mansquatch wrote: ↑Fri Oct 19, 2018 9:20 am
Yeah, but PHP we ARE in tough shape on the OL.
I could see an argument that the drop off from startnig CB to backups might be more precipitous to our win chances than the drop off from starting OL to backup OL in which case the Hughes pick makes a little more sense. Obviously hindsight is 20/20, when we drafted Hughes we didn't know Easton was going to be on IR before the season started or that Sparano was going to die. So with those cards still on the table the choice between Hughes and Hernandez probably wasn't AS obvious, but still they needed Guard BAD.
I agree with what you're saying here but at the same time, this OL isnt in AS bad of shape if they had the right guys starting and the right guys on the bench IMO. Let's put it this way, it's hard to get any worse. OL is a problem right now no doubt. But what bothers me is nobody can tell me that a combo of (from left to right): O'Neill, Jones, Elflein, Remmers, Reiff is WORSE than what we currently have out there. Of even insert Isidora in there somewhere. But you cant tell me it would be worse. Rashod Hill is one of the worst starting tackles in the league and is continuing to get the nod at RT and NOW LT with Reiff being out. Many fans keep saying we need a guard desperately. I think we need a tackle more. And O'Neill is here. I can bet money that the Reiff/Hill combo is giving up just as many or more pressures than the Remmers/Compton combo.
This article shares a similar opinion to mine:
Reiff and Remmers held up well in 2017, but both have struggled in 2018. Reiff has been perhaps the poster child for the Vikings' struggles, headlined by a performance where he gave up 12 pressures on his own against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3, while Remmers has been kicked inside to guard and has been out of position at times. Rashod Hill, the starting right tackle, has been hobbled at times by an injury, but also seems to struggle against the best competition he sees.
The point here is that it is not really just one player that is not getting the job done. There are breakdowns and poor performance across the board here and it is to the point where a shakeup probably needs to take place. This unit is not getting any better, and the argument can be made they have gotten a bit worse each week. How it gets fixed is anyone's guess, but there are still players on the bench in Brett Jones, the guard/center who was traded for during the preseason, Danny Isidora and 2018 second-round pick Brian O'Neill. If what they have gotten is what they are going to get, they really do not have much to lose by potentially inserting Isidora or O'Neill into the lineup if it comes to that. If you are going to struggle, struggle with a purpose of getting draft picks repetitions to see what you have.
Also, what is the difference between Hernandez and Josh Jackson VS Mike Hughes and Brian O'Neill?? Jackson looked good in preseason action but has been very up and down during the regular season. The Giants offensive line is probably one of the only lines worse than ours right now (however we are ranked 24th currently according to PFF). Giants are 31st. That is with Will Hernandez. Point being, Will Hernandez isnt necessarily making a terrible OL any better, you need a lot more pieces to do that. So I'm not sure what fans would think he would do here. It's not like Will Hernandez comes in and saves the day for our OL like some may think. Brian O'Neill excels more in pass blocking where Hernandez is more run blocking. Hernandez is good dont get me wrong. But Brian O'Neill has played lights out in 4 games too.
So all in all, did we really lose out with our first two picks? Compared to going with Hernandez and Jackson. I look at it as a wash or that we gained a slight edge with the selections we made. The fact that Brian O'Neill is continuing to sit the bench isnt on Brian ONeill. It's on Zim being stubborn. Who knows if Hernandez would've started here either? Zim likes to play these little games sometimes with some rookies where he doesnt give them any time until they are forced to go in. If they are better than who is starting, PLAY THEM. What are you waiting for? I just dont understand how you can sit there each week watching film and watch Rashod Hill and Riley Reiff getting embarrassed and you continue to leave him on the bench. Is it Spielman that isnt seeing the OL talent or is it Zimmer? I'm starting to wonder. Riley Reiff has given up 6 TIMES the amount of pressures in ONE game, than O'Neill has in FOUR games. Let that sink in. Rashod Hill, I cant even begin to count the amount of pressures he has given up.
I guess in the end, I dont understand how someone could say "yeah we botched the 2018 draft" (7 weeks into the year no less) by getting Hughes and O'Neill but say we "crushed the drafted in 2018" by taking Hernandez and Jackson. If anything, it's a wash or even us having the upper hand