IIsweet wrote:Having read all of your thoughts, there is much over reaction and undue hatred being thrown around.
I have always been overly critical of Spielman and if I am placing blame anywhere, it's him.
Bradford didn't draft or sign these OL and continue to pay for subpar performances.
Zimmer may have selected Norv, Shurmur, and the coaching staff, but the personnel is not entirely on him.
Bradford has the natural tools and when given some time, has the ability to make every throw. Biggest knock on him is just how quickly he checks down and his lack of mobility.
If I am Zygi..... I look at my roster and ask if it's a SB contending roster. IMO, not even close. Defensively, I think that we are good enough to win a SB, realistically another year though and they are special. I hope that we finally add a big fat strong DT. Joseph is a great talent, but remember the Williams wall? I would look for a big fella like fat Pat was.
Offensively though I think we suck. I think that we have a lot of really good pieces but their talents are not being utilized to the fullest. Problem starts and ends with the OL. Very little can be accomplished if we cannot either open up running lanes or pass block. You have to be able to do one or the other to win. Right now, they cannot do neither. The QB cannot feel comfortable allowing for the WR routes to develop. The RB have nowhere to run, the OC has no idea how to move the ball because these guys continue to get hurt and now our line looks like Legos...
So, again, the blame falls on the OL, but I think it's a bigger problem. I think the problem is Spielman. He obviously believes that athletes and play makers win games, but he does not value building the OL. He has missed often with his selection of OL in the draft and not even that good with FA. Until he believes that you win the LOS and you win the game.... We will continue to be disappointed as fans.
On a side note, ever thought that we're the team that always drafts the guy that falls ???? Floyd, Patterson, Bridgewater, Treadwell, Alexander, Clemmings.
I'm going to challenge you (and others) on this one.
Phil Loadholt -- not an All-Pro, but a solid tackle, especially in the running game. Spielman didn't cause his achilles to tear.
Matt Kalil -- considered to be easily the best O-lineman coming out of college when he was drafted, and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Spielman didn't cause him to suddenly go into suck mode, or to be constantly hurt, or to go on IR. And how many of us would KILL to have him at LT right now?
John Sullivan -- on the cusp of being an All-Pro until he hurt his back. Spielman didn't cause his back to go out, nor did he force Sullivan to lift weights before his back was ready.
Brandon Fusco -- among the top-rated guards on PFF a couple of years ago. Now he gets knocked on his a$$ every other play. Why has he descended into suckitude? I'm sure Spielman is as perplexed as anyone.
Joe Berger -- good enough to replace Sullivan, but now he's hurt.
Alex Boone -- after a slow start, he's been solid, but even he has missed time due to injury.
Andre Smith -- we can argue whether he was any good, but the fact remains that he was a high draft choice and gave us at least a chance of being average at RT -- until he got hurt and went on IR.
Mike Harris -- Widely regarded as one of our top O-linemen last year. Where is he now? He's like Jimmy Hoffa -- has disappeared without a trace. Rick's fault?
Has O-line been a priority in the early draft rounds for Spielman. No. But not every team builds a line that way. The Vikings have gone the "draft low and develop" route. As I've said many times, it may not be the way we think he ought to build an O-line, but it's what he's chosen to do, and there's precedent for it. He's far from the only GM to go this route. And we can sit here and go "Dallas Cowboys" all we want, but the Cowboys haven't won squat for years, and until they do, there's no reason to make their "draft the entire line in the first round" the model. Their defense is not terribly good, and I believe they will get exposed in the playoffs.
Here's the other truth ... we are 6-5, having played with a line that has had 10 or 11 different combinations due to injury. I honestly believe that if our opening day line had been able to stay together, we might very well be 8-3 or better right now. Continuity is everything with an O-line, and we've had none. I believe there has only been one instance this entire season where the same 5 guys were together for 2 games in a row -- we won the second of those two games against the Cardinals.
We all like to say, "Can't make injuries an excuse." That's a nice buzz phrase, but the truth is that talent wins in this league, and virtually every O-lineman close to having real talent is on the shelf. When you're trotting out Willie Beavers at RT and T.J. Clemmings at LT, it's a miracle this team even had a chance to win on the road.
Obviously something's got to be done for next season. But I doubt you'll ever see another year like this for injuries to one unit of a Vikings football team. It's been brutal.