1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: Welcome back to another episode of MVP, the official Minnesota 2 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: Vikings podcast. 3 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Tamum Everick, coming at. 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: You from the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center Radio studio. 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: The Vikings kicked off the preseason last Saturday with a 6 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: twenty to ten victory over the Houston Texans. The team 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: practice on Monday, held meetings on Tuesday, and just wrapped 8 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: up hosting joint practices. 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: With the New England Patriots. 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: To hear you guys up for Saturday's preseason game against 11 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: the Pats, we have two special guests on this episode. 12 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: On Wednesday, we sat down with Patriots reporter and analyst 13 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: Evan Lazar to dive into the storylines and takeaways. 14 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: But first we're gonna hear from. 15 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 1: One of the most respected football journalists, the athletics senior 16 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: NFL writer Jordan Rodrig. She has some exciting pieces coming 17 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: out on her website, but she's also followed the Los 18 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: Angeles Rams beat for several years, so she knows head 19 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: coach Kevin O'Connell and i'll lot of his staff very well. 20 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: So let's go outside to our conversation with Jordan. Jordan, 21 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: we are so excited to have you. You are going 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: to also be a part of our Voyage series. 23 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 3: I'm so excited to be here. 24 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 4: I keep remarking on, like, how gorgeous the building is. 25 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 4: I have the right coffee, apparently I brought that in today. 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 4: I complimented the airport. I'm basically a Minnesota resident now, 27 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 4: so that's. 28 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 2: Very true, compliment our Caribou coffee. We're good to go. 29 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, but you know, bringing you here, a lot of 30 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: ties that you have from your journalistic background covering the Rams. 31 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: You know, Kevin O'Connell and a lot of people that 32 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: are building really well why come out this year? Are 33 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: you working on something special? 34 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, a couple of things, and everyone's been so gracious 35 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 4: to help me out with those things. I think that 36 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 4: this is a team that's really on the forefront of 37 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 4: a lot of ideas that are important in the. 38 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: NFL and football right now. 39 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 4: Overall, Kevin O'Connell certainly on the offensive side, but also 40 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 4: on the defensive side with what Brian Flores is doing 41 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 4: with the most radical defense in the NFL right now. 42 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 4: And it's also becoming a quarterback development factory and that'll be. 43 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 3: Really interesting to see with with. 44 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 4: JJ McCarthy and then overall the organization is a fascinating 45 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 4: study in the combination of team building and modern yet 46 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 4: old school culture at the same time, it's just a 47 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 4: fascinating place to be. When I was organizing my training 48 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 4: camp schedule this year, I was like, I got to 49 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 4: spend as much time as possible out there. 50 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, it kind of sounds like you come here to 51 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: be a bit of a sponge. When you mentioned the 52 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: hot word quarterback development, and so obviously JJ McCarthy, Kevin O'Connell, 53 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: they're very excited about that. JJ McCarthy wanting to be 54 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: here and only here. He's made that very clear. So 55 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: how have you seen that play out from your vantage 56 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: point being more of like on the national level. 57 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 3: It's interesting. 58 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 4: I don't think that the outside is as patient with 59 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 4: quarterbacks as they should be. What's kind of neat is 60 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 4: in here in Minnesota they are very patient with the 61 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 4: quarterback development process. It is the perfect place for a 62 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 4: quarterback to get not only the master's degree, but the 63 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 4: PhD and the five hundred and six hundred level coursework 64 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 4: on being a quarterback and everything that it means in 65 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 4: the NFL right now. And I think it's really interesting 66 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 4: because there is such a focus and a care on 67 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 4: specifically that development. It's going to be so important that 68 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 4: JJ McCarthy gets has all of the right steps in 69 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 4: place for him as he continues to grow, and that 70 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 4: he sort of shielded a little bit away from like 71 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 4: the national people, and he shielded a little bit away 72 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 4: from the expectations, because the expectation is to learn, it's 73 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 4: to grow, it's to develop. Now, when you have a 74 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 4: coach like Kevin O'Connell, coordinator like West Phillips, you're going 75 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 4: to obviously have some advantages. 76 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 3: You're going to fast track a little bit in some 77 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 3: of that development. 78 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 4: But it's so important to strike that balance of competition 79 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 4: and going and trying to win football games and being 80 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 4: this modern and very explosive scheme that they've had while 81 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 4: also not skipping any steps for that young quarterback. And 82 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 4: I think striking that balance has been a fascinating study, 83 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 4: not just this year but last year too, trying to 84 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 4: balance or winning a lot of football games. You know, 85 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 4: if you're the Vikings and then you're also developing a 86 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 4: young quarterback at the same time behind the scenes. So 87 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 4: it's so interesting to me this sort of two year 88 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 4: process and now first year really on the field. It's 89 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 4: been interesting and you can kind of see him growing 90 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 4: in confidence as time passes, which I think is important 91 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 4: too for young guy. 92 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 3: Why do you. 93 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: Think Kevin O'Connell is able to strike that balance. 94 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 4: I think he understands quarterbacks. I mean, obviously from his 95 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 4: own experience. I have always had this theory about him, 96 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 4: from watching him work with veterans and young players, players 97 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 4: who are struggling and need to revive their career, or 98 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 4: players who are on maybe the back five years of 99 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 4: their career and want to go push to the next 100 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 4: level for the first time. It's like he wants to 101 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 4: be who he didn't have as a coach, and he 102 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 4: had some great coaches, but he wants to that extra 103 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 4: step forward. That level of education, combined with understanding of 104 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 4: the player as a player as a person, how you 105 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 4: can get at the most out of that person without 106 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 4: making them feel as if they exist to be have 107 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 4: the most gotten out of them, if that makes sense, 108 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 4: Like a very non transactional relationship. How you can grow 109 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 4: somebody while building their confidence without being unrealistic with them, 110 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 4: while being brutal on them, sometimes being tough on them, 111 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 4: but also with the expectation that that's functional and that's 112 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 4: necessary for growth. I think that he's always tried to 113 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 4: be that person for the quarterbacks he's worked with specifically, 114 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 4: and it just so happens that he can call a 115 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 4: really good offense and build a really good culture. So yeah, 116 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 4: that's why he's a head coach. 117 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 3: But I think that element of it. 118 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 4: We're starting to understand more about the position than I 119 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 4: think we used to in terms of all the little 120 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 4: nuances of it, and Kevin is really at the forefront 121 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 4: of sort of preaching that. 122 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 2: That's so interesting that you say that. And I think 123 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: another thing. 124 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: We all know he likes to throw the ball right, 125 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: but he has really tried to We are that league now, 126 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: but he's also trying to build it off of a 127 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: better run game. He says, talks about an improved run 128 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: game over and over again. When you look at the 129 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: pieces the Vikings have added this offseason, how much did 130 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: that reflect that commitment. 131 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 4: I mean, sneaking Jordan Mason out of San Francisco in 132 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 4: the dead of night has got to be one of 133 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 4: the most objectively funny things in terms of like, how 134 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 4: did everyone just let that happen? Because I think He's 135 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 4: a perfect fit for this system. You know, Kevin has 136 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 4: talked about wanting to run the ball, and it just 137 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 4: hasn't quite in the year's past, hasn't quite gotten to 138 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 4: the level that is required to really make his offense 139 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 4: sing the way that he wants it to. Despite the 140 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 4: impressive statistics in the past game and the you know, 141 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 4: not league low stats in the run game, but certainly 142 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 4: you want to lift that floor a little bit. And 143 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 4: I think not only with the personnel additions, but also 144 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 4: really committing to it, really committing to that physicality, really 145 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 4: committing to trying to move people at the line of scrimmage, 146 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 4: make identifying that as a resource that was needed as well, 147 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 4: and then finding a running back who just fits. He 148 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 4: just fits here, he just works. And I think that 149 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 4: that's going to be really interesting to watch that come 150 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 4: to life, and it has to. That's the best thing 151 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 4: JJ McCarthy can have is a stable run game. 152 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: Yes, definitely, And obviously we'll conversely talk about the defensive 153 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: side of things. Brian Flores back at the Helm, that 154 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: consistency in the building for a lot of those guys, 155 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: and to think that Jonathan Grenard and Andrew Vank Gingkle 156 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: is their first year in this scheme. Obviously Van Goingle 157 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: a little bit more experienced from Miami, and now they're 158 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: all going. 159 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: Into year two. 160 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: You've got Dallas Turner, the additions in the front and 161 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: the interior defensive line. What are the expectations for this group? 162 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: Can they take a step forward? 163 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 4: It's so interesting that they already came in so high 164 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 4: and now they're like preparing to exit the atmosphere right now. 165 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 3: I mean this defense. 166 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 4: The first day that I was here watching practice, I sat, 167 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 4: I took an all twenty two look behind the defensive 168 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 4: field and I just charted the entire thing. 169 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 3: I position movements and drew arrows where all the players were. 170 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 4: Moving and rotating and all of these pre snap and 171 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 4: post snap looks that they show. And it is terrifying. 172 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 4: I'll just say that objectively, but it is so much fun. 173 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 4: It's a beautiful thing to watch. How alive this defense is. 174 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 4: It is it has like a heartbeat collectively, and that's 175 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 4: something that's so important. And we talk about analytics, we 176 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 4: talk about stats, we talk about all these things technique 177 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 4: and scheme and all this, but having a defense that 178 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 4: is its own shared heartbeat, that play as players, like say, 179 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 4: play on a line together where you have so much 180 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 4: of this nonverbal communication that's necessary to actually make this 181 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 4: defense come to life. Veteran players and players who are 182 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 4: such fines, homegrown fines. I think of Josh Mattelis, who 183 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 4: is just the perfect do it all player for this 184 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 4: defense and was just sort of biding his time and 185 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 4: waiting for his opportunity within this own the same roster. 186 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 4: And it's a beautiful thing when you have a mix 187 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 4: of play who believe in what they're doing. And oh, 188 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 4: by the way, it is terrifying watching these guys come 189 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 4: off the line of scrimmage. I mean, the pass rush 190 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 4: was already good. I mean, okay, let's just add more people. 191 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:13,959 Speaker 4: How about that? 192 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 3: Like so they just keep letting them do it? You know, yes, 193 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 3: they do so. 194 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: I guess with that being said, what are your expectations 195 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: for this Minnesota Vikings team? 196 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: What can they accomplish this year? 197 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 3: Yeah? 198 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 4: I think that because the nature of a young quarterback 199 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 4: who's developing, you're gonna see the defense have to lead 200 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 4: the way I think right away in these early months, 201 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 4: you're gonna have to see them tone set and you 202 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 4: want that if you're this culture that they've built together 203 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 4: under Kevin and Brian Flores as a collaboration. You want 204 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 4: to be able to lean on that group as the 205 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 4: ones who are going to tone set your. 206 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 3: Start out of the gate. 207 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 4: And as you get settled, as you're the young quarterback, 208 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 4: and as you understand what it is like to play 209 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 4: in real NFL games that count for something over the 210 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 4: course of time, and you settle into your habits and 211 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 4: you settle into your workflow, that's when I think you're 212 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 4: gonna start to see the wind come out into the 213 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 4: sales of the offense a little bit. 214 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 3: I don't think that they will be bad out of 215 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 3: the gate. 216 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 4: I think that their floor is very very high, certainly 217 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 4: on both sides of the ball. But this offense, even 218 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 4: with the unknown at quarterbacks, still extremely high floor for them. 219 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 4: But you are going to see I think a JJ 220 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 4: McCarthy who's going to start feeling more confident, who's going 221 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 4: to start to have a little bit of that gamer 222 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 4: come out of him as time passes, because that's what 223 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 4: the culture is here. And I think that's important to 224 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 4: be patient. If you're a fan with reasonable expectation, this 225 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 4: is still going to be a very good offense right away, 226 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 4: but to understand that once the collective comes together, once 227 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 4: the offense and the defense meet each other during that 228 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 4: time of year, this is going to be one of 229 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 4: the best teams in football. 230 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 3: I have no doubt about that. 231 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: Well, thank you so much, love the optimism, and thanks 232 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: for coming to visit us here. We really enjoyed it. 233 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: You can look for more of her work at the 234 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: Athletic dot com. Jordan Rodger, thank you again. 235 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure. 236 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: We've got to take a quick break here on MVP, 237 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: but we've got Patriots writer Evan Lazar after the BREAKO 238 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,559 Speaker 1: Blonde Montage is Twin City's premieer salon and spa destination 239 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: and proud official hair sponsor of the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders, 240 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 1: with three convenient locations any Dinah, Woodbury and Chan Hassen. 241 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 2: There's a spalon close to you. 242 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: Visit online at spelon dot com. Thanks for listening to MVP. 243 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: Up next, we have our second guest of the episode. 244 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: Patriots reporter and analyst Evan Lazard, checks in with us 245 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: from Trading Camp. Well, Evan, thank you so much for 246 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: joining us today. 247 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 5: Happy to be here. 248 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 2: I know, you've had a long day so far. 249 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: You wake up, you walk the short walk from the 250 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: Omni Hotel over here to the facility. Yeah, what were 251 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: your first impressions of TCO twin Cy's Orthopedics Performance Center 252 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: and the Viking setup that we got going on? 253 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 5: This is impressive. It's really impressive. 254 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 6: And we had heard about how impressive it was from 255 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 6: the player surveys and things like that, so we knew 256 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 6: we were coming to a cool facility and we were 257 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 6: all wondering compare it to the Raiders and the Dolphins 258 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 6: also have great facilities. 259 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 5: You guys might have the number one spot. This is 260 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 5: a great setup. 261 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 2: He hasn't seen it all yet, no, but it is. 262 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 2: It is really really fun. 263 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: I think to see how other players, excuse me, how 264 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: their teams, you know, run their practice, how they how 265 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: they're set up, where the players go, and it's it's 266 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: from your point of view. The ability for your team, 267 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: the Patriots, to uproot everything they've been doing at camp 268 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: and bring it on the road here. 269 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 2: That must have been a really big lift. 270 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, one hundred percent. 271 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 6: I mean we took two plans to get here, so 272 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 6: there was a lot of us and a lot of equipment, 273 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 6: and I will just say that our equipment stuff is 274 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 6: just incredible, and we do a lot of really great 275 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 6: work trying to amplify that and show them behind the 276 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 6: scenes with our video team and stuff like that. And 277 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 6: it's fascinating to watch them work and at the long 278 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 6: hours in the season that they put in. Sometimes you're 279 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 6: not going home, like during regular season weeks and stuff 280 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 6: like that. So it's incredible to see how they uproot everything. 281 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 6: And I'm sure they I think they ship a lot 282 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 6: of stuff ahead of time to try to get ahead 283 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 6: of it. But over at the OMNI, they have rooms 284 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 6: for each position group and then everybody's got a hotel 285 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 6: room obviously, so there's a whole setup. Now we kind 286 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 6: of took over the hotel for the week, so it's cool. 287 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 3: That is really cool. 288 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: At least it's convenient, Yes, exactly, not too far, it's great. 289 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: So your first observations of camp as far as like Erthio's, 290 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 1: everyone seemed to be gelling well, not too many moments 291 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: where you were a little worried it would get too overheated. 292 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 2: Things like that. Everything seemed to be pretty well. 293 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 5: What were your thoughts on it? 294 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, it was a really good competitive practice, and 295 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 6: I think from a Patriots perspective, it's refreshing to be 296 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,079 Speaker 6: able to say that there was a back and forth, 297 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 6: because frankly, the last couple of years, there hasn't been 298 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 6: as much of that in some of these joint practices 299 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 6: and the practice that we all go back to last year, 300 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 6: the Eagles came to Foxborough for a joint practice and 301 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 6: they took it to us pretty good, and it was 302 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,079 Speaker 6: very clear that one team was about to win the 303 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 6: Super Bowl and one team was about to pick in 304 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 6: the top five. So the fact that these practices last 305 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 6: week with the Commanders and then today with Minnesota have 306 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 6: been competitive and the Patriots have made some plays and 307 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 6: the Vikings certainly made some plays today, that's a good 308 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 6: sign of progress for Mike Rabel, who's also been fantastic 309 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 6: and has just been a ton of fun. So in general, 310 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 6: I would say the team's mood, everything around the team 311 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 6: is very very positive right now. But as Rabel has 312 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 6: said in the past, we haven't played any games yet, 313 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 6: haven't lost any games yet, so we'll see how it goes. 314 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: It's funny I covered the Titans for three years when 315 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: Mike Rabel was with the team. So I feel like 316 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: a lot of his isms are still the same. The 317 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: humor is still there. If you watch his press conference, 318 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: the humor is still there. 319 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 4: Yeah. 320 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 3: And I love that he. 321 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: Was asked about Kevin O'Connell and their time on the 322 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: Patriots together and he's like, well, yeah, I'll tell you 323 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: what I said about Cliff Kingsbury. He's no Tom Brady. 324 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: But it is kind of interesting to see these guys 325 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: that have been in the league former coaches become head coaches. 326 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: And obviously it's worked before, and I wanted to kind 327 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: of get your perspective on the way that the Patriots 328 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: have changed from obviously Belichick to Girod Mayo to now 329 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: Mike Rabel, Like how that transition has been for you guys. 330 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, I would say that obviously Mayo and Rabel are 331 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 6: cut from the same cloth as Belichick, so they have 332 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 6: some elements about them that are very much like Bill. 333 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 6: But the bad thing I with Rabel that we have 334 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 6: noticed is just his knowledge of every single aspect of 335 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 6: the organization, not just x's and o's or you know, 336 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 6: being able to motivate guys, but also just how to 337 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 6: run a ship. You know, how to steer the ship 338 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 6: in the right direction, and that stabilization has been felt 339 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 6: around the entire team, which has been really good. He 340 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 6: does like to bust chops, which is fun for us. 341 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 6: Sometimes you got to be on your toes. But I 342 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 6: would say that is the number one thing that stands 343 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 6: out is that he's got his hand in everything, and 344 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 6: he's got that ability a lot like Belichick did to 345 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 6: really be a CEO of the football team. And you know, 346 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 6: he's a great excess in O his mine too, But 347 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 6: that's a thing from a head coach perspective. And then 348 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 6: I would also just say, you know, one of his 349 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 6: non negotiables the day that he got hired and was introduced, 350 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 6: one of the things that he said was that he 351 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 6: wants the team to play with great effort and finish. 352 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 6: Those are two buzzwords that they're right up on in 353 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 6: the meeting rooms and things like that at Jillette Stadium. 354 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 6: So going and seeing you know, them put it a 355 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 6: pretty good performance together against Washington in the first preseason game, 356 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 6: and then today the effort that they put, you know, 357 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 6: against the Vikings that is rubbing off on the players 358 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 6: and you can sort of see the team starting to 359 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 6: take on his identity effort in finish. 360 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: That's something that I think this administration here at the 361 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: Vikings also really really emphasizes. Could be from the whole 362 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: coaching background of to O'Connell's time in New England, but 363 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: I do think it's really appropriate or appropriate that you 364 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 1: bring that up as far as how it applied to 365 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: today's practices, because no matter what if it looked like 366 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: it was gonna be a tackle, there was no contact. 367 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: They allowed players to finish all the way to the end, 368 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: which provided some exciting moments. Mac Collins with the touchdown 369 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: and the ball punting. 370 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 5: Yes. 371 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: And then I was on the far side, so I 372 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: was looking more at the Vikings offense. But then all 373 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 1: of a sudden, I see j Ward with an interception 374 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: and he punted the ball too, So it was like 375 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: paying back. I guess to each other, what were your observations? 376 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: I saw you watching the Patriots offense against the Vikings 377 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: number one defense. What are your observations from that side 378 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: of the field. 379 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 6: Yeah, so I actually my partner in crime, Mike do So. 380 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,360 Speaker 6: He's a big defense guy and I'm a big offense guy. 381 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 5: So it works. 382 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 6: He goes and watches the defense and I watched the 383 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 6: offense and then we come together and compare notes at 384 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 6: the end. But in terms of the Vikings defense, he 385 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 6: can't talk about this practice in my opinion, and not 386 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 6: talk about the pressure that was on Drake May. The 387 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 6: Vikings really did put a lot of pressure on him. 388 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,399 Speaker 6: It's always difficult in practice. Was it a sack what 389 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 6: you have gotten out of there? You know, those types 390 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 6: of things. But there were four or five times where 391 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,199 Speaker 6: it seemed like Drake May was in the grasp of 392 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 6: a Viking defender. You know, you guys know the names 393 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 6: Greenherd and Hargrave and Dallas Turner and all those guys. 394 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 6: Brian Flores obviously schemes up a great defense and that 395 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 6: was a big challenge the Patriots. On Monday during their 396 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 6: practice back home, they actually did some in game in 397 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 6: season scripting to game plan Brian Flores's defense, and we asked, 398 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 6: you know, Vrabel about it this morning, and he said 399 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 6: he thought it would be unfair for it to be 400 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 6: the first time that the offense was looking at this 401 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 6: type of defense to be here and joint practices on 402 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 6: Wednesday and Thursday, so they actually did some scout team 403 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 6: work on Monday It was the first time they had 404 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 6: done that all training camp to try to get ready 405 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 6: for Brian Flores because they knew how exotic and how 406 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 6: different the scheme was going to be. That tells you 407 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 6: right there how much respect the Patriots coaching staff has 408 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 6: for Brian Flores. So it was a challenge, absolutely a challenge. 409 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, just one of the many names for the crossovers 410 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 1: between the Vikings and the Patriots right now. So I 411 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: think I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Stefan Diggs 412 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 1: And you said, you're an offensive guy. So what's it 413 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: been like with Digs, who obviously is mister Minneapolis miracle himself. Yeah. 414 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 6: Absolutely, he's pretty loved around here, I would assume, which 415 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,919 Speaker 6: for a good reason. So he's been obviously on this 416 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 6: little bit of a plan with the ACL and coming 417 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 6: back from the ASL. But I have just been wowed 418 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 6: by how quickly he has recovered from the injury. I 419 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 6: thought that there was no chance he would be practicing 420 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 6: in full in training camp, and he was out there, 421 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 6: no pup list, nothing, day one a training camp and 422 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 6: he was healthy and ready to go, which is incredible. 423 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 6: We went through this with Kendrick boorran ourselves a year ago, 424 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 6: and it took Kendrick a long time to get back 425 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 6: on the field, and he missed most of training camp, 426 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 6: and the injuries happened right around the same time in 427 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 6: October of this previous season. So to put those against 428 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 6: one another and see how quickly Digs his bounce back 429 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 6: has been incredible. 430 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 5: There are times where. 431 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 6: I feel like practice he's he's Stefon Diggs and he 432 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 6: knows that he'll be ready to go when the games 433 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 6: actually start, the count and things like that. But then 434 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 6: all of a sudden, he'll turn it on and for 435 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,360 Speaker 6: a period, you know, a series of plays or one 436 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 6: on ones or seven on sevens like he did today, 437 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 6: and you start to see that old Steph Diggs come out, 438 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 6: and he's just the best player on the field, you know, 439 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 6: in those moments. As a Patriots reporter and you know, fan, 440 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 6: it's pretty cool to have the Patriots with the receiver 441 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 6: of his caliber, because it's been a while since we 442 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 6: could say that, yeah, and it's it's nice to see. 443 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,639 Speaker 6: I would say he's probably the best receiver of the 444 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 6: Patriots have had since Julian Edelman retired and Julian Edelman 445 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 6: retired in twenty twenty, so it's been that long. Yeah, 446 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 6: so it's been a while. He's actually going into our 447 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 6: team Hall of Fame next month. That's how long it's been. No, 448 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 6: not that second perfect. 449 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 5: Yeah. Yeah, so it's cool. 450 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: Well, that's so interesting you say that because you obviously 451 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 1: take Drake May in the first round of the draft 452 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: last year, and you want to be able to put 453 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: a quarterback in a manageable situation and set them up 454 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: for success. It's something that Kevin O'Connell really has emphasized 455 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: for us this offseason because he says so much of 456 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: the pieces they added on the line and they have 457 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 1: so many weapons, and so really that quarterback position like 458 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: manage the game, do your job, do what's necessary for 459 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: you because you have all these veteran pieces around you. 460 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 2: Whereas Drake May didn't really. 461 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,239 Speaker 1: Have that situation as much, but now he has to 462 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: find digs right. However, he really had a fantastic rookie 463 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: campaign even given that situation. How have you seen him mature? 464 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: I guess in this camp, especially now that maybe he'll 465 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: have a little bit more of a weapon out there. 466 00:21:58,720 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 4: Yeah. 467 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 6: Yeah, it's a great question. And then it's cool to see. 468 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 6: Last week we had Daniels in town, Jade and Daniels's training. 469 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 6: This week we're going up against JJ. So it's like 470 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 6: the twenty twenty four rookie class up against one another 471 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 6: every single week. And so that's been cool to see 472 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 6: what the progress and where everybody. 473 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 2: Is and yeah, that's a stack, yeah. 474 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 6: Right, And I think it's similar to what I've heard about, 475 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 6: you know, JJ McCarthy, where it's not the development is 476 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 6: not linear, right, It's not like Drake May's arrow is 477 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 6: always pointed upwards and every single day is great or 478 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,439 Speaker 6: the other way, you know, hopefully not as well. But 479 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 6: it's not like that. It's there are some peaks and 480 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 6: valleys to his development. But with Josh McDaniels now back 481 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 6: with the Patriots, I think there's a lot of optimism 482 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 6: of Josh's ability to develop a quarterback and work with 483 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 6: quarterbacks and things like that. So the difference I was 484 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 6: between Drake this year and last year's there's a lot 485 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 6: more on his plate at the line of scrimmage in 486 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 6: this offense than the old offense that he was in 487 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 6: as a rookie. As a rookie under Alex Van Pelt, 488 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 6: the center controlled the line of scrimmage and the center 489 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 6: was making all the calls and changing all the protections 490 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,400 Speaker 6: and the mic points and all that stuff. Now that's 491 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 6: on the quarterback, So that's all on Drake May. So 492 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 6: it's a situation where we're all interested to see how 493 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 6: he handles that, because, honestly, Tom Brady was Tom Brady, 494 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 6: and the fact that he could get up there and 495 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 6: he could be that field general and get everybody pointed 496 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 6: in the right direction was an elite trade of his. 497 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 6: So to put that on a second year quarterback who's 498 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 6: a different player and just a different guy is a 499 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 6: question mark. I think for the Patriots moving forward, how 500 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 6: much do they want to put on his plate. They'll 501 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 6: have to balance that. But he's had some moments, just 502 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 6: like he had his rookie season where you see that 503 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:46,640 Speaker 6: franchise quarterback potential. Consistency is the name of the game, 504 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 6: and he talks about it all the time. Can they 505 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 6: be consistent down to down because he can make throws 506 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 6: that are rare, you know, that are top five, top 507 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 6: ten quarterback in the league type of throws, but he 508 00:23:57,920 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 6: needs to be more consistent. 509 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: New center. I mean, that's the same one. It's a 510 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: name that Vikings fans will find very familiar. Garrett Bradberry 511 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: is the starting center right now on the Patriots depth chart. 512 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,920 Speaker 1: How have you seen their relationship blossom? 513 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, I really enjoyed getting to cover Garrett Bradberry. He's 514 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 6: been a really good quote and just a cool guy 515 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 6: to be fun. Yeah, And he's he's been really a 516 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 6: pros pro since he got to New England. And I 517 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 6: think he's taking a lot of pride in the fact 518 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 6: that he knows that there's a young quarterback back there 519 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:31,440 Speaker 6: and trying to help Drake May along here and all 520 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 6: those types of things. And I also think that way 521 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 6: it ended here like Garrett Bradbury has something to prove 522 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 6: himself about that he still belongs in this league and 523 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 6: that he's still a starting caliber player in the league. 524 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 6: So there's a little bit of, you know, both those 525 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 6: buckets for Garrett Bradbury right now. But I've seen him 526 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 6: really try his best to take Drake May under his wing. 527 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 6: And in some ways, as I was talking about the 528 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,640 Speaker 6: way that the scheme works in terms of the setup, 529 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 6: I do think Garrett Bradbury's had to pull back a 530 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 6: little bit because it's not his responsibility necessarily to have 531 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 6: that final say so, that's been a fun conversation with him, 532 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 6: where he's like, this is the least amount of pre 533 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:12,199 Speaker 6: snap responsibility I've ever had, you know, and trying to 534 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:14,639 Speaker 6: balance that with what he's done in the past. 535 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 3: Well that's pretty cool. 536 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was such a great guy. 537 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 3: I love the guys. 538 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 1: Got to see him today, which is Wednesday, we're taping this. 539 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: Got to see a lot of I think he made 540 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: his rounds and spoke to the media as well today, 541 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: said hello to everyone. 542 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 2: Let's look ahead to Saturday. 543 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: Is there a name that or a position metal that 544 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: people on the Vikings, you know, camp should have their 545 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 1: eye on when they're watching the preseason game. 546 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 6: So wide receiver is always going to be a question 547 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 6: for the Patriots or an area of You can write 548 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 6: a piece about wide receivers and it will click better 549 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 6: than any piece if any position, because people in New 550 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 6: England are just starving for them to have good receivers. 551 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 5: Again. 552 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 6: Obviously Diggs is a big part of that, but Demario 553 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 6: Douglas has had a really nice camp too, and he 554 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 6: fits right into that Josh McDaniel's slot receiver role that 555 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 6: we've seen Edelman and Welker and Troy Brown going all 556 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 6: the way back. So that's been a role that's been 557 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 6: a high volume role and one that's been really productive. 558 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 6: And you see Pop's ability on those quick hitters. We 559 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 6: even saw it a little bit today where he can 560 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 6: get open quickly off the line of scrimmage and give 561 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 6: Drake May those fast completions off the line, and that's 562 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 6: the Josh McDaniels offense, and that's what they're trying to do. 563 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:25,640 Speaker 5: So in general, that. 564 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 6: Depth chart, you know digs Pop Kaishawn Boody, Matt Collins, 565 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 6: and then there's a lot of conversations in New England 566 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 6: about who are the fifth and sixth guys gonna be 567 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 6: in that room. They have an undrafted rookie named Efton 568 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 6: Chisholm who is a clone of Julian Edelman and Danny A. Mendola, 569 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 6: so he's kind of got that thing going on. Javon Baker, 570 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 6: who's probably saw a little bit of today. He's trying 571 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 6: to compete and make the roster as a fourth round 572 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 6: pick last year. So that's a I hesitated to say 573 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 6: a deep room because I think we're still questioning how 574 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 6: much talent is truly in that room based off of 575 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 6: how things have gone. But there's a lot of numbers 576 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 6: in that room and trying to figure out the five 577 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 6: or six guys that are going to keep is difficult. 578 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: Well, I hope that you enjoy your time here in 579 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: Minnesota Thursday. Let's hope for another you know, fun, lively environment, 580 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: some good weather for you on Friday, because you're going 581 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: to be here absolutely in Minnesota and Rex with a 582 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: whole day to do. 583 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, you gotta. I'll give you some restaurants 584 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 2: or something that you guys gotta got to hit up. 585 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: But yeah, and we are really excited about Saturday noon 586 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 1: kick so then you guys look get home at a 587 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:32,880 Speaker 1: decent hour. 588 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 6: Yeah, it sounds like it, which is rare for a 589 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 6: preseason usually their night games. So it's a good, good, 590 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 6: all around fun week and then a good early kickoff. 591 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 5: So I'll take it. 592 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: Well, thank you Evan so much for your time. Really 593 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: appreciate it and enjoy your visit in Minnesota. 594 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:48,479 Speaker 5: Thank you, thanks for having me. 595 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: That will wrap up today's episode of MVP, but a 596 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: big thank you to our guests as well as a 597 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: big thank you to you all of the fans who 598 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,200 Speaker 1: made it out to the twenty twenty five Vikings training camp. 599 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:02,920 Speaker 1: It was a wild ride and we've had so much 600 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: fun hosting you. 601 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 2: Here in Egan. 602 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 1: Now it's time to look forward to Saturday's preseason game 603 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: number two kickoffs at for noon right here at US 604 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,159 Speaker 1: Bank Stadium. You can't make it, you can watch it 605 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: live on Fox nine or listen to the Vikings Radio 606 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: Network on KFN. 607 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you guys next week. 608 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: Say hello to flawlessly smooth skin at pure Lux Medspa, 609 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: the preferred medspa of the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders, specializing in 610 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 1: elite laser hair removal, body contouring, botox, cosmetic filler, and 611 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: age defying skincare treatments such as Diamond Glow and skin 612 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: Pen for collagen induction therapy. Visit my pure Lux dot 613 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: com backslash Vikings for exclusive offers to Vikings fans