The countdown has begun. Waynes is expected to start Friday’s game against the Bengals. Nevertheless, in recent years there have been many occasions when teams involved in joint practices come to blows.
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With Zimmer and Spielman working together, the Vikings in two-plus years have signed Munnerlyn and Newman, and drafted Waynes, Alexander and Price. Expect the atmosphere to be tense and unpredictable. “Things happen. We talked after the play. We’ve been hitting purple guys for 10 days”.
The defense hasn’t changed a whole lot – most of the same players, most of the same schemes – while Zimmer has turned the Vikings back into a victor.
“He changed the culture around here, and I have much love and much respect for coach Zimmer”, defensive lineman Domata Peko said before their first combined practice. Andrew Whitworth likes the setup because it lessens the amount of time spent in training camp.
After an impressive rookie campaign in which Diggs had a four game stretch averaging over 100 yards-per-game, the young receiver seems poised to follow it up with an even better second-season.
“I think at this time of camp, it’s about time to start going against (someone else)”. “With all of the things we’re seeing health wise, I don’t think an 18-game season is beneficial for anybody”.
Waiting at the end of it all is a brand new stadium to call home, but in training camp, that’s hardly a major motivation for players and teams that just want to get better. The sessions will be open to the public. “There’s been no residual (problem) from the thumb, so it’s just another preseason game for me”. “There are ways you can fix that. I take something from all of those guys’ games and try to put it in mine”.
Zimmer said his players are ready to go up against another team.
Zimmer has been friends with the Bengals’ Marvin Lewis since their days as college coaches. This is also a big step for several newcomers looking to take on impactful roles with this team. That’s when cool heads have to prevail. Sendejo and Michael Griffin figure to battle it out for that spot for the remainder of the preseason.
As for the insanity that comes with a joint practice, there will be a mutual admiration between Lewis and Zimmer. “I have some ideas”, Zimmer told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “but I don’t want to share them”. Zimmer isn’t typically a big fan of them because of the tendency to get out of control and dissolve into unproductive fighting and injury-risking brawls.
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It will be the first football trip back to Cincinnati for Zimmer, who maintains a ranch just south of the city in northern Kentucky.
