Brinkley, Blanton tabbed as final two starters on Vikings defense
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Mike Zimmer decided to head off the questions in his opening statement Wednesday, but his announcement of Jasper Brinkley as the team's middle linebacker and Robert Blanton at strong safety didn't come with ringing endorsements.
Zimmer ended the speculation about the final two starting spots on his remade defense, only confirming expectations and Minnesota's own unofficial depth chart. Brinkley had worked the majority of training camp and the preseason as the No. 1 middle linebacker in the Vikings' base defense but had to fend off a challenge from Audie Cole.
Blanton had practiced with the first-team defense for much of the time, but health issues got in the way of him securing the spot early. When Minnesota opens the season Sunday at St. Louis, Brinkley and Blanton will get the first shot in their respective positions.
"It's Jasper Brinkley, so I don't get this question asked anymore," Zimmer said of the middle linebacker in his opening statement. "Strong safety is Robert Blanton, OK?"
Blanton's spot as the starter might have been the most tenuous throughout the preseason. Blanton's hamstring injury set back the third-year player from Notre Dame and Zimmer tried several players next to starting free safety Harrison Smith.
Kurt Coleman and Chris Crocker were eventually released. Jamarca Sanford, last year's starter, was put on injured reserve and the team kept Andrew Sendejo and rookie Antone Exum on the regular-season roster along with Blanton.
"He probably made less mistakes than anybody," Zimmer said of Blanton. "He's got some cover skills. All those safeties, probably didn't see them enough because of the injuries or whatever. But Robert's a good kid, a smart kid, we'll see how he does. Hopefully, he'll do well."
Blanton, who played with Smith at Notre Dame, will be a full-time starter for the first time in his career. Blanton made the move to safety from college cornerback and Zimmer wanted a player with coverage skills to pair with Smith. Blanton started three games last year in his second season, making 60 tackles.
Brinkley regained the job he had for the Vikings in 2012 when he started 15 games as the middle linebacker and made 99 tackles. Brinkley spent last season with the Arizona Cardinals, but returned to Minnesota in the offseason.
Chad Greenway and Anthony Barr are expected to be the team's linebackers in the nickel defense. Brinkley's strength as a run defender will help on early downs.
"Jasper's a little bit more of a thumper in the running game," Zimmer said. "I think this week, (St. Louis has) got a good running game. I think their offensive line does a nice job in run blocking, so I think it will be a good match for him."
Cole started five games in the middle for Minnesota last year and 45 tackles.
"We just have to put 11 out there to start with," Zimmer said. "Audie's made a lot of plays. He's doing a lot of different jobs and sometimes special teams comes into play on these decisions too."
Brinkley, and Blanton, will need to perform to keep their starting spots.
"It's a one-week deal at a time, one week at a time," Zimmer said. "They play good they keep playing. I think the defensive team feels comfortable with Jasper making the calls. He's been lining up with the first group from the first day. In a game like this, it's nice to be settling in everything nice and smooth, hear the same voices and things like that."
High praise for Turner and the offense: St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher and Vikings' offensive coordinator Norv Turner are longtime NFL coaches who've faced each other often over the years. Fisher, as a defensive-minded coach, has long-respected Turner-led offenses.
As the two set to match up again Sunday, Fisher believes Turner has to be pleased with the offense Minnesota is building.
"Very familiar with Norv and what he does," Fisher said on a conference call Wednesday with Minnesota reporters. "Always does an outstanding job. I would say Norv's probably walking around with a smile on his face right now because of the players he's working with. It's potentially a very, very explosive offense and the longer they work together, the better they're going to be."
Turner's offense will still start with running back Adrian Peterson, who hasn't played in the preseason. Turner will finally be able to unveil the Peterson portion of the offense Sunday against the Rams' respected defense.
Fisher was just as wary of the receiving options in the Vikings' offense with veteran Greg Jennings, second-year receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright and tight end Kyle Rudolph.
Peterson ran for 212 yards and two touchdowns in the last meeting between the two teams in 2012, Fisher's first season with St. Louis. Fisher knows the damage Peterson can do, but said the Rams can't sell out to only stop Peterson.
"It's difficult," Fisher said. "All offenses start with the run game. You have to be concerned about it. But the weapons outside, those become a concern now if they're developing. They're solid players that can put pressure down the field.
"Cordarrelle had an outstanding rookie year and he's going to be an outstanding player. He creates matchups, he's big and the one thing about Matt is Matt's going to make good decisions and extend plays. You have to concern yourself with the run game but it makes you susceptible to the shots and Norv's not afraid to take the shots."
A familiar foe: Former Vikings quarterback Shaun Hill will start for the Rams on Sunday after Sam Bradford suffered torn knee ligaments in the preseason and will miss the 2014 season.
Hill, 34, was signed by St. Louis in the offseason to give the team an experienced quarterback behind Bradford, who missed nine games last season because of a knee injury.
"It was very important to us," Fisher said of finding an experience backup. "We had a guy that can provide the leadership, that has played, that knows what it takes to prepare himself for each and every week. That's why we were thrilled to be able to get Shaun."
Fisher said the team is committed to Hill as the starter for the rest of the season, even though the Rams signed former Houston quarterback Case Keenum this week. Hill's last start was in 2010 for the Detroit Lions when he started 10 games and had an 81.3 quarterback rating. Hill spent the past four years as Matthew Stafford's backup in Detroit.
Hill played one game for Minnesota in 2005, and didn't throw a pass. He took two snaps and kneeled down both times.
"A lot of excitement about that first kneel down, second one is kind of over," Hill joked with Twin Cities reporters on Wednesday. "I thought, 'Well, if this is the end of my career, then I'm going to have the world's shortest highlight film.'"
Practice squad changes: Minnesota filled its 10 practice-squad spots Monday when it signed cornerback Chris Greenwood, but the Vikings made a couple of changes since with offensive lineman Austin Wentworth clearing waivers.
Wentworth, an undrafted rookie, made the Vikings' initial 53-man roster but was waived as the team claimed offensive tackle Mike Harris from San Diego. Minnesota added Wentworth to the practice squad Tuesday and released cornerback Kendall James, a 2014 sixth-round draft pick.
With Wentworth added, the Vikings released offensive tackle Mike Remmers from the practice squad Wednesday and added safety Ahmad Dixon.
Dixon, 22, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys this year out of Baylor. He was named first-team All-American last season after finishing his senior season with 81 tackles, two tackles for loss, six pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
Dixon was released by Dallas on Monday.
The first injury report: The Vikings released their first official injury report of the season Wednesday. Linebackers Michael Mauti (foot) and Brandon Watts (knee) and fullback Zach Line (ankle) were held out of practice on Wednesday.
New offensive tackle Mike Harris, acquired off waivers from San Diego on Sunday, was limited Wednesday with a shoulder injury. Cornerback Jabari Price (shoulder) and receiver Rodney Smith (neck) were listed as full participants.
For St. Louis, starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson didn't practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. Starting left tackle Jake long (knee) and starting linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (shoulder) were limited.
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