Which LBs make the roster?

[mansquatch]

The WILL player isn't that big of a deal IMO. Against a pass heavy team he might get 15 snaps in our system if he is lucky. That just isn't a huge difference maker due to lack of time on the field. I think overall the Vikings averaged close to 50% of their defensive snaps in the Nickel last year which saw EH playing the Mike, so in terms of a drop off at the position, I think the concern is overblown. In essence that alingment will be the same as last year.

We may see a drop off on non-nickel downs, but then it seems to come down to two questions: Was Brinkely that much better than EH at Mike? The coaches obviously didn't think so. This leads to the question of whomever ends up playing WILL and whether they'll be better than EH was last year. I dont' know on that one, but while EH wasn't horrible, I'm not sure he was great either.

IMO LB is going to be a push this year unless Bishop can return to 2010 form and then it might actually be better. Maybe Mauti blows up in practice and pushes EH for the job? Seems like it is more likely that things will be status quo vs. anything else. THe big issue is the status quo last year outside of Greenway was pretty average. Not horrible, but not great either.

I get why the coaches drafted the way they did. But I think this is a group as a whole presents an opportunity to be improved, ie add a playmaker. Right now there isn't much "wow" factor in this group. However, I still think CB is the bigger question mark. If Rhodes and Robinson can't get it done we are in trouble.

[Eli]

The WILL player isn't that big of a deal IMO. Against a pass heavy team he might get 15 snaps in our system if he is lucky. That just isn't a huge difference maker due to lack of time on the field. I think overall the Vikings averaged close to 50% of their defensive snaps in the Nickel last year which saw EH playing the Mike, so in terms of a drop off at the position, I think the concern is overblown. In essence that alingment will be the same as last year.

You're assuming that the Vikings will be taking the WLB off the field in nickel packages. I'm not so sure that will always be the case. Like you point out, last year they dropped the MLB in nickel packages. If Bishop's health permits and depending on the effectiveness of Henderson in pass coverage, we could end up seing Greenway and Bishop being the nickel linebackers.

[mansquatch]

Actually my assumption is that EH grades out as better than Bishop when it comes to Pass Defense. Daily Norseman had an analysis on this when Bishop was signed, they were some of the first to point out the EH was better suited for Mike and Bishop better suited for WIll.

To your point, I think you'll see EH in the Nickel PKG not because he is playing Mike or Will, but because the coaches think his better against the pass. In addition, he also has a full season of reps under his belt in that situation.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that Bishop isn't even a lock ot make the final roster where EH is an almost certainty. Don't confuse this with EH homerism, I think EH is emminently replaceable by some talent, we just haven't seen anything from Bishop to make us believe he is that talent. The decisions of the coaching staff are in this direction as well.

[Mothman]

This thread seemed like a good home for this link:

Henderson is 'make it right' man for Vikings

If Erin Henderson is to establish himself as the long-term answer at the position, Williams will be looking to see if he can be an extension of the coordinator's thinking.

"A good Mike linebacker can make a coordinator right. That is what we look for, that when I mess up, they make it right," Williams said. "If I send in a call that may not be what we had practiced, or what we want, or for that situation, they say, 'Coach has talked to me about this, I know that this is this certain call, and we may not want this call with this coverage.' And they can make you right. Or it could be a two-minute situation and they can make a call without me having to send one in because we have talked about, in this situation, what we actually want, in terms of coverage, front, and they can go ahead and make the call."

[Demi]

Huh, maybe a guy who's got 14 years in the defense, plenty of them facing Stafford, Rodgers, and on the same team as Cutler would have been a good idea?

[Demi]

Because the Vikings would rather sign a washed up injured bum for league minimum than pay the man.

Rebuilding...half #### as usual.

[Mothman]

How do you rebuild with a washed up 37 year old? Bishop may not have a future with the Vikings but he has more of a chance at one than Urlacher might've.

Ah, but Bishop isn't the washed up player Demi wanted.

[Demi]

Ah, but Bishop isn't the washed up player Demi wanted.

Yep. 14 years in the cover 2 43 defense similar to what we played at MLB.
Instead we sign a MLB from a 34 and move him to a WLB in a 43 cover 2.
And start a guy who's rarely played MLB in a 43 cover 2 and has played WLB to start.
Either start the young guys, see who you have, and start the rebuild, or sign a veteran to fill the position and work to win more games now and make a push. Instead they sign the second best veteran never played in this specific defense, hasn't played in a 43 in years to a veteran minimum just to see if he's an upgrade over what we have while stunting the growth and reducing snaps for the guys we have?
Pf. Same thing this team has done the last decade. Keep half assing it signing veterans trying to "win now" and putting off the rebuild. Sign veterans here and there, young guys here and there, and in the end you end up with neither.

[mansquatch]

Alec Ogletree forced 2 turnovers tonight. WTF Spielman blows horse, why didn't we trade for a 4th 1st round pick and draft him?!?!?! We are the worst team in the entire leage. OMG!

[jackal]

Alec Ogletree forced 2 turnovers tonight. WTF Spielman blows horse, why didn't we trade for a 4th 1st round pick and draft him?!?!?! We are the worst team in the entire leage. OMG!

Maybe not, last year Audie Cole had two interceptions for pick six's in one game and has done nothing since
that i have noticed ..

[mansquatch]

Maybe not, last year Audie Cole had two interceptions for pick six's in one game and has done nothing since
that i have noticed ..

That was my attempt to demonstrate absurdity by being absurd. I agree with your sentiments, my post was meant to be humor, not serious.

[Eli]

Ben Leber sure seemed to like Audie Cole ("Audie and Mauti" ) by the way he talked during coverage of the Titans preseason game. But man, I just don't see it. He bit on every single play action, and was easily blocked on many running plays. He's a hustler, but he just doesn't have the talent or the athletic ability.

Leber did make one very good observation during the game: Gerald Hodges becomes a wildcard and someone who could upset the LB numbers. He hasn't really shown a thing this preseason, but a 4th round pick isn't likely to get cut by the Vikings. IMO, it would be worth trying to float him through waivers to the practice squad. While it might suck to lose a 4th round draft pick to another team, I don't think the Vikings would really miss him much.

[Texas Vike]

Ben Leber sure seemed to like Audie Cole ("Audie and Mauti" ) by the way he talked during coverage of the Titans preseason game. But man, I just don't see it. He bit on every single play action, and was easily blocked on many running plays. He's a hustler, but he just doesn't have the talent or the athletic ability.

Leber did make one very good observation during the game: Gerald Hodges becomes a wildcard and someone who could upset the LB numbers. He hasn't really shown a thing this preseason, but a 4th round pick isn't likely to get cut by the Vikings. IMO, it would be worth trying to float him through waivers to the practice squad. While it might suck to lose a 4th round draft pick to another team, I don't think the Vikings would really miss him much.

Hodges has been so invisible that I started wondering last night if he'd gotten hurt during camp and I'd forgotten about it. Mauti, OTOH, has been so conspicuous and is especially brilliant when you compare him to Audie Cole, who just looks ineffective out there. He can't even tackle well. He's slow, weak, and has poor technique. I think the credit he earned w/ last years pick 6s (preseason after all) has evaporated.

[DK Sweets]

Hodges has been so invisible that I started wondering last night if he'd gotten hurt during camp and I'd forgotten about it. Mauti, OTOH, has been so conspicuous and is especially brilliant when you compare him to Audie Cole, who just looks ineffective out there. He can't even tackle well. He's slow, weak, and has poor technique. I think the credit he earned w/ last years pick 6s (preseason after all) has evaporated.

All the "instincts" we thought he had must have got rusty after a long ride on the bench. I think we all agree he didn't improve enough over the past year.