As the off season comes to a close, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer has called this mini-camp the most important of them all heading into Training Camp in July. There are a number of issues the coaching staff will be keying but this camp will give an overall picture of where his team stands. The following are some of the stand out issues:
- Tight End Shuffle – The Vikings ran more two TE sets than any team last year. With TE John Carlson signing on with Arizona, Rhett Ellison and Chase Ford have an opportunity to shine this season.
- Getting Anthony Barr situated at Outside Linebacker – Barr, the teams top 2014 draft selection just graduated from UCLA.
- Safety in numbers? – After sitting out most of last season with injuries, Jamarca Sanford and Andrew Sendejo could lose their jobs to Kurt Coleman, Robert Blanton or Antone Exum.
- Quarterback Controversy? Not so says Coach Zimmer. “I want to give everybody (Matt Cassel, Christian Ponder and Rookie Teddy Bridgewater) an opportunity and make sure that it’s a legitimate opportunity for all of them,” Zimmer said Tuesday after the Vikings opened their mandatory minicamp. “Then we’ll start narrowing down the reps as we get going. But it won’t be for a while.
Whatever the outcome, be sure to get your tickets and cheer on your Minnesota Vikings!