Some thoughts while watching Vikings rookie first-round draft pick Caleb Banks during last week’s joint practices with the Ravens at TCO Performance Center …
Inconsistent.
Still learning the game.
Tires quickly.
And …
Reminds me of Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Banks smiled when he heard that last random thought.
“The cartoon?” he asked.
Yes. Clifford the Big Red Dog was bigger than everybody. Bigger than a house. Sometimes clumsy, with a gentle heart encased in a massive body that couldn’t help but create occasional moments of chaos and destruction.
Wednesday’s 1-on-1 drills with the Ravens saw Banks lose or possibly tie three of four snaps. The fourth snap was, however, a tiny snapshot of why the Vikings took him No. 18 overall despite a twice-broken, twice-surgically repaired left foot that limited him to three games at Florida last year.
Facing backup right guard Emery Jones Jr., the 6-6¼, 327-pound Banks mustered all of his strength, quickness and 7-1¾ wingspan. His left arm swatted the 6-5, 325-pound Jones off balance as Banks’ right arm swam to the outside, followed in a blink by his gigantic frame.
The win created the loudest oohs and ahhs of that day’s 1-on-1 session.
“Coaches tell us to go into each pass rush with a plan,” Banks said. “Initially, I wanted to go in with some power. Then I knew [Jones] was going to kind of jump on me aggressively, so I just beat him with quickness.”
Watching Banks do that, you want to see it again. Right away. But it doesn’t come right away. Not yet. Especially on Wednesday, the much hotter of the two days.
Moving to 11-on-11 drills, Banks got winded quickly, and it showed.
That prompted this thought to be shared with Banks, at some physical risk considering it was offered up well within the big man’s 7-1¾ wingspan:
“Caleb, are you out of shape?”
“I would say I’m getting closer to being in shape,” said the man who hadn’t played since last November before suiting up for the Vikings’ preseason opener against the Giants.
“Not playing for as long as I didn’t play, it’s going to take time. I just have to keep playing ball to get there.”
Thursday’s practice brought cooler temps and more consistent flashes from Banks.
In 1-on-1s, he threw 6-6, 330-pound Andrew Vorhees to the ground on one snap. Banks played too high the next snap, something that completely negates his size and strength, especially at the game’s highest level.
Vorhees stood him up. Banks lost his footing and fell.
“I’m learning everything about my game right now with the Giants game and these practices,” Banks said.
Pro Football Focus gave Banks the worst rating of any Vikings defender in the Giants game at MetLife Stadium. The eyeball test from this observer agrees with everything you’re about to read from Banks when he was asked about his performance in New Jersey.
“My pad level’s got to be lower,” Banks said. “My hands got to be better. Attacking double teams has to be better. I’m still trying to learn the game, still trying to understand the game.
“Playing defensive tackle in the NFL, I wouldn’t say it’s hard, but it’s pretty tough facing all those O-linemen who have all these years of experience. For me, just do the small things and that will be big for me.”
Speaking of big, there were 180 players on the field Wednesday and Thursday. Only one of them — Ravens tackle Gerad Lichtenhan — is listed both taller and heavier at 6-8, 330.
In a big man’s game, Banks is bigger than most.
“I think it’s pretty cool being the biggest guy out there,” Banks said. “It’s a plus for me, kind of towering over everybody.”
Just like Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Banks smiles again.
“I watched that show when I was young,” he said. “I love Clifford.”
The only problem with the comparison is Clifford was too gentle, too soft for a defensive tackle whose incredible upside includes some nastiness. Like the play Banks made Thursday, when he overpowered the Ravens guard in front of him en route to making Lamar Jackson throw the ball away in a third-and-9 situation.
Make more of those when they count, big fella, and perhaps we’ll start calling you “Caleb the Big Purple Dawg!”