Ladies And Gentlemen, Your Minnesota Vikings' 53-Man Roster
by Christopher Gates on Sep 3, 2011 5:25 PM CDT
in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season
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PrintThe final cuts have been made, according to the folks at Vikings.com, and this is what your 53-man roster looks like as of right now.
QB: Donovan McNabb, Christian Ponder, Joe Webb
RB: Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Lorenzo Booker
WR: Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Michael Jenkins, Greg Camarillo, Devin Aromashodu
TE: Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser, Kyle Rudolph, Allan Reisner
OL: Charlie Johnson, Steve Hutchinson, John Sullivan, Anthony Herrera, Phil Loadholt, Jon Cooper, DeMarcus Love, Pat Brown, Seth Olsen and Brandon Fusco
DL: Jared Allen, Kevin Williams (suspended Weeks 1-2), Remi Ayodele, Brian Robison, Everson Griffen, Letroy Guion, Christian Ballard, Adrian Awasom, Fred Evans, D’Aundre Reed
LB: E.J. Henderson, Chad Greenway, Erin Henderson, Kenny Onatolu and Larry Dean
CB: Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin, Chris Cook, Asher Allen, Brandon Burton, Marcus Sherels
S: Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson, Jamarca Sanford, Eric Frampton, Mistral Raymond
Specialists: LS Cullen Loeffler, P Chris Kluwe, K Ryan Longwell
A couple of knee-jerk thoughts. . .
-Five safeties, huh? I wasn't sure if Tyrell Johnson was going to make it, but there he is.
-For a team with as many questions on the offensive line as this team had, they're going awfully young there. . .Love, Fusco, Brown, and Olsen in while Chris DeGeare and Ryan Cook got bounced. (Not that DeGeare is old, but he was thought to have a chance to be the starter at right guard at the beginning of camp.) I'm not sure whether to be excited about this or to ask Donovan McNabb to make sure his insurance premiums are current.
-No fullback on this roster, but I'm guessing that Kleinsasser, Rudolph, and Reisner can serve as a flex option into the backfield. I thought that Adrian Peterson was generally better out of a one-back set anyway.
-Only five linebackers? Wow. . .really hope that nobody gets hurt, considering that the two guys after the starter (Onatolu and Dean) have pretty much zero experience at linebacker at the NFL level.
That's what I have for now. . .I'd do more, but I'm on Gopher duty over at SB Nation Minnesota, too, and the Gophers are within two points with eight minutes left.
What are your thoughts?
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Jaymar Johnson misses out again?
I thought this was going to be the season…sigh
I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...
He had such a great start to the preseason
But he just disappeared down the stretch. What a waste of great speed.
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by Eric J. Thompson on Sep 3, 2011 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions
LB and Safety
I think we’re looking to grab a solid LB from one of the other hundreds of cuts made today. It makes sense because none of the LBs that got cut looked to be solid backups. Safety prediction: If we pick up a safety off the waiver wire, Johnson will be cut (not Raymond or Sanford). That’s why he’s on the team right now. We need a decent backup (Raymond is not yet ready to play full time IMO) and if we cut Johnson without ensuring we have a replacement, we could be in trouble if Sanford struggles or gets hurt.
God, i hope you're right, i have no clue how he even made the team.
"We can't get pushed around," Haley said. "What commentators say about us, that's their job. My job is to try and limit as many people who want to take liberties with our guys as possible."
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Sep 4, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
aren't 2 of the 5 linebackers injured?
Happy they kept Dean and Sherels. Disappointed about Jaymar.
Also, it looks like Brandon Merriweather was cut from the Patriots. I’d swap him for Tyrell Johnsonb everyday of the week… and twice on Sunday.
This guy threw at his own son in a father son game.
Love it
I’m also surprised that DeGeare got cut, and Cook, because of his versatility. For a line with so many questions, they’re really taking a chance here. Convinced they go o-line early next year in the draft.
I really love the new rookie class. I’m counting 6 draft picks to make the final roster, and another 2 undrafted rookies (Dean and Reisner).
They were one of the oldest teams in the league last year. Now they have 8 new rookies, a few new 2nd year players, and Favre, McKinnie, Leber, and P Williams are all gone. The roster is much younger now.
Check that
TEN new rookies — 8 draft picks, 2 UFA’s
That’s excellent. Frazier already re-maiking the roster. Now we need to see how those decisions will pan out..
I think Arceneaux
is one of those players they believe could be a starter for us in a couple years but experience-wise he wouldn’t be able to help the team THIS year as much as Camarillo or Aromashodu. He’ll be on the practice squad if he clears waivers. Crossin’ my fingers.
Camarillo
I was initially predicting Aromashodu and Arceneaux making the squad over Cammy, but now that I see the final roster it makes sense why the kept Cammy. He can return punts, cover kicks, and play both inside/outside WR. If Percy were to miss a game, he was our best option for the slot. The rest of the receivers are mainly outside guys from what I can tell. Aromashadu can sub in for either Berrian or Jenkins. Cammy will backup Percy.
That's what I think too.
Cam is great back-up for Harvin.
I was pretty confident that he would make the final cut.
Disagree on Cammy. Both Jaymar and Iglesias would be better backups to Percy in the slot.
Really wish they kept 6 WRs instead of 5, and I also wish Cam was cut instead of the youngsters.
by CanadianViking on Sep 3, 2011 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions
And I think Arceneaux is a better option than Jaymar.
We will agree to disagree on this one I presume. :-D
Your fantasy football expert since Jerry Rice's rookie year.
Agree
Arceneaux showed more potential as a rook than JJ who’s been around a couple years. Love his size as well.
Yeah, there's some interesting names out there at WR.
Donnie Avery and Brandon Tate surprised me. There’s another 4-5 guys that I can’t recall right now that are young and talented as well.
by CanadianViking on Sep 3, 2011 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions
i hope caleb king really makes the PS
by RaysOfHope on Sep 3, 2011 6:03 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Best chance for King is practice squad
Seeing the talent, I’d love to see Caleb King on the Vikings practice squad. Other teams see the talent too, but they also see how raw he is. That’s the only reason he may wind up on our PS. If a team claims him, they have to put him on their 53-man roster. King’s not quite ready for that.
So, at least there’s some hope…
My thoughts are...
five safeties is one or two too many. They’re probably extra bodies just sitting around while we raid the waiver wires and practice squads… anyone’s guess PM on who outside of Abdullah and Sanford will be released to make the room.
Like I’m sure the rest of you, the thinness at LB bothers me. Makes me wonder how little faith we had in those let go. And how desperate perhaps the Vikes are to pick one up off waivers/ PS.
The D-line also looks pretty ridiculously stacked right now… either a sign of necessity due to KWills upcoming suspension, or perhaps a similiar situation to five safeties. Not sure which way I’m leaning on that.
The inclusion of only five, rather than my predicted six, WRs is also a bit of a surprise (at least to me). I like I suppose the line-up (well, I still wish BB was gone, but I PM knew that wasn’t going to happen), but I do wish I’d see JJ in there. Either the Vikings a.) have a surprising amount of faith in who they’ve got lined up, b.) have a surprising lack of faith in those let go, or c.) also intend to raid the waiver wire/ PS for some pickups there. (Or any combination of the above.)
Thos are my thoughts… presuming anyone cared. LOL
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
oops, you sent this while i was typing below....we have similar thoughts.
warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!
On those 5 safeties
Frampton is a special teams star, more valuable now than ever with the release of Farwell.
And Mistral Raymond started as a corner in college before moving to safety, so he has experience at 2 positions.
I’m guessing those things factored heavily in that decision to keep 5. Also – wouldn’t be surprised if Asher Allen is the last cut after Kevin Williams is re-activated from his 2 game suspension. If that’s the case, then they’d have one fewer CB, and a safety who can cover that spot as well (Raymond).
Then the math makes sense.
Frampton
He only made the roster because he’s a special teams ace. So much so that I’d only call that 4 safeties personally.
And how is 5 safeties 2 too many KJ? You want to run with a single backup safety for both positions?
With Merriweather floating out there, I’d be on board with swapping him in for Johnson at this point.
If we were 'solid' at all other positions...
then five safeties would make sense. Frampton sticking around as a special teams ace only, with us looking at it more as four safeties, might make more sense.
However, the lack of depth at LB made me consider this a bit of an odd move. Having two starters and two backups would have indeed seemed more realistic (however, again, if we’re not even really choosing to see Frampton as an actual safety, then that is in fact what we’ve got).
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
Still uncertain what that's all about.
It could well be that Everson is meant to be a backup LB as well as a D-line guy, but I still viewed it as a way to get more creative with certain plays. Granted, I’m not in Pagac’s or Frazier’s heads, so I could be totally wrong.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
i bet we see a few signings from other roster cuts this week.
there are several pretty good looking names popping up so far.
5 linebackers and 5 wrs concerns me, i wish we had 6 of each.
i really hope that 11 man d-back roster changes a lot over the
course of this week. and i hope we pick up 2 good o-linemen.
okay santa!
warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!
Only a couple surprises
1. Jon Cooper over Ryan Cook. I am not surprised that they kept 10 Olinemen, but I am surprised that they kept 3 pure centers.
2. Only 5 LBs. I expect this will change as soon as players clear waivers.
3. Both Frampton and T. Johnson were kept. But I expect the last of the 53 were the the guys I mentioned and as soon as a LB that the FO likes clears waivers, say bye to Cooper or Frampton or Johnson.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
The thing with centers...
is that, even as ‘pure centers’, they generally are the most ‘versatile’ of all O-linemen. In a pinch, it’s a bit of a safer bet moving a center over to guard, or even in a REAL pinch tackle (G-d forbid, however…), than the other way around. Not to mention, Center is one of our biggest question marks at O-line, even arguably worse right now than LT. So some extra depth there does make sense (sadly).
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
Interesting roster
I am happy that they kept Love, Fusco, Brown, & Olsen though.
I am surprised by Cooper making the team because he really does not hold up well at the point of attack from what I seen in the preseason. Maybe I need to look again?
I am disappointed in the backup WRs for sure. We have Berrian & Camarillo both becoming free agents at the end of this year which means that the Vikings will be in the market for two new receivers next year. They better be because this guys make too much money and the production we are going to get is not worth another contract.
I would rather have some young WRs for Ponder and Webb to grow with that would be grooming more this year. But Frazier also is tasked with winning so he must do whatever it takes to win first and foremost. If he has to have veterans like these guys then he should so be it. I must say that I do not foresee much success from Berrian. I hope he does prove me wrong though. After last year I just cannot put any faith in his football abilities.
Five linebackers is not going to be the final 53. I expect that they will claim someone and then cut someone else before opening day. No way they need these five safeties.
It is really difficult to believe that we are going into this season with the almost the same safeties as last year. I want to be confident and jacked up for the season but these safeties are very uninspiring. And I do not think it is my fault. If they do things to inspire me then I can be more enthused. But I wish and hope well at all times.
I hope that Herrera can hold up.
Ha, I see you went right to the DN after you fantasy draft as well Mark : )
I’m the Mad Men in your league and I think I did real well for never having done a draft with individual defensive players. Take a look at my team when you’ve got some time to kill and let me know what you think.
by CanadianViking on Sep 3, 2011 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah I did. I had to see the cuts.
I was watching USC vs Minnesota and then my little ones are running around like crazy so I could not check the cuts until after the draft.
Your team looks pretty good. But they all usually do. It depends on how they actually play in the season. Felix Jones and Knoshown Moreno are expected to do better this year and so far they have. Cannot complain about your WRs either. I would look for defensive players with more tackles since the league gives lots of points for tackles.
You are right about Cooper, not very good - too small
I believe he gets cut as soon as we sign a LB.
Perhaps
and granted, it’s not what I saw in Pre-season recaps and replays, but maybe there was just an absolute lack of faith in the future of the young WRs cut. In this case, it could be argued as a better idea to go with ‘safer’ vets to begin the development of young guys, and hit up the draft for a young WR for them to grow with. (Don’t even begin arguing with me about Berrian being a ‘safe’ vet for confidence issues. I have absolutely no way of backing that argument… so please don’t make me look like an idiot. LOL! But I will back Cammy as at least being ‘safe’.)
I do think Berrian’s place on the team was bought by his contract restructuring. While I’m not sold on him still being with us, I can at least back that sentiment. It can really send a wrong message to the team that when a vet player does what you ask in terms of restructuring a contract, and then you cut him anyways, that there’s absolutely no loyalty, and that you as a FO and coaching staff failed to hold up the end of a bargain (as in, “restructure your contract and you can have one last chance”). That won’t inspire any confidence in the players in regards to the team and how it functions as an organization, and such a drop in morale could be disasterous both short and long term.
But yes. I do wish he had just been outright cut, without the restructuring.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
Overall, I like it with the exception of the OL and WR positions.
Carrying 10 O-lineman and Cook and Degeare both don’t make it? I would’ve kept them both and cut Olsen, Cooper, and Brown. I’m happy that Fusco made the team but it seems strange to be carrying 3 centers. I would’ve liked to have seen one less offensive lineman and one more WR.
I also dislike that they kept Camarillo and cut younger, cheaper, and higher potential/upside receivers like Arceneaux, Jaymar, and Iglesias. Cam is solid but he carries way to high of a cap number and he just has no upside or potential to be better.
Other than the minor confusion over the offensive line and my disappointment with the WR choices I love what they did with the rest of the roster. I wouldn’t change anything they did on the defense at all. In fact my projection for the defense was identical other than that I had Homan making it and D’Aundre Reed getting cut. Also, I’m really glad they went with four tight-ends and no fullback. Keeping Reisner, Fusco, Demarcus Love, Mistral Raymond, Brandon Burton, Marcus Sherels, Larry Dean, Adrian Awasome, D’Aundre Reed, and Aromashodu were all great choices and really signals and effort to inject youth into the roster.
Olsen earned his spot, he outplayed Degeare
He was a 4th rd pick of Denver two years ago, he’ll be a solid backup. He has shown toughness and smarts and could develop into a starter.
In regards to the O-line:
I think the FO simply went with youth, because they knew DeGeare and Cook had both hit their ceilings… and their ceilings weren’t very high. The young guys may have been out-performed, but there’s potential for the future, and the argument that their ceiling hasn’t been hit and could be way higher. It’s a smart investment IMO. Risky, yes- if the O-line performs like last year, our final results will PM probably be the same, and poor… poor McNabb. Poor McNabb. (G-d speed good sir.)
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
But Degeare is only in his second season. Your argument stands for Cook but Degeare certainly hasn't hit his ceiling yet.
My disappointment with the O-line choices has more to due with keeping ten and letting Jaymar, Iglesias, and Arceneaux go although they did sign Manny to the PS. Keeping Cooper makes no sense to me. I’d rather have a guy like Cook that can play all five spots or Degeare that can play four spots than a weak Center that has looked worse than Sullivan. I also don’t like the keeping of Camarillo over the young WRs.
by CanadianViking on Sep 4, 2011 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Did we keep Caleb King on reserve?
Does anyone know? I think this kid is apotential stud and good insurance if AD, Bokker or Toby go down
AKA : Revenge4Webb
by CitrusFLViking on Sep 3, 2011 6:30 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I thought I read he was invited to practice squad but has to first clear waivers.
by aceinthecorner on Sep 3, 2011 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
gurode to work out for the patriots...damn i want to replace sullivan as a starter.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-20110903_gurode_will_work_out_for_patriots
warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!
Looks like the Vikings are kind of thinking the same thing
After all, they have three centers on the roster. Not exactly a vote of confidence for the starter.
Caleb King looked legit in the one showing I saw. I thought he might beat out Booker. I assume Cammy and Sherels will be the punt return specialists, does Booker fall into that category as well?
Sheryl has earned a starting spot IMO
at least a lot of time in long coverage. None of our guys looked near as good as Sheryls in sticking with the man and eying the ball. I think this is another kid who has learned fast.
AKA : Revenge4Webb
by CitrusFLViking on Sep 3, 2011 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions
I would not be starting Sherels over Cook, Winfield, or Cedric. I hope you all are right, to me the kid looks to small to be effective vs. 1st team WR.
by aceinthecorner on Sep 3, 2011 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions
This comment will likely get buried here...
…but I could see the Vikings using Sherels to replace Winfield. Sherels plays slot receivers VERY well, and while Winfield is a wonderful, fan-favorite player, he’s old, expensive and not a great cover guy. Could we see a trade? Get a pick or gain a solid player (OL I hope), and free up some of that $7M? If I were a GM, I’d be thinking about that. Not saying the Vikings should do it right now, but I think Sherels has that sort of potential.
Not going to happen
Winfield is a team first player, it’s in his contract that when he can no longer be the #1 CB and has to move permanatly to nickel his pay gets restructured for a lot less. Sherels first has to beat out Asher for that replacement spot, not saying he can’t, I like Sherels better than Asher at this point. I’m curious to see who makes the active roster week 1 and who sits.
Honestly I didn't even think he was the #1 CB last year
Figured he’d already moved to nickle. It seemed like Asher Allen played outside more than Winfield last year. Remember all those Winfield blitzs in Philly. I thought he got all those shots (19 in all?) because he was playing the inside receiver from the nickle position a lot.
He moves inside on nickel D
But when they are in their base D he’s the outside LCB. I know Frazier is hoping that Cook can step up and play on the outside so Winfield can play closer to the line to help in run defense and blitz.
If he wasn't #1, who was?
Griff was hurt. Cook was hurt. It sure wasn’t Sheppard or Walker. It was one game that he was primarily used in the nickel and that was to utilize his blitz/run stopping abilities as nmvikesfan pointed out. Winfield was and is our #1 corner.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Guess he was the best of what was left...
…but I would say that Asher Allen played more consistently at the outside position than Winfield last year which is traditionally where you’d see your #1 CB.
Again though, coverage is not Winfield’s strong suit.
I would say Booker
is totally going to have a place as a return guy, and that’s probably why he was picked over King. I’m OK with that, as our third string RB may not see much play on the normal field. AP is G-d in that position, injuries notwithstanding, and I believe the FO would like to develop Gerhart into a legit 3rd down back.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
It's Official -This is a Rebuilding Year
The Vikings are going with youth with potential. They kept the starters but the backups are young and inexperienced. I’ll bet they also freed up a little cap space, too. They’re rebuilding while trying to remain respectable.
by aladdinwa on Sep 3, 2011 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
someting in between
too much talent and too close to the salary cap to call this a rebuilding year.
by aceinthecorner on Sep 3, 2011 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I would say more like restocking
We were the oldest team last year and had to get younger but we did so with talented youngsters who will develop and be ready step up when called upon.
Disagree
At the WR position, they went for averageness and age over youth and potential. Berrian and Camarillo haven’t turned heads in years. They are expensive, and it’s hard to get excited about them still being on the team. Jaymar, Arceneaux and Iglasius were good and had upside. You don’t go into re-building mode with Berrian and Camarillo on the roster.
This is true
What is most curious to me is that both Berrian and Camarillo will be free agents next year.
So is the team going to resign them again? I hope and pray not.
I was also hoping for at least one young WR that could be groomed a little this year because next year they may need to go get two more.
I sincerely doubt
that Cammy and Berrian will be in purple next year. At this point, look to WR early in the draft, if not our first round pick outright.
(Of course, then again, you’re the draft expert. I totally defer there.)
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
I'm far from an expert
I just post the guys I like based on what I think the team needs. Could be wrong could be right.
In my mock scenarios prior to the 2010 draft where I had Edwards being traded in almost every one of them, I did want the Vikings to pick Tebow.
And I still like Tebow as a QB.
So I don’t know about being any expert. I am just looney.
by MarkSP18 on Sep 4, 2011 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Re-loading
and that’s the way I like it. Keep yourself competitive right now, while also having an eye on the future. Really, if we had done that last year, we probably wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in right now… and in all reality, it’s not likely our results would have been any worse.
The only way I can figure the WR position, which is filled with vets and very little youth (Harvin aside), is that there just was no faith in the younger guys aboard. Which surprises me, because I saw big things in the future from JJ. That said, I’m not an NFL coach or on any NFL coaching staff for a pretty good reason.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
Word on the street
was that DeGeare was having concussion issues. At least thats what I heard on KFAN earlier this week.
Nothing about these cuts really surprised me or made me upset, but there is a part of me that would have liked to see Parks given a shot over Asher Allen.
by igjoe on Sep 3, 2011 7:04 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Parks was injured.
I think that was the big reason he didn’t make the team over Allen.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
slim pickings at LB
Tavares Gooden about the only note worthy LB.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Too bad his last name isn't Jackson
that would be a riot if they signed him
Hope we can get him
He is really the only MLB available, outside LB’s there are a few with some experience but not much to write home about. We may have to do a trade to pick someone up who can help us if we can’t find some LB help.
So glad Fusco made it!
I watched video of Thursday’s game and all three rushing TD’s were ran behind him. On one play he blocked two defenders and on the other two he singl handedly took the NT out of the play. He fits in to the blocking schemes we will be employing and his size is a plus as he will continue to fill into his frame and get stronger.
The Eagles sure let a lot of talent go. CB Joselio Hanson, WR Johnny Lee Higgins, S Marlin Jackson. Not sure about their health as of now, but good players.
And Artis Hicks
was released. Along of course with my boy Taylor. Funny… the two key guys we let go last year are already off their teams. Huh.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
THe FO might not say it but I know..
A rebuild when I see it. Actually I’m not upset about it either.
Hopefully we can snag Brandon Meriweather...
that would allow them to cut Turdell Johnson and either Asher Allen or Frampton.
Tavares Gooden the LB from the Ravens would also be a good fit on this team. He’s probably better than Erin Henderson. Joselio Hanson, CB from the Eagles is also worth a look.
That’d be nice to get Gurode and stick Sullivan on the bench and cut Cooper, but that’s just wishful thinking. Sullivan will get driven 5 yards into the backfield on every play again this season and then we’ll finally upgrade next year…hopefully.
by howlin' forever on Sep 3, 2011 11:50 PM CDT reply actions
Meriweather released
here is a chance toget an established safety andmake it more stable in the secondary. From what i see better than what we have now. He and Abdulla could really shore those spots up. If Sheryls keeps it up he and Winny on the corners and I would feel morecomfortable with our secondary. Dropping a couple of those guys in favor of Meriweather
AKA : Revenge4Webb
Oh dump two of themand add
King as an RB, Brandon or the MLB who was cut from the raiders for LB depth. Either way we need to have Booker and King fight it out for a month and see if it is better going with Kings slippery running. He will have to pass the swing pass test but if he does, I think the choice is obvious.I would trust King as a replacement for AD shoud ( heaven forbid) AD goes down for somesmall injury.
AKA : Revenge4Webb
how did Sherels get so overrated all of a sudden?
there is a zero percent chance he starts over Cedric Griffin. If Griffin gets hurt, Cook will start in his place. Sherels will probably beat out Allen and Burton for the dimeback spot but he’s not starting material. Sherels and Winfield were our starting corners, we would easily have the smallest and crappiest secondary in the entire league and will get slaughtered by every tall WR.
by howlin' forever on Sep 4, 2011 12:08 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
There was never an argument on whether he will ever start over grif
the argument was that if meant that sherels could be on the team, and there needed to be somebody to cut, it would be allen.
Sherels is an investment.
Lord Winfield is getting a tad long in the tooth, and a switch to safety in order to extend his playing years just doesn’t seem to be in the books. While Sherels may never have the same quality of playmaking as ’Twon, his similiar physique as well as playing style lends him to making a good understudy and future replacement down the road.
Smart thinking, in my book.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
If we have 3 centers why the hell do we need a Long Snapper.
3 NFL centers & not a single one can long snap. Cullen Loeffler must have a shit eating grin every time he cashes his pay check. Talk about a waste of a roster spot
Because a long snapper and a center are separate positions.
Cullen Loeffler is 240 pounds. You can’t have a true center trying to cover punts. Also, snapping the ball shotgun style is nothing compared to a long snap. You can’t just expect a new player to come in every year and be successful at snapping the ball on punts, extra points, and field goal attempts. It takes practice and timing something your backup Centers (even if they were athletic enough to cover punts) wouldn’t have time to do if they are practicing with the 2nd team. Check every roster.
Arizona have Leach (6’2" 235lbs)
New England have Dearth (6’4" 265lbs)
Packers have Goode (6’1" 255lbs)
Cowboys have LaDouceur (6’5" 255lbs)
Steelers have Warren (6’3" 252 lbs)
Our emergency long snapper
if I recall correctly, is actually Jared Allen.
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
we obviously cut some salary here
could this be paving the way to get brandon merriweather since he just got cut by the pats? he’d be a major upgrade from our bum corps of safeties.
Merriweather
i don’t think that merriweather will be that huge an upgrade…..what ppl seem to forget is that the pro bowl is A) a complete joke and means nothing, and B) he was a starting safety on a defense that ranked 30th i believe in pass protection. we actually finished 10th last year….this preseason notwithstanding, our pass defense was markedly better then the pats and that ridiculously overrated safety, merriweather. Thoughts?
What you seem to forget is...
A) the vikings have the worst starting safeties in the nfl and B) even if Merriweather isn’t a probowl caliber player, he is still solid and a big upgrade and would provide stability at the position. No to mention he would bring some much needed nastiness and hitting ability to our soft secondary.
by howlin' forever on Sep 4, 2011 2:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Patriots fans responses...
“head hunting d-bag – late to the party – out of position – lousy communicator”
“I have never seen a safety take worse angles on a ball carrier than Brandon”
“Good move because Meriweather was just not a good team defensive player. Yeah, he made the impressive hit every once in a while but how many times did he miss his angles and let the receiver gain an extra 10-15 yards? His coverage was mediocre at best
“no doubt hes a ‘play when i wanna play’ kinda guy”
“I applaud the move by New England to jettison Meriweather. Despite some flashes of excellence, Meriweather lacked consistency”
by aceinthecorner on Sep 4, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Or when we lost Rice
He went from great to goat in under a day.
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
If you are dumping Tyrell Corp Johnson for Merriweather
then it is an absolute upgrade….unless it’s Mike Merriweather, then it’s only a wash… but that’s only because he’s like 50 years old with arthritic knees.
This guy threw at his own son in a father son game.
and for that matter...
Gerald Alexander, Myron Rolle, or Matt Giordano would likely give something similar by way of performance to Tyrell Corp Johnson for less money (a LOT less for Giordano – I can’t believe he has a frickin ring).
This guy threw at his own son in a father son game.
Merriweathr a Chicago Bear.
The Bears are dysfunctional and this makes them even more so. They get rid of leaders like Kreutz and bring in this guy…another step that furthers the Bears status as pretenders.
by aceinthecorner on Sep 4, 2011 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Brandon Tate
Is he worth going after? Could be a valued 6th WR. His stats look good in the kick return game, and as a WR in New England he was behind Randy Moss (for a moment), Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and TE’s Hernandez and Gronkowski. So his 432 yards last year doesn’t seem (seem being the key word) that bad. I haven’t watched any game footage of him so what do you think?
As for Merriweather, I’m on the fence yet. While I’m not a big fan of the dude, he should be better than Johnson.
As for the Minnesota cuts, disappointed about Arceneaux, and King, hopefully they make the practice squad
Tate's a smooth WR that's good in the open field.
Depending on what kind of salary he’ll look for I’d say that he’d slot in as no worse than our 4th string receiver right now. I’d cut Camarillo and pick up Tate as he’s got good KR skills and enough speed to be a replacement for Berrian next year. Donnie Avery is another talented speedster that’s available but I’m not sure how he’s rebounded from his injury concerns. Lot of interesting young WRs got cut and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings grabbed one.
by CanadianViking on Sep 4, 2011 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions
For the Chester Taylor lovers who think it's still 2006
Seems to be a number of (crazy) people here who think Taylor’s still got something in the tank, and others who even think he’s better than Gerhart this late in his career.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert had this excellent piece of information on his blog today:
“Taylor had the least productive season in the NFL’s post-merger history last year. Never before had a running back carried at least 100 times and finished with an average of 2.4 yards per carry or lower.”
Get over it! The guy is done. And no, he’s not better than a guy who’s much yonger and still improving. Reality check time.
GL Chester
It’s hard to believe the Chester we knew dropped off so sharply last year. I’m inclined to say it’s just because the Bears suck. I like all 3 of our backs (and Caleb King) more than Chester at this point, but that said he might have a little something left for the right team. Good luck Chester.
by aceinthecorner on Sep 4, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I would look at
(in this order) LB Tavares Gooden, OL Geoff Hangartner and Artis Hicks, S Meriweather. Signing one of these guys would help us a fair amount. Don’t know why we have 4 centers on the roster. One of them could go if we sign one of the above.
by Vikefandc on Sep 4, 2011 6:08 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I really liked Artis Hicks for the Vikings.
Two years ago he took over for McKinnie and didn’t miss a beat. Is he still available?
Where are you folks getting 4 centers from?
They kept 3. Sully, Cooper and Fusco. I have to believe that Cooper was the last one in and will be the first one out once the FO finds a player on waivers they like. Obviously they need to add a LB. Hopefully they look at Tavares Gooden to back up EJ.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
like the young
Oline…was real happy to see Love and Fusco make it, Olsen is looking really good as well…The Dline surprised me in that (for now) Evans is still here and LB is very thin…Safety yea we need help there and can see a move to get better…keeping Cooper?…maybe he moves to guard but not sure.
The Eagles just cut LT Austin Howard
I would like the Vikes to pick him up. He is 6’8" 340 and pretty lite on his feet. Last year was his rookie year and I think the lockout kinda screwed him. He was better than King Dunlop but less experience. I think he can be a real solid LT if he is given another year to learn, he has nice size and is a smart kid. Too bad we cant just slide him onto our PS instead of having to put him on our 53 man roster.
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw
"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns
by just another viking on Sep 4, 2011 8:31 AM CDT reply actions
Artis hicks
Was cut by Redskins yesterday. He started for the Skins last year.
by Vikefandc on Sep 4, 2011 8:43 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Meriweather is out as a possible safety addition
Signed with Chicago.
Fudgesicle Fudgesicle Fudgesicle
i’m glad to hear that….i think he has talent, but i dont think he will ever be properly motivated enough to actually work hard and get better to utilize it. hell, maybe i’m totally wrong, but thats just what it seems to me
Worry not purple faithful
Merriweather has more character flaws than R.Moss, an ego bigger than T.Davis, and the consistency of Bryant McKinnie. Merriweather is known for taking bad angles, a flaw that a speedy and shifty Percy Harvin is going to exploit.
by aceinthecorner on Sep 4, 2011 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I really doubt we sign anybody
IMHO – this is the team, folks. Any roster moves from here on out will be for injuries.
Good pickup. Him, Tyrone McKenzie, and Tavares Gooden were the only notable MLBs out there.
Here’s a list of some other guys I wouldn’t mind the Vikings looking at by position:
CB-Brandon Ghee, Will Allen, Joselio Hanson.
S-Akwasi Owuso-Ansah, Ahmad Black
WR-Sinorice Moss, Laurent Robinson, Donnie Avery, Mardy Gilyard, Justin Gage, Seyi Ajirotui
G-Max Jean-Gilles, Artis HIcks
DT-John McCargo
by CanadianViking on Sep 4, 2011 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Oops. Forgot to put Rennie Curran OLB on the list. Also Mickey Schuler was cut by the Dolphins and he was a Spielman favorite.
by CanadianViking on Sep 4, 2011 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Fan favorite Nate Tripplett cut too
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Saw that. Jeremy Leman was another former Vike I noticed on the lists.
by CanadianViking on Sep 4, 2011 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Along with Reynaud and Chester
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
This doesn’t really raise my enthusiasm, but at least he has some experience and a few forced fumbles under his belt.
by aceinthecorner on Sep 4, 2011 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
A couple of thoughts
It looks like they wanted to add young competition while keeping some veteran leadership where possible, it could be to avoid the perception they are completely rebuilding or some are placeholders if someone they like more is available.
It definitely seems like they believe in this years draft picks, I was surprised they didn’t pass D’Aundre Reed to the practice squad, I’m thinking they will once Williams is back. They must really believe they can move Griffin to linebacker if they need to since they are really thin at LB.
I have to believe that they kept players that the staff believed the could get more out of, I would assume that didn’t happen very often under Chilldo. On KFan they were talking about Daividson the new OL coach and that he looks for certain types of lineman and so far it looks like he’s doing a good job with our line.
by Simply_Greatness on Sep 4, 2011 1:01 PM CDT reply actions
They will dump Cooper to Make room for Adibi and pass Reed to the PS once KWill returns from suspension
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Adibi is
Fine as a backup, although not sure he’s as good as some of those we cut. Helps on depth but won’t crack the starting lineup.
by Vikefandc on Sep 4, 2011 1:05 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
My hunch
is, the choice of WR, this year, has more to do with who the QB is, this year.
Although the predictions range from 6 and 10 to the optimistic 8 and 8, I can’t shake this feeling the Vikes are going to be much better than is being predicted. Weird, huh?
Or who the RB and OC are this year
We have the best RB in the league — one of the most impressive of all time. Chilly and Bevell were just blinded by their own dogma and could not create a scheme to exploit what they had.
Elgar’s post a few weeks ago was a prophecy. 3 TEs, or 2 TEs and a FB: spread the defense out along an elongated OL and keep the OLs further away from #28. Run effective play action from these sets and hit your TEs, who have the hands to make the grab. Use McNaab’s experience and accuracy, AD, your TEs and Harvin to maintain ball control and field position, let AD, Harvin or BB break homers now and then. THAT is playing to this team’s strengths.
You don’t need a bunch of WRs for this scheme. You need Harvin,a deep threat, a clutch complement to Harvin (Jenkins). That’s about it. BB is not ideal, but he is still a deep threat.
AD is NOT Marshall Faulk, and this team is not the Greatest Show on Turf. But there ARE some old guys still around that recall what a dominating running game can do.
Philip Rivers may be hard to stop. Stopping AD when the Vikes lineup 3 TEs is not going to be a piece of cake — that is my prediction.
TiggerSr
by TiggerSr on Sep 4, 2011 2:07 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
You know what I love?
Frazier and Musgrave are not blinded by dogma here.
Who do YOU think has shown more potential to have a big impact in the lineup — Reisner or D’Imperio/Asiata? They got rid of Tahi, and ultimately picked Reisner over having ANY FB on the roster. "We can lineup a TE in the FB spot when we need to run that formation — Kleinsasser, Rudolph, Reisner can all do that. So we keep the better player and modify the scheme to leverage that talent.
I love it.
TiggerSr
by TiggerSr on Sep 4, 2011 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Another rec. You are on a roll
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Atlanta's offense did pretty good last year without hitting many deep plays by pounding Turner, hitting Gonzalez often, and targeting Roddy White on a ton of crossing routes and slants.
I see our personnel being able to run that offense well with AD, Shank/Rudolph, and Percy filling those roles. Michael Jenkins will fill the same role he did in Atlanta and hopefully Berrian and Aromashodu can hit some deep ones every now and then like Harry Douglas and Julio Jones in Atlanta.
by CanadianViking on Sep 4, 2011 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
That's true, but then again...
look how much they gave up in the recent draft to get one single player (Julio Jones) who could stretch the field.
With all the Vikings’ offensive talent in the short yardage game (Peterson, Harvin, and the TE’s), defenses will really be clogging the box this year. They really need Berrian to do enough in the 15+ range to keep defenders pulled back a little. If he doesn’t, Peterson and Harvin are going to have defenders haning all over them.
Agreed, a deep threat makes Musgrave's scheme complete but Atlanta was pretty solid last year with the ball-control offense the Vikings will mainly use.
If Berrian and Aromashodu can hit some deep ones off of play-action or when the box gets clogged the offense could be surprisingly effective this year. I also think Rudolph and Shank can back some defenses off by running deep seam routes. Gonzalez did some of this in Atlanta but Tony’s lost a step or two and our TEs might be able to stretch the middle of the field better than him at this point in his career.
by CanadianViking on Sep 4, 2011 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Couple of thoughts
1) The one scenario that does seem to play to BB’s strength is running a fly or post against a D that is stackng the box. He did it against the Vikes when he was with the Bears, he did against the Bears for a 99-yd TD, and he did it again against the ’Boys this year in pre-season. Again, I am no big fan of BB, but he doies have strengths and weaknesses, and running deep routes is a strength. He is no Randy Moss or Steve Smith when catching the long ball, but he can be effectrive at it.
2) Harvin can be effective 15-20 yards down the field. He proved it with Farve. So can Jenkins, as he showed in pre-season.
TiggerSr
Your knowledge
of the game far exceeds mine, having said that, I agree with your assessment. The Vikes are going to be an ‘inside’ offence. To me, that means a punishing ground game and mostly short passes.
With roughly 50% of the draft picks performing at starter level I see not only a good year this year but possibly more to come.
The 2010 draft is shaping up to be very questionable at this point
Cook - injured often and has not shown he was worth the pick at #34. He still could though.
Gerhart – never will be worth the TWO picks they used to MOVE Up to get him. Very curious move at best when you already have AP. I mean why use two picks to get his backup. Many backs went later that are OK so far like James Starks and LeGarrette Blount.
Griffen – he may be the best pick of the draft
DeGeare - gone
Triplett – gone
Webb - he may be the best pick of the draft too
Shuler - gone
D’Imperio – practice squad as can be expected for a 7th round pick
Antonio Brown, Dezmon Briscoe, David Gettis, and Carlton Mitchell all went in the 6th round that year.
You would have thought that the team would have grabbed one youngster considering they had Lewis and Baskett on the team.
It is turning out to be a very disappointing draft thus far.
I agree
I always thought that they treated last years draft as a throw away and that they didn’t need to make good picks because there was no room on the roster. If they really thought that they should have traded for future picks to get more in return. I did think it was funny after the draft when Spielman was asked why they didn’t take a QB and he said straight out that Childo had the final say.
by Simply_Greatness on Sep 4, 2011 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions
I was...
…and still am dissapointed that we didn’t a.) Target O-line early and aggresively… If you’re all in with Favre, who was old and beat up, and O-line’s a critical weakness very much exploited by the Saints in our final game the campaign before… Why wasn’t O-line a top-of-the-line bloody priority?!?! And b.) Find Favre’s successor… Altho fingers crossed that issue’s been erased with the Ponder draft. (Still… McCoy would have been nice.)
New season and a practically new team. Let's go Vikings! Skol! Daily Norseman
by KJSegall on Sep 5, 2011 10:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
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