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I also was thinking if a top rated OT was available, the Vikes would nap one. They could then slide Reiff to guard, and have O'Neill and Dillard as bookends. This makes sense, but only if Reiff is a proven talent at guard, right?
In many ways keeping a "clean" pocket and nice throwing lanes, it's up to the interior OL to do the heavy lifting. Hicks destroyed the middle of the Vikings OL last season. They couldn't run, and Cousins couldn't step up into this throws. It didn't help that Reiff probably played his worst games against Mack last season. He had no answers to that speed/strength combo of Mack's game, especially in Chicago.
Having another high caliber talent in the middle maybe is the best way for rebuilding the OL. If the Vikes can now better handle guys like Hicks, Donald, and Cox, they can stop or slow down that middle push that forced Cousins to get killed or make panicked decisions. If the interior line can hold up against stronger DTs and NGs, they can also focus on giving the OTs help against guys like Mack, so Cousins can step up to avoid outside pressure.
Grabbing a center with the first pick when arguably the best LT was also available was a head scratcher, but now I think it makes sense. Sounds like the Vikes got their guy, and they are expecting him to play at a very high level day one.
I'm really liking the pick - SKOL!
A good center improves both G positions, but there WILL be a learning curve here, making line calls is tricky especially for a rookie who is going to get different looks / shifts / stunts.
OT is on an island a lot of times, get hands on, stay engaged & re-direct your DE outside. if you can control the middle, you're taking the DE's out of the play. Overall, I'm happy with the selection.
I thought Dillard would be their pick, but I also had a sense that the Vikings did not see him as a dominant or sure-fire LT. I think they put a lot of emphasis on arm length, where Dillard was a bit short for the LT prototype (under 34"), and he certainly isn't a mauler.
Now...Jawaan Taylor, Cody Ford, and Dalton Risner are still on the board. Will they come back and pick one of them to compete at RT and move O'Neill to LT? Possibly, though I wouldn't say any of those three are ideal for an outside zone blocking scheme.
Can Elf make the line calls until Bradbury is ready? I thought the center wasn't always the one that had to make the calls.
IMO, Elf sticks at center and Bradbury plays guard. Whatever the case, we have a center and guard core that can back each other up.
Quote: @greediron said:
IMO, Elf sticks at center and Bradbury plays guard. Whatever the case, we have a center and guard core that can back each other up.
Maybe, but I don't think Bradbury fits at G and expect him at C. I'm not so sure the Vikings are still really high on Elflein as a starter. His play in 2018 really dropped off from 2017 and is he agile enough for the outside zone scheme? I expect he will get to compete with Aviante Collins and Danny Isadora at LG, but if Collins is fully healed...I could see Elflein as a Joe Berger sub.
Quote: @Jor-El said:
@ greediron said:
IMO, Elf sticks at center and Bradbury plays guard. Whatever the case, we have a center and guard core that can back each other up.
Maybe, but I don't think Bradbury fits at G and expect him at C. I'm not so sure the Vikings are still really high on Elflein as a starter. His play in 2018 really dropped off from 2017 and is he agile enough for the outside zone scheme? I expect he will get to compete with Aviante Collins and Danny Isadora at LG, but if Collins is fully healed...I could see Elflein as a Joe Berger sub.
Elf was the offensive MVP in 2017. His ability to call protections as a rookie were a huge step up from the often concussed Berger. He was hurt in the NFCCG and didn't recover until a few games into the season. That may have affected his strength and his play last year. May have. 
And I think one of Elf's strengths was his ability to move and get outside.
I have no idea what their plans are with Bradbury, or if he fits as a guard. But I have no doubt that Elf will return to form and be a crucial part of the starting o-line this year.
All our optimism kind of hinges on Elf coming back to his "old self". If he (somehow) continued to perform at a sub-par level... we'll still be screwed (although less so than if we didn't draft Bradbury). But I don't see that happening. I am curious to see what Elf looks like (plays like) as a guard.
One thing about Dillard that I personally downplayed: dude didn't stick his hand in the dirt at all at WSU. And the rawness in terms of run blocking.
Not critical at all of Minnesota going with the more polished player, especially in the 1st Round.
Quote: @FSUVike said:
One thing about Dillard that I personally downplayed: dude didn't stick his hand in the dirt at all at WSU. And the rawness in terms of run blocking.
Not critical at all of Minnesota going with the more polished player, especially in the 1st Round.
I think a lot of fans (including me) glossed over how much of a project he could be... you see how great he is in pass pro and he can move well enough to fit in a ZBS, but the other parts of his game aren't fully developed. That said, some of those same things were said of O'Neill and he played well right away as a rookie...
I'm with you though, no issues whatsoever with taking Bradbury. He was one of the couple guys I wanted in the first round and we got him. The fact that he is the more polished player and can definitely start Day 1 makes it even better.
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