Wyatt: Bradford presumably was brought aboard to be the team’s starting quarterback, but for now it sounds like Shaun Hill is in the mix as well. They believe they are built right now offensively with Adrian Peterson, the best running back in football, and an improved offensive line with new coach Tony Sparano and talented young receivers.
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So what could it look like to throw Bradford to the wolves eight days later in Tennessee?
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) – Sam Bradford has begun his crash course in Minnesota’s offense. The Vikings have a bunch of really good young players and I think they are bringing back something like 97 percent of the defensive snaps from past year. “By no means am I knocking Shaun Hill”.
Mike Zimmer has finally made a decision about the quarterback situation in Minnesota, and it appears that his decision is to not make a decision, yet.
The Vikings dealt two draft picks, including a first-rounder in 2017, for Bradford after Teddy Bridgewater sustained a massive injury to his left knee.
Whether hell be able to learn enough in his first week for the Vikings to make him the quarterback in the season opener, well, thats undetermined. Hill, though, said his reaction was one of surprise more than disappointment.
Hill led the first team during quarterback drills Wednesday before the media was banished. Combined with one of the best run games in the league and a stingy defense, they are once again poised to make some noise. Like if you told an actor he was shooting a cereal commercial, and midway through the shoot you changed it to a auto commercial, but the actor never broke character, switching smoothly to the new script. “I come from fantastic DNA, I watched my mom fight and win against breast cancer”. “So, unless it scrolls across the bottom on Disney Junior, chances are I won’t see it”.
No whining. No pining.
Bradford has been working to learn offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s system since he got to Minnesota.
“I stay right in my lane”, he explained. “I keep that narrow focus. That’s just the way I’ve always approached it and that’s the way it’s worked for me”.
The Vikings were simply blowing smoke – they didn’t think Hill could do it. Defensive end Everson Griffen, who posted 22 1/2 sacks over the last two seasons, is poised for a big year.
Hill will likely start the opener on September 11 at Tennessee, though. The Vikings must decide on Bridgewater’s fifth-year option in May, another clear advantage to having an experienced starter like Bradford also in the fold.
Entering his second season in Minnesota, Hill knows the Vikings’ offense.
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Reunited, they not only are competing for Sunday’s starting job but practice reps. “They wouldn’t give up a 1 (first-round pick) and a 4 (fourth-round pick) to have him sit very long”.
