Linebacker Emmanuel Lamur is just two days into training camp with the Vikings, but the offseason free agent signee said Chad Greenway's enthusiasm is already rubbing off on him.
"I like how he comes to practice with a purpose," Lamur said. "That gets me amped up, and a lot of guys in the linebacker room as well."
Lamur joined Cincinnati as an undrafted rookie in 2012 when Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was the Bengals defensive coordinator. The 27-year-old said he and Greenway complement each other as they battle for playing time on a stacked defense.
"We bring different things to the table," Lamur said. "I believe Chad is more of a technician guy, and I like to say I'm an athletic guy.
"Whatever we can use to help out the team, so be it," he added.
The pair have been working together in practice, usually next to each other in solo drills. In fact, Lamur and Greenway both lined up next to Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr in a recent drill, an odd sight to see four linebackers in a drill instead of three.
Lamur and Greenway later lined up next to each other in a nickel package scheme, an element Zimmer said was just something the team was tinkering with.
"I know Emmanuel so I know some of his strengths and I'm able to incorporate some of those things," Zimmer said. "We're just looking at things that may happen down the road in certain schemes.
Lamur has lined up at the weakside linebacker spot and has grabbed a few reps with the first-team defense, which includes stout defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Sharrif Floyd.
The former Kansas State standout said he's enjoying the freedom of his new position.
"It gives me the ability to run free, being protected by Sharrif and Linval," Lamur said. "Those are great guys, and it starts in the front.
"They do the dirty work, and we just clean it up," he added.
Greenway, a first-round pick in 2006, is fourth in franchise history with 1,289 career tackles.
The 11-season veteran said he's enjoying both the daily battle and growing camaraderie with Lamur. In the end, he said, the Vikings will only be stronger with more depth throughout the roster.
"We've got to go out and just really be focused on our jobs day-to-day," Greenway said. "Your mentality, it's really about a one-day, one-step approach.
"One snap at a time and just home in on what we need to improve," he added. "As many things as we are good at, we can improve in so many ways."
