Minnesota Sports Forum

Getting Smith it feels like getting two similar valued players (both have question marks) at RT in Loadholt and Smith and that seems much better than just one who is retiring from a pretty significant injury. We now have 4 options at RT with Clemmings and Harris.

I don't know if Sully can be healthy or not. I hope so but if he can't the Vikings have 2 young developmental guys in Kerin and Easton that could be good depth behind Berger and fill in at guard. Of course we don't really know because I don't think either guy has played any snaps in regular season games but that doesn't mean they are worthless either.

I love that Asiata is back although it doesn't seem like any type of surprise. Dude can do pretty much anything you want a backup depth RB to do. It looked like a he dropped a little weight and had a sliver more burst and wiggle than he had before. Nice to have someone so versatile to combine with AP, Line and McKinnon.

monsterpile wrote:Getting Smith it feels like getting two similar valued players (both have question marks) at RT in Loadholt and Smith and that seems much better than just one who is retiring from a pretty significant injury. We now have 4 options at RT with Clemmings and Harris.

I don't know if Sully can be healthy or not. I hope so but if he can't the Vikings have 2 young developmental guys in Kerin and Easton that could be good depth behind Berger and fill in at guard. Of course we don't really know because I don't think either guy has played any snaps in regular season games but that doesn't mean they are worthless either.

I love that Asiata is back although it doesn't seem like any type of surprise. Dude can do pretty much anything you want a backup depth RB to do. It looked like a he dropped a little weight and had a sliver more burst and wiggle than he had before. Nice to have someone so versatile to combine with AP, Line and McKinnon.

I wonder what Loadholdt's contract is like My understanding is nothing it guaranteed so he could be cut in camp. If he comes to camp and looks good and makes the team that his borderline as good as Smith. What do we do? I wonder if either of them could play RG. That would be a mammoth right side of the line.

I don't feel like any of the line moves outside of Boone are guaranteed upgrades though. Smith may be better than Clemmings, but I still don't have confidence in this line all of a sudden. We seemed to take a quantity over quality approach to it and who knows if it will pay off. If Kalil regresses I'm not confident with anyone on the team replacing him. I predict Kalil/Boone/Berger/Harris/Smith with Sully and Loadholt being too injured to return and/or be good anymore. That's an ok upgrade, but nothing special in my opinion. I don't see it turning the line into a strength and maybe it doesn't need to be, but I see a lot of guys fighting for fewer spots and we haven't even gotten to the draft yet.

bleedspeed177 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:Getting Smith it feels like getting two similar valued players (both have question marks) at RT in Loadholt and Smith and that seems much better than just one who is retiring from a pretty significant injury. We now have 4 options at RT with Clemmings and Harris.

I don't know if Sully can be healthy or not. I hope so but if he can't the Vikings have 2 young developmental guys in Kerin and Easton that could be good depth behind Berger and fill in at guard. Of course we don't really know because I don't think either guy has played any snaps in regular season games but that doesn't mean they are worthless either.

I love that Asiata is back although it doesn't seem like any type of surprise. Dude can do pretty much anything you want a backup depth RB to do. It looked like a he dropped a little weight and had a sliver more burst and wiggle than he had before. Nice to have someone so versatile to combine with AP, Line and McKinnon.

I wonder what Loadholdt's contract is like My understanding is nothing it guaranteed so he could be cut in camp. If he comes to camp and looks good and makes the team that his borderline as good as Smith. What do we do? I wonder if either of them could play RG. That would be a mammoth right side of the line.

I think they will just let the best man win and have the other one as a backup unless someone really sucks at the guard spots. Every year teams lose key members on the line it would be nice to have a solid guy ready.

khans2k5 wrote:I don't feel like any of the line moves outside of Boone are guaranteed upgrades though. Smith may be better than Clemmings, but I still don't have confidence in this line all of a sudden. We seemed to take a quantity over quality approach to it and who knows if it will pay off. If Kalil regresses I'm not confident with anyone on the team replacing him. I predict Kalil/Boone/Berger/Harris/Smith with Sully and Loadholt being too injured to return and/or be good anymore. That's an ok upgrade, but nothing special in my opinion. I don't see it turning the line into a strength and maybe it doesn't need to be, but I see a lot of guys fighting for fewer spots and we haven't even gotten to the draft yet.

Yeah it's no guarantee but they have added some vet guys that have been at the very least solid or good players in the past. The elite olineman aren't usually available and when they do...well it's gonna cost you and there will be a number of teams trying to get them. I agree that LT spot is a concern if Kalil goes down...who steps in?

I would like to see them still add a player in the draft. If a future LT is on the board at 23 I would take him. I also would be looking at drafting one of the top centers this year.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I would like to see them still add a player in the draft. If a future LT is on the board at 23 I would take him. I also would be looking at drafting one of the top centers this year.

Didn't the guy who filled in for Sully get rated as one of the best centers in the league last year?
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/12/14/pro-joe-berger-the-nfls-most-underrated-player/

I don't think center is an issue that needs to be addressed this draft. Simply upgrading the talent to either side of berger should be more than enough for a year or two, assuming of course Sully doesn't win back his job.

I am just worried about him being 34 years old.

Does this Brian Leonhardt signing effect what they will do with Zach Line? Has Line been resigned and BSPN not updated it?

Oh, and Boom.

I'd be cool with drafting a LT in round 1 (maybe Dekker drops to us) and letting Kalil walk almost regardless of how he performs to save some cap space going into next year. That'd be helpful to keeping everyone by getting a new LT on a 5 year rookie deal.