Minnesota Sports Forum

Interesting read.

https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/03/improvement-on-vikings-o-line-may-rest-on-progress-from-oneill-elflein/

Another read. This is a dark piece on Elfein. It doesn't paint a good picture. I think the behinds the scenes stuff with him is important and only insiders will know where he was health-wise last year. He came out as a power player and he had to be lacking strength coming off those injuries. That said I really would like to draft Lamont Gaillard in the later rounds if we get a chance.

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2019/3/27/18284116/why-pat-elflein-needs-serious-competition-at-center

bleedspeed177 wrote:Another read. This is a dark piece on Elfein. It doesn't paint a good picture. I think the behinds the scenes stuff with him is important and only insiders will know where he was health-wise last year. He came out as a power player and he had to be lacking strength coming off those injuries. That said I really would like to draft Lamont Gaillard in the later rounds if we get a chance.

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2019/3/27/18284116/why-pat-elflein-needs-serious-competition-at-center

I stopped reading when the author kept saying these clips showed a lack of effort. I don't see it.

I looked at it more he can't finish blocks. Which he did struggle at last year.

He has that wrestling background so I think he will be fine if he has the strength. He should have that back this year. If he does I think he could play C or RG.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I looked at it more he can't finish blocks. Which he did struggle at last year.

He has that wrestling background so I think he will be fine if he has the strength. He should have that back this year. If he does I think he could play C or RG.

Sure I'll agree with the idea he isn't finishing blocks or didn't have the strength. I just had a problem with the author first thing he mentions is effort and then has clips that IMHO show nothing worth suggesting calling out his effort. Other stuff? Sure. Also as much of a Brett Jones fan as I am I know some people early in the season were saying he was getting blown back at times because he just wasn't big enough. IDK how frequently that happened or how much of a problem it was but that could have been partly why Elf was in there instead. Of course...how much benefit of the doubt do we give the Vikings when it comes to oline decisions??? ugh

Good question! I really hope Dennison is a miracle worker. I do think as we sit we have 5 guys that can play, but if we have an injury we have nobody. Reiff, Collins, Elfein, Kline, and O'Neill could grow into a solid unit over the year. I still hope we get lucky in the draft and either get Jonah Williams or Cody Ford. Willaims would be ideal as our LG of the present and future. Ford to me seems like more of RG or RT. Even Bradbury would help as a true zone center.

bleedspeed177 wrote:Good question! I really hope Dennison is a miracle worker. I do think as we sit we have 5 guys that can play, but if we have an injury we have nobody. Reiff, Collins, Elfein, Kline, and O'Neill could grow into a solid unit over the year. I still hope we get lucky in the draft and either get Jonah Williams or Cody Ford. Willaims would be ideal as our LG of the present and future. Ford to me seems like more of RG or RT. Even Bradbury would help as a true zone center.

I think Rashod Hill is a fine backup Tackle. Is he good? No but I think he can go out there and not suck for the most part for a few games and really what more can you ask for a backup swing tackle? I like Collins but we really don't know if he can play and we don't know where he is actually good at playing. At this point we are looking at having lost 3 vets in Remmers Compton and Brett Jones and replaces them with Kline. Not many guys on a like like ours are worth getting too concerned about BUT at worst all those guys were legit depth players a lot of team wouldn't mind having. Losing them isn't nothing. On the other hand it's not out of the question to improve on each spot especially with guys that maybe fit what is needed more both in terms of position they play and whatever scheme we run. Right now there is really a real chance of this line being an even bigger disaster than last year. There is also a real chance for at least decent improvement. There are so many factors that could pull it one way or another. Gonna be something to see it play out. The Vikings are always interesting. :)

I forgot about Hill. I feel like Collins was a big part of the plans last year until he went down. He was the backup swing tackle with Hill starting and played a ton in the preseason. He has the profile to be good. I hope we don't get to find out and land a pair of guys in the draft we have to start.

If we get worse I hope we also went young.

We got him!!

https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/04/vikings-re-sign-linemen-brett-jones/

bleedspeed177 wrote:We got him!!

https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/04/vikings-re-sign-linemen-brett-jones/

To me that seems like a bargain. I'm a fan of both guys and Easton's cap hit for this year is pretty cheap but Jones is going to make 2-3 times less and we may get a comp pick because of the Easton signing? Sounds pretty good to me considering we signed Kline. When is the draft? I'm ready!