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  R LB Kobe King...a "violent" player
Posted by: Montana Tom - 07-25-2025, 05:47 PM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (9)

Young Viking Earns Praise for Being a “Violent” and “Old School” Player
Young Viking Kobe King has his supporters in the Twin Cities.

The linebacker is coming off a successful college career with Penn State. The sense one gets after listening to him speak and hear him described is that he’ll have no trouble living up to the ideas of being an “old school” and “violent” linebacker. As a result, Mr. King should have a role on specials as a rookie and possibly get some work on defense, too. Just how high can his game soar, though?
To a certain extent, one thinks of Ivan Pace Jr. as an interesting comparable. After all, both thrive when allowed to step forward with aggressive physicality.

Linebacker coach Mike Siravo was the one to describe King with the quotes from the title. What makes the coach excited about the team’s new ‘backer? Check out the answer: “Just how physical he was as a tackler, like he’s an old school Penn State linebacker. He hits violent, he brings his hips, it’s painful to watch him tackle. And that’s not around much anymore.”

The coach offered those words more than a month ago. With training camp arriving, a physical player is going to be more at home since the intensity increases. So, too, will the preseason games offer King a good venue to show off his abilities.

Go ahead and ask the linebacker about how he views his game. His answer: “I’m an aggressive linebacker, I like to get downhill. Shoot gaps, play fast, physical.”

The 22-year-old defender was chosen in the 6th Round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He stands at 6’1″ and weighs 236 pounds. He has a sturdy build and should be capable of operating from within the ruggedness of between-the-tackles football.

What remains to be seen is if Kobe King is going to get scorched in coverage.

On PFF, Kobe King earned an impressive 83.6 grade for his efforts in 2024. The major boost to his overall assessment was his 89.2 run defense grade. He dips down to a much more modest 65.4 grade in pass coverage. Note, as well, that he was in the box for 704 snaps versus just 11 snaps as a slot corner.

So, the possibility exists that King ends up becoming an early-down thumper, someone who thrives when he’s allowed to come forward rather than being tasked with dropping into coverage. Of course, his ceiling has yet to be defined, so it’s entirely possible that he grows and matures in his game, proving capable of being an every-down player even if there appears to be a need to work to get there.

At Penn State in 2024, King played in sixteen games. He picked up 97 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass defended.

Sometimes, aggression can be used against a defender. Consider an instance when someone fully commits to the move that a pass catcher makes. A gifted route runner could then hit the brakes and move in the opposite direction, leaving a defender in the dust. Just look at what Justin Jefferson did to Stephon Gilmore — a former Defensive Player of the Year and lockdown corner in his prime — for a great example.

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  Anyone see the Packers "1923 inspired" uniforms / helmets?
Posted by: Vanguard83 - 07-25-2025, 04:11 PM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (2)

I didn't think they could do worse than the Dr. Seuss  "Thing 1, Thing 2" uni's, but as my wife always reminds me....I was wrong

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  Compelling players - not named JJ
Posted by: purplefaithful - 07-25-2025, 04:02 PM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (3)

Minnesota Star Tribune reporters who cover the Vikings each picked the player other than McCarthy who intrigues them most during camp.


Jordan Mason, running back

The Vikings’ March 18 trade for Mason came with a two-year, $10.5 million contract for the running back that will likely make him more than an aide to Aaron Jones. 

His 223-pound frame and tenacious running style will pair well with the Vikings’ new offensive line as coach Kevin O’Connell seeks a more forceful running game that can pick up first downs and finish drives. 

The Vikings have struggled on third-and-short runs over the past three years, and have been one of the league’s least efficient running teams in the red zone; Mason could be especially useful on the goal-line runs that help the Vikings score touchdowns while relying less on an intricate play design from O’Connell and flawless execution from their young QB. 

There’s a shift coming in the Vikings offense that the team hopes will make things friendlier for second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and the commitment to Mason shows how serious the Vikings are about a different offensive identity. 

 — BEN GOESSLING


Dallas Turner, outside linebacker

McCarthy isn’t the only 2024 first-round pick expected to produce this season. Turner, the former Alabama star drafted 17th overall, averaged the fewest defensive snaps as a rookie — about 19 per game — among the nine first-round defenders in that class.

He ended the season with three sacks and an interception while trying to grasp multiple roles under coordinator Brian Flores and lesser playing time behind veterans Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel.

Teammates and coaches said Turner found a better weekly routine by season’s end, which he carried into the offseason.

“Sky’s the limit,” Greenard said of Turner this spring. “Just seeing him weather every storm last year, [it] was just great to see him mature. ... It started to click for him. Even translating to the offseason, he was still here as soon as the season ended in the weight room with me working out.” — ANDREW KRAMMER

Theo Jackson, safety

The first Viking to receive a contract extension this spring was Jackson, who agreed to another two years and up to $12.6 million in March following his most games played (17) in his career. 

When Cam Bynum signed with the Colts a couple weeks later, it all but solidified what the contract extension hinted: That the Vikings envision a bigger role for Jackson, 26, in 2025. 

A glimpse of that vision came in December when Jackson, filling in for Harrison Smith, caught the game-sealing interception against the Seahawks. 

What exactly his role looks like alongside Smith and Josh Metellus should become more clear throughout training camp. 

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes to arrange packages to his personnel’s strengths, and if Jackson can distinguish himself over the next few weeks as someone the Vikings want on the field over, say, a third cornerback, he could be seeing a lot of snaps this season. — EMILY LEIKER

Isaiah Rodgers, cornerback

The Ghost of Mike Zimmer has my eyes trained on the concerns at cornerback. Byron Murphy Jr. is an All-Pro-caliber star in the making. 

That’s not enough. Another standout must emerge. Flores believes Rodgers — a five-year veteran with 13 career starts — will be that guy. 

In fact, Flo has told people at TCO Performance Center that Rodgers can be this year’s Zack Baun. Baun, a linebacker Flores loved in free agency a year ago, went from unheralded Saints special teamer with 14 career starts to first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl hero with Philadelphia in 2024. 

Rodgers played 36% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps with three starts a year ago. 

Like Zimmer, even the brilliant Flores struggles when he’s short at corner. The Vikings need Rodgers to reach the next level and other unproven players such as Mekhi Blackmon and Jeff Okudah to form reliable depth before Flores’ creative schemes can maximize the massive upgrades that have been made to the front seven the past two years. — MARK CRAIG

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  Justin Jefferson to have MRI due to mild hamstring strain
Posted by: NorseFeathers - 07-25-2025, 03:07 PM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (5)

O'Connell attempted to downplay the issue, calling it a "very mild" hamstring injury.

While the team did not announce a timetable for Jefferson's return, it doesn't appear he'll miss Week 1 due to the injury, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert.


https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-ne...29547.html

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  We're doomed..from the NFL Youtube
Posted by: badgervike - 07-25-2025, 01:56 PM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (9)

[Image: ib6g0xqy6uef1.png]

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  Wes Phillips talented sister
Posted by: Montana Tom - 07-25-2025, 11:00 AM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (2)

So the trophy wife and I were re-watching an old favorite last night...Charlie Wilson's War...for maybe the fourth time?  
There's a belly dancer scene with a girl that came over to the Middle East from Texas with Charlie Wilson from Texas.  First reaction is it's funny (as are so many scenes and the writing is so clever).  However, I was like..."who is that belly dancer? Dang, she's talented!"

Well, turns out she has a talented and highly capable brother, our own OC Wes Phillips.  And a talented father, Wade.  And a talented grandfather, Bum.
Quite the family tree.  Enjoy the clip.



Born: 1982 (age 43 years)
Parents: Wade Phillips, Laurie Phillips
Siblings: Wes Phillips
Grandparents: Bum Phillips, Helen Wilson Phillips

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  30 Minute Camp Interview with KOC
Posted by: medaille - 07-25-2025, 10:39 AM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (2)

I didn't see this posted, but here's a 30 minute interview with KOC

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  JJ and Ryan Kelly are BFFs
Posted by: StickierBuns - 07-25-2025, 06:08 AM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (5)

Minnesota Sports Fan
@realmnsportsfan

Well... it took *checks calendar* approximately FOUR months for JJ McCarthy and Ryan Kelly to become best friends.

"[Ryan Kelly]'s been amazing. One of the most favorite teammates I've ever had. His knowledge about the game, but who he is as a man. He's really one of a kind..."

https://twitter.com/i/status/1948402015819665620

Every move made this year by KOC and KAM......there's a reason. Every one. Calculated.

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  Raiders Release DT Christian Wilkens
Posted by: Kentis - 07-24-2025, 06:34 PM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (18)

Can you say bad investment…?  Cool Angel  Apparently he’s dealing w/ a serious foot reinjury. The club wasn’t happy w/ how he rehabbed from his surgery last October & now believes he needs an additional surgery. 

ESPN sources: Raiders are releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins with the designation of terminated vested veteran. His time in Las Vegas is now over.

Due to how Wilkins treated the rehab from his foot injury he suffered last season, the Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money left on Wilkins contract last month and today, Wilkins filed a grievance with the NFLPA.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/adam-sc...70ff6d0123

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Music fields carted off
Posted by: Viking1987isback - 07-24-2025, 12:28 PM - Forum: The Longship - Replies (1)

Justin fields carted of jets field lower leg injury  today

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