Musgrave: Loadholt 'sets the tone' for offense

[dead_poet]

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave met the media for the first time at training camp on Saturday and had plenty to share. Here are several highlights from Musgrave’s press conference.

On the progression of right tackle Phil Loadholt …
“Phil is one of our stalwarts there on the front line. He’s a leader who leads by example rather being overly vocal. But everybody looks to Phil to check the climate every day. What’s the weather like? And when he’s into it, which he is every day, it really sets the tone for our whole offense. Phil is the same guy every day. He’s intense, serious and detailed and that’s what a leader has got to be. … The strides [in 2012] took place with Phil being in the system a second year. But also, the emergence of Brandon Fusco. Those guys on the right side are very physical. And that’s what we want to be on offense. That’s our identity.”

Some other nuggets at the link: http://strib.mn/1ccb1nP

[Eli]

Loadholt was the most penalized player on the team last year. I hope Musgrave is referring to some other examples. How can the biggest out-to-lunch bonehead on the field be considered a leader by his fellow teammates? Sounds like a little ego stroking on the part of Musgrave, maybe in the hope the Loadholt will bring his brain with him to games this season.

I still consider Loadholt to be an above-average right tackle, and it was essential that the Vikings resign him last spring, but that's mostly just because they had no other options at his position.

[EPV]

How can the biggest out-to-lunch bonehead on the field be considered a leader by his fellow teammates?

Oh i don't know, maybe by his performance? An article in may by Tom Pelissero has a positive take on what other teammates think of Loadholt.

To hear coach Leslie Frazier tell it, Loadholt's teammates played a role in making sure of that.

"Naturally, he's improved as a player," Frazier said on Wednesday, during the annual NFC coaches' breakfast at the league meetings. "You saw it this season. We all saw it. He was more consistent than he's been at any point in his career in Minnesota. ...

"But in my exit interviews with our players, the number one name that kept coming up -- 'Coach, you've got to get this guy signed' -- was Phil Loadholt. And I realized that he was more than just a good player for our team."

[Eli]

No question that the Vikings had to get him resigned. Fans, coaches and teammates alike realized that. Like I said, he's better than any of the statues that the Vikings have been carrying their roster for the past few years at backup offensive tackle and the Vikings couldn't afford to waste a draft pick taking a mid-round OT who probably wouldn't have been as good. And yes, he performed better last year. After three years of being a frustratingly average player, it was good to see him step it up, in spite of the continued dumb penalties.

[Demi]

Like I said, he's better than any of the statues that the Vikings have been carrying their roster for the past few years

To be fair he *is* one of the statues the Vikings have been carrying for the past few years.

But then so was McKinnie who has a ring. And is currently having weight issues.

Really hope they figure out the guard situation pretty darn soon. They have the C, and both T spots set for the next 10 years. They need to figure out the guard positions in the next couple years and they'll be set across the board. Which is very important.

[EPV]

Demi wrote:

The "guard situation" was probably the least talked about concerns. The amount of pressure and sacks we give up from the guards is way too high.

I thought it was good year to get a quality guard in the third round like Larry Warfield.

Per NFL.com
Strengths Big-bodied guard prospect with lower-body girth. Quick feet for his size, keeps them moving in pass protection to mirror his man and can adjust quickly to ride defenders penetrating gaps out of the play. Also plays with knee bend and has arm length to maintain distance from his man, will reset and punch with one or two hands throughout the play. Capable of getting off tackle block to pick up delayed blitzer. Flashes quickness to trap and get around the tackle to lead run plays. Gets down quickly to cut block and take out linebackers in the hole on traps. Hustles downfield to help out ballcarriers when needed. Plays with some attitude, brings some pop to his punch when helping his tackle against a pass rusher

[Eli]

The "guard situation" was probably the least talked about concerns. The amount of pressure and sacks we give up from the guards is way too high.

I thought it was good year to get a quality guard in the third round like Larry Warfield.

Huge rehash of the draft, but apparently the Vikings figured it better to give up a 3rd and 4th rounder to get back into the first round and grab Cordarrelle Patterson. A very Troy-Williamson-to-replace-Randy-Moss-like move after having traded away Percy Harvin in the off season. The Sharrif Floyd pick threw them off. They couldn't pass him up, but DT was arguably behind WR, LB, CB and G in their list of biggest needs.

[Demi]

Yep, they got carried away and paniced a little.

Hopefully they don't get carried away with "let's work with this guy and make him work" Ryan Cook style. If they work out, great. If not don't try and force it. Coaches seem to want to "make" guys and coach then up way too often.

[Purple bruise]

Funny how most experts gave the Vikings very high to excellent grades for the draft
Loadholt is a very solid player and Patterson will be great. Fusco will be one of the better gaurds in league and Spielman once again proves his worth.

[ChicagoViking]

"But in my exit interviews with our players, the number one name that kept coming up -- 'Coach, you've got to get this guy signed' -- was Phil Loadholt. And I realized that he was more than just a good player for our team."

Does anyone else find it troubling that the head coach first "realized" at the "exit interviews" that Loadholt "was more than just a good player for our team?" Shouldn't the head coach understand the impact one of his players has on the rest of the team before the exit interviews?

[Funkytown]

Does anyone else find it troubling that the head coach first "realized" at the "exit interviews" that Loadholt "was more than just a good player for our team?" Shouldn't the head coach understand the impact one of his players has on the rest of the team before the exit interviews?

Good point, but I think you might be looking too deeply into these comments. He probably just meant, he knew he was a good player and loved by the guys--but just not to that extent. When all of the players kept coming forward in support of him, it probably really sunk in that this guy was really, really respected in the locker room. It was just extra motivation (and validation) to get the deal done. Either way, it's huge praise for Load.

[Eli]

Does anyone else find it troubling that the head coach first "realized" at the "exit interviews" that Loadholt "was more than just a good player for our team?" Shouldn't the head coach understand the impact one of his players has on the rest of the team before the exit interviews?

I think the point that Frazier was trying to make (he didn't really convince me, apparently not you, either) is that his teammates wanted him back because they viewed him as a leader on the field. More likely, they realized that they're an improving team and that they'd take a major step backward if they had to start Charlie Johnson, Kevin Murphy or Troy Kropog at RT.

[jackal]

My two problems with Loadholt were penalties he drew and lack of effort on the end of pass protection .

He is an excellent run blocker and drives DL down field on run plays.

[King James]

When I think of Phil Loadholt I think mediocre pass blocker and a penalty machine. Great run blocker though, but I wouldn't say he sets the tone. He is so huge but yet so average as a tackle. I hope that new contract was worth it.

[dead_poet]

Wow. I'm surprised at the negativity around Loadholt. He's not (yet) a Pro-Bowl caliber right tackle but he's one player that has steadily improved each year and someone that I would consider at least top-10 at his respective position. The more I read about him, the more I like his attitude. He's a team-first guy that doesn't say much but has quietly become a leader, particularly on the offensive line.

For reference, Minnesota was the fifth least penalized team in 2012 (which is also a credit to the coaching staff). Just from memory, Phil didn't register as someone I thought last year was overly penalized, which I thought might be because few resulted in drive-killers (I remember Ryan Cook doing a bang-up job of negating more than his fair share of plus plays and resulting in punts not long after).

After checking, he did rank as one of the higher players in the league with 12 total penalties (5 false start, 2 holding, 2 illegal formation 1 taunting, 1 unnecessary roughness). Highest in the league was Doug Free (15). A.J. Jefferson checked in with 8 (second on the Vikes). With this in mind, Phil's penalties do need to come down. Hopefully as he continues to improve that happens.

He's still one of the best (if not THE best) run-blockers in the game (when you're a run-first team with league MVP Adrian Peterson that can't be overlooked), has only missed one game in his four-year career and has improved in pass protection. He's a giant and I don't know if he'll ever be able to completely stonewall smaller, quicker DEs/LBs but I've been satisfied (if not impressed) with his performance to date.