What to watch in Vikings OTAs: Kirk Cousins leads the list
The Vikings team that will begin the most substantive phase of its offseason program on Tuesday is among the NFL’s most stable groups. But there's still much work to be done on offense.
In one sense, the Vikings team that will begin the most substantive phase of its offseason program on Tuesday is among the NFL’s most stable groups. Nearly every meaningful contributor returns from the league’s top-ranked defense, which added Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson this offseason, and an offense that was 10th in the league a year ago should benefit from the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins and the return of running back Dalvin Cook.
It’s on the offensive side of the ball, though, where more work awaits the Vikings than would seem typical of a team that went 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game last season. They have a new quarterback in Cousins, a new offensive coordinator in John DeFilippo and a couple lingering questions on an offensive line that remains in a certain state of flux even after its improvement last season.
The Vikings will hold the first of 10 organized team activities on Tuesday, before their mandatory minicamp from June 12-14. Three of the 10 OTAs, as well as the minicamp, will be open to reporters. When we’re able to see the Vikings practice, starting on Wednesday and continuing over the next four weeks, here’s what we’ll be watching:
1. Cousins’ connections
While Cousins has been able to throw with his new receivers during part of the Vikings’ offseason program, and spent time working with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen in Atlanta this spring, the Vikings’ OTAs will be his first chance to do meaningful 11-on-11 work with his new offense.2. DeFilippo takes the wheel
2. DeFilippo takes the wheel
The Vikings haven’t planned to make major changes to their offense as DeFilippo takes over for Pat Shurmur, but there will undoubtedly be some new variations on offense as the former Philadelphia Eagles QB coach runs the scheme. It will especially be worth watching the Vikings’ red zone sessions during OTAs and minicamp...
3. Sorting out the offensive line
The Vikings have some decisions to make on the right side of their offensive line, after the retirement of right guard Joe Berger. Right tackle Mike Remmers moved to guard during the Vikings’ two playoff games, and the Vikings have contemplated the idea of keeping him there in 2018, while playing either Rashod Hill or second-round pick Brian O’Neill at right tackle. If the Vikings elect to keep Remmers at tackle, the guard job could go to a free-agent pickup like Tom Compton or Josh Andrews, or a young player like Danny Isidora....
4. Cook’s comeback
Coach Mike Zimmer has sounded optimistic about Cook, who tore his left ACL on Oct. 1 against Detroit, and head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman said April 24 that Cook will participate on OTAs “on a limited basis” this offseason. He seems on track to be ready for the start of the season, but the Vikings figure to exercise caution with Cook, looking to take some early work off his plate where they can...
5. Hughes starts the Zimmer CB crash course
Since 2014, when Zimmer inherited Xavier Rhodes in his second season, it’s been a rite of spring to see the coach taking a young corner through an extensive — and sometimes expletive-filled — indoctrination to the Vikings’ defense. Trae Waynes followed Rhodes in 2015. It was Mackensie Alexander in 2016, and this spring, it will be first-round pick Mike Hughes, who figures to learn the Vikings’ defense from soup to nuts before pads and full-contact drills add another element in training camp. The Vikings’ depth at cornerback means they don’t need Hughes to play right away...
Full read here:
http://www.startribune.com/what-to-watch-in-vikings-otas-kirk-cousins-leads-the-list/483208631/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
It will be interesting to watch the offensive line development. They have some bodies there, but will any rise up? I think it makes sense to hope a guy like Josh Andrews can make it as a backup C/G because he's played center and if you make Easton the primary backup for center, well he's the starting LG. So then he would need to be replaced. Its problematic: center goes down, 2 players on the line need to be replaced. Its not the right thing. Rashod Hill seems to have plateaued. Remmers seems to be deemed by the team a better fit for RG than RT. Brian O'Neill has upside but he appears to be very raw right now. Need a guy like Austin Corbett to shock the world.
Lots of questions.
@"StickyBun" said: It will be interesting to watch the offensive line development. They have some bodies there, but will any rise up? I think it makes sense to hope a guy like Josh Andrews can make it as a backup C/G because he's played center and if you make Easton the primary backup for center, well he's the starting LG. So then he would need to be replaced. Its problematic: center goes down, 2 players on the line need to be replaced. Its not the right thing. Rashod Hill seems to have plateaued. Remmers seems to be deemed by the team a better fit for RG than RT. Brian O'Neill has upside but he appears to be very raw right now. Need a guy like Austin Corbett to shock the world.Lots of questions.
Well, Austin Corbett shocking the world isn't going to help us much since he plays in Cleveland. :-) I think you mean Colby Gossett. And that would not surprise me too much. I'm convinced this kid will eventually be a very good starter for us.
Hill was a disaster in the playoffs at RT(most pressured OL in playoffs). Remmers on the other hand played both RT and G pretty darn well. I would put Remmers back at RT and have Hill as a backup for LT and groom O'Neill as a swing tackle and RT backup early. That leaves a host of guys to fight it out for our RG starting position.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: It will be interesting to watch the offensive line development. They have some bodies there, but will any rise up? I think it makes sense to hope a guy like Josh Andrews can make it as a backup C/G because he's played center and if you make Easton the primary backup for center, well he's the starting LG. So then he would need to be replaced. Its problematic: center goes down, 2 players on the line need to be replaced. Its not the right thing. Rashod Hill seems to have plateaued. Remmers seems to be deemed by the team a better fit for RG than RT. Brian O'Neill has upside but he appears to be very raw right now. Need a guy like Austin Corbett to shock the world.Lots of questions.
Well, Austin Corbett shocking the world isn't going to help us much since he plays in Cleveland. :-) I think you mean Colby Gossett. And that would not surprise me too much. I'm convinced this kid will eventually be a very good starter for us.
I am curios to see if they try Collins on the right side or if they are going to leave him as the LT2. I normally dont like kicking young players from side to side, but if they arent happy with Hill as a RT1, then we really need to be looking at the next man up IMO. I dont know if ONeill will have the lead in his ass to get any push at RT in the running game.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: It will be interesting to watch the offensive line development. They have some bodies there, but will any rise up? I think it makes sense to hope a guy like Josh Andrews can make it as a backup C/G because he's played center and if you make Easton the primary backup for center, well he's the starting LG. So then he would need to be replaced. Its problematic: center goes down, 2 players on the line need to be replaced. Its not the right thing. Rashod Hill seems to have plateaued. Remmers seems to be deemed by the team a better fit for RG than RT. Brian O'Neill has upside but he appears to be very raw right now. Need a guy like Austin Corbett to shock the world.Lots of questions.
Well, Austin Corbett shocking the world isn't going to help us much since he plays in Cleveland. :-) I think you mean Colby Gossett. And that would not surprise me too much. I'm convinced this kid will eventually be a very good starter for us.
I am curios to see if they try Collins on the right side or if they are going to leave him as the LT2. I normally dont like kicking young players from side to side, but if they arent happy with Hill as a RT1, then we really need to be looking at the next man up IMO. I dont know if ONeill will have the lead in his ass to get any push at RT in the running game.
I think the sooner we just dismiss O'Neill as an option the better. Young tackles go from left to right all the time, so I'm not concerned about moving Collins. We just need the 5 best players on the line. If Hill is going to be a player in this league, he has to show it this year. I think he and Collins battle for RT with Remmers moving inside. Best thing for O'Neill might be too suffer a mysterious injury that lands him on IR where he can have a few more PB and Js.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: It will be interesting to watch the offensive line development. They have some bodies there, but will any rise up? I think it makes sense to hope a guy like Josh Andrews can make it as a backup C/G because he's played center and if you make Easton the primary backup for center, well he's the starting LG. So then he would need to be replaced. Its problematic: center goes down, 2 players on the line need to be replaced. Its not the right thing. Rashod Hill seems to have plateaued. Remmers seems to be deemed by the team a better fit for RG than RT. Brian O'Neill has upside but he appears to be very raw right now. Need a guy like Austin Corbett to shock the world.Lots of questions.
Well, Austin Corbett shocking the world isn't going to help us much since he plays in Cleveland. :-) I think you mean Colby Gossett. And that would not surprise me too much. I'm convinced this kid will eventually be a very good starter for us.
I am curios to see if they try Collins on the right side or if they are going to leave him as the LT2. I normally dont like kicking young players from side to side, but if they arent happy with Hill as a RT1, then we really need to be looking at the next man up IMO. I dont know if ONeill will have the lead in his ass to get any push at RT in the running game.
I think the sooner we just dismiss O'Neill as an option the better. Young tackles go from left to right all the time, so I'm not concerned about moving Collins. We just need the 5 best players on the line. If Hill is going to be a player in this league, he has to show it this year. I think he and Collins battle for RT with Remmers moving inside. Best thing for O'Neill might be too suffer a mysterious injury that lands him on IR where he can have a few more PB and Js.
yes the get moved, but they dont necessarily play to the same level. Hill looked much better on the left than he did last year on the right and apparently Reiff likes the left side better as well since he was less than stellar at RT for the laydowns. I know its done, but everything is backwards and that messes with timing and instinct. Maybe an extra year on the right side will be good Hill and the change from left to right will be more natural and he will be able to play with more fluidity and be better equipped to handle the speed guys that gave him fits in the playoffs.
I think there is some recency bias with Rashod Hill... I mean the guy is just entering his 3rd season and has what, 7 starts under his belt? He has all the athletic traits and long arms you look for in a starting OT. I don't think it is crazy to think he still has some upside and ability to improve. I think too many have made up their minds about him and dismiss him as a potential starting option at RT.
Nick Easton is a good example. He started a couple games in his 2nd year due to injuries and then locked down the starting LG spot in his 3rd season. I know many fans want to call him the "weak link" on the line, but the Vikings tendered him at the 2nd round level this offseason. Teams don't do that for a fringe starter/backup OL. He played pretty well last year in his first season as a starter.
Hill could make a similar leap... it's not like he's a 5th or 6th year veteran that has likely peaked.
@"Wetlander" said: I think there is some recency bias with Rashod Hill... I mean the guy is just entering his 3rd season and has what, 7 starts under his belt? He has all the athletic traits and long arms you look for in a starting OT. I don't think it is crazy to think he still has some upside and ability to improve. I think too many have made up their minds about him and dismiss him as a potential starting option at RT. Nick Easton is a good example. He started a couple games in his 2nd year due to injuries and then locked down the starting LG spot in his 3rd season. I know many fans want to call him the "weak link" on the line, but the Vikings tendered him at the 2nd round level this offseason. Teams don't do that for a fringe starter/backup OL. He played pretty well last year in his first season as a starter. Hill could make a similar leap... it's not like he's a 5th or 6th year veteran that has likely peaked.
Completely agree. I don't get writing off Hill because he struggled against Cameron Jordan and the Eagles' D-Line. They are among the best in the League. Hill is still a young guy. He may have plenty of room to improve. And who can say that Remmers would have done any better at RT?
As for Easton, when he got injured, his absence was felt. I think he is precisely the type of guard/OL the Vikings want and why they passed on Will Hernandez. He is not a weak link on the O-line.
@"Wetlander" said: I think there is some recency bias with Rashod Hill... I mean the guy is just entering his 3rd season and has what, 7 starts under his belt? He has all the athletic traits and long arms you look for in a starting OT. I don't think it is crazy to think he still has some upside and ability to improve. I think too many have made up their minds about him and dismiss him as a potential starting option at RT. Nick Easton is a good example. He started a couple games in his 2nd year due to injuries and then locked down the starting LG spot in his 3rd season. I know many fans want to call him the "weak link" on the line, but the Vikings tendered him at the 2nd round level this offseason. Teams don't do that for a fringe starter/backup OL. He played pretty well last year in his first season as a starter. Hill could make a similar leap... it's not like he's a 5th or 6th year veteran that has likely peaked.
Agree on Hill but he has looked much better backing up at LT then at RT.
The Tackle position are generally harder to fill and I see no reason to move Remmers from RT to a Guard position.
We have a ton of compeition for the last Guard spot and may the best man win. If no one stands out then we also have a host of potential cuts as well.
@"dadevike" said:@"Wetlander" said: I think there is some recency bias with Rashod Hill... I mean the guy is just entering his 3rd season and has what, 7 starts under his belt? He has all the athletic traits and long arms you look for in a starting OT. I don't think it is crazy to think he still has some upside and ability to improve. I think too many have made up their minds about him and dismiss him as a potential starting option at RT. Nick Easton is a good example. He started a couple games in his 2nd year due to injuries and then locked down the starting LG spot in his 3rd season. I know many fans want to call him the "weak link" on the line, but the Vikings tendered him at the 2nd round level this offseason. Teams don't do that for a fringe starter/backup OL. He played pretty well last year in his first season as a starter. Hill could make a similar leap... it's not like he's a 5th or 6th year veteran that has likely peaked.Completely agree. I don't get writing off Hill because he struggled against Cameron Jordan and the Eagles' D-Line. They are among the best in the League. Hill is still a young guy. He may have plenty of room to improve. And who can say that Remmers would have done any better at RT?
As for Easton, when he got injured, his absence was felt. I think he is precisely the type of guard/OL the Vikings want and why they passed on Will Hernandez. He is not a weak link on the O-line.
who is writing Hill off? Its hard to argue though that he doesnt need to show better than he did in the playoffs to say that there shouldnt be a competition for the RT spot if they plan on kicking Remmers inside.
@"JimmyinSD" said:who is writing Hill off? Its hard to argue though that he doesnt need to show better than he did in the playoffs to say that there shouldnt be a competition for the RT spot if they plan on kicking Remmers inside.
Quite a few fans have written him off as a swing tackle only... go back and read any of the 8 million threads about the offensive line since the season ended.
As far as your second comment, of course he needs to show better. That's like the biggest "duh statement" of the offseason. The only thing me and dadevike were pointing out is that it seems some are being overly critical of a 2nd year player with about a half season's worth of starts under his belt.
@"Wetlander" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:who is writing Hill off? Its hard to argue though that he doesnt need to show better than he did in the playoffs to say that there shouldnt be a competition for the RT spot if they plan on kicking Remmers inside.
Quite a few fans have written him off as a swing tackle only... go back and read any of the 8 million threads about the offensive line since the season ended.
As far as your second comment, of course he needs to show better. That's like the biggest "duh statement" of the offseason. The only thing me and dadevike were pointing out is that it seems some are being overly critical of a 2nd year player with about a half season's worth of starts under his belt.
Ive seen people say that is possibly his ceiling, Ive seen people call for another OT to try and improve that position if Hill doesnt improve, but I dont think I have seen anybody say definitively that he is a bust or what ever. there are always going to be chicken littles, but for the most part people just wanted to see better competition brought in at RT.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: It will be interesting to watch the offensive line development. They have some bodies there, but will any rise up? I think it makes sense to hope a guy like Josh Andrews can make it as a backup C/G because he's played center and if you make Easton the primary backup for center, well he's the starting LG. So then he would need to be replaced. Its problematic: center goes down, 2 players on the line need to be replaced. Its not the right thing. Rashod Hill seems to have plateaued. Remmers seems to be deemed by the team a better fit for RG than RT. Brian O'Neill has upside but he appears to be very raw right now. Need a guy like Austin Corbett to shock the world.Lots of questions.
Well, Austin Corbett shocking the world isn't going to help us much since he plays in Cleveland. :-) I think you mean Colby Gossett. And that would not surprise me too much. I'm convinced this kid will eventually be a very good starter for us.
LMAO, yes that's who I meant.
It all depends on how he's getting beat. I'm not good enough at judging line talent to say whether he's lost out there or is it a situation of needing more core strength to hold the POA. Does he get caught lunging because of poor footwork causing him to be out of balance and late resetting.
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