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The Vikings have a lot of high-priced players - more than most teams - and a few others looking to strike it rich in the very near future (Barr, Waynes, Richardson). So we really need contributions from the bargain players. And I do not mean just the high draft picks on rookie deals (Hughes, O'Neill, Cook, ...), but also the undrafted and late-round players.
Obviously, Thielen is the poster child for cheap contribution, even after signing his "big" contract, and we also have an older vet in Sherels. But the young guys are doing well: Holton Hill, Beebe (first game), Weatherly (7th), Kearse (7th), Ant Harris (UDFA), Wilson (UDFA), Bowers (UDFA). I have been especially impressed with Hill. He is already good and he is just getting better. An undrafted rookie CB who can start on a contender; that's a bargain.
Harris is having a great year. i cant see us passing on a waynes extension but i would love to move Alexander and Kearse or Harris for a starting Oline help, if hughes prognosis is good we have an overabundance of DB’s. We are rich at S as well
Bowers was getting some early preseason love from a few fans when Weatherly was the guy that was ready to make the next step.
No question our O-line is the biggest problem. I was hopeful on Isidora for a while. Now, not so much. Also need to see who we lose after the season. Easton, Compton and Brett Jones are all UFAs after this year. Barr flashes, but he is not consistent. If we have to choose between Richardson and Barr, it's not even close for me. Tom Johnson and Ant Harris are also UFAs. Johnson is like Sherels - every time you think you've got his position covered with a younger player, he proves you wrong.
Quote: @dadevike said:
No question our O-line is the biggest problem. I was hopeful on Isidora for a while. Now, not so much. Also need to see who we lose after the season. Easton, Compton and Brett Jones are all UFAs after this year. Barr flashes, but he is not consistent. If we have to choose between Richardson and Barr, it's not even close for me. Tom Johnson and Ant Harris are also UFAs. Johnson is like Sherels - every time you think you've got his position covered with a younger player, he proves you wrong.
Jaleel Johnson and Jalyn Holmes in back to back Drafts. One of those guys needs to replace Richardson. You can't invest that kind of Draft Capital (borrowed from Booger McFarland who used that term 30 times last night during the Titans/Cowboys stinker) and only end up with rotational depth pieces.
Keep Easton ONLY if cheap and healthy. Yes, Minnesota has done a lot to develop him...and he's still barely League Average.
I'm sort of shocked that Jones isn't getting any run at LG. Looks like the cupboard at Guard is bare, which is a shame. Izzy looks less like the guy the more reps he gets. Compton stinks. I like Collins but there's no way he's counted on for anything but depth next year at this point. Remmers is not cutting it.
Time for spend a pick in the first 3 Riunds AND add a solid FA signing to shore up that position. If that means losing someone like Richardson so be it. If this team had consistent Guard play they'd be Elite today.
I'd keep Anthony Harris, though. Iloka too. Harris can cover and Iloka can be the Big Nickel guy that replaces Barr until Zimmer can a suitable freak athlete to take the spot permanently.
Quote: @FSUVike said:
@ dadevike said:
No question our O-line is the biggest problem. I was hopeful on Isidora for a while. Now, not so much. Also need to see who we lose after the season. Easton, Compton and Brett Jones are all UFAs after this year. Barr flashes, but he is not consistent. If we have to choose between Richardson and Barr, it's not even close for me. Tom Johnson and Ant Harris are also UFAs. Johnson is like Sherels - every time you think you've got his position covered with a younger player, he proves you wrong.
Jaleel Johnson and Jalyn Holmes in back to back Drafts. One of those guys needs to replace Richardson. You can't invest that kind of Draft Capital (borrowed from Booger McFarland who used that term 30 times last night during the Titans/Cowboys stinker) and only end up with rotational depth pieces.
Keep Easton ONLY if cheap and healthy. Yes, Minnesota has done a lot to develop him...and he's still barely League Average.
I'm sort of shocked that Jones isn't getting any run at LG. Looks like the cupboard at Guard is bare, which is a shame. Izzy looks less like the guy the more reps he gets. Compton stinks. I like Collins but there's no way he's counted on for anything but depth next year at this point. Remmers is not cutting it.
Time for spend a pick in the first 3 Riunds AND add a solid FA signing to shore up that position. If that means losing someone like Richardson so be it. If this team had consistent Guard play they'd be Elite today.
I'd keep Anthony Harris, though. Iloka too. Harris can cover and Iloka can be the Big Nickel guy that replaces Barr until Zimmer can a suitable freak athlete to take the spot permanently.
I think Kearse is your big nickel going forward.
We don’t get to see them in practice so we have no idea how J. Johnson and J. Holmes look on a daily basis or how they are developing. But in the games, Richardson draws double teams that free up another pass rusher. And he provides pressure up the middle.
If Johnson or Holmes are showing promise that they can do the job Richardson is doing, then we have a basis to let Richardson walk. But their draft position is irrelevant. Whatever draft capital was spent on Johnson and Holmes is already gone. That does not enter into the consideration.
I’m surprised that Jones cannot beat out Isidora. The Jones and Iloka additions have been largely useless. You are right about the guard play. The biggest deficit the Vikings have compared to the Rams or Saints is in their protection up the middle. Goff and Brees usually have clean pockets; not so for Cousins.
Jones is a little light in the ass for a guard i think. Good news is Remmers is showing improvement. hopefully we can get Compton healthy cause hes been ok if not good. Elf is not all the way back yet either, hoping he can get in a groove. Our oline is the weak link but they are showing signs of adequacy which is all cousins, cook and murray need
Quote: @Bullazin said:
Jones is a little light in the ass for a guard i think. Good news is Remmers is showing improvement. hopefully we can get Compton healthy cause hes been ok if not good. Elf is not all the way back yet either, hoping he can get in a groove. Our oline is the weak link but they are showing signs of adequacy which is all cousins, cook and murray need
Isidora's problem, or one of them, is that he has been getting pushed around. Elf, too, though not nearly as bad. Elf and Isidora are listed at around 305 lbs. Jones and Compton are listed at around 315 lbs. We need some improvement up front if this team is to go far this season.
Quote: @dadevike said:
We don’t get to see them in practice so we have no idea how J. Johnson and J. Holmes look on a daily basis or how they are developing. But in the games, Richardson draws double teams that free up another pass rusher. And he provides pressure up the middle.
If Johnson or Holmes are showing promise that they can do the job Richardson is doing, then we have a basis to let Richardson walk. But their draft position is irrelevant. Whatever draft capital was spent on Johnson and Holmes is already gone. That does not enter into the consideration.
I’m surprised that Jones cannot beat out Isidora. The Jones and Iloka additions have been largely useless. You are right about the guard play. The biggest deficit the Vikings have compared to the Rams or Saints is in their protection up the middle. Goff and Brees usually have clean pockets; not so for Cousins.
I wouldn't say the Jones addition was useless. He started until Elf came back. And like the Easton trade a few years back, it wasn't to acquire a starter, it was to acquire a backup for a critical position.
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