Your buddy Riley Reiff

When I watched them on tape, I thought Reiff was the better blocker. Kalil never gave up a sack his last season at USC, but he got beat too often for my taste. Kalil was the higher rated blocker mostly because of text book footwork, athleticism and measurables. Longer arms and a 4.9 forty compared to Reiff's 5.3. 

But all spring I wanted the Vikings to take another position at 3. You don't pick that high very often and so you should take a position that might have a bigger impact. Interestingly, the two players we may have also considered, Justin Blackmon and Morris Claiborne, have been bigger busts than Kalil. 

Couple days before the draft, I decided that the consensus view was better informed than me, and that Kalil was probably the smartest choice. 

It was then that I learned to trust my instincts and ignore the groupthink-derived consensus when it comes to the draft. 

I wanted a LT in one that year, so I was either for Kalil or trading down for Reiff.

@"dukes" said: In the N.F.L. 2012 draft, I always thought Riley Reiff was the best tackle. Even better than Matt Kalil. To say that them was taboo. The experts said otherwise and nobody questioned them. Now, we will all get to see who really was the better tackle. Reiff or Kalil.

Well you are smarter than me. Because I thought not only was Kalil better I thought he was significantly better.

Well, right now we don't have either ;)

Honestly, neither one is worth much. Reiff could be a decent RT, because that's what he is in the NFL, and that's where Detroit had moved him.

Best thing that could happen: Viking's draft a starting LT in next year's draft, move Reiff to starting RT, Eason wins the starting center job and Elflein is the starting RG. Isadora might surprise at guard. Remmers is a stiff, which will be proven out this year unfortunately.

@"StickyBun" said: Honestly, neither one is worth much. Reiff could be a decent RT, because that's what he is in the NFL, and that's where Detroit had moved him.

Best thing that could happen: Viking's draft a starting LT in next year's draft, move Reiff to starting RT, Eason wins the starting center job and Elflein is the starting RG. Isadora might surprise at guard. Remmers is a stiff, which will be proven out this year unfortunately.

I like Hill at LT long term - has potential.  Easton to guard/center backup .  Isidora at guard next year replacing Fusco who will retire.

Hill, Boone, Elflein, Isadora, ?? in 2018.

@"twgerber" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Honestly, neither one is worth much. Reiff could be a decent RT, because that's what he is in the NFL, and that's where Detroit had moved him.

Best thing that could happen: Viking's draft a starting LT in next year's draft, move Reiff to starting RT, Eason wins the starting center job and Elflein is the starting RG. Isadora might surprise at guard. Remmers is a stiff, which will be proven out this year unfortunately.

Sorry but I couldn't disagree more - Reiff was per PFF a lot better at LT than RT.  He played badly at RT.  Way out of position.

I like Hill at LT long term - has potential.  Easton to guard/center backup .  Isidora at guard next year replacing Fusco who will retire.

Hill, Boone, Elflein, Isadora, ?? in 2018.

@"StickyBun" said:

If that were the case, then why did the Lions move him to RT and draft a LT? 

Dudes, lol. I love you guys, I do. But you are wearing purple tinted glasses. Lets see what happens.

@"StickyBun" said: Dudes, lol. I love you guys, I do. But you are wearing purple tinted glasses. Lets see what happens.

Any update on Reiff, is he backing practicing yet?

@"StickyBun" said: Honestly, neither one is worth much. Reiff could be a decent RT, because that's what he is in the NFL, and that's where Detroit had moved him.

Best thing that could happen: Viking's draft a starting LT in next year's draft, move Reiff to starting RT, Eason wins the starting center job and Elflein is the starting RG. Isadora might surprise at guard. Remmers is a stiff, which will be proven out this year unfortunately.

Best thing that could happen, is Reiff works out a LT, Elflein excels at C, the Rhino stops running his mouth and plays up to the level of his talk and we draft a RG or RT and slide Remmers in.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"twgerber" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Honestly, neither one is worth much. Reiff could be a decent RT, because that's what he is in the NFL, and that's where Detroit had moved him.

Best thing that could happen: Viking's draft a starting LT in next year's draft, move Reiff to starting RT, Eason wins the starting center job and Elflein is the starting RG. Isadora might surprise at guard. Remmers is a stiff, which will be proven out this year unfortunately.

Sorry but I couldn't disagree more - Reiff was per PFF a lot better at LT than RT.  He played badly at RT.  Way out of position.

I like Hill at LT long term - has potential.  Easton to guard/center backup .  Isidora at guard next year replacing Fusco who will retire.

Hill, Boone, Elflein, Isadora, ?? in 2018.

If that were the case, then why did the Lions move him to RT and draft a LT? I trust a team's coaching dynamics and assessments more than I do PFF. The Lions had pretty shitty lines when Reiff was there, giving up a bunch of sacks. If he played well, they wouldn't have drafted a replacement, moved him to RT and then let him leave the team in FA, bottom line. LT's are golden. Signing him to a big contract means nothing, look at what Matt Kalil got in Carolina.

Ultimately, I hope you are right: I want the team to succeed. I just think the offensive line is going to be the achilles heal of this team again.

There are two facts that seem to be lost in this conversation:

1. Decker was seen by most as a RIGHT tackle in the draft, so the notion that Detroit drafted a LT to replace Reiff is not entirely accurate. 
• Kevin Weidl, espn.com: "Decker is an experienced three-year starter who has played at both tackle positions. He doesn't have elite athleticism, and combined with his lack of length he projects as a right tackle at the next level. Decker doesn't have a lot of flash in his game, but he's one of the steadier offensive linemen on tape. He's a technician with the right makeup to become a very solid starter for a decade in the NFL."

Now, does this mean that Reiff is going to come in and be the answer to our prayers at LT? No. I see him as a very mild upgrade from Kalil. But let's at least get the facts straight.