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Vikings Open Training Camp Monday, July 30, 2001

(above, Matt Birk, Korey Stringer, and David Dixon at practice on Monday morning in Mankato.)

The Minnesota Vikings opened their 2001 training camp in Mankato, MN with a two-hour practice on Monday morning.

"Any time you get out there and have that first day there is a lot of excitement and a lot of nervous energy,"said Dennis Green. "But the guys practiced real hard. We were fortunate no one got injured and we went at it pretty good. I think we've got a really good balance between offense and defense."

The Vikings will practice again this afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

Player comments from after Monday morning's practice Cris Carter

Question: How does it feel to have "three deep" back?

Carter: It feels pretty good. It wasn’t gone that long. We all look forward to what we can do collectively.

Question: What about the addition of Byron Chamberlain?

Carter: I think he’s going to give us some things that we haven’t had in a long time. He’s very athletic. He moves very well with the ball. Good hands. The coaches are going to have a lot of different things they can do and defenses are going to have a hard time preparing for it.

Question: Does your thinking as far as your future change at all when you are here playing compared to the offseason?

Carter: No, not at all. Nothing has really changed. I still feel like this could be my last year. I just haven’t closed to door on that. They are just two statements condensed together.

Question: What do you like to work on in camp?

Carter: Initially I have to be a little selfish and try to work on some of the things that I can’t do at home, the team-related things, the little drills. My footwork is paramount, and my hands. My ability to catch the ball is just not the way I would like it. It’s just not the way I like it. So I really work on it, especially the first week, I catch a lot of balls on the Jugs machine. I haven’t caught any balls since last January, so that skill is what I am really trying to work on. My overall route running. I’m in very, very good shape so I don’t have to worry about my conditioning or getting tired. Just worrying about carrying your pads, maneuvering around people, the pushing and the shoving and the grinding, going sideways. Those types of things. As far as at night, just try to get my rest and make sure I drink a lot of fluids. Really just relax, really take my mind. Practice, and then I do a lot of things in between practice to take my mind off of it, a lot of different projects and stuff I am involved in. That really helps. I won’t really think about the afternoon practice until I get out there.

Question: Could you talk about the development of Todd Bouman?

Carter: Todd is doing very well. (He’s) very smart, a very good athlete. The last three years you can see the progress he’s made. He’s been tremendous. We look forward to him being the number two guy this year for the first time. Daunte and him have a great relationship too so he’s always helping Daunte as far as his reads and his looks. He’s always nice to have around.

Question: In what areas do you see Daunte improving from year one to year two?

Carter: In one day of practice you can’t tell that. I have never had a quarterback in his first year of starting with his type of ability. You talk to a coach, and the coaches have a certain thing that they are looking at. For me I know Daunte will be fine so that’s not a role I have to play. I don’t worry about Daunte too much.

Question: How much does Robert Smith’s departure affect this offense?

Carter: You’d have to talk to the coaches. We practiced one practice, two hours. If it’s changed I don’t know, maybe it’s a secret. But you have to talk to the coaches. They have a different philosophy and different things they can see that they don’t necessarily share with us.

Question: Does Randy re-signing change the way you look at your future?

Carter: Oh, heck no. I knew he was going to sign. It has nothing to do with it.

Question: What did you do in the offseason to come to camp in better condition?

Carter: Not in better condition. I think in athletics I think that the overused phrase "I’m in the best shape of my life", I think that’s one of the most overused quotes used by athletes all around the country. I’m not in the best shape of my life. I’ve been in very, very good shape. Physically it’s almost impossible for us to do any more than what we are doing. So the little things that I am doing, it’s not that important. I make things a little different to draw my interest so I’m not bored. There are a lot of things about football that I know that I have to play tricks on my mind to keep my interest because it’s not the most stimulating thing in the world.

Question: What kind of effect did Moss re-signing have on the team as far as stability?

Carter: It means a great deal. You have one of the marquee players in the league signing with the franchise for a long time. The commitment from the franchise and the commitment from Randy to the franchise is what you want. You have to be able to keep players like Randy signed here. It does wonders also for the fans. There are little kids that all they have ever known is Randy playing for the Vikings, and that’s all they are going to know for a long, long time. That’s a good thing for the Twin Cities and the metropolitan area.

Question: What were your impressions of the defense?

Carter: I really didn’t pay that much attention really. The games go through phases where I am not really paying too much attention to the defense as far as overall development. There are so many things that I am trying to work on, offensively we are trying to work on. Defensive football is always ahead of offensive football when you start practice, because defensive football is far more reactionary to assignments. They are assignment conscious but not as much as offense. It’s easier to play good defense, especially in training camp, than it is to play good offense.

Question: What keeps your interest in the game? Is it the games that keep you going?

Carter: The games are what you will miss, and the games, there is nothing like it. Even in the business arena there is nothing as competitive as that. Sports is so pass/fail oriented, win, lose, succeed, fail, and you can really judge yourself. And then also the human competition, the human element, man on man, the competition as far as defeating a person. You just can’t duplicate that in corporate America. It’s irreplaceable. The reason athletes struggle with retirement is because they try to replace it, and they should never try to replace it because there is nothing that will ever replace it. Nothing will ever replace it. You just move on.

Lance Johnstone

Question: Could you talk about the attitude that Brian Baker is bringing to the defensive line?

Johnstone: A lot of energy. He’s a young guy and this is a new situation for him so he’s coming in pumped up and just bringing a lot of energy to our whole defensive front and defense all together.

Question: How big of a step does the defensive line have to take this year to be successful?

Johnstone: A giant step. Defensive line is probably one of the most important parts on the team. Every play starts up front with your offensive and defensive line. So we’ve got to take two or three giant steps forward to really be effective.

Question: Is this a big opportunity for you to be successful here?

Johnstone: Yeah. The system is the one I played in the two years with Willie Shaw in Oakland so I’m reallly familiar with and know where I can take advantage at.

Question: You’ve missed some time the past few seasons with injuries. How anxious are you to get out there and show what you can do when healthy?

Johnstone: Real hungry. I was joking with Coach Baker today that I feel like an intelligent rookie right now. I’m excited. I was looking forward to camp for the first time in six years, actually looking forward to getting here. I feel like I’ve got a little bit to prove when you are in a new situation, so it’s kind of refreshing.

Question: You’ve been brought in specifically to produce sacks. Are you comfortable with that?

Johnstone: That’s what I do. Ever since I have been in the league, the expectation of me has been to rush the passer. So I take the challenge on and the pressure. I think it’s good pressure and just look forward to performing.

Question: Do you have a number you are shooting for as far as sacks?

Johnstone: Not an exact number, but as a defensive lineman, a defensive end especially, you always want to get double digits. That’s the top echelon of our position. If you get double digits and still get pressure on the quarterback, not always sacks, but always applying that pressure, that’s a good thing too.

Daunte Culpepper

Question: Could you talk about year two and what you expect out of yourself?

Culpepper: Well, last year is over. That’s my attitude about it and I think that is everybody’s attitude about it out here, and we want to come out and try to be the best team we can be. It starts right here. We got a good practice in today, a lot of hard work in, and we just want to build on it.

Question: What areas do you think you will improve in?

Culpepper: I just think overall, being a quarterback and being a leader I am going to get better. It just takes time and it takes experience. At the same time I am going to work hard and lead by example like I’ve always done.

Question: How does it feel to come into your second camp with last year under your belt?

Culpepper: It feels great. It feels great to see all of the enthusiasm and the excitement in the air. All of you guys are here so that gets us fired up to go out and show that we belong where we are.

Question: Do you feel more comfortable now?

Culpepper: Yeah, but I’ve always felt comforbable. Like I said, I prepare myself. Feeling comfortable is one thing but going out there and getting it done is another. At the same time I just want to go out and just try to show everybody that I’m where I need to be.

Question: How much does it help the offense to have Jake Reed back?

Culpepper: Jake is a big plus to this offense. He’s a guy that has experience, he knows how to win, he knows what to do to get open. He’s going to get open and we’re going to get him the ball.

Question: How nice is it to have everyone in camp, signed, etc.?

Culpepper: It’s big. It’s a plus. It just shows that Coach Green is running this organization the way it should be run. I’m grateful to be a part of it. Everything is going the way we want right now, we just have to keep it going.

Question: Could you talk about Todd Bouman and how he helps you out?

Culpepper: Todd is another big plus for this team. He’s been here five years, five or six years, and he knows the offense. He helped me when I first got in my rookie year. We’re very good friends at the same time on and off of the field. I spend a lot of time with him and we mesh very well together.

Question: Last night Coach Green said they are going to concentrate on keeping you healthy. Does that change your style of play at all, not running as much?

Culpepper: Not me. Me personally, I’m going to go out there and move the chains. My main goal and my job is to keep the chains moving and keep our defense off of the field and score points. So I’m going to do whatever it takes to do that. If it tells me to run, I’m going to run. If I have to throw, I’m going to throw. It doesn’t matter.

Question: What do you think about this year’s schedule?

Culpepper: I look at it, everybody is saying how tough it is, but me, we only play one team at a time. Each team that we are playing that week, that’s who we are going to concentrate and focus on.

Question: With Randy’s extension, do you envision yourselves as possibly being one of the great tandems in NFL history?

Culpepper: That’s our goal and hopefully that’s going to pass. As long as we stay together and as long as we keep our minds right and keep working hard together, nothing can stop us.

Question: Michael Bennett didn’t catch a lot of passes at Wisconsin. Are you trying to work him in on that?

Culpepper: We got a lot of work in practice, and he is doing the Jugs machine after practice every day. I think that’s going to help him out a lot because at Wisconsin they didn’t throw the ball a whole lot. But he’s definitely going to fit into this offense very well.

Question: With Robert Smith gone, does that put more pressure on the passing game?

Culpepper: I’m not going to say that because I feel no one can ever replace a Robert Smith in this world. But I feel Coach Green has three good running backs that are competing right now to be starter that are going to fill that void. I have all of the confidence in the world that they are going to get it done.

Question: Are you comfortable that you are going to be secure to your left?

Culpepper: I’m also very confident in Brad Badger. He’s going to be starting. He’s been on other teams and he has had success in this league. He’s been a starter in this league. I know that he is going to do what it takes to be a winner.

Question: How long did it take to get over the hurt of how last year ended?

Culpepper: I’m not going to say I’m past that because it’s always going to be in the back of my mind, just to show us what can happen if you’re not on top of your game. But at the same time, I did have to put it behind me because I can’t dwell on it. A lot of good things happened last year and a lot of bad things, but last year was last year and that’s how I am playing it.

Question: You seem more relaxed and comfortable this year with everything. Do you feel that way?

Culpepper: No, I think personally I’m the same. You might just see it a little bit more, but last year I was the same. I have a good time. That’s what it is all about, having a good time. If you’re not having a good time doing it, then why do it. But I have a good time working hard and trying to be the best quarterback in this league.

Question: Your statistics were very impressive last year. Are there certain numbers you are shooting for this year?

Culpepper: Me personally, I just want our team to be number one in the world at the end of the year. We want to be world champions. That’s the only number I am worried about right now.

Question: Do you expect this to be Cris’ last year?

Culpepper: That’s totally up to Cris. He’s a big part of this team, personality-wise and athleticism-wise, but that’s up to Cris and we’re going to back him in whatever he does?

Question: Does Dennis Green’s confidence have a filter-down effect on the team?

Culpepper: Absolutely, because one, we trust Coach Green. We know he knows what he is doing. Whenever he makes a decision we are going to back him. I think that is definitely going to filter down to the team and just show how much we are going to back him.

Question: Could you talk about what you see from Jim Kleinsasser?

Culpepper: He’s a hard worker. That’s one thing I noticed about him when I first met him. He’s a great athlete too. As big as he is, you haven’t seen anybody that can move like he does. And he’s a very smart guy at the same time. We’re definitely looking positive to getting him the ball more and getting him in the offense a little more.

Question: Does he look bigger this year?

Culpepper: I think he did. He hit the weights very hard this offseason. I saw him in action. Like I said, he’s going to bring a different phase to our offense and that’s definitely a positive for us.

Question: Do you think the only thing that can limit this offense is yourselves?

Culpepper: Exactly. If we don’t go out there and focus and do what it takes to win, we can get beat like anybody else. We showed that in the last game last year. But when we go out and do the things that it takes, we can be the best in the world.

Question: Is this camp any different for you this year?

Culpepper: No, I’m approaching it the same way but I think to you guys, it’s probably different because everybody was talking about me (last year). Now I’m still approaching it the same way with the same attitude of I have a killer instinct. I want to go out there and win every game we line up against.

Question: Scheme-wise, is there anything you want to more of this year?

Culpepper: We’ll probably do a little more play-action, and I think that’s going to help us out big time. Just continue to move the ball down the field and taking whatever the defense gives us.

IZ



-- IZ (izmorrow@yahoo.com), July 30, 2001


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