Right? I think Breeland is going to be a very big contributor this season in that secondary. He's not a young guy for a CB (29), but I suspect we'll be hoping that the Vikings are able to resign him after this season for at least another season or 2.
It's a good point. No-one wants any lousy players in the line-up, but having one good corner isn't very helpful if the other corner needs to wear an asbestos vest. It will be interesting to see how he and PP fare compared to the big ticket UFAs such as Shaq G.
We'll see what happens with Tiny Dantzler, but it's good roster management that he's going to figure it out (or not) as CB5 and not CB2.
There is a chance it's true for the OL as well. We need to actually see it, of course, one doesn't have to squint much to see 7 viable NFL players there.
There is nothing Mond could do that should change his role this year. If he separates his shoulder doing the racist chant in KC, or if he goes 31/33 for 500 yrs and 6 tds, rushing for 80 and another score, it isn't material information. Similarly, whatever Browning shows against about-to-be-cut Chefs, his sticking around should be determined based upon what other options become available.
The only question is 2 QBs on the roster, with a vaxxed one on the PR, or 3. I really hope it's 2--there is far more value in having depth on ST or the trenches. Browning will clear waivers and has been here all off-season.
There is pressure for the bubble guys at other spots where there are actual races, but it would be terrible if QB decisions are impacted by this game.
"“Sometimes he gets lax in his technique,” the co-defensive coordinator said, “and sometimes we need to make sure he’s on top of the receiver consistently so he’s not in a trail position all the time. And just attention to details, making sure we’re in the right alignment and making sure we’re in the right call and doing the right things that way.”
This quote about Dantzler concerns me. If I heard Adam Zimmer say this about a rookie, I'd think nothing of it. But Dantzler has several NFL games under his belt. I'm especially surprised given Dantzler's high character and work ethic; he's not the kind of guy I would expect to hear negative things about in regards to his focus on technique. Something is up with this young man and I hope he's able to sort it out.
You guys made me search to check whether or not the Vikings had cut Stephen Weatherly when you didn't list him as one of the guys that could be included to get to 9 DL, hah. Was that on purpose, such that in your estimation Weatherly has really dropped that far that he is more likely than not to be cut unless the Vikings keep 10 DL? I had figured that Weatherly was basically in the same place as Willekes, Lynch, and Mata'afa. My personal preference is that the Vikings keep 10 DL via Weatherly and Willekes, as I feel like Lynch and Mata'afa have had enough chances and have failed to establish themselves (whereas Weatherly and Willekes offer good floor and interest potential, respectively), but I figure that the Vikings only get to 10 DL if they sneak Browning onto the practice squad and only keep 2 QBs on the 53 man roster, which as stated does not seem particularly likely.
Otherwise, one of the rumblings online is that Cam Dantzler has taken a step backwards because in his attempt to bulk up he has made himself physically slower, but I have been somewhat skeptical of that because I haven't heard/seen any coaches or beat reporters talking about it. Is that something that anyone is discussing?
My mistake on Weatherly. Didn’t leave him off on purpose, meant to include him with Watts as very likely to make the team. Updated that part. Adam Zimmer seemed to indicate the issues were technique related with Dantzler but it’s a fair theory that he might not have been able to bulk up and maintain the same speed
Ahh, that's fair - a more likely spot for Weatherly is definitely with Watts in that second tier rather than with the other 3 guys in the 4th tier.
Otherwise I hope that lil Zimmer was right - I would hate for the reality to be that for his whole career Dantzler has to choose between being either thin and effective (and also injury prone) or bulky and sloppy. Given that Danztler is mainly been with the second team though and being as many of his failures have been a result of being beaten deep (and given how sloppy all safeties outside of the top two have been), if Danztler gets playing time and if both safeties stay fully healthy (where that second is definitely not a given) at least arguably when Danztler is burned he can rely on more reliable safety help that would making his failures look less awful...? I'm probably looking at that too much with my purple-tinted glasses, but it is hard to repress optimism when there are not regular season losses to remind me that at the end of the day this is still the Vikings and we can't have nice things.
I wonder if attitude could be a problem with Dantzler? Last year he was "Da Man" and off season the Vikes bring in veterans to take his starting job... Might be impacting his motivation...
I know adding Patrick Peterson was the talk of FA but the Breeland signing is more important than we thought
Right? I think Breeland is going to be a very big contributor this season in that secondary. He's not a young guy for a CB (29), but I suspect we'll be hoping that the Vikings are able to resign him after this season for at least another season or 2.
It's a good point. No-one wants any lousy players in the line-up, but having one good corner isn't very helpful if the other corner needs to wear an asbestos vest. It will be interesting to see how he and PP fare compared to the big ticket UFAs such as Shaq G.
We'll see what happens with Tiny Dantzler, but it's good roster management that he's going to figure it out (or not) as CB5 and not CB2.
"but it's good roster management that he's going to figure it out (or not) as CB5 and not CB2" Amen, AS.
If only they had the same level of foresight for the OL.
There is a chance it's true for the OL as well. We need to actually see it, of course, one doesn't have to squint much to see 7 viable NFL players there.
I wish I had your confidence, Andrew.
Ha! It's August. Also, it's a shibboleth of Vikings fandom that a sentence which opens with "there is a chance" constitutes unbridled optimism.
There is nothing Mond could do that should change his role this year. If he separates his shoulder doing the racist chant in KC, or if he goes 31/33 for 500 yrs and 6 tds, rushing for 80 and another score, it isn't material information. Similarly, whatever Browning shows against about-to-be-cut Chefs, his sticking around should be determined based upon what other options become available.
The only question is 2 QBs on the roster, with a vaxxed one on the PR, or 3. I really hope it's 2--there is far more value in having depth on ST or the trenches. Browning will clear waivers and has been here all off-season.
There is pressure for the bubble guys at other spots where there are actual races, but it would be terrible if QB decisions are impacted by this game.
"“Sometimes he gets lax in his technique,” the co-defensive coordinator said, “and sometimes we need to make sure he’s on top of the receiver consistently so he’s not in a trail position all the time. And just attention to details, making sure we’re in the right alignment and making sure we’re in the right call and doing the right things that way.”
This quote about Dantzler concerns me. If I heard Adam Zimmer say this about a rookie, I'd think nothing of it. But Dantzler has several NFL games under his belt. I'm especially surprised given Dantzler's high character and work ethic; he's not the kind of guy I would expect to hear negative things about in regards to his focus on technique. Something is up with this young man and I hope he's able to sort it out.
You guys made me search to check whether or not the Vikings had cut Stephen Weatherly when you didn't list him as one of the guys that could be included to get to 9 DL, hah. Was that on purpose, such that in your estimation Weatherly has really dropped that far that he is more likely than not to be cut unless the Vikings keep 10 DL? I had figured that Weatherly was basically in the same place as Willekes, Lynch, and Mata'afa. My personal preference is that the Vikings keep 10 DL via Weatherly and Willekes, as I feel like Lynch and Mata'afa have had enough chances and have failed to establish themselves (whereas Weatherly and Willekes offer good floor and interest potential, respectively), but I figure that the Vikings only get to 10 DL if they sneak Browning onto the practice squad and only keep 2 QBs on the 53 man roster, which as stated does not seem particularly likely.
Otherwise, one of the rumblings online is that Cam Dantzler has taken a step backwards because in his attempt to bulk up he has made himself physically slower, but I have been somewhat skeptical of that because I haven't heard/seen any coaches or beat reporters talking about it. Is that something that anyone is discussing?
My mistake on Weatherly. Didn’t leave him off on purpose, meant to include him with Watts as very likely to make the team. Updated that part. Adam Zimmer seemed to indicate the issues were technique related with Dantzler but it’s a fair theory that he might not have been able to bulk up and maintain the same speed
Ahh, that's fair - a more likely spot for Weatherly is definitely with Watts in that second tier rather than with the other 3 guys in the 4th tier.
Otherwise I hope that lil Zimmer was right - I would hate for the reality to be that for his whole career Dantzler has to choose between being either thin and effective (and also injury prone) or bulky and sloppy. Given that Danztler is mainly been with the second team though and being as many of his failures have been a result of being beaten deep (and given how sloppy all safeties outside of the top two have been), if Danztler gets playing time and if both safeties stay fully healthy (where that second is definitely not a given) at least arguably when Danztler is burned he can rely on more reliable safety help that would making his failures look less awful...? I'm probably looking at that too much with my purple-tinted glasses, but it is hard to repress optimism when there are not regular season losses to remind me that at the end of the day this is still the Vikings and we can't have nice things.
I wonder if attitude could be a problem with Dantzler? Last year he was "Da Man" and off season the Vikes bring in veterans to take his starting job... Might be impacting his motivation...