Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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EAGAN, Minn. – Several Vikings are getting reps as returners.
Throughout voluntary Organized Team Activity sessions and the first two days of Vikings minicamp, media members have seen a number of different jersey numbers in the backfield during the special teams portion of practice.
Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Marwan Maalouf, who joined the team this offseason, spoke with the media following Wednesday’s practice and said it’s important to see different players returning punts and kickoffs because he’s still “fitting the puzzle pieces” together.
“There’s a few guys [who] are injured who have had a history of [returning], so it’ll be exciting once those guys get back to speed and just kind of seeing how it all shakes out,” Maalouf said. “But the good thing is, there’s quite a few guys who are doing it.”
Maalouf was asked about receiver Chad Beebe, who has received significant work at punt returner. The coordinator said that Beebe tracks the ball well, “has the right mentality” for the role and looks natural in it.
“I think those are important factors, you know? Not all guys can catch punts,” Maalouf said.
Jordan Taylor did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday but previously also has gotten punt return reps. While Taylor stands at 6-foot-5, Beebe is listed at 5-10.
“The beauty about special teams is we take all shapes and sizes,” Maalouf said in response to an inquiry about body type. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 6-4 or 5-11 or 5-6, because each guy can do something well in his own right. So they both could have a role back there, it just depends on what the situation might be.”
During kickoff returns, second-year corner Holton Hill was utilized as one of three ready to receive the kick.
“He was the off returner,” Maalouf explained. “He’s an athletic guy, so it’s always good to have as many athletic guys in the backfield as possible that can block, catch kickoff – so he’s an option. That’s the best thing about it.
“C.J. [Ham] was back there, too, so it just depends on who’s back there, and we try to rep as many guys out,” Maalouf added. “Next time we do kickoff return, it might be three different guys. As long as they keep getting acclimated to the system, communication back there is key.”
Maalouf also addressed the kickoff return changes that have been in effect for a full season now.
He emphasized that “alignments are so key now” because teams now must have eight of 11 players in the “setup zone” with 15 yards of the ball.
“Just because the rules have changed, the fundamentals of kickoff return haven’t,” Maalouf said. “Timing and spacing on kickoff return are what’s key. If we have the right guys working together, if they all understand the distance of the kick, all those little nuances, we’ll be fine. It’s just a matter of getting all those reps and working the situations and making sure that the returners understand what happens if the ball bounces in the end zone. That’s the end of the play, so just those things are key. Everybody adapts. We’ll adapt, as well.”