The Minnesota Vikings offense had the defense’s number all spring with one particular play, but when wrapping up mandatory minicamp, Ed Donatell’s unit finally decided they’d had enough.
During an appearance on All Things Covered, legendary cornerback Patrick Peterson spoke about what he considers to be the best highlight from minicamp—a Kellen Mond interception by fellow corner Parry Nickerson.
“My boy, Parry—it was literally the last play we were doing out of the two-minute scenario. Offense get all the way down to like the seven-yard line, third down and 16 seconds to go. They got to score. It’s 14-10, we up, no timeouts left. Kellan takes the snap, and they’ve been killing us with this rout all spring.
“…But we had they ass today. We put in the coverage, threw it right to my boy, pickkkkk. All of the defensive players ran onto the field. It was great energy. It was the last play of spring practice. It was crazy.”
The defense hasn’t stopped celebrating this one. @_therealpnick pic.twitter.com/egUrfb9wYK
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 8, 2022
It was a strong way for the defense to end spring practice.
Even quarterback Kirk Cousins lauded the defensive improvements when speaking with media members. He talked about Donatell’s philosophy of disguising coverages and things looking “muddy” on the opposite side of the field.
A muddy picture is without question the last thing any quarterback wants to see with a pair of pass-rushing hounds in Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith breathing down their neck.
That clouded picture obviously led to one of Mond’s passes going the other way and a massive defensive celebration at Wednesday’s practice.
The hope is that it’s the first of many celebrations to come for the reconstructed defense with Donatell at the helm.