Rick On #14 And Other Topics

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Rick On #14 And Other Topics 

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@Jor-El said:

@MaroonBells said:

@StickyBun said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

Chad Graff

@ChadGraff

· 41m

The Vikings aren't sure yet whether Ezra Cleveland will play guard or tackle next season. "All depends on what happens over these next couple months," Spielman said.

Not loving this. There has to be a spot he's better at.

There is. It's tackle. But we have two tackles that are better than him and no guards. So this is basically Rick saying they aren't sure yet what's going to happen with Reiff...or in the draft...or with O'Neill maybe sliding over and Udoh taking over on the right. A lot of stuff to yet to play out.

What's your basis for declaring he is best suited at OT instead of OG? A fair number of pre-draft evals thought he should move to OG due to length issues, and IIRC, the Vikings had him at OG almost immediately, even when they still had Elflein on the roster. I don't believe he practiced at OT even when they were threatening to let Reiff walk before TC last year. You may be right, but I don't see the basis for your definite confidence. 

It's just as possible the coaches think he is an OG but the FO is keeping the "he could play OT" narrative alive to gain leverage with Reiff.

I don't get the leverage point you're making. Why would Reiff care if Cleveland could play tackle?

I think Cleveland would be better at tackle based on what I saw at Boise State and what I saw last year. He can play guard as most tackles can, but you could tell by his sets he was expecting to be run around and not through. He held his own, and if he stays at guard, he'll correct them, but I think he'll do better at left tackle. That's what his feet say. Doesn't mean he'll move there though. That's about Reiff. 

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@"BarrNone55" said:
Let's hope all five QBs go before 14. I think you can easily say two OTs. Probably three CBs, and another two WRs. I think you can throw a LB in there. If we trade off #14, I don't know how far down you want to go.

Good chance we are looking at a WR or OT worthy of #14, in Smith or Darrisaw. If we trade down to 19-21, the DEs are still not quite worthy until you factor in need. Trade down a little further, and DTs, or DT, is also still not worthy until factoring in need.

I could absolutely see this happening...

As much as we need help on the D side of the ball, I'm not convinced that will be the right move if they stay @14. So much will depend on FA too. 

And I dont go right to trade-down as a take away from RS's comments in the OP either...

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@"BarrNone55" said:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1367200822833147910

So long Kirk...

Do we file this under RS is actually being forthright? Or in the Harvin/Diggs File?

Only RS knows for sure... =)

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@MaroonBells said:

@Jor-El said:

@MaroonBells said:

@StickyBun said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

Chad Graff

@ChadGraff

· 41m

The Vikings aren't sure yet whether Ezra Cleveland will play guard or tackle next season. "All depends on what happens over these next couple months," Spielman said.

Not loving this. There has to be a spot he's better at.

There is. It's tackle. But we have two tackles that are better than him and no guards. So this is basically Rick saying they aren't sure yet what's going to happen with Reiff...or in the draft...or with O'Neill maybe sliding over and Udoh taking over on the right. A lot of stuff to yet to play out.

What's your basis for declaring he is best suited at OT instead of OG? A fair number of pre-draft evals thought he should move to OG due to length issues, and IIRC, the Vikings had him at OG almost immediately, even when they still had Elflein on the roster. I don't believe he practiced at OT even when they were threatening to let Reiff walk before TC last year. You may be right, but I don't see the basis for your definite confidence. 

It's just as possible the coaches think he is an OG but the FO is keeping the "he could play OT" narrative alive to gain leverage with Reiff.

I don't get the leverage point you're making. Why would Reiff care if Cleveland could play tackle?

I think Cleveland would be better at tackle based on what I saw at Boise State and what I saw last year. He can play guard as most tackles can, but you could tell by his sets he was expecting to be run around and not through. He held his own, and if he stays at guard, he'll correct them, but I think he'll do better at left tackle. That's what his feet say. Doesn't mean he'll move there though. That's about Reiff. 

Great answer and exactly what I wanted you to share.

By leverage against Reiff, I mean that if Spielman says, "Ezra's a guard, we're keeping him at RG forever", he is out of the Reiff conversation. If he is a consideration at LT, it lets the team "bluff" Reiff more effectively - "Oh, you don't think we can move on from you? We have 2 guys who could play your spot easily, so you need us more than we need you and if you're smart you'll take that restructured deal we're offering."

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@"BarrNone55" said:

If I could build a man from scratch, he would look a lot like this. Good gawd...

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@"BarrNone55" said:

tanishka ☼ and Spencer Thompson liked

Will Ragatz

@WillRagatz

·5m

Rick Spielman possibly hinting at the possibility of the #Vikings trading down from 14. "If there are a lot of quarterbacks taken early on, there will be some good talent...when we're picking at 14, if we do stay at 14."

Wait, so Spielman is possibly hinting at the possibility of trading down in the draft? Well knock me over with a feather...

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@MaroonBells said:
With so many QBs, WRs and CBs projected to go in the top 13, the Vikings are going to be looking at a lot of very good players at 14 at positions of need. If that player cluster 4 or 6 players deep, you can bet they'll try to trade down. 

However, interesting that in this comment he insinuates the Vikings would not have interest in a QB--that QBs going early and pushing other positions down is a good thing. Yeah, most people realize we're set with Cousins, but to actually say it is a little interesting.

Or it is typical Rick draftspeak.  Rick has never been honest about anything regarding the draft, so I would read it as there is a possibility he would consider a QB there. 

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@Nichelle said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

If I could build a man from scratch, he would look a lot like this. Good gawd...

I can't tell you how many times I've been stopped on the beach and been asked if I'm the same species as Hunter.

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@"BarrNone55" said:

@Nichelle said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

If I could build a man from scratch, he would look a lot like this. Good gawd...

I can't tell you how many times I've been stopped on the beach and been asked if I'm the same species as Hunter.

Same thing happens to me when I jog by the Senior Citizen facility by my house. I feel like the Golden Girls are cat calling me all the time.