2019 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

per Shama:

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said on KFAN Radio Friday morning he doesn’t plan to take a day off until June because everyone at franchise headquarters in Eagan is so focused on improving after last season’s disappointing results.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!
 


2019 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for all 32 teams

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

» Round 1: No. 18 overall -- Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama
» Round 2: No. 50 -- Amani Hooker, S, Iowa

Williams could play guard for the Vikings right away and eventually slide out to either tackle spot if needed. The O-line must continue to be improved if Kirk Cousins is to meet fans' high expectations. Finding a safety who's able to handle his responsibilities opposite Harrison Smith is a high priority for the Vikings. Hooker was used in the box at Iowa in 2018, but he possesses the short-area quickness to be useful in coverage.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...fl-draft-ideal-top-two-picks-for-all-32-teams

Skol Vikes!!
 

Shama: Ben Leber: Vikings Need to Be ‘Tougher’

Ben Leber has transitioned successfully into broadcasting, and unlike many former athletes who speak into a microphone, the ex-Vikings linebacker talks honestly to his audience. As a sideline radio reporter at Vikings games and college football TV analyst, Leber is informative and fun to hear because of his candid approach.

Leber retired from the NFL in 2012 after 10 seasons but remains an authority on the Vikings. Minnesota had a disappointing 8-7-1 record last season and failed to make the playoffs after summer predictions included the team among Super Bowl favorites. What do the Vikings need to do to be better in 2019?

Leber’s answer that the Vikings need to be “tougher” may surprise some fans because the club has built its reputation with defense and is led by demanding fifth-year head coach Mike Zimmer. But Leber told Sports Headliners the Purple took a step back last year from where they had been on both defense and offense.

“I think there needs to be an attitude and a stigma that’s set early on in the (2019) season that they have to play a ferocious and intimidating style,” Leber said. “I think everybody knows they will be well coached in Xs and Os, (but) now I think they need to take it to another level and…be the dogs on the field. Be the guys that people are afraid of. I don’t think that they struck fear in anybody last year.”

Leber believes the Vikings had an intimidating identity in 2017 when they went 13-3 in the regular season and won their first playoff game in the 2018 postseason. Leber said foes were “scared” of the defensive unit, and they over game planned about how to deal with Minnesota’s No. 1 ranked NFL defense. But in the NFC title game against the Eagles, things changed. Here is Leber’s analysis of why the Vikings experienced an embarrassing 38-7 loss costing them the opportunity to play in the 2018 Minneapolis Super Bowl:

“Philadelphia basically said, we don’t care who your stars are. We don’t care what the public thinks and what the media thinks. We’re going to attack those guys and put them in vulnerable situations, and they did.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Skol Vikes!!
 

per Kirby:

The Minnesota Vikings have a need at offensive line. The projected starting line for Minnesota is, from left tackle to right tackle: Riley Reiff, Dakota Dozier/Aviante Collins/unnamed rookie, Pat Elflien, Josh Kline, Brian O’Neill. This isn’t a terrible lineup, but there are obvious concerns with Kline having a down year last year and the left guard position up in the air. So, we should see the Vikings go offensive line at least once in the first three rounds, maybe twice. However, that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t look for good line depth, especially at guard, in the middle to late rounds. One player to look at is close to home, Minnesota Gophers lineman Donell Greene.

Greene started his college career at Coffeyville Community College before he moved to the University of Minnesota. Greene played in 36 games while at the U, with most of his snaps coming at the left tackle position. Actually, I’m not sure if he ever took snaps at any other position while at Minnesota. In his Junior season he started 11 of 12 games and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. He also helped lead the way for a 1,000 yard rusher for 2 out of three of his seasons, Rodney Smith fell just short in 2017. The gophers were often a force to be reckoned with on the ground in those three seasons, but it should be noted that the offense was streaky and would disappear from time to time.

Greene brings good upside as a depth player. His experience and frame give him the ability to play as a backup tackle. However, his real value could be as a guard. With his frame and attitude for finishing blocks, Greene could become a very effective inside blocker. Greene’s ability to finish plays benefits him when hitting the second level and could make him useful if he can be taught the footwork to play inside of the tackles. He also does a good job against power pass rushing, so a move to the inside would make the most sense in that regard too where he would be mixing it up with the, usually, slower defensive tackles rather than outside against the defensive ends.

Dealing with quick defensive ends is where Greene’s issues have been on the outside. He has the power to deal with them, but he doesn’t have the agility to play a reliable tackle in the NFL. Perhaps he could be used in a three tackle set for a power formation, but he would be more likely to be useful on the inside. However, if he moves to the inside he will still have to work on footwork, especially in a zone blocking scheme like the Vikings want to run. Greene is a big man, and he’ll need to learn to move his frame if he wants to play a pulling guard at all. He also will need to learn to get his frame lower to the ground and drive back players from a lower angle. One of the biggest responsibility of guards is getting the tough yards, and those come from being the low man and driving through the defense.

Donnell Greene has a good upside as a backup tackle, but a higher ceiling as a guard. If the Vikings want the hometown product, they’ll need to take him in the fifth to seventh round or hope he slides off the board, but his stock seems to be rising so it is unlikely he falls to being a free agent. Greene would fit into Spielman’s plan of drafting linemen with potential in late rounds and see if they work out, but it’s unclear if Greene would make the team, and if he doesn’t another team may just stop him from being stashed on the practice squad. Greene is a gamble pick, but one with a lot of potential, if he’s given the chance to develop.

Projected Draft Round: 5-UDFA

Likelihood the Vikings are targeting him: Very Likely

Likelihood the Vikings could land him: 50-50

Best Traits: Size, Run Blocking, Attitude

Biggest Drawbacks: Agility, Leverage, Footwork

https://vikingsterritory.com/2019/n...file-donnell-green-ot-university-of-minnesota

Skol Vikes!!
 


I like it. The Vikes get a much closer look at U of M guys as do many of these beat writers. Greene would definitely be a good value to grab in a later round and slide to the interior.....knowing that in a pinch.....he can play tackle.
 

ESPN: 2019 NFL schedule: Record predictions, analysis for all 32 teams

Minnesota Vikings
Full schedule | Predicted record: 10-6

The Vikings play three NFC North games on the road in the first seven weeks. Then things get really difficult. A handful of stretches could decide the season for Minnesota, including back-to-back road games at Kansas City and Dallas in Weeks 9 and 10.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-record-predictions-analysis-all-32-teams#min

Skol Vikes!!
 

Sid: Will Vikings break trend and draft an offensive lineman?

Over the past three seasons the Vikings offensive line has been the biggest question mark for a team that is considered one of the deepest and most talented in the NFL.

From 2016 to 2018 the Vikings have started 19 different offensive linemen. They had eight different offensive linemen start games in 2018 and 2017 and nine different linemen start in 2016.

Just as important is that the only Vikings offensive linemen to start 16 regular-season games in that stretch are Mike Remmers at right guard in 2018 and Joe Berger at right guard in 2017.

The Vikings looked to have a chance at some continuity on the offensive line coming into this season with Remmers, Tom Compton, Pat Elflein, Riley Reiff and Brian O’Neill all starting more than 10 games in 2018 — but Remmers was released and Compton signed with the Jets.

On top of that they lost Nick Easton, who figured to be a starter after dealing with injuries all of last season, to New Orleans.

That’s why so many pundits believe the Vikings will draft an offensive lineman with their first-round pick in the draft on Thursday.

Mel Kiper of ESPN wrote that he believes the Vikings will take Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams, if he is available at No. 18 overall when the Vikings pick.

“I just love the fit for both the Vikings and Williams here,” Kiper wrote in his mock draft. “Minnesota’s offensive line was poor last season, and it has been tough for GM Rick Spielman to make significant upgrades with very little cap space. Williams could start at either guard or tackle for the Vikings. It’s a no-brainer.”

http://www.startribune.com/will-vikings-break-trend-and-draft-an-offensive-lineman/508852752/

Skol Vikes!!
 

Charley Walters: Vikings likely to upgrade O line in draft

It seems improbable that the Minnesota Vikings, after missing the playoffs last season, will go two seasons in a row without fixing their most glaring weakness: offensive line.

If Thursday evening’s first round of the NFL draft plays out the way it should, it will be shocking if the Vikings don’t take an offensive lineman with their pick, No. 18 overall.

There are several offensive linemen in the draft capable of starting for Minnesota this season. The Vikings’ best–case scenario would be for one of the top three to fall to them.

They are tackle Jawaan Taylor from Florida, tackle Andre Dillard from Washington State and tackle-guard Jonah Williams from Alabama.

Working in the Vikings’ favor is that as many as four quarterbacks (Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Daniel Jones and Drew Lock) could be taken before the No. 18 pick. Quarterback-hungry teams trade up to get one virtually every year.

https://www.twincities.com/2019/04/20/charley-walters-vikings-to-upgrade-o-line/

Skol Vikes!!
 



It's going to be really funny when the vikings take a defensive player with their first pick..
 

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Skol Vikes!!
 

Shama: How Does Kubiak Impact Viking Draft?

This week’s NFL Draft will be the first for Gary Kubiak to have influence in his role as Vikings assistant head coach/offensive advisor. Few NFL assistants have the resume of Kubiak, who has 24 years of coaching experience in the league including 10 as a head coach with a Super Bowl win to his credit.

General manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer brought Kubiak to Minnesota to improve a faltering offense. Even the most casual of Vikings fans knows the team needs a major upgrade in offensive line talent, but how will the club prioritize its draft choices including their selection at No. 18 in the first round?

Kubiak has made his career specializing in offensive coaching. Zimmer’s background is on defense and in his four seasons as Minnesota’s head coach his coaching direction has been all over the defensive unit. In prior drafts Zimmer’s voice has certainly been heard, as it should be at franchise headquarters, but might Kubiak cast a “second shadow” over Spielman starting Thursday night? Certainly ownership and front office leadership didn’t bring Kubiak to Minnesota expecting him to be a wallflower.

At Spielman’s news conference today about the draft he acknowledged that Kubiak and the other offensive coaches want skillsets in their players that match their schemes. “There are traits that we’re looking for,” Spielman said. “As we talk about each one of these players, some players would be very good players, but they may not be very good players for what we’re going to require them to do.”

Spielman said the depth of talent is impressive in the 2019 draft. He singled out the offensive and defensive line prospects as collectively being “one of the strongest I’ve seen in awhile.”

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Skol Vikes!!
 

This video is great.

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Skol Vikes!!
 



Vikings take C Bradbury out of NC St. I like the pick. Elflein should be able to move over to guard now.
 

Vikings take C Bradbury out of NC St. I like the pick. Elflein should be able to move over to guard now.
I am taking a "wait and see" approach to this. The weakness on the O Line, as far as I am concerned, was at the tackle spot, not in the interior. Cousins can't sense pressure from his blindside, so unless LT play significantly improves, then nothing changes.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

I am taking a "wait and see" approach to this. The weakness on the O Line, as far as I am concerned, was at the tackle spot, not in the interior. Cousins can't sense pressure from his blindside, so unless LT play significantly improves, then nothing changes.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

It definitely takes more than one addition to solve this OL problem, but it's a start. Under the general category of taking the best player available, at least they took the best lineman available.
 

per SI:

18. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: C GARRETT BRADBURY
Mike Zimmer wants to run the ball and last year’s fired offensive coordinator, John DeFilippo, felt they couldn’t because of shoddy guards. Those guards, Mike Remmers and Tom Compton, are gone. But their replacements, Danny Isidora and Josh Kline, are not much better. Bradbury can take over one of their spots or play his college position at center, moving Pat Elflein to guard. However it shakes out, this is case of player and need meeting together perfectly. New offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski wants to employ an outside-zone scheme to fit Kirk Cousins, who is at his best throwing play-action off those outside zone looks. Bradbury is viewed unequivocally as the best outside zone blocking interior lineman in this draft.

GRADE: A+

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/04/25/nfl-draft-2019-first-round-grades-analysis-news

Skol Vikes!!
 



per Sporting News:

18. Minnesota Vikings: Garrett Bradbury, C, N.C. State

At 6-3, 306 pounds, Bradbury has the size, power, smarts and athleticism to anchor an offensive line as a strong starter for a decade. He allows the Vikings to move Pat Elflein to upgrade left guard after signing Josh Kline for right guard. This is a great boon for both Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl...-grades-first-round/xgejbzj2r5tf1gbdzt9ctfdex

Skol Vikes!!
 

Sid: Vikings draft picks must pan out, fast

The Vikings’ decision to select North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury with the No. 18 overall pick on Thursday night at the NFL draft was the first step in what should be a key couple of days as the team tries to build out their depth with just $1.8 million remaining in free agent money.

And while the Vikings drafted center Pat Elflein in the third round of the 2017 draft — and Elflein started 27 out of a possible 32 games at center over the past two seasons — General Manager Rick Spielman has said that with a new offensive coaching staff, and a new offensive line coach in Rick Dennison, linemen could be moved around.

So it could be that Elflein moves to guard while Bradbury starts at center or it could be that Bradbury, a tremendous all-around athlete who excelled at baseball in high school before focusing on football, plays guard.

Bradbury was recruited to N.C. State as a tight end, redshirted his freshman year, switched to defensive line, then played offensive guard before moving to center, where he started for three seasons. He won the Rimington Trophy this year as the nation’s best center, the same award Elflein won in 2016, and was named a consensus All-America.

Yes, no matter where Bradbury ends up on the line, the key for the Vikings not only with their first-round selection but through the rest of the draft, is that they find players who can step in and contribute.

http://www.startribune.com/vikings-draft-picks-must-pan-out-fast/509098352/

Skol Vikes!!
 

Souhan: Rick Spielman is on the right path; he should keep right on toeing the line

Before Thursday, the Vikings had made three first-round draft picks in the past four years.

They were cornerback Trae Waynes, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and cornerback Mike Hughes. Waynes and Hughes reflected coach Mike Zimmer’s cornerback fetish; Treadwell reflected the occasional signature mistake from General Manager Rick Spielman — taking an impressive-looking athlete and hoping his coaching staff could turn him into a pro. (See, also: Cordarrelle Patterson.)

Waynes is a useful player. Hughes is a dynamic athlete who is promising as a corner and a returner. Treadwell will go down as one of Spielman’s worst draft picks.

We now know that the Vikings would have been better off using all three of those picks on offensive linemen. Spielman began righting that wrong on Thursday night, selecting North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury with the 18th pick in the first round of the NFL draft.

The Vikings got lucky on Thursday, and took advantage. A series of silly picks early in the draft left a few attractive offensive linemen for Spielman, and he chose the one he had fixated on for months.

Yes, NFL general managers always say they couldn’t believe the player they wanted was available. In this case, there is truth in that. The Vikings did their homework on Bradbury and believe he is an ideal fit for their new zone-blocking scheme under Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison.

Bradbury was a safe and attractive pick at a position of need who suits the Vikings offense. They could have traded down and hoped that he would be available later, but given their luck at the offensive line position over the last few years, their approach seems prudent.

Their offensive line starters will be Bradbury, Riley Reiff, Brian O’Neill, Pat Elflein and Josh Kline, unless they find a gem on Day 2 of the draft. That might not appear to be a major upgrade over the line that ruined the Vikings’ season last year, but it well could be.

http://www.startribune.com/rick-spi...ould-keep-right-on-toeing-the-line/509098362/

Skol Vikes!!
 

Lots of talent in the second round left. There's some decent corners and OL left. I hope Vikings can get Risner or Little, because they still need help on OL and nothing wrong with depth. But I bet they pick a corner or DL
 

Makes sense to go immediate starter at interior line, and draft a tackle in round 2 who can learn while challenging Reiff at LT. Or with the athleticism of O'Neal maybe they move him to left and draft a right tackle. Tackle Taylor from Florida sure has dropped! Cody Ford, Risner, Little all seem to fit as Tackles to at least play the right side.
 

per SI:

18. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: C GARRETT BRADBURY
Mike Zimmer wants to run the ball and last year’s fired offensive coordinator, John DeFilippo, felt they couldn’t because of shoddy guards. Those guards, Mike Remmers and Tom Compton, are gone. But their replacements, Danny Isidora and Josh Kline, are not much better. Bradbury can take over one of their spots or play his college position at center, moving Pat Elflein to guard. However it shakes out, this is case of player and need meeting together perfectly. New offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski wants to employ an outside-zone scheme to fit Kirk Cousins, who is at his best throwing play-action off those outside zone looks. Bradbury is viewed unequivocally as the best outside zone blocking interior lineman in this draft.

GRADE: A+

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/04/25/nfl-draft-2019-first-round-grades-analysis-news

Skol Vikes!!

Gotta love an A+! That said, there's the part about the best-laid plans of mice and men. Come the first injury, the whole thing is a house of cards. I'd like them to pursue some low-to-mid-priced OL help for depth. Hopefully they can still clear more cap space in order to do so. The brain trust has all but stated that they have a plan for more cap clearing.
 

I am taking a "wait and see" approach to this. The weakness on the O Line, as far as I am concerned, was at the tackle spot, not in the interior. Cousins can't sense pressure from his blindside, so unless LT play significantly improves, then nothing changes.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Elflein was one of the worst centers in all of football last year. This pick improves two positions IMO. Elflein can switch to guard where he played most of the time in college.

They will still probably take a tackle in the next few rounds.
 

Gotta love an A+! That said, there's the part about the best-laid plans of mice and men. Come the first injury, the whole thing is a house of cards. I'd like them to pursue some low-to-mid-priced OL help for depth. Hopefully they can still clear more cap space in order to do so. The brain trust has all but stated that they have a plan for more cap clearing.

I don't put any stock whatsoever in draft grades. For example:

23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: LAQUON TREADWELL, WR, OLE MISS — GRADE: A
First of all, the talk about Treadwell's lack of speed is overblown—in Ole Miss's limited passing offense, he was often open and unseen. He's a tough, physical, consistent receiver who won't set any land speed records against deep safeties, but he has the skills to become Minnesota's top target. Yes, that's a low bar at this point, but GM Rick Spielman has to start somewhere. Add Treadwell to Stefon Diggs in the Vikings' receiver battery, and things are looking up for Teddy Bridgewater.​


https://www.si.com/nfl/photo/2016/04/29/2016-nfl-draft-grades-first-round-picks#23
 

Need to trade up and get the tackle from Florida now.
 

Need to trade up and get the tackle from Florida now.

Yeah I'm not sure what to think about this. Rumor is there are knee concerns with him. He was expected to go in the 1st round.
 

Yeah I'm not sure what to think about this. Rumor is there are knee concerns with him. He was expected to go in the 1st round.

He was supposed to be top 10 pick. Im willing to take a chance on a top 10 pick in the second round. I wouldnt trade up for him though, so he would have to fall
 




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