O-line starters?

I think most of us would like to have Hill as back-up guy vs starter. But coaches got to see what they have in Darrisaw before tossing him out there, so I get it. 

Even if he is a starter by opening day, how much (if at all) do they need to protect him with play calling and or a TE/RB to help with chips etc...

Lots to play out for sure.

I'd be shocked if this is what our opening day line looks like...  this is typical Zimmer fashion.  Cole, Darrisaw, and Davis are all new to the team (or rookies).  He is just allowing the new guys to get acclimated to the offense and if they perform good enough against the second unit, they move up.

Good to see Cleveland at LG.  I don't think the plan was to play him at RG last year...  they were forced to by injuries. Hopefully he makes LG his permanent home.

Cleveland wasnt a RG until injuries at RG forced him to swap sides,  he was at LG all camp last year IIRC.

https://zonecoverage.com/2021/minnesota-vikings-news/the-vikings-should-give-the-reins-to-their-rookie-ols/

Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

@"MaroonBells" said: Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

And yes, it seems like the RG opening is obvious
https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1397589596003778564?s=20

Vikings tinkering with a couple OL combinations this morning.

Hill-Cleveland-Bradbury-Dozier-O’Neill with Cousins

Darrisaw-Samia-Cole-Davis-Udoh with Browning (2s)

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) May 26, 2021

They just want guys to "earn" their spots, rather than feeling entitled.  I think we all know the lineup that will end up happening unless there's some major unexpected issues.

Brandel at center?

Third team was Ksiezarczyk-Hinton-Brandel-Cabral-Bailey

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) May 26, 2021

@"MaroonBells" said: Brandel at center?

https://twitter.com/WillRagatz/status/1397588876571598849?s=20

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Brandel at center?

https://twitter.com/WillRagatz/status/1397588876571598849?s=20

None of those ring a bell.  Other than Cabral, didn't we just sign him as a Center?

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Brandel at center?

https://twitter.com/WillRagatz/status/1397588876571598849?s=20

None of those ring a bell.  Other than Cabral, didn't we just sign him as a Center?

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

Yes, it puts Cleveland back on his natural side and leaves the RG side open to competition.  Dunno about Zimmer being Zimmer, just seems natural that a rookie isn't going to take the spot in the first day of OTAs.  That would hardly be fair to the rook or the rest of the offense.

And yes, it seems like the RG opening is obvious
https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1397589596003778564?s=20

@"pattersaur" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

Yes, it puts Cleveland back on his natural side and leaves the RG side open to competition.  Dunno about Zimmer being Zimmer, just seems natural that a rookie isn't going to take the spot in the first day of OTAs.  That would hardly be fair to the rook or the rest of the offense.

And yes, it seems like the RG opening is obvious
https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1397589596003778564?s=20

Hmm... I was told not to worry about Cole sucking at Center, because surely the Vikings will put him at Guard!

Well I guess I don’t have to worry about him much at all if he’s a backup, but still. Kinda odd. I just want the OL to be good... somebody? Anybody? Please!

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

Yes, it puts Cleveland back on his natural side and leaves the RG side open to competition.  Dunno about Zimmer being Zimmer, just seems natural that a rookie isn't going to take the spot in the first day of OTAs.  That would hardly be fair to the rook or the rest of the offense.

And yes, it seems like the RG opening is obvious
https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1397589596003778564?s=20

Hmm... I was told not to worry about Cole sucking at Center, because surely the Vikings will put him at Guard!

Well I guess I don’t have to worry about him much at all if he’s a backup, but still. Kinda odd. I just want the OL to be good... somebody? Anybody? Please!

I think he is likely auditioning for the role formerly held by Jones,  that of the reserve Guard and Center

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

Yes, it puts Cleveland back on his natural side and leaves the RG side open to competition.  Dunno about Zimmer being Zimmer, just seems natural that a rookie isn't going to take the spot in the first day of OTAs.  That would hardly be fair to the rook or the rest of the offense.

And yes, it seems like the RG opening is obvious
https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1397589596003778564?s=20

Hmm... I was told not to worry about Cole sucking at Center, because surely the Vikings will put him at Guard!

Well I guess I don’t have to worry about him much at all if he’s a backup, but still. Kinda odd. I just want the OL to be good... somebody? Anybody? Please!

I think he is likely auditioning for the role formerly held by Jones,  that of the reserve Guard and Center

I wouldn't put too much credence in these walk throughs, but that's how I see it. He's the IOL swing man now. Since we drafted a guard we hope can start at RG, that puts Cole competing with Samia and Hinton for 3rd guard. He probably wins that since he can also play center and Hinton is probably another year away. 

I think if we didn't draft Davis, we'd probably see Cole with the 1st unit at guard. I mean, of course, after we're done giving the obligatory 1st unit reps to the veterans.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

Yes, it puts Cleveland back on his natural side and leaves the RG side open to competition.  Dunno about Zimmer being Zimmer, just seems natural that a rookie isn't going to take the spot in the first day of OTAs.  That would hardly be fair to the rook or the rest of the offense.

And yes, it seems like the RG opening is obvious
https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1397589596003778564?s=20

Hmm... I was told not to worry about Cole sucking at Center, because surely the Vikings will put him at Guard!

Well I guess I don’t have to worry about him much at all if he’s a backup, but still. Kinda odd. I just want the OL to be good... somebody? Anybody? Please!

I think he is likely auditioning for the role formerly held by Jones,  that of the reserve Guard and Center

I wouldn't put too much credence in these walk throughs, but that's how I see it. He's the IOL swing man now. Since we drafted a guard we hope can start at RG, that puts Cole competing with Samia and Hinton for 3rd guard. He probably wins that since he can also play center and Hinton is probably another year away. 

I think if we didn't draft Davis, we'd probably see Cole with the 1st unit at guard. I mean, of course, after we're done giving the obligatory 1st unit reps to the veterans.

They spent a draft pick on him so I would hope they thought of him as more than a reserve until Davis fell into their lap.  Of course we burned a draft pick last year on a training camp kicker so who knows...

@"Wetlander" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Moving Cleveland to LG tells me they fully expect Davis to win the job at RG. Otherwise, I think they would have Cole at LG and Cleveland at RG. I also agree with Wetlander that this is just Zimmer being Zimmer and forcing the new guys to "earn" their jobs and not have it simply "given" to them. Hard to disagree with that. 

Yes, it puts Cleveland back on his natural side and leaves the RG side open to competition.  Dunno about Zimmer being Zimmer, just seems natural that a rookie isn't going to take the spot in the first day of OTAs.  That would hardly be fair to the rook or the rest of the offense.

And yes, it seems like the RG opening is obvious
https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1397589596003778564?s=20

Hmm... I was told not to worry about Cole sucking at Center, because surely the Vikings will put him at Guard!

Well I guess I don’t have to worry about him much at all if he’s a backup, but still. Kinda odd. I just want the OL to be good... somebody? Anybody? Please!

I think he is likely auditioning for the role formerly held by Jones,  that of the reserve Guard and Center

I wouldn't put too much credence in these walk throughs, but that's how I see it. He's the IOL swing man now. Since we drafted a guard we hope can start at RG, that puts Cole competing with Samia and Hinton for 3rd guard. He probably wins that since he can also play center and Hinton is probably another year away. 

I think if we didn't draft Davis, we'd probably see Cole with the 1st unit at guard. I mean, of course, after we're done giving the obligatory 1st unit reps to the veterans.

They spent a draft pick on him so I would hope they thought of him as more than a reserve until Davis fell into their lap.  Of course we burned a draft pick last year on a training camp kicker so who knows...

We gave up a 6th for Cole who's still young and has starting experience.  He's a much better fit for our blocking scheme than what he was asked to do in Arizona.  I think he was a more a safety net if we couldn't find a potential starter in the draft.  Much like us re-signing Hill when cut Reiff.  You hope they end up being valuable depth or hold down the fort until the young guys are ready.