Dana Turner
Posts: 1958
Joined: 7/27/2007
Status: offline
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We've obviously never had an off season like this one, no rookie camp, OTA's, shortened camp, minimal padded practices, etc.. There isn't much chance a rookie offensive lineman comes in and plays with all those team activities in place, much less not having any. I'd love for it to be different, but we don't have a choice this year. Reiff has always been an average LT, but he is getting paid like a top ten guy, maybe it was a bad contract on our part, or maybe they were hoping for better things from him, but he's just a little bit better than Hill at that spot, so really, the drop off isn't terrible. If they move O'Neil to to the LT spot, a position he has experience from school, then Udho would be my guess at RT. Hill just plays a much better LT, it seems to be his natural position. Ezra can get some reps in as the season goes along, but when we drafted him everone knew he'd need at least a year in an NFL weight training program, he simply isn't ready as none of the rookies drafted this year will be. We should go with Dozier at LG and Elf at RG. It certainly isn't ideal, but nobody else has stepped up and those of us that were hoping Samia would come in ready to claim a spot, should be very disappointed in that non-development! Lets be honest, most of us thought Elf was going to be a solid lineman when we picked him, just like many here scratched their heads when we took O'Neil. We we jumping up and down at the selection of Bradbury and most of us thought Samia was going to be solid after a year of watching and growing. We were all pretty excited about Ezra and if you look at the oline it's young and full of promise that all hasn't been realized just yet. I really like the move of Elf to RG, it happens to be his best position and gives him a last chance to prove he can play in this league. Let's be real here, if he can't do it here in Minny, he won't be much better off somewhere else, it's still going to be the NFL, same players and same skills required. I think we will be pleasantly surprised, but I'm also being optimistic and cautious at the same time. The silence in camp about Bradbury is interesting. I haven't heard one thing about how he's looked coming in to camp, how good/bad he's playing etc.. I believe the starting line against GB will be Hill at LT, Dozier at LG, Bradbury, Elf at RG and O'Neil at RT. It's the least disruptive combination and only Elf is playing in a spot he hasn't played in for the Vikings. Give them two weeks to iron it out and let it go. Next year the Vikings will have to take another guard since Samia isn't working out, but that shit happens, not everyone works out.
< Message edited by Dana Turner -- 8/31/2020 7:25:16 PM >
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