Bears
Bears HC Matt Eberflus said veteran WR Keenan Allen is a โcraftyโ route-runner and has an innate ability to get open.
โAll the NFL coaches have seen Keenan for a lot of years, and the first thing that comes to mind is that heโs crafty,โ Eberflus said, via Gabby Hadjuk of the teamโs site. โHe is so crafty with his route running. It seems like heโs always open, even when I used to double-cover him โฆ He understands his body and understands his way. Heโs really friendly to the quarterback because heโs a really big target and heโs very good at what he does.โ
Allen considers route-running to be an art form and is always trying to disguise his routes.
โI think it means your technique and the ways youโre able to perform are an art,โ Allen said. โYouโre able to just make things look different. Youโre probably doing the same things, but it looks a little different. Youโre able to get to it different ways. And itโs kind of special the way you draw it up.โ
Bears TE Cole Kmet called Allen an inspiration to players in the locker room.
โWhenever you have a veteran like that, itโs a great thing for younger guys to look to,โ Kmet said. โEven guys like myself. Just the way he works, comes in and takes care of his business, and the way heโs survived and thrived in this league up to this point is really impressive. As heโs aged heโs still been able to produce. Those are the things you look at when youโre a player in this league and you try to model some of the habits that heโs brought in. Heโs obviously a very special player.โ
Packers
Packers LB Quay Walker has been impressed with second-round LB Edgerrin Cooper through the early parts of offseason workouts.
โHeโs showing flashes, getting downhill, playing, flying around,โ Walker said, via Mike Spofford of the teamโs website. โI just tell him, โDonโt do no thinking, bro. Just fly around. If you mess up, it is what it is. You a rookie. Just take what you can learn โฆ and go from there.'โ
Green Bay HC Matt LaFleur also noted how Cooper has stood out thanks to a great IQ and work ethic.
โI thought for sure we were going to get him on (it), and he did a heck of a job,โ LaFleur added. โI was kind of teasing the other coaches, โDid you preview him for that play?โ And they did not.โ
โSo, thatโs a credit to him and just how engaged heโs been and how locked in heโs been throughout the course of the offseason.โ
Vikings
When appearing on the Jim Rome Show, Vikings LB Blake Cashman said first-round QB J.J. McCarthy is already showing leadership qualities.
โYeah, 21 years old but a great young man,โ Cashman said. โHeโs a leader. He is eager to learn. A lot of young guys, sometimes they can come in, be a little timid or shy. But heโs walking round the locker room, big smile on his face, shaking hands, getting to know everybody.โ
Cashman wasnโt aware of McCarthyโs arm strength coming out of Michigan and has been impressed by his power in their offseason program.
โI didnโt know much about his game before, and I knew he was an outstanding quarterback, winning followed him at Michigan. But I didnโt realize how much heat he could put on the ball. Heโs got a great long ball. And even those tight windows, which close fast at the next level โ he can zip the ball past a linebacker or safetyโs head and squeeze it in those tight windows. And thatโs very promising to see.โ
Cashman is eager to see what kind of player McCarthy can become
โHeโs going to be a great player for a long time,โ Cashman said. โI canโt wait to continue to see his growth โ not only his development as a quarterback [and] the skills, but also become an even smarter player.โ
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