Garrett Bradbury of the Minnesota Vikings talks with Joshua Dobbs
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Garrett Bradbury of the Minnesota Vikings talks with Joshua Dobbs
The New England Patriots are travelling out west this week. The players boarded the team jet this morning on their way to conduct two full contact joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings ahead of Saturday’s preseason match up.
Starting center Garrett Bradbury, who spent his first six seasons in the league in Minneapolis, says the team knows what they’re getting into.
“I’ve seen some offenses come in there for joint practice with not a lot of game-plan and it’s an absolute disaster [for them],” Bradbury told reporters. “You have to game-plan.”
Game planning a practice is not the status quo. But for a young team with a new coaching staff, getting into the swing of things by spending a week game planning for an opponent seems like a great approach. Bradbury also said that he’s looking forward to the challenge.
“It will be a good battle,” Bradbury said. “It’s unique because we’re not going to see that every Sunday all year, but there’s little things and wrinkles with this defense where it’s, ‘all right, let’s have an answer for this, let’s go back to our [pass protection] rules.’ It will be a good test.”
Matchups To Watch For In Minnesota
I know what story line I have my eyes on this week. That’s Stefon Diggs return to Minnesota. Diggs will forever be one of the most legendary Vikings of all time after the Minnesota Miracle. Now, as he works back to full strength, SI’s Joe Nelson says he will be a good test for the Vikes’ secondary.
“Diggs is coming back from a torn ACL and believed to be fully healthy, so he’ll provide a good test for Vikings cornerbacks who are fighting for key roles, namely Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah and Dwight McGlothern,” Nelson writes.
Secondarily, Nelson is excited to see how second year quarterback JJ McCarthy fares against this Mike Vrabel defense (as am I). The coaching staff felt good enough about McCarthy to let long time starter Kirk Cousins walk, but then a preseason injury ended his rookie year before it started. I’m excited to see if this new Pats’ defense can cause the unexperienced play caller to do some mental gymnastics.
“After going against Brian Flores’ chaotic defensive scheme through two-plus weeks of training camp, McCarthy will face another tough defense in the Patriots,” Nelson writes. “(New England’s defense) were solid, but not as good as they’re expected to be this season under new head coach Mike Vrabel.”
Garrett Bradbury Speaks On Return To The City
Like Diggs, Bradbury is returning to the team that drafted him. Unlike Diggs, who has made three stops in between, the center is just six months removed from his time in purple. As such, he spoke fondly of the relationships he built and maintained during his time in the building.
“Crazy, crazy,” he said. “When I first signed here, found out that we’re gonna be going back there for joint practice. So it’ll be great to see all the former guys.”
“This business is about relationships and so being there for six years, whether it’s guys in the equipment room, weight room, operations, or most importantly, the locker room. I’ve got a lot of friends there. It’ll be good to see them, but at the same time, compete and just get that much closer to Week 1.”