NFC North Blog

[hermes]

ESPN has blogs set up for all of the divisions, here's the NFC Norths

vikings position battle- nickel back

That said, the Vikings spent plenty of time in their nickel pass defense last season as teams abandoned the run against them. There's no reason to expect anything different this season, meaning that, in reality, their nickel back will have the prominence of a starting corner.

Gordon and McCauley shared the role last season, with Gordon enjoying more success. But the Vikings will be looking for ways to get Johnson -- considered a steal in the second round -- on the field.

In the end, the team could create several different personnel packages and use Johnson in "big nickel" situations against opposing tight ends and slot receivers. Gordon has the best one-on-one cover ability of the three and is the favorite for the traditional nickel role.

there's also the TE position battle

[prefuse73]

I am really pulling for Shiancoe to have a good season. Like the blog said, with AD in the back field, the TE can play a very important role during play action.

[hermes]

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, expected to start at left end, will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list because of an unspecified back injury that has bothered him for most of the summer. Vikings coach Brad Childress called the injury a "twinge." He said he was not worried about it lingering for a long period of time, but backs are always difficult to evaluate. Jayme Mitchell, a reserve who has played sparingly the past two seasons, will work with the first team when practice opens Friday.

i hope this isn't serious

[Klomp]

Gotta love having a Vikings fan working for ESPN

[hermes]

at me working for ESPN

[daddyfivestar]

Hermes, I thought you worked for the Lakers

[Klomp]

:lol: at me working for ESPN

I was talking about Kevin Seifert, who writes the blogs. Before taking that job, he worked at the Star Tribune.

[hermes]

oh, my bad

and no i don't work for the lakers either

[Worm Guts]

Seifert probably wouldn't call himself a Vikings fan. Covering the Vikings and being a fan are 2 different things.

[hermes]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/26012004.html

Booty and Bollinger are in competition for the 3rd qb spot on the final roster

i hope that Booty gets it

[kg2005]

Me too, the potential for inappropriate jokes would be enormous.

[hermes]

The Minnesota Vikings finally have gotten all four starters on their celebrated defensive line back on the field.

Tuesday, nose tackle Pat Williams was cleared for team drills after previously taking limited work to protect his surgically-repaired elbow.

On Wednesday, the Vikings activated left end Ray Edwards (back) from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Edwards participated in individual drills Wednesday morning and is on track to start doing team work soon.

well thats good news, should be one of the best lines in the league

[hermes]

Charles Gordon spent much of last season in this role and appears to be the leading candidate to keep it. Benny Sapp, signed to a one-year free-agent contract in March, and second-year corner Marcus McCauley also are in the mix.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... er=Vikings

gordon appears to be getting the nickleback position, best man for the job?

[hermes]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... er=Vikings

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison could be sidelined indefinitely because of a varicose vein in his left leg and might need surgery to correct the problem.

"It will keep me out a little bit of time if I have surgery on it but it's not going to be substantial," he said. "It's not going to go halfway into the season or anything like that. It will be maybe a two- or three-week ordeal and I'll be back at it."

[hermes]

video of childress talking about tavaris' progress, bevell as well

[Danny Darko]

Vikes vs Seahawks tonight. I'll be rooting against ya for this one Hermes, but I'm curious to see a little of your scary D tonight as well as Peterson vs our D.

[hermes]

i'm ready for ya CC
probably won't see a whole lot of AP, but both D's should be pretty good