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purplefaithful · 05-21-2023, 03:43 PM

I have no doubt there will be some pick-ups or trades b4 the opener.

Which group would u like to see improve the most regarding starters?

Not a glamorous group (especially in a 3/4) but the IDL for me looks like the weakest group.

05-21-2023, 03:55 PM

Hmmm, Vikings do poorly against the pass and the run. I'll say defense. Lots of unknowns about our defense which makes it difficult to predict which component needs the most improvement. Plus, a new DC, how do the players fit in his scheme? Shrug, I'm simply hoping for the best this season but do not have high expectations.

05-21-2023, 04:23 PM

I have zero faith in our LB’s.

05-21-2023, 04:37 PM

Interior of both OL & DL. They both are lacking IMO and ultimately could cost them in the win column.

05-21-2023, 08:33 PM

When is the last time the Vikings had an above average Oline?

2009- 14 years ago?

I'd like to see how Cousins and the team does if by the end of the season the Oline is ranked in the Top 10-15 in most every oline statistic metric.

Where the Oline is generally regarded as above average and ranked somewhere close to being in the Top 10.

05-21-2023, 10:48 PM

IDL
LBs
IOL
DBs

05-22-2023, 05:54 AM

ILB. I agree the IDL is blah but we at least have bodies there. ILB we're starting a slow old guy and a 2nd year 3rd rounder who's barely played. The "depth" is Troy Dye (remember him? Probably not) and a (over?) hyped rookie UDFA in Pace. Yikes.

05-22-2023, 11:30 AM

There's a lot of talk on Vikings Twitter about bringing in a guard. Apparently Dalton Risner's available. It's not going to happen. Cleveland was a 2nd rounder who's been inconsistent, but he's above average. Ingram was a 2nd rounder who started poorly but steadily improved. Kinda what you expect from a rookie. Returning all five starters and the continuity it brings is a bigger "addition" to the team than any one player we could add.

To me it's obvious: Jordan Hicks. I'd have a lot more faith in this defense if the Vikings could upgrade Hicks and render him quality depth.

05-22-2023, 03:20 PM

Quote: @MaroonBells said:
There's a lot of talk on Vikings Twitter about bringing in a guard. Apparently Dalton Risner's available. It's not going to happen. Cleveland was a 2nd rounder who's been inconsistent, but he's above average. Ingram was a 2nd rounder who started poorly but steadily improved. Kinda what you expect from a rookie. Returning all five starters and the continuity it brings is a bigger "addition" to the team than any one player we could add.

To me it's obvious: Jordan Hicks. I'd have a lot more faith in this defense if the Vikings could upgrade Hicks and render him quality depth.

would our ILBs look better if the IDL was able to demand double teams, keeping those ILBs free to make a play in the run game without having to try and get off a blocking OL? I agree on the LBs being a big need, but I think we need the front 3 ( or 4 ) to be where we start as better talent at those positions improves everyone else behind them.

05-22-2023, 04:08 PM

Quote: @JimmyinSD said:

@MaroonBells said:
There's a lot of talk on Vikings Twitter about bringing in a guard. Apparently Dalton Risner's available. It's not going to happen. Cleveland was a 2nd rounder who's been inconsistent, but he's above average. Ingram was a 2nd rounder who started poorly but steadily improved. Kinda what you expect from a rookie. Returning all five starters and the continuity it brings is a bigger "addition" to the team than any one player we could add.

To me it's obvious: Jordan Hicks. I'd have a lot more faith in this defense if the Vikings could upgrade Hicks and render him quality depth.
would our ILBs look better if the IDL was able to demand double teams, keeping those ILBs free to make a play in the run game without having to try and get off a blocking OL? I agree on the LBs being a big need, but I think we need the front 3 ( or 4 ) to be where we start as better talent at those positions improves everyone else behind them.

I think you could say that about every position. The pass rush would be better if we had better corners. The center would be better if we had a better right guard. The whole IOL would be better if we had a more mobile QB. Etc.

To me, there were a handful of players on defense that stood out as the weakest links last year: Chandon Sullivan, Eric Kendricks, Dantzler, Bynum and Hicks (especially in coverage). I think we potentially upgraded each of those positions except for Hicks. Could we do better than Tonga, Phillips and Lowry? Yes, especially Lowry. But Hicks is the one who stands out to me as the weakest link.