bleedspeed177 wrote:Looks like Dozier- G, Jones-C, and Wilson are back.
I like the Sharpe signing. It sounds like he only has one drop in his NFL career.
Ameer is back too. I like getting Dozier back he seems like a really solid wont be terrible backup at 4 spots. Jones...will he ever play? The way some LBs have gotten paid this offseason Wilson could find himself with a nice payday a year from now.
After the lions signed Allison from GB Wolfson said he thought maybe he would be someone the Vikings would be interested in. He said they weren't. Just comparing the 2 guys it seems like Sharpe is likely the better player. A bit better stats with inferior QB play in 1 less game. With all the injuries GB has had at that position there seemed to be opportunities for Allison. Most GB fans don't seem upset about him leaving. Sharpe was more polished and even ran a faster time coming out of the draft. Allison sounded like a project and maybe still is to some extent. Sharpe is the guy that will be where he is supposed to be and do what he is supposed to do and catch the ball. Sounds solid to me. Like someone on Twitter pointed out Allison might have a harder time seeing the field as a Lion than he did with GB.
I didn't get the bringing back Jones. I think Elfein would make a good backup center and can play both LG/RG. We need an LG badly. I liked that Dozier could also play some tackle.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I didn't get the bringing back Jones. I think Elfein would make a good backup center and can play both LG/RG. We need an LG badly. I liked that Dozier could also play some tackle.
Jones is back for the minimum. Keep in mind that they can save over 2 million in cap space if they move on from Elfein which idk if that will happen but it's an option. I think there is a good chance one of those guys doesn't make the team. Jones cap hit is $750,000 I don't see anywhere that any of his salary is guaranteed but I would guess some of it is. Jones at one point was considered at worst a solid depth guy. If he is still that guy getting him on a vet min salary that's pretty good. Another way to look is compare him to Kline instead who would have cost over 4x as much in salary...which isn't a big number but still. I think Kline is Obviously better but how much better?
I am sure they can get out of both deals without out much of a cap hit. It will be interesting what they do in the draft. I think the should be able to find a starting LG in the 3rd round.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I am sure they can get out of both deals without out much of a cap hit. It will be interesting what they do in the draft. I think the should be able to find a starting LG in the 3rd round.
One other thing to consider is that teams now will have another Olineman active on game day. When I saw that I immediately thought that could help the case for a guy like Brett Jones because he is versatile but can't play tackle. Last year Elfein obviously could have played center and Kline had done it in preseason in the past. If they draft a guy that plays one of the guard spots they may not have that guy take on that responsibility as a rookie Which would leave a spot available for another guy that would be active that can play center. Wasn't Jones strength in pass protection? Maybe they embrace the analytics and do a platoon. lol
I was thinking about platooning OL. I make sense. In short-yardage, if you have a road grader type that sucks at pass blocking, but can move a pile. Why not put him in and run behind him. You could do the same on 3rd and long by having a guy that is better at pass protection. I still worry about Bradbury at the center spot. He struggles when he is covered.
I love this serious. I am comfortable with Udoh being our RT and O'Neal going to LG or LT. I am wonder if we would still release Rieff at this point. I would be tempted to after the draft. Also I saw what you said about Elfein. They are mentioning releasing him. I guess I could see that with cheaper option and not thinking he will ever be a starter.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I love this serious. I am comfortable with Udoh being our RT and O'Neal going to LG or LT. I am wonder if we would still release Rieff at this point. I would be tempted to after the draft. Also I saw what you said about Elfein. They are mentioning releasing him. I guess I could see that with cheaper option and not thinking he will ever be a starter.
I also heard Johnny Athletic say Anthony Harris and Vikings are not having much luck on a long term contract. He might be traded on draft night.
I guess they answered the age old question..."can he play guard?" lol It was an interesting/unexpected direction and they laid out their reasoning well. I can't remember the interview I listened to if it was Kubiak or Spielman but I got the idea that they weren't really looking at moving O'Neill over. They said it was an option if needed but they feel like he is pretty good over there. Of course that is what they could be saying now and end up with him there and cutting Reiff but...yeah. Keeping him at RT seems fairly prudent at this point. Why mess with a good thing? I think O'Neill moving at some point could happen but that mean they haven't found another LT and a guy like Udoh looks like he is the guy at RT. The Vikings Tackles seem kinda decent with Reiff being not terrible O'neill being pretty good and Hill a pretty solid backup. Udoh looks like a solid developmental guy. the Interior...has really nothing that fully gives me confidence although Bradbury is clearly the type of prospect that you assume will be at least kinda good at some point...but he isn't there yet. O'Neill has 2 more years before they need to pay him...or he gets paid by someone else.
FWIW That's also what Wolfson said about Harris as well on his latest podcast.
I just don't see Udoh moving to guard when he has only played RT. That is a lot to ask of a 6th rounder that was considered to have low football IQ. I can see O'Neill at LG though. He has played both tackles spots on both sides and working next to Reiff might help him transition to LT. If we don't draft an LT we likely will have to consider O'Neal at LT in the future. He is not your typical RT by any means, but maybe he is for a zone-blocking scheme. A line of Rieff, O'Neill, Bradbury, Samia, Odoh could work pretty well. The right side would have some nastiness to it and O'Neill and Bradbury are great athletes for the positions.
If Andrew Thomas fell to us in the draft we would be in great shape up front.
