MANKATO, Minn. -- Given the Minnesota Vikings haven't practiced in pads yet, it will likely be some time before coach Mike Zimmer settles on a starting offensive line. But after the team's first two days of camp, Zimmer's seen enough to be reasonably confident the Vikings are making progress toward solving what might be their biggest question of 2016.
"I saw a big difference yesterday in the way that they practiced, the things they were doing, the techniques we were doing," Zimmer said. "I thought yesterday they had a really good day. I can't tell you how they did today yet, but yesterday, they had a really good day. (Matt) Kalil did really good -- maybe the best I've seen him since I've been here. Now, it's one day, but he did some really good things. (Brandon) Fusco looked better to me yesterday. (Alex) Boone and Kalil, they did some nice things together. Andre Smith is a really good athlete. Yesterday, that's as good as I've seen the offensive line."
The Vikings mixed Joe Berger in with the first-team offense on Saturday, and gave T.J. Clemmings some work with the top group at right tackle. In his second year, Clemmings figures to work at both the right and left tackle spots. The retirement of Phil Loadholt takes something away from the competition the Vikings wanted for their group during camp, and it remains to be seen how long they'll be without Mike Harris, who started camp on the non-football illness list. Zimmer, though, seems happy with the mentality of the group, as it's prodded by new line coach Tony Sparano.
"I sat in there last night and watched the offensive line over and over again. We're still looking at combinations, as you saw today," he said. "I've got an idea of how it's going to go, but I want everybody to feel like they got an opportunity, and I want to see them in pads."
Here are some other notes and observations from Saturday's practice:
Linebacker Eric Kendricks made what might have been the play of the day, when he stepped in front of a Teddy Bridgewater pass and returned it for a touchdown. It certainly caught the attention of Zimmer, who remarked how much different Kendricks looks in his second year. "That's a hell of a play," Zimmer said. "He is so much more comfortable at this point than he was a year ago in training camp. Last year, he was like he had too much coffee to drink. And now he's settled down. I think he feels really comfortable; he's making the calls really good, he sees things really good and he's an instinctive guy anyway. He looks much-improved to me."
It's dangerous to assume too much before players are in pads, but Bridgewater certainly seems to be more in sync with his receivers on downfield passes. He threw a beautiful strike to Jarius Wright for a long touchdown.
Rookie safety Jayron Kearse made an impressive play in the middle of practice, jumping over a wide receiver to break up a pass in the middle of the field.
Zimmer hinted Friday he might look for more variety in his personnel groups, in an effort to get more playmakers on the field and take advantage of a deeper roster. He mentioned Jerick McKinnon by name, and in a drill with the second-team offense, McKinnon lined up at wide receiver, beat his man, caught a long pass from Shaun Hill and raced into the end zone, high-fiving fans once he got there. Linebacker Emmanuel Lamur also got some brief work in a personnel group with the top defensive unit. "I know Emmanuel (from Cincinnati), so I know some of his strengths, and I'm able to maybe incorporate some of those things," Zimmer said. "We're just looking at things that may happen down the road against certain teams. We try to do that with (Anthony) Barr, and how we can use (Chad) Greenway the best. The same thing with the safeties -- we're trying to figure out how we can get different combinations in."
Receiver Stefon Diggs left practice briefly, going to the medical tent before returning. He didn't do much in the second half of practice, but stayed on the field after the session was over to catch passes with rookie Laquon Treadwell, so it seems the second-year receiver will likely be fine.
