quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

I was critical of re-signing Kyle Rudolph, but a couple things are making me think I was wrong. Reportedly he showed up in the best shape of his career. That's one, but number two is bigger for me. Reportedly he has never blocked as well as he is doing thus far this season. He did almost score a TD yesterday and did set one up with a first down near the goal line. I'm thinking that the drafting of Irv Smith and the subsequent discussions of cutting or re-sign him have motivated him and he looks the part of being a solid TE to me. Next year? I don't know. Let's see how this year pans out.

I think Rudolph being such a good dude in the community was a major factor with this extension.

He's a good looking white guy that played at Notre Dame. These 'reports' of his good blocking have been mentioned for years. They aren't real. He's a poor blocker - always has been.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

The biggest thing with Cook is you don't have to hold your blocks (like they did with AP)....he gets to and thru the hole so fast.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

The biggest thing with Cook is you don't have to hold your blocks (like they did with AP)....he gets to and thru the hole so fast.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

I was critical of re-signing Kyle Rudolph, but a couple things are making me think I was wrong. Reportedly he showed up in the best shape of his career. That's one, but number two is bigger for me. Reportedly he has never blocked as well as he is doing thus far this season. He did almost score a TD yesterday and did set one up with a first down near the goal line. I'm thinking that the drafting of Irv Smith and the subsequent discussions of cutting or re-sign him have motivated him and he looks the part of being a solid TE to me. Next year? I don't know. Let's see how this year pans out.

I think Rudolph being such a good dude in the community was a major factor with this extension.

He's a good looking white guy that played at Notre Dame. These 'reports' of his good blocking have been mentioned for years. They aren't real. He's a poor blocker - always has been.

Sometimes its just easier to go with a bias.



Chris Tomasson
‏ @christomasson
59m59 minutes ago

Mike Zimmer on Dalvin Cook: "Dalvin's a great player but he's getting a lot of help from a lot of people. ... It's not a one-man show.'' Zimmer said Kyle Rudolph and WRs were among those to block well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pager

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

The biggest thing with Cook is you don't have to hold your blocks (like they did with AP)....he gets to and thru the hole so fast.

But not as fast as Robert Smith or Moss

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pager

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

The biggest thing with Cook is you don't have to hold your blocks (like they did with AP)....he gets to and thru the hole so fast.

But not as fast as Robert Smith or Moss

I am not so sure (if you are talking 10 yard dashes versus 40). Cook is really fast that first 5-10 yards. Smith needed blocking also and if I remember correctly he liked the I formation also.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pager

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pager

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

The biggest thing with Cook is you don't have to hold your blocks (like they did with AP)....he gets to and thru the hole so fast.

But not as fast as Robert Smith or Moss

I am not so sure (if you are talking 10 yard dashes versus 40). Cook is really fast that first 5-10 yards. Smith needed blocking also and if I remember correctly he liked the I formation also.

It was tongue in cheek or as bigo likes to say, I was being swarmy. I posted a few weeks back that Cook reminded me "a bit" of Smith with how fast he hit and was through the hole.

It got turned into something it was not.

Cook though is lot more elusive.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

Garrett Bradbury got a 51.9 pass blocking grade Sunday, which of course is much better than the 0.0 and 16.3 he received in the first two weeks. Still lots of room for improvement but at least it's trending upward. REALLY tough test coming in Chicago this week.

Top 5 #Vikings PFF grades Sunday (min 15 snaps):
1. Irv Smith 92.3
2. Dalvin Cook 90.7
3. Kirk Cousins 86.2
4. Brian O'Neill 69.5
5. Dakota Dozier 68.3

Bottom 3
3. Josh Kline 55.9
2. Garrett Bradbury 53.8
1. C.J. Ham 53.2

Top 5 #Vikings defense PFF grades Sunday (min 15 snaps):
1. Everson Griffen 85.4
2. Trae Waynes 80.1
3. Danielle Hunter 76.7
4. Eric Kendricks 71.1
5. Anthony Harris 67.8

Bottom 3
3. Stephen Weatherly 43.7
2. Mike Hughes 40.0
1. Ben Gedeon 37.8

(Eric Thompson on Twitter)

Note how highly Irv Smith is rated and how Rudolph does not show up on the top or bottom list.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

Trae waynes somehow logged more run stops than Eric Kendricks in this game. Waynes ended up with a poor run defense grade probably due to a couple missed tackles, but that's quite the production!

(Luke Braun on Twitter)

So Tae Waynes shows up as the second highest defensive player and overall. Love him or hate him, this shows that he is making a serious effort out there in all phases of his game. I do believe he is our best cornerback at the moment. We'll see what happens down the road with Alexander and Hughes. Rhodes is a good cornerback, but he is not a great one in my opinion. He is two or three years removed from that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Nice picture of Mattison's hurdle:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c5uWcD3VGnan59jglj9K355hb44=/0x0:5171x3455/620x413/filters:focal(1972x1128:2798x1954):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65302118/usa_today_13401350.0.jpg

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kevinemmer

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Nice picture of Mattison's hurdle:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c5uWcD3VGnan59jglj9K355hb44=/0x0:5171x3455/620x413/filters:focal(1972x1128:2798x1954):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65302118/usa_today_13401350.0.jpg

Awesome!

That was a crazy leap!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Todd M

quote:

ORIGINAL: kevinemmer

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Nice picture of Mattison's hurdle:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c5uWcD3VGnan59jglj9K355hb44=/0x0:5171x3455/620x413/filters:focal(1972x1128:2798x1954):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65302118/usa_today_13401350.0.jpg

Awesome!

That was a crazy leap!!

He's barely NFL material...if you ask some guys.

I freaking love our running game. I'm not really one to be down on Cousins but I don't think he could throw us very far this year without it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

The biggest thing with Cook is you don't have to hold your blocks (like they did with AP)....he gets to and thru the hole so fast.

Cook has great vision too like Robert Smith did. I always felt like Peterson was way overrated in that regard.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. Dominating performance overall.
Cook is the REAL DEAL. So explosive, so shifty and real speed.
The Raiders went after Wilson and he more than handled himself. Got fooled once bad, but overall was very active and disruptive.
Fun to see Carlson miss and the Defense control Jacobs.
Smith looks to be a big addition.
Fun to dominate offensive genius Gruden.
Loved seeing the 1969 NFC Champions honored.
Got to meet "Hardware Hank" Henry Thomas.
On to the Bears.

The biggest thing with Cook is you don't have to hold your blocks (like they did with AP)....he gets to and thru the hole so fast.

Cook has great vision too like Robert Smith did. I always felt like Peterson was way overrated in that regard.

You guys on crack?

Peterson EXPLODED through holes.

WOW!