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  • Training Camp Depth Chart Update: Alexander in the Slot, Easton at Center and Lamur at Will


    Guest Arif Hasan

    After the first round of walkthroughs with the veterans, we've seen our first glimpse of the depth chart at training camp, and it may give us clues into what the coaches are thinking, as well as giving us an update on where players stand right now. First, the offense:

    Offensive Depth Chart
    QB Sam Bradford Case Keenum Taylor Heinicke Wes Lunt
    HB Jerick McKinnon Dalvin Cook Latavius Murray Bishop Sankey Terrell Newby
    FB C.J. Ham
    WR1 Stefon Diggs Michael Floyd Cayleb Jones R.J. Shelton
    WR2 Adam Thielen Stacy Coley Isaac Fruechte Moritz Böhringer
    WR3 Laquon Treadwell Jarius Wright Rodney Adams
    TE Kyle Rudolph David Morgan Bucky Hodges Kyle Carter Nick Truesdell Josiah Price
    LT Riley Reiff Rashod Hill Aviante Collins
    LG Alex Boone Jeremiah Sirles Austin Shepherd Freddie Tagaloa
    C Nick Easton Pat Elflein Zac Kerin
    RG Joe Berger T.J. Clemmings Danny Isidora
    RT Mike Remmers Willie Beavers Reid Fragel

    I've slotted Latavius Murray into the third running back spot despite the fact he didn't take any reps because that seems like the most appropriate solution to dealing with his temporary injury problems.

     

    Notably, Dalvin Cook isn't starting at running back quite yet, but he and Jerick McKinnon traded snaps on the first team -- so it's not McKinnon's job by any means.

     

    Nick Easton is taking the first-team center snaps, and I can't help but think the issues Elflein has had with bad snaps thus far has given Easton a slight edge. I imagine this will rotate day by day, as it did last year with John Sullivan and Joe Berger.

     

    Receiver depth charts are a bit more difficult to figure out given how often the receivers rotate independent of the rest of the offense, but it seems pretty clear that Laquon Treadwell at this point has the inside track to the third receiver spot -- perhaps helped by Michael Floyd's upcoming suspension, but potentially earned of his own merit.

     

    The Vikings' lack of tackle depth is obvious here as Willie Beavers, a player who was converted to guard last year, is being placed back at tackle. It could also be the case that the Vikings have eight candidates for guard and only five candidates for tackle and that this was the best way to resolve that problem. Either way, it's not great news.

     

    Taylor Heinicke outplayed Case Keenum in rookie camp, so hopefully he'll end up supplanting Keenum as the second quarterback.

     

    One last note: Stacy Coley, despite being injured throughout much of OTAs, is firmly ahead of Rodney Adams on the receiver depth chart. Depending on how things go in special teams play, this is a pretty intriguing development.

    Defensive Depth Chart
    RDE Everson Griffen Stephen Weatherly Tashawn Bower Sam McCaskill
    UT Tom Johnson Datone Jones Will Sutton
    NT Linval Joseph Shamar Stephen Jaleel Johnson
    LDE Danielle Hunter Brian Robison Ifeadi Odenigbo
    SLB Anthony Barr Eric Wilson Shaan Washington
    MLB Eric Kendricks Kentrell Brothers Ben Gedeon
    WLB Emmanuel Lamur Edmond Robinson Elijah Lee
    LCB Trae Waynes Terence Newman Tre Roberson Horace Richardson
    CS Harrison Smith Anthony Harris Antone Exum
    OS Andrew Sendejo Jayron Kearse Jack Tocho
    RCB Xavier Rhodes Jabari Price Terrell Sinkfield Sam Brown
    SCB Mackensie Alexander Jabari Price Antone Exum Marcus Sherels

    With Tom Johnson starting at the three-technique position, it seems likely that none of the potential replacements have really established themselves as clear every-down linemen. Johnson will probably only play 40 percent of the snaps (if that), so seeing if Datone Jones, Will Sutton or even Jaleel Johnson can take that spot will be critical. At the moment, it seems to be Jones in the best spot to compete for the position.

     

    The weakside linebacker spot is up for competition too, and I had hoped that by now Edmond Robinson would have secured the spot from Emmanuel Lamur. If there isn't much rotation here for the next week, it may be Lamur's spot to lose. Ben Gedeon is still behind Kentrell Brothers and it should be instructive to see whether or not he can compete for the backup middle linebacker spot.

     

    As expected, Trae Waynes and Andrew Sendejo are beginning camp as the starters, and that likely will not change. Terence Newman took very few reps, but it's safe to assume he's the primary backup corner for all three cornerback spots. It seems as if Mackensie Alexander has solidified his hold on the nickel corner spot.

     

    Antone Exum has played nickel corner and safety on different reps, and I split some differences to figure out where on the depth chart either appearance puts him at. Marcus Sherels is likely higher on an in-game depth chart than he is here, but like Newman, did not take many reps at all.

     

    We also have some special teams depth charts, courtesy of Daniel House at Vikings Corner.

    Punt
    Punter Taylor Symmank Ryan Quigley
    Punt Protector Anthony Harris Isaac Fruechte Andrew Sendejo
    Upback C.J. Ham Jack Tocho Moritz Böhringer
    LT Edmond Robinson Elijah Lee Kyle Carter
    LG Emmanuel Lamur Eric Wilson Tashawn Bower
    LS Kevin McDermott Kevin McDermott Kevin McDermott
    RG Stephen Weatherly David Morgan Josiah Price
    RT Ben Gedeon Ifeadi Odenigbo T.J. Clemmings
    TE Kentrell Brothers Antone Exum Eric Kendricks
    Gunner Rodney Adams Jabari Price Laquon Treadwell Sam Brown
    Gunner Trae Waynes Adam Thielen Stacy Coley

    Taylor Symmank and Ryan Quigley traded off every other punt, but Symmank went first.

     

    Adams as one of the primary gunners is great news for his potential spot on the roster, and if he's competing for a fifth receiver spot instead of a sixth receiver spot, this kind of exposure will be critical to his long-term prospects.

    Punt Return
    Returner Marcus Sherels Rodney Adams Stacy Coley Adam Thielen
    DE Edmond Robinson Elijah Lee
    DT Ben Gedeon C.J. Ham
    DT Emmanuel Lamur David Morgan
    DE Tashawn Bower Laquon Treadwell
    OLB Kentrell Brothers Isaac Fruechte
    OLB Stephen Weatherly Eric Wilson
    Jammer Anthony Harris Terence Newman
    Jammer Mackensie Alexander Jayron Kearse
    Jammer Trae Waynes Antone Exum
    Jammer Andrew Sendejo Jabari Price

    Sherels is the primary punt returner, but after him are players whose ability to provide depth as a returner could be critical to their ability to make the team. In this case, Adams took punt return reps before Coley, though I doubt that will continue to be the case going forward given how much he has struggled catching punts.

     

    The fact that there aren't many bubble players competing as jammers is disappointing, and it means that someone might be missing out on a critical opportunity if they can earn it.

     


     

    Catch Arif every week on The Andy Luke & Arif Football Machine

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