UPDATES FROM THE FINAL WEEK OF VIKINGS VOLUNTARY ORGANIZED TEAM ACTIVITIES.
EAGAN, Minn. (KNFL/KVRR)--The Minnesota Vikings held their mandatory minicamp last week and wrapped up their voluntary Organized Team Activities this week.
The biggest news out of OTA’s this week was the announcement that Sam Darnold will be the starting quarterback entering training camp. Darnold, the number-3 overall pick in 2018 by the New York Jets is entering his 7th year in the league and his first in Minnesota after inking a 1-year, 10-Million dollar deal this off-season. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell made this announcement on Wednesday and spoke on the entire QB room heading into camp at the end of July.
“I have not had to put out a depth chart or anything like that, but I would say Sam would be the guy I look to based upon the spring he has had,” said O’Connell. “At the same time, J.J. [McCarthy] has really improved, Nick Mullens has had a great spring and Jaren [Hall] has also improved, so I have told all four of those guys, look: depth charts are great, it is great to understand where I am at currently today, but that will mean nothing about the future or a week or two out. Most importantly, we played four [quarterbacks] last year. So, I have total understanding that we only control so much in this whole thing and that is what I challenged the quarterbacks to do, control what you can. It is not about the camp you have had, it is about your readiness to help the Minnesota Vikings win and that is hopefully what all of our players will be reporting back here with that mindset on.”
Vikings first round pick J.J. McCarthy, as KOC mentioned, showed a lot of improvement throughout mini camp and OTAs. McCarthy shares the expectations he has placed on himself and the the dynamic he feels in the QB room so far this off-season.
“The only expectations I put on myself is to know the playbook inside and out, to be the best teammate I can possibly be and show up and outwork everyone else in this building, i do not know if I can outwork KO, but I will try,” said McCarthy. “This is such a blessing for me. I grew up watching Sam Darnold. Being able to just sit there and watch him, Nick and Jaren, it is not what they say to me, it is what they do. Just being a sponge and observing them and eventually, hopefully, one day surpassing them, but right now they are phenomenal human beings that are sharing their wisdom with me and I just cannot thank them enough for that. I cannot wait for training camp.”
And of course, the other big story line concerning young players is the Vikings other first-round selection: Edge Rusher Dallas Turner. Turner spoke the media this week about what he has learned since entering the NFL and the transition from Alabama.
“Really just learning how to be a Minnesota Viking right now,” said Turner. “Just trying to be the best professional I can possibly be. Just getting acclimated to being in Minnesota and being around the guys: very good group of guys and just learning new stuff every day. The workload from Alabama to the NFL in general is definitely a transition, but it is a good transition, for sure, the workload and stuff like that and how intense things are. I feel like it is more of a technical thing at the NFL level. Really understanding what you are doing and the technique that you are doing, it is all just more technical. I got a lot of good work at Alabama too, you know, it got me here, so Roll Tide.”
The full training camp schedule for the Vikings can be found at the following link: https://www.vikings.com/schedule/vikings-events/training-camp/
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