quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

should have moved Cleveland to swing tackle and blocking tight end - not signed oliver or udoh....

With Oliver blocking for Mattison we might not get the long gainers, but should be able to convert 3rd and short situations at a higher rate.

I don't have the stats to back it up (talking out of my ass) but it seems to me that a consistent ability to gain 3-5 yards is way more important than hitting a long TD run every two-to-three games. It was so painful to watch Cook make "business decisions" in the backfield so often when all we really needed was a rookie to hit the hole at full speed and take the damn four yards. 2nd-and-8 through 2nd-and-13 felt like a death sentence last year.

Valid point. I just read that Cook was held to a yard or less on 32% of his rushes.

my point was that Cleveland would be blocking in the tight end position, and also used as needed at tackle....

What makes you think Cleveland can play TE? Moving Cleveland around is not going to be some magic elixir for this line. Cook has to take part of the blame. He plays the waiting game far too often looking for the big play. Sometimes you need to hit the small seam that's there instead of always waiting for a bigger one.

I have faith that Cleveland could line up as a tight end and block as well, or better, than oliver - we're guaranteeing oliver and udoh over $13mm in 2023 to do something that Cleveland can do - and we'd improve our interior ol by adding a real guard to the line....

oliver caught 14 passes last year, and only 26 over his three-year pro career - he's a surprise pass target every couple of games - any NFL player could do that....

this is my position on the matter....

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

should have moved Cleveland to swing tackle and blocking tight end - not signed oliver or udoh....

With Oliver blocking for Mattison we might not get the long gainers, but should be able to convert 3rd and short situations at a higher rate.

I don't have the stats to back it up (talking out of my ass) but it seems to me that a consistent ability to gain 3-5 yards is way more important than hitting a long TD run every two-to-three games. It was so painful to watch Cook make "business decisions" in the backfield so often when all we really needed was a rookie to hit the hole at full speed and take the damn four yards. 2nd-and-8 through 2nd-and-13 felt like a death sentence last year.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

should have moved Cleveland to swing tackle and blocking tight end - not signed oliver or udoh....

With Oliver blocking for Mattison we might not get the long gainers, but should be able to convert 3rd and short situations at a higher rate.

I don't have the stats to back it up (talking out of my ass) but it seems to me that a consistent ability to gain 3-5 yards is way more important than hitting a long TD run every two-to-three games. It was so painful to watch Cook make "business decisions" in the backfield so often when all we really needed was a rookie to hit the hole at full speed and take the damn four yards. 2nd-and-8 through 2nd-and-13 felt like a death sentence last year.

Valid point. I just read that Cook was held to a yard or less on 32% of his rushes.

my point was that Cleveland would be blocking in the tight end position, and also used as needed at tackle....

What makes you think Cleveland can play TE? Moving Cleveland around is not going to be some magic elixir for this line. Cook has to take part of the blame. He plays the waiting game far too often looking for the big play. Sometimes you need to hit the small seam that's there instead of always waiting for a bigger one.

I have faith that Cleveland could line up as a tight end and block as well, or better, than oliver - we're guaranteeing oliver and udoh over $13mm in 2023 to do something that Cleveland can do - and we'd improve our interior ol by adding a real guard to the line....

oliver caught 14 passes last year, and only 26 over his three-year pro career - he's a surprise pass target every couple of games - any NFL player could do that....

this is my position on the matter....

Cleveland moves well for a 315 ib man, but I don't know that he has the mobility to deliver the blocks this offense requires of a TE. One example is Vikings at times will lineup the TE outside the RT, have him run along the line and deliver a block at the spot where the LG lined up. I just don't know that Cleveland has the speed to do it. Most TE are in the 250-260 range and faster than most 315 linemen. I'm not saying he couldn't do it. On the other hand I wouldn't assume that he could either.

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ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

After years of Udoh filling in at G and wherever, it's nice to see he's playing T. Decent, still improving, cheap, 26 years old.

While blocking TE was overshadowed by other needs, it was still a need to help the running game go. Oliver is one of the best.


Those are two unsung/overlooked positions where we are finally looking good. Two positions to definitely NOT mess with, especially for a single player who is unproven at BOTH positions. Dual-hatted Cleveland.

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ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

First, Oliver and Udoh are NOWHERE near $13 million in 2023. Where did you pull that number? https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/minnesota-vikings

Then, in a simple comparo we have:

- One of the best pass blocking TEs in the league + proven backup T + meh (Cleveland) G

- Clev pass blocking TE + Clev backup T + ? G

I'll take the former, easily. And down on the list of reasons why... what happens if Clev has to play RT (a position he has never played) and the team needs him to block at TE?

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ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

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ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

After years of Udoh filling in at G and wherever, it's nice to see he's playing T. Decent, still improving, cheap, 26 years old.

While blocking TE was overshadowed by other needs, it was still a need to help the running game go. Oliver is one of the best.


Those are two unsung/overlooked positions where we are finally looking good. Two positions to definitely NOT mess with, especially for a single player who is unproven at BOTH positions. Dual-hatted Cleveland.

Udoh was projected as a RT when drafted. Seems ever since Spielman has been GM he forced Zimmer to play Olineman out of position.

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ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

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ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

Ian Rapoport Retweeted
Tom Pelissero
@TomPelissero
·
19m
Now official: With no last-minute trade materializing, the #Vikings are releasing four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook, who will be free to sign with any team later today.

Rich Eisen@richeisen
I honestly can’t believe the running back position has reached the point where a 1k rusher 4 straight years with 52 touchdowns gets released at age 27.

You ball out in your next spot, @dalvincook

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It is Ingram's subconscious mind trying to show the coaches he is on the wrong side.

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ORIGINAL: TJSweens

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ORIGINAL: marty

It is Ingram's subconscious mind trying to show the coaches he is on the wrong side.

I'm sure he is as adept at stepping on Cousins left foot as he is at stepping on Cousins right foot.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kgdabom

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

Ian Rapoport Retweeted
Tom Pelissero
@TomPelissero
·
19m
Now official: With no last-minute trade materializing, the #Vikings are releasing four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook, who will be free to sign with any team later today.

Rich Eisen@richeisen
I honestly can’t believe the running back position has reached the point where a 1k rusher 4 straight years with 52 touchdowns gets released at age 27.

You ball out in your next spot, @dalvincook

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It is Ingram's subconscious mind trying to show the coaches he is on the wrong side.

I'm sure he is as adept at stepping on Cousins left foot as he is at stepping on Cousins right foot.

Cousins left foot is more likely to get stepped on than his right foot

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It is Ingram's subconscious mind trying to show the coaches he is on the wrong side.

I'm sure he is as adept at stepping on Cousins left foot as he is at stepping on Cousins right foot.

Cousins left foot is more likely to get stepped on than his right foot

Depending on which side Ingram is playing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

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ORIGINAL: marty

It is Ingram's subconscious mind trying to show the coaches he is on the wrong side.

I'm sure he is as adept at stepping on Cousins left foot as he is at stepping on Cousins right foot.

Cousins left foot is more likely to get stepped on than his right foot

Depending on which side Ingram is playing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kgdabom

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

Ian Rapoport Retweeted
Tom Pelissero
@TomPelissero
·
19m
Now official: With no last-minute trade materializing, the #Vikings are releasing four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook, who will be free to sign with any team later today.

Rich Eisen@richeisen
I honestly can’t believe the running back position has reached the point where a 1k rusher 4 straight years with 52 touchdowns gets released at age 27.

You ball out in your next spot, @dalvincook

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It is Ingram's subconscious mind trying to show the coaches he is on the wrong side.

I'm sure he is as adept at stepping on Cousins left foot as he is at stepping on Cousins right foot.

Cousins left foot is more likely to get stepped on than his right foot

Depending on which side Ingram is playing.

Possibly. Approximately 3/4 of a right handed QBs dropbacks start with the right foot.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It is weird how posters want to move Ingram to the other guard.....isn't Oline stability a key to getting better? The Oline is relatively young.

I would agree if the OL was great, I wouldn't change a thing if it were the Dallas OL of '94.

The pass blocking is poor with both guard spots. Moving Ingram to LG where he played in college would probably make him better, maybe significantly better.

Cleveland played LT in college. Moving him to RG, he would probably be the same as has been at LG, but he might be a little better, and maybe significantly better.

IF Cleveland had a good LG to his right in college, moving to RG, it might feel more similar to his college days, having O'Neil to his right, instead of having Bradbury to his right. And moving to RG and having Bradbury to his left, it may also feel more like his college days, where he had essentially nothing to his left at LT 😉.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It is Ingram's subconscious mind trying to show the coaches he is on the wrong side.

I'm sure he is as adept at stepping on Cousins left foot as he is at stepping on Cousins right foot.

Cousins left foot is more likely to get stepped on than his right foot

Depending on which side Ingram is playing.

Possibly. Approximately 3/4 of a right handed QBs dropbacks start with the right foot.

Yet Ingram stepped on Cousins right foot multiple times, while Cleveland never stepped on his left foot once. If you are correct then I imagine Ingram would step on his left foot even more if they flip to the left side.