3rd rb

Boone gets my vote

Boone got more carrys today don't know if that means anything. He got 13 for 91 yards. Not a bad day. Roc got 25 yards on 5 carrys. No shame there either. Like Boone's power. Like how Roc is patient in waiting for lanes to open. Both averaged 5 ypg or better against a good defense. Think Boone's going to get the 3rd spot. Happy with how both have looked in pre-season. Either could play in this league I think. Boone seems like he could be a full load guy if needed. Not sure if Roc could be a 20 carry guy. Think that's why Boone wins this contest. This being said from someone who thought we blew it not taking a RB late in the draft. I'm ok with depth at RB now.

I like Roc's ability to catch better, and he has such a great football name....Roc.

It's really hard to project who fits better without really understanding what our offense wants to do. We know how the Eagles ran their offense, but we've seen two vanilla games in purple. Do we need a shiftier back or a one cut hole hitter? Are we going to go with RPOs or is that stuff more talk that substance? 

I seem to like Boone a little better so far. Both backs remind me of the guys above him in ways. Boone being a bit like Cook, Thomas being a bit like Murray (despite his size) . Boone is shifty and shakes his way into and through holes, where Thomas is straight line speed and explosiveness through the hole.

It would be easier to call if we had some regular season games of playcalling to decide, lol...

Is it a lock that we keep Ham? If Boone and Thomas are both better runners, they could keep both and use a RE when a blocking FB is (rarely) needed.

I think both have a future. Roc might be the better receiver out of the backfield, but Boone looks like the better runner.  He's certainly a more physical runner. What's interesting about Boone is that he runs bigger than he really is. He's only 5-10, 205, but looks like he's about 220. He had pretty eye popping explosion numbers at his pro day, too. 4.45 forty, 42 inch vertical and 139 broad. To get an idea of how good that is, his forty would've ranked 3rd at the combine, his vertical would've ranked 1st and his broad would've ranked 1st by 10 inches!

Man, I just keep thinking about that bitter piece written by the Green Bay writer complaining about how much more seriously the Vikings take their pursuit of undrafted free agents. Those UDFAs have become a very big part of the team: Adam Thielen, Aviante Collins, CJ Ham, Mike Boone, Roc Thomas, Anthony Harris, Eric Wilson, Holton Hill, Brandon Zylstra

@"MaroonBells" said: I think both have a future. Roc might be the better receiver out of the backfield, but Boone looks like the better runner.  He's certainly a more physical runner. What's interesting about Boone is that he runs bigger than he really is. He's only 5-10, 205, but looks like he's about 220. He had pretty eye popping explosion numbers at his pro day, too. 4.45 forty, 42 inch vertical and 139 broad. To get an idea of how good that is, his forty would've ranked 3rd at the combine, his vertical would've ranked 1st and his broad would've ranked 1st by 10 inches!

Man, I just keep thinking about that bitter piece written by the Green Bay writer complaining about how much more seriously the Vikings take their pursuit of undrafted free agents. Those UDFAs have become a very big part of the team: Adam Thielen, Aviante Collins, CJ Ham, Mike Boone, Roc Thomas, Anthony Harris, Eric Wilson, Holton Hill, Brandon Zylstra

That is a good way to put it...  He runs bigger than he is.  He definitely has a more violent style than Thomas and isn't afraid to mix it up.  There was one play where he lowered his shoulder along the sidelines and I was expecting him to truck a defender, but he actually went flying off his feet out of bounds after the hit.  He looks bigger than he is as well.

I was worried about our RB depth earlier this off-season, but Boone and Thomas have impressed me.  I would be perfectly fine with either one, they both offer a different skill set. Ideally, we would be able to stash one on the practice squad, maybe we still can...  Hard to say what interest other teams have in these guys.

I think I like Mike Boone better for the #3 spot: violent runner. Aggressive. Strong. Seems durable. It might depend on his hands as I think Thomas has him in that department.

@"Jor-El" said: Is it a lock that we keep Ham? If Boone and Thomas are both better runners, they could keep both and use a RE when a blocking FB is (rarely) needed.

but when you need one you have one.  and Ham is a nifty enough runner and pass catcher himself to fill in as a #3 RB if needed.  lets not forget that Ham is likely the best in pass protection as well and we have a shiny new 84 million dollar toy to protect behind a oline that should be considered patchwork at best.

I dont know that we would get the same abilities from a TE used in that role without giving up some scheme advantages the Ham brings to the table.

I am leaning more Boone right now,  but its maybe just because thats the freshest memory,  but I like how low his pads are and his legs are like watching pistons on an engine thats wrapped out just firing up and down like a machine ready to explode at any time.

The one that can do the best in pass protection may have the best chance to stick on the roster.  Sounds like Boone did very well in pass protection last game.  Not sure how Thomas did, but I heard compliments about Boone.

@"HappyViking" said: The one that can do the best in pass protection may have the best chance to stick on the roster.  Sounds like Boone did very well in pass protection last game.  Not sure how Thomas did, but I heard compliments about Boone.

some reports have Boone struggling at PP and Thomas as doing a  good job of it,  but that might just be somebody trying to sell a take in an article.

We'll see how it plays out over the final two preseason games but the Vikings will ultimately have to decide which flavor of back they prefer. But based on the current personnel I'd have to imagine Boone has the slight edge since he brings something different to the table. Roc is talented but duplicates a lot of what Cook/Murray bring to the table.