Need to find a solution for Elflein

I sure understand why they drafted a new center. They are hoping Elf can develop into a guard. I hope so too, but have my doubts.

Lol, clearly better.  Against lesser talent of course.

Elf missed on a few, but he wasn't awful today.  Held up pretty well against a great defensive line.

I don't think he is in the plans for very much longer with this team. 

I'll have to watch again, but seeing as Fletcher Cox was a non-factor, I'm not sure anyone on the interior was worthy of being called out.

I also would say that he had one of his better days today. The one quick sack was the only real glaring bad spot for the line. Those happen. He looked like he didn't even have a clue where his guy went. Just blew right past him. 

Thing about OL play (and it applies to every team): They are successful on most plays... but the few times that they are beaten, it is REALLY noticeable.  What isn't noticeable is all the times that they had successful blocks.  
That being said... Elf seems to have fewer successful blocks than I'd like to see...

@"TBro" said: He whiffed on so many blocks today. He just doesn't have any strength to hold up at the point of attack, and when they put him on the move, he often misses his assignment and fails to make contact with his man. Eagles line made him look silly today. Unfortunately with Klein out, Sumia supposedly not ready, Reiff banged up, I'm not sure what we do except give Jones a shot. For some unknown reason they refuse to play him even though he clearly performed better than Elf in the preseason. 

  There was a play that made Elf look bad, but he was expecting help from the inside.
  Do we even know what his assignment was? We know there was miscommunication, but was it Elflein or was it Bradbury?

Vikings need to keep plugging on OL draft picks in this upcoming draft. 

IIRC on the one glaring bad play it looked like Elf was expecting more than just a quick chip from Bradbury,  Elf looked outside and then was sliding to pick up the DT but Bradbury had already let him go,  I dont think I have enough information on that one to say who screwed up.  Just like on a later play when Dozier blocked down and ONeill blocked out and nobody accounted for Cox... Fletcher freaking Cox went unaccounted for.   Elf is the weak link currently,  but we know he has the game to play with these guys,  his rookie year was no mirage,  he just needs to get back to where he was only this time from the OG spot.

The OL only gave up 1 sack, and it was the first time this season the Philly D allowed more than 100 yards rushing (Vikes had 122).  It's not like the Vikes played a bunch of scrubs out there.  Maybe Elf is the weakest link, but I'm betting yesterday was far from his worst game. 

They also had Hill in there at LT, and Dozier in at RG.  Overall that group handled the Philly DL pretty well.  I was surprised by the pass protection yesterday.  I thought KC would be running for his life all afternoon, but that wasn't the case.

lol yes he whiffed on a couple but he also crushed a lot more.  What I do not like is his standing in space looking for somebody to hit on pass protection.  Tells me he either thinks it is somebody else;s man or he had no clue who he should block.  

@"mjollnir_k" said: lol yes he whiffed on a couple but he also crushed a lot more.  What I do not like is his standing in space looking for somebody to hit on pass protection.  Tells me he either thinks it is somebody else;s man or he had no clue who he should block.  

I prefer him to accept being beat and looking for somebody else to block than to turn and chase the man that is already through the hole and thus letting LBs come walking in behind him.  It sucks when an OLman gets beat,  but to often they compound the problem by turning their back to the LOS and that is a green light for any LBs that might be considering coming,  or a stunt that is designed to loop around as well.   

Elf is grading out decent.  Bradbury is not.  Give them a year to work together and I bet we see much better results.  

@"HappyViking" said:

The OL only gave up 1 sack, and it was the first time this season the Philly D allowed more than 100 yards rushing (Vikes had 122).  It's not like the Vikes played a bunch of scrubs out there.  Maybe Elf is the weakest link, but I'm betting yesterday was far from his worst game. 

They also had Hill in there at LT, and Dozier in at RG.  Overall that group handled the Philly DL pretty well.  I was surprised by the pass protection yesterday.  I thought KC would be running for his life all afternoon, but that wasn't the case.

Philly D hasn't been getting after the QB other than the Jets rookie last week.  And part of it was jumping to an early lead, our offense had them thinking run all day.  But it was a good day, and I will take it.

@"StickyBun" said: Vikings need to keep plugging on OL draft picks in this upcoming draft. 

We do but we also need to draft a QB high up there and most of our deffensive backfield is up on their contracts. 

A lot of folks here are probably older fans like me who were around to watch it all in the 70's.   So do you remember what they used to say back then before the internet age of instant gratification?  When a new coach/gm took over a team, they would say they had a 5 year plan.  Zimmer's 5 year plan revolved around Teddy on O and that all unraveled due to the knee.    And when they talked about an oline, they would say the same guys needed to play together for a few years, as many as 5 I remembering hearing, to be really good together.  

Maybe Elflein just needs more time to get his ankle right, get his game right, etc.   Work with a rookie center, get the chemistry going, learn the new Kubiak/Dennison scheme.  We are a whopping 6 games into this first year of that scheme and of Bradbury's career.   Who knows, maybe it really does take some time to develop, even though people nowadays think spouting something on the internet like "HE SUCKS" or "BUST" means so very much after watching a couple games of a very young fellow's career.

@"comet52" said: A lot of folks here are probably older fans like me who were around to watch it all in the 70's.   So do you remember what they used to say back then before the internet age of instant gratification?  When a new coach/gm took over a team, they would say they had a 5 year plan.  Zimmer's 5 year plan revolved around Teddy on O and that all unraveled due to the knee.    And when they talked about an oline, they would say the same guys needed to play together for a few years, as many as 5 I remembering hearing, to be really good together.  

Maybe Elflein just needs more time to get his ankle right, get his game right, etc.   Work with a rookie center, get the chemistry going, learn the new Kubiak/Dennison scheme.  We are a whopping 6 games into this first year of that scheme and of Bradbury's career.   Who knows, maybe it really does take some time to develop, even though people nowadays think spouting something on the internet like "HE SUCKS" or "BUST" means so very much after watching a couple games of a very young fellow's career.

Not giving up on him yet but he was the lowest rated Center in the League by a country mile last year. And not athletically as strong of a fit in an OZBS. He's also stuck out like a sore thumb vs. Kline, a journeyman vet.

Honestly, I like him as a swing interior backup for Center and Guard ala Berger. I also want to see an upgrade from Reiff. Time together to gel doesn't overcome a lack of ability to handle speed rushers.

We are seeing now why Dozier is a career backup. Kline, get back soon. Dru Samia must be raw as sushi still.

@"StickyBun" said: We are seeing now why Dozier is a career backup. Kline, get back soon. Dru Samia must be raw as sushi still.

Kline has been a pleasant surprise for sure.

@"greediron" said:

@"StickyBun" said: We are seeing now why Dozier is a career backup. Kline, get back soon. Dru Samia must be raw as sushi still.

Kline has been a pleasant surprise for sure.