7 topics for Vikings' offseason

[dead_poet]

QUARTERBACKS

Christian Ponder's role will not change. Period. "He's our starter [for 2013]," Frazier said Tuesday while praising the way Ponder helped the Vikings finish 4-0 to reach 10 wins and the playoffs. Ironically, the arm injury that kept Ponder out of Saturday night's playoff loss at Green Bay could very well cost backup Joe Webb his job. Thrust into an incredibly difficult test on the road, Webb failed miserably. Three days later, Frazier sympathized with Webb but clearly left the door ajar to make changes behind Ponder. "[Webb will] be a guy that will compete for the No. 2 spot again next year, barring something that we may end up doing in our personnel meetings," Frazier said. "But we'll discuss Joe's position and everyone's position in our personnel meetings and then we'll make a decision what's best." It sure sounds like a change is coming behind Ponder.nd Ponder.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... ml?refer=y

[Mothman]

Thanks for the link. I'll be very surprised if Webb is Ponder's primary backup when next season begins.

Hopefully, the Vikings will be able to keep Winfield and Kevin Williams around, retain key free agents like Felton and Loadholt and upgrade some key areas of need. I'm very curious to see what they'll do at LB and WR this offseason.

[dead_poet]

Thanks for the link. I'll be very surprised if Webb is Ponder's primary backup when next season begins.

What do you think is the most likely outcome? I'm guessing #3 QB. I don't know what his trade value would be (probably lucky to get a sixth or seventh). Do you think they outright release him? Attempt to convert him to WR? That's what I would do if the next likeliest outcome is #3 QB. YMMV

Hopefully, the Vikings will be able to keep Winfield and Kevin Williams around, retain key free agents like Felton and Loadholt and upgrade some key areas of need. I'm very curious to see what they'll do at LB and WR this offseason.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Harvin is going to play a major role in their offseason. If they pay him, do they still try for one of the "big 3" free agent WRs? Can they afford to do it while also re-signing Felton and Loadholt (last I looked Clayton reported they had $16 million cap space left)? If he's traded, what's the compensation? Would we need to replace TWO WRs or would the team use Wright in one? I think a lot hinges on the outcome of Harvin.

[Cliff]

What do you think is the most likely outcome? I'm guessing #3 QB. I don't know what his trade value would be (probably lucky to get a sixth or seventh). Do you think they outright release him? Attempt to convert him to WR? That's what I would do if the next likeliest outcome is #3 QB. YMMV

I don't see the point in converting him to WR if he seems to have issues catching. If he's going to try another position I'd go CB ... but I don't think that's likely. I think the Webb experiment is about over depending on the draft and whether or not MBT looks worse than he does in practice.

[Mothman]

What do you think is the most likely outcome? I'm guessing #3 QB. I don't know what his trade value would be (probably lucky to get a sixth or seventh). Do you think they outright release him? Attempt to convert him to WR? That's what I would do if the next likeliest outcome is #3 QB. YMMV

It's a tough question. It may depend on how sentimental they are with regard to Webb, how much they like him. Honestly, although I love his attitude and he can be fun to watch when he has a performance like he did against the Lions in 2011, I think the smart move is to release and replace him. I think they can easily find 5 WRs better than Webb and 3 QBs better than Webb so personally, I just don't see a place for him on the team. He's a great athlete but I don't think he has an NFL-level skill set at any position. If the Vikings feel otherwise, I'm guessing he'll be the #3 QB.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Harvin is going to play a major role in their offseason. If they pay him, do they still try for one of the "big 3" free agent WRs?

I doubt it and I think there's a real question about whether Harvin should be paid like a top WR. He offers a different skill set than what teams normally get from their #1 receiver but he can obviously be extremely productive when healthy and overall, he hasn't missed much time due to injury in his career. However, he does get beat up and he doesn't seem happy unless he's getting the ball a lot. We saw where that leads this season. I just don't know if he can get the kind of touches he wants and withstand the pounding he takes with his playing style so while I feel he's worth a lucrative contract, I wonder just how much the Vikings will be willing to spend on him.

Can they afford to do it while also re-signing Felton and Loadholt (last I looked Clayton reported they had $16 million cap space left)? If he's traded, what's the compensation? Would we need to replace TWO WRs or would the team use Wright in one? I think a lot hinges on the outcome of Harvin.

If they traded Harvin, I suspect Wright would move into the slot (or maybe they would sign Jennings and play him there). As for compensation, I think fans would want a first rounder but IF Harvin is traded, I'm guessing it will be due to a holdout or a contentious negotiation and that could hurt the Vikes leverage in a trade. I'm guessing they could get a low first rounder or something like a second and a 4th or 5th in return for Harvin, depending on the cirumstances. Of course, there's always the possibility he could be traded for a player or players rather than just picks but my guess is the Vikes would prefer picks if a trade occurred.

[dead_poet]

I don't see the point in converting him to WR if he seems to have issues catching.

Can his catching ability be any worse than his throwing?

If he's going to try another position I'd go CB ... but I don't think that's likely.

They aren't going to start him from scratch at a position he has no experience with. At least he's been a receiver some during his football career.

I think the Webb experiment is about over depending on the draft and whether or not MBT looks worse than he does in practice.

I've liked what I've seen in limited action from MBT. *shrug*

[Mothman]

Can his catching ability be any worse than his throwing?

I think the real question is whether he offers more upside at that position than other WRs the team could bring in.

[Cliff]

Can his catching ability be any worse than his throwing?

He seemed to be equally bad in both positions. At least at QB the ball actually gets into his hands so he can do what he's best at.

If he's going to try another position I'd go CB ... but I don't think that's likely.

They aren't going to start him from scratch at a position he has no experience with. At least he's been a receiver some during his football career.

I know it seems unlikely but that's the only way I see Webb really sticking with the team. All he has going for him is athletic ability ... that ability hasn't helped much at the two positions he's tried ... so throw him somewhere else and see if he sticks was my line of thinking.

I think the Webb experiment is about over depending on the draft and whether or not MBT looks worse than he does in practice.

I've liked what I've seen in limited action from MBT. *shrug*

I'd rather have MBT back there myself.

Personally I think Webb is done either way. Frazier was pretty clear that he was going to keep Webb at one position and stop jerking him around from one spot to another. The fact that he isn't progressing leads me to believe the team will cut their losses altogether.

[dead_poet]

He seemed to be equally bad in both positions. At least at QB the ball actually gets into his hands so he can do what he's best at.

Running around? I still hold out hope that with enough practice he can improve his hands. He's got the other tools (speed, leaping ability, overall athleticism).

I know it seems unlikely but that's the only way I see Webb really sticking with the team. All he has going for him is athletic ability ... that ability hasn't helped much at the two positions he's tried ... so throw him somewhere else and see if he sticks was my line of thinking.

I just think that's too unrealistic. If he had some corner experience, I could see it. But I'd think he'd have a much better opportunity to stick at a position he has familiarity with.

I'd rather have MBT back there myself.

After watching Saturday's "performance" I would too. But you have to look back at Webb's body of work, such that it is. I think that probably makes it a little closer. He has had decent spot-starts/relief performances, which is what you need in a backup. He also provides another element that's tough to plan for (you know, that stuff in theory that should've worked out but didn't). But you're right, the unknown in MBT is a little more attractive than the known we've seen out of Webb.

Personally I think Webb is done either way. Frazier was pretty clear that he was going to keep Webb at one position and stop jerking him around from one spot to another. The fact that he isn't progressing leads me to believe the team will cut their losses altogether.

He's probably done. But my question is, will they cut ties this season or wait until his contract is up? He might not bring enough to the table to make the 53. Definitely a story line to watch going into next season.

[PurpleMustReign]

What about trying Webb at Safety?

[Mothman]

What about trying Webb at Safety?

Again, is he going to be better than an experienced safety (pro or college) competing for the same position? He has no experience playing safety.

[PurpleKoolaid]

We should have gotten rid of Webb a long time ago. Hes like a Tebow, only worse. See if we can get anything at all for him, or put him on waivers. I dont want him in as a backup again, ever.

[PurpleMustReign]

Again, is he going to be better than an experienced safety (pro or college) competing for the same position? He has no experience playing safety.

True... How about a team mascot?

[S197]

Webb was a flier pick to begin with so I don't see the Vikings trying to plug him in at a different position. I think he'll be cut this offseason. Honestly I think he got a bad break from Childress, he was drafted by Spielman to be a WR and should have stayed one but the KAO genius decided to move him. He certainly has the athleticism to excel at that position but was never given a chance to develop. I think now it's too late and we'll never know.

MBT is very very raw from what I've seen and read. He has a great arm and that's about where it ends. He's a good 3rd string project QB but that's about it, this team needs to find a bonafide QB that can give Ponder some true competition.

[John_Viveiros]

Can his catching ability be any worse than his throwing?

I've been staying out of a lot of these conversations because the wounds are too raw for most of you, but I almost want to say "Did you watch the game?!?" Webb was inconsistent clearly, but he also threw a handful of passes that were the most beautiful frozen rope spirals I've seen all season. Not just Vikings season, but all across the NFL.

He clearly possesses an NFL caliber arm. Whether he has the brain and desire is another question. ...One that seems settled for most of you after all three (?) of his starts.

And you are probably right. Odds are that he's not Steve Young. I just don't know why one bad start in cold weather at the home of the likely NFC Champion defines his potential (regardless of other success) in a way that it didn't define the potential of the other guy (well, it did for that week, but he had opportunity to play the next week and revert to the mean a bit).