80 PurplePride 84 wrote:After Jennings, Wallace and Bowe there's nowhere higher to aim.
Right, which is why those three probably need to be the focus.
If I had to make a prediction I'd say the Vikings don't sign any of 3, UNLESS Harvin is/will be traded. They'll go more along the lines of option 2 I proposed.
I don't know. I think they may be apprehensive about spending on another Jerome Simpson. They were reportedly in the conversation regarding Vincent Jackson, Sidney Rice and Pierre Garcon so I expect them to make a hard play at one or two of the top dogs provided they have the cap space to do it. Ponder is Spielman's guy. He's invested in making him succeed and recent acquisitions has reflected that (granted not all have panned out). Ponder will probably be on a short leash next season depending on if there's any competition behind him. I fully expect Spielman to try and give Ponder proven, LEGIT weapons to help him, which I would think might lean towards a splash in FA over a top WR available at our position in the draft. But that's just a guess.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
I'd take Jennings. He'd probably be cheaper than Bowe, isn't a head case. (One weird thing I noticed, Jennings is only one year older than Bowe...and born on the exact same day) So let's not pretend Jennings is on his way to the retirement home and Bowe is somehow the future at the position when they're not that much different in age. Wallace is going to be the most expensive of them all! If nothing else pass on all three and just draft some help, they all have issues and are going to cost a bundle.
Jennings seems to be doing all he can to indicate he wants to be a viking though, from saying he'd let AD get the record a week ago, to now saying he wants to play indoors. I think he's infinitely more mentally stable compared to the other two as well.
Demi wrote:I'd take Jennings. He'd probably be cheaper than Bowe, isn't a head case. (One weird thing I noticed, Jennings is only one year older than Bowe...and born on the exact same day) So let's not pretend Jennings is on his way to the retirement home and Bowe is somehow the future at the position when they're not that much different in age. Wallace is going to be the most expensive of them all! If nothing else pass on all three and just draft some help, they all have issues and are going to cost a bundle.
Jennings seems to be doing all he can to indicate he wants to be a viking though, from saying he'd let AD get the record a week ago, to now saying he wants to play indoors. I think he's infinitely more mentally stable compared to the other two as well.
That's pretty much how I see it too. Even though the team made the playoffs you've got to think they're still going to be in "rebuilding" mode as far as picking up players goes. If they can continue to draft this successfully there's really no reason to get players anywhere else. That is, if this draft wasn't a fluke.
fiestavike wrote:
I just don't see the Vikings spending big money on a CB because of the amount of Zone we play, but I'm open to upgrades anywhere on the roster. Overall though, I don't think its our biggest position of need, and I think Jefferson has been solid and still has upside.
We play zone because we have to play zone, not just because we want to play zone. If they had a 2nd true cover corner on the outside it would open up what they can do in terms of coverage and blitzes. Robinson and Jefferson have yet to show they can be consistent. (I think they have upside) Also, injuries seem to be a staple in the secondary so you can never have enough solid CB.
Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi
VikingLord wrote:
Totally agree with this as well. Loadholt has taken a few bad penalties, but in terms of his play he has been very effective. When things break down on his side of the line its usually a result of Fusco getting blown up. Loadholt is a guy the Vikings are going to keep. If they make changes on the offensive line, it will be at one or both guard positions.
Count me as another one who completely agrees with this logic. Loadbutt can be slow off the snap at times and yet will other times jump the snap. Yet he still is a good blocker on the majority of plays. He will remain on the OL and he should.
If the Vikings want to do some fixing on the OL, I believe they should start and maybe end by making upgrades at both guard positions.
I agree on Felton, he is a unique player with a unique style to the position that he and AP have more or less developed. It would be SHOCKING to see them let this go given their team identity.
LB/DT are IMO the two areas most likely to be addressed in early rounds of the draft. I really agree on the LB talent being ripe for an upgrade. Aside from Greenway we just do not have any explosiveness in a position group that shold be explosive. The biggest need is a solid player at Mike. (I think this might be the biggest need on the team, in their scheme it would have the most impact) Makes me wonder if they'll brign Urlacher in as 1yr stop gap. I think he is done, but it is possible.
OL: OG is strong candidate for improvement. I expect to see this get draft or FA attention. Davidson knows his stuff so I have faith in whatever they do. I dissagree on Loadholt. I would be suprised if they let him go. We can't have top talent at every position and Loadholt is solid at RT.
Same with Gerhart. Just as he isn't going to command a high trade value he also will not command a high $$$ contract. Even with AP, you want a solid back up RB who provides a change of pace. Gerhart gives us that. I think he stays.
DE: I think they'll try to keep all 3. Pass Rush by the front 4 is big part of what they do on D. They have 3 solid pass rushers, I doubt they'll let these guys get loose.
TE: I think they'll keep the 3 they have for another season. Spielman has indicated he isn't done with Carlson yet.
WR: I think they keep Wright, Harvin, and Childs. (assuming Childs recovers) Jenkins might make it back for depth. I think they'll resign Simpson on the cheap. I do not think they'll make a splash in FA unless they intent to trade Harvin. Most likely we'll see an early round (probably not 1st round) pick to round this group out.
More on WR: I know the play has been bad this year, but we've also never seen the best they can offer on the field at the same time (and healthy) over an extended period this season. Wright/Harvin/Simpson plus Rudolph/Carslon isn't a bad set of WR. You've got a nice balance of speed, size, and playmaking with that group. Carlson is the bigest question mark. They need to improve, but if that group can stay healthy and Carlson can become productive I wonder if we'll see any dramatic changes?
Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi
mansquatch wrote:
We play zone because we have to play zone, not just because we want to play zone. If they had a 2nd true cover corner on the outside it would open up what they can do in terms of coverage and blitzes. Robinson and Jefferson have yet to show they can be consistent. (I think they have upside) Also, injuries seem to be a staple in the secondary so you can never have enough solid CB.
We play zone because that's the base defense Frazier and Williams run. They didn't like the amount of man we were using when they had that one guy fill in to end the season. This defense is made to not *need* cover corners. It needs corners who can tackle, and cover their zone. Obviously it'd be better to have corners that could do that, AND were better in terms of covering guys in man. But we don't play zone because we have to...we play it because we want to. That's the defense they run. Would they run more man if they had the personnel? I honestly doubt it.
