today maybe the next few days, 232 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: but we have ten guys behind him that I cannot 233 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: wait to see compete every day in practice. And and 234 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: for him it's a DJ one them or uh some 235 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: of these draft picks that the Vikings have on the 236 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: defensive line, Hercules Mataafa, who you got to see being 237 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: put in these bigger spots this week. So uh, just 238 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: an example of what you were talking about, the cohesion 239 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: and everyone being ready to go. That was that was 240 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: shown in the press conference from Andre Patterson this week. Absolutely, 241 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,719 Speaker 1: and you know, to go back to those tests, I 242 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: think a to have something like that happened in the 243 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: preseason and give the league a chance to react to it. 244 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: I would rather it happened there than Week eight, you know, 245 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: So I and I also you know, I'm fortunate my 246 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 1: dad is a biology professor. My brother and my nephew 247 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: are pharmacists, and you know, I listening to them talk, 248 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: you know, there's no world where this sort of testing, 249 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: regardless of which version of a test you're using, is 250 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: going to be one hundred percent on the nose. You know, 251 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,199 Speaker 1: if you talk to somebody who works in like, for example, 252 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: large animal veterinary work, like like population, like with cattle 253 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: and stuff like that, you know you're always going to 254 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: run into situations like this when you're testing large populations. 255 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: So it wasn't a huge surprise to me that happened. 256 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: That the positives that I took out of it are 257 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: I think it gives the league a chance to react 258 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 1: to it when there aren't real games on the line, 259 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: And I think exactly what you said, I mean, the 260 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: Vikings were one of the harder hit teams. Was it 261 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: eleven players, Chris, that's eacent amount. It was like eight 262 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: to ten players. We don't have the specific exact number, 263 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: but right in that area. And so look at and 264 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: then like you said, they reacted to it, they dealt 265 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: with it. Young guys got a chance to step up, 266 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: and that keeps feeding into my set of beliefs for 267 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: the season. One, Depth is going to be very important. 268 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: In depth is going to be challenged, and this team 269 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: having that cohesion and leadership will be an important thing. 270 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: Jay well, as we've talked about for the last what 271 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: three to four weeks, especially the depth question that this 272 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: roster has is going to be tested not only from 273 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: the fact internally and trying to figure out what cuts 274 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: and who you're going to have on this roster, but 275 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: like you just said, you know, given these kind of tests, 276 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: you know what happens during the season if all of 277 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: a sudden a guy test positive. I think they're carrying 278 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: extra guys in the roster for potential fill ins when 279 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: it comes to traveling and even home. But it means 280 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: that from the top down, you're going to have to 281 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: have everybody in all of these different groups, in all 282 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: of these different positions working together. And you heard that 283 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: from guys like you know, Dan Chasena coming up here 284 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: saying the wide receiver group and the wide receiver room 285 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: is working really well together. Same thing, but the secondary 286 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: guys with a lot of the young guys are saying 287 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: talking to Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris are helping get 288 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: these young guys up to speed and it's going to 289 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: be more crucial than ever this season, given everything else 290 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: they're going to have to face, let alone, what's on 291 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: a football field. Well, you know, I want to talk 292 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: about They're they're going to conduct a practice at US 293 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: Bank Stadium and try to get acclimated to the unique situation, 294 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: which I think is a really, really, really smart move. 295 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: But you know, before we do that, since we kind 296 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: of stumbled our way into the depth question, you know, 297 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: one thing I wanted to talk about. We're now we're 298 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: over a week of full padded practices, right, guys are 299 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: really getting into it, and storylines are starting to emerge, 300 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: and some players are starting to surprise us. And some 301 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: of those guys have been talked about a little bit 302 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: more on v N and on our programs and on 303 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: k Fan, and some of them, you know, haven't really 304 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: gotten the discussion publicly yet that you know, the first 305 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: guy we're going to talk about, Cameron Dancler. Everybody's talking 306 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: about him. But I kind of identified five guys here 307 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: that I think have stepped into stepped out of the 308 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: shadows into the forefront in a surprising way, and I 309 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: want to just bounce them off of you guys and 310 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: have you tell me what you think about that, and 311 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: tell me where you think our expectations should be with 312 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: these individuals as as they, you know, surprise people here 313 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: in camp. Let's start with the one that everybody's talking about, 314 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: Cameron Danceler. You know we've talked about him before on 315 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: the podcast. Everyone everyone who owns anything the color purple 316 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: seems to be talking about Cameron Danceler. But Chris will 317 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: start with you. I think the most unique thing about 318 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: Cameron Danceler is his size and length. And while he 319 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: ran a short, slower combine forty than you would expect 320 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: at four or five or whatever it might be, he 321 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: makes up for it with these long arms and this 322 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: tall body frame that that is pretty much the reason 323 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: why we drafted him. So I think that is the 324 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: thing that's has stood out so far in practice. It 325 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: stood out when he's guarding at him feeling every day 326 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 1: in and out, and he stands out over the first 327 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: round draft pick cornerback and Jeff Gladney for this exact reason. 328 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 1: One of the things that you just brought up there 329 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 1: is the thing that I was encouraged by, especially looking 330 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: through social media Vikings dot com and our social platforms 331 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:03,400 Speaker 1: had posted yesterday Adam Feeland making a great catch around 332 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: Cameron Danceler, but Danceler's reaction to it was essentially, you know, 333 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 1: I'm working with the best and he's going to make 334 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: me better. And I think that is a great attitude 335 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: to have, especially as a rookie where you're getting a 336 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: lot of praise. At the same point, you're going up 337 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: against some of the best in the NFL, let alone 338 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,199 Speaker 1: best in the world. And I think if guys like 339 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: Adam Feeling and going against him every day, you're learning 340 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: from him and trying to figure out what's this going 341 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: to feel like, or what's it like to go against 342 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 1: a guy of his caliber. When you start to face 343 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: week one against the Packers and you're looking at some 344 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: pretty top notch guys across from there and you have 345 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers thrown to him. He's one of those guys 346 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: that I think is going to learn exponentially as the 347 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: season continues, week by week by week, as long as 348 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: he keeps an open mind like that, you know, and 349 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 1: I had to hammer home on that Adam Feeling thing. 350 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: You know, Adam Feeling walking up to Zimmer and telling 351 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: him number twenty seven is going to be good, you know, 352 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: And that's my favorite part of camp. I remember it 353 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: with Randy Moss, and there will never be an example 354 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 1: like Randy Moss, but I remember just hearing them even 355 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: as a kid, hearing the buzz like on the news 356 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: and in player interviews, the way players reacted to the 357 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,239 Speaker 1: way Randy Moss looked in camp. So every year at 358 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: training camp, I always listened to hear stuff like that, 359 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: like Feeling going up to Zimmer and telling him he 360 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,479 Speaker 1: thinks Danceler is gonna be very good. And you know, 361 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: it kind of looks like we don't know what the 362 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: depth chart exactly is going to look like, but dancler 363 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: clearly is playing nearer above guys like Chris Boyd, like 364 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 1: you said, Corso Gladney and you know, and we don't 365 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: know where Holton Hill. And if Hughes decides to play Nicol, 366 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: there's gonna there might be an opportunity for him. And 367 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: I'm just really, really really excited because the other thing 368 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 1: is it's not he hasn't flashed on a day and 369 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 1: then kind of been silent, and then flashed on a 370 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: day and then kind of been silent. He's kind have 371 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: made plays every single day I'm not saying he's had 372 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: the best day every single day, but he's a guy 373 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: that's getting talked about every single day because he seems 374 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: to be making plays every single day. Let's go from Danceler, 375 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: a guy everybody's talking about, to a guy that I 376 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: think everybody should be talking about. Dakota Dozer is busting 377 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: heads and making noise on the offensive line. Chris. Yeah. 378 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: He has the connection with the Vikings run game coordinator 379 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 1: Rico Dennison, who came from the Jets two years ago. 380 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: He was with the Jets dacoded Dozer, and clearly mister 381 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: Dennison has something for Dacoded Dozer to say. He needs 382 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: to be taking the first team reps at the guard position. 383 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: And the Vikings lose Josh Klein at that right guard 384 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: spot in free agency this year, and Pat Elfine moves 385 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 1: from left guard over to right guard, so that leaves 386 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,880 Speaker 1: a big spot in the middle of this Vikings offensive line. 387 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: And it's been the veteran and Dakota Dozer who's been 388 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: taking those first team reps. And you also hear a 389 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,880 Speaker 1: guy like Aviante Collins who is also taking the first 390 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,399 Speaker 1: team reps at that spot. So two guys you wouldn't 391 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: really expect. I really have the backing of coach Kubiak 392 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: in Dennison. I think the best part on my end 393 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: is the fact, like you said, he is a veteran, 394 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: he knows what he's getting into. You can trust a 395 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: guy like that that's been around the league this long. 396 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: He's in his seventh season coming out of Furman, and 397 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: I think a guy like Dakota Dojer understands that he's 398 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: getting to the point where he has to make a move, 399 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: especially if he wants to be a starter on a 400 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: weekend and week out basis. And for me, seeing a 401 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,439 Speaker 1: guy like Dakota got Dozer taking that next step and 402 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,959 Speaker 1: basically just running with it, it's the best thing that 403 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: we could have had happened, because you can trust him. 404 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:50,679 Speaker 1: He's in the system, he knows how to play, he 405 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: knows what to expect. It's not going to be too 406 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: big for him. And if that's the case, and you 407 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: can get a veteran like Dakota to step up and 408 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: help solidify that line for the season, it's fantastic. Well, 409 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: let me hammer on two things that I hammer on 410 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: over and over and over on this show. One, you know, 411 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: I think alf Line moving to the right I think 412 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: will give him a chance to be more successful. And 413 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 1: I'm going to continue to be a big elf line 414 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: believer going into this season. Well, being a big ELF 415 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: line defender and believer, I can very much acknowledge his 416 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: struggles on the left side last year. And like I said, 417 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: I've said this often. Everybody likes to focus on guys 418 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: that go from being average players to superstars. Who makes 419 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: the jump from being fifteenth ranked at their position to 420 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: third ranked at their position equally as important as the 421 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: guys who make the jump to mid And if a 422 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: guy like the code of Dozer, if alf Line is 423 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: more comfortable at the right guard, and a guy like 424 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: the Code of Dozer comes in and performs as the 425 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: twentieth best at his position in the league, the eighteenth best, hell, 426 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: the sixteenth, you're looking at the same sort of upgrade 427 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,680 Speaker 1: from fifteen to one, you know, and obviously you want 428 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: the number one guy your league. But I'm just saying 429 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 1: upgrades come in a lot of different looks and a 430 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: lot of different ways that people don't always think about. 431 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,679 Speaker 1: They always just think about superstars. And the fact that 432 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: Dakota Dozier has basically won that spot or like, there's 433 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: not a lot of things that are certain in this 434 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: weird camp, but it feels like Dacoda Dozier has come in, 435 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: kicked ass and put himself in a really good position 436 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: to earn that spot. I think that says really good 437 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 1: things for our offensive line. Here's maybe the biggest surprise 438 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: everybody's psyched about, Justin Jefferson. I think Justin Jefferson is 439 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: going to play a serious role on this offense. BC 440 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: Johnson is showing up and showing out in camp, and 441 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: it'd be hard to not think that he's going to 442 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: be the number two receiver when the season starts. I 443 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: don't know how it'll shake up, but he's like it 444 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: in camp. Chris, Yeah, you talked about how feeling said 445 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: how great dancellers. Well, Kirk Cousins when he addressed the 446 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,239 Speaker 1: media said, the MVP of Vikings camp so far as 447 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 1: old BC Johnson, and I think it says a lot 448 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: about what BC Johnson continues to tell us in his interviews, 449 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: and that's every single night he would go home and 450 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: study the playbook for two hours last year during training camp. 451 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: That's why he got on the field. Is that's still 452 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: length of one Chris Corso sauce recipe cheepers. I don't 453 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: like to read. I could read a book for like 454 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: maybe five seconds. That is a lot. But that's but 455 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: you're exactly right. He's a dude, Chris right who you know? 456 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: Every this it's been this weird offseason and all this 457 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: dude has done has has been bury himself in what 458 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: he needs to get better. Yeah, my sauce will probably 459 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 1: take like five hours on a good sauce. No one cares, 460 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 1: No one cares, don't try to b and it. Don't 461 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: call it sauce Sundays. Stop it just tell us about 462 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: all the BC Johnson, well all of BC Johnson said 463 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: this year it only takes some thirty minutes to memorize 464 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: the plays is when he goes home and looks at 465 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 1: the playbook, that's how much easier it is. So so 466 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: he went from two hours having to spend two hours 467 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: on it to now he's at thirty minutes to get 468 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 1: himself caught up to speed. So it's basically what you're 469 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: telling me is his understanding has increased dramatically. The game 470 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: is slowing down for a little BC Johnson. He knows 471 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: where he has to be he has the play in 472 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: his head and then he can just go out and 473 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: play football. The best thing for me with BC is 474 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: seeing that leap from year one to year two. He 475 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,120 Speaker 1: showed that he could play in big moments in big 476 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 1: games last year by making some great catches. I remember 477 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: Detroit was a big, big game for him. But for 478 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:53,719 Speaker 1: someone like him to come in and year two and 479 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 1: see again another opportunity to jump up and increase his 480 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 1: playing time and contribute to this team. The fact that 481 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: some of the younger guys are actually going to BC 482 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: now asking essentially how did you do it and what 483 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:07,719 Speaker 1: are the keys that I should be playing with. I 484 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,120 Speaker 1: think a guy like BC can become one of those 485 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: other leaders within the locker room. Now that you had 486 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: essentially a top tier tandem that everyone in the league 487 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: was talking about. One of those guys leave town and 488 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: you still have Adam feeling here. You now have BC 489 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: potentially being that guy who can jump back up and 490 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: put his name in there to potentially be one of 491 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: the best tandems in the league. And you know, we 492 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: talked about the wide receiver depth on the show last week, 493 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: but I'll throw this in there with what we believe 494 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:37,360 Speaker 1: to be good supporting depth. You know, we've now seen 495 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 1: it twice. When a guy comes out of nowhere and 496 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: starts to show up a little bit, your initial impression 497 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: is like, oh, we might have a starting receiver on 498 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: our hands. And then when he really shows up, like 499 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: Diggs did and like Feeling did, it can change a team, 500 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: it can change an offense. So I love that BC 501 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: is showing up and looks capable and looks like you 502 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: could be our number two arter. That's already a huge 503 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 1: win for a seventh round pick. But if all of 504 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: a sudden we get into the season and you see 505 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: that uptick, you see a step into something special, all 506 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you go, oh, oh boy, we have 507 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: another special wide receiver. We have a first round pick, 508 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: we have this depth down the thing. I mean something 509 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: like that. If the BC Johnson uptick becomes a giant uptick, 510 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: it could be something really, really really exciting for Viking fans. 511 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: The last name on this list for this week's episode 512 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: is a name that I don't think any Viking fans 513 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: even new, like as of what a week and a 514 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: half ago. At the end of the twenty nineteen season, 515 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 1: the Vikings quietly signed former Buffalo Bill Eddie Yarbro And 516 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: due to opportunity with whether it be coronavirus, whether it 517 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: be players missing time for whatever, he has gotten a 518 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: chance to play with the Ones, and he's looked pretty 519 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: damn good. Chris. There's a lot of openings in the 520 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 1: Vikings defense left by Everson Griffin, left by free agent 521 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: acquisition Michael Pierce. So if you're a defensive end or 522 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: a defensive tackle and you are on this roster, there's 523 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: an opportunity for you. It doesn't matter who you are. 524 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: And this guy is really stepped up. He got picked 525 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: up last year on Harmon Watts, got hurt and never 526 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:23,400 Speaker 1: really saw the field at all, playing after playing sixteen 527 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 1: games with the Buffalo Bills in the previous season. So 528 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 1: we'll see what he can do. All these guys. I 529 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: look at Hercules Mataafa in the middle and say he 530 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: never really got a chance to do anything last year. 531 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 1: So all of these guys, like I said, if you're 532 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: a defensive tackle or a defensive end, Mike Zimmer likes 533 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: you if he's got you on this team. For me, 534 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: with Eddie, the fact that he wasn't Buffalo, he did 535 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: get some run there he's not a complete spring chicken. 536 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 1: And he's coming in here in his third year at 537 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: the age of twenty seven. I mean, he's coming in 538 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: here to again take his shot and to have a 539 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: guy like Everson leave and Daniel, you know, being and 540 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: off the field here during camp, They're going to get 541 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: some run. We're getting guys like a Foddy that we 542 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: tend to talk about early in camp and say, hey, 543 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: let's see what you know a guy like a Foddy 544 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: can do, or DJ want them or some of these 545 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: other guys. But the fact that Eddie now is the 546 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: one stepping up. These guys are across the board and 547 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: the attitude of if you are showing up and if 548 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: you can play, we are going to play you. And 549 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: I think if Eddie can solidify himself, especially you know, 550 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: given whatever is happening with Daniel, If if Daniel comes 551 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 1: back and he's playing, and you've got a guy like 552 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: Eddie that can rotate in like they love to do 553 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: on that defensive line all the time, it'll just mean 554 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: that they they're gonna have some some big hitters that 555 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: can constantly come back in fresh. So hopefully Eddie continues 556 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: to progress this training camp here going into the regular season. 557 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: I think you hit it correctly right on the head there, 558 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: Jay with the depth part, because you know a Foddy 559 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: Daniel DJ want him as the youngster, you know. But 560 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: the fact that Jalen Holmes has kicked back outside and 561 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: if he and Eddie Yarboro can provide that veteran depth 562 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: rotational impact and you can keep everybody fresh, that's what 563 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: a Mike Zimmer like. Fresh, healthy, ready to go. Like. 564 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: Full depth defensive lines are something that makes a Mike 565 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: Zimmer's defense go round. So you know, it might be 566 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: tougher news for the other couple of rookies on the 567 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:28,760 Speaker 1: defensive line, but I think it's great news for this 568 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 1: for this group as a whole to have him and 569 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: like I said, Jalen Holmes kind of showing up to 570 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: provide some veteran depth here. Well, let's let's break out 571 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: into other let's call it other NFL news. But it 572 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 1: certainly affects the vikings. ESPN's initial twenty twenty power rankings list. 573 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: It is out. We have it. Kansas City Chiefs one, 574 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: Baltimore Ravens two, forty nine Ers, three Saints four, Seahawks five, 575 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: Buccaneer six with the Tom Brady Gronk credibility gives them 576 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 1: a big boost. Aaron Rodgers and his merry band of 577 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: people in Green and Gold their number seven? How about 578 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: them Cowboys at number eight? The Tennessee Titans at nine, 579 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 1: and then your Minnesota Vikings at ten. And I've seen 580 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: people all over the map. I've seen people going, what 581 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: the hell are you thinking? They should not be at ten, 582 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 1: They should be at fifteen, they should be at eighteen. 583 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: And I've seen other people saying, what the hell are 584 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: you thinking? Chris angry or satisfied? That's my new bit 585 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: angry go ahead course, So Chris the Sauce Corps so 586 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: angry or satisfied? What is this? Skipping skippin Shannon? What 587 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 1: am I doing? What show am I running? I'm okay 588 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 1: with where the Vikings are at the number ten spot. 589 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: I think anywhere from six to ten is where the 590 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 1: Vikings should be. I think the top five is very 591 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: fair with this ESPM list. But I really, how do 592 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 1: you put the Tampa Bay Bucks at numbers just because 593 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: of what they got? I get it all You're you're 594 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 1: gonna put him at number six because all they got 595 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: was the greatest quarterback and tight end in the history 596 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 1: of professional football one a load up, go ahead, not 597 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: at the same level as they in their entire career. 598 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:24,960 Speaker 1: And this is what I wanted, This is what I 599 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 1: brought it up. This I wanted hot take New Jersey 600 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: Corso to rip into the into a Super Bowl credibility 601 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: down in Tampa Bay Jay. To me, number six is 602 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 1: also the one that caught my eye, and that was 603 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: the one I figured would turn into the talker on 604 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: this and I'm glad it has the biggest thing for 605 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: Tampa for me is they were eight and eight with 606 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 1: Jamis throwing you know, as many picks as he did 607 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:49,360 Speaker 1: touch on seven hundred. I think he threw seven hundred. Yeah, yeah, 608 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,880 Speaker 1: So so I you know, I understand that people are 609 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: excited about Tom and Gronk going down to Tampa, but 610 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: six is going to be one of those that's going 611 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 1: to be a show me before you can keep you 612 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,600 Speaker 1: can move them that high. For me, I think, you know, 613 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: you can have this argument of Green Bay, Dallas, Tennessee, Minnesota, 614 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 1: all of those teams you know, essentially in the playoff 615 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: hunt last season, and you can argue that Dallas got 616 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: a lot stronger with some of their extra weapons they 617 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: brought in Tennessee. You assume that Derrick Henry is going 618 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: to become a beast once again, and it just feels 619 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: like with them solidifying their quarterback play, that they're going 620 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: to be better. Green Bay. You know, they've got Aaron Rodgers, 621 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: so that's your X factor with the entire team. I 622 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 1: think it's fairly fair. Tampa's the one that's definitely the 623 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 1: show me team, but otherwise I think it is a 624 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:39,320 Speaker 1: very fair number ten for the Vikings at this point. 625 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:43,400 Speaker 1: Fairly fair. I agree with you, Jay, it is fairly fair. 626 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 1: You know, here's the thing I can hear. I can 627 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: hear the argument that the Vikings are ranked too high. 628 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:52,000 Speaker 1: I can see the outside concern. I can see somebody going, 629 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: you lost your three starting cornerbacks. Everything Griffin's gone, Stefan 630 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 1: Diggs is gone, and I know you guys love your replacements, 631 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 1: but they haven't proven anything yet. I can understand somebody 632 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: going the Vikings are too high. But I can also 633 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:11,399 Speaker 1: understand walking through five, six of those names and going 634 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: the Tennessee Titans. You know, we were a team that 635 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:16,879 Speaker 1: lived on one of the greatest running backs of all time, 636 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 1: and I know how hard that is to keep up 637 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: on a season end season out basis. I love Derrick Henry. 638 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:26,200 Speaker 1: He's so fun to watch, and I think they'll build 639 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: a little broader of an offense this year than just 640 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:31,840 Speaker 1: handing it to him and hoping that he can run 641 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:36,319 Speaker 1: for a thousand yards every three weeks. But there's a 642 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 1: world where I can see the Vikings jumping them the 643 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys and tell the Dallas Cowboys actually achieve the 644 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 1: potential set for them in any preseason, and I mean 645 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 1: any since the moment they won their last Super Bowl 646 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:53,919 Speaker 1: until they ever achieve the hype that's set up for them, 647 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,880 Speaker 1: I don't care. I don't. I don't think that like you, 648 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:01,120 Speaker 1: there's no part of me that thinks that they deserve 649 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 1: to be higher than my favorite team. And you know what, hell, 650 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:05,839 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put the Cowboys at number twenty just because 651 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: one of my best friends is a Cowboys fan and 652 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 1: he can eat it. The Green Bay Packers last year 653 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:14,920 Speaker 1: got the massive boost. The Vikings played a very difficult 654 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:17,799 Speaker 1: schedule and they didn't get a lot of bounces their way. 655 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 1: The Packers played a much easier schedule in my opinion, 656 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 1: and it seemed like every single bounce fell their way. 657 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: So I can see those teams thirteen and three and 658 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 1: ten and six, I can see those coming back to 659 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 1: the middle, and to me, it's not a no brainer 660 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 1: that one of them is better than the other. I'm 661 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,360 Speaker 1: different than you guys you want to talk about like 662 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:41,000 Speaker 1: until they prove it. Gronk and Brady have forever proved it. 663 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:44,879 Speaker 1: There's no world where I don't think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 664 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: just on name alone shouldn't be in the top five. 665 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:50,719 Speaker 1: But then you look at the Seahawks and the New 666 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,280 Speaker 1: Orleans Saints, both teams one we beat in the playoffs, 667 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 1: another team that we've just been within inches of beating 668 00:35:56,120 --> 00:36:00,200 Speaker 1: an important late season games all year long. There's only 669 00:36:00,239 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 1: three teams here that I feel like the Vikings are 670 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 1: really on the outside looking in to start the season. 671 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,520 Speaker 1: The Chiefs, the Ravens, and the Niners. Those were all 672 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 1: such excellent football teams last year. They've all had such 673 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:15,839 Speaker 1: small turnover and they all possess a lot of the 674 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,759 Speaker 1: same stability that the Vikings possess. So I can see 675 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:21,840 Speaker 1: why somebody would throw us way down the list. I 676 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 1: can sit here and argue why there's only three teams 677 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 1: that I would put head and shoulders out of our 678 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 1: category in the preseason. Well, one of the things that 679 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: you're going to get your arguments given this list, because 680 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:36,280 Speaker 1: a lot of these teams are on our schedule this season, 681 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 1: so you're going to find out, especially in this top ten, 682 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 1: let alone the next ten that are on this list, 683 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,880 Speaker 1: like the Vikings are playing a pretty good who's who 684 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 1: of top teams that were from the twenty nineteen season, 685 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:52,719 Speaker 1: And we always know that there's always top teams from 686 00:36:52,719 --> 00:36:54,880 Speaker 1: the year before that fall off, and there's always bottom 687 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:58,759 Speaker 1: feeders that move up, and then given everything else going 688 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 1: on with coronavirus and lack of fans, this season is 689 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 1: going to be absolutely wild as long as it stays 690 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:07,160 Speaker 1: on the tracks. Yeah, that's interesting to think about. The 691 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:11,640 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings have on their sixteen game schedule right now. 692 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:15,240 Speaker 1: They have six teams that are currently in the top 693 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:19,960 Speaker 1: ten in the preseason power ranking. That is a hell 694 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:24,560 Speaker 1: of a challenge they have facing them. All Right, let's 695 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: get out of us babbling like idiots, and let's talk 696 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:29,840 Speaker 1: to one of the guys that's going through training camp 697 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:34,480 Speaker 1: right now. Our very own Chris Corso interviewed Dan Chisena 698 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:37,840 Speaker 1: He is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Penn State. 699 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:41,080 Speaker 1: Chris sat down with him and we will let you 700 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:45,839 Speaker 1: guys listen to him talk about I think he's got 701 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:49,480 Speaker 1: an interesting history of running track and what he's doing 702 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:51,280 Speaker 1: to do his best to try to make the twenty 703 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:56,200 Speaker 1: twenty Vikings squad. What's up, Vikings fans. This is Chris 704 00:37:56,239 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 1: Corso here with the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. We have Dan 705 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:03,920 Speaker 1: Chis Senna joining the show. The undrafted man out of 706 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:08,239 Speaker 1: Penn State already turning some heads at Verizon Vikings training camp. 707 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,120 Speaker 1: What's going on, man, how's it going? Thanks for having me. So. 708 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,920 Speaker 1: The biggest bite that we've gotten about you so far 709 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 1: is that you were a sprinter at Penn State and 710 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:19,960 Speaker 1: voice of the Vikings Paul Allen has been talking about 711 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:24,000 Speaker 1: it on his radio show All Over Vikings Content that 712 00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:26,919 Speaker 1: you have this speed being a sprinter at Penn State. 713 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:30,759 Speaker 1: So how does that translate onto the football field? Yeah? So, 714 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:34,239 Speaker 1: like you mentioned, I ran track for several several years 715 00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:36,680 Speaker 1: of Penn State and I had a blast doing that 716 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,840 Speaker 1: and it's a great asset of mine, I think to 717 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:42,440 Speaker 1: be able to get out there and use that to 718 00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:45,560 Speaker 1: my advantage. Whatever ways I can, and you know, running routes, 719 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 1: running guys off, and just trying to use that to 720 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:51,439 Speaker 1: my advantage as best I can. Yeah. So I've seen 721 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 1: you've connected with Kirk Cousins on a deep ball or two. 722 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:56,719 Speaker 1: So what has that been like catching balls from him? 723 00:38:56,719 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 1: And and is that the best part of your game? 724 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:01,839 Speaker 1: The deep ball? It's been awesome, you know, catching balls 725 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:03,920 Speaker 1: Kirk and all the quarterbacks. They've been doing an awesome 726 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:06,480 Speaker 1: job and just trying to do my part and you know, 727 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:09,080 Speaker 1: getting too where they throw it and bringing it in. 728 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:11,840 Speaker 1: But I don't think you can just be fast. I 729 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,840 Speaker 1: don't think you can just catch de Paul. So um, well, 730 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:16,440 Speaker 1: you know it's good to be able to try and 731 00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:18,920 Speaker 1: run buy some guys. I think it's more important to 732 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 1: you know, trying to be a complete player, and you 733 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:23,800 Speaker 1: know that's what I've been trying to work on the past, 734 00:39:24,440 --> 00:39:26,400 Speaker 1: you know, a couple of years since since getting back 735 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:29,839 Speaker 1: into this all. Yeah. So there's a very brand new 736 00:39:29,920 --> 00:39:32,239 Speaker 1: wide receiver room for the Vikings this year. A lot 737 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:35,439 Speaker 1: of young players. We talked to BC Johnson last week 738 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:37,480 Speaker 1: and he said that you were just asking him like 739 00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:40,759 Speaker 1: great questions. Being one of the older guys in the 740 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:43,959 Speaker 1: room only twenty three years old for him. So what's 741 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:45,920 Speaker 1: it been like talking with guys like him and Adam 742 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:49,200 Speaker 1: Feeling in the Vikings wide receiver room. Yeah, the entire 743 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:52,400 Speaker 1: room has been so awesome and so helpful for UM, 744 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:54,319 Speaker 1: you know, all of us that that just came in 745 00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:57,360 Speaker 1: and UM, as you mentioned, I've been you know, asking 746 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 1: BC questions and asking Adam questions and be Kaj all 747 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:02,719 Speaker 1: the guys guys who have been there, and you know, 748 00:40:02,719 --> 00:40:04,799 Speaker 1: they know what it's like, they have that experience, and 749 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,759 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to take that beginner's mentality wherever I 750 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:09,879 Speaker 1: can and because I don't have it all figured out, 751 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:12,279 Speaker 1: and you know, these guys have been doing it at 752 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: a high level and so just trying to learn as 753 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:17,080 Speaker 1: much as I can. And they've been awesome. They've they've 754 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:20,920 Speaker 1: really helped everyone out and been really willing to do 755 00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 1: whatever they can to make us better as a unit. 756 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:27,000 Speaker 1: So when you see guys like Adam Feeling, Chad Baby, 757 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 1: BC Johnson as we mentioned, late round draft pick and 758 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 1: BC and then two undrafted guys make the fifty three 759 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:36,800 Speaker 1: man roster here, what does that say to you coming 760 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,480 Speaker 1: in as an undrafted guy and the opportunity that you 761 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:43,320 Speaker 1: have here. Yeah, I mean I think you know, coaches 762 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:45,040 Speaker 1: have said it. You know, it's they don't care where 763 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 1: you're drafted and stuff, and you see it with guys 764 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:49,359 Speaker 1: like that that have been able to earn their way 765 00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:50,880 Speaker 1: onto the field. And you know, for me, it's just 766 00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:52,640 Speaker 1: been about taking it one day at a time, controlling 767 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:54,560 Speaker 1: of what I can control and just going out and 768 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:56,880 Speaker 1: competing every day and just be proud of what I 769 00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:59,800 Speaker 1: put on film and let all that other stuff figure 770 00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:02,360 Speaker 1: its helf out and sort it out, because it's so 771 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:04,319 Speaker 1: much is out of my control. So I just want 772 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:06,319 Speaker 1: to be the best best version of myself that I 773 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:09,280 Speaker 1: can be every day. So you grew up in Pennsylvania 774 00:41:09,360 --> 00:41:13,120 Speaker 1: and you play wide receiver at Penn State. What was 775 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:15,719 Speaker 1: that like to get that call from Penn State, being 776 00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:18,200 Speaker 1: recruited by them and playing at one of the biggest 777 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:20,600 Speaker 1: college football programs in the country. I mean, it was 778 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:23,759 Speaker 1: such a blessing in my life. You know, grew up 779 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:26,040 Speaker 1: two and a half hours away, and you know, always 780 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:29,080 Speaker 1: watched Penn State games on TV and stuff, and you 781 00:41:29,160 --> 00:41:30,719 Speaker 1: know that that was my dream growing up, was to 782 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:32,440 Speaker 1: go to Penn State. And you know, be on the 783 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:34,480 Speaker 1: football team, and by the grace of God, I was 784 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:36,680 Speaker 1: able to do that and even get on the field 785 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:38,799 Speaker 1: a little bit. And I just I have so much 786 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:43,480 Speaker 1: love for that community and that university and the program. Obviously, 787 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,920 Speaker 1: who is your idol growing up in Pennsylvania playing football? 788 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:50,839 Speaker 1: I can only imagine who your idol was growing up. Oh, man, 789 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:55,080 Speaker 1: I don't know, honestly, I don't know. There was a 790 00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:57,440 Speaker 1: linebacker when I was really little by the name of 791 00:41:57,480 --> 00:42:00,879 Speaker 1: Dan Connor who my uncle coached in high school. And 792 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:03,360 Speaker 1: I met him when I was in like third or 793 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:05,959 Speaker 1: fourth grade, and he played for Penn State. And that's 794 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 1: really what started my love of football and love of 795 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,520 Speaker 1: Penn State, was that I got to meet this Penn 796 00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:14,640 Speaker 1: State football player and um that my uncle knew and stuff, 797 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:16,919 Speaker 1: so that that kind of like got the ball rolling. 798 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:20,319 Speaker 1: And then, you know, growing up, I wouldn't say I 799 00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 1: had one guy or another, but I just loved watching 800 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:26,239 Speaker 1: Penn State and college football and pro ball, and I 801 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:28,800 Speaker 1: just loved the game since since I was little playing 802 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:32,480 Speaker 1: at Beaver Stadium. That place is ginormous, Like it's bigger 803 00:42:32,520 --> 00:42:35,640 Speaker 1: than most NFL stadiums. So how that how does that 804 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:38,040 Speaker 1: prepare you for the NFL level, being able to play 805 00:42:38,080 --> 00:42:41,400 Speaker 1: on such a such a big stage like that. Yeah, no, 806 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:43,480 Speaker 1: I mean, as you mentioned, I think that's you know, 807 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,040 Speaker 1: from from my limited you know games that I've played, 808 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:48,239 Speaker 1: and I think I'm pretty biased, but I think that's 809 00:42:48,239 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 1: the best environment in college football, and fans there get 810 00:42:51,160 --> 00:42:53,839 Speaker 1: after it, and um it's it's it's awesome playing there 811 00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:56,919 Speaker 1: and tough environments there and tough environments on the road 812 00:42:57,000 --> 00:42:58,920 Speaker 1: that that I've been able to play in a little bit, 813 00:42:58,960 --> 00:43:01,200 Speaker 1: and you know that it all helps you know when 814 00:43:01,239 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 1: you've you've been in those moments and you've handled those 815 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:06,879 Speaker 1: situations and been able to keep your focus and still 816 00:43:06,880 --> 00:43:09,560 Speaker 1: like focus on the task at hand. So that way, 817 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:11,480 Speaker 1: when you're in that situation again, you know that you've 818 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:15,759 Speaker 1: been there. It's not new territory, and it's just gives 819 00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:17,680 Speaker 1: you a little, I guess a little more comfort in 820 00:43:17,719 --> 00:43:21,239 Speaker 1: those moments. James Franklin is one of the most prominent 821 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:24,000 Speaker 1: college coaches in the game today. He had some really 822 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:26,400 Speaker 1: good words about you when you signed with the Vikings 823 00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:29,000 Speaker 1: as an undrafted free agent. What was it like to 824 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:31,359 Speaker 1: play under him? I have nothing but so much love 825 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:35,360 Speaker 1: for coach Franklin. I mean, he gave me multiple opportunities 826 00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:37,960 Speaker 1: to be on that team. You know, first one, he 827 00:43:38,080 --> 00:43:39,759 Speaker 1: gave me a chance to be a preferred walk on 828 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:42,319 Speaker 1: coming out of high school. And then when I left 829 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:44,840 Speaker 1: and ran track for a couple of years and ultimately 830 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:47,200 Speaker 1: decided that I wanted to give football another shot. And 831 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:49,719 Speaker 1: when I approached him about coming back to the team, 832 00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:51,920 Speaker 1: he was all on board. He was happy to see me, 833 00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:55,200 Speaker 1: and which was I didn't know how that situation was 834 00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:59,360 Speaker 1: going to go. And so I'm so appreciative for those opportunities. 835 00:43:59,360 --> 00:44:02,040 Speaker 1: And throughout my time in the program, he's he's always 836 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:04,319 Speaker 1: been a big supporter of mine and it has really 837 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:06,560 Speaker 1: pushed me. And I can't say enough about him. I 838 00:44:06,600 --> 00:44:09,399 Speaker 1: love the guy and I'm thankful for all he's done 839 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:11,960 Speaker 1: in my life. So, looking at your college career, you 840 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:14,920 Speaker 1: won a ton of games at Penn State, I'm bringing 841 00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:17,239 Speaker 1: it up. The one game that I remember that you 842 00:44:17,360 --> 00:44:20,920 Speaker 1: lost was here playing the Gophers last season. That was 843 00:44:20,920 --> 00:44:23,520 Speaker 1: an incredible game back and forth. What was it like 844 00:44:23,640 --> 00:44:26,000 Speaker 1: to to compete with those guys and that that has 845 00:44:26,040 --> 00:44:28,160 Speaker 1: to be one of your first tastes of Minnesota. Yeah, 846 00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:30,640 Speaker 1: that was the first time that I was in the State, 847 00:44:30,680 --> 00:44:32,839 Speaker 1: and I don't really have much to say about the game. 848 00:44:32,840 --> 00:44:36,359 Speaker 1: I mean, we lost, and you guys, you know Minnesota one, 849 00:44:36,440 --> 00:44:38,839 Speaker 1: and you know they deserve to win. They played better 850 00:44:38,840 --> 00:44:41,400 Speaker 1: than us is what it is. But it was a 851 00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:43,880 Speaker 1: great environment. I mean the fans, they were awesome and 852 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:48,520 Speaker 1: ureat great atmosphere. Well, now those fans are on your side, 853 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:51,400 Speaker 1: they'll be cheering you on and hopefully cheering you on 854 00:44:51,480 --> 00:44:54,239 Speaker 1: in a Vikings uniform. So best of luck and at 855 00:44:54,360 --> 00:44:56,799 Speaker 1: Verizon Vikings Training Camp. And it was great to get 856 00:44:56,840 --> 00:44:58,960 Speaker 1: to know you today. Awesome. Thank you so much for 857 00:44:59,000 --> 00:45:02,719 Speaker 1: having me. Thank you so much for that, Chris and 858 00:45:03,360 --> 00:45:07,439 Speaker 1: and Dan Cesena for sitting down with us guys. Let's 859 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:11,160 Speaker 1: wrap things up here. Just quick information for our fans. 860 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:13,960 Speaker 1: There are all sorts of things to check out on 861 00:45:14,080 --> 00:45:17,600 Speaker 1: Vikings dot com, all of your latest Vikings news, daily 862 00:45:17,719 --> 00:45:22,120 Speaker 1: press conferences. Dom Capers had a presser that took place 863 00:45:22,120 --> 00:45:25,399 Speaker 1: on Tuesday where he talked about his evaluations on where 864 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:33,120 Speaker 1: the team is at defensively. You know our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, 865 00:45:33,160 --> 00:45:35,919 Speaker 1: you can get everything you need to end could ever 866 00:45:35,960 --> 00:45:40,120 Speaker 1: want to get from Verizon Vikings Training Camp. We're now 867 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:43,480 Speaker 1: just two weeks away from Vikings Packers taking place at 868 00:45:43,480 --> 00:45:47,000 Speaker 1: an empty US Bank Stadium, a chance for this team 869 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:50,120 Speaker 1: to kick off the season right with a win against 870 00:45:50,239 --> 00:45:53,239 Speaker 1: one of our biggest rivals and toughest opponents. Guys, any 871 00:45:53,239 --> 00:45:55,960 Speaker 1: final thoughts before we end the show, I'm just excited 872 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:58,200 Speaker 1: for football of you going. I don't believe it's going 873 00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:01,560 Speaker 1: to happen. I pray that it does. And that is all. 874 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:04,160 Speaker 1: There's been a lot of first in my career working 875 00:46:04,160 --> 00:46:07,080 Speaker 1: with this team, seeing a two ninety six game, going 876 00:46:07,080 --> 00:46:09,759 Speaker 1: to NC Championships, all of that. I don't think i'll 877 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:12,560 Speaker 1: ever again see what's about to happen in the next 878 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:15,920 Speaker 1: twenty weeks of the season, and that is actually something 879 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:19,120 Speaker 1: I am looking forward to, just to see what happens. 880 00:46:19,239 --> 00:46:21,319 Speaker 1: And it's been a lot of build up for how 881 00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:23,200 Speaker 1: many months that we've been trying to struggle through to 882 00:46:23,239 --> 00:46:25,759 Speaker 1: get two games. We're about to get to games, and 883 00:46:25,800 --> 00:46:28,239 Speaker 1: we're about to see what this all turns into, and 884 00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:30,799 Speaker 1: I honestly I can't wait. I mean, I think it's 885 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:33,080 Speaker 1: clear that there's going to be a week one. I 886 00:46:33,160 --> 00:46:35,840 Speaker 1: think that at this point is very clear. It seems 887 00:46:35,880 --> 00:46:39,440 Speaker 1: like there is going to be a week one, and guys, 888 00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:43,319 Speaker 1: I gotta tell you, I am really intrigued. We haven't 889 00:46:43,320 --> 00:46:46,360 Speaker 1: seen anything. There's no preseason, we haven't seen anybody really 890 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:49,480 Speaker 1: on the field, and any real competitive situations that aren't 891 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:54,040 Speaker 1: padded practices. I cannot wait to see what it looks 892 00:46:54,080 --> 00:46:57,080 Speaker 1: like when these guys step out onto the field for 893 00:46:57,120 --> 00:47:01,640 Speaker 1: the first time since last January December January for different 894 00:47:01,640 --> 00:47:04,719 Speaker 1: teams and just have to start playing football again. I 895 00:47:04,760 --> 00:47:07,759 Speaker 1: think it's going to be a really, really interesting experiment 896 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:10,839 Speaker 1: and I absolutely can't wait for it. Thank you guys 897 00:47:10,880 --> 00:47:14,000 Speaker 1: so much for tuning in. We will see you guys 898 00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:15,400 Speaker 1: next week.