Start of Training Camp Rundown

He played around 450 snaps last season with the Raiders at linebacker (Adams was a safety previously) and was an above-average performer according to PFF. He’s listed on the Vikings’ website at 6’1″, 213 pounds- which is light for a linebacker. He looks a bit heavier than that though.

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He signed a league minimum deal last year with the Raiders and I wouldn’t be surprised if he signed a similar deal with the Vikings, although the terms of his contract have not yet been released. But I expect him to make the roster as a linebacker. I could see him replacing Josh Metellus‘ reps in that role last season and also reducing some reps for Eric Wilson. After watching Adams’ tape last year at linebacker with the Raiders, my first impression is that he’s a decent linebacker. He may be the best option in coverage among linebackers on the roster. He is also very good at reading plays and always has his eyes in the backfield. He was either a hook zone or flat defender in coverage last season and he showed good awareness in that role. Occasionally he’d run with receivers, whether backs or tight ends or wide receivers and did alright in that role too, but he’s not a good matchup against top wide receivers to be sure. As a run defender, he’s not afraid of contact but sometimes he will be the sacrificial defender to absorb blocks or clog up one hole for others to make the tackle instead of trying to make the tackle himself. He doesn’t show the ability to shed blocks like a traditional linebacker, but he can work his way through the trash, as they say, to make a tackle. As a pass rusher he did okay but could improve by taking more direct routes to the quarterback and improving his ability to get by chip blockers. He’s not a blow-em-up blitzer when it comes to taking on running back blockers like Blake Cashman or Ivan Pace or Eric Wilson have been. He blitzes like a safety.

Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores talked about Adams in his Wednesday press conference saying that Adams is a real football guy and that his role will be determined by what he can do well and be productive at. I’d be surprised if he played anything but linebacker, however, although you could say he’s a bit of a hybrid linebacker/strong safety. But I expect him to make the roster and play around half the defensive snaps, maybe more if there are injuries. His acquisition is good insurance against injury in the linebacker group, which is a significant risk with Blake Cashman having missed a few games every season that last few years and Eric Wilson at age 32. His role could decrease potentially if Jake Golday is able to ramp up over the course of the season. He could also end up playing more snaps than Eric Wilson if they lean on him more in coverage. He graded higher than Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson last season overall according to PFF- particularly in coverage- and could have similar quarterback pressures as Wilson last year if he earns enough playing time.

Brian O’Neill Extension

No surprise that the Vikings got a deal done extending Brian O’Neill prior to the start of training camp. That seemed like it was in the cards all summer. It was a well-deserved extension for O’Neill, who has been a captain and core player for many years now and one of the better right tackles in the league. It’s a four-year, $96 million deal ($24 million AAV) but further details have not yet become available. The length of the extension goes through O’Neill’s age 35, which makes it likely that O’Neill begins and ends his career in Minnesota. I wouldn’t be surprised if the deal was structured in such a way that the Vikings could pull out a year early without a big dead cap hit, but at this point O’Neill has not shown any signs of reduced performance. It varies by player, but some tackles can continue playing at a high level well into their 30s. But extending O’Neill means the Vikings will have their bookend tackles for four more seasons- Christian Darrisaw is signed through 2029 and O’Neill now through 2030.

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Gerald Alexander Suspension

Vikings defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander was suspended for three weeks without pay for a DUI incident back in April. Terrible timing for a coach to serve a suspension for the first three weeks of training camp. Apparently defensive coordinator Brian Flores stepped in to coach the defensive backs at the beginning of Wednesday’s practice. Not sure what the plan is for the whole three weeks, but not a good time for a coach to miss.

Harrison Smith Update

Harrison Smith’s name was brought up on a couple occasions during Tuesday’s press conferences and judging by the comments from Kevin O’Connell it doesn’t appear that Smith signing on for another season is imminent nor do those discussions appear to be ramping up. I’d be surprised at this point if Smith came back before the start of the regular season, if he does at all.

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July 29th Training Camp Notes

• Kyler Murray took the first reps with the first team in team drills and alternated with J.J. McCarthy every four reps with Murray ultimately getting 16 reps to McCarthy’s 12, although I’ve seen slightly different rep counts. Kevin O’Connell said that reps between the two would not always be perfectly even every day for a variety of reasons, but the initial intension is to split reps roughly evenly between the two quarterbacks.