Vikings Defensive Coordinator George Edwards
We're a week into training camp, guys are really paying attention to the details of what we're trying to do with the installs from day-to-day and all the situations we're trying to cover here as we go into tonight's practice and the situation stuff here at the end. Good camp so far, still have a lot of work to do. Just need to keep competing and improving every day.
Q: In what ways has Mike Hughes asserted himself?
A: He's done a good job of coming in and learning the techniques and the fundamentals of the corner position for us. We've moved him around, so he's played inside at the nickel and outside at the corner. He's really embraced all the things that we're trying to teach him right now. He pays attention to all the fine points, coaching points and those kind of things for what we do schematically.
Q: Will you have to change your plan for tonight with the rain in the forecast?
A: Well, that's football in the National Football League. You have to be able to adjust to a lot of different things. Yeah, I'm sure we'll have to adjust to it if it comes to us.
Q: What have you seen from the young linebackers?
A: Well, I think all of them right now are coming out here and competing every day. [Kentrell] Brothers has done a good job throughout training camp you can really tell he's got a good grasp of what we're doing. RC [Reshard Cliett] has done a good job of picking up, here's a guy that hasn't really played a lot behind the line of scrimmage but really has started to pick up things. Antwione [Williams] has done a good job, moving around to the different positions as we're going through the check downs. Devante Downs pretty much missed the whole offseason but really has a good grasp of what is going on. There is a lot of competition in the second and third group of guys. We just look to keep pressing on. [Garret] Dooley has done a good job of picking up what we're asking him to pick up. It's just a matter of going through the process and keep learning and keep working on the fundamentals and the techniques that we are teaching at the position. Especially with control and vision and those types of deals.
Q: What does it mean for guys like Terence Newman and Xavier Rhodes coaching up the younger players?
A: That is a great situation for us. You look around our room and we have quite a few guys that do that. Those two guys in the secondary, they've been in the system. They understand what we are trying to get accomplished. Getting constant feedback for young guys while we are in reps and in between reps is critical as far as their development right now and as far as their stage of development.
Q: What are your expectations for Mackensie Alexander this season?
A: We just look for him to keep competing like he is right now and paying attention to the details. He really has done a pretty good job in camp so far but this is a long process. We just want to see it every day. Competition, we want to see just understand the fundamentals and techniques that we are teaching, the communication part of the position. We just need him to keep being consistent every day to come out here and compete.
