Vikings notebook: QBs improving

By Shane Frederick
The Free Press

MANKATO July 29, 2007 11:32 pm

— Five practices into training camp, Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said he’s getting used to the speed of things.
“It’s getting easier,” Jackson, who continued working with the No. 1 offense said Sunday. “Things are coming a lot more clear to me and slowing up for me everyday, and that’s what you want as a quarterback.”
Coach Brad Childress said the second-year quarterback is improving, as is Brooks Bollinger, Jackson’s competition for the starting job.
“There are some highs and lows,” Childress said. “There are some balls that he wishes he had back, but I do see him progressing, and I do see him getting better. ... I like what I see with the amount of stuff that we are throwing at him.”
Jackson and Bollinger are rooming together at camp.
“I was shown the list,” Childress said. “I didn’t mandate that, but that can never be bad. Those guys all talk the same language.”

Pick plays
During full-team drills Sunday the defense created four turnovers, the most impressive belonging to tackle Alex Guerrero, who tipped a Drew Henson pass and then chased it down for an interception.
Guerrero spent the final eight weeks of last season on the Vikings practice squad.
Rookie cornerback Marcus McCauley and second-year corner Cedric Griffin also had picks, but Childress had praise for the offense, too.
Martin Nance made a tough catch in coverage, hauling in a 25-yard sideline pass from Bollinger, and Chandler Williams made a diving catch across the middle from Tyler Thigpen.
“There is some give and take and there are some wins and losses on both sides ...” he said. “The thing that is not negotiable is those guys have to come out and compete every single day, and that is what I am looking for, the most competitive 53 guys.”

Injury update
Linebacker Ben Leber (leg), safety Darren Sharper (shoulder), tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (ankle) and defensive end Brian Robison (hamstring) did not participate in practice Sunday. They were rehabbing their injuries, Childress said.

Notes
Players wore shorts, not full pads, for Sunday’s practice. ... Childress said the team had a competition Saturday to determine curfew. The defense won and had a 1 a.m. curfew. The offensive players had lights out at 11 p.m.

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