Vikings

Vikings Newcomers Already Making a Strong Impression

Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray (USA Today Sports)

The two biggest additions to the Minnesota Vikings roster this offseason wasted no time trying to acclimate to their new organization, and reciprocally, their teammates wasted no time making them feel welcome.

Heralded as the two pieces that may push the franchise closer to its first-ever Super Bowl, Kirk Cousins and Sheldon Richardson are knee deep in the adjustment process as they begin going through the paces of learning a new system, a new city and the maze-like hallways of a brand new facility.

Cousins took the initiative and met with top receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen in Atlanta before the team reported to Eagan for ‘Phase I’ of workouts. It carried on Teddy Bridgewater’s chemistry-building tradition of finding some warm weather and hanging out for a few days before the offseason program.

“Stef and Adam came down,” said Cousins. “We spent a couple days together, and I thought that was productive, more than just the football just to get to know one another a little bit and build somewhat of a foundation before we started with the whole crew.”

Richardson quickly got to know his defensive linemates after receiving calls from Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph following his signing of a one-year contract. The Vikings got just 6.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position last year. Richardson got eight on his own back in 2014, enough to tantalize the Vikings, who hope he can recover his old form if surrounded by playmakers like Griffen and Joseph.

“Bringing Sheldon Richardson in is music to my ears,” said Griffen. “I love seeing that, because the fastest way to the quarterback is up the middle, and if you getting pressure up the middle and push up the middle, that means we can use more speed, not getting as many chips. He’s dominant.”

The Vikings reaped the rewards of their recent construction projects — and last year’s 13-3 record — in free agency. Never has the organization been more fit to woo talent.

No longer is the stadium the dingy Metrodome but the spectacular U.S. Bank Stadium. No longer are players reporting to Winter Park, where parking was tight, the weight room was small and the indoor field was truncated by a makeshift film room.

TCO Performance Center, and all its perks, is now the team’s greatest selling point.

That, and the fact that the Vikings have stability at all levels: ownership, general manager, head coach and personnel.

“I wasn’t fooled on the free agency visit; what I saw then has been the truth,” Cousins said. “There’s no aloof personalities in the locker room, everybody has been very down to earth. There’s a humility there. There’s a formula here for success. I sit in the team meetings and I see the organization, I see the attention to detail, I see the professionalism, and it’s no surprise why they were successful last year, and it’s no surprise why I wanted to be here.”

Tight end Kyle Rudolph doesn’t feel hoodwinked either now that he’s gotten a chance to know Cousins, the $84 million quarterback intended to bring the Vikings into the Promised Land.

“You can see that kind of naturally he has that aura about him,” Rudolph said. “He’s energetic, and he’s excited to come to work every day, and that’s what you expect out of your quarterback.”

Minnesota’s offseason shows how little room there is for complacency in today’s hyper-competitive NFL.

While Cousins’ envisions a long-term relationship with Minnesota, Richardson’s tenure may not last longer than a year due to the team’s financial limitations, but the fact that he opted to rehabilitate his stock as a Viking after a one-sack season in Seattle is telling. He joins a line full of veterans — Griffen, Joseph and Brian Robison — that have excelled in Zimmer’s system since he arrived in 2014.

“A guy that’s explosive off the snap, a guy that’s got power, a guy that’s quick with his hands,” said corner Xavier Rhodes of Richardson. “He’s going to add a lot of bite to the defense.”

“His attitude,” said Griffen. “He wants to learn the knowledge, he wants to grow in knowledge, he wants to learn how to be great, and that’s what we strive for.”

The Vikings’ defensive line was good last year, but it might have gotten better this offseason. Quarterback Case Keenum was good last year, yet the team still upgraded with Cousins.

Minnesota’s offseason shows how little room there is for complacency in today’s hyper-competitive NFL.

“I don’t want to be on a team with low expectations, do I?” asked Cousins. “I think that it’s a part of playing in this league — there’s pressure on everybody.”


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