Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer
I'd like to thank Minnesota State. They've been really gracious here with the facilities. The fields have been in fantastic shape. We've been able to get a lot of things accomplished in a short time. We wish we could be down here a little bit longer, but I think it has been good.
Q: This being the first step in the process, did you get done what you wanted to do in two weeks here?
A: Yeah, there are always a lot more things you want to do, but I think we hit all the situations that we need to hit. It's nice having a veteran team. Even though we're still young, I think it's nice having a veteran team that can kind of have some recall as we continue to go forward.
Q: Do you like the fact that you get two practices in Cincinnati, or would you have preferred to stay here? Is it something nice for the club to get together in training camp on the road?
A: No. 1, I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't Marvin Lewis and them, and they're a good football team. I think at this time of camp, it's about time to start going against (someone else). You saw we had a little fight out there today. Guys start getting on each other's nerve a little bit, so it's nice to go against someone else, and the competition will be good. They're a really good football team. They've been in the playoffs the last six or seven years – I don't know. But they're a good team; they've got a lot of good talent.
Q: You're not a sentimental guy, but do you think there will be any reflection when you're there in Cincinnati for three days, just on your good run there?
A: There are a lot of players there that I've spent a lot of time with, so I don't know about 'sentimental,' but it'll be – I don't know.
Q: Those guys who say out today, do you expect them to participate the rest of this week and Friday's game?
A: I don't know. We'll see. I have no idea.
Q: Has anybody been ruled out for Friday?
A: I haven't ruled anybody yet.
Q: What are a couple things you really want to see in the joint practices going against another team?
A: I know who their really good players are. When we're competing against those really good players, I'd like to make sure we're just as effective as against them. A.J. Green is a terrific receiver. They've got (Andy) Dalton, who does a heck of a job of getting the ball in the right place. Jeremy Hill is a good running back. Giovani Bernard is quick and fast out of the backfield and a good runner. Defensively, I pretty much know all those guys.
Q: Is there anything in the evolution of Jerick McKinnon that you have seen in the last couple weeks, or is it just a continuation of what he had done the last couple years?
A: I don't think so much in the last couple weeks. Jerick's a good football player, and he continues to do good. He's a great kid; he works real hard, smart, doesn't hardly ever make mistakes. He's a threat out of the backfield but also as a runner, as well.
Q: What did John Sullivan have to show you physically – because you know that he has the smarts, and he has started before – but what did he have to show you at camp to get his job back?
A: The consistency of movement and power.
Q: How has he been looking in that regard?
A: Some days he's good, and some days he needs to do better, just like everybody. Everybody has good days and bad days. That's why it'll be a good test when we go to Cincinnati. We get to see him against (Domata) Peko. He's a good player, a good nose tackle. We get to see (Joe) Berger against those guys. It'll be a good test. Geno Atkins, he's down there over the guards, so that'll be good for (Brandon) Fusco, it'll be good for (Alex) Boone. He's one of the top three-techniques in the league. Those are the kinds of things I'm talking about.
Q: How has Troy Stoudermire been looking?
A: I think he's been doing good. He's got quickness on the break. He's still learning a lot of things coming from Canada, but I think he's been doing good. He's going to get some opportunities here in these next couple weeks.
Q: When Teddy Bridgewater is facing the Bengals defense, how much similarity will he see between them and what he typically sees out here?
A: About the same. It'll be really similar, I would assume. I don't know. I haven't watched them a lot this year for sure, but I know that a lot of the principles are very much the same.
