Which positional group would u like to see improve b4 opener?
I have no doubt there will be some pick-ups or trades b4 the opener.
Which group would u like to see improve the most regarding starters?
Not a glamorous group (especially in a 3/4) but the IDL for me looks like the weakest group.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Hmmm, Vikings do poorly against the pass and the run. I'll say defense. Lots of unknowns about our defense which makes it difficult to predict which component needs the most improvement. Plus, a new DC, how do the players fit in his scheme? Shrug, I'm simply hoping for the best this season but do not have high expectations.
I have zero faith in our LB’s.
Interior of both OL & DL. They both are lacking IMO and ultimately could cost them in the win column.
When is the last time the Vikings had an above average Oline?
2009- 14 years ago?
I'd like to see how Cousins and the team does if by the end of the season the Oline is ranked in the Top 10-15 in most every oline statistic metric.
Where the Oline is generally regarded as above average and ranked somewhere close to being in the Top 10.
IDL
LBs
IOL
DBs
ILB. I agree the IDL is blah but we at least have bodies there. ILB we're starting a slow old guy and a 2nd year 3rd rounder who's barely played. The "depth" is Troy Dye (remember him? Probably not) and a (over?) hyped rookie UDFA in Pace. Yikes.
There's a lot of talk on Vikings Twitter about bringing in a guard. Apparently Dalton Risner's available. It's not going to happen. Cleveland was a 2nd rounder who's been inconsistent, but he's above average. Ingram was a 2nd rounder who started poorly but steadily improved. Kinda what you expect from a rookie. Returning all five starters and the continuity it brings is a bigger "addition" to the team than any one player we could add.
To me it's obvious: Jordan Hicks. I'd have a lot more faith in this defense if the Vikings could upgrade Hicks and render him quality depth.
@"MaroonBells" said: There's a lot of talk on Vikings Twitter about bringing in a guard. Apparently Dalton Risner's available. It's not going to happen. Cleveland was a 2nd rounder who's been inconsistent, but he's above average. Ingram was a 2nd rounder who started poorly but steadily improved. Kinda what you expect from a rookie. Returning all five starters and the continuity it brings is a bigger "addition" to the team than any one player we could add.To me it's obvious: Jordan Hicks. I'd have a lot more faith in this defense if the Vikings could upgrade Hicks and render him quality depth.
would our ILBs look better if the IDL was able to demand double teams, keeping those ILBs free to make a play in the run game without having to try and get off a blocking OL? I agree on the LBs being a big need, but I think we need the front 3 ( or 4 ) to be where we start as better talent at those positions improves everyone else behind them.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"MaroonBells" said: There's a lot of talk on Vikings Twitter about bringing in a guard. Apparently Dalton Risner's available. It's not going to happen. Cleveland was a 2nd rounder who's been inconsistent, but he's above average. Ingram was a 2nd rounder who started poorly but steadily improved. Kinda what you expect from a rookie. Returning all five starters and the continuity it brings is a bigger "addition" to the team than any one player we could add.To me it's obvious: Jordan Hicks. I'd have a lot more faith in this defense if the Vikings could upgrade Hicks and render him quality depth.
would our ILBs look better if the IDL was able to demand double teams, keeping those ILBs free to make a play in the run game without having to try and get off a blocking OL? I agree on the LBs being a big need, but I think we need the front 3 ( or 4 ) to be where we start as better talent at those positions improves everyone else behind them.
I think you could say that about every position. The pass rush would be better if we had better corners. The center would be better if we had a better right guard. The whole IOL would be better if we had a more mobile QB. Etc.To me, there were a handful of players on defense that stood out as the weakest links last year: Chandon Sullivan, Eric Kendricks, Dantzler, Bynum and Hicks (especially in coverage). I think we potentially upgraded each of those positions except for Hicks. Could we do better than Tonga, Phillips and Lowry? Yes, especially Lowry. But Hicks is the one who stands out to me as the weakest link.
We have the guy who drafted Risner and coached him up. If we don't want him, he must not be a good fit
@"Skodin" said: We have the guy who drafted Risner and coached him up. If we don't want him, he must not be a good fitI liked Risner a lot in the draft and I do think he's a good fit, since Denver runs the same ZBS we do. Just don't think the Vikings should mess with the continuity. Risner will land somewhere, but I'd be willing to bet Ingram has a better year. He's already a better run blocker.
Well clearly defense overall. I do not know if BFlo can make a big enough impact on scheme and coaching. Hope so. As a sub-group, I would say Defensive secondary as priority 1-a (again, scheme?) and the D-line pressure scheme (blitzing, etc) as priority 1-b.
It's defensive line and inside linebacker by a wide margin. Rumors out there that we could still pursue Ndamukong Suh, who is 36 years old. We just don't have any difference makers on that interior defensive line. I suspect our pass defense will improve but we are going to get exposed against the run this season. I'm really shocked they elected on cutting Kendricks and retaining Jordan Hicks. I really thought they'd find a way to keep Kendricks, who to me struggled last season mainly due to the overall confusion on defense and going from a defense tailor made for him in Mike Zinners 4-3, to a 3-4 where we lacked talent up front and he was routinely fighting lineman getting the second level because there was zero coverage in front. I'd be surprised if Asamoah doesn't struggle as an undersized linebacker who also would likely benefit more if there was more talent in front of him. Hicks is just a guy and nothing special.
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