Duct tape may prove a quick fix for leaky pipes, but as every DIY repairman knows, a patchwork job only lasts so long. In the NFL, where leaks in the offensive line can flood a team’s Super Bowl aspirations, duct tape is the least desirable option in a general manager’s toolbox.
Jake Long, Jeremiah Sirles, Matt Kalil, and T.J. Clemmings were just that — temporary measures in the season-long effort to protect Sam Bradford‘s blindside. The Minnesota Vikings survived the year, but not without catastrophe along the way. General manager Rick Spielman recognized he’d need more than a roll of tape to fix the critical infrastructure; he’d need to replace the pipes completely.

Riley Reiff, signed to a five-year, $58.75 million deal this offseason, was the first in a series of Spielman’s offseason repairs. He followed the highlight move by acquiring right tackle Mike Remmers in free agency, drafting Pat Elflein as the franchise’s long-term center, and releasing veteran guard Alex Boone just a week before the regular season.
http://vikingsterritory.com/2017/analysi...ings-debut

When Dalvin Cook and Stefon Diggs watch the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense on Sunday, they hope to be looking into the future.
The Steelers have ranked in the top 10 in total yards and points for the past three years on the back of a Hall of Fame quarterback and two of the best skill players in the NFL. Running back Le’Veon Bell and receiver Antonio Brown.
Bell is widely considered the NFL’s most versatile running back. So much so that he tried to negotiate a new deal with the Steelers this offseason as a running back and wide receiver. Over the past three seasons, he averages 1,499 yards rushing, 756 yards receiving and 86 catches per 16 games.
When Cook was starring at Florida State, he name-dropped Bell as a player that he was trying to emulate.
“Jamaal Charles, Le’Veon Bell, guys that run with patience, and, you know, just know when to do things at the right time — just know the knowledge of the game,” Cook told Campus Insiders.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/0...ell-brown/

The Vikings’ pass rush got to Drew Brees three times Monday but was only credited with one sack on the New Orleans quarterback because two were negated by penalties.
Getting to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is only half the battle. Getting him to the ground is an entirely different task.
“Just because you get around him doesn’t mean you sack him,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday.

Big Ben’s shiftiness in the pocket, his innate ability to absorb hits and sidestep pressure to extend plays and buy time for his receivers to get open downfield is what distinguishes him as a star quarterback with two Super Bowl victories and five Pro Bowls to his name.

Just ask Zimmer, who regularly schemed against Roethlisberger when he was Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator going up against the Bengals’ AFC North rivals.
Familiarity breeds respect and deference.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/14/for...mall-task/

Mike Zimmer said he “didn’t know” whether injured linebacker Anthony Barr showed progress after Thursday’s practice. Perhaps that’s because Barr didn’t practice again for a consecutive day.
Barr (hamstring) was the only Vikings player held out Thursday. He walked through position drills during the portion of practice open to reporters, but he was not in pads. If Barr can’t play Sunday in Pittsburgh, linebacker Emmanuel Lamur appears in line to start for him. Lamur (hamstring) was limited in practice.
Two midweek additions to the injury report were cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes (hip) and Terence Newman (knee). Both were limited on Thursday.
Quarterback Sam Bradford (knee) was limited again Thursday.
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-lb-an...444503313/

Pat Shurmur: Laquon Treadwell a key to Vikings' offensive successThough he was on the field for 36 of the Vikings’ 65 offensive snaps on Monday night, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell still was only targeted with one pass, catching a second-down throw from Sam Bradford for seven yards and a first down in the fourth quarter.
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said on Thursday that Treadwell continued to show the improvement the Vikings saw from him in the offseason, but Shurmur also stressed the importance of the 2016 first-round pick to the Vikings’ overall success.
http://www.startribune.com/pat-shurmur-l...444474823/

http://www.profootballhof.com/108-modern...s-of-2018/

I am keeping an eye on Deshaun Watson. He is definitely giving them a spark right now.

Elijah Lee to the 49ers. The Vikings replaced him on their practice squad with LB Antwione Williams.  He is wearing Lee's No. 56 jersey number.

Do we know anything about Mr. Williams?

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/96-Questions-Weirdest-Thing-Youve-Ever-Done-Alone/01cd33ca-71ae-45d3-b000-3b7587e4af0a

96 Questions: Weirdest Thing You've Ever Done Alone

On this week's edition of 96 Questions with Brian Robison, B-Rob asks his teammates what the weirdest thing they've ever done alone is.

I still can not watch any videos from any Official NFL Team's site. They just keep buffering w/the little circle going round & round. I've tried everything "they" say to do, but still won't load. Appreciate any help.

Arif spends ample time pointing out some O-Line failures
http://zonecoverage.com/2017/vikings/off...r-concern/

IMO Arif's article has a very negative edge after a pretty dominant performance.  He highlights 10 plays by the O-line that were failures in his book, even though most turned out pretty well.  Easton did seem to struggle quite a bit, but Elflein getting tripped twice hardly counts as a negative, especially when he has a "would have been" negative play if the defender hadn't got sandwiched and tripped.

Hard to get much of a read watching the gifs tho, so I can't from much more of an opinion.