quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

Zim wants to keep it old school. Run the ball and play good defense.

This is an ok strategy provided you have the oline capable of pushing better defenses around. we're a long way or should I say several players (Oline) away from remotely being able to do this.

I think the bad feeling Ricky is getting about Zim tells me this will be his final season here.

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ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

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ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

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ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

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ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

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ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

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ORIGINAL: Todd M

Stefanski talking about Cousins: I think the kid is super talented.


Talking about a 30 year old man and calling him a kid is stupid...when you're 36 yourself? [:o]

He also was quoted as "I'll defer to coach Zimmer" when asked about fixing the OLine. Not a good sign when you're the OCord, IMO.

Yeah, geez! I figure as a minimum he'd say the standard we look at all aspects, everybody provides input, blah, blah. Maybe that's what he meant in terms of Zimmer having the final call on position need. Still, a blatant statement.

He isn't going to force something----in order to be hired Zimmer and Spielman probably already told him their plans. I really like Arif's draft....draft the DT first round and grab Oline next two.

Your earlier post said we need to run like the Colt's can.

The model for being able to do that is draft oline early and often not DT.

You are reading too much into Zimmer's response and my post....overdrafting a guard when it is plenty in the next draft would be a mistake. Running the ball down the throats doesn't=overdrafting a guard. Quentin Nelson was a 1st round grade, I read from Arif that OG are plenty of equal grade in the 2nd and 3rd round to any 1st round guard. In addition the 2-3 OT available will be drafted before we draft. So don't get pissed if Oline isn't address in the 1st round.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

My current thinking is to acquire two starters at OG or C (Elf plays both) in FA or via trade and draft modified (by need) BPA. We can't count on any rookie to step in at starter level, and we are short two interior OL starters assuming Elf regains form. Everyone else (including Elf) fights it out for the third interior slot.

I debated with Phil numerous times last offseason because I was Chicken Little re: the OL and he stated definitively that the OL was actually better than the shitshow of 2017----we know how that turned out, and he wasn't alone. Any offseason plan that doesn't start with two surefire starters added to the interior OL is delusional, and I wouldn't count on getting a starter at 18, much less pick 50. If there is a clear starter, he may well go before 18, so we need to secure two starters before the draft via trade or FA.

My current hope for the first round is Fant, TE from Iowa: 6'5", 240, quick and fast with good hands. Probably won't last until our pick and issues may come up, but he's my current choice.

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ORIGINAL: The Happy Norseman

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

My current thinking is to acquire two starters at OG or C (Elf plays both) in FA or via trade and draft modified (by need) BPA. We can't count on any rookie to step in at starter level, and we are short two interior OL starters assuming Elf regains form. Everyone else (including Elf) fights it out for the third interior slot.

I debated with Phil numerous times last offseason because I was Chicken Little re: the OL and he stated definitively that the OL was actually better than the shitshow of 2017----we know how that turned out, and he wasn't alone. Any offseason plan that doesn't start with two surefire starters added to the interior OL is delusional, and I wouldn't count on getting a starter at 18, much less pick 50. If there is a clear starter, he may well go before 18, so we need to secure two starters before the draft via trade or FA.

My current hope for the first round is Fant, TE from Iowa: 6'5", 240, quick and fast with good hands. Probably won't last until our pick and issues may come up, but he's my current choice.

Agree 1000% percent!

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ORIGINAL: bohumm

Unfortunately, Compton may have been our best interior OL at the end of the year. Penalties were his biggest problem--among others--but Remmers and Elf looked worse to me. Hard to know, of course, without knowing assignments.

Bottom line, though, is they all sucked badly.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Unfortunately, Compton may have been our best interior OL at the end of the year. Penalties were his biggest problem--among others--but Remmers and Elf looked worse to me. Hard to know, of course, without knowing assignments.

Bottom line, though, is they all sucked badly.

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ORIGINAL: Pager

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Unfortunately, Compton may have been our best interior OL at the end of the year. Penalties were his biggest problem--among others--but Remmers and Elf looked worse to me. Hard to know, of course, without knowing assignments.

Bottom line, though, is they all sucked badly.

Elflein is a curious case for me. I thought there was notable boost when he came back (maybe more of an indictment of Jones??). Played well against the Eagles and their difficult interior line. Then progressively got worse. Did he wear down?

On the other hand he gave up 34 pressures in 10 games or something like that. On the other end of the spectrum, I think the best center only gave up 4-5. Because players rarely line up over center, 34 is unheard of.

Compton was garbage in Washington, and Chicago. I think he was always the back up option, but Easton forced him to start. Terrible back up play by Spielman. I blame Cousins for Compton, old roomies, good friend. Compton was so bad, I woulda rather seen Izzy all season. At least we'd know what we have now.

But yeah a terrible indictment of our interior guys if we are having a discussion of Compton being the best of them.

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ORIGINAL: bohumm

Trust me, I'm not going to build a case to keep Compton unless he's a minimum deep back-up or even zealously defend my statement above, but the other two were horrible late in the season.

I have hope for Elf and think it may easily have come down to lingering effects of his injuries, including conditioning. But we can't count on him as a surefire starter on a good line at this point.

I'm going to eventually try to see what's available in FA beyond Saffold, but we have to add two starter level interior OL before the draft or we're risking another lost season and another year where we can't readily evaluate what we have---or don't have---in Cousins.

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ORIGINAL: bohumm

Trust me, I'm not going to build a case to keep Compton unless he's a minimum deep back-up or even zealously defend my statement above, but the other two were horrible late in the season.

I have hope for Elf and think it may easily have come down to lingering effects of his injuries, including conditioning. But we can't count on him as a surefire starter on a good line at this point.

I'm going to eventually try to see what's available in FA beyond Saffold, but we have to add two starter level interior OL before the draft or we're risking another lost season and another year where we can't readily evaluate what we have---or don't have---in Cousins.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Trust me, I'm not going to build a case to keep Compton unless he's a minimum deep back-up or even zealously defend my statement above, but the other two were horrible late in the season.

I have hope for Elf and think it may easily have come down to lingering effects of his injuries, including conditioning. But we can't count on him as a surefire starter on a good line at this point.

I'm going to eventually try to see what's available in FA beyond Saffold, but we have to add two starter level interior OL before the draft or we're risking another lost season and another year where we can't readily evaluate what we have---or don't have---in Cousins.

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ORIGINAL: Pager

McVay has stones.

Pederson has stones.

Reich has stones.

Billichick has stones.

Nagy has stones.

Hope Zimmer grows some stones.

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ORIGINAL: ronhextall

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ORIGINAL: Pager

McVay has stones.

Pederson has stones.

Reich has stones.

Billichick has stones.

Nagy has stones.

Hope Zimmer grows some stones.

McVay runs the ball a lot because it works. Zimmer rants and raves about running regardless of it works or not.

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ORIGINAL: ronhextall

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ORIGINAL: Pager

McVay has stones.

Pederson has stones.

Reich has stones.

Billichick has stones.

Nagy has stones.

Hope Zimmer grows some stones.

McVay runs the ball a lot because it works. Zimmer rants and raves about running regardless of it works or not.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

From Pager's link

Smith, the veteran safety, steps forward, looks around the room and tells his teammates they’ve lost some of the “nasty” mentality that once distinguished them. They’ve made the game too complicated. Scheme, practice, strategy—all of that is important, but victory sometimes comes from physical imposition, from taking another man’s will. “We play the best when we play willing to lose,” he says.

Harrison Smith gets it. Zimmer does not.