Thread: Loadholdt - Is it time to go, OR........................

Originally Posted by Purple Floyd

Before you throw Loadholt and Fusco over the bridge, go back and look at AP's biggest runs and notice where they happened. He got more yards over RG and RT than over the LG and LT.Yeah, LH got flustered during the GB game but he sprung him on some darn fine runs and has even been going downfield laying blocks on the second level. And I am no stranger to criticizing the line in the past.

I think what factors into more yards or longer runs off the right side is the stiff arm. AD only carries the ball in his right arm so every time he runs to the right you'll see him use that amazing stiff arm. He can't use it when he runs left. If he has more yards before first contact running to the right or fewer negative plays then your conclusion of them being better run blockers would be justified IMO.

Originally Posted by Reignman

I think what factors into more yards or longer runs off the right side is the stiff arm. AD only carries the ball in his right arm so every time he runs to the right you'll see him use that amazing stiff arm. He can't use it when he runs left. If he has more yards before first contact running to the right or fewer negative plays then your conclusion of them being better run blockers would be justified IMO.

This is interesting. I have not noticed this at all. I was about to call you out on one of his greatest runs against Cleveland which was to the left. But then I watched a clip of his 2012 highlights, and I'll be damned. Every run has him with the ball in his right hand.

Did i miss something that helped him cure his fumbling by keeping the ball in his right hand? Did Sugarman tell him to keep the ball in his right hand to help protect his repaired knee? I'm at a loss.

Originally Posted by Reignman

I think what factors into more yards or longer runs off the right side is the stiff arm. AD only carries the ball in his right arm so every time he runs to the right you'll see him use that amazing stiff arm. He can't use it when he runs left. If he has more yards before first contact running to the right or fewer negative plays then your conclusion of them being better run blockers would be justified IMO.

He is getting into the second level with very little contact and there are creases for him to exploit. The stiff arm is something he uses after he gets through the line, not when is is at it. All of the OL have been much more active and on his big runs you usually see ol down the field 5 yards deep or deeper hitting guys at the second level. Something in the coaching improved and got these guys out there looking for someone to hit and that is a great change from the days of Ryan Cook looking for ways to avoid contact.

Originally Posted by Marrdro

He has had a few of late, but early on in the season our OL was one of the best (had the least) when it came to penalties.

It wasn't until they started rotating Fusco and Schwartz that the stuff started to happen on that side.

Consistency with the guy playing next to you is so darn important on OL play and rotating them is the worst thing you can do IMHO.

You basicaly said it all with one word, Consistency Espeicaly when it comes to Loads personal play. Look at two of our most recent games. Against the Texans, Load played a All Pro level game, no penaltys and man handled anyone put in front of him that game, yes, even Watts, Load was tossing him around so bad, the texans moved him away from Load. Then you get the Green Bay game, even though we won, Load played at a level of his personal worst. Sure, I love the bad guy attitude, espeicaly when it comes to linemen, but there are those who use that to their favore and those who go overboard and let it get them into trouble. I want to see more of the Load who is in control of himself and those he has to man handle across the line....I know he can do it and do it well, when he wants to....

Load is still young, too young to give up on at this point. If he fails to get more consistent within the next year he should go the way of McKinnie. He's a speciman, but maybe too immobile to keep up with smaller, faster defensive linemen.

Originally Posted by purplehelmut

Load is still young, too young to give up on at this point. If he fails to get more consistent within the next year he should go the way of McKinnie. He's a speciman, but maybe too immobile to keep up with smaller, faster defensive linemen.

The clips of AD's runs are all you need to know about him. He didn't fire off the ball one time in those runs. He basically stood up and the Dlineman ran into him and he held on for dear life. Just watching those highlights has me stumped; how does he not get more holding calls on him. That man can't move and I am sure we would find someone who can at least fire off the ball.

Originally Posted by tarkenton10

The clips of AD's runs are all you need to know about him. He didn't fire off the ball one time in those runs. He basically stood up and the Dlineman ran into him and he held on for dear life. Just watching those highlights has me stumped; how does he not get more holding calls on him. That man can't move and I am sure we would find someone who can at least fire off the ball.

Is that part of the scheme. He needs to have his guy secure when AD comes to the line, not right off the bat. They had a really nice segment on ESPN yesterday on how the Packers were not able to come up with a way to stop AD in that 4 week stretch between games. It showed how the guards, tackles and fullback were able to get on the guys correctly in each game.

Whether he is slow to get off the line, the G, T and FB know their responsibilities and the last 8 weeks have been great for AD.

Originally Posted by tarkenton10

1st round - Harrison Smith - Great Safety - Starter-In the running for ROTY.

Great safety? Yes.

In the running for ROTY? Ummm.... no

Originally Posted by tarkenton10

4th Round - Greg Childs - Good WR - Before being hurt, he was tearing it up and many thought we had found our #1 wr.

What? Tearing it up in camp (without pads)?

The only thing he tore up were his ACLs in both knees.

Originally Posted by C Mac D

Great safety? Yes.

In the running for ROTY? Ummm.... no



What? Tearing it up in camp (without pads)?

The only thing he tore up were his ACLs in both knees.

They do give out a defensive rookie of the year award and I would have to guess he will be in the running for it.

Originally Posted by Marrdro

5 False Starts, 2 holding. Bounce that against other T's and see how he stacks up.

Football | NFL | Player Stats - Phil Loadholt - Minnesota Vikings - washingtonpost.com

I for one will keep old Load. He's still a very young T that will continue to get better after we solidify the G spot next to him.

You realize that Loadholt has played in the league 4 years already haven't you? At what point do you stop blaming stupid penalties & mediocre pass blocking skills on him being young & still learning? Year 8? 10?

Look, everyone knows about how good his run blocking is for AD including myself, but that's only part of his job. I liked McKinnie's run blocking too, the one thing he was good at, but that's where it ends.

Sorry Marr, we need a RT that can run block & pass block quite well, not one that can only run block.

Your stat may only show 5 false starts, which I think is light, but it doesn't show all of his penalties including all the personal fouls including...

The NFL has fined Loadholt $10,000 for two unnecessary roughness penalties in the Vikings' Week 1 game against New Orleans.
Analysis: Loadholt was disciplined for twice grabbing a Saints' face mask, in the second and fourth quarters of the game Sept. 9

That's just two games. There were two more in recent weeks alone that I can think of. In year he shouldn't be committing stupid penalties, let alone year 4.