Sendejo

Long been posting in defense of Sendejo.  His consistent play on the back end allows Smith to move, blitz, and generally disrupt the offense.  He is reliable, a solid piece of our great defense.

That said, I think we are much better off depth wise this year.  We didn't seem to struggle as much when missing Sendejo this year.  An upgrade would be nice, but I think we spend the money at LB instead.

Definitely playing well within the system...allows Smith to be the Queen on Zim's chess board...but like several on the D, he doesn't consistently wrap up...that's probably a league wide issue...drives me nuts...

@"BarrNone55" said: Definitely playing well within the system...allows Smith to be the Queen on Zim's chess board...but like several on the D, he doesn't consistently wrap up...that's probably a league wide issue...drives me nuts...

Yeah and there was one hit yesterday that just about hit a teammate.  I can do without the reckless kill shots as well.

I think it was Mac yesterday that just tried chopping Julio down and didn't make the tackle. 

I like his style BUT...  he's often a half step late, reckless with his hits, and his tackling is a little questionable when he goes for the kill shot instead of the sure tackle.  That said he has improved and seems to have better position now-still reckless/dangerous IMO.  But I like him as a complimentary safety.

@"greediron" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: Definitely playing well within the system...allows Smith to be the Queen on Zim's chess board...but like several on the D, he doesn't consistently wrap up...that's probably a league wide issue...drives me nuts...

Yeah and there was one hit yesterday that just about hit a teammate.  I can do without the reckless kill shots as well.

I think it was Mac yesterday that just tried chopping Julio down and didn't make the tackle. 

@"BarrNone55" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: Definitely playing well within the system...allows Smith to be the Queen on Zim's chess board...but like several on the D, he doesn't consistently wrap up...that's probably a league wide issue...drives me nuts...

Yeah and there was one hit yesterday that just about hit a teammate.  I can do without the reckless kill shots as well.

I think it was Mac yesterday that just tried chopping Julio down and didn't make the tackle. 

Basic fundamentals... Wrap up...every time...when you see a form tackle, it stands out...

@"BarrNone55" said: Definitely playing well within the system...allows Smith to be the Queen on Zim's chess board...but like several on the D, he doesn't consistently wrap up...that's probably a league wide issue...drives me nuts...

Exactly what I was thinking Barr.  Sometimes his lack of wrapping the ball carrier drives me nuts.  However, on the whole he's being playing quite well.

Fact, Zimmer and Rick pursued Iloka. Strong insider rumor, Zimmer and Rick were going to take a Safety last Draft until they saw Cook falling.

He's League Average. And that's fine. But think about Elite Defenses like Denver recently had. No League Average anywhere.

I talk a lot about Opportunity vs. Cost. So far, the opportunity to replace Sendejo has been outweighed by the cost. Iloka was too expensive. Missing on a stud RB was too big of an opportunity to pass on.

But Zimmer and Rick will keep looking. I can guarantee that. And they should. You never stop looking for upgrades or a successor for an older player or someone nearing FA that you might not be able to resign.

He's plenty good enough to be on a Super Bowl winner. He's not good enough to be on a truly Elite Defense. And neither are Gedeon, TJ, Waynes or Alexander. They are all good enough, but Zimmer and Rick have to be looking at all avenues for upgrades because that's their job.

@"FSUVike" said: Fact, Zimmer and Rick pursued Iloka. Strong insider rumor, Zimmer and Rick were going to take a Safety last Draft until they saw Cook falling.

He's League Average. And that's fine. But think about Elite Defenses like Denver recently had. No League Average anywhere.

I talk a lot about Opportunity vs. Cost. So far, the opportunity to replace Sendejo has been outweighed by the cost. Iloka was too expensive. Missing on a stud RB was too big of an opportunity to pass on.

But Zimmer and Rick will keep looking. I can guarantee that. And they should. You never stop looking for upgrades or a successor for an older player or someone nearing FA that you might not be able to resign.

He's plenty good enough to be on a Super Bowl winner. He's not good enough to be on a truly Elite Defense. And neither are Gedeon, TJ, Waynes or Alexander. They are all good enough, but Zimmer and Rick have to be looking at all avenues for upgrades because that's their job.

I think you are completely wrong when it comes to Waynes and Alexander. Zim was just saying in his press conference that Alexander was coming along nicely. Waynes has also stepped up his game this season. 
Just because we’d all like to see all pro players at all positions, that doesnt happen.
The Vikings have players that fit the system, which is sometimes better than having players who are the best athletes. Sometimes those guys want to freelance and not play in the system and end up hurting you more than helping.

Amen Rip---Give me above average players at some positions but make sure they're attentive  to our(Coach's) gameplan and willing to buyin so they funnel the plays to where you want not just reactive to what the O wants.   

He's ok and that has seemed to be fine thus far. But lets not confuse him for good, because he's not that. The team looked as recently as last year to replace him. 

I've not been a big fan of Sendejo's but he is playing better this year. One game he defended 2 passes in the end zone. He is more involved in pass coverage than he ever was before. He is not, and will never be, a star. But he is not the glaring weakness he had been.

But it would be nice to get a stud safety to pair with Smith. This defense would be truly scary.

And Waynes is coming along,too. He has improved over the course of this season. Mac was pretty good this Sunday. I thought the P.I. call was a bad call. He does seem to struggle playing nickle.

@"dadevike" said: I've not been a big fan of Sendejo's but he is playing better this year. One game he defended 2 passes in the end zone. He is more involved in pass coverage than he ever was before. He is not, and will never be, a star. But he is not the glaring weakness he had been.

But it would be nice to get a stud safety to pair with Smith. This defense would be truly scary.

And Waynes is coming along,too. He has improved over the course of this season. Mac was pretty good this Sunday. I thought the P.I. call was a bad call. He does seem to struggle playing nickle.

Can't remember who said it, maybe Newman, but he said that playing nickle is a very difficult task.  There is so much going on, so many responsibilities with run support, motion, the different routes.  It isn't surprising a second year guy is struggling to pick it all up in Zimmer's complex D.  But to me, he is playing that position, getting noticeably better, breaking up passes (one turned into an INT for Rhodes) and seems to have the trust of the coaches.  That tells me he is capable of becoming a very good player.

@"greediron" said:

@"dadevike" said: I've not been a big fan of Sendejo's but he is playing better this year. One game he defended 2 passes in the end zone. He is more involved in pass coverage than he ever was before. He is not, and will never be, a star. But he is not the glaring weakness he had been.

But it would be nice to get a stud safety to pair with Smith. This defense would be truly scary.

And Waynes is coming along,too. He has improved over the course of this season. Mac was pretty good this Sunday. I thought the P.I. call was a bad call. He does seem to struggle playing nickle.

Can't remember who said it, maybe Newman, but he said that playing nickle is a very difficult task.  There is so much going on, so many responsibilities with run support, motion, the different routes.  It isn't surprising a second year guy is struggling to pick it all up in Zimmer's complex D.  But to me, he is playing that position, getting noticeably better, breaking up passes (one turned into an INT for Rhodes) and seems to have the trust of the coaches.  That tells me he is capable of becoming a very good player.

@"greediron" said:

@"dadevike" said: I've not been a big fan of Sendejo's but he is playing better this year. One game he defended 2 passes in the end zone. He is more involved in pass coverage than he ever was before. He is not, and will never be, a star. But he is not the glaring weakness he had been.

But it would be nice to get a stud safety to pair with Smith. This defense would be truly scary.

And Waynes is coming along,too. He has improved over the course of this season. Mac was pretty good this Sunday. I thought the P.I. call was a bad call. He does seem to struggle playing nickle.

Can't remember who said it, maybe Newman, but he said that playing nickle is a very difficult task.  There is so much going on, so many responsibilities with run support, motion, the different routes.  It isn't surprising a second year guy is struggling to pick it all up in Zimmer's complex D.  But to me, he is playing that position, getting noticeably better, breaking up passes (one turned into an INT for Rhodes) and seems to have the trust of the coaches.  That tells me he is capable of becoming a very good player.

For the record guys, I was not saying that Sendejo should be mentioned in the same breath as Pro Bowlers.  I'm saying that he has upped his game and has become a solid, more reliable cog in one of the top NFL defenses this year.  It's an improvement over two years ago that has become noticeable to me.  

@"Montana Tom" said: For the record guys, I was not saying that Sendejo should be mentioned in the same breath as Pro Bowlers.  I'm saying that he has upped his game and has become a solid, more reliable cog in one of the top NFL defenses this year.  It's an improvement over two years ago that has become noticeable to me.  

He is deserving of a mention by way of appreciation. He has been bashed in the past and rightly so. But his play is markedly better this year. And it has not gone unnoticed.

Sendejo is having a very good year. Anyone saying otherwise is really holding on to some sort of sour grapes. Guy is playing very well. Frankly he has been for two years now. Our entire defense is playing very well or we wouldn't be ranked 2nd defense in the league.

Reading back through my post but can't seem to find anywhere that I said the Team needed an All-Pro at every position. I know why, because i didn't.

What I very specifically said was that to get to being a truly Elite Defense you need better than League Average at damn near every position on the field.

And no,.being ranked #2 on Defense does not make them Elite. There isn't an Elite Defense this year. Really there isn't one most years. The Broncos had one a little while back, but FA took some of their teeth away.

So I look at that Broncos D or the Ravens D from that Super Bowl run and ask myself which Players on this Vikings Defense would fit right in and which would immediately be a downgrade.

Why? Because I bet your bottom dollar that Mike Zimmer is also thinking about having a truly Elite Defense. That is what he's always striving for (besides a Super Bowl win).

And he's damn close. Smith, Rhodes, Barr, Kendricks, Griffen, Joseph, Hunter. Still plenty of growing yet to come for Waynes and Alexander.

Bur Sendejo is what he is. And in no way, shape or form do I want him covering Gronk or any of the Patriots factory-generated RBs that are so lethal as pass catchers. And they're going to find a way to catch him covering a WR sooner or later.

Look, I love Lunch Pail Players. But Safeties are becoming a lot like CBs in terms of needing good to great coverage skills. Sendejo doesn't have that. He's certainly improved against the run, being where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be, and making plays on the ball like he's done in the endzone.

But if you truly believe he won't get picked on in coverage as Minnesota moves deeper into the Playoffs....

Bur Sendejo is what he is. And in no way, shape or form do I want him covering Gronk or any of the Patriots factory-generated RBs that are so lethal as pass catchers. And they're going to find a way to catch him covering a WR sooner or later.

Look, I love Lunch Pail Players. But Safeties are becoming a lot like CBs in terms of needing good to great coverage skills. Sendejo doesn't have that. He's certainly improved against the run, being where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be, and making plays on the ball like he's done in the endzone.

You're basing his talent on the ability to cover one of the hardest covers in the last 25 years? 
More than one way to play safety, many would argue a thumper back there is just as useful if not more useful than a "cover guy"