DAILY CLIPS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

LOCAL NEWS: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Star Tribune On the NFL: Imperfect Vikings avoid Week 1 problems that sank five other playoff teams By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/imperfect-vikings-avoid-week-1-pratfalls-that-sank-five-other-nfl-playoff-teams/492977841/ Doc's educated guess: Aaron Rodgers has MCL sprain, will play By Michael Rand http://www.startribune.com/docs-educated-guess-aaron-rodgers-has-mcl-sprain-will-play/492952791/ Film review: The Vikings defensive line reintroduced itself by dominating 49ers By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/film-review-the-vikings-defensive-line-reintroduced-itself-by-dominating-49ers/492941431/ Vikings weigh in at No. 4 in NFL power rankings By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/vikings-weigh-in-at-no-4-in-nfl-power-rankings/493036991/ The best team in the NFL right now? It's no clickbait By Jim Souhan http://www.startribune.com/vikings-clickbait/492954871/

Pioneer Press Vikings WR Stacy Coley knows how to fit in: ‘Ears open, mouth closed’ By Dane Mizutani https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/11/if-vikings-receiver-stacy-coley-wants-to-succeed-he-has-a-model-to-follow/ One year later, Vikings’ Anthony Barr vs. Aaron Rodgers just ‘another game’ By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/11/vikings-anthony-barr-says-facing-aaron-rodgers-again-would-be-just-another-game/

Vikings.com Vikings Visit Police Officers and Firefighters in Honor of 9/11 By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-visit-police-officers-and-firefighters-in-honor-of-9-11 Murray, Vikings Host 945th FST Readying for Deployment By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/murray-vikings-host-945th-fst-readying-for-deployment 1998 Vikings Reconnect at Team’s New Homes for 20th Anniversary By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/1998-vikings-reconnect-at-team-s-new-homes-for-20th-anniversary Lunchbreak: Adam Thielen Finds Groove in Season-Opening Win By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-adam-thielen-finds-groove-in-season-opening-win

Twins Invite Mike Hughes to Throw First Pitch on Monday Night By Chris Corso https://www.vikings.com/news/twins-invite-mike-hughes-to-throw-first-pitch-on-monday-night After Trek to See Vikings, Young Fan Receives Surprise Message By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/after-trek-to-see-vikings-young-fan-receives-surprise-message After Further Review: Sheldon Richardson's Initial Impact By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/after-further-review-sheldon-richardson-s-initial-impact

VIKING Update Richardson’s versatile value shined through in opener By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Sheldon-Richardsons-versatile-value-shined-through-in-opener-121776681/

1500 ESPN Assessing the Vikings’ defensive line rotation in Week 1 By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/assessing-vikings-defensive-line-rotation-week-1/ Zulgad’s 3-and-out: Harrison’s greatness, Murray’s run and Treadwell’s drop By Judd Zulgad http://www.1500espn.com/news/2018/09/zulgads-3-harrisons-greatness-murrays-run-treadwells-drop/ Clearing up misconceptions about Mike Hughes and the 2018 Vikings draft By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/clearing-misconceptions-mike-hughes-2018-vikings-draft/

The Athletic Vikings Film Room: Creating turnovers and standing up to the 49ers’ pressure By Arif Hasan https://theathletic.com/518562/2018/09/11/vikings-film-room-creating-turnovers-and-standing-up-to-the-49ers-pressure/ NATIONAL NEWS: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

ESPN Vikings rookie Mike Hughes makes impact sooner than expected By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/27087/vikings-rookie-mike-hughes-makes-impact-sooner-than-expected

On the NFL: Imperfect Vikings avoid Week 1 problems that sank five other playoff teams By Mark Craig NFL coaches love to open news conferences the way Mike Zimmer did the day after Sunday’s 24-16 win over the 49ers. “Overall, it’s a good win,” the Vikings coach said. “And a good learning experience.” In other words, Zimmer gets to be 1-0 and unsatisfied for legitimate reasons, not the kind coaches make up. He gets to pat a player on the back literally while kicking him in the butt figuratively. He gets the confidence-building victory and overconfidence-blocking ammunition in the form of blown coverages and a need to run the ball better to keep Hercules Rodgers seated this Sunday. Overall, it was a good week for the Vikings. They were one of seven returning playoff teams to survive the annual uncertainty of Week 1 in a league that no longer uses the preseason to get the varsity squad ready for the regular season. That means five of their peers weren’t so fortunate. They were casualties of the Week 1 guessing game. And, yes, that includes Pittsburgh, the Vikings’ fellow returning 13-win No. 2 seed from the AFC. The Steelers tied the Browns, creating the best ESPN crawler zinger in memory: “Browns best start since 2004.” The four returning playoff teams that lost were Buffalo, New Orleans, Tennessee and Atlanta. The Bills proved that Nathan Peterman and a poor defense will get you humiliated 47-3 in Baltimore. Young Nathan, who went 5-for-18 for 24 yards and two interceptions, was benched as the 29th quarterback in history to throw enough passes to qualify for an official 0.0 passer rating. Somewhere, Tyrod Taylor is smiling. In New Orleans, the Saints’ pass defense hasn’t forgotten how to grant miracles in the past eight months. As a 9½-point favorite at home, the Saints allowed Bucs backup Ryan Fitzpatrick to complete 21 of 28 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns. And a nation of suicide pool players wept. In fact, a friend of a friend reports that he heard of a pool in a faraway state in which 1,316 out of 4,311 participants (30.5 percent) selected the Saints to win straight-up as the no-brainer pick of the week. The Falcons can be excused overall since they played at Philly in prime time. But Matt Ryan’s 57.4 passer rating cannot.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/12/18

As for Tennessee, Mike Vrabel was the only one of seven new head coaches to be handed a team that had a winning record and made the playoffs a year ago. He lost at Miami in the wildest game of the week, a seven-hour, two-weather delay, 34-point fourth-quarter shootout in which Marcus Mariota was bad before getting hurt. If not for Matt Patricia’s opening debacle against the Jets on Monday night, Vrabel would have had the stinker of the week among rookie NFL head coaches making their debuts. Somewhere, Jim Caldwell, who went 9-7 in Detroit last year, smiles as Patricia nurses the reputation-rattling prime-time gut punch of a 48-17 loss to 21-year-old Sam Darnold, the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL since the 1970 merger. Joining the Vikings as returning playoff teams to weather Week 1 were the Eagles, Patriots, Jaguars, Chiefs, Panthers and Rams. The Eagles found a way to continue winning without Carson Wentz. The Patriots avoided the Week 1 hiccup they had a year ago. The Jaguars held the host Giants to 15 points in Saquon Barkley’s debut and OBJ’s return. The Chiefs found a quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) and showcased the league’s most electric player (Tyreek Hill). The Panthers were bad offensively, but doubled the Cowboys’ eight points. And the Rams closed the week out by suggesting that putting all their eggs and dollars in this year’s basket could pay off. As for the Vikings, their win at home over the previously undefeated Jimmy Garoppolo checks in somewhere in the middle of the pack of seven. Better than Carolina’s offensively and certainly Kansas City’s defensively. As steady as New England’s. Not as overwhelming as the Rams’. And that’s fine with Zimmer. A win, but still a lot to work on.

Doc's educated guess: Aaron Rodgers has MCL sprain, will play By Michael Rand Welcome to the Tuesday edition of The Cooler, where recent weather only confirms my belief that September is the best month. Let’s get to it: *After idly speculating on Aaron Rodgers’ injury Monday on Twitter, I was guided to a more informed opinion: That of Dr. David J. Chao, who writes about sports medicine for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Packers coach Mike McCarthy isn’t saying anything about Rodgers’ knee injury, which caused the Packers QB to miss part of Sunday night’s game against the Bears and limited Rodgers’ mobility even as he led a 24-23 comeback victory. Rodgers was adamant postgame that he will play Sunday against the Vikings. Chao tends to agree with that. Based on his video review of the play on which Rodgers was injured, plus the type of brace Rodgers was wearing when he came back in, Chao — writing as “Pro Football Doc” — is guessing that Rodgers has a mild sprain of his MCL. “He will receive extensive treatment and might be limited or miss practice, but no one can doubt he will play next week. The only real question is how mobile he will be after suffering an apparent MCL sprain Sunday,” he writes, adding later: “Over the next 2-4 weeks, as he heals, cutting and side-to-side moments will be affected, but he should be able to play.” Again, the people who know best the exact nature of Rodgers’ injury and recovery are the Packers’ medical folks and Rodgers himself. But until they offer any further public diagnosis, this is at least a starting point for what to possibly expect. If you’re a Vikings fan, it’s probably best to get used to the idea of No. 12 playing Sunday. *I wrote Monday about the botched attempt by the Bears to finish off the Packers, which included criticism of new coach Matt Nagy’s decisionmaking. As it turns out, Nagy wasn’t the only new coach to struggle in his NFL debut. With Jon Gruden’s Raiders and Matt Patricia’s Lions getting routed during Monday’s NFL doubleheader, all seven new coaches lost their openers. That also includes former Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, whose Giants lost 20-15 to the Jaguars. *Attendance for the Twins/Yankees game Monday on a gorgeous night at Target Field was a paltry 21,565 — and as someone who was there, I would say Yankees fans made up a good portion of the actual fans in the stands and produced some of the largest cheers as New York won 7-2. The Twins tend to face an attendance challenge on weeknights when school is back in session, and their disappointing season certainly plays a role in walk-up attendance, but I’m still a little surprised the crowd was so small. The result and game time (3 hours, 39 minutes) probably won’t help earn many repeat customers.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/12/18

Film review: The Vikings defensive line reintroduced itself by dominating 49ers By Andrew Krammer Not even Mike Zimmer could anticipate how well the Vikings’ prized defensive line would play in its debut with Sheldon Richardson in Sunday’s 24-16 win against the 49ers. While San Francisco saw two offensive linemen leave the game to injury, the Vikings’ front four dominated from start to finish regardless of who was in the game. “Now it’s on tape, and I know what he’s going to look like and what he’s supposed to look like,” Zimmer said Monday. “[Richardson] played real hard, pushed the pocket. There were two times that he took the guy with one hand and knocked him back. He played really, really well. We need him to continue to play like that.” In all, the Vikings’ defensive line of Richardson, Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter combined for 8 of the 9 hits on Jimmy Garoppolo and 7 of the Vikings’ 9 run stops (gains of 2 yards or less). Richardson was the star of the group Sunday, tallying three run stops, three QB hits, a 0.5 sack and a drawn hold. He capped his day by hitting Garoppolo during the game-sealing interception to safety Harrison Smith. 1. Pressure report — Hunter (58 snaps) was simply too much for 49ers rookie tackle Mike McGlinchey, and later Garry Gilliam when injuries forced McGlinchey to move to guard. Hunter had eight pressures, including a sack in which he thoroughly beat Gilliam with a speed rush in 3.1 seconds. Griffen (51 snaps) added four pressures, including a hit and split sack with Richardson (46 snaps). Joseph (49 snaps) flashed his usual strength against the run, even adding a hit to start the third quarter when he benched center Weston Richburg into Garoppolo’s lap. Zimmer turned up the heat in the fourth quarter, calling three straight blitzes that netted Anthony Barr’s pass deflection, Smith’s sack and an incompletion to start the following drive. On offense, quarterback Kirk Cousins saw a mixed bag of clean pockets and not-so-ideal situations. DeForest Buckner’s three sacks were the product of three very different plays: first, Buckner simply beat left guard Tom Compton on a rush; secondly, Buckner benefited from a poor blitz pickup by right tackle Rashod Hill, which led to Cousins fleeing into him; thirdly, Hill and right guard Mike Remmers struggled to pick up a twist that led to Cousins again running into Buckner. The Vikings offensive line — a group that didn’t play a single snap together in the preseason with center Brett Jones — had miscommunications. They particularly struggled against the 49ers’ defensive line twists, resulting in a few pressures. Arik Armstead beat left tackle Riley Reiff inside on a twist to ruin any chance of converting an early 3rd-and-14 attempt. Reiff otherwise played a clean game. 2. Misdirection and Mike Hughes — Upon second look, rookie corner Mike Hughes’ NFL debut was a lot more up and down than it seemed after he came away with a pick-six and was credited with three pass deflections. His role expanded after Trae Waynes (24 snaps) exited the game with a right knee injury. Hughes stepped in at left cornerback and had a hand in some of the Vikings’ coverage busts, including the 56-yard catch and run by Kyle Juszczyk and 13-yard toss

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/12/18

to tight end George Kittle. Hughes simply got lost. “A couple plays that they hit on us were things that he just blanked out on,” Zimmer said. On Juszczyk’s 56 yarder, Hughes carried his receiver’s route too far inside where the safety was there to pick it up in their pattern-matching scheme; he left the sideline wide open for Juszczyk’s huge play. The 49ers relied heavily on Kyle Shanahan’s misdirection schemes to gain chunks of yardage. They included Kittle’s catches for 13 and 18 yards as well as Alfred Morris’ 14-yard run that had linebacker Eric Kendricks caught in the wash following a fake sweep. “It was misdirection this way, misdirection that way, and then somebody sneaking out the backside, somebody sneaking out the frontside,” Zimmer said. “We practiced a lot of them, but it happens so much faster in the game and they were so much flatter than we anticipated.” Of course, the Vikings’ secondary was still there to pounce whenever a mistake was made, including a route miscommunication on Hughes’ pick-six, an overthrown ball on Xavier Rhodes’ interception and a desperate decision under pressure when Smith picked off Garoppolo at the end. 3. Anatomy of a play — Each week, I’ll break down a standout play that doesn’t necessarily mean game-changing. This 5-yard run by Dalvin Cook is an example of the play design creating more intrigue than the result. The Vikings installed run-pass options into this year’s offense with coordinator John DeFilippo bringing his influences from the Eagles. No play from Sunday jumped out as an Eagles blueprint more than this one. Philadelphia used this split blocking scheme in its Super Bowl win over the Patriots in February. What makes this particular run-pass option different is the blocking scheme. The left side — guard Tom Compton and tackle Riley Reiff — pass block while the rest of the line tries to sell an outside zone run. Defenders read the offensive line, so the 49ers linebacker and safety over the left side stay flat footed awaiting a pass, while other defenders flow toward the run blocking. The scheme created space in the middle, where Cook gains a couple yards before he’s touched on the 5-yard run. Should 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt (circled) or the playside linebacker crash toward the run, Cousins has an open throwing lane to receiver Adam Thielen out of the slot. Cousins made the right read, letting Cook pick up an easy five yards. (Credit: NFL Game Pass, Fox Sports) 4. Cook impressive, even if blocking wasn’t — Running back Dalvin Cook’s workload (22 touches via 57 of 71 snaps) left no doubt about his recovery nearly a year removed from the torn ACL in his left knee. Cook cut and shook defenders with relative ease on the knee, breaking five tackles while picking up 90 total yards. Cook’s most impressive run ended with the fumble. He broke through two tackle attempts, while four 49ers defenders got a hand on him, up the middle for a 15-yard gain. The issue for Cook, who gained 40 yards on 16 carries, was the little room he had to work with behind a patchwork offensive line. But really, the run blocking issues stretched beyond two fill-in starters in left guard Tom Compton and center Brett Jones. San Francisco’s defensive backs were aggressive against the run, leaning in to form 8-man fronts on Cook’s first two runs that totaled three yards. Each time, a Vikings tight end — Rudolph and Morgan — were beat by tough assignments in Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas.

An overarching issue was the interior line’s inability to reach linebackers, which is partly why 49ers linebacker Fred Warner led all defenders with 12 combined tackles on Sunday. 5. Cousins’ highs and lows — Cousins will enter Sunday’s game in Green Bay still searching for his first fourth-quarter completion in a Vikings uniform. He went 0-for-6 (not counting a final throwaway to kill time) as the offense failed to provide more breathing room from San Francisco’s comeback attempt. The lows started with his late pass to Diggs, the dropped interception by Tartt. Cousins also threw behind a covered Thielen on an ensuing third-and-11; had an underthrown pass to Thielen on a deep ball; then he sailed a pass in the face of a blitz over Diggs’ head on third-and-9 while Thielen was open on the same side of the field. Thanks, in part, to a suffocating defensive effort by the Vikings, Cousins’ highs outweighed the lows in his debut. The three most impressive passes were the two touchdowns — a 22-yard strike to Diggs dropped just over Ahkello Witherspoon’s shoulder and the 11-yard touchdown to a covered Rudolph similarly placed over Tartt’s shoulder pad. Cousins did well throwing on the run, which could come in handy this season. While fleeing right, Cousins side-armed a pass to tight end David Morgan for a 9-yard gain on third down. Cousins was particularly effective off play-action passes, completing 6 of 8 throws for 70 yards. One early pass was setup well by DeFilippo, who called three straight Cook runs with the back aligned in the ‘dot’ formation — which is the standard seven yards behind Cousins. On the fourth ‘dot’ alignment for Cook, Cousins pulled the ball back and found a wide-open Diggs for 18 yards as the receiver worked Richard Sherman in man-to-man coverage.

Vikings weigh in at No. 4 in NFL power rankings

By Mark Craig

NFL Power Rankings:

1, Rams (1-0): If you like defense, circle that Sept. 27 prime-time matchup between the Rams' dream-

team D and Mike Zimmer's home-grown D.

2, Eagles (1-0): It wasn't pretty, but they were the only returning playoff team to beat another returning

playoff team (Atlanta).

3, Patriots (1-0): Much steadier start than last season, so no one is calling for Brady to be traded or

Belichick to be fired. Stay tuned, though.

4, Vikings (1-0): Much room to grow, but a solid team win, including a quiet, calm-the-waters effort on

special teams.

5, Jaguars (1-0): Nice road win, giving up 15 points to a Giants team with plenty of pop back in its

offense.

Week 1: What happened?

Once upon a time, the NFL preseason was used to get the good players ready for the regular season.

That was replaced by paranoia about revealing too much schematically, followed by overwhelming

fear of good players being unnecessarily injured.

The solution is to do away with the traditional preseason, or knock it down to two games, cut ticket

prices in half and bill it as a "futures" game — a la the NBA or MLB all-star games – so coaches can

get a useful look at the young, eager scrubs they'll eventually need to sign once the good players start

falling to injuries.

When you stop laughing at the thought of the NFL giving up four weeks of full-price ticketing, I'll

continue …

The current NFL preseason creates a Week 1 situation in which no one – fans, coaches, players, and

strangest of all, Vegas – really knows what's going to happen with 32 newly-assembled rosters.

Case in point: The Saints and Drew Brees are favored by 9 ½ points at home against the Bucs and

Ryan Fitzpatrick. Naturally, Fitzpatrick wins the 48-40 shootout, eh?

This makes the Vikings' 24-16 victory over the 49ers more palatable. Yes, there were flaws. The

offensive line needs to be better, particularly in the run game so that it doesn't take four takeaways –

including one at the Vikings' goal line – to squeeze out a one-score win against an inferior opponent.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/12/18

The defense needs to tighten things up and not let fullbacks and tight ends run down the field with no

one but their own shadow accompanying them. And the QB, Kirk Cousins, might have to complete a

fourth-quarter pass at some point.

But the Vikings were one of seven returning playoff teams to open 1-0. So that makes them a top five

team in this spot.

The other returning playoff teams to start 1-0: Eagles, Patriots, Rams, Jaguars, Chiefs and Panthers.

Meanwhile, two were humiliated in defeat: Saints and Bills.

One tied the Browns: Pittsburgh.

One lost a seven-hour, two-weather delay, 34-point fourth-quarter shootout in Miami: Tennessee.

And one lost on the road to the reigning Super Bowl champs: Atlanta.

The best team in the NFL right now? It's no clickbait By Jim Souhan The term ``clickbait'' has been popularized because there are so many websites that try to throw

eye candy onto your screen to capture your clicks so they can fail to monetize them.

That's what clickbait is.

Here's what clickbait isn't: Something you disagree with. Something that captures an audience

but not you.

Now this, this is clickbait: My Week 1 NFL power rankings.

This will not benefit society in any way and is irrelevant to the way NFL seasons play out. But

please click because, I don't know, clicking on this is better than clicking on a lot of other

clickbait?

1. Minnesota Vikings

Homer pick? Nope. You've come to the wrong place for homer picks. The Vikings are No. 1 this

week because they produced the most impressive victory over what I think was a quality

opponent. The 49ers look pretty good to me.

2. Los Angeles Rams

They spotted a half on the road to a team with a supposed home-field advantage, and then took

the Raiders apart in the second half.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Could be No. 1 based on the Super Bowl and a Week 1 victory over Atlanta, but if Atlanta had

been competent in the red zone we'd be talking about the Eagles' injuries and faltering offense.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

I covered Patrick Mahomes, a nice guy with an erratic arm. If he had thrown like his son does, the

senior Mahomes would be in the Twins Hall of Fame, or maybe the one in Cooperstown.

5. New England Patriots

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/12/18

I don't trust Kansas City to stay ahead of New England, but they were more impressive in Week

1.

6. Atlanta Falcons

Falcons were good enough to win the last two Super Bowls. This is not meant to be a

compliment.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

I don't trust Blake Bortles, and you can't make me.

8. New Orleans Saints.

The defense was horrid in Week 1. I expect it to get better, and the return from suspension of

Mark Ingram will eventually give the running game a boost.

9. Aaron Rodgers

T-10. Cleveland Browns.

Kidding.

T-10. Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kidding.

T-10. Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco, the NFL's most overpaid player, may have new life with Alex Collins, John Brown and

Michael Crabree at his disposal.

T-10. New York Jets

Maybe not kidding.

Vikings WR Stacy Coley knows how to fit in: ‘Ears open, mouth closed’ By Dane Mizutani Clearly, the Vikings feel a certain way about second-year receiver Stacy Coley. Need proof? They reserved a spot for the 24-year-old speedster on the active roster, even though he struggled with a nagging groin injury throughout the preseason, which caused him to miss significant time. “It means a lot,” said Coley, a seventh-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who turned heads in limited action during his rookie season. “I feel like the organization trusts me and knows what I can do. It’s just a matter of going in there and showcasing my talent.” After Coley played mostly special team last season, it it looks as if his role could expand this season. He didn’t play much in Sunday’s 24-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers — six snaps on offense — but it is notable that he saw the field at all considering his downtime in the preseason. “It felt good,” Coley said. “Not getting those reps in the preseason and stuff like that, it felt good to be back out there and go full speed.” As Coley becomes more comfortable with offensive coordinator John DeFilippo — and vice versa — he could end up challenging Laquon Treadwell for the team’s No. 3 receiver at some point. “I feel like last season I was still thinking a little too much,” Coley said. “Now I can kind of just go out there and play. I’m trying to hone in on what some of the older guys are doing and what they’ve been saying.” Those older guys — namely Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen — serve as a model for Coley. Diggs was a fifth-round draft pick who has become one of the crispiest route-runners in the league, and Thielen was undrafted before breaking out as a legitimate threat in the passing game. “I can learn from everybody in our room,” Coley said. “There’s obviously Diggs and Thielen. There’s also Treadwell and even guys like (Brandon) Zylstra and (Chad) Beebe and (Jeff) Badet. It doesn’t matter. I try to keep my ears open and my mouth closed. I’m trying to learn everything I can.” MAN IN THE MIDDLE With Pat Elflein on the mend, it remains to be seen how long Brett Jones lasts as the team’s starting center. That said, it doesn’t seem like Jones is very picky about where he plays on the offensive line, as long as he plays.

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/12/18

“I expect to do whatever the coaches tell me to do,” Jones said “I come to work each and every day and keep trying to get better as a player. I don’t worry about those things. It’s up to the coaches. If I get the opportunity, I’m excited to get going and keep playing with the guys up front.” When Elflein does come back, it’s reasonable to assume Jones will slide over to play left guard, especially considering Tom Compton struggled at that position over the weekend. “I’ve done that before in my career,” Jones said. “It’s something I can do, so whatever the coaches need me to do I’ll be ready to do it. I just keep working on whatever position they tell me to play and I’ll just keep improving. That’s what I can control.” ROOKIE OF THE YEAR? After a breakout game in his NFL debut, one that featured a pick-six that helped seal the victory, cornerback Mike Hughes already has high expectations from his teammates. “It’s not surprising that he went out there (on Sunday) and had a big game,” backup safety Jayron Kearse said. “I talked to him about it and told him now he just has to keep it going and try to get that rookie of the year.

One year later, Vikings’ Anthony Barr vs. Aaron Rodgers just ‘another game’ By Chris Tomasson Eleven months after his tackle broke Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone, Anthony Barr is scheduled to face the Green Bay quarterback again this weekend. Barr isn’t reading much into that. “It’s another football game,” the Vikings linebacker said of Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. On Oct. 15, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium, Barr hit Rodgers after he had rolled to his right and thrown what would be an incompletion. No penalty was called and Barr wasn’t fined, but Packers coach Mike McCarthy called it “an illegal act.” In the weeks that followed, Rodgers and Barr criticized each other for the interaction they had after the play. And Barr began to receive hate mail from apparent Packers fans. Rodgers missed nine of last season’s final 10 games, including Minnesota’s 16-0 victory at Lambeau Field in Week 16. The Packers went 3-6 without Rodgers and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Now, the two could face off again. Rodgers has said he plans to play Sunday after suffering a left knee injury last weekend in the first half against Chicago before returning in the second half to rally the Packers from a 20-0 deficit to a 24-23 win. However, McCarthy said Monday no decision had been made on whether Rodgers will play. Speaking after Minnesota’s 24-16 win over San Francisco in last weekend’s opener, Barr said he’s had “no conversations” with Rodgers since the hit last fall. He declined to speculate on whether he might talk with Rodgers on Sunday. Asked what sort of greeting he expects to receive at Lambeau Field, Barr said, “I’m not worried about that.” Last December, some fans held up signs criticizing Barr, and he received plenty of boos. Some Vikings players figure it will be more of the same Sunday. “Fan-wise, I know they’re probably not thrilled with him, but it is what it is,” Vikings defensive end Tashawn Bower said. “You can’t change it. … I’m sure they have a reason to not like him.” While some Packers players have disagreed, Vikings players have contended that Barr’s hit was clean. NFL referee Pete Morelli, though, said last month that under a new NFL rules interpretation to better protect quarterbacks, Barr’s hit this season would be considered a penalty because there was “plopping down” on a “defenseless player.”

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/12/18

Rodgers’ criticism of Barr has focused on what happened after the play rather than the hit. Last October, Rodgers said on the TBS talk show “Conan” that Barr gave him the “finger (and) suck-it sign” after the play. Barr then took to Twitter to say Rodgers wasn’t telling the whole story. Barr wrote that he didn’t retaliate until after Rodgers was “calling me all kind of names, F you this, F you that.” In a July interview for Peter King’s Football Morning in America, Rodgers said he considered it “time to move on for everybody.” However, he reiterated his previous criticism of Barr. “I had looked over (after the hit) just to see if maybe there was gonna be a thumbs up, or ‘Hey, you OK?’ Or whatever,” Rodgers told King. “It’s a league where you appreciate what we put our bodies through. I thought … knowing that I wouldn’t be on the ground unless it was a significant injury then maybe he’d be looking over, giving me a thumbs-up-you-OK? Or something. But it wasn’t the case. We had some words exchanged on both sides.” Barr heard from Packers fans, too. He received Twitter messages that said “I hope you tear your ACL” and “I still hope you break your neck.” Barr got a card in the mail from someone wanting him to end up like Darryl Stingley, the New England receiver who was paralyzed by a hit in a 1978 preseason game and died in 2007. It was written, “Your payback is coming.” About the hate messages, Barr said in December, “I don’t feel it’s going to stop.” He declined this week to say if they are still coming.

Vikings Visit Police Officers and Firefighters in Honor of 9/11 By Eric Smith ST. PAUL, Minn. — It’s been 17 years since the United States, and the world, was forever changed by the tragic events on Sept. 11, 2001. While the terrorist attacks occurred in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, their impact was felt across the nation. Nearly a dozen members of the Vikings paid tribute to local first responders on Tuesday afternoon as they visited a Minneapolis fire station and a police station in St. Paul. The respect that those wearing Vikings jerseys had for the men and women in uniform was profound. “We just wanted to show our thanks to them,” said Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff, who visited the police station. “It’s a special day, with it being 9/11, and we wanted to pay it forward to them. “It cuts a little bit deep on a day like today,” Reiff added. “But we’re thankful for them every day, not just today.” Fullback C.J. Ham, who also visited the police station, added: “I salute these guys for what they do every day. Not a lot of people can put on that badge and do what they do.” Vikings tight end David Morgan was among the half-dozen players who visited with firefighters in Minneapolis. “It was awesome,” Morgan said. “Obviously a day that we lost a lot of people [in the 9/11] attacks, and these guys were people that were first responders putting their lives on the line, and a lot of them sacrificed their lives for others. “So to come out here and spend time with these guys, get to hang out with them, shoot hoops, just do some fun stuff and keep it lighthearted, it was a lot of fun and something I was glad to be a part of,” Morgan added. Safety Anthony Harris emphasized that the gratitude toward first responders extends past the anniversary of such tragic events. “They’re putting their life on the line. I think it’s just something you should do to show your appreciation, so that’s why we wanted to come today. But not only specifically today but just in general,” Harris said. “Show them that we care and we appreciate what they do for us.” Coffee, donuts and ride-alongs at the Eastern District Police Station | By @Eric_L_Smith When Everson Griffen walks into a room carrying a box of chicken wings, you tend to take notice. Especially when Reiff, Ham, Mike Remmers and Daniel Carlson are right behind him.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/12/18

Those five Vikings surprised dozens of officers Tuesday at the Eastern District Police Station in St. Paul, as the players delivered Caribou Coffee, donuts from Kwik Trip and Buffalo Wild Wings for the group. “It was a really big deal to the officers. The smiles said a lot,” said Axel Henry, the district’s Senior Commander. “They were all so excited. To know the officers, they are all pretty stoic. So when they were all smiling like kids, it was a big deal.” Officer Sean Maloney couldn’t believe his eyes when he sat down for roll call and saw the players come in. “We were in shock when they came in,” Maloney said. “We had no idea. They didn’t say a word about it.” Players and officers mingled for a bit while everyone posed for pictures. The players autographed footballs while constantly thanking officers for their service. “They’re the ones out there grinding behind the scenes and taking care of business for us,” Griffen said. “I respect what they do.” Each Vikings player went on a ride-along with an officer, which was one of the top highlights of the day. “When I asked for five volunteers for the ride-alongs, I had 20,” Henry said with a laugh. Griffen described the experience. “I saw how they react and respond to the situation. They treat each situation differently, and it was really fun to see,” Griffen said. “You could tell they take it to heart and want to make a change.” Maloney said the department bleeds Purple and holds potlucks and cookouts when the Vikings are in action. Maloney said he and his fellow officers appreciated the players coming out for a visit. “It’s awesome for them to take the time to come out and thank us for what we do every day when we sit there and watch them on TV every week,” Maloney said. “We don’t get this chance very often.” With the visit occurring on the anniversary of 9/11, Reiff reflected on what the day meant to him. “I was in the sixth grade in the middle of South Dakota, and it was like we were in a movie,” Reiff said. “It was crazy. Every year that it goes by, it seems that it gets harder. People lost family members … people lost people they love. First responders are doing jobs that aren’t easy, and they sacrifice their lives and put their lives on the line.” Fire Station 14 welcomes Vikings | By @LindseyMNSports First feet, then jeans, a white 89 practice jersey and finally a broad smile came through a circular opening in the ceiling.

“That was exhilarating!” Exclaimed Morgan after sliding down the fireman’s pole. He, linebacker Ben Gedeon and quarterback Kyle Sloter each took a turn. Harris, offensive lineman Danny Isidora and defensive end Tashawn Bower opted for the stairs. The six teammates visited Minneapolis Fire Station 14 in North Minneapolis, where they surprised several firefighters with Caribou Coffee and donuts from Kwik Trip. It’s hard to tell who laughed more between the football players and firefighters as the Vikings were shown around the station and given the opportunity to try on gear and “play” with some of the equipment. Isidora and Morgan asked around for suits that would accommodate their large frames and didn’t hesitate to put on full gear, down to the oxygen tank and helmets. Several of the teammates also tried their hand at working a fire hose, with the guidance of a firefighter who stood behind them. While Isidora is used to the force of defensive linemen running at home, he – along with others – were still caught a bit off guard by the force of water. “It was a blast getting geared up,” Morgan said. “Holding that hose was the real deal. I think they put up to 150 gallons per minute or something crazy like that, and it almost blew me over. Those guys are tough.” Harris’ favorite experience was testing out the Jaws of Life, which can be used to cut into vehicles after an accident. The visit’s purpose was much more than fun and games, however. The Vikings players sincerely expressed their admiration and gratefulness for the first responders and their difficult jobs. One of the firemen spoke of the camaraderie that is built between co-workers and made the comparison to the brotherhood of a football team. “Their shifts go so long – a day or two – and having to be able to communicate within a group of guys over that period of time and really be on the same page is something that’s extremely important,” Bower said. “And it’s something you have to give credit to these guys for, who are protecting your community and keeping you safe. I have so much respect for them.” Assistant Chief of Administration Bryan Tyner has been in the firefighting business for 24 years and said it was an honor to spend an afternoon with the Vikings. “I think they had a lot of fun, we had a lot of fun with them, and we really appreciated them coming out,” Tyner said. “Especially today on 9/11, when we’re remembering what happened [17] years ago. It was great to have them out here. “To hear [the gratitude] from guys who you look up to and who your kids look up to, it really means a lot,” Tyner added. “It’s always good to be appreciated and respected – especially by somebody that you look up to and you’re looking forward to seeing every Sunday.”

Murray, Vikings Host 945th FST Readying for Deployment By Craig Peters EAGAN, Minn. — On this somber anniversary of 9/11, it is fitting to remember brave heroism in the line of service, the sorrow of victims’ families and the ongoing sacrifices put forth to keep Americans safe from terrorist acts. Seventeen years after the tragedy, the work remains. Men and women from the 945th FST, a surgical medical support team based at Fort Snelling that is part of the U.S. Army Reserves, are preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan. The Vikings were proud to host service members from the 945th FST at a closed walk-through session and the annual night practice during Verizon Vikings Training Camp last month. Running back Latavius Murray was among the Vikings players and coaches who welcomed the group after the walk-through session by signing autographs and posing for photos. “I wanted to introduce myself and wish you the best of luck over there and thank you,” Murray said. “I know how it is and how it could be, at least a little bit.” Murray’s fiancée, Shauntay Skanes, is currently in her 10th year of serving in the Navy. The couple celebrated the birth of their first child, a son named Major, last week. They have known each other since Murray was a preteen and have been in a relationship the past two years, during which Murray has learned more about the sacrifices of service members. He also visited troops stationed in Germany and Italy on a USO Tour in April. “I have that perspective on it, and it’s much easier for me now than ever before to connect and understand [what military families experience],” Murray said. “I think, obviously, with what they’re getting ready to do, I’m sure it’s mentally tough,” Murray said. “You’re going to be away from family, away from home, so I think going into it, you need all the support, all the encouragement that you can get.” Maj. Paul Jarett, who was able to bring his wife and three children ages 11, 7 and 4 to the practice, said the 945th FST appreciated the experience. “It was very nice to have us out here and treat us like we’re being treated,” said Maj. Jarett, who is approaching his 24th year of active duty or reservist service. The visit provided respite from the stress of the upcoming deployment, a mission that is months in the making. “We are trying to do things that really focus on our families, on our job, the mission we’re going to have in Afghanistan and just get ready for it however we can, be best prepared,” Maj. Jarett said. “It’s a little anxiety-provoking, but it’s something that we enjoy doing. We go into it with a positive outlook. It’s just serving our country, so we’re happy to do it.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/12/18

“There’s a portion of us that have been together for several years, that have gone on deployments together, and now we’re going on another deployment together,” Maj. Jarett added. “We also pick up and drop off certain individuals, but most of the team has been trained for a year prior to this, so we train exactly for what we’re hopefully going to be doing over there and get to know each other, work with each other so that we’re all on the same page.” Maj. Jeb Kotzian, whose 15-year anniversary of taking the oath had fallen on the day prior to the visit, Maj. Justin Towne and Capt. Colin Ryan said they were concerned about making plans for their family while they are overseas. “We have four kids, and you’re always not around to do the things you want to be able to do,” Maj. Kotzian said. “That’s always the biggest piece of preparation.” The three said watching football and other American sports helps them feel more connected during deployments. “I think it was a nice distraction from the austere environment that you were in,” Maj. Towne said. “It reminds you of home.” Capt. Ryan also said the 2014 Winter Olympics helped during a deployment. “That was cool to be there and root for your own country,” he said. Kotzian’s Vikings memories date back to helping shovel snow at Met Stadium and watching Ahmad Rashad fly down the field. He made it a point to mention watching football with colleagues Daniel Shay, Brett Springsted and John Shotten on a previous mission. “Those guys would splice together paper clips and gum and a cat-5 wire just to be able to watch a game,” Maj. Kotzian said. “It was a great morale boost.” Murray said he will be thinking about the brave men and women during their deployment. “I think when you look at it, from a mental standpoint, they deal with a lot,” Murray said. “I think when you’re overseas, especially in certain places, you see things and kind of have to get accustomed to a new lifestyle to maybe where when you come back home, it’s very hard to adjust to, so I think the mental part of it can be very hard on a lot of our troops. “I think that’s why they need our support, our encouragement,” he added. “They need to know that we appreciate them and what they’re doing and sacrificing for us.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/12/18

1998 Vikings Reconnect at Team’s New Homes for 20th Anniversary By Lindsey Young Two decades had passed since former wide receiver Matthew Hatchette last saw most of his old teammates, but they picked up right where they left off in the Vikings locker room. Hatchette was one of 29 members of the 1998 Vikings team that returned to Minneapolis for a weekend honoring the 20th anniversary of that historic 15-1 season. “Some of these guys, I haven’t seen them in 20 years, but as soon as I see them, they’re instantly my teammates all over again,” Hatchette said. “I think at the time we didn’t know how close we were. Now looking back at it, we were a pretty tight-knit team. “All the memories are coming back, [we’re] having a great time,” Hatchette added. “The biggest piece, I think, is just seeing the guys. In all the stories we’re telling, I don’t think we’ve said one thing about a play – ‘Remember this play?’ – It’s just about the times, the locker room.” The former teammates attended the Vikings-49ers matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium. The venue was constructed on the site of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which served as the Vikings home from 1982-2013 and when the team advanced to the 1998 NFC Championship Game. During halftime Sunday, the Legends were introduced to a warm reception by 66,673 fans, and an in-memoriam video honored nine individuals who were part of the 1998 Vikings and have since passed away, including Head Coach Dennis Green. Pro Bowl running back Robert Smith, who rushed for 1,187 yards that season, spoke on behalf of the team. “Thank you for this honor, one that I don’t deserve. I feel a little bit embarrassed following a great man like Denny, speaking on behalf of Hall of Famers here, guys who won Super Bowl rings,” Smith said. “But I’m glad they asked me because I get a chance to tell you what it felt like from [the perspective of someone] who was a part of greatness and just realizes that he was around so many people who could do so many great things. “You know, they say that people may forget what you say and they might forget what you do, but you never forget how people made you feel. Being around these guys was an incredible feeling,” Smith continued. “But being in front of you fans – and I hope we were able to convert some of you here today because of that ’98 team – I just want you to know that we as former players not wearing the jerseys anymore, as fans of the game and of the team, we want to see greatness from this team, and we want to see them accomplish something that we weren’t able to do. We want to see them do it for you. SKOL!” The Vikings 24-16 defeat of the 49ers wrapped up a weekend of festivities honoring the 1998 team. Many of the Vikings Legends arrived Friday, and several took the opportunity to attend a Celebration of Life event for longtime Vikings athletic trainer Fred Zamberletti, who passed away on Sept. 2, at the Vikings Museum. Saturday featured tours of the Vikings Museum and Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, to which the alumni returned that evening for a “Chalk Talk” presentation. Fans who purchased tickets to the event were treated to a night of panel discussions about the 1998 season.

KSTP reporter Joe Schmit, who covered the ’98 Vikings, moderated the Chalk Talk. The program opened with a discussion by former Vikings General Manager Jeff Diamond and former Offensive Coordinator Brian Billick, now serving as an analyst with NFL Network. Former defensive tackle Jason Fisk, who participated in the evening’s final panel, emphasized how great it was to reconnect with former teammates over the weekend. “It’s really cool to see these guys again. It’s been, I think, the season ends and you’re out of there,” said Fisk, who signed with Tennessee as a free agent following the 1998 season. “It’s really cool to come back. We had a special camaraderie that year.” Below is a full list of the 1998 Vikings Legends who were recognized at Sunday’s game: FRONT OFFICE GM Jeff Diamond OC Brian Billick DEFENSE DB Antonio Banks DB Anthony Bass DB Duane Butler DB Greg Briggs Pro Bowl S Robert Griffith LB Pete Bercich LB Dwayne Rudd DE Ben Williams DE Duane Clemons DT Jason Fisk HOF DT John Randle OFFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS Pro Bowl P Mitch Berger QB Todd Bouman WR Tony Bland WR Robert Tate WR Matthew Hatchette

WR Chris Walsh TE Hunter Goodwin TE Greg DeLong RB/PR/KR David Palmer RB Femi Ayanbadejo Pro Bowl RB Robert Smith G Dave Dixon OL Chris Liwienski OL Todd Steussie Pro Bowl C Matt Birk HOF G Randall McDaniel IN-MEMORIAM Orlando Bobo (1974-2007) – Offensive Line Chip Myers (1945-1999) – Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator Orlando Thomas (1972-2014) – Defensive Back Charles Evans (1967-2008) – Fullback Hubbard Alexander (1939-2016) – Wide Receivers Coach Foge Fazio (1938-2009) Defensive Coordinator Korey Stringer (1974-2001) Offensive Line Fred Zamberletti (1932-2018) Athletic Trainer Dennis Green (1949-2016) Head Coach

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/12/18

Lunchbreak: Adam Thielen Finds Groove in Season-Opening Win By Eric Smith Adam Thielen was in midseason form on Sunday. The All-Pro wide receiver led the Vikings with six receptions for 102 yards, and all six of his catches went for a first down. Thielen caught three of his passes on third down to move the chains. Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press recently wrote that Thielen looked like his usual self as the 2018 season opened up. Mizutani wrote: [Thielen’s] performance in Sunday’s 24-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers was a reminder that he is indeed a gamer. He caught six passes for a team-high 102 yards at U.S. Bank Stadium, giving Kirk Cousins a reliable go-to target in the quarterback’s debut with the Vikings. And just like that, Thielen appears to be on track to repeat last season’s breakout performance, when he caught 91 passes for 1,276 yards to earn a spot in the Pro Bowl. “Just finally being able to get into a flow and having multiple series to be able to go out there and just do our job,” Thielen said of his success. “You have multiple series and get to go out there and just play football.” Thielen’s performance was the eighth 100-yard game of his career. Mizutani wrote that although the Minnesota native had just four total catches for 26 yards in the preseason, he was more than ready when the games counted for real. That wasn’t the case in the preseason, as the flow of the game was dictated by the need to keep players healthy. In those games, Thielen played one or two series before calling it a day. “He’s harder on himself than anybody,” fellow receiver Stefon Diggs said. “He’s his biggest critic. He wants to be perfect. And I’m his brother, so I’m pushing him.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/12/18

Twins Invite Mike Hughes to Throw First Pitch on Monday Night By Chris Corso On Sunday he made history in the end zone wearing Purple and Gold and on Monday night he was on the top of the hill. Just a day after becoming the first Vikings rookie to return an intercepted pass for a touchdown on opening day, cornerback Mike Hughes threw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Minnesota Twins took on the New York Yankees at Target Field. His touchdown return of 28 yards came on a pass from 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garapolo on a third-and-8 and helped the Vikings secure a 24-16 victory to open up the new season. The former UCF Knight corralled the pass and took it to the house for six points during the third quarter. The Twins commemorated Hughes’ big moment by inviting him to the ball park the next day. The cornerback received a nice applause from the Twins faithful as he was introduced and took to the mound. Hughes smiled and showed off his arm as he threw a pitch just a bit to the right of the plate to Twins outfielder Robbie Grossman. The rookie kept the game ball and took a few photos with the Twins players and some fans at the Target Field Digital Clubhouse. Hughes appreciated the experience and is feeling at home in Minnesota after his big weekend.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/12/18

After Trek to See Vikings, Young Fan Receives Surprise Message By Lindsey Young MINNEAPOLIS – For 7-year-old Kale Griffeth, a day spent at U.S. Bank Stadium watching his favorite team was well worth a nearly 4,000-mile trip. He and a friend, along with Kale’s mother, Katy, made the trek from Oahu, Hawaii, to Minnesota to watch the Vikings defeat the 49ers Sunday. A belated celebration of Kale’s July birthday, the game was originally planned as a family trip but was altered when Kale’s father, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randall Griffeth, was deployed to Afghanistan. The Vikings were made aware of the Griffeths’ story and worked to make Katy and Kale’s experience at U.S. Bank Stadium extra special. They received a pregame tour of the venue that included a stop at the Vikings Voyage – where Kale enjoyed “catching passes” in the virtual reality simulator – and a large birthday cake. Kale snapped a photo with Viktor the Viking and even got to present the coin-toss coin to the game official. Nothing was more special, however, than a surprise message. Kale was told that he and his mother would get to be on the mammoth video board during pregame warmups. As they waited to wave for the camera, a familiar face instead appeared. There on the screen was a video message from Kale’s father: Kale 49ers 2 “I want to give a special shout-out to my son, Kale, for his birthday. Happy belated birthday, buddy. I miss you,” CW2 Griffeth said. “I also want to say thank you to my wife Katy. I don’t think people understand the sacrifices that families have to make for a deploy to Afghanistan. So thank you, and I love you, Katy. “I also want to say thank you to the Vikings,” CW2 Griffeth added. “I appreciate this opportunity – it’s awesome. Go Vikings – beat those 49ers!” As tears welled up in Katy’s eyes, Kale beamed wide-eyed at his father. “Emotional. Extremely emotional,” Katy said shortly after viewing the message from her husband. “Just seeing him and knowing that he would do anything to be here, too. I know it’s got to be hard knowing that we’re here and he’s not here. “I think that’s the best thing – just knowing that this means the world to him,” Katy added. Katy and CW2 Griffeth have been together for 18 years, 13 of which have been spent in the military. A native of North Dakota, CW2 Griffeth is a diehard Vikings fan, and he and Katy travel nearly every year to watch a Vikings game at a different stadium. They hadn’t been to Minnesota since attending a game at the Metrodome six or seven years ago. “We’re usually the [visiting fans] in the crowd, so this is amazing,” Katy said. “And being down here and being in the thick of things is amazing.”

KaleKevinCrop Making the long trip to Minnesota was exhausting, but Katy called it “totally worth it” as she watched Kale stand in wonder on the sideline, pointing out each player he recognized. When asked about his favorite players, Kale didn’t hesitate. “[Stefon] Diggs and [Harrison] Smith,” he rattled off. “Because they’re really good. Smith is my dad’s favorite.” Katy explained that the youngster couldn’t bring himself to choose the jersey of Smith or Diggs because he was concerned about making the other “feel bad.” Instead, Kale wore a white, custom-made jersey with No. 47 in honor of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook his father pilots. Kale grew excited, though, to watch the Vikings own 47, Kevin McDermott, work out with the specialists before kickoff. Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer then invited Kale and his friend to Minnesota’s bench to meet McDermott, who chatted with the young fans and snapped a photo. “He was amazing with the boys,” Katy said of McDermott. She and Kale also were welcomed by Vikings assistant defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez. Before the Vikings ever played a snap, they had Kale completely in awe. Katy pointed out that the quiet demeanor contrasted the boisterous energy she’s used to from her 7-year-old. “He literally doesn’t know what to think right now. He’s just in another world,” Katy said. “I love it. I love seeing him live his dream.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/12/18

After Further Review: Sheldon Richardson's Initial Impact By Craig Peters Sheldon Richardson on Sunday repeatedly showed the skills that the Vikings believed he could unleash when they sought him during free agency. The 2013 first-round pick of the Jets who spent 2017 with the Seahawks before signing a one-year deal with the Vikings. Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer liked what he saw and even kidded the 3-technique defensive tackle that he “hadn’t seen that guy before.” Maybe amend by adding a qualifier to “hadn’t seen that guy in Purple before.” “Sheldon played very well,” Zimmer said. “Rushed the passer well. Played the run good.” Richardson split Minnesota’s first sack of the 2018 season with Everson Griffen. The play is in the video below. First Quarter, 3:27 remaining First-and-20 at the SF 15: The Vikings are in their base defense a play after a holding penalty against the 49ers. Minnesota simply opts to rush its front four against San Francisco’s five offensive linemen. The 49ers start in the shotgun formation, with fullback Kyle Juszczyk next to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The play sends Jusczyk out on a route, leaving no one to help. San Francisco matches left tackle Joe Staley against Griffen and double-teams Linval Joseph with LG Laken Tomlinson and C Weston Richburg. That leaves Richardson with a 1-on-1 against Mike Person and Danielle Hunter with a 1-on-1 against Mike McGlinchey. Richardson drives Person backward and creates space so quickly that Richburg doesn’t have enough time to shift from helping with Joseph to stymie Richardson. Even though Richburg gets a piece, Richardson is able to keep going toward Garoppolo and make contact before Griffen surges to finish the play. Richardson’s press box stat line was six tackles, one-half sack and three quarterback hits. The film was likely even better in the eyes of the Vikings because Richardson’s involvement in plays was helping other Vikings. “Well, the one sack Danielle [Hunter] got, Sheldon [Richardson] actually knocked the quarterback off the spot and back up into Danielle, and he got a sack on that one,” Zimmer explained. “Those are the kinds of things that happen.” Richardson also was an active tackler, along with Andrew Sendejo, when Minnesota stuffed Alfred Morris at the 1-yard line and Joseph punched the ball free. Harrison Smith recovered it at the 2.

Zimmer was asked Monday if Richardson had shifted from “preseason mode” to “regular-season mode” and said, “I guess so. But now it’s on tape, and I know what he’s going to look like and what he’s supposed to look like.” “He played very, very well,” Zimmer reiterated. “He was strong at the point of attack in the running game, he made a lot of tackles. He played real hard, pushed the pocket. There were two times that he took the guy with one hand and knocked him back. He played really, really well. We need him to continue to play like that.”

PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 9/12/18

Richardson’s versatile value shined through in opener By Tim Yotter Sheldon Richardson’s first appearance is drawing strong reviews. If his final statistics weren’t enough to convince, then a review of the film reinforces the notion that Richardson was a force in his game with the Minnesota Vikings. Richardson had six tackles (second only to safety Harrison Smith), three quarterback hits and a half a sack, and not everything he did registered in the statistics. “The one sack Danielle [Hunter] got, Sheldon actually knocked the quarterback off the spot and back up into Danielle and he got a sack on that one. Those are the kind of things that happen,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “Sheldon played very well. Rushed the passer well. Played the run good.” Richardson finished with the sixth-best overall defensive grade among interior defenders, according to analytics site Pro Football Focus, which credited him with two quarterback hits and five hurries. Richardson’s impact was felt early. Midway through the first quarter, the 49ers tried to get Matt Breida lose with a power running play to Richardson’s side. With the guard seemingly having the three-technique wrapped up, fullback Kyle Juszczyk went to block Ben Gedeon, but Richardson reached back and pulled down Beida for a 4-yard gain. Richardson’s biggest splash play came later in the first quarter. After he drew a holding call on left guard Laken Tomlinson, Richardson and the Vikings defense had the 49ers in first-and-20. This time, Richardson switched to the other side of Linval Joseph, who was getting a center-guard double team. Richardson jolted right guard Mike Person backwards and slipped through the center-guard, dove for Garoppolo and held on to share the sack with Everson Griffen. Last year, after being traded to the Seattle Seahawks, Richardson had only three games graded in the 80s by PFF. On Sunday, he earned an 89.8. After signing a one-year contract with the Vikings, Richardson is seeing the fruits of a well-rounded team. “That’s great complementary football. It makes the game a lot funner, makes it a lot easier,” Richardson said after the Vikings’ 24-16 win over the 49ers. “We can lean on [the offense], they can lean on us, special teams too.” His preseason action with the Vikings wasn’t quite as impressive, although he registered three pressures in the third preseason game against his former team, the Seahawks, in his most extensive action. “I told him, ‘I hadn’t seen that guy before,’” Zimmer said. “He came on. He played really, really well.” Vikings coaches said throughout training camp and the preseason that Richardson was still learning the new techniques he was being taught. Those came together nicely in the regular-season opener. “Now it’s on tape, and I know what he’s going to look like and what he’s supposed to look like,” Zimmer said. “But he played very, very well. He was strong at the point of attack in the running game, he made a lot of tackles. He played real hard, pushed the pocket. There were two times that he took the guy with one hand and knocked him back. He played really, really well. We need him to continue to play like that.” He was strong in both the pass-rushing and run-stopping aspects.

In the third quarter, Richardson might have made the barely noticeable difference in the biggest missed opportunity for the 49ers. Many fans will remember the deep pass to tight end George Kittle, who got behind the coverage of Anthony Barr but couldn’t make an uncontested catch wide open at the 50-yard line. The ball was slightly long and perhaps Richardson’s hit on Garoppolo made the difference. Late in the third quarter, Garoppolo used another misdirection bootleg on third-and-1. When he couldn’t find a receiver, he tried to run. Richardson pursued from behind, dove and swiped at Garoppolo’s feet. He tripped the quarterback up behind the line of scrimmage, but Garoppolo ended up stumbling for a first down. Early in the fourth quarter, it was Richardson pursuing a Breida run from the back side and bringing him down for no gain. A short time later, he made his biggest mistake of the game when he planted his full weight on Garoppolo after the quarterback released the ball, drawing a 15-yard penalty on a third-down incompletion and eventually leading to a field goal. He helped make up for that late, bringing the 49ers’ last drive to an end. On second-and-10, Richardson beat right tackle Mike McGlinchey and applied quick pressure on Garoppolo up the middle. He hit the quarterback in the midsection as he released the ball over the middle of the field, leading to Harrison Smith’s game-clinching interception. Richardson’s performance was part of a relatively good start for the Vikings defense. After coming off No. 1 rankings in the overall defense, points allowed and third-down defense, even quarterback Kirk Cousins could see the difference. “There’s a lot to like. There’s players all over the field, and when you can create those turnovers, create points for us off of those turnovers, in crunch time make plays, pressure the quarterback, so many players stepped up,” Cousins said. “It is a game of inches. So proud of our team and the way everybody contributed at some point to get the win.”

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 9/12/18

Assessing the Vikings’ defensive line rotation in Week 1 By Matthew Coller When a team talks a lot about something schematic during training camp and preseason, it’s not always clear whether we will actually see it during the regular season or if it’s just an attempt to throw everyone off the scent. After Week 1, we can confirm that Mike Zimmer’s comments about wanting to have a defensive line rotation were not a smokescreen. In the Minnesota Vikings’ 24-16 win over the San Francisco 49ers, a total of eight defensive linemen saw the field. Naturally the starters Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph, Sheldon Richardson and Everson Griffen saw the lion’s share of the work, but backups Stephen Weatherly, David Parry, Jaleel Johnson and Tashawn Bower all played roles in Sunday’s contest. Here’s how the snaps were distributed (out of 67 offensive snap, stats via Pro Football Focus): Last year the Vikings still rotated players, but Zimmer stuck with Brian Robison and Shamar Stephen as his only fill-in players, rather than having four extra D-linemen to mix and match with as he does this year. We got our first glimpse at all four when they entered the game together in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. The 49ers immediately ripped off pass plays of 18, 13 and six yards. Zimmer pulled the plug on the hockey-line style rotation. “We need to get the rotation down a little bit better I think, but I have confidence in all of those guys. Jaleel [Johnson], [Tashawn] Bower, [Stephen] Weatherly, [David] Parry, I have confidence in them,” Zimmer said. “We’ve talked about doing a little bit better job of how we’re going to handle that.” Rotational players appeared again in with 10:41 remaining in the third quarter, but this time it was Tashawn Bower and Stephen Weatherly at the D-ends with starters Linval Joseph and Sheldon Richardson in the middle. After hitting on a 56-yard pass that put the 49ers into the red zone, the starters returned for a key third down play. On the following drive, Zimmer gave the interior D-linemen a break, putting Parry and Johnson into the game. They immediately gave up an 11-yard run and 36-yard pass. Two plays later, the full starting crew returned for a third-and-1. On the successful run play, Parry (No. 95) was driven back by the center as he worked his way down the line. In the fourth quarter, there was some mixing and matching. With 10:55 left in the game, Johnson and Weatherly came on, but the Vikings allowed a 10-yard pass and a 10-yard rush and the starters returned for another red zone situation. Here is the run, in which Joseph directs Johnson where to line up pre-snap and then the second-year DT allows the tackle to get all the way to his outside shoulder, opening up a big gap. In a total of 41 pass rushing snaps combined, the four second-teamers came up with a total of zero pressures on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. And of 19 players graded by PFF, the rotational D-linemen all graded in the bottom half.

That was, in part, because San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan attacked the backup linemen with a barrage of play-action plays. The best pass rush created by the rotators came on a play negated by pass interference penalty. With Parry doubled teamed, Weatherly (91) rushed from the 9-techniqiue spot, beating veteran tackle Joe Staley inside, which required the running back to assist in blocking the Vikings’ 2016 seventh-round pick. All three completions during their brief second quarter appearance came on play-action and of a total of 12 passes that any backup appeared on the field, seven had some form of play-action element. On one of the few straight drop backs by Garoppolo, Johnson (94) successfully worked 49ers’ guard Laken Tomlinson, creating pressure inside that gave Griffen lots of room to operate against Staley. Zimmer acknowledged that it will take time to find out which combinations play best off each other, but said we may not see as much of the rotation against Green Bay this week. “I think we’ll do a better job with it, and I think it’ll help us down the road but it will also help us in these particular games,” Zimmer said. “Now this week will be hard, because they won’t let us substitute, but we’ll just have to get out there and go.” Interestingly we did not see much of linebacker Anthony Barr at defensive end. According to PFF, he played just nine snaps at the line of scrimmage on Sunday. Could that be next week’s wrinkle or was that the training camp smoke screen? We can bet that there’s more tweaks to come from the D-line rotation as we go forward.

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 9/12/18

Zulgad’s 3-and-out: Harrison’s greatness, Murray’s run and Treadwell’s drop By Judd Zulgad Three Vikings-related thoughts as we get ready for a week of breathless reporting on whether Aaron Rodgers will start on Sunday at Lambeau Field. (Hint, Rodgers said after Sunday’s incredible comeback against Chicago that he’s going to play, despite a knee injury, and if he says he’s going to play, he’ll be in there.) Don’t take him for granted It has gotten to a point where it’s easy to shrug off the fact that Harrison Smith had another great game. The veteran safety is such a dominant player that you just take it for granted that he will do something extraordinary in the clutch. On Sunday, Smith led the Vikings with eight tackles, had a sack, two tackles for losses, recovered a fumble deep in Minnesota territory and then added an interception of a Jimmy Garoppolo pass that enabled the Vikings to run out the clock in a 24-16 victory over the 49ers. Smith is part of a secondary that has become one of the best in the NFL and his ability to cause havoc all over the field makes him a nightmare. How he is used when the Vikings employ three safeties on the field is especially interesting. Just don’t overlook the fact that getting to watch him on a weekly basis is something special. Clock eater The return of Dalvin Cook from an ACL tear gives the Vikings a dynamic running back who also can catch and block. Cook will line up in the backfield on one play and split out wide the next. He had 40 rushing yards on 16 carries and 55 yards on six receptions Sunday. But Cook’s presence doesn’t mean that veteran Latavius Murray isn’t an important part of what the Vikings are doing, even if Murray’s role is far less sexy. The perfect example of what Murray can bring came late in the fourth quarter against the 49ers after the Vikings had done a terrible job of trying to run clock on their previous two possessions. The Vikings got the ball with 14 minutes, 37 seconds left and had Cook run on first down followed by two incompletions from Kirk Cousins that stopped the clock. The 49ers got the ball back with 13:43 left and put together a drive that ended with a field goal. The Vikings got the ball back with 8:09 left and again went three-and-out after a Cook run and two more Cousins incompletions that gave San Francisco the ball a minute later. The 49ers went three-and-out on their ensuing drive and when Minnesota took over with 5:46 left things were different. Murray was in the game and new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo called for him to get the ball Murray’s first carry went for 9 yards and took 34 seconds off the clock. His next carry gained 5 yards and while the clock stopped because of an injury it still took up 43 seconds. Murray then went for 4 yards and the clocked ticked down from 4:29 to 3:45 before Cook came in and gained 1 yard. The Vikings were able

to put together an 8-play drive that included only one pass and kept the ball from San Francisco until 1:49 remained. Cook finished it off at running back but Murray set the tone. Trust in Treadwell? Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell had two receptions for 18 yards and was the target of four Kirk Cousins passes on Sunday. But the Vikings’ first-round pick in 2016 also dropped the first pass Cousins threw to him in the opening quarter. Treadwell’s four targets on Sunday were fourth on the Vikings behind Adam Thielen (12), Cook (seven) and Stefon Diggs (six). Treadwell, entering his fourth season, is coming off a year in which he caught 20 passes for 200 yards. He likely will get a chance to increase those statistics only if Diggs or Thielen misses time. What Treadwell needs to do is show as much consistency as possible when given an opportunity. Any opportunity. He didn’t do that Sunday.

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 9/12/18

Clearing up misconceptions about Mike Hughes and the 2018 Vikings draft By Matthew Coller From pretty early in training camp, it was clear that Mike Hughes had special talent. Normally Mike Zimmer is cautious about over-praising young corners, but in mid-August, the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach raved about how quickly the team’s first-round pick was coming along as a nickel corner. In Hughes’ first preseason performance, he wasted no time getting his feet wet, blowing up a run play and allowing zero catches into his coverage. So when the former University of Central Florida standout made one of the biggest plays in Sunday’s opener against the San Francisco 49ers, picking off a Jimmy Garoppolo pass and running it back for a touchdown, nobody was stunned. Hughes was a tremendous prospect coming out of college. ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked him as the 19th best player in the draft. Following the Vikings’ selection of Hughes, Pro Football Focus noted the incredible numbers he’d posted with UCF. PFF wrote: There were few more talented corners in this draft than Hughes, who allowed a passer rating of just 40.7 over his college career when targeted. He surrendered just one touchdown an wasn’t beaten for a pass longer than 21 yards in his entire 2017 season. There has never been a doubt that the Vikings added a Year 1 contributor and potential star when they selected Hughes with the 30th overall pick. Yet there appears to be a perception that the decision to draft him was widely criticized. Following Sunday’s win, Zimmer quipped: “That’s why we drafted him. Everybody was complaining about taking that corner, I’m glad we had him today.” There’s something that needs clarification as we look back throughout this year on the impact of using the first-round pick on a defensive back: It wasn’t until the second and third rounds of the draft concluded that questions arose about the strategy to wait until the 62nd pick to take an offensive lineman. Here’s what we wrote on draft night: With the retirement of excellent veteran guard Joe Berger, there was a very strong need for the Vikings to pick an offensive lineman — as they did with their second-round pick, taking tackle Brian O’Neill. However, it was obvious from draft night that O’Neill was going to need development rather than being a plug-and-play lineman. In a draft stuffed with very good offensive line prospects, the Vikings landed the 12th lineman off the board. The Vikings’ brass said they had never seen a run on linemen like the one that happened in the second round. “Sitting there watching [offensive linemen] peel off at the top of the second round, they were flying off the board quicker than any time I can remember,” GM Rick Spielman said on Day 2.

The presence of Will Hernandez — who was on the board when Hughes was taken — adds fuel to the what-if fire. The former UTEP guard dominated the NFL Combine and was a monster on tape. It was hard for fans to miss clips of him tossing opponents around or moving smoothly in Combine drills. He was taken four picks after Hughes. In free agency, the Vikings also did not add a lineman. Considering the money they needed to spend this offseason to sign Kirk Cousins, Sheldon Richardson, Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs, it’s understandable that they did not attempt to go big with free agents like Nate Solder or Justin Pugh, but the lack of attention to the 2018 version of the O-line was — and remains — concerning in a season in which the Vikings are a Super Bowl contender. That is especially true with Cousins under center. He lost more yards to sacks than any other quarterback in the NFL in 2017 and struggled to perform at the same level as when Washington’s offensive line was solid in 2016. So the analysis of the 2018 draft ultimately will not be about Hughes, who was a consensus good prospect and positive addition to the Vikings’ defensive back corps. It will be about whether Cousins is protected by the offensive line — and more specifically whether Rashod Hill holds up at right tackle and Mike Remmers transitions nicely to right guard.

PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 9/12/18

Vikings Film Room: Creating turnovers and standing up to the 49ers’ pressure By Arif Hasan It might be an old cliché that football games are won and lost in the trenches, but Vikings fans have felt the acute sting of poor line play too many times to dismiss it. In their Week 1 game Sunday against the 49ers, the ability of the Vikings offensive line to hold up against an assault from a well-developed 49ers stunt game as well as the Vikings’ ability to create pressure on their own, helped define some of the biggest moments in the 24-16 win. Let’s take a closer look. Creating turnovers The propensity to take the ball away was a big part of the Vikings win, not only eliminating the possibility of a comeback at the end with a game-sealing interception in the final minutes, but also robbing the 49ers of a red-zone opportunity with a forced fumble at the 1-yard line late in the second quarter and getting on the board via Mike Hughes’ third-quarter pick-6. While a fumble doesn’t take particular scheming to draw up, it’s notable that it was defensive tackle Linval Joseph who forced the fumble that Harrison Smith eventually recovered. The defense also drew up some pretty important plays for the line to execute in order to generate two of the three interceptions the Vikings created in the game. The first play in the clip above shows Hughes’ pick-6. While receiver Kendrick Bourne later admitted that he ran the wrong route on the play, it also seems clear that 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo rushed the throw because of the pressure he was under, leading to a situation where Bourne likely would have had to contest the catch at the very best or would have allowed the same pick at the worst. The Vikings dropped Everson Griffen into coverage and overloaded the right side of the 49ers’ offensive line and got to Garoppolo in a hurry, forcing the early throw. The third play in the clip shows Smith’s game-clinching pick in the fourth quarter. As the play began, Joseph and fellow defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson ran “slants” to their right. This opened up a hole for Richardson, who went through the middle and hit Garoppolo while he was throwing, forcing the wobbly ball that Smith stepped up to intercept. Generating these kinds of pressures is critical for the Vikings going forward. While they were the top defense in the NFL last year, they’ll have to fight the specter of regression, which could come in the form of injury, bad luck or being “figured out” schematically. To combat that, their ability to create turnovers and stay ahead of the possession count. A great shortcut to making turnovers is manufacturing pressure, and the Vikings showcased that they can do it with smart games with the defensive line and pure talent up front. Garoppolo threw two of his three interceptions under pressure, and in 2017, teams threw interceptions at about the same clip, throwing 1.5 times as many interceptions when under pressure than in a clean pocket. Even if the Vikings defense moves back in a lot of key ways, their ability to take the ball away should allow them to maintain, or even exceed, their defensive performance from last year — and that could start up front. Line games

Defensive line stunts, sometimes called “twists” or “games” are a big part of some defensive schemes, because it allows quicker defensive linemen to create confusion for the offensive pass protection unit and generate big mismatches — no one wants a slow guard to go up against a quick edge rusher with a full head of steam. The 49ers under former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio engaged in a number of stunts with Justin Smith and Aldon Smith leading the way, often attacking the strength of the offense on the left side. These 49ers didn’t stunt nearly as much, but did so often in a crucial two-minute drill to end the half, one that should have ended with Kirk Cousins giving the Vikings a go-ahead score to make the half-time lead nearly insurmountable. Instead, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh schemed up a number of two-man stunts to put pressure on the Tom Compton-Riley Reiff duo leading the left side of the line. In the first three stunt plays of the two-minute drive, the Vikings allowed three pressures. Fortunately, the offensive line seemed to settle down shortly afterwards, and strong communication between the left tackle, the left guard and newly-acquired center Brett Jones helped shut down the variety of stunts the 49ers wanted to run. The clip above shows six stunt plays the 49ers ran in Sunday’s game, four of them from the two-minute drill where you can see the havoc it caused for Cousins along with some promising progress for the line. This improvement in offensive line play will be critical as the Vikings adjust to different defensive looks throughout the season. Without that improvement, it’s likely that the Vikings would have been on their back heels late in the second half and looking for a way out that wasn’t just a defensive turnover — especially because it may have led to another turnover by itself. The defensive line and offensive line weren’t the only keys to the game — check out what Ted Nguyen had to say about Trae Waynes’ performance on a crucial play last week and Sage Rosenfels on Cousins’ two touchdown passes.

PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/12/18

Vikings rookie Mike Hughes makes impact sooner than expected By Courtney Cronin EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings selecting an offensive lineman in the first round of the draft in April felt inevitable. Veteran right guard Joe Berger had retired a month before and they needed to find a replacement who would allow Mike Remmers to stay at right tackle. That logic seemed to make sense. Drafting Mike Hughes, a cornerback from UCF, with the 30th overall pick appeared at the time like a move made for the future. Even with more pressing needs, Minnesota wanted to add a key piece to its secondary. Mike Zimmer reminded that a team "can never have too many cornerbacks." "As many times as we can find guys that can cover around here, the more we want," Zimmer said the day after Hughes was drafted. Fast forward five months to Hughes’ rookie debut against the San Francisco 49ers, a moment that came far sooner than expecte. After getting the nod to start at nickel over an injured Mackensie Alexander (ankle), Hughes slid to the outside to fill in for Trae Waynes after he injured his knee. Minnesota’s defensive front supplied pressure that forced 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garappolo to turn to his right and make an ill-advised pass. Hughes, who gave Kendrick Bourne a 5-yard cushion before the snap, dropped back with his eyes locked on the quarterback, and intercepted the pass for the first pick-six of his career. "We expect him to go out there and do that," Zimmer said. "That’s why we drafted him. Everybody was complaining about taking that corner, I’m glad we had him today." Hughes impressed coaches from the beginning with his understanding of the scheme and ability to pick up the intricacies of one of the most complex positions on the defense. About halfway through the preseason he made his push at slot corner. Vikings rookie cornerback Mike Hughes celebrates his interception return for a touchdown against the 49ers on Sunday. Bruce Kluckhohn/AP Photo The role he’s filling now is beyond what was expected for his rookie season. His contributions at corner slightly lessened his workload on special teams, where long ago looked like the place he would make his biggest impact in Year 1. Hughes played 13 snaps on special teams and lined up deep as a kickoff returner. Much of that is his own doing. Zimmer has praised Hughes for excelling at the mental aspect of playing inside and how quickly he’s grasped what’s being asked of him. And that's rare from a coach who typically doesn't laud rookie corners. Some of that is also due to circumstance. After 15 seasons in the NFL, Terence Newman retired on roster cut-down day, taking himself out of the mix at nickel corner and freeing up his spot for a younger player, likely undrafted rookie Holton Hill. Any doubt that the job in the slot was between Alexander and Hughes was erased that day. Then there were the injuries that thinned out the Vikings' cornerback depth. Hughes moving outside for Waynes (Hill played four snaps at corner and was targeted heavily) caused Zimmer to go to a three-safety set, bringing in Jayron Kearse to fill in at nickel.

The flexibility Hughes provided the Vikings in Week 1 is an important tool. He defended three passes, including a breakup in the end zone when he cut away from his receiver on the outside and made contact with Pierre Garcon to prohibit the touchdown. His debut wasn’t perfect. Zimmer noted some hiccups and Hughes admitted to leaving "a lot of mistakes on the field." Had Hughes not tripped, that pass breakup in the end zone might have been his second interception. "He was competitive, he got up there and he typically challenged the receivers," Zimmer said. "A lot of young guys, when they go in there and they’re playing their first game, they’re going to play a little bit cautious. He wasn’t like that at all. He tries to be too perfect all of the time, because he wants to do everything right, so sometimes he tries to do everything a little bit too perfect instead of just using his ability and some of those things." Once Alexander is ready to return, it’ll be interesting to see how Minnesota approaches where Hughes goes. Does he hang onto his spot in the slot, or do the Vikings want to keep him as a roving depth piece in the secondary? Not every corner can transition as well as he did from nickel to the outside. The playing time Hughes got in his debut was more than enough to want him craving more. His early impact is already paying dividends for a team that was able to capitalize on his potential much sooner than expected. "He takes in everything from everyone around him, learns from everybody," Kearse said. "You could see it through OTAs and training camp. The guy moves great in and out of his breaks, fluid in his hips, so it’s not surprising he got out there (Sunday) and had a big game. I talked to him about it and told him now you’ve just got to keep it going."