Vikings Off-Season Decisions

[Mothman]

What exactly does this hindignt is 20/20 discussion have to do with the off-sesaon direction of the Vikings? You don't like the Ponder pick. Well boo-hoo, until somebody invents a wayback machine we are all going to have to deal with the fact that barring injury he'll be the starter in September.

The NT aspect of this thread is of interest. I think getting a solid playmaker at NT and MLB would do much to improve our defense. Are there any FA or Draft prospects that could be the next Vince Wilfork or Pat Williams for this club?

Henry Melton (of the Bears) is due to be a free agent but I suspect they'll make a big effort to re-sign him. If they don't, he'd be a good addition to the Vikes d-line. I'm guessing he wouldn't be cheap though...

There are some other DTs who may be available:

http://nfltraderumors.co/nfltr-features ... ee-agents/

I don't know how accurate that list is... I found it by doing a very quick Google search.

[mansquatch]

I do not think they'll spend the $$$ to lure Melton away although it would be awesome if they did. I've wondered if Frasier will try to get Lovie to come coach here, say what you want about his offenses, the defense of the Bears was amazing under Lovie and they ran Cover 2 just like we do.

Levitre at OG is a signing I've wondered about. The guards are the weakspot on this team and they've shown willingness to pay OL big bucks, ie Hutch, in the past. Assuming they think Levitre would fit in with their group/coaching etc that would turn our OL into an even bigger force for our team.

[dead_poet]

Henry Melton (of the Bears) is due to be a free agent but I suspect they'll make a big effort to re-sign him. If they don't, he'd be a good addition to the Vikes d-line. I'm guessing he wouldn't be cheap though...

I foresee the franchise tag for Melton if they can't work out a deal. I don't see him as an option but would love to steal him away. I don't know what that would mean for K-Will, though. Don't they both play the three technique?

Desmond Bryant, Mike Devito and Terrance Knighton are other options, though I'm not sure the latter two would be much of an improvement. Aubrayo Franklin is out there again, but he'd just be a stopgap on a one-year contract, so likely doubtful.

Draft is the most likely course. I'm still slightly intrigued with Christian Ballard (forgive my black & gold Hawk glasses).

[dead_poet]

The guards are the weakspot on this team and they've shown willingness to pay OL big bucks, ie Hutch, in the past. Assuming they think Levitre would fit in with their group/coaching etc that would turn our OL into an even bigger force for our team.

It's a matter of what they see in Fusco (who had his ups and downs) and their intent with Schwartz. I honestly don't think they're too concerned with Johnson, but I hope my gut feeling there is wrong. He's fairly young (28) and his contract is manageable ($2.95 million w. $500k roster bonus). He's a free agent in 2014. I think he sticks.

As much as I'd love for them to sign Levitre, I really don't think they have as negative impression of their guards as fans do. And with more receiving options and increased QB development I think this group can look better (even if they don't necessarily play better) as I'm hoping these two factors will result in quicker ball release.

It's still a pretty strong overall unit with these guys (assuming they re-sign Loadholt) and I see greater problem areas (WR, LB, CB), which leads me to believe they'll not place much of an emphasis here. Levitre WOULD turn an above average unit into an elite one, though I'd imagine they'd be sinking a lot of cash into the line by doing so (which may preclude them from addressing, say, the WR area with much fervor).

[Mothman]

I foresee the franchise tag for Melton if they can't work out a deal. I don't see him as an option but would love to steal him away. I don't know what that would mean for K-Will, though. Don't they both play the three technique?

Desmond Bryant, Mike Devito and Terrance Knighton are other options, though I'm not sure the latter two would be much of an improvement. Aubrayo Franklin is out there again, but he'd just be a stopgap on a one-year contract, so likely doubtful.

Draft is the most likely course. I'm still slightly intrigued with Christian Ballard (forgive my black & gold Hawk glasses).

No forgiveness necessary... Ballard is still young enough that he could improve and emerge as a more valuable player.

I think you're right about Williams and Melton both playing the three technique.

[dead_poet]

Just saw this nugget.

Chris Gamble - DB - Panthers

The Panthers could save $7 million in salary cap space by releasing LCB Chris Gamble this offseason.

Gamble is an effective cover corner when healthy, but Carolina's miserable cap situation makes his release all but a foregone conclusion. He's owed a $7.9 million salary for 2013. Gamble, who turns 30 in March, is also coming off shoulder surgery. He'd still be an attractive target on the free agent market.
Source: Gaston Gazette

[PurpleMustReign]

Just saw this nugget.

Chris Gamble - DB - Panthers

The Panthers could save $7 million in salary cap space by releasing LCB Chris Gamble this offseason.

Gamble is an effective cover corner when healthy, but Carolina's miserable cap situation makes his release all but a foregone conclusion. He's owed a $7.9 million salary for 2013. Gamble, who turns 30 in March, is also coming off shoulder surgery. He'd still be an attractive target on the free agent market.
Source: Gaston Gazette

I'd love to have Gamble. He and Winfield, along with Robinson, would be a pretty solid CB trio.

[dead_poet]

I'd love to have Gamble. He and Winfield, along with Robinson, would be a pretty solid CB trio.

Why'd you bench Cook?

[MrPurplenGold]

Why'd you bench Cook?

The question is can cook actually stay on the field for an entire season

[PurpleMustReign]

Why'd you bench Cook?

Oh, I forgot about him... umm... Would four corners be a bad thing?

[Mothman]

Oh, I forgot about him... umm... Would four corners be a bad thing?

It works on squares!

[dead_poet]

Oh, I forgot about him... umm... Would four corners be a bad thing?

Depends on who they are. Our 2011 corners? Yes.

Cook, Gamble, Winfield, Robinson would probably be the best overall talent and depth in over 10 years. Granted, that doesn't take much.

[S197]

Just saw this nugget.

Chris Gamble - DB - Panthers

The Panthers could save $7 million in salary cap space by releasing LCB Chris Gamble this offseason.

Gamble is an effective cover corner when healthy, but Carolina's miserable cap situation makes his release all but a foregone conclusion. He's owed a $7.9 million salary for 2013Strike one!. Gamble, who turns 30 in MarchStrike two!, is also coming off shoulder surgeryStrike three!. He'd still be an attractive target on the free agent market.
Source: Gaston Gazette

It's a shame we didn't pursue Brandon Carr more aggressively like many of us wanted last off-season.

[Mercy Percy]

And if we had drafted him, he'd be another square peg being pounded into a round hole, and probably if not completely ineffective, no where near as effective as he has been for the 49ers.
And that's my overall point. There are certain features that translate better to certain positions. One of them being height at various positions, with QB being one of them. Obviously you can succeed being closer to six foot then not. But when you're trying to find a franchise player at any position you should try and limit your risk in any way possible, and one of those ways is taking a player who's more likely to succeed, in this case because of their size. Height is a benefit in a number of ways, and we continue to bring in smaller QBs. Is there a reason for this? Probably because it usually means they're more athletic. Or at least carry less bulk. It'd be nice to *once* pin our hopes on a guy with that ideal size which we haven't seen since Culpepper.

What about Russel Wilson who is a midget by your standards? RGIII who is 6'0 or Drew Brees who is also a midget sure ideal size is a plus but you dont need it.

[Demi]

What about Russel Wilson who is a midget by your standards? RGIII who is 6'0 or Drew Brees who is also a midget sure ideal size is a plus but you dont need it.

One ring, and not a single one left in the playoffs.
This isn't the Twilight Zone, RGIII and Russell Wilson are not going to win a super bowl. Ever. Book it Danno!

Obviously they *can* have success...I'd just rather take my chances on a guy who can stand tall in the pocket and manage to see over his linemen without having to find lanes between them! Or a release point a few inches higher!

If I was to ask you right now, would you rather have a 5'11 quarterback, or a 6'4 quarterback which would you choose? Everything else being equal? Quarterbacks are a complete crap shoot regardless of everything involved, if I can increase my odds, no matter how tiny of a difference it makes, I'm going too!