2013 Practice/Notes thread

[Eli]

Webb is not very good.

He's played well for the Vikings. Maybe it's the change of scenery.

[NextQuestion]

I like the idea of a swing tackle role for him, but WAS pass rush is not very good. Wasn't he essentially benched for giving up 5 sacks to Aldon Smith in one game?

[HardcoreVikesFan]

And today, we go back the other way:

OT Kevin Murphy has been waived and LB Audie Cole re-signed.

This probably means that Phil Loadholt is expected to be back for the Seattle game. I genuinely wish they'd keep J'Marcus Webb as the starter.

EDIT. Didn't see Murphy was waived.

[dead_poet]

Frazier said there's a chance Freeman could start if Ponder doesn't play

Christian Ponder (shoulder) may do some individual work today, but it's likely that the other two QBs will get work in today's practice.

Frazier said Rudolph and fred Evans only players who won't practice. Not sure how much Ponder will do

Frazier said Kevin Williams will get a few snaps at nose tackle

[Eli]

The Vikings signed OT Jamaal Johnson-Webb to the practice squad.

What happened to Travis Bond? I thought he was still on the PS, but the Vikings.com site shows the following:

23 Joe Banyard, RB
30 Brandan Bishop, S
76 Jamaal Johnson-Webb, OT
68 Kevin Murphy, OT
64 Spencer Nealy, DE
26 Robert Steeples, CB
19 Adam Thielen, WR
92 Justin Trattou, DE

[Eli]

What happened to Travis Bond?

Answer: The Carolina Panthers signed Travis Bond from the Vikings' practice squad.

[Eli]

That's the 2nd 2013 draft pick they've lost off the Practice Squad.

Makes you wonder (once again) of the Vikings' ability to evaluate talent. Hard to believe that you have a team destined for last place in the division, that is supposed to be rebuilding, and you carry a Charlie Johnson on the roster rather than a guy that you just drafted.

The Vikings have had a lot of overturn on the Practice Squad this year. I think Thielen, Banyard and Murphy are the only ones left from day one. And even Banyard was cut for a week earlier and Murphy had a one game stint on the 53.

It would suck to lose Joe Banyard from the PS while you have a useless HB/FB tweener like Matt Asiata on the roster and you know that you'll likely be losing Toby Gerhart at the end of the season.

They did appear to make one pre-meditated move when they promoted Rodney Smith from the PS to the active roster. They certainly didn't need a sixth receiver, so I can only speculate that they had heard Smith was getting some interest from other teams, so decided to protect him.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Webb is not very good. Berger over Johnson though

His very first play wasn't good. And the Play call and Ponder taking too much time was more too blame. Other then that, I think he is better then Load. At pass protection. And he can fall down as easily as Load to run block.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I wish we used Banyard too. Use Felton for the short yardage. AD for everything else. At some point in his career he has to learn how to block and catch.

[Mothman]

I wish we used Banyard too. Use Felton for the short yardage. AD for everything else. At some point in his career he has to learn how to block and catch.

He can do both already.

[PurpleMustReign]

He can do both already.

His blitz pickup is not very good.

[Mothman]

His blitz pickup is not very good.

I disagree. It's improved significantly over the years and he's done a very good job of picking up the blitz this season. He has over 200 career catches too so it's pretty obvious he can catch the ball. He doesn't do those things as well as he runs with the ball. He's not the complete back Payton was but he can catch and block. They aren't skills he still has to learn.

[dead_poet]

I disagree. It's improved significantly over the years and he's done a very good job of picking up the blitz this season. He has over 200 career catches too so it's pretty obvious he can catch the ball. He doesn't do those things as well as he runs with the ball. He's not the complete back Payton was but he can catch and block. They aren't skills he still has to learn.

Agreed. I've seen him absolutely destroy pass rushers this season. In fact, I don't recall seeing him miss any like I have in past seasons. I think the narrative "he's a poor pass blocker" is getting to be as outdated as "he's a fumbler." He's made strides and, IMO, should be on the field all three downs.

[Texas Vike]

I wonder if next year's coach/ coordinator will have AD on the field for 3rd downs?

[losperros]

Maybe, it depends who is backup is, because Gerhart won't be here.

It will depend on that and the offensive style, which I believe could change.