Quote: @jargomcfargo said:
Does the GM have two more big misses on the O-line with Elflein and Bradbury? I just can't envision the kind of protection Cousins needs with those two in the middle. Maybe Bradbury will get stronger, and improve. But I won't have much optomism if they are both starting in 2020.
I'm not sure that Bradbury can be written off as a "miss" after only 1 year. Elf, on the other hand, has gone straight downhill...
Quote: @pumpf said:
@ jargomcfargo said:
Does the GM have two more big misses on the O-line with Elflein and Bradbury? I just can't envision the kind of protection Cousins needs with those two in the middle. Maybe Bradbury will get stronger, and improve. But I won't have much optomism if they are both starting in 2020.
I'm not sure that Bradbury can be written off as a "miss" after only 1 year. Elf, on the other hand, has gone straight downhill...
I'm not writing him off, but the article said he was the worst pass blocker in the NFL.
Quote: @jargomcfargo said:
@ pumpf said:
@ jargomcfargo said:
Does the GM have two more big misses on the O-line with Elflein and Bradbury? I just can't envision the kind of protection Cousins needs with those two in the middle. Maybe Bradbury will get stronger, and improve. But I won't have much optomism if they are both starting in 2020.
I'm not sure that Bradbury can be written off as a "miss" after only 1 year. Elf, on the other hand, has gone straight downhill...
I'm not writing him off, but the article said he was the worst pass blocker in the NFL.
Bradbury's pass blocking grade was 41. He had 5 games near the beginning of the season where he scored in the single digits that dragged that grade down. There were 12 games, mostly later in the season, where that grade was significantly higher. So he improved as a pass blocker during the course of the season. He always graded out well as a run blocker.
Like most rookies, he's on track to improve significantly in his 2nd season. Even more so if we can put a league average left guard next to him. If it's not a restructured Reiff, a Kline-like free agent or a rookie, it'll be Samia.
Could you imagine if they signed Bulaga and he constantly gets called for holding. But seriously I really hope they get this figured out. Hopefully they are able to upgrade and maybe someone else on the squad can step up.
Quote: @pumpf said:
Dream: Samia takes over for Elflein (making him a sub at OG and Center)... and Otoh could take over at RT (and move O'Neill to LT). I guess I'd be happy if even ONE of those things happened.
I agree with you that the team will likely keep Elflein. HIs starting experience at both guard and center is too valuable, and cutting him doesn't save you any real money.
I think the team is high on both Samia and Udoh, but especially Udoh. But being from Elon, it would be great if we could give him another year. Makes me wonder if the Vikings might consider signing one of the bluehairs--Peters or maybe Whitworth--to a cheap, one-year stopgap contract to play left tackle to give Udoh, or a draft pick, another year.
Or maybe trade Reiff and a draft pick to Washington for Trent Williams, then draft a LG in the 1st round. Samia then gets another year behind Kline at RG, his more natural position. That's a pretty good line with a bright future.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ pumpf said:
Dream: Samia takes over for Elflein (making him a sub at OG and Center)... and Otoh could take over at RT (and move O'Neill to LT). I guess I'd be happy if even ONE of those things happened.
I agree with you that the team will likely keep Elflein. HIs starting experience at both guard and center is too valuable, and cutting him doesn't save you any real money.
I think the team is high on both Samia and Udoh, but especially Udoh. But being from Elon, it would be great if we could give him another year. Makes me wonder if the Vikings might consider signing one of the bluehairs--Peters or maybe Whitworth--to a cheap, one-year stopgap contract to play left tackle to give Udoh, or a draft pick, another year.
Or maybe trade Reiff and a draft pick to Washington for Trent Williams, then draft a LG in the 1st round. Samia then gets another year behind Kline at RG, his more natural position. That's a pretty good line with a bright future.
I've been banging the drum for Peter's. He just graded out Top 3 at LT and a good bit higher than Whitworth but he's also 38. Won't cost a lot to sign him and he definitely still wants to play. That allows you to Draft a LT early that can play LG for 1 year before sliding over. Which allows both Samia and Udoh to continue to develop. But it also gives Cousins a much more stable Line and a cleaner evaluation of whether he should be the long-term fit in Minnesota or not.
Going back to 2014, Peters has played full seasons in even numbered years, so maybe that continues. He only played six games last year, so that is a concern. His contract was only $6 million, so he probably won't break the bank. He played both tackle spots at Pittsburgh, so the transition might not be that difficult.
If somehow Conklin isn't tagged, I'd make a hard run at him. He's probably going to be in the $14 million dollar range, but he wouldn't be a one year loaner. This would require O'Neill to swing to the LT spot, but it could be that has been the long term plan. He did play both tackle spots at Pittsburgh. Maybe the transition would be seamless.
Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
Going back to 2014, Peters has played full seasons in even numbered years, so maybe that continues. He only played six games last year, so that is a concern. His contract was only $6 million, so he probably won't break the bank. He played both tackle spots at Pittsburgh, so the transition might not be that difficult.
If somehow Conklin isn't tagged, I'd make a hard run at him. He's probably going to be in the $14 million dollar range, but he wouldn't be a one year loaner. This would require O'Neill to swing to the LT spot, but it could be that has been the long term plan. He did play both tackle spots at Pittsburgh. Maybe the transition would be seamless.
Hmmm, checked like 5 sites and Peters only missed 3 starts the whole season.
You're correct. I obviously misread that.
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