Vikes announce finalized coaching staff for 2014 Season

[Eli]

our Guards are horrible.

Haven't you heard? Fusco is great.

Might be one of the worst guard tandems in the NFL. Sully is alright, but I think there are guys alot better.

And Sullivan might one day be in the Hall of Fame.

I dunno... I'm hoping they go back to mostly zone blocking. Despite his size, Kalil seems to be much more of a finesse player. The only "road grader" out there these days is Loadholt, as Sullivan and Fusco are both a little undersized and get pushed around a lot.

[KSViking]

Haven't you heard? Fusco is great.
And Sullivan might one day be in the Hall of Fame.

I dunno... I'm hoping they go back to mostly zone blocking. Despite his size, Kalil seems to be much more of a finesse player. The only "road grader" out there these days is Loadholt, as Sullivan and Fusco are both a little undersized and get pushed around a lot.

When I watch the Vikings on TV, the announcers always talk about Sullivan and Fusco as being good, and up and comers. But outside of the analysts that say it at the begining of the game, neither of them impress me very much. I think Sullivan is Ok. Maybe above average, but I could name at least 10 Centers in NFL that I would take over him. I really want to like these guys, I WANT them to be great, to feel like we don't need to draft someone to upgrade these positions, but I just feel that after Hutch left, and Dixon/Herrara exited the line just took a nose dive. And coincidentally that was also right around same time they hired Davidson. I might also have been spoiled at Center, as the Vikings have been fortunate enough to have several great Centers over the years that I watched. Tinglehoff was before I was a fan, but I remember watching Lowdermilk, Jeff Christie and Matt Birk. Always were solid at the Center position.

[Purple bruise]

When I watch the Vikings on TV, the announcers always talk about Sullivan and Fusco as being good, and up and comers. But outside of the analysts that say it at the begining of the game, neither of them impress me very much. I think Sullivan is Ok. Maybe above average, but I could name at least 10 Centers in NFL that I would take over him. I really want to like these guys, I WANT them to be great, to feel like we don't need to draft someone to upgrade these positions, but I just feel that after Hutch left, and Dixon/Herrara exited the line just took a nose dive. And coincidentally that was also right around same time they hired Davidson. I might also have been spoiled at Center, as the Vikings have been fortunate enough to have several great Centers over the years that I watched. Tinglehoff was before I was a fan, but I remember watching Lowdermilk, Jeff Christie and Matt Birk. Always were solid at the Center position.

I believe that you are underestimating John Sullivan by a substantial amount. Here is an interesting article: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-a ... -sullivan/

[Pondering Her Percy]

Haven't you heard? Fusco is great.

I have no clue where you're getting your judgement from but Fusco was the #5 guard in the NFL this season according to PFF. He was quietly our best lineman. So where the sarcasm is coming from is beyond me.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Wow a little over exagerated there maybe. Kalil has not reached his potential? He is 24 years old and although he stepped back from his rookie year he is a very good LT. Fusco is also highly rated as is Sullivan. Loadholt is a road grader but definately needs to improve his pass blocking skills. Johnson is the weak link and does need to be replaced no doubt. Over all I would say that the Vikes have a B- o-line and it is one aspect of the team that I worry the least about.

Agreed. To say Kalil hasn't reached his potential is a bit alarming. Outside of Johnson, I really like our offensive line. I just don't understand the Fusco haters.

[KSViking]

One of the guys I thought we should have gotten the year we traded back for Cook, and then traded up for Gerhart. Jon Asamoa from the Chiefs is a FA this year. Geoff Schwartz replaced him mid season as the starter, but he had done well last year, and the first half of this year as well. He is a RG, and could compete with Fusco at very least. Also, if he is still avail in 2nd round, would love to see the Vikings Draft Xavier Sua-Filo. That would certainly help shore up our O-Line.

[Eli]

I have no clue where you're getting your judgement from but Fusco was the #5 guard in the NFL this season according to PFF. He was quietly our best lineman. So where the sarcasm is coming from is beyond me.

You just nailed it.

[KSViking]

Agreed. To say Kalil hasn't reached his potential is a bit alarming. Outside of Johnson, I really like our offensive line. I just don't understand the Fusco haters.

Kalil was billed when we drafted him as being a Blue Chip LT. Blue Chip by definition is someone who is top 5 at their respective position. So, either he hasn't reached his full potential yet (which is what I hope) or else he will just never live up to the hype that he received coming into the league. Take your pick which one it is, but I think anyone would have a hard time convincing me that he is a top 5 LT right now. Don't get me wrong, I really like Kalil, he was the guy I wanted the Vikes to take the year we picked him. Just was envisioning more of a Joe Thomas ish type guy than he has turned out to be.

[PurpleMustReign]

You just nailed it.

Yep. PFF had an article about every Viking lineman and said that he was the best, or in the top 5, at their position. If it were even remotely true, the QBs would have had way mroe time to throw the ball than what they did. The OL was pathetic.

[KSViking]

You just nailed it.

I don't have a PFF account, so I can't speak to where he is ranked by them. However, I know that he wasn't even mentioned in the All NFC North for top guards. Sitton and Warford were. and there are 7 other divisions with some really good guards in them as well. I would argue that with anyone that he is not a top 5 guard in the league though. Off top of my head, without research.

Ben Grubbs
Marshall Yanda
Jhari Evans
Louis Vasquez
Evan Mathis

Im sure there are more, but I don't think Fusco belongs in a conversation with these guys

[CbusVikesFan]

Lol. My bad. We are screwed. We may as well all collectively jump off the roof of the Metrodome. Oh whoops.

SEND OUT THE SHELTIES!!!! THEY WILL WIN IT FOR US!!! lol
(had a sheltie for 13 years, he was smarter than most people I know, including me!)

[Mothman]

SEND OUT THE SHELTIES!!!! THEY WILL WIN IT FOR US!!! lol
(had a sheltie for 13 years, he was smarter than most people I know, including me!)

My family had a sheltie when I was in my teen and college years. He was a terrific dog, very smart and lots of fun. I loved that little fella...

[Pondering Her Percy]

I don't have a PFF account, so I can't speak to where he is ranked by them. However, I know that he wasn't even mentioned in the All NFC North for top guards. Sitton and Warford were. and there are 7 other divisions with some really good guards in them as well. I would argue that with anyone that he is not a top 5 guard in the league though. Off top of my head, without research.

Ben Grubbs
Marshall Yanda
Jhari Evans
Louis Vasquez
Evan Mathis

Im sure there are more, but I don't think Fusco belongs in a conversation with these guys

Sitton and Warford were 2 of the top 5 as well so I think that argument is a wash. However, when it comes to BOTH pass protection and run blocking, Fusco was very good. 90% of pressure this year came from Charlie Johnson. Fusco did a great job this year and if you don't believe he was in the top 5, it's hard to say he wasn't at least in the top 10 no matter what way you look at it

[Pondering Her Percy]

Yep. PFF had an article about every Viking lineman and said that he was the best, or in the top 5, at their position. If it were even remotely true, the QBs would have had way mroe time to throw the ball than what they did. The OL was pathetic.

It definitely wasn't "pathetic" but they weren't great either. I mean there isn't a guy on that OL that I would want to get rid of outside of Johnson

[CbusVikesFan]

My family had a sheltie when I was in my teen and college years. He was a terrific dog, very smart and lots of fun. I loved that little fella...

You cannot go wrong with a Sheltie. But be forewarned, them and Border Collies are not for the lazy, or mostly shy people. They are excitable and loveable. Very high energy. Loyal and highly intelligent.
We used to play this game when I was busy and he was bored. GO GET...
the stick
the ball
the blue ball
the rope
the Frisbee
the bone
He started off just grabbing whatever, but soon, he had the words down and always brought the right one. Then to mess with him, I would hide some of those things, ask him to go get one of the items and he would look at me with this face. "Dude, it's not in here". Then I would ask where it was at and he would look until he found it. Then there were hours of entertainment with a flashlight or pointer.