Vikings Territory: The 3 Most Important Things To Watch For At Vikings Training Camp

Press release from Vikings Territory:

July 24, 2021

While the 2020 Minnesota Vikings offseason was limited for excitement due to coronavirus precautions, the team did manage to host training camp in Eagan. No fans attended; this year, fans return.

At last year’s camp, though, notable events transpired. Inklings were evident that rookie Justin Jefferson would be quite productive. Guess what? He only shattered the NFL record for rookie receiving yards (1,400) in his maiden voyage. Another rookie, Cameron Dantzler, played like the real deal at camp, even prompting wide receiver Adam Thielen to proclaim, “[That] guy is going to be good.”

So, what storylines are on the docket for 2021? What should Vikings loyalists glue their attention on the practice field? In descending order of importance, these are three things to watch for at Vikings training camp.

Wyatt Davis — who may or may not be ready to start at right guard — is the pivotal component to 2021’s offensive line. Christian Darrisaw, drafted in the 1st Round of the 2021 NFL Draft, will probably start right away, so left tackle should be no large mystery. But Davis assuming starting duty early in the season is a mystery. Matters complicated this week when offensive line coach Rick Dennison was reported to encounter a change in job title or perhaps not be with the team at all after COVID-related hubbub. Dennison seemed to be an enthusiast of Dakota Dozier, a guard that struggled in 2020 despite receiving oodles of meaningful playtime.

However, if Davis takes longer to progress — or Darrisaw doesn’t see the field right away — a hodgepodge or Rashod Hill plus the aforementioned Dozier will inspire groans from fans.

Should anything become contentious at training camp or amid the depth-chart posturing in general, it will be a product of the cornerback room. Put simply, the Vikings are incredibly deep at the CB section of the depth chart. What felt last year like skimpiness of essentially Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney only — is now Patrick Peterson, Dantzler, Bashaud Breeland, Mackensie Alexander, Harrison Hand, and maybe-but-longshot Jeff Gladney. That’s a lot of mouths to feed as defensive snaps are distributed.

Alexander is a familiar face, signed back by the team at a discounted price after one year with the Cincinnati Bengals. His services were acquired with intent.

That’s why the CB joust next week is so intriguing.

Ergo, Kellen Mond, a rookie from Texas A&M, is the next installment in the Vikings long history of quarterback carousel. If Cousins doesn’t deliver one or two playoff wins in 2021, the prospect of watching Mond on a regular-season field accelerates.

But the Vikings seldom employ the Kansas City Chiefs heralded strategy. In 2017, the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes to sit behind Alex Smith — a player with an admirable skill set like Cousins — for a season, biding his time to start. Mahomes barnstormed the NFL soon after.

Training camp is the first spot to get a glimpse of Mond. His career will not be defined at his first camp, but the tarot cards will hit the field for the first time.

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory. The views expressed here are the author’s own.