Thread: Inside Slant

Inside Slant
Posted 6/24/2006 4:38 AM

USA Today

Vikings coach Brad Childress talked about the importance of having
quality linemen nearly from the moment he arrived in Minnesota last January.

Childress didn't waste much time helping the Vikings put their money
where his mouth was when it came to this topic — especially on the
offensive side of the ball.

The Vikings, who had a league-high $31 million in salary-cap space
entering free agency, moved fast by signing Pro Bowl left guard Steve
Hutchinson away from Seattle to play alongside center Matt Birk and left
tackle Bryant McKinnie.

The 28-year-old Hutchinson, who received a controversial seven-year, $49
million deal that includes a record (for a guard) $16 million in
guaranteed money, will be counted on to help solidify a line that didn't
have the injured Birk in 2005 and was shaky for much of the season.

The line must protect veteran quarterback Brad Johnson and also open
holes for another key free-agent acquisition, running back Chester Taylor.

While the Vikings are confident in what they will get from Hutchinson,
Taylor might be another story. There already have been rumblings that
the 5-foot-11, 213-pound Taylor isn't in the best of shape and the
Vikings aren't thrilled by his work ethic.

Remember, Taylor was a backup to Jamal Lewis in Baltimore and the most
carries he has had in a season is 160. He only has four career
touchdowns in four seasons. Taylor, though, is guaranteed $5.6 million
in the four-year, $14.1 million deal he received from the Vikings.

That certainly isn't backup money and the Vikings will be looking for
some big things from him come September.

The Vikings also used some of their money to get help on the defensive
side of the ball, signing linebacker Ben Leber, defensive end DeQuincy
Scott and safety Tank Williams. But with plenty of questions remaining
at linebacker, the key might be the development of first-round pick Chad
Greenway out of Iowa.

Greenway has been used exclusively at weak-side linebacker during the
team's minicamps and Organized Team Activities. He has seen action
mainly with the second team but there is little question the Vikings
would like to see him win a starting role as soon as possible.

If the Vikings linebacker corps remains the same, and Greenway develops
quickly, they could have Leber and Greenway on the outside and E.J.
Henderson in the middle.

NOTES, QUOTES

— The Vikings' minicamp last week was scheduled to go three days but
coach Brad Childress elected to take his players bowling on the opening
day. "I won't tell you who was high or who was low," Childress said. "I
hate to embarrass those people. I was kind of the commissioner for any
disputes."

— The coaching staff was scheduled to work through last Friday before
getting some time off.

— Receiver Koren Robinson missed the last few OTA workouts and the final
minicamp so he could be in North Carolina with his son, who was
recovering from surgery.

— Receiver Troy Williamson, who had been sidelined since undergoing
surgery in May to remove an abscess from his left hip, took part in the
minicamp. "I'm doing everything that everybody else is doing," said
Williamson, who could provide the Vikings with a much-needed vertical
threat in their offense.

— P Chris Kluwe (knee) did not end up doing any punting during the
offseason as he recovered from surgery. That gave rookie free agent John
Torp an opportunity to show what he could do.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Football is played in pads. We've got some shorts
All-Americans out here and we'll see if they can play with those hats on
come a month or so." — Defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who is looking
forward to training camp.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

One of the Vikings' main focuses now will be getting their six draft
picks signed before training camp opens late next month.

Having first-round linebacker Chad Greenway in from the start will be
extremely important, considering he should have an opportunity to
compete for a starting job. The Vikings also will have three
second-round picks to deal with, including cornerback Cedric Griffin,
offensive lineman Ryan Cook and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

Signing Cook should be no problem; the Vikings took Cook at least three
to four rounds before most expected.

At receiver, the Vikings cut down to "only" 14 players by releasing
Jimmy Redmond. Koren Robinson will be atop that depth chart when
training camp opens with Troy Williamson, Travis Taylor and Marcus
Robinson behind him. After that, though, the competition should be wide
open.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers): CB Ralph Brown; PK Paul
Edinger; RB Moe Williams; C Cory Withrow.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: RB Adimchinobi Echemandu; OG Adam Goldberg; S Willie
Offord; WR Koren Robinson.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED: FB Joey Goodspeed; OG Artis Hicks; OG Steve
Hutchinson; DT Ross Kolodziej; LB Ben Leber; PK Ryan Longwell; QB Mike
McMahon; WR Billy McMullen; FB Tony Richardson; DE DeQuincy Scott; RB
Chester Taylor; OG Jason Whittle; S Tank Williams.

PLAYERS LOST: RB Michael Bennett; WR Nate Burleson; S Corey Chavous; LB
Sam Cowart; QB Daunte Culpepper; OG Toniu Fonoti; C Melvin Fowler; QB
Shaun Hill; DE Lance Johnstone; LB Keith Newman; LB Raonall Smith; CB
Brian Williams.

I like our chances alot come next season.. We already look better then we did last season.. Let the games begin.

Nice update on where we sit with players that have come and gone.......

Thanks for the read Fedje...

"VikesfaninWis" wrote:

I like our chances alot come next season.. We already look better then we did last season.. Let the games begin.

I agree, but it will all come down to how the new coach can pull together all the new players as a team. We can only keep our fingers crossed, pray, then wait and see. But it does look good so far. :lol:

"VikingNed" wrote:

Nice update on where we sit with players that have come and gone.......

Thanks for the read Fedje...

Your welcome Ned. With Singer away I thought I would help out with something I didn't see anywhere. :lol:

I have been pondering the last days about our D-line next year. This is one of the few articles that even mentions some of the players there. How do you think they will play in the new system.

I'm not a defensive expert, but here are my - kind of - ramblings about the personell:

I think we are pretty solid with Udeeze-2xwilliams-James as starters, but behind that it seems a bit shaky.

On the inside Mosely played pretty well for a rookie in the final of last season. But then who is this Kolodzeij guy that might make the roster.

Outside Darrion Scott is a solid end, but nothing special really. Then we got the new scott (DeQuincy), who I know nothing about but should be a pass rushing specialist. Then there is the draft pick - Ray Edwards - he might end up on the practice squad, as he is described as a project.

"cogitans" wrote:

I have been pondering the last days about our D-line next year. This is one of the few articles that even mentions some of the players there. How do you think they will play in the new system.

I'm not a defensive expert, but here are my - kind of - ramblings about the personell:

I think we are pretty solid with Udeeze-2xwilliams-James as starters, but behind that it seems a bit shaky.

On the inside Mosely played pretty well for a rookie in the final of last season. But then who is this Kolodzeij guy that might make the roster.

Outside Darrion Scott is a solid end, but nothing special really. Then we got the new scott (DeQuincy), who I know nothing about but should be a pass rushing specialist. Then there is the draft pick - Ray Edwards - he might end up on the practice squad, as he is described as a project.

I'm afraid I'm not good with the technical aspects of the game, but I do have opinions from time to time after I get myself informed about something that interests me.

As I see it so far Childress has made what seems to be good choices. Because he is new to head coaching himself the validity of his choices is up in the air for the Vikings. He has to prove himself as a head coach.

Some of these players have played well for other teams, but we all know how that can change for players being traded from team to team.

I liked this article because it did help with understanding the players better, and who we now have or don't have.

But it all comes down to the first season with all the new coaches and players working together. We have to wait and see what happens.

"FedjeViking" wrote:

"cogitans" wrote:

I have been pondering the last days about our D-line next year. This is one of the few articles that even mentions some of the players there. How do you think they will play in the new system.

I'm not a defensive expert, but here are my - kind of - ramblings about the personell:

I think we are pretty solid with Udeeze-2xwilliams-James as starters, but behind that it seems a bit shaky.

On the inside Mosely played pretty well for a rookie in the final of last season. But then who is this Kolodzeij guy that might make the roster.

Outside Darrion Scott is a solid end, but nothing special really. Then we got the new scott (DeQuincy), who I know nothing about but should be a pass rushing specialist. Then there is the draft pick - Ray Edwards - he might end up on the practice squad, as he is described as a project.

I'm afraid I'm not good with the technical aspects of the game, but I do have opinions from time to time after I get myself informed about something that interests me.

As I see it so far Childress has made what seems to be good choices. Because he is new to head coaching himself the validity of his choices is up in the air for the Vikings. He has to prove himself as a head coach.

Some of these players have played well for other teams, but we all know how that can change for players being traded from team to team.

I liked this article because it did help with understanding the players better, and who we now have or don't have.

But it all comes down to the first season with all the new coaches and players working together. We have to wait and see what happens.

Yeah I liked the article as well. It's a good overview of things.

I'm sorry if I kind of hijacked the thread a little bit. I has just been wondering about this D-line for some days, and I kind of just picked up on the focus on the lines, so I smacked my thoughts in here.

Maybe I'll just have to wait untill Del Rio breaks it down somewhere - him beeing a linecoach :grin:

"cogitans" wrote:

"FedjeViking" wrote:

"cogitans" wrote:

I have been pondering the last days about our D-line next year. This is one of the few articles that even mentions some of the players there. How do you think they will play in the new system.

I'm not a defensive expert, but here are my - kind of - ramblings about the personell:

I think we are pretty solid with Udeeze-2xwilliams-James as starters, but behind that it seems a bit shaky.

On the inside Mosely played pretty well for a rookie in the final of last season. But then who is this Kolodzeij guy that might make the roster.

Outside Darrion Scott is a solid end, but nothing special really. Then we got the new scott (DeQuincy), who I know nothing about but should be a pass rushing specialist. Then there is the draft pick - Ray Edwards - he might end up on the practice squad, as he is described as a project.

I'm afraid I'm not good with the technical aspects of the game, but I do have opinions from time to time after I get myself informed about something that interests me.

As I see it so far Childress has made what seems to be good choices. Because he is new to head coaching himself the validity of his choices is up in the air for the Vikings. He has to prove himself as a head coach.

Some of these players have played well for other teams, but we all know how that can change for players being traded from team to team.

I liked this article because it did help with understanding the players better, and who we now have or don't have.

But it all comes down to the first season with all the new coaches and players working together. We have to wait and see what happens.

Yeah I liked the article as well. It's a good overview of things.

I'm sorry if I kind of hijacked the thread a little bit. I has just been wondering about this D-line for some days, and I kind of just picked up on the focus on the lines, so I smacked my thoughts in here.

Maybe I'll just have to wait untill Del Rio breaks it down somewhere - him beeing a linecoach :grin:

You didn't hijack the thread. The information in the article is up for discussion. Thats how we all learn about the different things going on. :lol:

I don't really know how it will play out.

Last season our Lineman never stunted, and Kevin Williams played a lot of Qb spy. I'm guessing he will continue to play QB spy because he has great hands and there is always that chance he can pick it off.

I imagine there will be some competition for a starter/2nd stringer at DT. The reason is Pat Williams wears down as the game goes on. They will be looking to limit his play. No doubt he will be starting, but he will not be playing every snap. I like D. Scott as a backup DT. He has a nose for the ball.

Either way it's a good problem to have. In the end it is a new system that requires pressure on the QB and fast lineman. I would look to see the ends doing a lot more fire, and a lot less contain. Or even DE dropping in to an OLB spot and having the OLB line up on the line as a DE.

I can see Udeze getting bumped down the depth chart if he is not fast enough, or quick enough in training camp.

I'm excited about the line this year, the SHOULD be fantastic.