Spielman on Ezra Cleveland: 'He'll be getting his opportunity here shortly'

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@PurpleCrush said:

@StickyBun said:

@PurpleCrush said:
I wonder what the long term plan is with him.

I think it's guard, left guard. I don't think the team is considering using him at OT. I think the Vikings would like to see a Reiff-Cleveland-Bradbury-Elflein-O'Neill alignment healthy and get about 10 games under their belt together. 

If that's the case, I wonder how they'll address the line in the offseason.

Same way they always do, inadequately.

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@1VikesFan said:

@PurpleCrush said:

@StickyBun said:

@PurpleCrush said:
I wonder what the long term plan is with him.

I think it's guard, left guard. I don't think the team is considering using him at OT. I think the Vikings would like to see a Reiff-Cleveland-Bradbury-Elflein-O'Neill alignment healthy and get about 10 games under their belt together. 

If that's the case, I wonder how they'll address the line in the offseason.

Same way they always do, inadequately.

Can't really argue with that logic.

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@MaroonBells said:

@PurpleCrush said:

@StickyBun said:

@PurpleCrush said:
I wonder what the long term plan is with him.

I think it's guard, left guard. I don't think the team is considering using him at OT. I think the Vikings would like to see a Reiff-Cleveland-Bradbury-Elflein-O'Neill alignment healthy and get about 10 games under their belt together. 

If that's the case, I wonder how they'll address the line in the offseason.

That's the question. I think Sticky is right that this is the 2020 lineup they're shooting for. The question, then, is do they draft a LT in '21 to replace Reiff or move Cleveland there? Team hasn't really given any kind of indication about what the long term position will be for Cleveland. They were in the minority, but I remember a few media scouts who thought Cleveland would play guard in the NFL. Maybe the Vikings shared that opinion, I don't know. I do know it's not unusual for college left tackles to start at guard before moving outside. 

The other option is moving O'Neill to LT and plugging Udoh in at RT. I think that's their preference, as they practiced that lineup when it seemed that Reiff might turn down their contract restructure proposal. Makes sense eventually as IMO they will end up giving O'Neill a contract like a LT even if he is still at RT.
The big question with that is whether Udoh can really make the jump to the NFL level.


Even if Cleveland proves to be a good LG, we still have a hole at RG, because I don't think Elflein can handle it - and Samia is actually worse.

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@MaroonBells said:
Elflein due to come back next week? I know, pretty sad when you're anxiously awaiting the return of Pat Freaking Elflein. But he should be a little better than Samia, especially in the run game. 

If he had surgery as reported, he’ll be out for some time yet, I would think...

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 Whether he plays or not, Spielman isn't telling you a thing he's just doing the normal Viking management p.r. job, which is something they are much better at than building an actual winning team.

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Spielman says:  “All Is Well”  B)  

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Dakota Dozier started 3 games at RG when Josh Kline was injured last season. The Vikings should move Dozier back to RG and give Ezra Cleveland some playing time at LG.   

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Just when you think it can't get any worse that Pat Elflein's 60 PFF grade... Dru Samia lays an egg with a 30.5 PFF grade.

Dozier's grade on the left side is 49 which is much lower than his grade last year when he played on the right side.

Ezra has a very low bar in front of him.

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@Carl Knowles said:


Ezra has a very low bar in front of him.

Which, as a Vikings offensive lineman, he will undoubtedly trip over.

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Our O line