1 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: I'm an undrafted person. Competition has never been a thing 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: for me. It'll be a great, great time to compete 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: against him and actually learn from him. I probed myself 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: when being one of the better defensive tackles in this league. 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: I saw a lot of players that I felt like 6 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: I could have made and help. Personally. I've never been 7 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: without football this long, so I cannot wait. You can't 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: tell about my face to get on the field. What 9 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: is going on? Vikings fans, Welcome to episode number eighty 10 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: eight of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. Today is Thursday, April fifteenth, 11 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: and it is Michael Pierce Week at the TCO Performance Center. 12 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: All Pierce, all the Time is the name of this episode, 13 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: and with that, I bring in Jay Nelson along with 14 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: Vikings dot COM's Gabe Henderson, who had the opportunity to 15 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: talk with Michael Pierce. This week. We have an interview 16 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: coming up with Michael Pierce. We have press conference, sound 17 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: and everything to know about the Vikings new nose tackle 18 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: in the middle of the defense. It's pretty interesting, guys, 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: because when you sign a guy what's exactly probably about 20 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: a year ago, and then he gets the treatment like 21 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: every other free agent. This week gave. I mean it, 22 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: he was excited. He hadn't been to the facility yet. 23 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: He's literally saying hi to's just about everybody he comes across, 24 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: including giving a shout out to Mary Redmond, who's head 25 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: coach Mike Zimmer's assistant, saying how nice of a lady 26 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: she is. He's just a great guy. Like that's my 27 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: top takeaway. He's a great guy, a fun loving guy. 28 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: And you'll hear it in our interview with him later on. Yeah, 29 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: you could just fill this energy just in the building. 30 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: Just seeing him yesterday, you can tell he was like 31 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: soaking everything again. He was talking about the architecture of 32 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: the building. He was like, Hey, this is where this 33 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: is what the scholarships were made of, the norsemanships were 34 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: made out of. Right, I'm like, dude, like how often 35 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: are you in Minnesota? And you could just tell like 36 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: he embraced it. And you know, his coach, Andre Patterson 37 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: wanted him to get that free agent, fill that free 38 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: agent experience. So for him to get flown in, you know, 39 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,119 Speaker 1: stay at the Omni and then get the full tour. 40 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,399 Speaker 1: You got a tour of the museum and then meet 41 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: the coaches and whatnot. You can tell he was impressed. 42 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: I think he was most impressed by the facility, he said. 43 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: I mean, of course, we know that the owner of 44 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: Undarmer built the Baltimore Ravens facility, their practice facility, in 45 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: which we all know Michael Pears played for the Ravens 46 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: for four years. But now coming here, he was like, dude, 47 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: like that facility has nothing on this. Like the purple, 48 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: the community, everything that the Vikings stand for. That's what 49 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: he's all about. And so I'm excited to see what 50 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: he what he's going to do once he puts on 51 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: those cleats and put on that purple helmet and battle 52 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: with the boys this year. We got to talk to 53 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: him on Tuesday. That will be the interview you will 54 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: hear later on in the show. On Wednesday, he literally 55 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: had a thirty minute press conference. I think that show 56 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: just how good of a guy he really is excited 57 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: to talk to even the media for that amount of time. 58 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: The biggest couple of biggest takeaways I have from him 59 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: is he literally heard the press conference from now assistant 60 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: head coach Andre Patterson and heard the two things that 61 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: Andre Patterson said a year ago. Today, he said he's 62 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: not with us this season, but he's gonna need to 63 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: hire a trainer and a nutritionist, and that's exactly what 64 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: he has done for this entire time being away from 65 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: the Vikings. He also got a new dog, just like Gabe, 66 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: who also got a new dog pretty recently, so he's 67 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: kept himself busy. He says he's in shape. He's had 68 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: a lean three hundred and thirty five pounds. Jay, I 69 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: don't think i've ever heard those two those two things 70 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: said together. I think the fact that they were said 71 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: together is actually really scary. That means you have an 72 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: absolute beast on your hands here. So if that's the case, 73 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: and as happy as he was and as as to me, 74 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: it was motivational just listening to him, as motivated as 75 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: he is, and sounds like he's been doing everything right. 76 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: If the coaches and everybody, including the training staff were 77 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: happy with the way that he looked and he is 78 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: that lean mean three thirty five, that would be incredible. 79 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 1: So it's great to see that he's been doing the 80 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: right things in the off season, and I'm sure that 81 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a lot more asked of him here 82 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: coming up real shortly in the off season. Program, fun 83 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: loving guy, really interesting on and off the field. You'll 84 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: hear about his weightlifting and deadlifting interests that he takes 85 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: takes up in the off season, and things of that nature. 86 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 1: You'll hear that all in the interview with Gabe and 87 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: myself later on in the show, as well as some 88 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: clips from his introductory press conference, which was definitely interesting 89 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: to see his personality and yeah, he's he's just a 90 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: it's like a light inside of him, the way he 91 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,359 Speaker 1: addresses people, and just the overall vibe that he was 92 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: able to bring to the Twin Cities this week. I mean, 93 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: just awesome. But with that being said, we're gonna get 94 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: through a few housekeeping items at the beginning of the show. 95 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: The Vikings announced the full coaching staff on Wednesday, so 96 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: we're gonna go through what happened there. A few promotions 97 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: as well as a few new assistants added to to 98 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: complete the staff on special teams and in the weight room, 99 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,679 Speaker 1: So we'll get to that, and then nfl dot COM's 100 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: Chad Ruder he listed the top two potential picks for 101 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: each team in the NFL coming up on what's just 102 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,679 Speaker 1: under two weeks away from the twenty twenty one NFL Draft, 103 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: so really interesting article there on NFL dot Com. We 104 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: will of course cover what he has the Vikings doing, 105 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: as well as what is going on in the NFC North. 106 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: So first we're gonna get right into it with the 107 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: Vikings coaching staff. I think the biggest news here, Gabe 108 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: is Vikings co defensive coordinator, the man who's been with 109 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 1: coach Zimmer all the way back to his Weeber State day. 110 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: Andre Patterson has been named assistant head coach, which is 111 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: obviously a promotion from the code defensive coordinator title. Yeah, 112 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: and it's well deserving. I mean, we know his resume. 113 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: He's been here with the Vikings for ten years. This 114 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: is a guy that knows what he's doing. He knows 115 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 1: how to build a defense, and I mean he's been 116 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: with Zimmer for so long. Like Zimmer trust this guy, 117 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: and we know Zimmer is a big guy on trust. 118 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: So having assistant head coach now Andre Patterson in his 119 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: back pocket, I think that only helps this this entire 120 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: defense and now revamping the defensive line. I think Mike 121 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: Zimmer can expect more from Andrew Patterson and his guy. 122 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: So I think it's a hand in hand in hand 123 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: or Dill, and I'm excited to see what he's going 124 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: to bring to this entire defense. And like I said 125 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: before that this promotion is well deserving and congrats to 126 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: assistant head coach and co defensive coordinator Andre Patterson. I mean, 127 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 1: he's been around the team forever. Every player that comes 128 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: around Andre Patterson just absolutely falls in love with him. 129 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: Everson Griffin said, he's, well, he used to be the 130 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: best position coach in the NFL. He's talking all positions, 131 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 1: not just the defensive line. Obviously he'll still be leading 132 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: that defensive line, but a lot more. I guess I 133 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: don't even know what to call it. Accolades in the building. 134 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: I think he already has all the accolades from all 135 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: the players either way, so it doesn't really matter. But 136 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: he's getting the recognition with the title. He gets the 137 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: respect around the league, which I mean, he's becoming a 138 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: household name around this league. It's it's been really crazy 139 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: when you hear Michael Pierce, like I said, We're gonna 140 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: get to it later, but Michael Pierce literally said he 141 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: signed with the Vikings because of Andre Patterson. So he 142 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: has the accolades in the building. He has him around 143 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: the league, and now he has it in his title Jay. 144 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: But let's let's go down the list here. We have 145 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: a few other additions that were made to the staff. 146 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna start with Mark Marquise Johnson, who's the assistant 147 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: strength and conditioning coach. He's been added to the staff 148 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: for the twenty twenty one season. You know that there 149 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: was a fun connection. He coached at Jackson State last year, 150 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: and I believe it was Prime Time Jay that hooked 151 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: up Mike Zimmer with this addition to the coaching staff. Yeah, 152 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: it doesn't surprise me. I know that it seems like 153 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: he's been kind of bouncing around from a couple different schools, 154 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: and he was also with the San Francisco forty nine 155 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: ers from twenty seventeen to nineteen, and then he was 156 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: at University of Houston in twenty nineteen as well, which 157 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: was in his hometown in Houston, Texas. So it doesn't 158 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: surprise me one bit if he was a guy that 159 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: Zimmer heard from Primetime that you know, this is a 160 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: guy who should definitely take a look at. I think 161 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,599 Speaker 1: it'll be great to have him in the building and 162 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: add him to that updated and new strength coach and 163 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: their staff, So it'll be it's always interesting whenever there 164 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: is changeover in that department, just to see the philosophical 165 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: changes when it comes to you know, the types of movements, 166 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: a type of stretching, the types of lifting, even working 167 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: with the nutrition and the fuel bar people. That whole 168 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 1: thing gets revamped and so there's always reasons why they 169 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: do it. If there's feelings, you know, the coaches are 170 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 1: feeling like there's certain injuries that are happening too much. 171 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: I'm sure there are. Marquis Is coming in here with 172 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: the rest of the updated group in order to try 173 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: to help revamp that. So yeah, it'll definitely be interesting 174 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: to see what the philosophical change is just within the 175 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: building and to see how the guys take to it. Yeah, 176 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: and Derek Keys will also still be there as the 177 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: Vikings assistant strength and conditioning coach. I know he has 178 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: all the relationships in the building with the players and 179 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: Josh Hankst. We've covered that. He is now the head 180 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: of the strength and conditioning staff, and obviously he takes 181 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: the position from Mark Yuiyama, who is the head of 182 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: that room for the past couple of years. So there 183 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: will be some changes. One guy stays, and obviously you 184 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: have somebody recommended from the great Dion Sanders that that 185 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer wanted to bring into the building. So going 186 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: over to the special teams unit, we touched on the 187 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: fact that that Ryan Ficken will be the head special 188 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: teams coordinator after his eleven plus years with the team 189 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: as an assistant. So the Vikings then had to add 190 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: an assistant to the room. It's Robert Steeples, who was 191 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: actually a former Vikings cornerback in twenty thirteen, and he 192 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: comes and fills in for Ryan Ficken, coming from a 193 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: crazy role. He was a head coach at De Smeet 194 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: Jesuit High School in Saint Louis, Missouri for the past 195 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: five seasons. So really interesting game to get a guy 196 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: from high school who was a head coach and bring 197 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 1: him in, bring him in right to the NFL. The 198 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: underlying factor here is that he played for the Vikings, 199 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: so he has NFL experience, maybe not coaching experience, but 200 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: playing experience. And then you know, I know, it's like 201 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: you said, it's a big drop from high school to 202 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: the to the NFL. But I think one thing that 203 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: that can kind of translate is as a head coach 204 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: in high school, you're pretty much coaching numerous position groups. 205 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: You mean, you're overseeing everything. And then that's a special 206 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: team's coach, You're you're pretty much coaching defensive and all 207 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: of guy. So I think it a farewell. I'm glad 208 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: he got the opportunity. I think the big thing right here, 209 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: I mean Ryan fickens your guy, of course. So Ryan 210 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: Ficken this is a well deserved opportunity for him, and 211 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: now he gets to bring in a guy that he 212 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: knows pretty well. I think this is a match made 213 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: in heaven. Ryan Thicken is my guy. I mean just 214 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: seeing him around the building. I love what he brings. 215 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: I love him on the field, I love him off 216 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: the field. Just a hard working dude who's who's earned 217 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: his keep. I always, I always appreciate the guys who've 218 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: been around organizations for a really long time because we 219 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: know how hard that is to do in the NFL. 220 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: So ten plus years at any coaching gig in the NFL, 221 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: and the guy has earned his keep. So um look 222 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: for the special teams unit to definitely improve from where 223 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: it was last season. I think that's about it for 224 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: the new coaching hires and obviously the promotions that were made. 225 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: The Vikings haven't officially announced that the coaching staff is 226 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: actually finalized, so stay tune for that. There might be 227 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: a few hires here and there to round it out, 228 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: so we'll wait and see. But obviously big news for 229 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: Andre Patterson and big news for two position groups that 230 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: we're obviously going to need some improvement, and obviously the 231 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: injuries that happened last year. I think the strength and 232 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: conditioning room is definitely an important one as well. Onto 233 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: the next topic. Chad Ruder from NFL dot Com. He 234 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 1: broke down thirty two teams and what they're gonna do 235 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: with their first two picks. So obviously Jay we go 236 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: and we look at what he has the Vikings doing 237 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: with their first round pick and then third round pick. 238 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: So I'll let you take it away. Sure. Yeah. So 239 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: with his first pick, with our current number fourteen pick, 240 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: he's got a player that we actually talked about last 241 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: week and has been popping up on more and more 242 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,839 Speaker 1: mock drafts. And Christian Derris saw the oh tackle out 243 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: of Virginia Tech. He's six foot five three, twenty two 244 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: thirty four and a quarter inch arms and nine in 245 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: a quarter inch hands. He is a big, big, big 246 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: boy who drives defenders off the ball. He's great latterally, 247 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: He's got great hit position in blocking angles and a 248 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: powerful punch with heavy hands, and that is what we've 249 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: been looking for for an offensive lineman, especially an offensive 250 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: tackle for a while. One of the things that they 251 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: cite is that he doesn't look, you know, just like 252 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,959 Speaker 1: overly monstrous, just that he's this huge, huge offensive line 253 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: But what he does have is he does have the 254 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: length in order to make sure that he can keep 255 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: defenders off of him when he's trying to press them 256 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: out as an offensive lineman. And he is a guy 257 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 1: who his pedigree and what he's put on tape has 258 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 1: been opening a lot of eyes, and it just he 259 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: keeps seeing his name and a couple others that are 260 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: popping up. And so when I saw this as part 261 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: of the listing, it made total sense to me. And 262 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: it just doesn't surprise me very much if if this 263 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: is something that's going to happen. So if we do 264 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: go with an offensive tackle on the front end, you 265 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: can go back last week and listen to our podcast. 266 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: But he is one of the guy as we talked 267 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: about and it wouldn't surprise me if this actually happened. 268 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: Six five, three hundred and twenty two pounds. I wouldn't 269 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: mind adding him to our offensive line with that first 270 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: round pick. I know we brought up a few other 271 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: names um that that will definitely will will cover later 272 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: on in the show and definitely later on in a 273 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: few other episodes, but um, Christian Darsoul is one that 274 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: we are definitely excited about if he ends up a 275 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: Minnesota Viking the third round pick. Gabe, I'm gonna let 276 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: you run with this one because it's an interesting topic. 277 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: We talked about it last week on The Vikings A 278 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: Vantage and a bunch of our shows. The Vikings go 279 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: quarterback at this at this spot in the draft, Well, personally, 280 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: I think, you know, a quarterback makes sense in this draft, 281 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: whether you address that in the third round or the 282 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: fourth round, I think that the Vikings will probably try 283 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: to do that with you know, simply Sean Maayon not 284 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: being the backup anymore. He's not on the Vikings roster anymore, 285 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: so you probably got to feel try to fill that 286 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: backup spot. If Jake Brownie or Nate Stanley doesn't you know, 287 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: move into that role. And a guy that you know, 288 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: Chad Ruders has the vikings getting in the third round 289 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: with the seventy eighth overall pick. It's Kyle Trask from 290 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: the University of Florida. I mean, you talk about a 291 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: big guy in Christian Darisau, imagine Kyle Trash six five, 292 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: two hundred and forty pounds, like he's a baller. You 293 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: look at his size and say like, okay, yeah, you 294 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: know he can. He can take a couple of hits. 295 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, if you if 296 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: you watch the film on Kyle Trask, he fits the 297 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: ball into tight windows, like he gives his receiver's chances 298 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: and granted he threw to Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Tony 299 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: last year, right, so yeah, I'm giving those guys a 300 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: chance pretty much every play. Also, but give him a 301 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: year or two to develop. Kirk Cousins, he's under contract 302 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: for two more years. There's no quarterback battle this year. 303 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: There's probably no quarterback battle next year. But having a 304 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: guy like Kyle Trask who played under Dan Moulin at 305 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: the University of Florida, and we know Dan Moulin's track record, 306 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: he coached Dak Prescott at Mississippi State. We saw how 307 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: Dak Prescott's career I send it in the NFL. I'm 308 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: not going to say Kyle trash is going to have 309 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: a similar career, but he's been coached by by some 310 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: really good guys, and I know a lot of draft 311 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: experts have him, you know, projected, you know to the 312 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: maybe late second, early third, maybe around that time slot 313 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: where the Vikings can select him. So b b open 314 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: minded Vikings fans for a quarterback to be selected maybe 315 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: Day two, early Day three. But I think Kyle Trask 316 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: is a guy that I think fits this Vikings offense, 317 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: and I think he has the stats to prove it. 318 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: Being at twenty twenty highs and finalist, I think that 319 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: says enough right there. Yeah, he through for over four thousand, 320 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: two hundred passing yards, which was second in the nation, 321 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: forty three touchdowns, which was first in the nation. Like 322 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: you said, it doesn't hurt when you're throwing a Kyle Pitts, 323 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: the best tight end in the nation, who could pretty 324 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: much be called the wide receiver as well. I think 325 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: he had about half those touchdowns to say the least. 326 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: But lands Zerline compares Kyle Trask to Brad Johnson. Jay 327 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: threw that in the outline here, that is definitely one 328 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: a name that would stand out to Vikings fans and 329 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: definitely one that I mean that that is quite the 330 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: good Go ahead, Jay, it's quite the comparison. Yeah. And 331 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: the reason why is because they're basically saying he's kind 332 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,239 Speaker 1: of a bigger bodied quarterback like you said, Gabe, who 333 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: can fit into tight windows, but he likes to sit 334 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: in the pocket, and he's not necessarily a guy that 335 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:20,919 Speaker 1: likes to do a lot of the scrambling and a 336 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: lot more of the kind of athleticism type quarterbacks that 337 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: we're seeing in this league. He's a guy likes to 338 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: stand in there and and sling it. So if that's 339 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: the case, then that derisaw pick would be even better 340 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: because he's gonna need somebody like that to be able 341 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: to help cover his blindside if he's going to be 342 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: on that left heckle side, and just to make sure 343 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: that he's got the bodies to do what he needs 344 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: to do. So Kyle Trash to me, really is intriguing 345 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: given that he's a big bodied, strong arm quarterback and 346 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: like you said, Jay, he does sit in the pocket. 347 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: He does throw it. But one thing idea like about 348 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 1: Kyle Trash, you know when things get cloudy in that pocket, 349 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: he's not He's not afraid to pull the ball down 350 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: here run like. He's not. He's not the fastest guy. 351 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: He don't expect to be a burner like a Justin Phills, 352 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: but he will pull the ball down and take a hit. 353 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: And he has a big frame so he can he 354 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: can ball put it away, so to your point, he 355 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 1: can ball. Very interesting two picks for the Vikings. I 356 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: honestly wouldn't hate it if the Vikings came out of 357 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: the third round with those two players looking at what 358 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 1: is it eight more draft picks after that, So definitely 359 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: gonna be interesting to see what the Vikings decide to do. 360 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: There's no second round pick right now, so there could 361 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: be a trade that happens, whether it's trading back or 362 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 1: trading up with some later round picks. So definitely interested 363 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: to see what happens there going forward. Let's look at 364 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: what goes on in the NFC North. According to our 365 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: good friend at NFL dot com, the Detroit Lions. He's 366 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: got them going at the number seven overall pick, with 367 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: Micah Parsons the linebacker round of Penn State. I know 368 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: that guy flies around the field and has pretty much 369 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: a Pro Bowl caliber resume so far as a big 370 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: time Big Ten athlete. They're expecting him to be quite 371 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: the player in the NFL. And then with the second 372 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: round pick at number forty one, showing how old I 373 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: now am, it's a Sante Samuel Junior at a Florida 374 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: State game. I remember Sante Samuel Senior. So I'm finally 375 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,160 Speaker 1: starting to age after six seasons with the Vikings. Here. Yeah, 376 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,719 Speaker 1: welcome to the club, buddy, Welcome to the club, Sante 377 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: Samuel Junior. Jay. Yeah, it's crazy how time flies, right, 378 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: And I mean, we all know what a Sante Samuel 379 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: Senior did in his NFL career, but Sante Samuel Junior 380 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: I grew up a Florida State fans, so it was 381 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: it's been fun watching him play at Florida State. I 382 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: granted Florida State hasn't been the most highly touted team 383 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: or the most popular team in recent years, but he 384 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: held its own again against some really big receivers this 385 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: past year. And I wish he was on our team, 386 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: but I know we have some really good corners already. 387 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: So if you know the Lions picker, but guy like 388 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: Assante saying you're junior alongside Jeff Okuda, I think that 389 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: serves them well in that secondary. I'm gonna skip the 390 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: Bears because they're super interesting. I'm gonna go straight to 391 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: the Packers first. They have him going at the number 392 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: twenty nine overall pick, cornerback at a Virginia Virginia Tech, 393 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: which I guess they're trading up for him at this spot. 394 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: It's Caleb Parsons definitely one of the top cornerbacks in 395 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: the draft that would be at the number twenty nine 396 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 1: overall pick. And then the round two pick is a 397 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: player that's also been linked to the Vikings, Brady Christiansen, 398 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: the offensive tackle from BYU. We know what BYU did 399 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: this past year with Zach Wilson and the high powered 400 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: offense that they had, Jay I think Brady Christensen was 401 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: a big part of what happened over there. Yeah, and 402 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: you know they've got the top tier quarterback right now 403 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: that Mico top five as well, and Brady Christensen's part 404 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 1: of the reason why that would happen. If you look 405 00:20:58,119 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: at the Caleb Parsons one where it said for trade 406 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: up for him. That basically in the article, what they 407 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: were saying was he has a top tier cornerback that's 408 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: in this draft, that twenty nine position, he probably wouldn't 409 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 1: still be there for him, So if the Packers want him, 410 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: they're going to have to move up, which we all 411 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 1: know the Packers haven't necessarily done a lot of trading 412 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: up for top tier talent, especially in the first round, 413 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: let alone free agency this year, where they really haven't 414 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 1: done a ton except for signing their own guys. So 415 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:28,199 Speaker 1: maybe this part of the speculation was saying, because they 416 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: haven't done a lot, and if they do need some 417 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 1: top tier talent to replace some of these players that 418 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,199 Speaker 1: they've been losing, Caleb Parsons would be a guy that 419 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: they would potentially, you know, break up in the piggy 420 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: bank a little bit more and try to move up 421 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: and grab him. So if that's the case, you know, 422 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: if there's gonna be a lot of movement happening potentially 423 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: here in the upcoming draft, they're saying, keep an eye 424 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: on Caleb Parsons here and the Packers might try to 425 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: jump up and grab him. After the NFC Championship, film 426 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: that Kevin King put together for the Packers. I think 427 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 1: they're they'll be happy with the Caleb Parsons signing it 428 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,959 Speaker 1: in the first roun. Yeah, I understand that. But as 429 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: long as they don't go why receiver in the first 430 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: two rounds, again, I'm happy too, Gabe, So yeah, I'm 431 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: definitely happy with that, Jake. One of the things that 432 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: they actually had posted in there too, and I've seen 433 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: another other mock drafts currently, is that one of the 434 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: things if they don't get the Brady Christensen in there, 435 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: there was a talk of them potentially going after a 436 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: Rashod Bateman from the Gophers. So if that, if that happened, 437 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: it would be another Minnesota boy going to play for 438 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 1: the Packers after they grabbed the linebacker off the Gophers 439 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: last year, and you know the Burnsville boys. So it's 440 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: a one of those things that if it happens this way, 441 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: there's a chance that it could be a Rashod Bateman, 442 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: which I know would put a little bit of extra 443 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: stomach acid and a lot of people's stomachs here locally. 444 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: I figured you say they trade out for Tree Lance 445 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: or something. But speaking of t Trey Lance, that's whom 446 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: NFL dot Com has the Chicago Bears taking with the 447 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: number twenty overall pick. It's Trey Lance out of North 448 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 1: Dakota State. That is very interesting. I mean, obviously they 449 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: just named Andy Dalton their starter for the upcoming season. 450 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 1: Doesn't mean you don't go with a quarterback with your 451 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: round one pick. And I know that he's been linked 452 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: to the Vikings here and there, so it would be interesting, 453 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: Gabe to see him in the division going forward. Yeah, 454 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: it would be very interesting. Like still, to me, I 455 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: haven't seen enough of Trey Lance to really come up 456 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: with an opinion, Like I didn't think his pro day 457 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: was all that great. But granted, he's a Walter Payton 458 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 1: Award winner, which is equivalent to the Heisman Trophy for FBS, 459 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 1: and a guy named Carson Wentz went there and won 460 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: a national championship also, and we know Trey Lance is 461 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 1: a national champion. He knows how to win. It's just 462 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 1: now like can that will that trans Can that translate? 463 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: Will that translate? He didn't throw one interception in college 464 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen when he you know, pretty much had 465 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: a phenomenal year, so we know he can play. And 466 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 1: now it's just can that translate? Will it translate? And 467 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: I think it's all up in the air right now 468 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: with Trey Lance. Like I said, we just don't know enough. 469 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: You definitely don't know with players like that. I mean, 470 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: obviously he comes from the same school as Carson Wentz, 471 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: who had all the hype coming into the draft and 472 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: obviously has not lived up to the bill later on 473 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: in his career compared to how he started off with 474 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia Eagles. So we'll see what happens with Trey 475 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: Lance at the second round pick they have at number 476 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 1: fifty two overall, it's Richie Grant, a safety out of UCF. 477 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: So definitely interesting. A cool article. You should go check 478 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: that out on NFL dot com. Chad Ruder from NFL 479 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: dot com broke down all thirty two teams in the league. 480 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I love going through these articles. Are our 481 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: good friend from last week, Pete Bercich absolutely hates these 482 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 1: articles because he thinks that there's no substance to the 483 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: decisions at all. But always fun to see what people 484 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: have your favorite team doing and the teams that you 485 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: hate the most, which is what we just covered. So 486 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 1: onto the positive news of the week. It's Michael Pierce. 487 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: He joins the Minnesota Vikings. As we mentioned earlier in 488 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: the show, signed last year, decided to take the year 489 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,719 Speaker 1: off due to COVID reasons and some of the respiratory 490 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: issues that he's had in his life. But boy, oh boy, 491 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: I don't think anyone could be more excited than Michael 492 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 1: Pierce was entering the TCO Performance Center. So let's take 493 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: a listen. Oh hey, Michael, Yeah, great too. I see, 494 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: thanks for doing this. What was it like last year 495 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: when you are kind of far away and you started 496 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: the Vikings defense struggle and you know you obviously couldn't 497 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: help them. And then moving forward, how do you feel 498 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 1: about how they retooled the defense? Yeah, it was rough, 499 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 1: all right? Like I said, so I said, it's in 500 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 1: an early interview. It gave me like a perspective to 501 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,119 Speaker 1: be like just a fan of the game, been playing 502 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: this game, so I was four, were having took a 503 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 1: year off until this year, So um, it was different. Obviously. 504 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: You know, I pride myself on being one of the 505 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 1: better defensive tackles in this league. I saw a lot 506 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: of players that I felt like I could have made 507 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: and helped personally, But you know, it's a long season. 508 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: I would say my feelings started to, you know, get 509 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: better as the season went on. Thanksgiving was rough, if 510 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:25,160 Speaker 1: I'm not mistaking the Saints game, But um, outside of that, man, 511 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 1: I think it gave a lot of those guys a 512 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: lot of you know, there's growing pains for sure, but 513 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,439 Speaker 1: you know, reps in this league are invaluable, and you know, 514 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 1: as younger players, even when I was in our second 515 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: year in the league, those reps are invaluable, and it 516 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: made a difference my third year, in my fourth year, 517 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: and you know going on forward. So it's Bill's confidence 518 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: just being on the field for those young guys. But 519 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 1: as far as me and the free agency moves we've 520 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: made to spend amazing. So we'll get a lot of 521 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,360 Speaker 1: guys back healthy this year obviously with Daniel and Anthony 522 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,159 Speaker 1: Barr and all those guys. So Davin Thomason will be 523 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,400 Speaker 1: next to me. That's a big, big, big time get 524 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:02,479 Speaker 1: for me and for our defensive front. So I'm super excited. 525 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 1: We'll have Stephen Watherily back. I've known him for a 526 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: while as well, great pass rusher. So, um, I mean 527 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,360 Speaker 1: I'm super excited. Like I said, I've never been without 528 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:14,640 Speaker 1: football this long, so I cannot wait if you can't 529 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: tell about my face to get on the field. So yeah, 530 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: Hi Michael. When they made the move in free agency 531 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: to bring in Dalvin Tomlinson, who was primarily a nose 532 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:26,640 Speaker 1: tackle in New York, where you like, oh my god, 533 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:29,719 Speaker 1: they just got my replacement, Like where you like pressed 534 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: about it at all? Did you get that communicated to you? 535 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: And you say, it's gonna be next to you? And 536 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: you know, we haven't really had a chance to like 537 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: talk to coaches about where they see him playing, but 538 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: it makes sense at three technique. Did you get that 539 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: confirmed you like, I am the nose tackle, he is 540 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,479 Speaker 1: a three technique? Well, So one thing about coach Dre 541 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,160 Speaker 1: and coach and marj Albert, they've done a great job 542 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: like communicating with me throughout the season. So even coming 543 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: up to free agency, I knew what they were thinking. 544 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 1: I knew who they had on their board. Obviously Davon 545 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: was a top priority for us, So now I knew 546 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: what was going on the whole time. But like I said, 547 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:06,959 Speaker 1: I'm an undrafted person, so I've competition has never been 548 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 1: a thing for me. But like I said, I played 549 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: next to Brandon Williams another nose guarden, So as far 550 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 1: as that goes, I think it'll be great. We have 551 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:19,200 Speaker 1: one of the top run defenses in Baltimore. And yeah, 552 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 1: like I said, I've I've always kind of known what 553 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: we had going on, what we we're looking forward to 554 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: doing in free agency and h yeah, they've done a 555 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: great job. But just keep me a part to loop. 556 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: But no, it'll be a great, great time to compete 557 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,400 Speaker 1: against him and actually learn from him. So, like I said, 558 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 1: until you're done and retired, I don't think you can 559 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 1: quit learning. And he's done a great job being a 560 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 1: nose guarden getting sacks, something I haven't been the best at. 561 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna learn from him just like he and 562 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure you can take some things from me, So 563 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 1: it'll be a beneficial relationship for both both of us. 564 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 1: I mean you could just hear the joy in his 565 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: voice to talk about being away from the team for 566 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: so long and pretty much being a and of the 567 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 1: game and of the team. He said he would sit 568 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 1: down with his dual screen set up with his brand 569 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: new puppy that he purchased during the pandemic, and maybe 570 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: have a glass of wine and watch his Vikings play. 571 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: I thought that was awesome game, Like he came at 572 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: it from a just he's just a real guy. Like 573 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,479 Speaker 1: he's he tells you how it is. You ask him 574 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 1: about competition, and he says, you know what, I'm an 575 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 1: undrafted free agent who's now a starting no tackle in 576 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 1: this league. That doesn't it doesn't bother him. I mean 577 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: he's being completely honest. Yeah, And that's one of the 578 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:37,320 Speaker 1: reasons why I love the free agency period because you're 579 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 1: bringing in guys, right, especially if you get a big 580 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: time free agent, You're bringing in guys who have a perspective. 581 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: And for Michael Paris, undrafted free agent, went to Sandford, 582 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 1: which is, you know, not a big school, worked his 583 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: way onto the roster. Now he gets the opportunity. Now 584 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: he gets the opportunity in Baltimore to show himself, proves himself, 585 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: and now he comes here and it's like, Okay, this 586 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: guy had to sit out a year with that perspective 587 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 1: of coming to a new team. Now he understands who 588 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: he is outside of the game with football, and he 589 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: brings that joy and excitement to the game to these 590 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 1: young guys. And he talked about those young guys Hey, 591 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:13,520 Speaker 1: you know, those guys got a year under their belt, 592 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 1: and we know the biggest jump in the player's career 593 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: from year one to year two. So to Timmy, those 594 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 1: year two guys like DJ Wanham with the guy like 595 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: Michael Parrison, Dalvin Thomlinson, that perspective and that energy is 596 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: only gonna vibrate throughout the team. And I think the 597 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: big thing that he kept saying is, Look, my job 598 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: is to stop the run. My job is to make 599 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: sure those all pro linebackers back there can run around 600 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: and do their job to the best of their ability. 601 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: And I know this is an audio podcast and I 602 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: know we're listening to it, but you could literally see 603 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: his smile through this podcast, and I know that's going 604 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:51,200 Speaker 1: to penetrate throughout this entire Vikings organization. Man, I'm excited. 605 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: Like I said on Tuesday, I was ready to run 606 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: through a wall just listening to him. So I'm excited. 607 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 1: I agree. I mean, you said it perfectly, but literally 608 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: you can see his smile just listening to that clip. 609 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: That's kind of how he was the entire time that 610 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 1: he was at the facility. But he talked about his 611 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 1: relationship with Andre Patterson and amarj Alberry, Who's who's the 612 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: assistant defensive line coach who he goes back years with 613 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 1: knowing him growing up. So obviously there's relationships there. How 614 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: do we feel kind of about his relationships with the 615 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: defensive line and the unit. Obviously he hasn't met all 616 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: the players there, Jay, but he is familiar with a few, 617 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 1: as you heard in that clip. So how do we 618 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: feel about him kind of just coming in knowing he's 619 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: next to Dalvin Tomlinson and his mentality coming into the situation. 620 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 1: I think part of it too was you could hear 621 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:50,239 Speaker 1: the appreciation, right, and so being appreciative and looking at 622 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 1: what it was part of that as a trust factor, 623 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 1: And even though he was gone for the entire season, 624 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 1: it sounds like he was still having a running dialogue 625 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: with Andre Patterson and the team to understand what's going on. 626 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: Like Courtney asked him, was it out of the blue 627 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 1: when they brought in Dalvin Tomlinson? Did it give any 628 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 1: any pause for a second? You could tell He's just like, Nope, 629 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 1: I understood what was happening. They told me they were 630 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 1: above bored with that, and I think that's crucial. I 631 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,480 Speaker 1: think we kind of look at it as out of side, 632 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 1: out of mind, and we didn't really hear anything from him, 633 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 1: and we weren't able to talk to him. But for 634 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: someone like him, he was still plugged in. He was 635 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 1: still watching all the games. He was still thinking critically about, 636 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: you know, what could we have done differently. It sounded 637 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: like the Saints game was something that really stuck to 638 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: him when he was talking, but in the press conference, 639 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: just how upset he was about that. And one of 640 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 1: the things he was also asked was talking about, you know, 641 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: did you regret your decision? And he just said, you know, 642 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: at the time, I didn't, but as the games were 643 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: going on and as things were happening, you could tell 644 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:48,680 Speaker 1: it was really eating at him a little bit. So 645 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 1: I what it means to me is he was already 646 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:53,600 Speaker 1: invested even though he wasn't here for that year, and 647 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:56,560 Speaker 1: that I think is really encouraging to hear him say 648 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,239 Speaker 1: I have a renewed appreciation for what this is. I 649 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 1: appreciate the relationship that I'm building here with Andre Patterson, 650 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:05,440 Speaker 1: him with everybody else talking about how great he is. 651 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 1: And now the fact that he's an assistant coach, which 652 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 1: is a head coach, which is great. Finally, for me, 653 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 1: it feels like he's saying, I really really haven't I 654 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: want to be out there on practice. I've never felt 655 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 1: that way before, And more than anything, it just feels 656 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: like he's going I understand what I missed. I understand 657 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: what I've been missing, and I can't wait to get 658 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 1: back out there. So I'm excited to think of the 659 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,200 Speaker 1: fact that he could be even better than what we 660 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: thought he was just because of renewed motivation. Yeah, and 661 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: I think with that motivation is only going to make 662 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: this entire defense a line group better because they already 663 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: have a certain amount of respect for him just due 664 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 1: to the film that he's put on display. But now 665 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 1: you have a guy with that caliber coming in basically 666 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 1: saying like I'm willing to do any and everything, like 667 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 1: I'm willing to put my ego aside to do us 668 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 1: best for the team. And then you team that up 669 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 1: with a guy like Dalvin Tomlinson who also said he 670 00:33:57,040 --> 00:33:59,320 Speaker 1: knew who Michael Pierce was and he's ready to learn 671 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 1: from him. So now you have two legit defensive linemen 672 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:08,040 Speaker 1: that have their own experience and they can bring leadership 673 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:10,840 Speaker 1: to this group and play with a unique energy. I 674 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: think that the one big thing that Michael Pierce there 675 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 1: to me that I think Dalvin Thomlinson said also is 676 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,839 Speaker 1: they want to be just a split image of who 677 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,280 Speaker 1: Johnny Randall was. Like they both have that that mindset 678 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 1: of like what Johnny Randall did for, you know, the 679 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: interior defensive lineman. I guess, Michael Pearson this situation interior 680 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: defensive lineman, that's not your tallest guy, not the biggest guy, 681 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: but it's just going to go in there and work. 682 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 1: I think, like I said before, that's just going to 683 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:42,759 Speaker 1: translate to this entire defensive line group, which is all 684 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 1: in all going to help these young players make that 685 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:46,880 Speaker 1: next step in their career. Gabe, you talk about it. 686 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,240 Speaker 1: I mean they're both excited to work with one another. 687 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:54,879 Speaker 1: They go back to down South Georgia and Alabama. You'll 688 00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:57,399 Speaker 1: hear that later on in the interview. But they've known 689 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 1: each other for a long time coming. Michael Pierce knows 690 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:07,280 Speaker 1: about Dalvin Tomlinson's career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, growing 691 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 1: up a little bit of an Alabama fan. They have 692 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 1: mutual connections, so I'm sure it's gonna be a match 693 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:15,080 Speaker 1: made in heaven. And with Andre Patterson, I think he'll 694 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:18,239 Speaker 1: be able to make this thing work. But speaking of 695 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:21,440 Speaker 1: the combo of these two, what really stands out to 696 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:25,439 Speaker 1: me is how they're gonna help the rushing defense, which 697 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 1: clearly struggled last season. And you hear you heard Michael 698 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,680 Speaker 1: Pierce bring it up. He's like, man, it was fun 699 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:33,560 Speaker 1: watching these guys as a fan. But when I was 700 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,359 Speaker 1: watching that against the New Orleans Saints, I believe Alvin 701 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:39,880 Speaker 1: Kamara had like twenty six touchdowns on the ground, I 702 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:42,799 Speaker 1: wonder how many glasses of wine Michael Pierce had that game. 703 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,239 Speaker 1: It didn't sit well with them. Like He's like, yeah, 704 00:35:45,239 --> 00:35:48,400 Speaker 1: I remember that day. And that stood out to me 705 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 1: because he's like that shows the fire that he has, 706 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:53,319 Speaker 1: that he wants to come back on the field and 707 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: he wants to help what was clearly missing last year. 708 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:59,040 Speaker 1: And obviously a lot of players were missing from this 709 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:02,359 Speaker 1: defense last year. So um, yeah, we're gonna look at 710 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty one running backs, Jay, why don't you 711 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:07,920 Speaker 1: run down the list of the players that will not 712 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 1: be scoring multiple touchdowns in one game next season? I 713 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:13,719 Speaker 1: just I found it interesting kind of looking at our 714 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: schedule of who we're going to play in kind of 715 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,839 Speaker 1: the caliber Like we had such an issue last year 716 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:20,799 Speaker 1: going against some of the top tier running backs and 717 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 1: this year there's not a lot of a shift out 718 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:27,920 Speaker 1: of that whole that whole mindset. So if you look 719 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,200 Speaker 1: at even within the division, you've got David Montgomery to 720 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: Terre Cohen and then the Bears turned around and signed 721 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:36,720 Speaker 1: Damian Williams, Like that's a great trio. Um, that Chicago 722 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:38,359 Speaker 1: is going to be sporting. Now the question for them 723 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 1: is going to be what's going to happen at quarterback. 724 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:41,840 Speaker 1: We already know that Dalton's going to be there, but 725 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 1: what does that translate to them? Are they going to 726 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 1: try and pass more or is it going to be 727 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:49,040 Speaker 1: more of a rushing game? Still, so um, the Packers 728 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,759 Speaker 1: then resigned Aaron Jones. They've got a j. Dillon as well. 729 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:55,800 Speaker 1: Detroit's running with DeAndre Swift, Jamal Williams and carry on Johnson. 730 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,759 Speaker 1: That's another potent triom. And again for them, who knows 731 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:00,239 Speaker 1: what's going to happen with all the turnover we're at 732 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:02,359 Speaker 1: head coaching in the front office for them. But then 733 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:04,520 Speaker 1: when you start really looking at the some of the 734 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 1: AFC opponents, you've got Benny Snell Junior at Pittsburgh. You've 735 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:10,920 Speaker 1: got Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt at Cleveland, and then 736 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 1: you've got JK. Dobbins and Gus Edwards at Baltimore. And 737 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:17,440 Speaker 1: then finally Cincinnati you've got Joe Mixon and somagp Ryan. Like, 738 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 1: those four teams all have stout top tier running games 739 00:37:22,719 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: and oh, by the way, since he's going to be 740 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 1: getting their quarterback. So it's when you look at that 741 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:33,040 Speaker 1: chunk of just those seven games alone that is going 742 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:36,200 Speaker 1: to be critical to stopping their offenses and controlling that 743 00:37:36,239 --> 00:37:39,759 Speaker 1: line of scrimmage. Now jump to the next side, which 744 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:42,319 Speaker 1: is the NFC side. You've got the Rams with Cam 745 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 1: Akers and Darryl Henderson Jr. You've got Seattle with Chris 746 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:48,600 Speaker 1: Carson and Rashad Penny. You've got Dallas with Zeke and 747 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 1: Tony Pollard, and then and then San Francisco's got Raheem Mostert, 748 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:56,360 Speaker 1: Jeff Wilson Junior, and Arizona's playing with Chase Edmonds and 749 00:37:56,440 --> 00:38:00,919 Speaker 1: James Connor and finally Carolina with Chris J. McCaffrey coming 750 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:04,279 Speaker 1: back off an injury. So there is a who's who 751 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:08,279 Speaker 1: within that chunk as well. On the NFC side, and 752 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,279 Speaker 1: then finally finishing it off here is whatever is going 753 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,120 Speaker 1: to happen with that seventeenth game against the Chargers. You've 754 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:18,520 Speaker 1: got Austin Eckler and Justin Jackson. So those two guys 755 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:23,160 Speaker 1: hopefully stay healthy for this entire season because in every 756 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:26,000 Speaker 1: single one of those games, they're gonna get some absolute 757 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:29,520 Speaker 1: beasts coming at them. And I know that we're about 758 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:32,800 Speaker 1: a month away from the schedule coming out, but really 759 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:35,319 Speaker 1: seeing how these games get kind of thrown at him 760 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:38,239 Speaker 1: piece by piece, whether it's every other with NFC and 761 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 1: AFC or whatever, but just seeing what your weekly matchups 762 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,040 Speaker 1: are going to be at this running back position that 763 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 1: you're going to go against is going to be critical 764 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:49,239 Speaker 1: in my eyes as to how the season completely goes. 765 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:52,760 Speaker 1: I think Andrew Patterson looked at that schedule and said, 766 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,200 Speaker 1: let's get six hundred pounds in the middle of this 767 00:38:55,360 --> 00:39:00,239 Speaker 1: defense and let's let's combat that right away. So yeah, no, 768 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,480 Speaker 1: it's interesting to see, and you say you want them 769 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:06,359 Speaker 1: to play all year. Dalvin Thomlinson started every single game 770 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:09,200 Speaker 1: for the past four seasons for the New York Giants, 771 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:11,880 Speaker 1: So I'm doing that with my fingers crossed as I 772 00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: see Gabe throw, throw both of his fingers up and 773 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:18,880 Speaker 1: cross him. But yeah, hopefully Michael Pierce can stay healthy. 774 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:23,120 Speaker 1: He started fourteen games of fourteen played for the Ravens 775 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:25,319 Speaker 1: two years ago. And I guess that brings me to 776 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:28,640 Speaker 1: my last question to Gabe, Like, if this guy kind 777 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:31,280 Speaker 1: of sat out last season he was working with a trainer, 778 00:39:31,719 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 1: eating healthy. Uh, he's he's more slim than he was 779 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:36,800 Speaker 1: in years past. I think he was like three to 780 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:39,440 Speaker 1: sixty Now he's down a three thirty five. Do you 781 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:42,479 Speaker 1: think maybe he'll stay healthy all year and be able 782 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:45,399 Speaker 1: to be a I don't know if it's a three 783 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:47,000 Speaker 1: down guy or a four down. Yeah. I mean he's 784 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:48,400 Speaker 1: not gonna be a four down guy. He's there's a 785 00:39:48,480 --> 00:39:51,640 Speaker 1: thirty pounds, But do you think it's crazy? It's crazy 786 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:54,200 Speaker 1: he can be a three downs that I'm not giving, 787 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 1: which is weird to say, right, no limitations, But do 788 00:39:57,120 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 1: you think he'll there's a better chance he'll stay healthy 789 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:02,600 Speaker 1: with the year off? Yeah? And I say that because 790 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:04,799 Speaker 1: he said he did not know when I interviewed him, 791 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:07,359 Speaker 1: he said he didn't know his body before he took 792 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,360 Speaker 1: a year off, and that that says a lot. That 793 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:12,319 Speaker 1: he didn't know what his body reacted to. So being 794 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:15,719 Speaker 1: able to learn his body what triggers certain things, and 795 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:19,720 Speaker 1: putting that with a twenty eight year old defensive lineman 796 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:22,799 Speaker 1: who says he feels like he's twenty five, I think 797 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:24,880 Speaker 1: that that makes for a good recipe for success for 798 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 1: his Vikings defense. So, I mean, we all know, I mean, 799 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 1: it's a week by week deal in the NFL, and 800 00:40:30,719 --> 00:40:33,040 Speaker 1: all we ask him, all we ask him and Dalvin 801 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 1: Thominson and the Vikings is just to be one on 802 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:37,520 Speaker 1: one and oh each week and we'll figure it out 803 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 1: from there. But I like my chances with my fingers 804 00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:42,840 Speaker 1: crossed that this guy can stay healthy due to his 805 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:45,839 Speaker 1: year off last year. I was only thinking about Week 806 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:48,319 Speaker 1: one against the Chicago Bears, but Jay had to list 807 00:40:48,480 --> 00:40:50,480 Speaker 1: all of the running backs that we're playing, and now 808 00:40:50,640 --> 00:40:53,520 Speaker 1: I can't stop thinking about every game on the schedule. 809 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think that'll do it for our coverage here. Obviously, 810 00:40:58,120 --> 00:41:01,240 Speaker 1: we still have to get to the It's Michael Pierce interview, 811 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:04,120 Speaker 1: which I'm excited for you guys to hear. We saved 812 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:06,800 Speaker 1: it for the absolute end of the show. I was 813 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:10,120 Speaker 1: super excited to meet him, virtually as Gabe was able 814 00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:14,000 Speaker 1: to be in the TCO studios alongside Michael Pierce. So 815 00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:17,040 Speaker 1: we'll get to that in just a second, but I'm 816 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:19,520 Speaker 1: gonna give Jay a chance for any final thoughts before 817 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:21,760 Speaker 1: we get out of here. This is this is the 818 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:25,440 Speaker 1: the narrowing, the pigeonholing of the entire offseason is about 819 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:27,799 Speaker 1: to hit here. As we say every week, we just keep, 820 00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:30,080 Speaker 1: you know, ripping the numbers off. Our magic number right 821 00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:33,160 Speaker 1: now is two, where two weeks from today is going 822 00:41:33,239 --> 00:41:36,000 Speaker 1: to be the day that draft takes place. And I'm 823 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:41,480 Speaker 1: super super excited given how enthusiastic mister Pierce's but at 824 00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:44,000 Speaker 1: the same point, I am excited to see how some 825 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:48,720 Speaker 1: of those other gaps and needs get filled here within 826 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:51,680 Speaker 1: the next two weeks. So there's a ton of content 827 00:41:51,719 --> 00:41:54,200 Speaker 1: that's going to be coming out. We actually have something 828 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:56,239 Speaker 1: kind of cool that we're working on to talk to 829 00:41:56,280 --> 00:41:59,400 Speaker 1: some alumni about their draft day experiences that will be 830 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:02,840 Speaker 1: coming out next week. And so just keep tuning into 831 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:05,160 Speaker 1: Vikings dot com and all of our platforms for everything 832 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:08,000 Speaker 1: that we got covered. Definitely a lot of content coming up. 833 00:42:08,040 --> 00:42:10,319 Speaker 1: I'm really excited for the draft. I mean, it's it's 834 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:13,480 Speaker 1: crazy that it's almost here. We will have a podcast 835 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:17,480 Speaker 1: every single night recapping every single pick that went on 836 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:19,200 Speaker 1: in the draft. It's when we all get to sit 837 00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:23,480 Speaker 1: around at about midnight and just chat it up. Hopefully 838 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:26,720 Speaker 1: we'll get some good guests this year. The Ben Leebers 839 00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:29,920 Speaker 1: of the world of the Vikings Entertainment Network will definitely 840 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:34,040 Speaker 1: join us this year. So that'll do it for this 841 00:42:34,080 --> 00:42:37,000 Speaker 1: coverage here. But I'm gonna let Gabe take it away 842 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:40,320 Speaker 1: as we were able to get Michael Pierce in studio 843 00:42:40,360 --> 00:42:44,080 Speaker 1: at the TCO Performance Center, So take a listen. All right, 844 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:46,800 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. My name is 845 00:42:46,840 --> 00:42:50,040 Speaker 1: Gabe Henderson, alongside Chris Corso who is joining us virtually 846 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:53,200 Speaker 1: and the newest member, I guess the oldest newest member 847 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:55,440 Speaker 1: of the Minnesota Vikings Michael Paris, who was in the 848 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:58,040 Speaker 1: side of the TICO studios with me. MP. How are 849 00:42:58,040 --> 00:43:00,480 Speaker 1: you doing, man, I'm good man, I'm blessed to be here, 850 00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:03,680 Speaker 1: just just super excited to get started. You gotta talk 851 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:05,960 Speaker 1: me through your journey. It's been thirteen months, Mikings fans 852 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:08,760 Speaker 1: have been excited. I think people have talked more about 853 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:10,520 Speaker 1: what you and Dalvin Thomlinson are going to do for 854 00:43:10,560 --> 00:43:14,120 Speaker 1: this Minnesota Biker's defense than any other position. So these 855 00:43:14,120 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 1: past thirteen months, what has that been like for you 856 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:18,879 Speaker 1: to get back to this point? Um? Like I said, 857 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:22,880 Speaker 1: it was challenging, but super super rewarding. So obviously you 858 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:25,279 Speaker 1: got to work out and stuff. But for me, it's 859 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:28,799 Speaker 1: just about personal growth and development and fulfilling some of 860 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:31,440 Speaker 1: the things that you know, I've always thought I was 861 00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:34,200 Speaker 1: interested in and you know, making sure that I have 862 00:43:34,320 --> 00:43:38,440 Speaker 1: to play after football. Mike, It's great to virtually meet you. 863 00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:40,680 Speaker 1: I'm jealous of Gabe over there getting to sit next 864 00:43:40,719 --> 00:43:43,560 Speaker 1: to you. But my biggest question to you is I 865 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:48,520 Speaker 1: saw you all season long on Twitter social media, engaging 866 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:52,160 Speaker 1: with the fans, cheering on and Adam feeling diving catch. 867 00:43:52,520 --> 00:43:54,480 Speaker 1: What was that like for you to just be on 868 00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:57,760 Speaker 1: social media and meet the fans and have that point 869 00:43:57,760 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 1: of view all season long? It was different. Like I 870 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:04,040 Speaker 1: said in another interview, I never got to be like 871 00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:06,840 Speaker 1: a fan, like a third party fan of any football 872 00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:09,560 Speaker 1: team or just anything outside of like growing up University 873 00:44:09,560 --> 00:44:11,680 Speaker 1: of Alabama. So for me, I I've always been in 874 00:44:11,719 --> 00:44:14,640 Speaker 1: the trenches and trenched in the sport. So it was 875 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:19,320 Speaker 1: super super knew it was. It was rewarding. But y'all 876 00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 1: have like a community of people online, like so so 877 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:26,239 Speaker 1: many people like different questions, different stuff. But just to 878 00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:29,680 Speaker 1: rejoice when we're doing great, and uh, you know, letting 879 00:44:29,719 --> 00:44:33,120 Speaker 1: people know that, you know, I'm not only just at home. 880 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:35,840 Speaker 1: I'm still a fan of Vikings. Want to be a 881 00:44:35,880 --> 00:44:37,800 Speaker 1: great teammate when I get in and uh, this is 882 00:44:37,840 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 1: a way to me to stay engage. So um, I 883 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:43,880 Speaker 1: loved it, loved it. So we know, like, like I 884 00:44:43,920 --> 00:44:46,240 Speaker 1: was telling you before, you operate out of the twenty 885 00:44:46,280 --> 00:44:49,239 Speaker 1: twenty season for legit reasons, COVID nineteen is a real thing. 886 00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:51,880 Speaker 1: We've seen, you know, the effecting calls that has happened 887 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:56,399 Speaker 1: on many people. But for you engaging with those fans, right, 888 00:44:56,719 --> 00:44:59,399 Speaker 1: how tough was it knowing that you know you want 889 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:01,799 Speaker 1: to engage with you can't play, You really can't help 890 00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:04,719 Speaker 1: like you want to, right, No, It's super tough. And 891 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: uh that's kind of why I did those interviews before 892 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:10,319 Speaker 1: the season, just to let people know I have like 893 00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:16,319 Speaker 1: a history of you know, asthma, upper respiratory issues that 894 00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:19,839 Speaker 1: I felt more at risk at the time. So knowing that, 895 00:45:19,880 --> 00:45:22,880 Speaker 1: you know, watching the Saints game and those kind of things. 896 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:25,680 Speaker 1: As a run stopper personally, I feel, you know, some 897 00:45:25,719 --> 00:45:28,399 Speaker 1: sort of responsibility for that. So that was a tough game. 898 00:45:28,440 --> 00:45:31,080 Speaker 1: But um, just not being out there when I feel like, 899 00:45:31,120 --> 00:45:32,480 Speaker 1: oh I could have made this player, I could have 900 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:35,680 Speaker 1: made that play. It's super, super tough. But um, like 901 00:45:35,719 --> 00:45:38,279 Speaker 1: I said, for whatever reason, you know, things happen in 902 00:45:38,320 --> 00:45:41,160 Speaker 1: the world, and you know you placed in whatever role 903 00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:43,719 Speaker 1: you're in. But um, there was never gonna be a 904 00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:46,160 Speaker 1: point where I was not in tune, not cheering the 905 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:48,880 Speaker 1: guys on and you know, not you know, interacting with 906 00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:50,560 Speaker 1: the fans and all that stuff. You get your hate 907 00:45:50,560 --> 00:45:52,640 Speaker 1: mail and all that kind of stuff, but you know 908 00:45:52,719 --> 00:45:55,960 Speaker 1: that comes and goes with everything else. The one thing 909 00:45:55,960 --> 00:45:58,560 Speaker 1: that was engaging for me to watch and probably every 910 00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:01,719 Speaker 1: single Viking stand to watch were these workout videos that 911 00:46:01,760 --> 00:46:05,080 Speaker 1: you were putting together, whether it was deadlifting or you're 912 00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:08,080 Speaker 1: jumping and throwing medicine balls and things of that nature. 913 00:46:08,080 --> 00:46:10,680 Speaker 1: So what was that like to just get involved in 914 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:13,080 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff and you're not out on the field, 915 00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:15,480 Speaker 1: but you're I mean, it seemed like you're doing some 916 00:46:15,640 --> 00:46:19,520 Speaker 1: quality work out there. Yeah yeah, yeah, no quality over 917 00:46:19,600 --> 00:46:22,960 Speaker 1: quantity any day. But the thing for me. And like 918 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:26,200 Speaker 1: I said, I've had the Olympic lifting background growing up. 919 00:46:26,239 --> 00:46:28,239 Speaker 1: I had a really good trainer since I was in 920 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:32,080 Speaker 1: eighth grade. Powerlifting for me, and that's where the Thorbians 921 00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:35,040 Speaker 1: and reference comes in. Is a passion of mind outside 922 00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:39,239 Speaker 1: of football, be doing that regardless. So like I got 923 00:46:39,239 --> 00:46:42,440 Speaker 1: to participate in Squattober. For all the weightlifting fans out there, 924 00:46:42,440 --> 00:46:44,960 Speaker 1: you know exactly what that is. You squat five days 925 00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:47,400 Speaker 1: a week for the whole month October. Terrible on your 926 00:46:47,480 --> 00:46:50,799 Speaker 1: knees and your lower back. Learned that this October. But 927 00:46:51,520 --> 00:46:53,880 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff, you know, in football season, you 928 00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:56,200 Speaker 1: can't do none of that crap. It's not even feasible. 929 00:46:56,360 --> 00:46:58,520 Speaker 1: You can't you do anything you need to do. So 930 00:46:59,560 --> 00:47:02,080 Speaker 1: something always wanted to try. Just because I had this 931 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:04,680 Speaker 1: year off, it was the perfect time to try to try, 932 00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:07,520 Speaker 1: you know, cross fit and all this different stuff. So, um, 933 00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:09,560 Speaker 1: it gave me a lot of time to explore the 934 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:12,080 Speaker 1: avenues that I was interested in. Learned that. You know, 935 00:47:12,480 --> 00:47:16,600 Speaker 1: I would probably never do Squattoba again, but it was fun. Yeah, 936 00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:18,399 Speaker 1: it gave me a lot of time to try different things, 937 00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:21,080 Speaker 1: and I think it's gonna make me, you know, a 938 00:47:21,120 --> 00:47:23,799 Speaker 1: better player. From just a holistic point. So I think 939 00:47:23,880 --> 00:47:26,640 Speaker 1: one thing you probably gonna try again is wearing shorts 940 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:30,320 Speaker 1: and a T shirt on a flight to Minesota. What 941 00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:34,000 Speaker 1: you flip from Alabama? Yeah, so I'm from the Gulf Coast. 942 00:47:34,320 --> 00:47:38,319 Speaker 1: It's eighty five degrees right now. You know, I did 943 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:41,080 Speaker 1: live in Baltimore for four years. It never occurred to 944 00:47:41,120 --> 00:47:44,839 Speaker 1: me that it was still cold in parts of the country, So, 945 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:48,160 Speaker 1: um yeah. I hopped on a plane Jordan shorts, Jordan 946 00:47:48,239 --> 00:47:52,239 Speaker 1: T shirt and got a route awakening when I got 947 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:55,239 Speaker 1: to the airport. So this morning, man, Yeah yeah, And 948 00:47:55,360 --> 00:47:58,480 Speaker 1: thankfully our equipment staff gave me a jacket because all 949 00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:01,520 Speaker 1: my winter stuff is in storage, so um yeah, like 950 00:48:01,600 --> 00:48:04,520 Speaker 1: I said, and in mobile and everything. It can still 951 00:48:04,560 --> 00:48:07,120 Speaker 1: be seventy in December, so you don't really need a 952 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:11,120 Speaker 1: coat like you would here. So rude awakening, But this 953 00:48:11,160 --> 00:48:13,440 Speaker 1: would be the last time. I'm not prepared. I guarantee 954 00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:14,759 Speaker 1: you that I think it's one of those things you 955 00:48:14,800 --> 00:48:17,480 Speaker 1: just got to embrace, because of course I'll not talk 956 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:19,239 Speaker 1: about it all the time. Like you know, I moved 957 00:48:19,320 --> 00:48:22,120 Speaker 1: up here last April, well last last summer, and like 958 00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:24,920 Speaker 1: I didn't know it's like negative weather, like what does 959 00:48:24,920 --> 00:48:27,560 Speaker 1: that even look like? So for you, I think you 960 00:48:27,640 --> 00:48:29,719 Speaker 1: just got to like mentally get your mind prepared to 961 00:48:30,560 --> 00:48:33,040 Speaker 1: I'm gonna freeze my butt off for the next two weeks. 962 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:35,920 Speaker 1: I'm going to the Mall America and I'm going to 963 00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:39,120 Speaker 1: buy a lot of jackets, so I'll be prepared. The 964 00:48:39,160 --> 00:48:41,000 Speaker 1: first thing I knew was by north Face when I 965 00:48:41,040 --> 00:48:43,520 Speaker 1: moved to Minnesota, so that was that was the first 966 00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:47,520 Speaker 1: thing that I had too. You bring up Alabama and 967 00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:50,200 Speaker 1: the guy next to you this season went to the 968 00:48:50,320 --> 00:48:54,200 Speaker 1: University Alabama. I know it's like three hours away from Mobile, Alabama, 969 00:48:54,239 --> 00:48:56,239 Speaker 1: But did you grow up kind of room for the 970 00:48:56,239 --> 00:49:00,080 Speaker 1: Crimson Tide And obviously did that kind of go in 971 00:49:00,120 --> 00:49:03,239 Speaker 1: to watching Dalvin Tomlinson what he did there and now 972 00:49:03,280 --> 00:49:05,919 Speaker 1: he gets to play alongside you? Were lear any connections there? 973 00:49:07,080 --> 00:49:11,280 Speaker 1: So more interestingly than that, Dalvin played next to Ryan Anderson, 974 00:49:11,520 --> 00:49:14,200 Speaker 1: who played with me in high school. So I think 975 00:49:14,239 --> 00:49:16,400 Speaker 1: they're in the same recruiting class. If I'm not mistaken, 976 00:49:16,440 --> 00:49:20,080 Speaker 1: they actually are him and t J. Yelden. So I 977 00:49:20,080 --> 00:49:21,919 Speaker 1: did grow up a time fan and all that, But 978 00:49:22,040 --> 00:49:25,840 Speaker 1: more importantly, shout out to the boys from Daphne High School. 979 00:49:26,880 --> 00:49:29,440 Speaker 1: I watched them because my best friend, one of my 980 00:49:29,480 --> 00:49:31,680 Speaker 1: good friends, were playing literally right next to him. So 981 00:49:32,200 --> 00:49:35,080 Speaker 1: I got familiar with him because he was playing next 982 00:49:35,120 --> 00:49:36,879 Speaker 1: to Ryan. And you know, he had an amazing career 983 00:49:36,880 --> 00:49:40,560 Speaker 1: Abama and then going on to the Giants. So, like 984 00:49:40,560 --> 00:49:43,040 Speaker 1: I said, I've seen him progress because I've seen one 985 00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:45,840 Speaker 1: of my good friends progressed. So we talked about that 986 00:49:45,880 --> 00:49:49,800 Speaker 1: on the phone. And he lives in Georgia outside of Atlanta. 987 00:49:49,880 --> 00:49:52,000 Speaker 1: I live in Birmingham, so it's not too far. Well, 988 00:49:52,080 --> 00:49:54,280 Speaker 1: we'll make sure we link up and get some workouts 989 00:49:54,280 --> 00:49:56,600 Speaker 1: in for sure before we get back for camp. Speaking 990 00:49:56,600 --> 00:49:58,680 Speaker 1: to Ryan Anderson, we were talking about this off camera. 991 00:49:58,880 --> 00:50:00,560 Speaker 1: I mean I had the opportunity work with him in 992 00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:03,040 Speaker 1: Washington for two years. And one thing about Ryan Anderson 993 00:50:03,120 --> 00:50:06,759 Speaker 1: is he brings energy, Hella energy wherever he goes. And 994 00:50:06,800 --> 00:50:08,400 Speaker 1: I know you're a big guy on the energy. So 995 00:50:09,040 --> 00:50:11,000 Speaker 1: what kind of energy are we getting here in Minnesota. 996 00:50:11,160 --> 00:50:13,600 Speaker 1: I'm not as outward as him. Now. He has all 997 00:50:13,640 --> 00:50:17,759 Speaker 1: the country sayings you want to hear all the He's 998 00:50:17,800 --> 00:50:24,400 Speaker 1: a unique individual. Mine is more focused energy, process progress, 999 00:50:24,560 --> 00:50:28,600 Speaker 1: you know, practicality driven. Now Ryan will give you an 1000 00:50:28,640 --> 00:50:31,680 Speaker 1: amazing time a ton of sound bites all that kind 1001 00:50:31,719 --> 00:50:34,200 Speaker 1: of stuff. But I got my own energy. It looks 1002 00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:37,560 Speaker 1: a little different, but um nah nah. Like I said, 1003 00:50:37,719 --> 00:50:40,279 Speaker 1: I won't be as hype as John Randall, but I 1004 00:50:40,360 --> 00:50:42,319 Speaker 1: will be as far as close as I can be 1005 00:50:42,440 --> 00:50:45,640 Speaker 1: to that. I heard that energy is inspired by Rick Ross. 1006 00:50:45,840 --> 00:50:48,680 Speaker 1: Is that true? For sure? For sure? I heard that 1007 00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:51,759 Speaker 1: your guy? Oh yeah, oh yeah, I could. I could 1008 00:50:51,800 --> 00:50:55,399 Speaker 1: quote any song you probably know, forwards and backwards Lemon 1009 00:50:55,440 --> 00:50:59,759 Speaker 1: Pepper freestyle, let's not Yeah, they got profanity in there. 1010 00:50:59,840 --> 00:51:02,200 Speaker 1: That's very true. That that No, that's my that's a 1011 00:51:02,239 --> 00:51:05,080 Speaker 1: that's a good vibe. One thing that coach and Dre 1012 00:51:05,200 --> 00:51:07,400 Speaker 1: Patterson said, you know this past year was like we 1013 00:51:07,480 --> 00:51:09,600 Speaker 1: gotta make sure and this is you know figure two. 1014 00:51:09,760 --> 00:51:11,719 Speaker 1: We got to make sure that Michael Pearce isn't eat 1015 00:51:11,760 --> 00:51:16,520 Speaker 1: too many lemon pepper wings. So for you, the constant 1016 00:51:16,520 --> 00:51:19,879 Speaker 1: communication with him throughout the season, what was that like? Um, well, 1017 00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:21,879 Speaker 1: he mentioned in an interview, So he said, make sure 1018 00:51:21,880 --> 00:51:24,120 Speaker 1: I had a good trainer already did, and make sure 1019 00:51:24,160 --> 00:51:27,040 Speaker 1: I had a good nutrition it. So, um, I had 1020 00:51:27,160 --> 00:51:29,440 Speaker 1: never I had to cook, um, but I never had 1021 00:51:29,560 --> 00:51:33,240 Speaker 1: nutrition it. So I dialed that in under his direction obviously, 1022 00:51:33,560 --> 00:51:36,000 Speaker 1: and uh, we just I fell in love with the process. 1023 00:51:36,040 --> 00:51:40,320 Speaker 1: So um, you know my calories can range from thirty 1024 00:51:40,360 --> 00:51:43,319 Speaker 1: two to twenty seven to twenty five depending on the day, 1025 00:51:43,440 --> 00:51:45,800 Speaker 1: depending on the workout. And you know those higher calories 1026 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:48,839 Speaker 1: will come during camp obviously. But um, like I said, 1027 00:51:49,120 --> 00:51:51,960 Speaker 1: I now understand how my body reacts to different things. 1028 00:51:52,239 --> 00:51:55,920 Speaker 1: I now understand how to eat for specifically for performance. 1029 00:51:56,280 --> 00:51:58,640 Speaker 1: And you know what beat juice does to your stamina, 1030 00:51:58,880 --> 00:52:01,399 Speaker 1: all this kind of stuff that I'm you know they 1031 00:52:01,440 --> 00:52:03,160 Speaker 1: pay people to do. I had a year or two 1032 00:52:03,280 --> 00:52:07,000 Speaker 1: not only you know, fall under somebody's instruction, but understand why, how, 1033 00:52:07,160 --> 00:52:09,800 Speaker 1: and you know how to do it practically within the season. 1034 00:52:09,880 --> 00:52:12,439 Speaker 1: So um, no, I took his words to heart. And 1035 00:52:12,719 --> 00:52:14,239 Speaker 1: the last thing I ever wanted to do is come 1036 00:52:14,280 --> 00:52:16,640 Speaker 1: in out of shape and you know, have everyone disappointed. 1037 00:52:16,880 --> 00:52:19,719 Speaker 1: And like I said, for me, an undrafted free agent, 1038 00:52:19,800 --> 00:52:22,399 Speaker 1: to have someone investing you and believe in your talents 1039 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:26,120 Speaker 1: is any is more than anything I could ever hope for. 1040 00:52:26,280 --> 00:52:29,759 Speaker 1: So um, for me, I took those words to heart. 1041 00:52:29,800 --> 00:52:32,520 Speaker 1: I'm in great shape. Um, season still a ways away, 1042 00:52:32,560 --> 00:52:35,520 Speaker 1: so we're gonna keep working, but um, I'm ready to go. Man. 1043 00:52:36,320 --> 00:52:38,400 Speaker 1: Well that's one for me. I know they call you 1044 00:52:38,440 --> 00:52:42,680 Speaker 1: the Juggernaut. Do you have a special sack dance or 1045 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:47,120 Speaker 1: something planned for your first sack as a Minnesota Viking. Um? 1046 00:52:47,200 --> 00:52:50,399 Speaker 1: Not yet so unfortunately, like I said, yeah, you gotta 1047 00:52:50,440 --> 00:52:54,360 Speaker 1: start brainstorming. Man, I have things in mind. I don't. 1048 00:52:54,400 --> 00:52:56,240 Speaker 1: I don't know how to dance. I got some stuff 1049 00:52:56,280 --> 00:52:59,040 Speaker 1: I had to work out spe yourself. But it's gonna 1050 00:52:59,080 --> 00:53:01,239 Speaker 1: be unique. It's gonna be fun. I'm sure people are 1051 00:53:01,280 --> 00:53:04,120 Speaker 1: gonna laugh. It might end up on somebody's Instagram or something. 1052 00:53:04,520 --> 00:53:07,719 Speaker 1: But nah, I got some things I thought about, you know, 1053 00:53:07,800 --> 00:53:10,200 Speaker 1: just watching gowns, like, oh I do something crazy here. 1054 00:53:10,239 --> 00:53:12,680 Speaker 1: But it's gonna be fun. It's gonna be It's gonna 1055 00:53:12,680 --> 00:53:14,520 Speaker 1: be fun. And one thing you said before is that 1056 00:53:14,600 --> 00:53:17,719 Speaker 1: you learned the process. This year helped you learn the process. 1057 00:53:18,160 --> 00:53:20,000 Speaker 1: You're about to go through another process this year with 1058 00:53:20,000 --> 00:53:22,840 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings. And Vikings fans are excited about the 1059 00:53:22,880 --> 00:53:24,719 Speaker 1: process you're about to take them through. So what can 1060 00:53:24,760 --> 00:53:32,000 Speaker 1: they expect throughout this Processum? Just to dedicate it, hard working, Yeah, genuine. 1061 00:53:32,600 --> 00:53:35,279 Speaker 1: Whether we win or lose, you're gonna get what's real. 1062 00:53:35,360 --> 00:53:39,959 Speaker 1: For me, most importantly, a guy who's gonna be happy. 1063 00:53:40,000 --> 00:53:42,640 Speaker 1: To be out on that field, and you know, it's 1064 00:53:42,640 --> 00:53:44,880 Speaker 1: gonna go through the wins and the losses with you, 1065 00:53:45,280 --> 00:53:47,560 Speaker 1: and we're gonna enjoy every step of the way. But 1066 00:53:47,640 --> 00:53:50,680 Speaker 1: you know, toast to more wins and the more losses. 1067 00:53:50,719 --> 00:53:54,720 Speaker 1: So no, I'm super excited. I'm going to enjoy every 1068 00:53:54,719 --> 00:53:57,919 Speaker 1: snap like I never had before. So it's gonna be great. 1069 00:53:57,960 --> 00:54:01,200 Speaker 1: It's gonna be great. This interview was great for Chris Corso, 1070 00:54:01,520 --> 00:54:04,040 Speaker 1: Michael Paris, I'm Gabe Henderson. Thank you for tuning in 1071 00:54:04,080 --> 00:54:06,240 Speaker 1: to another edition of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast.