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he Minnesota Vikings will be constructing a new front fi - panxing18 - 05-15-2019
MINNEAPOLIS — Tve yet again this year.More Vikings coverageDuty might call for Vikings rookie long snapper CuttingRookie minicamp Q&A with Vikings head coach Mike ZimmerVikings sign nine members of 2019 draft classTop Tweets: Minnesota teams have fun with ‘Game of Thrones’Vikings decline fifth-year option for WR Laquon TreadwellPerhaps this will be the spring they can finally plant a couple of seeds for stability.The Vikings have consistently fielded one of the NFL’s best defenses since coach Mike Zimmer took over in 2014. In the two seasons when they won the NFC North title Brett Jones Jersey , 2015 and 2017, they scored plenty of points, too.Whether a product of allocating resources elsewhere on the roster, misjudging ability, or experiencing plain old bad luck, though, there has been no position more problematic for the Vikings than the offensive line.For the fifth straight year, they’ll return no more than three of five primary starters from the previous season. Just like from 2017 to 2018, the Vikings will have two new starting guards, having released Mike Remmers to create salary cap space and let Tom Compton leave as a free agent last month.Josh Kline, a free agent signee from Tennessee, can likely claim one starting guard spot. Left tackle Riley Reiff has been considered by the coaching staff for a new role inside, a move likely only to be made if the Vikings use their first-round draft pick on a top-tier tackle.Pat Elflein has shown some promise over the past two years as the man in the middle, but if there’s an early round center favored by the front office and coaching staff, the Vikings wouldn’t hesitate to move him to guard, either.They don’t have to be picky about the specific position fit, then. Adding a starter, any starter, for the offensive line next week would work.In their first season with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, the Vikings fell from 10th to 19th in points and 11th to 20th in yards, and the performance up front was at the top of the culprit list.After retaining offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, hiring Gary Kubiak as an offensive adviser and bringing in one of his longtime sidekicks, Rick Dennison, to coach the offensive line and coordinate the running game, Zimmer has another idea in mind for that critical improvement up front.“I do think we probably have to get a little bit better there, but I also think part of coaching is helping these guys get better as well,” Zimmer said. “I think scheme can help. I think plays that you call can help.”Here are some key angles to follow for the Vikings next week:16<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:Minnesota Vikings’ 2019 schedule breakdownTOP PROSPECTSWith the 18th overall pick in the first round, the Vikings ought to have plenty of the top offensive line prospects to pick from, including Oklahoma tackle Cody Ford, Washington State tackle Andre Dillard and North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury.ABOUT LAST YEARThe Vikings appeared primed to take advantage of a strong class of interior offensive linemen last year, but they deemed cornerback Mike Hughes too tantalizing to pass up in the first round despite the depth they had at that position at the time.Four of the first seven picks of the second round last season were, naturally, centers or guards. Later in that round, the Vikings took Brian O’Neill, who wound up as the starting right tackle in a promising rookie year.“Everybody gets upset if we don’t take this position in this round. Well, if that guy doesn’t fit what we do, why pick him?” Zimmer said, adding: “You can move up probably and get the exact that you want, but the capital that you have to give up is pretty steep, especially when you’re moving in the first round.”LOOKING BACKThe Vikings simply haven’t committed much draft capital to the offensive line, long predating the current regime. Since taking Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel with the 19th overall pick in 1988, the Vikings have only used a first-round selection on one of the sport’s least glamorous positions three times in the past 30 years: Matt Kalil (2012), Bryant McKinnie (2002) and Todd Steussie (1994).ANOTHER COOK FOR THE KITCHENIf the Vikings can finally have running back Dalvin Cook healthy for a full season, with knee and hamstring trouble having limited him to just 15 of 32 games over his first two years, their offense will get a big lift.They’ll need a complement, though, after letting Latavius Murray leave as a free agent. Ameer Abdullah was re-signed, but don’t rule out the possibility of the Vikings taking a running back in the middle rounds.“It’s controlling the game. It’s the mentality, the physicality. If you look at the teams playing really good on offense this year, the final four teams, they ran the ball,” Zimmer said. “Everybody says this is passing, this and that, but the good offenses run the football.”10<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:Top Tweets: Cousins shows off Vikings massive playbookLAST SEASON: Crumbled underneath weight of Super Bowl goal they carried into 2018 with new QB Kirk Cousins following trip to NFC championship game previous year, fading down stretch of difficult schedule and losing at home in regular-season finale to rival Bears to miss playoffs for third time in five years under coach Mike Zimmer. Field goal trouble surfaced yet again, forcing dumping of rookie Daniel Carlson after his three misses cost team victory over Packers in tie on road in second game. Offensive line failed to help running game get going and keep Cousins upright http://www.thevikingslockerroom.com/authentic-mike-hughes-jersey , though QB made his own share of mistakes in tense season that cost offensive coordinator John DeFilippo his job.FREE AGENCY: With recent megadeals for Cousins, WR Stefon Diggs, DE Danielle Hunter and LB Eric Kendricks pushing Vikings up against salary cap, they were mostly quiet in March. But added starters RG Josh Kline and DT Shamar Stephen. Biggest get was LB Anthony Barr, who verbally agreed to join Jets before change of heart kept him in place. Kicker Dan Bailey was re-signed, latest attempt at stabilizing that spot, but most moves were simply for depth.THEY NEED: OL, WR, RB, CB.THEY DON’T NEED: DE, LB, DT, QB.POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: Oklahoma OT Cody Ford; Washington State OT Andre Dillard; North Carolina State C Garrett Bradbury.OUTLOOK: Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but offensive line remains most pressing weakness. Guard is most glaring hole, even after signing Kline, but if Vikings find instant starter at tackle in first round, Riley Reiff could move to guard. Or Pat Elflein could, if they get a top-flight center. Diggs and Adam Thielen were slowed down stretch, reinforcing need for legitimate third WR. Losing Latavius Murray in free agency leaves RB Dalvin Cook more exposed, too.One More Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection By this time tomorrow, the Minnesota Vikings’ 53-man roster will officially be set. The deadline for the team to trim the roster from 90. . .or, effectively, 88, given the suspensions of Cayleb Jones and Kentrell Brothers. . .is 3:00 PM Central on Saturday. We’ll be keeping track of all the moves the team makes between now and then.We’ve had a couple of 53-man roster projections from some of our other writers, and I wanted to take a stab at one myself because hey. . .why not, right? The Vikings have a ton of talent, and it’s going to be interesting to see what they do with it all, so I’ll go ahead and give it my best shot.Special Teams (3)Kicker (1)Daniel CarlsonPunter (1)Ryan QuigleyLong Snapper (1)Kevin McDermottNailed it! Moving on.(Now watch the Vikings go after a different punter just to spite me. Ah, well. . .if it happens, it happens.)Offense (25 + 1)Quarterback (3)In - Kirk Cousins (starter), Trevor Siemian, Kyle SloterOut - Peter PujalsThe only drama here. . .such as it is. . .is whether or not the team bites the bullet with Siemian and elevates Sloter to the backup position. The team did give up draft capital for Siemian to be Cousins’ primary backup, but he’s been pretty bad this preseason. I think that, given recent history, the Vikings would be more comfortable with three quarterbacks, so Siemian stays.Running Backs (4)In - Dalvin Cook (starter), Mike Boone, C.J. Ham, Latavius MurrayOut - Mack Brown, Kobe McCrary, Luke McNitt, Roc ThomasThe battle for RB3 was supposed to come down to the final preseason game, but when Thomas left with an injury, Boone took over and appeared to solidify things. If the Vikings do roll with three running backs, I think Boone is pretty clearly the guy. Also, I know that C.J. Ham is technically the fullback here, but I don’t know how much the Vikings are going to use him in that role this season. John DeFilippo apparently loves him, though.Wide Receivers (5 + 1)In - Stefon Diggs (starter), Adam Thielen (starter), Laquon Treadwell, Kendall Wright, Brandon Zylstra, Cayleb Jones (starts season under suspension)Out - Jeff Badet, Chad Beebe, Stacy Coley, Tavarres King Womens Tom Compton Jersey , Korey Robertson, Jake WienekeIn efforts to shore things up at other places, the Vikings might have to short themselves at wide receiver. I think they saw enough out of Zylstra in camp that they like that, despite his injury issues, he’s made a spot on the roster. Jones starts the season on the suspended list, but I don’t think it would hurt anyone’s feelings if they were to just outright cut him now and not even deal with it. If the Vikings do roster a sixth receiver, I think that Beebe has the inside track for the spot, but there are several solid practice squad candidates here.Tight ends (3)In - Kyle Rudolph (starter), Blake Bell, David MorganOut - Tyler Conklin, Tyler HoppesFor the second year in a row, I think that the Vikings are going to cut a tight end that they took a late round flyer on and wound up not showing much in camp. Last year it was Bucky Hodges, and this year it’s Tyler Conklin. I had high hopes for Conklin to be a complement to Rudolph in the pass game, but he just really hasn’t shown much this preseason. I don’t think they keep him over Bell, but I could end up being wrong on that. If they think enough of C.J. Ham as a potential H-back type, they could just go with Rudolph and Morgan and cut Bell, too, but I’d be pretty shocked by that.Offensive Line (10)In - Riley Reiff (starter), Brett Jones (starter), Pat Elflein (starter. . .technically), Cornelius Edison (starter while Elflein is out), Mike Remmers (starter), Rashod Hill (starter), Aviante Collins, Tom Compton, Danny Isidora, Brian O’NeillOut - Josh Andrews, Kareem Are, Colby Gossett, Kaleb Johnson, Dieugot Joseph, Storm Norton, J.P. QuinnThe big question here is going to end up being what the Vikings do with Pat Elflein. Mike Zimmer said that he didn’t expect Elflein to start on the PUP List, but the team hasn’t made a move to take him off there yet, and if they don’t do so before the roster deadline then Elflein is out for the first six games. I’m not sure how the interior is going to look without Elflein there. Cornelius Edison didn’t play in the preseason finale, which would seem to point to him being the starter. Isidora got a long look at center, and Jones could obviously fill that spot, too. The team is going to have to make sure they have bodies here, which is why they’re short at the wide receiver spot in my projection. Of the guys that I have making the team, I think that Compton is probably in the most danger of being left out.Defense (25 + 1)Defensive end (5)In - Everson Griffen (starter), Danielle Hunter (starter), Tashawn Bower, Brian Robison, Stephen WeatherlyOut - Jonathan WynnHonestly, the process of trying to cut players from this defense is just painful at every position. Weatherly and Bower have both had strong preseasons, and I’d have a hard time envisioning the team cutting Robison after what he did to commit to a return. Could one of these guys be trade bait? I guess they could be. . .but man, I just don’t know. I’m glad I’m not the person that has to make these decisions.Defensive tackle (4)In - Linval Joseph (starter), Sheldon Richardson (starter), Jaleel Johnson, Ifeadi OdenigboOut - Curtis Cothran, Jalyn Holmes, David ParryAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! Man, I don’t want to lose Jalyn Holmes or anything, but honestly Odenigbo has been good enough, both on the interior and on the edge this preseason, to merit inclusion on this roster. Odenigbo’s ability to play all the spots on the line gives him an advantage Kyle Rudolph Jersey , too.Linebackers (5 + 1)In - Anthony Barr (starter), Ben Gedeon (starter in base), Eric Kendricks (starter), Reshard Cliett, Eric Wilson, Kentrell Brothers (starts season under suspension)Out - Garret Dooley, Devante Downs, Mike Needham, Brett Taylor, Antoine WilliamsThe last linebacker spot is going to be a three-way tussle between Cliett, Downs, and Williams, in my opinion. Out of those three, I think that Cliett has done the most to merit a spot. He could be a very good special teamer, and put up enough of a solid performance in the preseason finale to make him my favorite for LB5 as things stand right now. None of those three guys would surprise me as the final linebacker, though. Again, in order to shore up other spots, this is the one position on defense the Vikings can probably short themselves at a bit.Cornerbacks (7)In - Xavier Rhodes (starter), Trae Waynes (starter), Mackensie Alexander, Holton Hill, Mike Hughes, Terence Newman, Marcus SherelsOut - Craig James, Trevon Mathis, Horace Richardson, Jack TochoIs seven cornerbacks a lot? Sure it is. But, honestly. . .who do you cut here? I mean, I guess the obvious answer would be Hill if you thought he was a lock to get to the practice squad, but I’m honestly not sure that he is. As we’ve mentioned, both Alexander and Sherels have apparently been mentioned in trade talks, so that could always be an option. But man, this team has such an embarrassment of riches at this position that it’s difficult to definitively state who should be in or out. I guess Sherels would be a candidate, too, if the Vikings thought they could replace his return skills with someone at another position. But, you know, we all know better than to project Sherels to be cut at this point, don’t we?Safeties (4)In - Andrew Sendejo (starter), Harrison Smith (starter), Anthony Harris, George IlokaOut - Jayron Kearse, Tray MatthewsIloka’s versatility is another reason that the Vikings might be able to leave themselves a bit short at linebacker, since it appears that they’re using him as a sort of a linebacker/safety hybrid. Both Harris and Kearse have been very good special teams players in their Vikings’ careers, but if I have to pick one over the other, Harris is a relatively easy choice.So, those are my 53. Obviously I’m not projecting trades to acquire players (as opposed to shipping out someone for draft picks), and there are probably a couple of players that will make the 53 that are currently on other teams.Practice squad projection (Vikings cuts only)WR Chad BeebeTE Tyler ConklinLB Devante DownsOL Colby GossettDL Jalyn HolmesS Tray MatthewsOL Storm NortonRB Roc ThomasCB Jack TochoWR Jake WienekeLike the 53-man roster, I’m guessing that the practice squad won’t be exclusively guys that the Vikings cut. I think they could probably find a better OL prospect than Norton, to be honest.So, that’s my final 53-man roster projection, ladies and gentlemen. By this time tomorrow, we’ll see how close all of us are on these.