The Vikings get back to work today after their first day off during training camp, giving fans another opportunity to see what Star Tribune's Mark Craig sees, a quickly improving Teddy Bridgewater.
Craig sat down with Offensive Coordinator and Norv Turner during the offseason to go over some game film and gain some knowledge and a unique perspective on the rookie quarterback. Turner explained what he saw in young quarterback from Louisville.
Turner praised Bridgewater for his quick drop, arm strength and overall feel for how to play the quarterback position.
Obviously, the quarterback position is the most scrutinized, but it will also be one of the most interesting going forward into the meat of the training camp schedule.
Anthony Barr's switch to LB began as a joke, but no one's laughing now
The Vikings No. 9 selection in 2014 NFL Draft, Anthony Barr, plays linebacker now but he hasn't for very long. 1500 ESPN's Andrew Krammer takes a look at the process the UCLA running back took when transitioning to an All-American linebacker.
Krammer got an off the beaten path idea to interview Vikings guard, Jeff Baca, who provided insight on blocking for Barr and blocking against Barr:
View images from practice No. 4 of 2014 Verizon Vikings Training Camp which took place on Monday, July 28.
Vikings guard Jeff Baca blocked for -- and against -- Barr during their three years as teammates at UCLA.
The Vikings drafted Baca in the sixth round (196th overall) after his senior season in 2012, the same season in which Barr, then a junior, ended USC quarterback Matt Barkley's college career with a broken collarbone with one of his 13.5 sacks that year.
"You don't see many 6'5" running backs," Baca said. "But you put him on the other side of the ball and the guy is an animal. It was a natural switch."
"Right away you can tell his speed was just second to none," Baca said. "Off the edge as an outside linebacker, I know he had to be one of the fastest guys on our team. He made some plays my senior season, chasing down some running backs, that were unbelievable."
Krammer notes Barr has been receiving second team reps behind Audie Cole but he has been making his presence known since putting the pads on with his physical style of play.
It's not nearly time for the Vikings to make final roster cuts, but there's nothing wrong with a little speculation to pass the time. Krammer did just that while also noting Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was set to meet with his staff on Tuesday to discuss "early risers and fallers on the team's depth chart."
A few notable inclusions/omissions on Krammer's roster:
-- All three quarterbacks make the roster. There is a school of thought in the NFL now that going with just two quarterbacks is the more economical approach, given how rarely teams use three quarterbacks in a season and given how few roster spots teams are able to use on other positions when a third passer is taking up one of the spots.
-- Jerome Felton makes the cut, while Zach Line does not. This is notable because some question what role the fullback has in the NFL anymore and also because Line figures to push Felton for the position.
-- Kevin Murphy over Antonio Richardson is notable because Richardson was thought by many to be a draftable player, and the Vikings got him in undrafted free agency.
-- Derek Cox and Mistral Raymond make it over Jabari Price and Kurt Coleman/Andrew Sendejo.
Quick Hitters
- Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn has been moved from the PUP list to the active roster and is eligible for practice starting Wednesday.
- ESPN's Ben Goessling profiles rookie guard and fifth round selection David Yankey's interesting journey to the NFL here.
