EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings dodged previously forecasted inclement weather and purposefully returned to the grass Wednesday in sticky conditions for the midpoint of their mandatory minicamp.

The team opted for a slightly shorter session (90-ish minutes) that included a walk-through 11-on-11 period in the red zone after special teams stations, positional activities and a very competitive red zone 7-on-7.

Eight players didn't participate — DL Caleb Banks, LB Blake Cashman, T Christian Darrisaw, WR Terrill Davis, OL Tristan Leigh, WR Marcus Sanders, Jr., OLB Dallas Turner and WR Luke Wysong — but many of them worked on a side field. Turner was excused for a personal reason, and Darrisaw had a planned rest day.

Afterward, Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels and Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips spoke with members of the media for the first time this spring. Aaron Jones, Sr., Joshua Metellus and Andrew Van Ginkel took turns at the podium, as well, to discuss the offseason program so far and noteworthy topics.

First things first, here are three observations from Day 2 of the team's minicamp that wraps up Thursday.

1. Red alert

Dueling quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray split reps, again, in a practice full to the brim of above-the-neck work, and they each funneled a few high-level throws in the red-area 7-on-7 segment.

The defense mirrored their highpoints, however, and canceled out some end-zone shots.

Cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., who nabbed an interception Tuesday, had Velcro coverage against tight end Josh Oliver on one of McCarthy's early passes, denying the 6-foot-5 target near the back right pylon. Later, Murphy grabbed another pick off Murray (his former Cardinals draft classmate) when the two-time Pro Bowl QB was going for Tai Felton across the back of the end zone. Offensive players piped up that the ball wasn't caught cleanly, but it was ruled a takeaway.

Rookie corner Chuck Demmings also flashed in the tight quarters, elevating to swat away a Murray TD chance intended for Jeshaun Jones. The PBU occurred near the patch of grass where Murphy had denied Oliver.

In the same period, the defense notched what likely would have been a coverage sack with McCarthy at the helm (he wound up leaving the pocket and lacing the ball to Felton), and one other Murray attempt was placed dangerously; he zipped one to Myles Price that was bobbled and clenched for six points, although Ivan Pace, Jr., was in the area and equipped to make loud contact if the opponent was in different colors and the action was at full-tilt.

2. Safety check

It feels outlandish to imagine a Vikings defense without cornerstone Harrison Smith.

As "The Hitman" keeps weighing his football future, though, we are getting a first look at the shape of the secondary if he chooses to head for the sunset (retirement) rather than return for Year 15 in purple.

When Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores met with the media after practice Tuesday, he said replacing Smith is a difficult task and doesn't happen right away. The safety group, at least, has a solid veteran presence with Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward and Tavierre Thomas. They know how Flo' likes to operate, plus the small details that make a big difference, and they can help assimilate young players.

Such as, the other Thomases patrolling the backend — third-round pick Jakobe and UDFA rookie Jacob.

Metellus commented on the former Wednesday and described him off-the-cuff as "electric."

"You can tell how much he loves the game and as a guy like me who's also a lover of the game, you appreciate that," Metellus continued. "Obviously, our safety position, we do a lot, we talk a lot, we handle a lot, so there's been a lot thrown on his plate these first couple of weeks. I'm sure as we get into [training] camp, he'll come into his own and start to show more of his personality on the football field."

The latter was busy in the cramped 7-on-7 in a "Big Nickel" package alongside several starters; that group also featured second-round rookie Jake Golday, who has logged some mileage this week sans Cashman.

3. Line dancing

The first half of practice harped on the techniques and backbone concepts of different position groups.

Players drilled pass-rush moves, routes on air, ball handling, et cetera.

During one part, the big men on offense split off into two groups — the tackles paired with the tight ends while the guards coupled up with the centers — to perform combo blocks before peeling up to the second level. Even wearing only helmets, their impacts were aggressive.

The interior triangles also identified, communicated and passed off simulated twists by OL teammates.

Those were especially interesting to watch because they showcased the unit's positional flexibility. The three centers that anchored the sets were Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens and Joe Huber. The duo beside Brandel was Donovan Jackson and Will Fries; Walter Rouse and Vershon Lee flanked Jurgens; and Delby Lemieux and Gavin Gerhardt aligned on Huber's hips. Quickly, here's why the depth is worth introducing.

Rouse has appeared in eight career contests, but exclusively at tackle, and Lemieux (UDFA) and Gerhardt (seventh-round) are rookies with extensive college experience on the edge and the pivot, but not inside.

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