Vikings 2012 Starting Offensive Linemen

by RevDrev on Feb 8, 2012 12:31 PM CST

Hey guys, I know I am new to this but I am really desperate to talk about vikings next year. I have a few questions about the line next year and would love to see what you have for answers.

Who will be the starting LT next year?
Is it an automatic that they cut Hutch this year?
Is it an automatic that Charlie Johnson moves inside to RG
Is Fusco going to be LG or is he going to challenge for the Center position (I still don't understand the Sullivan signing)?
Could Love, Kooistra, Degeare, or Brown unseat Loadholt?
Odds on bringing in Grubbs or Nicks?

Fire Away, I just would like to hear what the more educated guys around here know.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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My 2 cents

1. Who knows. My guess is they address LT through the draft with a guy like Kalil or Reiff. But they could always take a look at a free agent like McNeil.
2. My guess is that Hutchinson plays one more year for the Vikes with a restructured contract, and then retires when his contract is up after the 2012 season. It’s possible the Vikes move on, so no, I don’t think it’s automatic that they cut Hutch.
3. My thought is that Johnson moves inside to compete with Herrera for RG, or is kept as a versatile backup. I don’t think that’s automatic either.
4. Fusco stays on a versatile backup.
5. Nobody in the group of names jumps out at me, although Love could compete with Loadholt if he has a good camp. Loadholt is one of the best run-blocking RTs in the league, so it’s tough to replace that.
6. Pretty low IMO. They need their FA money to throw at a WR and/or CB and/or S.

Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.

by CCNorsemen on Feb 8, 2012 6:16 PM CST reply actions

You know more than I do.

I really don’t see Herrera hanging around to compete. I don’t know if he has much left even when he was his best, talent wise he was still pretty average. I was surprised to see you think Hutch is coming back. I would welcome him at a restructured amount but isn’t he the Player Union Rep? Do you think he would restructure? I always loved Hutch.

With everything I have heard about Fusco why do you think did they give the starting job to Sullivan? Is being a short center to see over THAT important?

by RevDrev on Feb 8, 2012 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

Sullivan really improved last year.

by vking1 on Feb 8, 2012 10:48 PM CST up reply actions

sullivan

you dont pay a guy and give him a contract extension to replace him.I think with some better gaurds sullivan can become a above average pro bowl type in the future.I think our new offensive line coach will improve everybodies play also.

by vikes 1 on Feb 9, 2012 5:48 PM CST up reply actions

Hutch

The only reason think so, is because on rotoworld, they posted a quote from him that said he was telling other players he planned to retire after his contract was up after next season. Combine that with with Frazier said at a press conference back in December about Hutch needing to talk to his family and make some decisions for himself…and I just connected the dots.

Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.

by CCNorsemen on Feb 9, 2012 1:53 PM CST up reply actions

still pretty spendy for a lineman that is not playing up to his contract value.

Plus he’s been battling injuries.

The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.

by Grime on Feb 9, 2012 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

If the Vikings use a high draft pick on a LT as expected...

Who would be better to learn from, while playing next to Hutch. That kind of experience is invaluable. A lot of high draft pick linemen fail due to poor surrounding cast. They end up trying to do too much.

by vking1 on Feb 9, 2012 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

Which is why he said in his first post...

2. My guess is that Hutchinson plays one more year for the Vikes with a restructured contract

by Bjorno on Feb 9, 2012 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

There's a possible scenario that could work in our favor

Pick up Nicks as a FA, and trade down with the Dolphins. Take DeCastro for LG, cut Hutch and draft Datko to push Loadholt at RT. Cut Herrera and have a competition between Love, Berger, Johnson and Fusco. I would think Fusco would get nudged in that competition and Love, Berger or Johnson wins. IMO Love wins, Johnson and Berger stay as valuable backups, Fusco stays at backup center.

I agree with the tune Mark has been singing and sign Laurent Robinson as a FA WR and sign as much talent as you can to the secondary since that’s a hot mess. Robinson #1, Jenkins #2, Percy slot, and DA #4, Burton or Arceneaux #5.

by nmatt71 on Feb 8, 2012 10:25 PM CST up reply actions

Um you going to keep Johnson at LT?

because I don’t see you picking up a LT in the draft or in free agency.

The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.

by Grime on Feb 9, 2012 7:52 AM CST up reply actions

Nicks is the LT in that scenario

Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.

by CCNorsemen on Feb 9, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

I mean LG...

Not sure why we would pickup Nicks AND DeCastro, but yeah, who plays LT in that scenario?

Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.

by CCNorsemen on Feb 9, 2012 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

lol now we're on the same page.

Maybe he meant McNeil.

The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.

by Grime on Feb 9, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

The tough part is that we can't know

They probably have 20-30 different ideas on what they want to do with the line. For instance draft Kalil, pick up Light, play Sully, cut Herrera and have Berger/johnson see who can fill that spot. Then have Love and Load work it out to see who’s going to be manning the right side. That would be great and would only require one FA and one draft to pretty much solidify our line. However, if we don’t get Light, then things change, if we don’t get Kalil things change once again…
Maybe Kalil is gone in the second we trade with the Redskins and pick up Reif/Martin we don’t get Light and move Johnson to left guard, Sully is still center and now Fusco and Berger work out RG while Love and Load work on RT. Not quite as solid of a line, but still a vast improvement over last year. (We can hope) Honestly though we’ll probably play Johnson at LT until Reif/Martin show that they are capable LT’s.

The question is who wants to play for us. Last time we shelled out big bucks for a LG, will we do it again? I mean the cap space is already set aside for the job…

In any case I think Herrera, Johnson and Hutch need to be replaced, and I only want to spend on draft pick on doing it. :D

The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.

by Grime on Feb 9, 2012 7:59 AM CST reply actions

Kalil - Hutch - Sully - CJohnson - ...Loadholt...

Kalil is my ‘hope’.

they’ll probably give Hutch one more year, hopefully with a restructured contract. i think they’ll cut Herrera.

i hope Love challenges Loadholt for the starting RT job. i’m guessing Loadholt will start the season, but if he continues to struggle in pass protection Love might get his shot.

"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."

Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.

by rj-b on Feb 9, 2012 9:15 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Kalil - Fusco - Berger - CJohnson - Loadholt

Obviously, I’d like to see a primo FA picked up at guard. And perhaps the draft will bring in a nice surprise. I obviously don’t have a solution to our problem at RT. However, I go with this line figuring that Hutch should hang it up due to concussions. I don’t like Sullivan at center. I think Herrera is at the end of his contract, and I don’t see him being resigned.

"Men are creatures with two legs and eight hands. - Jayne Mansfield

by kcskol on Feb 9, 2012 8:15 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

Sully got a contract extension

and a pretty nice one at that. A lot of people said he stepped it up this year. I had a hard time seeing it but he was playing next to a banged up Hutch and a has been Herrera. I guess we’ll see next year if he continues to play at a high level will be nice because that would be the first O lineman I’ve seen trained up to code in a while for us.

The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.

by Grime on Feb 10, 2012 8:32 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, Sully's contract extension was a surprise and disappointment to me.

"Men are creatures with two legs and eight hands. - Jayne Mansfield

by kcskol on Feb 12, 2012 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

It's hard to me to get behind

but I keep hearing good things about him and maybe I just have to take my goggles off and look at him with a fresh set of eyes. Next year I’m going to treat him like a free agent we just got and try and not hold on to my preconceived notions…

The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.

by Grime on Feb 13, 2012 9:25 AM CST up reply actions

His contract is not a real killer, it is a pretty good deal for the Vikings.

It is 5 years for $25 million. But only $10 million is guaranteed. His 2012 base salary is $3 million. so, if he doesn’t pan out, or if we somehow get a chance to get one of the Pouncey brothers, we can go in another direction without any real snags.

well then who the hell are you talkin' to...are you talkin' to me?

by krinkle on Feb 13, 2012 5:53 PM CST up reply actions

Could CJohnson be trusted...

At RT? Depending on how FA goes and if the Vikes acquire an additional pick(s), I wouldn’t be terribly upset if they nabbed a top LT talent like Kalil/Reiff as well as another quality o-line prospect like Osemele early. If they re-negotiated with Hutch to bring him back 1 more year, what are your thoughts on Kalil-Hutch-Sully-Osemele-CJohnson?

by BigSling on Feb 9, 2012 9:19 PM CST reply actions

My head hurts... like Ponder's hip.

Hopefully it feels better by late April, one way or another.

by Jshore on Feb 10, 2012 2:30 PM CST reply actions

2012 Vikings starting OL

I see the Vikings O-line looking like this
LT Kalil or a F/A Mcneil
LG Nicks or Grubbs F/A
C Sullivan
RG Johnson or Fusco
RT Love or Loadholt ( I’m hioping for Love at RT)
Reserves Fusco OG-C, Berger OG, P. Johnson OT, Loadholt OT.

by Viking King on Feb 10, 2012 3:03 PM CST reply actions

That would be a good start to getting our O-line back in fighting shape.

But I don’t think it’ll work out like that. I’d love to see your LG prediction play out but that would be some kind of coup if it happened. Odds are against it.

I’d like to see us working Fusco out at center. Same with Berger. Both of those guys can take their men 1-on-1 like Birk used to. Sullivan is outmatched in 1-on-1 play.

I’d also be okay with moving Johnson to RT if we haven’t found an option for Loadholt – though I don’t know how Johnson would feel about that.

"Men are creatures with two legs and eight hands. - Jayne Mansfield

by kcskol on Feb 12, 2012 9:00 AM CST up reply actions

I'm old enough to remember Denny Green

And That guy didn’t mess around with his Oline. He would laugh at these prospective olines

LT Kalil
LG Johnson
C Sullivan
RG Fusco/Berger
RT Loadholt (All things considered. He is not that bad. Just slow. Its a contract year for Loadholt and I think he has a better 2012. And he is a freakin monster, who never gets hurt. Denny Green would approve)

by dirtyplay on Feb 11, 2012 2:26 PM CST reply actions

Loadholt needs a shoe sponsor to save his career

Preferably a shoe sponsor that will put superballs in his cleats. The dude is seriously slow which shows itself on passing downs in particular.

"Men are creatures with two legs and eight hands. - Jayne Mansfield

by kcskol on Feb 12, 2012 8:55 AM CST up reply actions

HIs run blocking is so good

I don’t see the vikings letting him go after next year. If not even as a backup or rotational guy. He will be cheap. And right now he might be the best linemen the vikes have…………………behind Sullivan! That is scary, especially considering none of the young backups can play tackle.

I have a sinking feeling that there will be less attention paid to the line this offseason than we all hope. A top LT prospect in the draft is about all I can realistically ask for.

by dirtyplay on Feb 12, 2012 1:24 PM CST up reply actions

I think Loadholt is impressive on running plays...

…in which he’s able to get in front of his man and get both arms on the guy. However, on plays that require Loadholt to get to his man, generally laterally, he struggles. His slowness isn’t just an issue on passing downs.

I fear that we won’t end up getting an FA help on the line this year. That would be a disappointment, but the most likely outcome. (sigh)

"Men are creatures with two legs and eight hands. - Jayne Mansfield

by kcskol on Feb 12, 2012 1:49 PM CST up reply actions