2020 OL

wivikesfan
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2020 OL Aug 25, 2020 13:42:12 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by wivikesfan on Aug 25, 2020 13:42:12 GMT -6

Aug 25, 2020 10:59:10 GMT -6 Will said:

I don't have Offensive Line expertise; I can only see when a player is holding up in pass protection or getting beat. I've seen Elflein get beat, and when I also see the athletic profiles of Dozier and Elflein, I hope the more athletic linemen improve their technique and learn the offense. Does anyone think Dozier and Elflein can help us score 24+ points against Top Ten defenses? Spence?

Maybe Elflein and Dozier will surprise us, but the lack of athleticism does not inspire confidence. What is up with the more athletic Samia and Collins?

If Cleveland is not ready to play Guard or Tackle, what about Oli Udoh? How much stronger would the Vikings be with Udoh at Guard or Tackle?

What about Reiff at Left Guard, Oneill at LT, and Udoh at RT? It would be great to hear that the Vikings are trying combinations that might produce a stronger, more athletic line.

I feel like Udoh is going to end up starting at some point this year. He's showing up too much in practice to ride the bench. It seems like we are going to have to learn the hard way, AGAIN, that Elf isn't a starting caliber player.

diehardtwinsfan
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2020 OL Aug 25, 2020 16:14:26 GMT -6

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Post by diehardtwinsfan on Aug 25, 2020 16:14:26 GMT -6

Udoh seems to be having a good camp... is it too much to ask that the team give him a few runs against the 1s at LG or RG in practice and see how he does? Not expecting him to win the job outright, but it would be nice to know if he's capable.

Danchat
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2020 OL Aug 25, 2020 16:41:04 GMT -6

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Post by Danchat on Aug 25, 2020 16:41:04 GMT -6

Aug 25, 2020 13:42:12 GMT -6 wivikesfan said:

I feel like Udoh is going to end up starting at some point this year. He's showing up too much in practice to ride the bench. It seems like we are going to have to learn the hard way, AGAIN, that Elf isn't a starting caliber player.

Aug 25, 2020 16:14:26 GMT -6 diehardtwinsfan said:

Udoh seems to be having a good camp... is it too much to ask that the team give him a few runs against the 1s at LG or RG in practice and see how he does? Not expecting him to win the job outright, but it would be nice to know if he's capable.

There haven't been any signs that the Vikings want to try out Udoh as a guard, so if he does start, it's likely going to be because O'Neill is hurt. They've already moved Collins and Cleveland to guard [temporarily], so I don't think guard is in the cards for him in 2020.

wivikesfan
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2020 OL Aug 25, 2020 20:13:30 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by wivikesfan on Aug 25, 2020 20:13:30 GMT -6

Aug 25, 2020 16:41:04 GMT -6 Danchat said:

Aug 25, 2020 13:42:12 GMT -6 wivikesfan said:

I feel like Udoh is going to end up starting at some point this year. He's showing up too much in practice to ride the bench. It seems like we are going to have to learn the hard way, AGAIN, that Elf isn't a starting caliber player.

Aug 25, 2020 16:14:26 GMT -6 diehardtwinsfan said:

Udoh seems to be having a good camp... is it too much to ask that the team give him a few runs against the 1s at LG or RG in practice and see how he does? Not expecting him to win the job outright, but it would be nice to know if he's capable.

There haven't been any signs that the Vikings want to try out Udoh as a guard, so if he does start, it's likely going to be because O'Neill is hurt. They've already moved Collins and Cleveland to guard [temporarily], so I don't think guard is in the cards for him in 2020.

We will see. He seems like he has a lot more upside than just a swing tackle like Hill. I predict he does end up taking guard reps after we realize how desperate the situation really is, and he ends up being an upgrade.

vikingbill
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2020 OL Aug 26, 2020 5:32:38 GMT -6

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Post by vikingbill on Aug 26, 2020 5:32:38 GMT -6

Aug 25, 2020 16:41:04 GMT -6 Danchat said:

Aug 25, 2020 13:42:12 GMT -6 wivikesfan said:

I feel like Udoh is going to end up starting at some point this year. He's showing up too much in practice to ride the bench. It seems like we are going to have to learn the hard way, AGAIN, that Elf isn't a starting caliber player.

Aug 25, 2020 16:14:26 GMT -6 diehardtwinsfan said:

Udoh seems to be having a good camp... is it too much to ask that the team give him a few runs against the 1s at LG or RG in practice and see how he does? Not expecting him to win the job outright, but it would be nice to know if he's capable.

There haven't been any signs that the Vikings want to try out Udoh as a guard, so if he does start, it's likely going to be because O'Neill is hurt. They've already moved Collins and Cleveland to guard [temporarily], so I don't think guard is in the cards for him in 2020.

There has also been clips from Zim/Kubiak to somehow get the best 5 guys out there starting.

Problem is that Udoh has been labeled as a "raw prospect". Has the size and nastiness but moving him to a different position in this shortened camp might not be feasible.

vikingpwr
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2020 OL Aug 26, 2020 10:49:27 GMT -6

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Post by vikingpwr on Aug 26, 2020 10:49:27 GMT -6

Aug 26, 2020 5:32:38 GMT -6 vikingbill said:

moving him to a different position in this shortened camp might not be feasible.

The team kept him off the practice squad in 2019 for fear of losing him to waivers. Earlier this year 2020 the comparison to Keleche Osemele (Ravens) got me stoked that we just might have a big athletic guy in Oli Udoh to replace Pat Elflein at the LG spot. It had been mentioned on a few sites that Oli might get in the mix at LG, but like you just said, not happening with the shortened off season. Not a good time to experiment with the limited reps.

Last Edit: Aug 26, 2020 10:51:51 GMT -6 by vikingpwr

vikingbill Team Captain Posts: 1,649 Likes: 743	2020 OL Aug 26, 2020 11:48:59 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vikingbill on Aug 26, 2020 11:48:59 GMT -6 IDK. might be some gaff's early but shouldn't we just put Ezra at LG and Oli at RG and let them take their lumps? Dozier and Elf offer absolutely ZERO upside.

vikingpwr Living Legend Posts: 21,225 Likes: 4,492	2020 OL Aug 27, 2020 0:07:50 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vikingpwr on Aug 27, 2020 0:07:50 GMT -6 Aug 26, 2020 11:48:59 GMT -6 vikingbill said: Dozier and Elf offer absolutely ZERO upside. Maybe, maybe not.

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,169 Likes: 31,079 Fan Since: 1998	2020 OL Aug 31, 2020 10:14:07 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Aug 31, 2020 10:14:07 GMT -6

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,169 Likes: 31,079 Fan Since: 1998	2020 OL Aug 31, 2020 10:19:40 GMT -6 Danchat likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Aug 31, 2020 10:19:40 GMT -6 "With just 13 days left before Za'Darius Smith and the Packers arrive, there's a serious possibility the Vikings could cut their starting left tackle."

vikingpwr Living Legend Posts: 21,225 Likes: 4,492	2020 OL Aug 31, 2020 10:26:23 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vikingpwr on Aug 31, 2020 10:26:23 GMT -6 T- O'Neil, Oli, Hill, Collins G- Dozier, Elflein, Samia, Cleveland C- Bradbury, Jones

vikingpwr
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2020 OL Aug 31, 2020 10:27:31 GMT -6

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Post by vikingpwr on Aug 31, 2020 10:27:31 GMT -6

Aug 31, 2020 10:19:40 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

"With just 13 days left before Za'Darius Smith and the Packers arrive, there's a serious possibility the Vikings could cut their starting left tackle."

It's Riley Reiff not Joe Thomas..............

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2020 OL Aug 31, 2020 10:30:40 GMT -6 Danchat likes this

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Post by Funkytown on Aug 31, 2020 10:30:40 GMT -6

Aug 31, 2020 10:27:31 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

It's Riley Reiff not Joe Thomas..............

Right, but let's not pretend we have the OL depth to be cutting a starter two weeks before the season.

This move isn't about getting better; it's about going CHEAPER.

Not a good idea, with an already shaky situation.

vikingpwr
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2020 OL Aug 31, 2020 10:37:37 GMT -6

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Post by vikingpwr on Aug 31, 2020 10:37:37 GMT -6

Aug 31, 2020 10:30:40 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Aug 31, 2020 10:27:31 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

It's Riley Reiff not Joe Thomas..............

Right, but let's not pretend we have the OL depth to be cutting a starter two weeks before the season.

This move isn't about getting better; it's about going CHEAPER.

Not a good idea, with an already shaky situation.

Who's pretending? Reiff isn't this pro bowl tackle and you might not like the names of the guys backing the starters up, but maybe, just maybe this is the best group of linemen we've had in some years.

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2020 OL Aug 31, 2020 10:42:41 GMT -6

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Post by Funkytown on Aug 31, 2020 10:42:41 GMT -6

Aug 31, 2020 10:37:37 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

Aug 31, 2020 10:30:40 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Right, but let's not pretend we have the OL depth to be cutting a starter two weeks before the season.

This move isn't about getting better; it's about going CHEAPER.

Not a good idea, with an already shaky situation.

Who's pretending? Reiff isn't this pro bowl tackle and you might not like the names of the guys backing the starters up, but maybe, just maybe this is the best group of linemen we've had in some years.

What if it's not?

If any of these guys were actually better, this move would have been made weeks ago -- not out of desperation related to the salary cap.

Let's just keep it real: This is LESS THAN IDEAL two weeks before the start of the season. Cutting any starter at this point sucks, but cutting a starter out of our weakest position group?