Supposedly, we are trying to bring back Trevor Semien... I'm a bit surrpised by that... given all the machinations to keep Sloter off the practice squad, they are basically saying he is not ready to be a backup. Personally, I wouldn't waste cap space on Trevor. Sloter has shown enough in pre-season to make me think he can be a capable backup at this point. He's been on the team for two years now, so... I say save that cash for someone else.

I don't agree with how they've been using the limited money available this offseason. If they use what little money they have to lock in a backup QB over OL help I'll be at a loss.

 

I don't agree with how they've been using the limited money available this offseason. If they use what little money they have to lock in a backup QB over OL help I'll be at a loss.

 

backup QB is going to be important, given the OL   

Dan Bailey is back on a minimum deal, $500k cap hit.

 

Dan Bailey is back on a minimum deal, $500k cap hit.

 

Only 250K guaranteed, I thought. So, he is either better than the rookie they bring in, or he's cut and there is no real cost. Another weak link on a supposedly great team, though.

 

Supposedly, we are trying to bring back Trevor Semien... I'm a bit surrpised by that... given all the machinations to keep Sloter off the practice squad, they are basically saying he is not ready to be a backup. Personally, I wouldn't waste cap space on Trevor. Sloter has shown enough in pre-season to make me think he can be a capable backup at this point. He's been on the team for two years now, so... I say save that cash for someone else. 

 

Yeah, if you have to go to Semien you're not making the playoffs anyway so what's the point? At least Sloter has the aura of the unknown still surrounding him. Semien made it clear long ago that he isn't capable of running an offense.

 

Only 250K guaranteed, I thought. So, he is either better than the rookie they bring in, or he's cut and there is no real cost. Another weak link on a supposedly great team, though.

 

I assumed the kicker was always going to be a question mark. I don't think there was any way to change that.

Bailey is the least of the team's problems. They need OL help badly. I'm also curious if the next man up can replace Richardson. That one will be tough. 

 

Bailey is the least of the team's problems. They need OL help badly. I'm also curious if the next man up can replace Richardson. That one will be tough. 

 

Spielman's had one really excellent draft, a few decent drafts and a couple of clunkers.

 

He's going to need to pull out his best one yet though if they're going to need to fill two OL and an interior D-lineman with day one starters, not to mention enough additional guys to make up for the lack of depth on the OL, LB and secondary.

 

And frankly, I wanted at least three new OL starters; I really wanted to kick Reiff to guard or RT. That seems unlikely now.

Spielman's had one really excellent draft, a few decent drafts and a couple of clunkers.

 

He's going to need to pull out his best one yet though if they're going to need to fill two OL and an interior D-lineman with day one starters, not to mention enough additional guys to make up for the lack of depth on the OL, LB and secondary.

 

And frankly, I wanted at least three new OL starters; I really wanted to kick Reiff to guard or RT. That seems unlikely now.

As did I. Which makes the Barr re-signing mind.boggling. to me. I don't like paying him 3-4 pass rushing LB money when he doesn't rush the passer.

One playoff win....I think we are looking at Jeff Fischer at coach and mediocrity at GM.

One playoff win....I think we are looking at Jeff Fischer at coach and mediocrity at GM.

I wish. Jeff Fisher at least made it to a Super Bowl, and with a far less talented roster.

 

One playoff win....I think we are looking at Jeff Fischer at coach and mediocrity at GM.

 

I hated Jeff Fischer, he had to have been the luckiest coach ever. Zimmer is miles better than this team's last three coaches and unlike those guys I think Zimmer would be snapped up by another team ASAP if the Vikings fired him. I wouldn't mind a change just to shake it up, but I don't see Zimmer as the problem.

 

Spielman has lived by a handful of great moves, but he hasn't had nearly enough consistently competent moves, I think he needs to go.

 

As did I. Which makes the Barr re-signing mind.boggling. to me. I don't like paying him 3-4 pass rushing LB money when he doesn't rush the passer.

 

I don't know, if they would have let Barr walk they'd have been down to one injury prone starting-capable LB as well. They would have been in a hole either way. There didn't look to be any standout free agent OL this year anyway, and I have no idea which ones fit the new zone blocking scheme. 

 

This team has screwed itself by only drafting and developing one competent lineman in the last decade. Spielman drafted Elflien, then Sullivan way back in 2008. I'll throw him a bone and say Fusco wasn't a bad get. He has no clue about drafting lineman, he should have been outsourcing his OL decision making long before he had a chance to take Willie Bearvers in round 4.

 

Better than nothing I guess.

If he's even close to average, that would be nice. I still want two IOL in the first three rounds, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

I hated Jeff Fischer, he had to have been the luckiest coach ever. Zimmer is miles better than this team's last three coaches and unlike those guys I think Zimmer would be snapped up by another team ASAP if the Vikings fired him. I wouldn't mind a change just to shake it up, but I don't see Zimmer as the problem.

 

Spielman has lived by a handful of great moves, but he hasn't had nearly enough consistently competent moves, I think he needs to go.

 

Backward looking offense, constantly firing the OC, punts on 4th and short....Zimmer is stuck in the past. If the Vikings had a QB, and Zimmer was replaced, they'd look like the Rams looked when Fischer was fired.

Kline is a better bet than Easton at a smaller cost. Solid signing.

I don't know enough about Kline. He doesn't look too large for an interior lineman, that might be part of the plan though. If he's average, it's an upgrade.

 

Looks like 7.25M guaranteed, not sure how much is coming in year one. I'd guess with the draft pick allotment this puts the Vikings over the cap?

 

I don't know enough about Kline. He doesn't look too large for an interior lineman, that might be part of the plan though. If he's average, it's an upgrade.

 

Looks like 7.25M guaranteed, not sure how much is coming in year one. I'd guess with the draft pick allotment this puts the Vikings over the cap?

 

Pretty small cap hit, actually. Used a signing bonus and stuff to monkey with the hit this year.

 

I don't know enough about Kline. He doesn't look too large for an interior lineman, that might be part of the plan though. If he's average, it's an upgrade.

 

Looks like 7.25M guaranteed, not sure how much is coming in year one. I'd guess with the draft pick allotment this puts the Vikings over the cap?

 

The zone blocking scheme wants quick, athletic linemen.  The scheme is less man on man blocking and more shifting laterally to block an area and seal off defenders.  That's why runners who are one-cut, high vision backs like Terrell Davis or Phillip Lindsay are so successful in those schemes.  They don't have to plow people over or use speed to hit holes, it's about letting walls form and utilizing them to find gaps.  

 

Kline is a good fit and, luckily, there are a number of linemen available in the draft that do as well.  Dillard, Risner, and Bradburry being chief among them.

Now the Vikings are talking about running schemes, a year after they guaranteed $84 million to a passing quarterback. My little football mind does not compute.

 

Now the Vikings are talking about running schemes, a year after they guaranteed $84 million to a passing quarterback. My little football mind does not compute.

 

You can do both?

You can do both?

Sure that would be great.

 

Sure that would be great.

 

When the Broncos were good they always seemed to have a pretty good run/pass mix.

 

 

When the Broncos were good they always seemed to have a pretty good run/pass mix.

 

Elway and Davis certainly had a pretty good run.  

 

And they had a series of backs after Davis that were lights out too, which implied it was as much scheme as talent.

There was an encouraging write-up of Kline yesterday at another Vikings site, so I will cease fire on Speilman for now. Still seems like he needs to hit on a lineman in the draft next month to give this team a fighting chance.

 

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2019/3/24/18277636/josh-kline-minnesota-vikings-new-right-guard

 

There was an encouraging write-up of Kline yesterday at another Vikings site, so I will cease fire on Speilman for now. Still seems like he needs to hit on a lineman in the draft next month to give this team a fighting chance.

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2019/3/24/18277636/josh-kline-minnesota-vikings-new-right-guard

 

Absolutely, they should be picking one in the first round and they need to hit on it.  Needs to be a good, day one starter.

 

And I think another pick in the next three rounds is in order as well.  I'd like to have Reiff's replacement on the roster next year.

 

There was an encouraging write-up of Kline yesterday at another Vikings site, so I will cease fire on Speilman for now. Still seems like he needs to hit on a lineman in the draft next month to give this team a fighting chance.

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2019/3/24/18277636/josh-kline-minnesota-vikings-new-right-guard

 

I think criticism of his ability to find linemen in the draft is still fair game. O Linemen, tackles specifically, aren't cheap so your team would be best off being able to get them as draft picks. QBs too.

I think I'm leaning Bradbury right now, the Center. A good starting center helps the mediocre guards a lot, imo. I'd consider a trade back, if I can stay in round 1....depending on what I got. And how much I believed in my scouting for IOL.....(which isn't much right now, frankly).

Anything in particular you like about him?

 

I wonder....can Elflein hold up at guard?