And Here's To You, Mr. Robison

by Christopher Gates on Sep 16, 2011 12:20 PM CDT in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season

The Vikings love you more than they could know. . .whoa, whoa, whoa. . .

(Okay, it doesn't exactly fit. Who am I, Art Garfunkel? Well, I garfunkled your mother. . .how do you like that?)

One of the debates this past off-season consisted of two parts. . .the first part was whether or not the Minnesota Vikings should let free agent defensive end Ray Edwards walk away. Edwards made no secret of the fact that he really wasn't enamored with the Vikings any more, and wanted to move on to a place where he felt he was more respected. . .which, as we all know, is code for "whoever wants to hand me a metric assload of money, I'll put my name on a contract for you." Sure enough, not long after free agency got underway, Edwards beat feet for Atlanta, one of the destinations he had been rumored to be interested in for a long time.

The other half of the debate, then, was whether or not fourth-year man Brian Robison was ready to step in and replace Edwards. Robison, who was Edwards' backup for the past three seasons, had only really been used on a situational basis for Minnesota, spelling Edwards at defensive end and even rotating down to defensive tackle in passing situations. There were concerns whether or not he could hold up as a full-time defensive end against the run while still being able to keep up his pass rush abilities.

Well, if Week One of the 2011 NFL season is any indication, the Vikings have chosen wisely.

Despite the absence of Kevin Williams to occupy people in the middle of the line, Robison made life absolutely miserable for Chargers' right tackle Jeromey Clary on Sunday afternoon. Robison was credited with three tackles, five quarterback pressures and a sack on Sunday afternoon, and also got to Philip Rivers to cause a deflected pass that found its way into the arms of Antoine Winfield.

On the other hand, in his debut against a Chicago offensive line that can charitably be described as "suspect". . .they allowed Jay Cutler to be sacked five times on Sunday. . .Ray Edwards' stat line consisted of one tackle. That's pretty much it.

The folks at Pro Football Focus certainly noticed, as they put Robison on their All-PFF Team for Week 1 of the season, the only Viking to make that team.

If Robison can keep this up all season and the Vikings can hold down the fort for one more week until Kevin Williams comes back, maybe the demise of the Minnesota front four will turn out to be greatly exaggerated.

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One game does not make a season

But I did like what I saw out there, and I feel a lot more comfortable with Edwards gone.

I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass

by Grime on Sep 16, 2011 12:53 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed but its good to note and make remarks the positives.

which, as we all know, is code for "whoever wants to hand me a metric assload of money

Also, I was unaware that 1 gram in weight of money is enough to secure an NFL starting DE. lol

"I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist
and that there are as few as there are any other great artists.
Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts
since the medium is the human mind and spirit."

by Edgecrusher71 on Sep 16, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Checks... very light.

by PurpleX on Sep 16, 2011 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Robison came to play. I’ve always liked him, and I think his ability in the run game (while a potential concern) is a little overblown in that not a lot of teams (and no teams in the division) have a power running game.

In somewhat related news, Rice is inactive again for Seattle.

It’s early, obviously, but thus far the Vikings have played their cards right. I thought they should have franchised Rice to see a) how healthy he is and b) if he can be a franchise wideout without Farve. I thought Greenway would get significantly less attention in FA as a 4-3 LB and therefore maybe they could sneak both. Again, it’s early, but Rice is certainly developing a bad pattern…

by jianfu on Sep 16, 2011 1:07 PM CDT reply actions

Good point

Bringing up that no one we play against has a remotely dangerous running game. Didn’t think about that when we let Edwards go. I think Greenway would have gotten some serious looks even going to other sights on SB Nation I could see people starting to talk about him.

As for Rice well the verdict is still out, but it does look like we made a good choice so far.

I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass

by Grime on Sep 16, 2011 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm with your grime

I was hesitant at first because I thought Rice was a true #1 reciever, but a true #1 has to be on the field week in and week out. I’m still just puzzled to how Rice decided to go to Seattle when he knew Jackson was the QB and Whitehurst was the other competition. He’ll never have the opportunity to really showcase if he remains a battered player and with a terrible situation at the quarterback position. I’m sure he got his guarantees, but I don’t see how huge of a margin in guarantee money would have been had he stayed.

by PurpleJesuZ on Sep 16, 2011 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

He might have known he had bigger issues

and just wanted a pay day as quick as he could get one.

I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass

by Grime on Sep 16, 2011 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Bingo

I’ve thought the same thing – it really appears he wanted to maximize the guaranteed money, moreso even than you would expect.

1 – worse QB situation in Seattle than in MN

2 – Same old QB (Jackson) and Offensive Coordinator (Bevell) that were heavily criticized here.

And to me, the biggest thing of all -

3 – the Seahawks were the only outside team that made a run at him. That tells me other teams were really spooked about paying big for a WR with a potentially chronic hip issue, and a history of missing games with injuries.

by rovibe on Sep 16, 2011 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it was just another case of Favre making a middle of the road receiver look great.

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!!!

by bf4mvp on Sep 16, 2011 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

odd that's what you thought with your moniker and all :D

I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass

by Grime on Sep 16, 2011 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree with bf4mvp...

…and will change my avatar soon!

by izziefans on Sep 16, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't change it, it just shows your love for Kluwe!

by nmvikesfan on Sep 16, 2011 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Hahaha...I did not think of that...had him in #5 in my mind. This is good. Thanks NMV.

by izziefans on Sep 17, 2011 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions

The rap against Robison for his runstoppability.......

was unfair, considering he usually entered the game on passing downs.

What do you mean that isn’t a word?

by Mel Allen on Sep 16, 2011 5:34 PM CDT reply actions

I hate to be the kind of guy that says I told you so but ...

I have been calling for the trading of Edwards since before the 2010 draft and the elevation of Robison to starter status. If they had done this they could have kept Jayme Mitchell to back up Robison.

I thought trading Edwards and the #30 pick to Tennessee that year who was picking 16th and did not have a second round pick would have been something very doable. I mean why wouldn’t Tennessee want to do that move? They ended up taking Derrick Morgan at #16. So to get Edwards and the #30 pick for the #16 pick would have been pretty tempting.

For the Vikings it would have allowed them to move up and get a player they really wanted. I said it before but I seem to recall that Spielman had said that Pouncey was the number one player on their draft board.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/02/26/pouncey-living-up-to-expectations
“Who’s to say he’s not as good as his brother?” said Rick Spielman, Vikings vice president of player personnel. “We spent a lot of time on (Maurkice). We had (Mike) up for a visit, and I think he has just as high of a chance to be successful as his brother does the way he played this year.”

http://min.scout.com/2/963901.html
One of the players Childress and Spielman watched in Gainesville was Pouncey. If the interior offensive lineman is around late in the first round the Vikings could grab him and allow the Florida product to compete with John Sullivan for the starting job or compete with Anthony Herrera at right guard. Pouncey has Pro Bowl potential.

I just wish they would have packaged the #30 pick and Edwards to get their true #1 guy.

I know they were all in for 2011 since they were so close but Robison was no slouch in 2009 so I figured they could make do with him and Mitchell. They also ended up getting Griffen in the 4th.

I want Spielman to be like AJ Smith or whomever is running things in Philly and go for your number one player.

by MarkSP18 on Sep 16, 2011 6:49 PM CDT reply actions

lol you don't hate it

I think you’ve mentioned about 1.253 gajillion times :D

I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass

by Grime on Sep 16, 2011 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions

It wasn't that it was a bad idea...

Just a little unrealistic. It would have been a good deal for the Vikes, but Edwards wouldn’t have been enough ammo to move up that much, IMO.

"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."

by NMVike on Sep 17, 2011 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Really?

The Vikings placed a first round tender on him. To go from #30 which is 620 points to #16 which is 1000 points that would be 380 points or pick #52. I think that Ray would have been worth a just below mid second round pick.

Plus when you consider that Tennessee did not have a second round pick, well that offer would have been pretty tempting. I have a hard time believing that would not have gotten the job done.

If not then the Vikings could have included a future year 5th or something like that. Anything to go get Pouncey.

by MarkSP18 on Sep 18, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I just think it's easier to gauge picks for picks

It can get a little messy when you try to calculate moves using the chart when you include players. Not that it doesnt happen, but I have a hard time buying it to move up in the first round, especially for a complementary player like Edwards. Teams weren’t exactly knocking down the door when it was obvious he wasn’t happy with his contract situation.

This situation can’t be compared to what NE did with players like Moss and Seymour. Those guys were all-pros. There’s just not much precendent for trading picks for a player of Edwards production; especially a player with an expiring rookie contract in an unsure labor environment.

"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."

by NMVike on Sep 18, 2011 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

has anyone checked

the stats on Edwards, the last I heard he had 3 or 4 tackles. Robo has 1n1half sacks 5 qb hurries a couple batted balls. Never liked Edwards anyway self proclaimed sack breaker lol. even with WWall and Allen he should have had at least dbl digit sacks. one good game was Dallas. So far Im ok with Robo. they’ll all get better with playing and under new cordinator.

by Pwrback on Sep 21, 2011 9:23 PM CDT reply actions