Yeah, I agree. The Vikings can be creative from any formation as long as no particular formation is limited to just passing or running. For example, I would think the Vikings would love to see an opposing D assume that a 2TE set automatically means a running play if it opens things up for a pass. I'm hoping the Vikings are better suited to mix things up like that this year.
OTOH, I know what MV711 is saying and he's not alone in this. I wouldn't mind seeing Jennings, Simpson, Wright, and Patterson on the field at the same time occasionally. Of course, if that formation doesn't work well, then that's that. But I would think it might be a head-scratcher for the opposing D coordinator.
Maybe Webb can be transitioned into a possession receiver. He certainly has the body size and jumping ability to fill that role. I know a lot more goes into it than that but if he's showing good hands it might be the best fit in terms of having the best shot at making the team.
It probably sounds like I'm high on Webb but actually I'm not, it's more that I'm not confident in Burton and haven't seen enough on the new UDFA and FAs to judge them fairly. Is it August yet?
Joe Webb
What’s so special?: Webb’s freakish athleticism has always had the attention of Vikings’ coaches and teammates. Now that Webb is out of the quarterbacks' room and attempting a transition to receiver, Priefer is downright giddy to have access to the eager 6-foot-4, 220-pound playmaker.
“You look at his skill set and you say, ‘Ya know what? We can do some things with this guy,’” Priefer said. “So for me, I get fired up about having a guy like him playing special teams.”
You should know: So just how will Priefer utilize Webb?
“You take an athlete like Joe,” the coordinator said, “and my creative juices start flowing immediately.”
Webb might be an option as a kick returner. There are also thoughts of trying him on the edge on the field goal block unit and he could be deployed as a punt team gunner. To which Priefer notes: “We joke around about whether he’ll ever make a tackle when that opportunity comes.”
Priefer thinks Webb would, impressed with his size and strength. But he also knows there’s a place for receiver gunners who are skilled at getting upfield to force fair catches.
“Some of them don’t ever make a tackle,” Priefer said. “But they’re so good at what they do that if the punt is where you want it and it has good hang time and you don’t outkick the coverage, that gunner is standing there a few feet from that returner and now there’s no choice.”
Extra point: Finding a niche on special teams may be a pre-requisite for Webb to stick on the 53-man roster. After all, the Vikings are only likely to keep five, possibly six receivers around. And with Patterson, Greg Jennings, Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright in the mix, Webb may have to fend off the second tier of receivers, a group that includes Stephen Burton, Greg Childs, Chris Summers and Rodney Smith.
Now Bo Jackson Jr. is going to be a kick returner, gunner specialist. Boy howdy if he ever did just ONE thing well enough to warrant getting the damn job, it'd be the first.
Let the guy do something, or cut him. But definitely cut the crap already.
Hopefully finally taking him off the QB spot gives him a real chance to get some snaps somewhere else and show all this wild athleticism. Otherwise he'd just another Tim Tebow...a player without a position...works in college...not so well in the NFL.
Demi wrote:Now Bo Jackson Jr. is going to be a kick returner, gunner specialist. Boy howdy if he ever did just ONE thing well enough to warrant getting the damn job, it'd be the first.
Let the guy do something, or cut him. But definitely cut the crap already.
Hopefully finally taking him off the QB spot gives him a real chance to get some snaps somewhere else and show all this wild athleticism. Otherwise he'd just another Tim Tebow...a player without a position...works in college...not so well in the NFL.
Well to be fair, most of the time your #5/#6 receiver is going to make the team by his ability to play special teams.
Demi wrote:Now Bo Jackson Jr. is going to be a kick returner, gunner specialist. Boy howdy if he ever did just ONE thing well enough to warrant getting the damn job, it'd be the first.
Let the guy do something, or cut him. But definitely cut the crap already.
Hopefully finally taking him off the QB spot gives him a real chance to get some snaps somewhere else and show all this wild athleticism. Otherwise he'd just another Tim Tebow...a player without a position...works in college...not so well in the NFL.
As a fan, I sure hope Webb makes you eat those words, Demi. I'm rooting for the guy.
I agree with Demi that it's time for him to live up to some of his potential. It's not his fault that he was miscast at QB for the last few years. I'm rooting for him too.
Joe Webb to debut as jack-of-all-trades in Vikings' preseason opener
"[Webb] is one of those guys that can do a lot of different things most people can't in the league," Spielman said. "But the other thing we're going to take a hard look at is during these special teams drills, now we're not live yet, but just seeing him run down as an athlete on kickoff coverage, working him back some as a returner, putting him out as a gunner on the punt team, see if he can break down in space and make some tackles."
headless_norseman wrote:
Who the hell is MBT? I'd wish people would just type the names out, although examples like AD is one of the few exceptions around.
MBT? ..is Mcloaded Bethuselem Thompson, and he is only almost the best QB on da vikes.
headless_norseman wrote:
Who the hell is MBT? I'd wish people would just type the names out, although examples like AD is one of the few exceptions around.
MBT is McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the Vikes 3rd string QB at the moment.
