Source: Vikings pondering a change with left tackle Riley Reiff

Hello! I've said this same thing, much to the chagrin of the board. Reiff is a subpar LT, he just is. If he were good, the Lions would not have let him go. Nobody lets a decent LT leave. 

Fingers crossed this is accurate. Like I said, if the team is REALLY serious about improving the line, move Reiff off LT. IMO, they are considering this because of O'Neill's aptitude: that kid is a LT. 

he played pretty good without the foot injury the previous year.   the biggest problem for Reiff at LT this year was that the team had no decent depth to let him sit out and heal up.  Reiff is about 3rd or 4th on the list of players that we need to be looking at replacing on that front 5.  and for the love of God if they go blindly into the season with RR penciled in as a starting OG... I am going to flip shit!

@"JimmyinSD" said: he played pretty good without the foot injury the previous year.   the biggest problem for Reiff at LT this year was that the team had no decent depth to let him sit out and heal up.  Reiff is about 3rd or 4th on the list of players that we need to be looking at replacing on that front 5.  and for the love of God if they go blindly into the season with RR penciled in as a starting OG... I am going to flip shit!

Agree with this. It's time to draft Reiff's replacement (as depth), but I don't want to see a bunch of experimenting on the line. We don't know how Reiff is going to play at guard. We don't know that O'Neill is ready to play on the left. The last thing I want is a "experimental" year on the line.

As this line shifts from half-assed zone to full-on Kubiak zone, it wouldn't surprise me too much if we saw a whole new cast of characters (with a few obvious exceptions). Wouldn't surprise me at all if Reiff is traded. 

p.s. I think this possible switch will get 'pondered' a shitload more if the Vikes take an OT in the first round. 

We have our heir apparent for LT on the roster...whether it's next year or the following, O'Neill will be that guy...if we put a better G next to Reiff, I think his play improves...improvements to interior line play puts this team back in the playoffs...with little cap available, it's got to come from the draft and a return to form by Elf...gimme two guys who can play the interior by the end of Day Two and we should be ok... 

@"StickyBun" said: p.s. I think this possible switch will get 'pondered' a shitload more if the Vikes take an OT in the first round. 

They currently have 2 starting OTs,  if they are going to take another OT it better be because he is capable of playing OG.  we currently have 2 starting level OTs on the roster and with the return of Collins that gives us a little depth again. ( there was another guy they were high on as well that got hurt)  so IMO we are ok at OT,  its the interior that needs to get fixed and soon... and I dont go for using guys that havent played the position before as a fix.  kicking Fusco from RG to LG,  taking Remmers from RT to RG, enough of the mad scientist shit... I want an OL that is not only playing at position because they are good there,  but one that has a little depth at those positions to allow for an injury here or there.

honestly... how bad was the move to bring in Jones?  we lose a 5th round pick for a  guy that couldnt sniff the field even though we were absolute shit at his positions.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: p.s. I think this possible switch will get 'pondered' a shitload more if the Vikes take an OT in the first round. 

They currently have 2 starting OTs,  if they are going to take another OT it better be because he is capable of playing OG.  we currently have 2 starting level OTs on the roster and with the return of Collins that gives us a little depth again. ( there was another guy they were high on as well that got hurt)  so IMO we are ok at OT,  its the interior that needs to get fixed and soon... and I dont go for using guys that havent played the position before as a fix.  kicking Fusco from RG to LG,  taking Remmers from RT to RG, enough of the mad scientist shit... I want an OL that is not only playing at position because they are good there,  but one that has a little depth at those positions to allow for an injury here or there.

honestly... how bad was the move to bring in Jones?  we lose a 5th round pick for a  guy that couldnt sniff the field even though we were absolute shit at his positions.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: p.s. I think this possible switch will get 'pondered' a shitload more if the Vikes take an OT in the first round. 

They currently have 2 starting OTs,  if they are going to take another OT it better be because he is capable of playing OG.  we currently have 2 starting level OTs on the roster and with the return of Collins that gives us a little depth again. ( there was another guy they were high on as well that got hurt)  so IMO we are ok at OT,  its the interior that needs to get fixed and soon... and I dont go for using guys that havent played the position before as a fix.  kicking Fusco from RG to LG,  taking Remmers from RT to RG, enough of the mad scientist shit... I want an OL that is not only playing at position because they are good there,  but one that has a little depth at those positions to allow for an injury here or there.

honestly... how bad was the move to bring in Jones?  we lose a 5th round pick for a  guy that couldnt sniff the field even though we were absolute shit at his positions.

Well, the team might feel differently if this 'inside' info rumor is true. I'm a fan of improving the line and that means moving Reiff. Don't care about the rest. Its not just the interior that needs fixing, its LT. And if O'Neill moves over to LT, than its RT that's needed. 

If the team moves Reiff to another position, than they certainly know better than anyone. I like that mindset. The best potential line for 2019 could very well be O'Neill-Easton-Elflein-Reiff-1st round rookie OT. 

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: p.s. I think this possible switch will get 'pondered' a shitload more if the Vikes take an OT in the first round. 

They currently have 2 starting OTs,  if they are going to take another OT it better be because he is capable of playing OG.  we currently have 2 starting level OTs on the roster and with the return of Collins that gives us a little depth again. ( there was another guy they were high on as well that got hurt)  so IMO we are ok at OT,  its the interior that needs to get fixed and soon... and I dont go for using guys that havent played the position before as a fix.  kicking Fusco from RG to LG,  taking Remmers from RT to RG, enough of the mad scientist shit... I want an OL that is not only playing at position because they are good there,  but one that has a little depth at those positions to allow for an injury here or there.

honestly... how bad was the move to bring in Jones?  we lose a 5th round pick for a  guy that couldnt sniff the field even though we were absolute shit at his positions.

Well, the team might feel differently if this 'inside' info rumor is true. I'm a fan of improving the line and that means moving Reiff. Don't care about the rest. Its not just the interior that needs fixing, its LT. And if O'Neill moves over to LT, than its RT that's needed. 

If the team moves Reiff to another position, than they certainly know better than anyone. I like that mindset. The best potential line for 2019 could very well be O'Neill-Easton-Elflein-Reiff-1st round rookie OT. 

 well  I will never say I know more than those in the know with the team,  but I think we can question shit coming from a spielman led team when it comes to OL matters.  His track record isnt very good and certainly not above discussion on the matter.

There's about 4 + OTs in the draft that could easily kick inside...there should be at least 2 at #18 if not all 4...

One blind spot they seem to have is, when one lineman gets injured and they change two positions on the line. Then they spew out the mantra, " We want the best 5 linemen out there ". 
It never seems to work. 
I tend to agree with Jimmy regarding some positional stability, and stop all the damn experimentation. 

@"jargomcfargo" said: One blind spot they seem to have is, when one lineman gets injured and they change two positions on the line. Then they spew out the mantra, " We want the best 5 linemen out there ".  It never seems to work.  I tend to agree with Jimmy regarding some positional stability, and stop all the damn experimentation. 

Agreed.  Reiff played very well in 17.  Didn't give up a sack forever.  Last year, he struggled when the foot was bothering him, but came back and played solid.  The swinging gate next to him probably didn't help his play.  I expect him to lock down that spot for another year while O'Neill grows and learns. 

Lets focus on guards please. And leave the solid performers along.  This article smacks of typical off-season creative writing.

Reiff can kick inside and produce at a high level way faster than a rookie OT.  Guy is a captain for a reason

When I look at our past OLine issues, so much of our
problems come from making risky choices and hoping they turn out.  In 2018, Reiff was our only known quantity on
the OLine.  Every other position was a
question mark.  Right now, Reiff is still
the only known quantity on the OLine. 
You can trust Reiff to be a starting caliber LT (PFF ranked 23rd
overall tackle at both positions).  I
think you can also sort of trust that O’Neill will get a little better than he
was last year on the right side.  I just
think it’s a risk with low reward to try and switch O’Neill and Reiff, seeing
that Reiff sucked at RT the one year he did it, and O’Neill has never played
their in the pros.  I think it would be a
massive risk to try converting Reiff to guard, and drafting a rookie to play
OT.  That’s just risky choices all over
the place.

I think it makes  a
lot more sense to draft a tackle, put the rookie at guard for a year or two to
develop and then let Reiff go in a year or two. 
Getting a top quality FA LG would go a long way towards mitigating risk
on the OLine, but I’d feel a lot better with two stabilizing forces on the
OLine than just one.  Regardless the more
risky your plan A is, the better your plan B has to be.

@"Bullazin" said: Reiff can kick inside and produce at a high level way faster than a rookie OT.  Guy is a captain for a reason

what does captain have to do with position flexibility?   LJ is a team captain,  but I dont think he would do shit at DE or LB.

Has making our tackles into guards ever worked out? I don't remember any, but it could be because I cant see beyond the failed Remmers experiment...

Keep Reiff at LT, keep O'Neill at RT for now. Sign either Saffold or Easton at LG, move Elflein to RG. Draft Risner at 18 to play center (Risner also gives us depth at every other position except left tackle). Draft future LT or RT Edoga in the 3rd.

With Collins and Isidora as experienced depth, this is suddenly a solid, versatile and deep offensive line with 3 players capable of playing center (if Easton), 5 at tackle (if Saffold) and 5 at guard. 

@"StickyBun" said: Hello! I've said this same thing, much to the chagrin of the board. Reiff is a subpar LT, he just is. If he were good, the Lions would not have let him go. Nobody lets a decent LT leave. 

Fingers crossed this is accurate. Like I said, if the team is REALLY serious about improving the line, move Reiff off LT. IMO, they are considering this because of O'Neill's aptitude: that kid is a LT. 

That's not entirely accurate...  the Lions let him go because Taylor Decker (who they drafted as a RT) impressed them enough they moved him over to LT.  Then they took Reiff who was a league average LT and flipped him to the right side where he struggled enough that the Lions wanted a true RT and let him go.
Reiff was solid for us his first year...  dependable just like he was in Detroit before they made him switch to the right side. Honestly, I'd rather just keep Reiff at LT, get a LG, and keep O'Neill at RT where he played really well.  I'd hate to mess with his development by making him switch sides going into his second year.
Also, who knows how Reiff will hold up as a LG...  the coaching staff seemed to think that Remmers would do fine sliding in from RT to RG and that blew up in their faces.  But hey...  let's try it again and see if works out...

@"MaroonBells" said: Keep Reiff at LT, keep O'Neill at RT for now. Sign either Saffold or Easton at LG, move Elflein to RG. Draft Risner at 18 to play center (Risner also gives us depth at every other position except left tackle). Draft future LT or RT Edoga in the 3rd.

With Collins and Isidora as experienced depth, this is suddenly a solid, versatile and deep offensive line with 3 players capable of playing center (if Easton), 5 at tackle (if Saffold) and 5 at guard. 

i am with all of that except moving Elf.   I know he was a good OG in college,  but i really question if he has the lead in his ass to play OG in the pros.  at Center he is a bit protected from having to single up on a monster DT,  but at OG he will find himself without help quite a bit.   and I really thought he played C quite well as a rookie and that he could still show a lot of improvement and growth at the position.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Keep Reiff at LT, keep O'Neill at RT for now. Sign either Saffold or Easton at LG, move Elflein to RG. Draft Risner at 18 to play center (Risner also gives us depth at every other position except left tackle). Draft future LT or RT Edoga in the 3rd.

With Collins and Isidora as experienced depth, this is suddenly a solid, versatile and deep offensive line with 3 players capable of playing center (if Easton), 5 at tackle (if Saffold) and 5 at guard. 

i am with all of that except moving Elf.   I know he was a good OG in college,  but i really question if he has the lead in his ass to play OG in the pros.  at Center he is a bit protected from having to single up on a monster DT,  but at OG he will find himself without help quite a bit.   and I really thought he played C quite well as a rookie and that he could still show a lot of improvement and growth at the position.