Rookie minicamp takeaways
Kevin O'Connell talked Jennings signing, where Caleb Banks stands and Domonique Orange revealed who he's been studying
By Matthew Coller
The Minnesota Vikings held rookie minicamp on Friday afternoon. Here’s the biggest takeaways…
What does Jauan Jennings bring? Why was he available?
In signing the former 49ers wide receiver, the Vikings brought something to their receiver room that hasn’t been there in previous years: Size and edge.
Jauan Jennings is listed at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds and he plays like he’s even bigger than that when he’s called upon to run through smaller defenders, make contested catches or run block.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell couldn’t contain his excitement about being able to add that element to the offense alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
“We’ve talked a lot over the years [about], you can’t just be one thing because we move Justin around, we move Jordan around, you’ve got to be able to be a slot receiver. you’ve got to be able to do some of those jobs on the early downs that we ask of that player,” O’Connell said. “You’ve got to be able to line up on third down when you’re one of the few players that might be single covered in man-to-man. You’ve got to be able to win. contested catches and you gotta be able to do something with it after the catch. And Jauan does all those things. I think Vikings fans are gonna fall in love with watching this guy play football, just passion and the physicality that he plays with.”
Jennings has a very impressive stat line over the last two years with 132 receptions and 15 touchdowns.
So why was a receiver of his stature available in early May rather than being scooped up at the beginning of free agency?
“Free agency is such a moving target for teams and it’s a moving target for players,” O’Connell said. “I think there’s some unique things that happen every single year at certain positions, specifically in regards to maybe teams want them back and the dialogue is good but a player becomes available and maybe they have to pivot and that forces things to kind of work their way into a little bit of an unknown for the player.”
SI’s Albert Breer suggested that Jennings had “overshot” his value and expected to get WR2 money. It is clear from the market that teams did not view him that way. It isn’t hard to see how a player like Jennings could fall through the cracks when 90% of free agency was done in the first two or three days.
At the same time, common sense would say that a high dollar demand might not have been the only reason that teams weren’t willing to pay him $15-$20 million, the going rate for WR2s in the NFL right now.
“It’s about finding the best fit, it’s about finding a place that you feel like you can have zero regret about joining that team,” O’Connell said.
It’s become clear that there’s no better salesman in the league when it comes to getting free agents than O’Connell. He talked about getting one-on-one time with Jennings and painting “the vision of what we see for Jauan.”
“It’s about making sure you follow up on a lot of the things that you said,” O’Connell said. “That’s my favorite part of this job… getting him here and starting to form that relationship and getting to hold up my end of the bargain for him.”
Caleb Banks progressing
The Vikings’ first round draft pick was around the team during rookie minicamp but he can’t participate in practice due to his recovery from a foot injury.
O’Connell said that the first medical information that he’s gotten about Banks is “positive.” How will they get him up to speed when he can’t really be involved on the field other than walk-through?
“How can we push Caleb from an above-the-neck standpoint to be that much more comfortable when he does get healthy?” O’Connell said. “He gets a great chance this spring and summer to get strong and build himself up for the multiple aspects we think he can help our team in the fall.”
O’Connell mentioned getting Banks comfortable with different spots across the D-line on the mental side.
“We can hopefully challenge him to learn multiple spots that coincides with his versatility to align in different impactful spots along the D-line,” O’Connell said. “So he can take part in walk-throughs…I’m really encouraged by just...not only Caleb’s enthusiasm to get going, but obviously the coaching staff and their plans for him as well.”
KOC’s involvement in the GM search
The Vikings are currently in the midst of hiring their next general manager. A list of candidates has been reported by Tom Pelissero and Adam Schefter, some of which have connections to either O’Connell or Brian Flores.
KOC talked about his role in the search.
“I’m excited for potentially forming that relationship and going through the process and as much of a part as ownership and Andrew want me to be a part of it, I will,” O’Connell said. “In whatever capacity that ownership and Andrew [Miller] have for me as their plan, that’s what I’m going to do.”
That doesn’t exactly read like O’Connell has been involved thus far.
Domonique Orange has Vikings nemesis he’s studying
The Vikings’ third-round defensive tackle chatted with reporters after his rookie minicamp workout. One of the things he talked about is which player he would most like to emulate in the NFL.
“Dexter Lawrence, for sure, he’s a massive human being that can be able to move when he wants to and can move human beings when he wants to,” Orange said. “I’ve always watched his film and tried to take pieces out of what he’s been doing.”
Orange didn’t seem surprised to find out what Lawrence has reeked havoc on the Vikings over the years.
In terms of specifics about Lawrence’s game, Orange said:
“Using his power is the best thing he does,” he said. “Arguably one of the strongest men in the NFL and his ability to use that power is unordinary.”
In terms of how ready he is to move bodies in the NFL, Orange said that he feels like he’s just starting to get into NFL shape after spending a big chunk of the offseason getting ready for the NFL Combine.
“Training for the Combine is a lot different from preparing to actually play football,” Orange said. “I’m just now getting into the football training aspect which kinda sucks but it’s all part of the process…it’s hard to train to run a 40-yard dash to training to move a human being.”
With the defensive front that the Vikings appear to be building, Orange looks like he’s in line to get significant playing time right away. He talked about the biggest adjustment.
“The speed of the game,” Orange said. “Everyone knows their responsibility. We’ve got the best athletes on earth. We’re not dealing with old fat guys who are going to get a job at Wal-Mart in two weeks. We’re dealing with truly elite athletes. That’s the biggest difference from college to the NFL.”
Other quotes from rookies
Second-round pick linebacker Jake Golday talked about preparing his body to be able to play inside or outside linebacker.
“I feel like the weight that I’m at right now is really versatile being 240 is where I’m at right now so I can play the edge and set the edge if I need to but I also have the ability to drop into space and make plays in space,” Golday said.
In terms of how he approached the mental challenge of playing in lots of different alignments in college, Golday said:
“That came down to being in my playbook and studying. I pride myself in, I’m not the smartest guy in the room but I’m going to try the hardest. I’m going to spend as much time as I need in the playbook so I know all the positions so I can be put in any spot on the field.”
Tackle Caleb Tiernan was asked if he’s tired of hearing about his lack of arm length.
“Nothing I can do about it, I was born this way, you can talk to my parents about it, I guess,” he said.
Safety Jakobe Thomas said he’s excited to dive into Brian Flores’ defense.
“I know the long history of him and Harry together and I know the effect that they have with this defense so I’m hoping I can step in and make an impact in the way that they need me to,” Thomas said, adding that he’s talked to Smith.
If you watch Thomas’s college defense at Miami, you will see shades of things that the Vikings do. Thomas acknowledged that there was some copy-catting.
“We definitely stole some stuff from them,” Thomas said.
Cornerback Chuck Demmings talked about how he wants to translate his natural vocal personality to the NFL despite being the new guy.
“As a rookie we come in and we don’t know it all and that can kinda lead us to being shy or not being as vocal but I’m going to be that same guy who not only raises his standard but exceeds it. Not being scared to have a voice and be that guy, ‘this rookie is dependable on the field and off the field.’”
Running back Demond Claiborne appears to have made a instant connection with running back’s coach Curtis Modkins.
“He’s very honest with me and having a coach that’s honest makes this easier because I know exactly what I have to do,” Claibore said. “He’s been straight forward with me just letting me know that there are certain things that I have to get better at and continue to improve on.”
In terms of what he wants to improve on, he said:
“Make sure my alignment is right, make sure I hear the call and everything in the huddle, watching film, doing recovery and getting my body right, being somebody that I can trust and lean on during this process is how coach Modkins has been.”
Vikings sign a tryout player
After practice, the agent for defensive lineman Smith Vilbert tweeted that the team has signed him to a UDFA contract.
Vilbert played 534 snaps for North Carolina last season, created 21 QB pressures and had 14 run stops, per PFF. He is 6-foot-6, 290 pounds.
So many Js: Justin, Jordan, and Jauan!