Burton-watch 2013

[Mothman]

I wonder if they might keep Webb and go with 2 QBs ... maybe designate Webb to be an emergency backup?

It's possible. No matter what, I think it's likely to come down to a numbers game for Webb. In that sense, he's competing with everybody else on the bubble, not just WRs.

We'll see what happens. he still has weeks to impress the coaches and make the team.

That is my thought. Webb is one of hte top 5 athletes on the team. If they think they can turn him into something at WR I suspect they'll find a way to keep him on the team.

He has an almost Megatron type body, if they can get him to develop the other skills he could be nothing short of amazing.

Yes, but that was true at QB too and the skills never quite developed. Hopefully, they will at WR and things will work out for him (and the Vikes).

[The Breeze]

What irritates me about the Webb situation is time that has more or less been wasted at QB when he coulda\shoulda been running routes. All this time there was some completely inaccurate rumor or speculation that he couldn't catch....he can, and quite well evidently. Imagine if Webb had 3 seasons like Burton to learn this position. It's an enormous waste of potential if Webb falls through the cracks. Not to denigrate anyone, but WR has to be quite a bit easier to get the hang of than QB.

Burton needs to show up every game and be on it. He's off to a great start and carrying over his progression from last season. I would like to see both of them make the team. I'm attracted to the 2 QB option~

[VikingLord]

If Burton makes the club and barring injury, would this be the 5 receivers.
1. Jennings
2. Simpson
3. Wright
4. Patterson
5. Burton
I don't see them keeping 6 receivers.. Could this be a swan song for Joe Webb?

Is Simpson necessarily a lock? He did next to nothing last year and was a marginal player for the Bengals prior to that. Simpson supposedly gives the team deep speed, but then again, don't they already have that in Wright and now Patterson? In fact, a lot of people, myself included, fully expect Patterson to claim the starting spot opposite Jennings at some point, maybe sooner rather than later.

Acrobatic ability aside, Simpson appears to me to be a pretty pedestrian player with a limited ability to impact a game.

Webb, OTOH, might be more raw at WR, but in terms of his ability to impact a game, I'd say he's better. He's a very big guy who seems like an ideal situational option at WR in short yardage and goal-to-go situations. He's the kind of guy who can play jump ball if necessary and you feel good about his chances of winning more often than not. Plus, it's not like Webb lacks the speed to get downfield, and if the ball is thrown up in that situation, as before you feel good about his chances of winning a contested ball.

I don't know how the Vikings are evaluating this situation, but with the addition of Patterson to the lineup I think Simpson might be the odd man out. A lot depends on how fast Patterson develops and the degree of confidence the coaches have in him, but assuming he does come along the Vikes really don't need Simpson. They could, OTOH, find ways to use Webb's unique attributes.

I would not be surprised at all to see Simpson gone before the regular season starts.

[The Breeze]

Is Simpson necessarily a lock? He did next to nothing last year and was a marginal player for the Bengals prior to that. Simpson supposedly gives the team deep speed, but then again, don't they already have that in Wright and now Patterson? In fact, a lot of people, myself included, fully expect Patterson to claim the starting spot opposite Jennings at some point, maybe sooner rather than later.

Acrobatic ability aside, Simpson appears to me to be a pretty pedestrian player with a limited ability to impact a game.

Webb, OTOH, might be more raw at WR, but in terms of his ability to impact a game, I'd say he's better. He's a very big guy who seems like an ideal situational option at WR in short yardage and goal-to-go situations. He's the kind of guy who can play jump ball if necessary and you feel good about his chances of winning more often than not. Plus, it's not like Webb lacks the speed to get downfield, and if the ball is thrown up in that situation, as before you feel good about his chances of winning a contested ball.

I don't know how the Vikings are evaluating this situation, but with the addition of Patterson to the lineup I think Simpson might be the odd man out. A lot depends on how fast Patterson develops and the degree of confidence the coaches have in him, but assuming he does come along the Vikes really don't need Simpson. They could, OTOH, find ways to use Webb's unique attributes.

I would not be surprised at all to see Simpson gone before the regular season starts.

I'd consider Simpson to be 'on the bubble' for exactly the reasons you stated regarding Webb and what his upside could be. Especially if the dude finds another niche on special teams. I wonder if Simpson's signing bonus (500,000 according to Barnwell) will affect that decision?

[Eli]

I doubt very much that Simpson is "on the bubble" just yet. It's conceivable, but right now I still think he's the #2 receiver on the team. He has a long way to fall to not make the roster.

I think the Vikings have a good chance of keeping six WRs. Too many guys that they like, and too many question marks about the top guys. Jennings is a muscle pull away from missing half the season. Patterson may not contribute much in his rookie year. Jennings is still a mystery contributor and Wright is fighting to prove that he can become a decent NFL #3 WR.

Yeah, things are looking promising for the WR corps, but they're also just a thin red hair from going into the crapper.

[The Breeze]

I doubt very much that Simpson is "on the bubble" just yet. It's conceivable, but right now I still think he's the #2 receiver on the team. He has a long way to fall to not make the roster.

I think the Vikings have a good chance of keeping six WRs. Too many guys that they like, and too many question marks about the top guys. Jennings is a muscle pull away from missing half the season. Patterson may not contribute much in his rookie year. Jennings is still a mystery contributor and Wright is fighting to prove that he can become a decent NFL #3 WR.

Yeah, things are looking promising for the WR corps, but they're also just a thin red hair from going into the crapper.

Yeah, I should redact some and say Simpson is on my personal bubble. I've been all for giving the guy a second chance this season, but the promise and potential between Jennings and the youngsters, has me putting the cart before the horse a bit regarding Webb. There is still 3 weeks til the roster is set so, it'll just get more interesting if not simpler~

[Mothman]

Is Simpson necessarily a lock? He did next to nothing last year and was a marginal player for the Bengals prior to that. Simpson supposedly gives the team deep speed, but then again, don't they already have that in Wright and now Patterson? In fact, a lot of people, myself included, fully expect Patterson to claim the starting spot opposite Jennings at some point, maybe sooner rather than later.

Acrobatic ability aside, Simpson appears to me to be a pretty pedestrian player with a limited ability to impact a game.

Webb, OTOH, might be more raw at WR, but in terms of his ability to impact a game, I'd say he's better. He's a very big guy who seems like an ideal situational option at WR in short yardage and goal-to-go situations. He's the kind of guy who can play jump ball if necessary and you feel good about his chances of winning more often than not. Plus, it's not like Webb lacks the speed to get downfield, and if the ball is thrown up in that situation, as before you feel good about his chances of winning a contested ball.

Unfortunately, he hasn't really done any of it yet. I'm no fan of Simpson but he's proven more as an NFL receiver than Webb has at this point. For one season, he was more than a marginal player for the Bengals and with luck, maybe he'll be more than that for the Vikings this season. Right now, both players are impressive athletes who may or may not have much to contribute as WRs for the Vikes.

I don't know how the Vikings are evaluating this situation, but with the addition of Patterson to the lineup I think Simpson might be the odd man out. A lot depends on how fast Patterson develops and the degree of confidence the coaches have in him, but assuming he does come along the Vikes really don't need Simpson. They could, OTOH, find ways to use Webb's unique attributes.

I would not be surprised at all to see Simpson gone before the regular season starts.

It's possible but honestly, it sounds more like wishful thinking in hopes that Webb will make the team. As Eli said, Simpson has a long way to fall to fail to make the roster. Conversely, Webb is facing a pretty steep climb.

[VikingLord]

It's possible but honestly, it sounds more like wishful thinking in hopes that Webb will make the team. As Eli said, Simpson has a long way to fall to fail to make the roster. Conversely, Webb is facing a pretty steep climb.

I'm not sure what you mean by "wishful thinking". It is more an observation than a desire as Simpson's skill set is superseded by Patterson's skill set, but the Vikings lack the big possession receiver that Webb could become. If I'm the offensive coordinator, my goal is to create matchups that favor my side of the football, so since Webb brings something unique in that regard he'd be more desirable than Simpson.

As I said, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Musgrave actually has the big, solid WR with the large wingspan, incredible jumping ability, and an ability to catch almost everything thrown his way based on camp reports. Vikes haven't had a solid possession receiver since maybe Sidney Rice, so provided Webb continues to shine, I think he might have more of an inside track than it might otherwise appear.

[Eli]

As I said, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Musgrave actually has the big, solid WR with the large wingspan, incredible jumping ability, and an ability to catch almost everything thrown his way based on camp reports. Vikes haven't had a solid possession receiver since maybe Sidney Rice, so provided Webb continues to shine, I think he might have more of an inside track than it might otherwise appear.

Wow. That's a lot of praise for Joe Webb based on little more than training camp reps.

big, solid WR with the large wingspan, incredible jumping ability, and an ability to catch almost everything thrown his way

That describes Kyle Rudolph perfectly. He's the Vikings' possession receiver.

[CaptainKirov]

Burton had similar buzz around him last year and he saw the field for like 40 snaps all year then slunk to obscurity on the bench. Ill get my hopes up about him if he makes this kind of buzz in the regular season.

[jeg067]

If they want too keep Webb as a 6th WR, maybe they'll just keep 2 QB.

I didn't hear/read anything on Bethel-Thompson or Vandenberg that makes one of them
really valuable for the team, so you can save a roster spot by only keeping Ponder & Cassel,
signing Bethel-Thompson or Vandenberg to the practice squad and using webb as an "emergency" third QB.

Of course, it only makes sense IF they want too keep Webb as a 6th WR

[VikingLord]

Wow. That's a lot of praise for Joe Webb based on little more than training camp reps.
That describes Kyle Rudolph perfectly. He's the Vikings' possession receiver.

Kyle Rudolph is the Vikings possession tight end. I've never seen him line up wide (although it's possible he has), but he's not a WR.

As for my praise of Webb, it's more stating the facts, and comparatively speaking, it's hardly eclipsed by anything Simpson has accomplished as a Viking so far.

[Mothman]

I'm not sure what you mean by "wishful thinking".

I just meant it sounded like you really wanted Webb to make the team and excel, which is understandable. I apologize for not being clear and for misunderstanding you.

On a related note, Judd Zulgad wrote a piece about Webb possibly making the team as a "super-utility player":

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Zulg ... eper081313

[PurpleKoolaid]

Im still hoping Webb makes it. Hes one of the bright spots. To have just started playing WR, and being, imo, as good as, if not better then Burton, to me makes more sense in him getting the nod. Burton has had so many chances, and with the better players. I like Webbs speed, I want him returning the kicks. I like his blocking too. I like him more them Simpson in fact. He runs better routes, but then so did BB, and he sucked.

[Eli]

The Webb as emergency QB argument assumes he can contribute in some other way... either as a receiver or as a returner. I don't see him doing either, which just makes him the third QB and we're back where we started.

MBT is actually beginning to look like a real NFL backup QB. I'd honestly rather they keep him than Joe Webb. But to tell the truth, I'm hoping they keep just two QBs and then use that extra roster spot for another defensive lineman, a linebacker or possibly one of the young receivers.