Here is the entire Q&A with Chester Taylor as he was walking off the field following today’s OTA…
vikings.com: How did the OTA go today?
#29: Oh it went well. We were in some formations that I liked and it was good to get back out here with the guys.
vikings.com: How do you feel from a conditioning standpoint?
#29: That’s not an issue with me at all. It’s not like I wasn’t working out and doing the things I need to do to improve while I was away. I feel fine and it was good to be out here with my team today.
vikings.com: What do you think about the new additions to the Vikings roster that were made this offseason?
#29: I think they are great. I think those moves are exactly what we need to help put us over the top and continue to compete with teams.
vikings.com: How did Tarvaris Jackson look to you?
#29: He looked really good. I can definitely see a difference in him today compared to his rookie year. He’s showing leadership and the ability to control the huddle.
vikings.com: What were your thoughts when the schedule came out?
#29: What a great way to start out the season against a division opponent and at Green Bay on Monday night. Then it gets even better the next week when we play the Colts at the Metrodome.
vikings.com: Will you be watching the NBA Finals?
#29: My Pistons lost, so I’m disappointed about that. I think the Lakers will win it, though.
12:05 p.m. - The team just finished up today’s OTA as the slight drizzle began to pick up its pace. Chester Taylor was in action and said he felt great during the workout. We’ll have the complete Q&A posted in this blog shortly.
10:06 a.m. - The Vikings will work outside today, as the weather forecast calls for just a 20 percent chance of rain despite cloudy conditions. With the exception of one or maybe two days, the Vikings have had very moderate temperatures for their outdoor workouts, something I’m sure the players value tremendously. The rest of us, however, who are covering the practices sure wish the sun would make more frequent appearances.
Running back Chester Taylor, who according to Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress has missed OTAs due to family reasons, is in town and will likely participate in today’s workout. It will also be interesting to see the continued development of both rookie quarterbacks – John David Booty and Kyle Wright – and the rest of the Vikings draft class and crop of undrafted free agents.
One of the drills the team will surely conduct today is the seven-on-seven drill…last week we wrote a story that gives an inside look at that drill and the teaching points behind it.
Check back later for more updates from OTA #8.
8:55 a.m. - The Vikings will hold Organized Team Activity (OTA) #8 today at Winter Park as they set their sights on the minicamp that will be held this weekend. The team will conduct one more OTA tomorrow before taking Thursday off and then commencing for the minicamp on Thursday evening.
The OTAs today and tomorrow will not be open to the media, so vikings.com is your place for exclusive coverage of OTAs #8 and #9. Tomorrow, the team will be at Seed Academy/Harvest Prep School in North Minneapolis to construct a playground for the students. This has become an annual event for the Vikings, as they constructed a playground at the Wenonah School in 2006 and the World Cultures Indian Magnet School in St. Paul last year.
The entire Vikings organization, including players, coaches, front office executives and staff, along with representatives from Toro and KaBOOM! will be on hand to help construct the playground.
We will have more updates later this morning and after the OTA. The team is scheduled to begin today’s workout at 10:30 a.m.