Tai Felton

[MaroonBells]

A lot of hand wringing over not taking a #3 running back because we're "only 2 injuries away from featuring Ty Chandler".  The reality is that we're only 2 injuries from playing Nailer, Rondale Moore and Lucky Jackson / Thayer as our WRs without taking Felton.  That should strike the fear of God into the opposition.  That's hardly a way to treat the young QB.  RBs are easier to pick up during the season if the injury bug hits.  Rodgers is listed as the #1 KR right now which makes Chandler expendable.  I know they also worked Felton out as a returner during his visit.  This fresh crop of RBs will put someone on the street.  Hopefully, the team upgrades the #3 option at RB.  Frankly, I'd rather have Cam Akers back instead of Chandler.  Should sign him now as he's a FA...otherwise we may have to trade for him a third time...lol.

And while it's true every position is a couple injuries away from predicament, it makes me nervous that that dude at the top of our RB depth chart is injury prone and will be 31 during the playoffs. I agree about Akers. He's just a guy but he knows the offense, he can be trusted in pass pro, and for as long as it seems he's been around, he's only 25.

[JustInTime]

And while it's true every position is a couple injuries away from predicament, it makes me nervous that that dude at the top of our RB depth chart is injury prone and will be 31 during the playoffs. I agree about Akers. He's just a guy but he knows the offense, he can be trusted in pass pro, and for as long as it seems he's been around, he's only 25.

It’s interesting that so few seem to grasp the importance of the running game going forward. KOC literally said we’ve got the horses now to open up the rest of the playbook. With the commitment to trenches, specifically the iOL in FA and the draft this is a pretty emphatic statement. 

It’s not like I’m Neo seeing the Matrix.

[StickierBuns]

It’s interesting that so few seem to grasp the importance of the running game going forward. KOC literally said we’ve got the horses now to open up the rest of the playbook. With the commitment to trenches, specifically the iOL in FA and the draft this is a pretty emphatic statement. 

It’s not like I’m Neo seeing the Matrix.

Not sure why you are framing this like you have some insight that eludes the rest of us. Differing opinions is what it is and the Vikings didn't take a RB in the Draft + resigned AJ and traded for Mason, so I guess the Viking's organization also failed to 'grasp' the importance? And who's not understanding how important the running game is, I think we all do. Its obvious Minnesota thinks they've got it covered mostly, but assuredly not quite done yet and will get another minor RB for the room.

[badgervike]

It’s interesting that so few seem to grasp the importance of the running game going forward. KOC literally said we’ve got the horses now to open up the rest of the playbook. With the commitment to trenches, specifically the iOL in FA and the draft this is a pretty emphatic statement. 

It’s not like I’m Neo seeing the Matrix.

I think everyone knows the importance of a running game...it's just about living within our means.  We had 4 original draft picks in the draft and an aging / expensive Veteran group beginning next year and no backup QB this year.  I guess I don't understand undermining the future for a man crush draft pick.  We didn't have a lot of ammo to fight with.  The draft didn't leave almost all of those oft discussed potential draft picks on the board at #24.  So..we could have forfeited some of the high draft picks for next year to move up a few spots if there was someone they absolutely couldn't live without.  It's like playing Madden.  With the FA period, the Vikings believed they were in position to draft best available.  They appeared to get that.  I know you wanted them to take Henderson...which would have been overpaying for him...in a draft where you have limited draft capital.  Since this is a Felton thread, had they not taken him...we'd have been going with Jefferson and the oft injured Rondale Moore as the starting WR while Addison serves his suspension...with Thayer or Jackson in 3 WR sets.  I expect we'll pick up someone off the waiver wire or through FA to get us through the year.  I would expect us to look at RB next year.  Let's face it..KOC will never be a run first kind of guy

[Zanary]

I'll state again: it's like we have over 4 months before week 1 to allow the waivers/cuts/etc to throw more players into the overall mix, and for the Vikings to add to the "'Back Room". The constant hand-wringing over "...just two injuries from..." can go straight to using our QB3, WR3, DE3, etc as starters; that's a great way to wear through tooth enamel months before the season starts.

The draft is done, the picks are in, the (initial) UDFAs have been selected by people whose jobs are literally based on being OCD on our roster. The odds of hitting the regular season with a huge RB gap are pretty minimal.