Minnesota Sports Forum

I am with you Monster. I like this kid as a draft prospect. Sounds like he needs a year of development.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/roderick-johnson?id=2558114

bleedspeed177 wrote:I am with you Monster. I like this kid as a draft prospect. Sounds like he needs a year of development.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/roderick-johnson?id=2558114

Man his strengths!!! Then they bring you down with his weaknessses but his strengths make him sounds amazing!!!! Lol

Funny isn't it. The question is can he play? Being ACC OL of the year 2 years in a row and only being 21 years old seems to point to yes. It sounds like he has the instincts and tools. I wonder if he is coachable? Did he not work on the other areas because he was dominating?

bleedspeed177 wrote:Funny isn't it. The question is can he play? Being ACC OL of the year 2 years in a row and only being 21 years old seems to point to yes. It sounds like he has the instincts and tools. I wonder if he is coachable? Did he not work on the other areas because he was dominating?

The most troubling was when the report talked about his lack of balance. That seems like a lack of instinct the way it read to me. Like you said he sounds like a possible developmental guy I'm intrigued just reading the scouting report. With the way the league is going (more and more athletic ability heck look at the Vikings DEs) you wonder if the best thing to do is just get the best raw athlete that is willing to work hard and see what you can do.

Are you saying I have no hope in improving my balance and flexibility? (Yoga seems to be helping a bit)


I worry about drafting guys that can't play, but have the tools. Beavers and Clemmings are those guys. We might need a mix. That is partially why I love that center from Ohio State Pat Elfein.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/pat-elflein?id=2557879

OVERVIEW
Elflein (pronounced ELF-line) naturally wanted to be a Buckeye after growing up in Pinkerington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The all-state pick (and four-year wrestler) was certainly coveted by Ohio State, as well. He didn't get on the field much in his first two years (redshirted in 2012, reserve with one start in 2013), but then met his promise starting as a sophomore. Elflein earned the first of his three first-team All-Big Ten seasons that year, starting three times at left guard and 12 on the right side. In 2015, he received second-team Associated Press All-American status while dominating at right guard in every game. The team needed him to move to center as a senior, and his play resulted in first-team All-American recognition from various media outlets.

BOTTOM LINE Elflein is a smart, tireless worker with a winning background and experience at all three interior offensive line spots. While his feet are just average, his core strength and wrestling background could make him a favorite of teams looking for more strength at the center position. Elflein will have occasional issues in pass protection, but his strength as a run blocker and ability to play with excellent hands and plus body control should make him one of the first interior linemen to come off the draft board.


VIA ESPN INSIDER

Overall Football Traits
Production 1
Height-Weight-Speed 3
Durability 2
Intangibles 1

1 = EXCEPTIONAL2 = ABOVE AVERAGE3 = AVERAGE4 = BELOW AVERAGE5 = MARGINAL

Offensive Center Specific Traits

Pass Protection 2 Quick set. Above average pop in initial punch. Keeps his feet moving while engaged and keeps working to get better leverage with hands. Will give up some ground initially versus powerful bull rush but almost always shows ability to sink and reset. Occasionally overextends. Defensive tackles with elite change-of-direction quickness can give him some trouble.

Run Blocking 2 Good initial quickness off the snap and consistently takes solid angles as a run blocker. Good initial pop. Fires his hands and has some shock. Strong hands to latch on. Appeared stronger in 2016. Not a bulldozer of a run blocker but he typically gets movement with initial strike, and then he grinds his legs and fights like crazy to finish. Runs pretty well on a straight-line and can reach most move blocks (second-level, pulls, zone reaches/seals) but he has athletic limitations in space. Occasionally has trouble hitting moving target on second level.

Awareness 1 Plays smart. Knows his opponents' tendencies and knows his assignments. Fast eyes to pick up defensive line games and blitzes. Nice job of locating targets on second level blocks and pulls. Very good timing on combo blocks. When uncovered initially, he shows very good patience and vision picking up late arrivals.

Toughness 1 Classic tough guy. Instigator who seeks out extra contact. Battles for four quarters. Ultra competitive. Loves the game and it shows on tape.

VIA ESPN INSIDER FOR R. JOHNSON LT

Overall Football Traits
Production 2
Height-Weight-Speed 2
Durability 1
Intangibles 3

1 = EXCEPTIONAL2 = ABOVE AVERAGE3 = AVERAGE4 = BELOW AVERAGE5 = MARGINAL

Offensive Tackle Specific Traits

Pass Protection 3 Quickness and length to protect the edge at the NFL level with improved technique. Inconsistent kick step and overextends at times at this point. Good balance and flashes ability to recover but elite edge rushers are capable of beating him to the inside or around the edge when his footwork isn't sound. Strong enough to anchor against most edge rushers. Waist bender that tends to set high though and occasionally gives too much ground to speed to power. Tough to shake once locked on but frequently wide with hands and occasionally gets beat clean by effective hand fighters.

Run Blocking 2 Gets into position and tends to wall off assignments long enough to create seam. Drives legs and flashes ability to move defenders off the ball but waist bender that gets stood up a little too much. Leans and infrequently ends up on ground. Athletic ability, quickness and length to develop into an effective zone blocker. Takes sound angles and above average job of cutting off backside linebacker working up to the second level.

Awareness 3 Adequate awareness in pass pro but a touch inconsistent recognizing pressure off the edge. Shows an average feel for zone but doesn't do a great job of adjusting on the fly as a run blocker and appears to take split second too long to locate assignment at times.

Toughness 2 Good effort and tends to block to the whistle. Flashes an edge and the ability to bury defenders but would like to see him play with a little more aggressiveness and physicality at times.

bleedspeed177 wrote:Are you saying I have no hope in improving my balance and flexibility? (Yoga seems to be helping a bit)

Yes you are hopeless. Jk

Ok funny story:

At a previous job we had various therapists come in and work with clients many from a specific company. One day my boss asked my what the number for the company was. So I pulled out a evaluation form out from a clients file and handed it to her. For some reason something caught my eye I had never noticed before. One of the clinics was called "R U Dizzy?" I couldn't believe it.

Speaking of that I just went up escalators that are basically in tubes on the side of this museum...after this trip I'm starting to think I need to do something about my issues with heights...oh boy.

Back to the balance thing. The way the writer talked the valence thing seemed to be like kinda a big deal. Idk I haven't even seen file but I do know some folks just have special balence and some have less or next to none. I think it's something you can improve on though obviously.

FA center market looks bad. I think any FA money we spend shoudl go to Tackle position and fix guard and center via draft.

http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/02/vikings-countdown-free-agency-centers/

I seriously would love to make Berger a backup to LG/C/RG next year or at least make him compete for a spot. I worry with him getting older that he might breakdown.

bleedspeed177 wrote:FA center market looks bad. I think any FA money we spend shoudl go to Tackle position and fix guard and center via draft.

http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/02/vikings-countdown-free-agency-centers/

I seriously would love to make Berger a backup to LG/C/RG next year or at least make him compete for a spot. I worry with him getting older that he might breakdown.

Why does Berger need to be a backup? He was the best C in the NFL 2 years ago and I don't think he was terrible last year. Berger and Boone seem to be a fine starting point.

I think it would be optimal if he was. He was our best lineman last year, but it would be a sign we got a lot younger and more talent. Not likely to happen though.

Great podscast on Vikings OL

http://www.1500espn.com/podcast/2017/02/whats-next-vikings-offensive-line-ep-190/

They gave hope to Clemmings at RT. Physical profile is perfect to OL.
Agreed they should have tried moving Boone to LT.
Like LT Riley Reiff would be a solid pick up. Remmers would be a solid RT and might be a good value.

Solid would be a huge upgrade for this team.