3 Body Problem-Left Guard
Mar 20, 2024 11:25:16 GMT -6
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Funkytown, kmillard, and 3 more like this
Post by FSUVike on Mar 20, 2024 11:25:16 GMT -6
Not the scify show I'm eager to start watching. This thread is about the lone glaring hole on this Roster: Left Guard.
I've always liked the Blake Brandel story. But I just can't see him being the unchallenged Starter going into Training Camp. He was not good during his three game stint at RG last year. His run and pass blocking grades from one game to the next are wildly inconsistent. About the only thing he's consistent at is his 55 PFF grade the last 3 years.
Dan Feeney is a downgrade from Schlottman. Writing that sentence just made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. While it is hoped that Ingram takes the typical jump in Year 3 that so many O-Linemen do, it would be nice if he had some actual competition. Minnesota appears to have crowned Bradbury's ass already.
I get that there's still time in FA and the Draft....but is there? All that's left in Free Agency is the following:
Andrus Peat (30)
Laken Tomlinson (32)
Mark Glowinski (32)
Josh Jones (27)
Jones is the youngest but he's maybe even more inconsistent than Brandel. The others are bandaids, though I think any of them could beat out Blake and start. Peat & Tomlinson would be virtual locks to start if healthy. Past these guys you're looking at more Dan Feeney-level dudes.
Wither Dalton Risner you ask? All I can tell you is that for 2 straight offseasons he's inexplicably had no market. None. He's also a bad run blocker and just had his worst graded pass blocking season. Wolfson says Kwesi hasn't even reached out to Dalton about an extension. Something is up with this guy. I wouldn't count on him at all.
Then there's the Draft. Except Minnesota is about 95% certain to trade up for a QB. I'm here to tell you the Vikings ain't getting a Starter at #108. Let's look at the prospects.
Zak Zinter from Michigan. He's sort of the reverse college Ed Ingram. Very good run blocker. Not a good pass blocker. Very stiff and lacks fluidity. Has issues with speed and athleticism. And he's coming off that gruesome leg injury.
Mason McCormick from North Dakota State. Also stiff. Slow footed. Better at run blocking than pass blocking. Inconsistent in engaging his assignment in Pass Pro.
Neither of these kids is ready to start in the NFL. And their pass blocking issues would be a nightmare if a Rookie QB starts later in the season. Yes, all of the potential QBs for Minnesota are far more agile than Kirk. That doesn't change the fact that all of them have rarely faced NFL-caliber Interior pressure. I think both Zak & Mason have upside, but they really shouldn't start until Year 2 at the earliest.
A potential solution is to package both 4ths to move up to the late 80s and look at Christian Mahogany or Dominic Puni. Puni to me has the higher ceiling but also the lower floor. I'm not sure he's a Day 1 Starter. Mahogany I think can start from the get go but he's not likely to be more than a road grading run blocker who's average at pass blocking.
An under the radar move I like is moving up and taking Kiran Amegadjie. Yes, he's currently a Tackle. So is Puni. Unlike Puni Kiran has double digit starts at Guard. While the competition wasn't great playing for Yale he's a huge dude that absolutely dominated. As in 'Man amongst boys' dominated. And he has every chance to stick at Tackle. The only major knock besides the competition is a quad injury that cut his 2023 season shirt.
Kiran could start at LG while potentially being groomed to take over at RT some day. He's plenty long, strong and fast enough to start at Tackle with some polishing.
As it sits today Minnesota has a 3 Body Problem. They have 2 Starters and 1 career backup penciled in to Start. And only one backup for all three spots. Options are running out in Free Agency and there's no guarantee the Draft will provide solutions.
I've always liked the Blake Brandel story. But I just can't see him being the unchallenged Starter going into Training Camp. He was not good during his three game stint at RG last year. His run and pass blocking grades from one game to the next are wildly inconsistent. About the only thing he's consistent at is his 55 PFF grade the last 3 years.
Dan Feeney is a downgrade from Schlottman. Writing that sentence just made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. While it is hoped that Ingram takes the typical jump in Year 3 that so many O-Linemen do, it would be nice if he had some actual competition. Minnesota appears to have crowned Bradbury's ass already.
I get that there's still time in FA and the Draft....but is there? All that's left in Free Agency is the following:
Andrus Peat (30)
Laken Tomlinson (32)
Mark Glowinski (32)
Josh Jones (27)
Jones is the youngest but he's maybe even more inconsistent than Brandel. The others are bandaids, though I think any of them could beat out Blake and start. Peat & Tomlinson would be virtual locks to start if healthy. Past these guys you're looking at more Dan Feeney-level dudes.
Wither Dalton Risner you ask? All I can tell you is that for 2 straight offseasons he's inexplicably had no market. None. He's also a bad run blocker and just had his worst graded pass blocking season. Wolfson says Kwesi hasn't even reached out to Dalton about an extension. Something is up with this guy. I wouldn't count on him at all.
Then there's the Draft. Except Minnesota is about 95% certain to trade up for a QB. I'm here to tell you the Vikings ain't getting a Starter at #108. Let's look at the prospects.
Zak Zinter from Michigan. He's sort of the reverse college Ed Ingram. Very good run blocker. Not a good pass blocker. Very stiff and lacks fluidity. Has issues with speed and athleticism. And he's coming off that gruesome leg injury.
Mason McCormick from North Dakota State. Also stiff. Slow footed. Better at run blocking than pass blocking. Inconsistent in engaging his assignment in Pass Pro.
Neither of these kids is ready to start in the NFL. And their pass blocking issues would be a nightmare if a Rookie QB starts later in the season. Yes, all of the potential QBs for Minnesota are far more agile than Kirk. That doesn't change the fact that all of them have rarely faced NFL-caliber Interior pressure. I think both Zak & Mason have upside, but they really shouldn't start until Year 2 at the earliest.
A potential solution is to package both 4ths to move up to the late 80s and look at Christian Mahogany or Dominic Puni. Puni to me has the higher ceiling but also the lower floor. I'm not sure he's a Day 1 Starter. Mahogany I think can start from the get go but he's not likely to be more than a road grading run blocker who's average at pass blocking.
An under the radar move I like is moving up and taking Kiran Amegadjie. Yes, he's currently a Tackle. So is Puni. Unlike Puni Kiran has double digit starts at Guard. While the competition wasn't great playing for Yale he's a huge dude that absolutely dominated. As in 'Man amongst boys' dominated. And he has every chance to stick at Tackle. The only major knock besides the competition is a quad injury that cut his 2023 season shirt.
Kiran could start at LG while potentially being groomed to take over at RT some day. He's plenty long, strong and fast enough to start at Tackle with some polishing.
As it sits today Minnesota has a 3 Body Problem. They have 2 Starters and 1 career backup penciled in to Start. And only one backup for all three spots. Options are running out in Free Agency and there's no guarantee the Draft will provide solutions.
... and neither is this Chris guy.