Vikings begin OTA’s Tuesday
Yesterday marked the beginning of voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTA’s) for the Minnesota Vikings. They were one of 17 NFL teams to begin OTA’s on Tuesday. OTA’s officially start Phase III of the NFL offseason, which includes full team drills with limited contact in shorts and helmets.
The Vikings had nearly full team attendance at their first OTA session. Even running back Adrian Peterson was on hand to participate. The Vikings appear determined to have another successful season and it showed in their effort on the field at OTA’s yesterday. The playmakers were on full display and there was no shortage of highlights. Heading into the 2016 season, there is a lot to be excited about for the Vikings and their fans.
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The Vikings’ OTA’s are being held at the team’s practice facility at Winter Park in Eden Prairie. Tuesday was the first of ten OTA practice sessions for the team. Things started out slow as expected, but eventually the speed and pace of play will pick up as OTA’s progress.
It all builds up in preparation for the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp, held from June 14th through the 16th. Players will then get a break until training camp officially begins in late July.
The Vikings looked eager from get go as Tuesday’s practice was said to be spirited and lively. After spending weeks in the weight room and working on conditioning drills, players were enthused by the return to live action. Players were out there working hard to get back into form – working their craft, honing their technique, taking the right angles and building on their footwork – all in an effort to get better by the start of the season.
OTA’s give coaches a chance to work with players and players a chance to learn more about their coaches plans. Players appreciated the opportunity to get back on the field with their coaches and teammates.
The first day of OTA’s are exciting for everyone: players, coaches, veterans and rookies alike. Of the 90 man roster, 27 will be attending a Vikings’ practice for their first time. One thing that caught the attention of the new guys is the work ethic this team has displayed. They have been impressed by the high-level mentality and the way the Vikings have worked out this offseason.
Tuesday was a high intensity practice from the onset, even for a non-contact practice, with highlight plays coming from both sides of the ball. Some of the best battles were said to have been between the defensive backs and wide receivers. The most notable, a 50-yard bomb down the sidelines as Teddy Bridgewater connected with Charles Johnson.
Aside from the quarterbacks airing it out, there were many other plays of note that should give Vikings’ fans a lot to be excited about. One play that stood out was an interception by linebacker Audie Cole who ran with David Morgan, step-for-step, before stepping in front of the rookie tight end and snagging the ball.
Safety Harrison Smith made his presence known as he had a free run at Bridgewater and would have come up with the sack had this been a full contact affair. Both wideouts Cordarrelle Patterson and Jarius Wright, impressed by making difficult grabs over corner Trae Waynes. Safety Anthony Harris also got into the mix and came up with a resilient deflection on a deep pass.
Peterson was his usual self, displaying the speed and elusiveness during drills that made him the league’s leading rusher last season. Peterson’s participation at OTA’s does not come without incentive. By participating he earns a $250,000 workout bonus, but his participation appears to have other motivations.
In January Peterson vowed to be a better player than he was last year, after several costly fumbles including one in the playoffs against the Seahawks. Peterson hopes to be more versatile, diverse and involved in the offense this season, and it all starts with practice.
With so many players returning from last year’s group, continuity and team chemistry are at an all-time high. The biggest takeaway from Tuesday’s OTA session is that this team has come ready to play together. Even guys competing for the same job are helping one another out. This Vikings’ team has the intensity and camaraderie to take over a game. If this first OTA session is any kind of indication of what is to come, the Vikings and their fans could be in for a big year.
– Miles Dittberner, is a Managing Editor at cover32 and covers the Minnesota Vikings. Like, follow and upvote vikings32 on on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit.
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