Brian O'Neill Is The New Zen Master

The case for leaving him at RT gets stronger all the time. If Reiff is a cap casualty, plug in Hill until our, hopefully, #1 pick is ready. 

@"BarrNone55" said: The case for leaving him at RT gets stronger all the time. If Reiff is a cap casualty, plug in Hill until our, hopefully, #1 pick is ready. 

I'm starting to wonder if LT isn't the biggest need this off-season. 

O'Neill might want the chance to shift over there given the $$$ the position demands. It is a move potentially fraught with peril though. You could F'up two key positions and the player. 

So much to like about him.  In Pass Pro he doesn't get off balance, gives a little to stay in good position, moves his feet so well.  For a tall guy he doesn't get away from his base.   Even the plays where they show that he got beat on, the one where Cam has a wide split and overpowers him, O'Neill recovers and doesn't let him get to Cousins. 

Watching the run blocks as well, he moves well in space and seems to find his guy and neutralize him.

@"BarrNone55" said: Second favorite #75

Matt Kalil?

I also wonder about Oli Udoh.  If he's being groomed as a potential starting RT, then would O'Neil be the best option at LT? 

At draft time I saw him as the LT of The Future and thought he just needed a year of seasoning.  He exceeded my expectations, which were already pretty high.

O'Neil has light and quick feet with just enough size and power to keep Today's edge rushers in check.  He's not facing RTs like Reggie White, or even Julius Peppers anymore.  The New NFL edge guys are 250-260lb and more nimble.  
Brian's natural game is sorta perfect for dealing with them.  He can match their quickness and neutralize their power.  
In this regard, The Vikes appear to be ahead of the curve!

But, yeah.  Let's keep drafting Oline.  Bradbury may have some gaffs, but he's pure beast in case you didn't notice.  
Also, Udoh and Samia looked big n strong for what little I was able to see in CHI game.  I think Udoh backs up O'Neil Next Year.   I like his quicks for a huge man, too.

@"kahsmick" said: At draft time I saw him as the LT of The Future and thought he just needed a year of seasoning.  He exceeded my expectations, which were already pretty high.

O'Neil has light and quick feet with just enough size and power to keep Today's edge rushers in check.  He's not facing RTs like Reggie White, or even Julius Peppers anymore.  The New NFL edge guys are 250-260lb and more nimble.  
Brian's natural game is sorta perfect for dealing with them.  He can match their quickness and neutralize their power.  
In this regard, The Vikes appear to be ahead of the curve!

But, yeah.  Let's keep drafting Oline.  Bradbury may have some gaffs, but he's pure beast in case you didn't notice.  
Also, Udoh and Samia looked big n strong for what little I was able to see in CHI game.  I think Udoh backs up O'Neil Next Year.   I like his quicks for a huge man, too.

Yeah, another year in the oven would probably be great for Udoh, but he did look very impressive in week 17, many times going up against Khalil Mack. It's funny, the most irrelevant game of the year and that's the one I'm most anxious to re-watch. 

@"HappyViking" said: I also wonder about Oli Udoh.  If he's being groomed as a potential starting RT, then would O'Neil be the best option at LT? 

I think Udoh being ready in year two would be the one thing that would prompt moving O'Neill to the left. 

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: The case for leaving him at RT gets stronger all the time. If Reiff is a cap casualty, plug in Hill until our, hopefully, #1 pick is ready. 

I'm starting to wonder if LT isn't the biggest need this off-season. 

O'Neill might want the chance to shift over there given the $$$ the position demands. It is a move potentially fraught with peril though. You could F'up two key positions and the player. 

At this point, do we even try to move O'Neill to LT?  He's easily a top 10 (if not top 5) RT in the NFL...  it might be smarter to leave him there and just try to find a better LT so you don't potentially screw up two spots.  Then you add in the fact that him and Kline have been dynamite together in the run game...  I think you just leave him there and forget about it.

The only concern I have about Hill or a rookie at LT is if Elf is still next to him.

@"Wetlander" said: At this point, do we even try to move O'Neill to LT?  He's easily a top 10 (if not top 5) RT in the NFL...  it might be smarter to leave him there and just try to find a better LT so you don't potentially screw up two spots.  Then you add in the fact that him and Kline have been dynamite together in the run game...  I think you just leave him there and forget about it.

I tend to think this is what the team believes and I'd be surprised at this point if they do move him. However, just playing devil's advocate....what if Udoh really is all that? And his performance in training camp lobbies hard for a starting role? I don't think you can put him on the left. Another thing is that finding right tackles in the draft seems to be a little bit easier than finding left tackles. All the right tackles project on the right. And damned if a good half of the left tackles don't project to the right.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Wetlander" said: At this point, do we even try to move O'Neill to LT?  He's easily a top 10 (if not top 5) RT in the NFL...  it might be smarter to leave him there and just try to find a better LT so you don't potentially screw up two spots.  Then you add in the fact that him and Kline have been dynamite together in the run game...  I think you just leave him there and forget about it.

I tend to think this is what the team believes and I'd be surprised at this point if they do move him. However, just playing devil's advocate....what if Udoh really is all that? And his performance in training camp lobbies hard for a starting role? I don't think you can put him on the left. Another thing is that finding right tackles in the draft seems to be a little bit easier than finding left tackles. All the right tackles project on the right. And damned if a good half of the left tackles don't project to the right.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Wetlander" said: At this point, do we even try to move O'Neill to LT?  He's easily a top 10 (if not top 5) RT in the NFL...  it might be smarter to leave him there and just try to find a better LT so you don't potentially screw up two spots.  Then you add in the fact that him and Kline have been dynamite together in the run game...  I think you just leave him there and forget about it.

I tend to think this is what the team believes and I'd be surprised at this point if they do move him. However, just playing devil's advocate....what if Udoh really is all that? And his performance in training camp lobbies hard for a starting role? I don't think you can put him on the left. Another thing is that finding right tackles in the draft seems to be a little bit easier than finding left tackles. All the right tackles project on the right. And damned if a good half of the left tackles don't project to the right.

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Wetlander" said: At this point, do we even try to move O'Neill to LT?  He's easily a top 10 (if not top 5) RT in the NFL...  it might be smarter to leave him there and just try to find a better LT so you don't potentially screw up two spots.  Then you add in the fact that him and Kline have been dynamite together in the run game...  I think you just leave him there and forget about it.

I tend to think this is what the team believes and I'd be surprised at this point if they do move him. However, just playing devil's advocate....what if Udoh really is all that? And his performance in training camp lobbies hard for a starting role? I don't think you can put him on the left. Another thing is that finding right tackles in the draft seems to be a little bit easier than finding left tackles. All the right tackles project on the right. And damned if a good half of the left tackles don't project to the right.

But is that just tradition speaking?  Where the RT doesn't have to be as good as the LT.  In today's NFL, I don't think that old way of thinking adds up.