DAVIS!!

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: Darrisaw-Cleveland-Bradbury-Davis-O'Neill

Giddyup

All 25 years old and under... crazy if they all turn out. 

It's been referred that Davis had a knee injury, but little of it is known.  What kind of injury did he suffer and how is it now?

@"ArizonaViking" said: It's been referred that Davis had a knee injury, but little of it is known.  What kind of injury did he suffer and how is it now?

“On a scale of one to 10, I would probably say most of the time it was at an 8,” he said of the pain level. “But depending on if I fell on it or got hit there, it would definitely be a 10.”
Several times throughout the latter part of the season, Davis needed to be tended to on the field. But he kept returning until a hit late in the first half knocked him out of the College Football Playoff championship game against Alabama.

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: Darrisaw-Cleveland-Bradbury-Davis-O'Neill

Giddyup

All 25 years old and under... crazy if they all turn out. 

That is definitely a young OL...They'll grow-up in a hurry facing Mack, Hicks, Z'Darius, Clark and Schwartz twice a year.

Going to be some growing pains no doubt - hopefully they get a decent off-season and TC this year. 

Brightest future on the OL in a quite a while though. 

Hoping bigger is better, Vikings bulk up along offensive line during NFL draft

"He comes from a great pedigree. His grandfather was the great Willie Davis, a former Packer — we won't hold that against him — and his dad played college football, as well. We're very happy to get him, too, where we got him."
The 6-4, 315-pound Davis joins the Vikings as the third-heaviest lineman on the roster. Christian Darrisaw, the Vikings' 6-5, 322-pound first-round pick, is the second-heaviest, behind 325-pound Oli Udoh. Nothing about the Vikings' outside zone scheme, and the mobility it requires from its linemen, has changed. The Vikings are simply trying to execute it with a type of player who delivers force as well as footwork.
"It's difficult. It really is," Stephenson said. "Because typically, the smaller lineman is the more athletic lineman. That's why we were so excited to land these two guys, because we feel like they have that combination of size and athleticism."
The development is noteworthy in part because of how many lighter linemen remain integral to the Vikings' plans. Right tackle Brian O'Neill, the team's second-round pick in 2018, was a former tight end before shifting to the line. Center Garrett Bradbury (the first-round pick in 2019) came to the league with concerns about middling size for his position (6-3, 305 pounds). Ezra Cleveland, last year's second-round pick, was initially advertised as the left tackle of the future before the Vikings installed him at guard; scouts had concerns about his strength at the NFL level, as well.
But as Zimmer surveyed the Vikings' offensive front, he saw a group that struggled to move large nose tackles or use length to keep pass rushers at bay.
"We feel like we're athletic, but you end up going against some really big defensive linemen, especially inside, you get so many of those big guys," Zimmer said Thursday as the Vikings discussed their first-round pick. "Darrisaw has real long arms, so that helps him in pass protection against some of those speed rushers. But yeah, that was one of the things we talked about."
The Vikings' offensive line has gone through similar shifts before, in a seven-year effort to fix a group that's felt Sisyphean at times. When the Vikings replaced Jeff Davidson as offensive line coach with Tony Sparano after the 2015 season, they talked about how the new coach wanted players with the "ability to dent people." They signed guard Alex Boone on the first day of free agency that year.
Zimmer said afterward: "I feel like every other position group on our football team has a tough-minded personality. I don't know that our offensive line did."
Norv Turner's 2016 resignation triggered a shift from an Air Coryell scheme to a West Coast offense, first under Pat Shurmur and then under John DeFilippo, that emphasized a zone blocking scheme where players like Boone no longer fit.
The zone scheme, and the types of linemen best suited for it, became an even bigger emphasis as Kevin Stefanski implemented Gary Kubiak's time-honored scheme and Kubiak took over play-calling duties in 2020. It figures to remain a staple of the Vikings' offense in 2021; with Klint Kubiak succeeding his father as offensive coordinator and Rick Dennison still in charge of the offensive line, not much has changed.
Only the Vikings now are trying to bring back some of the qualities Zimmer prized during an earlier iteration of their offense, while retaining the principles that have helped resurrect their run game in the past two seasons. It makes the search for the ideal player even more specific, and the effort to get out in front of Dalvin Cook while keeping the pocket clean for Kirk Cousins perhaps even more nuanced.
But the Vikings, ever since Zimmer and DeFilippo parted ways on either side of a philosophical chasm, have staked their identity to a run-heavy offense that's become almost countercultural in the NFL. They've done it while guaranteeing $150 million to a quarterback who is paid for his arm strength, durability and accuracy, not his mobility or his quick release.
Building a line that can accommodate both facets of the Vikings' offense is a tall order, which is perhaps why their latest efforts to remake the group seem to follow an even more precise set of standards.
"The two offensive linemen, Wyatt and Darrisaw, they're going to have to come in and compete," general manager Rick Spielman said Friday. "But we felt they fit the athletic mode we're looking for. So to get some size around Bradbury is going to be a benefit to him. And now you got some guys who, wherever they line up, we're going to have a lot of size. But all these guys have some athleticism to go with that size as well."
https://www.startribune.com/hoping-bigger-is-better-vikings-bulk-up-along-offensive-line-during-nfl-draft/600052622/

@"MaroonBells" said: https://youtu.be/6mb9W37Zp_U

I couldn't stop watching the new Bears QB. 

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: https://youtu.be/6mb9W37Zp_U

Crap...

I couldn't stop watching the new Bears QB. 

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: https://youtu.be/6mb9W37Zp_U

Crap...

I couldn't stop watching the new Bears QB. 

@"purplefaithful" said:

Hoping bigger is better, Vikings bulk up along offensive line during NFL draft

"He comes from a great pedigree. His grandfather was the great Willie Davis, a former Packer — we won't hold that against him — and his dad played college football, as well. We're very happy to get him, too, where we got him."
The 6-4, 315-pound Davis joins the Vikings as the third-heaviest lineman on the roster. Christian Darrisaw, the Vikings' 6-5, 322-pound first-round pick, is the second-heaviest, behind 325-pound Oli Udoh. Nothing about the Vikings' outside zone scheme, and the mobility it requires from its linemen, has changed. The Vikings are simply trying to execute it with a type of player who delivers force as well as footwork.
"It's difficult. It really is," Stephenson said. "Because typically, the smaller lineman is the more athletic lineman. That's why we were so excited to land these two guys, because we feel like they have that combination of size and athleticism."
The development is noteworthy in part because of how many lighter linemen remain integral to the Vikings' plans. Right tackle Brian O'Neill, the team's second-round pick in 2018, was a former tight end before shifting to the line. Center Garrett Bradbury (the first-round pick in 2019) came to the league with concerns about middling size for his position (6-3, 305 pounds). Ezra Cleveland, last year's second-round pick, was initially advertised as the left tackle of the future before the Vikings installed him at guard; scouts had concerns about his strength at the NFL level, as well.
But as Zimmer surveyed the Vikings' offensive front, he saw a group that struggled to move large nose tackles or use length to keep pass rushers at bay.
"We feel like we're athletic, but you end up going against some really big defensive linemen, especially inside, you get so many of those big guys," Zimmer said Thursday as the Vikings discussed their first-round pick. "Darrisaw has real long arms, so that helps him in pass protection against some of those speed rushers. But yeah, that was one of the things we talked about."
The Vikings' offensive line has gone through similar shifts before, in a seven-year effort to fix a group that's felt Sisyphean at times. When the Vikings replaced Jeff Davidson as offensive line coach with Tony Sparano after the 2015 season, they talked about how the new coach wanted players with the "ability to dent people." They signed guard Alex Boone on the first day of free agency that year.
Zimmer said afterward: "I feel like every other position group on our football team has a tough-minded personality. I don't know that our offensive line did."
Norv Turner's 2016 resignation triggered a shift from an Air Coryell scheme to a West Coast offense, first under Pat Shurmur and then under John DeFilippo, that emphasized a zone blocking scheme where players like Boone no longer fit.
The zone scheme, and the types of linemen best suited for it, became an even bigger emphasis as Kevin Stefanski implemented Gary Kubiak's time-honored scheme and Kubiak took over play-calling duties in 2020. It figures to remain a staple of the Vikings' offense in 2021; with Klint Kubiak succeeding his father as offensive coordinator and Rick Dennison still in charge of the offensive line, not much has changed.
Only the Vikings now are trying to bring back some of the qualities Zimmer prized during an earlier iteration of their offense, while retaining the principles that have helped resurrect their run game in the past two seasons. It makes the search for the ideal player even more specific, and the effort to get out in front of Dalvin Cook while keeping the pocket clean for Kirk Cousins perhaps even more nuanced.
But the Vikings, ever since Zimmer and DeFilippo parted ways on either side of a philosophical chasm, have staked their identity to a run-heavy offense that's become almost countercultural in the NFL. They've done it while guaranteeing $150 million to a quarterback who is paid for his arm strength, durability and accuracy, not his mobility or his quick release.
Building a line that can accommodate both facets of the Vikings' offense is a tall order, which is perhaps why their latest efforts to remake the group seem to follow an even more precise set of standards.
"The two offensive linemen, Wyatt and Darrisaw, they're going to have to come in and compete," general manager Rick Spielman said Friday. "But we felt they fit the athletic mode we're looking for. So to get some size around Bradbury is going to be a benefit to him. And now you got some guys who, wherever they line up, we're going to have a lot of size. But all these guys have some athleticism to go with that size as well."
https://www.startribune.com/hoping-bigger-is-better-vikings-bulk-up-along-offensive-line-during-nfl-draft/600052622/

Not that it wasn't obvious, but interesting nonetheless. Here's hoping that Cleveland, Bradbury and O'Neill are doing their squats and bulking up to fit better with this new line. Another 5 lbs of anchor on each, without sacrificing too much speed, and the Vikings might soon be calling their OL the strength of the team. 

Best part of the Davis pick? No tutu for MB. 

You look at just the DT's in this division (let alone the league in general) and they really needed an evolution in OL philosophy.

It's all cyclical...

Need big boys in the interior. 

Wyatt Davis: Purveyor Of Violence pic.twitter.com/jpdPP2Zysb

— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) May 5, 2021

GTFOH

https://www.vikings.com/news/wyatt-davis-nfl-draft-5-thing-to-know

https://www.dailynorseman.com/platform/amp/2021/5/5/22416223/breaking-down-g-wyatt-davis?utm_campaign=dailynorseman&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

So does Wyatt play RG and move Cleveland over to the left? I have to think that would be the most logical. But what if the rook isn't ready right away? The starting line a week ago was Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. 

This might be one of those instances where you just stick Cleveland at LG and Davis at RG right from the get go, assuming that's the way it will eventually end up anyway. Might have to deal with some growing pains, but that might better than moving people around. 

@"MaroonBells" said: So does Wyatt play RG and move Cleveland over to the left? I have to think that would be the most logical. But what if the rook isn't ready right away? The starting line a week ago was Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. 

This might be one of those instances where you just stick Cleveland at LG and Davis at RG right from the get go, assuming that's the way it will eventually end up anyway. Might have to deal with some growing pains, but that might better than moving people around. 

Vikings fans: allow me tell you the coolest fact about, as of 10 minutes ago, the team’s best guard

Wyatt Davis’ father is Alvin Mack from The Program

pic.twitter.com/7kJTci5S7i

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) May 1, 2021

@"BarrNone55" said: https://twitter.com/i/status/1389792069284102146

GTFOH

Looking at the other guards on the roster...Davis is the only one built with that low center of gravity needed for that position.  Helps him to anchor really well...