Oline shake ups across NFL & changes to OL landscape from FA

[Purp1eOne]

Offensive line shake ups across NFL & changes to OL landscape from FA link

[WisconsinVike]

"The bottom fell out for Minny's O-line, so the Vikings have responded by upgrading their OL bookends from turnstile to serviceable."

Beggars can't be choosy I guess.....
I realize everybody pretty much lays the blame for lack of quality linemen on Spielman,
but I think Zimmer should have to share a good part of the blame for this debacle also.
He's the head coach, he should know which areas needed attention and which can possibly wait.
Last year was, to my understanding, a great year for offensive linemen.
Spielman and Zimmer did shit.
Now this year Zimmer wants to make sure "we don't rob Peter to pay Paul"?
Translation: I'm a defensive minded coach so defense will always be the #1 priority when it comes to draft picks.

[Purp1eOne]

Mar 17, 2017 12:38:51 GMT -6 WisconsinVike said:

"The bottom fell out for Minny's O-line, so the Vikings have responded by upgrading their OL bookends from turnstile to serviceable."

Beggars can't be choosy I guess.....
I realize everybody pretty much lays the blame for lack of quality linemen on Spielman,
but I think Zimmer should have to share a good part of the blame for this debacle also.
He's the head coach, he should know which areas needed attention and which can possibly wait.
Last year was, to my understanding, a great year for offensive linemen.
Spielman and Zimmer did shit.
Now this year Zimmer wants to make sure "we don't rob Peter to pay Paul"?
Translation: I'm a defensive minded coach so defense will always be the #1 priority when it comes to draft picks.

I don't completely agree, they made an attempt last off season and had at least an average Oline if everyone didn't retire and stayed healthy.  They probably had too many bodies at one point.

I think its hard to prepare for that kind of carnage to one group.

If they lose the two tackles they just signed you are in the same position.

[badgervike]

Mar 17, 2017 12:38:51 GMT -6 WisconsinVike said:

"The bottom fell out for Minny's O-line, so the Vikings have responded by upgrading their OL bookends from turnstile to serviceable."

Beggars can't be choosy I guess.....
I realize everybody pretty much lays the blame for lack of quality linemen on Spielman,
but I think Zimmer should have to share a good part of the blame for this debacle also.
He's the head coach, he should know which areas needed attention and which can possibly wait.
Last year was, to my understanding, a great year for offensive linemen.
Spielman and Zimmer did shit.
Now this year Zimmer wants to make sure "we don't rob Peter to pay Paul"?
Translation: I'm a defensive minded coach so defense will always be the #1 priority when it comes to draft picks.

I think the biggest problem in drafting linemen for the Vikings last year is that there were so many unknowns.  When we drafted, we had a new line coach with a "fully healthy" Matt Kalil, newly acquired Boone at Guard, Berger and Sullivan battling it out for the Center position, Fusco back at "his natural" Right Guard and Smith and Loadholt fighting it out at Right Tackle.  We also had Easton, Sirles, Clemmings, Kerin and Harris in reserve who the team thought could grow into various roles.  Obviously, that all turned to crap in a hurry...as Loadholt, Sullivan and Harris didn't even make it out of the blocks and Smith and Kalil weren't far behind.

[Uncle]

I think the difference between going into 2017 w/ Reiff & Remmers and going into 2016 w/ Kalil and Loadholt is that the 2017 group doesn't have a history of injuries.

This time last year, Loadholt was coming off of a pec injury that caused him to miss the majority of the 2nd half of the 2014 season and then he tore an achilles to miss the entire 2015 season. In March 2016, the plan was for him to fully recover and be ready to go in 2016. And Kalil has been a walking injury since he's arrived - back, hip, knees, etc. Relying on those two to be solid bookends on the OL wasn't the smartest idea in the world, and as we know, drafting TJ Clemmings in the 4th just compounded that issue.

Compare that to Reiff & Remmers who have been relatively healthy in their careers so far.

So while it's true that if Reiff and & Remmers go down, we're down to the likes of Clemmings & Sirles again (and now Rashod Hill), but at least we're going into the season with two OT's that have a history of reliability to stay on the field. vs. going into the season relying on guys like Kalil & Loadholt who weren't exactly a picture of health.

[WisconsinVike]

Mar 17, 2017 12:57:07 GMT -6 Purp1eOne said:

Mar 17, 2017 12:38:51 GMT -6 WisconsinVike said:

"The bottom fell out for Minny's O-line, so the Vikings have responded by upgrading their OL bookends from turnstile to serviceable."

Beggars can't be choosy I guess.....
I realize everybody pretty much lays the blame for lack of quality linemen on Spielman,
but I think Zimmer should have to share a good part of the blame for this debacle also.
He's the head coach, he should know which areas needed attention and which can possibly wait.
Last year was, to my understanding, a great year for offensive linemen.
Spielman and Zimmer did shit.
Now this year Zimmer wants to make sure "we don't rob Peter to pay Paul"?
Translation: I'm a defensive minded coach so defense will always be the #1 priority when it comes to draft picks.

I don't completely agree, they made an attempt last off season and had at least an average Oline if everyone didn't retire and stayed healthy.  They probably had too many bodies at one point.

I think its hard to prepare for that kind of carnage to one group.

If they lose the two tackles they just signed you are in the same position.

I can see your point P1, but I'm just saying that with all the possibilities that were available in a supposedly deep OL draft, the Vikes didn't take advantage to upgrade it,  IMO.
Makes me wonder if that was one of the reasons Norv resigned, lack of quality OLinemen?

[Purp1eOne]

Mar 17, 2017 15:05:35 GMT -6 WisconsinVike said:

I'm just saying that with all the possibilities that were available in a supposedly deep OL draft, the Vikes didn't take advantage to upgrade it,  IMO.

I think you just identified the problem, it was so deep Rick thought he could wait until the last rounds and missed on his picks. 


But it would have been nice to get an Olineman in the first round instead of what we got...