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After missing most of his rookie season with a compound fracture in his left leg, Cine desperately needs experience when the lights get bright. There’s only so much that can be simulated during practice at TCO Performance Center.
“Those reps are important to me,” he said. “Just need to let my talent show.” It’s been a mixed bag to this point for Cine.
He had ups and downs in the games against the Seahawks and Titans, showcasing his raw talent with a number of splash plays, while also simultaneously lacking some of the basic fundamentals.
On his first snap of the preseason game against the Seahawks, for example, Cine started his night off by making an impressive tackle in the open field. He showed great instincts — and closing speed — to bring down Seahawks rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba near the sideline. Unfortunately for Cine, he also missed a number of tackles that night, often coming in to too high at the point of attack.
It was a similar story in Saturday’s preseason game against the Titans, as Cine started his night by wrapping up Titans rookie running back Tyjae Spears short of the sticks. A few possessions later, however, Cine missed a tackle in the hole and Spears raced 33 yards for a touchdown.
This is Lewis Cine in the nutshell so far. You can see glimpses of why the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. You can also see that he needs more seasoning to become the player head coach Kevin O’Connell still thinks he can be.
“The missed tackle on that one run, he’s coming downhill, and he’s trying to fill his responsibility,” O’Connell said. “Those are going to happen. Especially when he’s really just getting back going again. The one thing we can’t simulate in those joint practices is tackling.”
Maybe the biggest thing Cine showed was the ability to bounce back. After failing to wrap up Spears in a big moment, Cine responded by sacking Titans quarterback Malik Willis on a broken play after halftime.
“You’ve got to shake it off,” Cine said. “If I was down on myself because I just let up a big play for a touchdown, I wouldn’t have bounced back. I’ve got to have a short-term memory. Just keep pushing it and move on.”
As far as Smith is concerned, the fact that Cine is playing with speed when he’s on the field a good sign. Though he’s already established himself among the best safeties in franchise history, Smith still remembers how challenging it was to acclimate after the Vikings took him way back in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
“I remember personally always feeling unathletc when I didn’t know exactly what to look at or what I was doing,” Smith said. “You eventually get that feeling of, ‘Oh, I can just go out there and be me.’ ”
There’s a chance that Cine could get there. He just needs more time.
“I think Lew is in a great spot,” said O’Connell, who made Cine a captain for the preseason game against the Titans. “He’s doing a great job right now of building upon what he does each and every day.
” https://www.twincities.com/2023/08/20/the-good-and-bad-from-vikings-safety-lewis-cines-preseason-so-far/
The fact KOC made him a captain for the game is huge. That tells me he is working hard in practice and is getting respect from teammates.
No one from the 2022 draft class is killin it.
I don't get the angst, he needs reps. Playing time. The preseason microscope from the media and some fans is hilarious. He's playing catch up. If this D is going to get better, it needs better more athletic players. Its been a hot load of dogshit for 2+ years. This D is going to allow big plays and at times, which never happened last year, it will also MAKE big plays. I'll take that. If Cine has a mental lapse or two, fine.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
I don't get the angst, he needs reps. Playing time. The preseason microscope from the media and some fans is hilarious. He's playing catch up. If this D is going to get better, it needs better more athletic players. Its been a hot load of dogshit for 2+ years. This D is going to allow big plays and at times, which never happened last year, it will also MAKE big plays. I'll take that. If Cine has a mental lapse or two, fine.
And this right here is why we have meaningless preseason games. This is game experience that these youngsters can get that they likely wouldn't see in the regular season unless the starters are injured and then the mistakes are much much more costly.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ StickyBun said:
I don't get the angst, he needs reps. Playing time. The preseason microscope from the media and some fans is hilarious. He's playing catch up. If this D is going to get better, it needs better more athletic players. Its been a hot load of dogshit for 2+ years. This D is going to allow big plays and at times, which never happened last year, it will also MAKE big plays. I'll take that. If Cine has a mental lapse or two, fine.
And this right here is why we have meaningless preseason games. This is game experience that these youngsters can get that they likely wouldn't see in the regular season unless the starters are injured and then the mistakes are much much more costly.
Not sure what he's learning, other than the defensive calls, lineups, etc. Which has some value. Get close to the same value from a longer training camp. We have meaningless preseason games for the $$$$. I miss NFL Europe, that had real value.....especially for QBs.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
I don't get the angst, he needs reps. Playing time. The preseason microscope from the media and some fans is hilarious. He's playing catch up. If this D is going to get better, it needs better more athletic players. Its been a hot load of dogshit for 2+ years. This D is going to allow big plays and at times, which never happened last year, it will also MAKE big plays. I'll take that. If Cine has a mental lapse or two, fine.
His problems don't appear to be about mental lapses though. In that regard, he's playing pretty well. He's in the right place. He gets there quickly and with authority. He's been OK in coverage. He just misses tackles in run support. If he had simply made all those tackles, he would be the talk of the preseason. He's been everywhere.
Now, everyone misses tackles. Even Harrison Smith. But Cine has missed 3 or 4 in two preseason games. That's alarming. If he can fix the tackling issue, I think we won't just have a starter, but a potential star.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
@ StickyBun said:
I don't get the angst, he needs reps. Playing time. The preseason microscope from the media and some fans is hilarious. He's playing catch up. If this D is going to get better, it needs better more athletic players. Its been a hot load of dogshit for 2+ years. This D is going to allow big plays and at times, which never happened last year, it will also MAKE big plays. I'll take that. If Cine has a mental lapse or two, fine.
And this right here is why we have meaningless preseason games. This is game experience that these youngsters can get that they likely wouldn't see in the regular season unless the starters are injured and then the mistakes are much much more costly.
Not sure what he's learning, other than the defensive calls, lineups, etc. Which has some value. Get close to the same value from a longer training camp. We have meaningless preseason games for the $$$$. I miss NFL Europe, that had real value.....especially for QBs.
Big difference than full speed in practice situations vs real game reps. You just can't replicate the intensity and speed imo, even in joint practices, that will affect things techniques and muscle memory.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ StickyBun said:
I don't get the angst, he needs reps. Playing time. The preseason microscope from the media and some fans is hilarious. He's playing catch up. If this D is going to get better, it needs better more athletic players. Its been a hot load of dogshit for 2+ years. This D is going to allow big plays and at times, which never happened last year, it will also MAKE big plays. I'll take that. If Cine has a mental lapse or two, fine.
His problems don't appear to be about mental lapses though. In that regard, he's playing pretty well. He's in the right place. He gets there quickly and with authority. He's been OK in coverage. He just misses tackles in run support. If he had simply made all those tackles, he would be the talk of the preseason. He's been everywhere.
Now, everyone misses tackles. Even Harrison Smith. But Cine has missed 3 or 4 in two preseason games. That's alarming. If he can fix the tackling issue, I think we won't just have a starter, but a potential star.
The first game his pad level was too high and the second game he lunged low at the ball carrier that hurdled him. I think he just needs more reps. Unfortunately he has suffered another injury in Monday's practice. Hopefully it isn't serious. He seems to have a lot of potential.
There’s a lot of moving parts because it involved trades with DET, GB, and IND, but all of those moves in 2022 including famously moving down from #12 to #32 netted the Vikings Cine, Booth, and Ingram. WOOF!
And I like Cine! It stinks he’s hurt already again but hopefully he can still find a way to help the Vikings this year. Agreed with jargo, I see the potential.
EDIT- And I like Kwesi too! That just wasn’t his finest hour.
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