Tag: Kevin Seifert

Minnesota Vikings continue their ascent up NFL power rankings

The Minnesota Vikings are definitively one of the best teams in the NFL after four weeks, and their ascent up NFL power rankings shows that.

Very few people anticipated the Minnesota Vikings being one of just two undefeated teams after Week 4 when the NFL season started. Yet, that’s where quarterback Sam Darnold has the team sitting. Add in a sweltering defense commanded by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and it’s undeniable that the Vikings are one of the best teams in the league this season. This stance is reflected in many outlets’ power rankings heading into Week 5.

ESPN: No. 2 (Up three spots from last week)

Brian Flores’ defense has been one of the NFL’s best stories this season, and there are no glaring issues. But after the group allowed 22 points in the fourth quarter to the Packers, it’s worth thinking about age and snap counts. Of the 10 defensive players who have started all four games, three are 30 or older and six are 28 or older. So far this season, the Vikings’ defense has played the league’s third-most defensive snaps (272). Safety Harrison Smith (35), cornerback Stephon Gilmore (34) and No. 3 corner Shaq Griffin (29) constitute one of the NFL’s oldest secondaries. — Kevin Seifert

Pro Football Talk: No. 3 (Up four spots)

Between the players and the coaching on both sides of the ball, they’ve got the most balanced team in the league. — Mike Florio

The Sporting News: No. 2. (Up two spots)

Sam Darnold has maximized the offensive pop with Justin Jefferson and the rest of the receivers. The defense continues to dictate terms with big plays, sacks, and takeaways. Kevin O’Connell easily has the best team in the NFC so far. — Vinnie Iyer

Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson getting closer to a return

With the Minnesota Vikings at 3-0 and looking at a big matchup with Green Bay, tight end T.J. Hockenson could be getting close to a return.

The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the biggest surprises so far in 2024, thanks in large part to the play of their defense. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has the Vikings defense confusing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators all across the league, and has put together a unit that is legitimately one of the best defenses in the entire league.

While the Vikings’ defense may be the star of the show, the team’s offensive success shouldn’t be overlooked. Most thought it laughable that quarterback Sam Darnold could lead this offense, given his previous struggles, particularly as a starter with the New York Jets.

Darnold has defied the odds so far this season, putting together the best season of his career in 2024. Darnold had just the second four-touchdown game of his career last week against the Texans and has a passer rating far exceeding anything he’s done up to this point.

What’s even more surprising is that he’s been able to do so without the services of wide receiver Jordan Addison for a large portion of the season and has been without the Vikings’ best weapon, not named Justin Jefferson, tight end T.J. Hockenson, for the entirety of the season as he continues to recover from the knee injury he suffered last year.

Good news could be on the way for Darnold, Hockenson, and the Vikings offense. ESPN’s Vikings beat reporter Kevin Seifert reports that the Vikings could get Hockenson back on the practice field as early as next week. Hockenson is still on Injured Reserve, so the clock hasn’t officially started on his return, but He seems to be ahead of schedule in his rehab, and the team is eager for his return.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had this to say on the subject:

He’s doing great. I’ll continue to defer to the medical staff on that. Hoping to get T.J. up and rolling as soon as possible.

The Vikings play division rivals Green Bay this week and have a chance to move to 4-0 on the season and put some early distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC North. Getting that cushion and starting the clock on Hockenson’s return could put the Vikings in a great spot to take the division crown and return to the playoffs in 2024.

J.J. McCarthy will see more first-team reps during Vikings training camp

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in line to see more reps with the first team offense in training camp, per reports.

We all know what the Minnesota Vikings coaches have said about the “competition” at quarterback. It’s well established that they have a plan with first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and they will bring him along at the pace they’re comfortable with. That likely means that Sam Darnold is going to be the starting quarterback when the 2024 season starts.

But is that the end of the story? How much wiggle room is there in the “plan,” and could McCarthy play his way into a starting role earlier than people may have thought? If he’s going to do any of that, he’s going to need reps—and those reps need to be with the first-team offense.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell is well aware of this and will give McCarthy an opportunity to capitalize on it. According to ESPN’s Minnesota Vikings beat reporter Kevin Seifert, O’Connell said that McCarthy “will eventually get some consistent first-team reps in training camp.”

However, O’Connell also quickly pointed out that Darnold “had earned the right to get the bulk of them (first-team reps) to this point.” Seifert went on to say that McCarthy will see those reps come when the offense hits the “sweet spot” of their offensive installation.

It’s early in the training camp process, but we’ve already seen several encouraging signs from the rookie quarterback. It’s always important to take training camp reports with a grain of salt, as everyone is overly optimistic these days. But the fact that this discussion is even taking place after just a few practices should likely be seen as a good sign.

Vikings defense ‘has chosen violence’ early in training camp

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores isn’t taking it easy on Vikings quarterbacks early in training camp, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

One of the biggest storylines for the Minnesota Vikings this training camp has been, and will continue to be, the development of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. By most accounts, he’s coming along well in his first few practices as a professional. But something else about his development has stood out to one Vikings reporter.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, it’s “hard to judge” McCarthy, or any of the Vikings quarterbacks, so far this training camp because the defense “has chosen violence from the very first snap.”

Seifert reports that Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has dialed up many different blitzes up front and is utilizing many different personnel groupings in back. He called the defense “very disruptive.”

That shouldn’t surprise anyone who has followed Flores throughout his career. He has always wanted his defenses to be able to play aggressively and give offenses multiple different looks, and for his cornerbacks to be able to survive in man-to-man coverage.

That last bit is going to be something to watch throughout camp, as the Vikings have had well-publicized struggles at the position. A strong pass rush up front will go a long way toward mitigating issues for the Vikings’ corners.

Either way, it’s encouraging to see that the defense has been the star of the show and that Flores is continuing to be a defensive scheme master. It should be a great test and ultimately serve McCarthy well as he adjusts to life in the NFL.

Several members of Vikings’ 2022 draft class fighting for roster spot

Several members of the Minnesota Vikings 2022 NFL Draft class, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first, could be at risk of missing the 2024 roster.

It’s a popular sentiment in the NFL draft community that you must give a draft class three seasons before properly evaluating their performance. That means that the 2022 NFL draft class is coming into that third year, and for the Minnesota Vikings, it’s not looking good for a number of their picks from that class.

According to ESPN’s Minnesota Vikings reporter Kevin Seifert, a number of selections from the 2022 NFL draft class, the first for Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, could be at risk of losing starting spots and/or being on the roster bubble – or cut entirely when the team gets to roster cutdown day.

That 2022 draft saw the Vikings trade out of the 12th overall pick, pulling off a trade with division rivals Detroit, among others, to eventually land the 32nd, 42nd, 59th, and 66th picks.

For their efforts, the Lions acquired wide receiver Jameson Williams, while the Vikings acquired safety Lewis Cine, cornerback Andrew Booth, offensive guard Ed Ingram, and linebacker Brian Asamoah II.

While Williams hasn’t been Earth-shattering at the position for the Lions, it’s clear from the past two seasons and early returns from training camp that the Lions clearly came out on top in this trade. While Williams has found a solid place on the Lions roster, it looks like all four of the Vikings’ picks could be in danger in Year 3.

According to Seifert, Cine “appeared to be no better than the sixth safety on the roster.” Seifert mentions that Booth was working with the second team in camp and will likely have to contend with Shaquill Griffin and Khyree Jackson for a roster spot.

Asamoah has also been working in a reserve capacity in training camp, getting work behind last year’s UDFA stand-out Ivan Pace, Jr. and newcomer Blake Cashman, who was signed by the Vikings in the off-season after two seasons in Houston and three with the New York Jets.

While offensive lineman Ed Ingram is not likely in danger of losing his spot on the roster, head coach Kevin O’Connell has been on record as saying it will be a three-way competition between Ingram, Dalton Risner, and Blake Brandel for the two starting guard spots, and Ingram could easily be on the outside looking in in that competition.

According to Seifert, Cine is the most likely of the four not to make the Viking’s final roster, saying, “It would take a wild swing during training camp for Cine to get back into contention for playing time on defense.” Cine is on tap to make $1.7 million, which is fully guaranteed in 2024, so Minnesota could keep him around for depth and special teams play, but he may wind up being a cut candidate as the Vikings get down to 53.