Roster Spots
So what might be on our tiny little minds.
In the past several years, Ryan Longwell has been splitting time with a second
kicker during the pre-season. This gave that kicker vital exposure as part
of their resume for future opportunities. What concerns me, and what
churns within my stomach, is in regard to Rhys Lloyd along with what had
transpired in the NFC Championship game versus the Saints.
It
was without doubt that Percy Harvin's NFC championship return game was
absolutely shut down by the Saint's kicker. Good deal for the Saints in
that they have one kicker that can get it done. Get over it. Heck, I
once remember Mitch Berger hitting an upright on a kickoff in his role as both a
punter and kick-off specialist. I miss those days ... I really do but
let's not forget that what shut down and absolutely dominated the Saints that
day was what was on the Minnesota Vikings roster and it was not a kicker.
In fact, what could arguably be the greatest kicker beyond 50 yards never got
the opportunity of slicing through those uprights.
Now I'm hearing rumblings about having two (2) kickers on our 53-man
roster. Are you kidding me? So who are you going to cut? Let
me be direct ... there is a reason why you don't carry two kickers and it has to
do with the content of your roster and the future of your organization.
Garret
Mills may not be the blanket of security as a blocker & may be a bit
injury prone but the kid catches just about everything. He's like a Wiggie
that's not overweight and can run. Now ask yourself a question. How
many speed guys have blazed through the doors of the NFL with hands of
stone? That scrap pile is pretty big isn't it.
Logan
Payne definitely had a bad break but my eye is definitely on this kid.
Did the gods dump a gem into our laps. Was that pre-season game an anomaly or is there something truly special
here? There is one thing that is definite ... it's showing up on
tape.
Joe
Webb's brain might be swimming but he has one thing that TJack never had ...
an immediate presence on the field. Something like the Fort Knox weight
that Brett carries in his ass that tilts the field in his Favre ... sorry favor. He's a specimen that every coach in the league is going to drool
over for years to come along with the question .... how in the hell did this guy
not show up on our radar. Note to Childress ... he's not going to make it
onto your practice squad.
Darrius Reynaud AKA Ram-Rod runs with the obvious talent of the Wizinator
minus the pipe & heartache. Sure he gets the set back in training
camp & he's got a couple dings here & there but could it be that the gods are
just severely testing your patience? Could he be your
ultimate 3rd down back and special team ace? Just look at the chunks of
ground gained on his 2009 punt returns. This just doesn't happen up in
these cold climes.
There's a reason that you can't find a solution to this dilemma. It's his
center of gravity which is much like Harvin's & a guy named Emitt. If
you can't teach speed you certainly can't teach center of
gravity. There's a big difference between getting de-cleat-ed and
bouncing.
What's this Ryan D'Imperio story? Brett Farve has made a career out
of a guys like this. A converted project that is destined to this years
practice squad.
Do
we give up a special teams ace? Well, in a nut shell, last year was the
first year in a long time where we were not reaching for the anti-acid's on
every kickoff or punt. To be direct, this had more to do with intellectual
kicking (Kluwe) and sure tackling (Farwell, Onatolu, Frampton,
Henderson & Abdullah) aces than it did with putting it in the end zone
for a touchback.
Who knows what the future hold's for Jaymar Johnson and the bubble
players on this unique set of defensive line mates but the fact remains ... are
we willing to it forgo one of these players to add an extra kicker to not only
our 53 man roster but one of the active players which suits up for every
game. Before you make that decision you'd better lay that bit of wisdom on
the line with the defense because the way we play we don't give up nothing over
the top and we allow them to bring it at or near field goal range with our
patented bend but don't break strategy. In other words, it would be a sin
to have them start at the 20 only to give up the underneath dink & dunk yards
anyway.
As for Tyrell Johnson and Jamarca Sanford this competition that we
speak of has nothing to do with who might be labeled a starter. Each of
these very capable players are filling very specific roles and our defense will
be leaning hard on the skills of both of these guys. When it's time to put historical players like "The
Diesel", Czonk or a Mike Alscott into accepting and serving a limited role
within an offense you'll be reaching out for thumper's like the William's, EJ, Toine' &
Jamarca. I say historical because if you don't have that thumper they
ultimately become historical figures. Don't believe me ... subtract Lott
from the 9ers & you have very different results. In a very real way
Jamarca reminds me of a guy named Lott
except he's been he's been having a little trouble indentifying the right color
jersey to hit but apparently he's quite eager to make it up to the team.
On the other hand, when the chips are down, where you're facing a
mastermind like Brees or Manning, the finesse that is Tyrell will ultimately fill a very
different need. He may have a leg up in our pass happy league but don't
read too much into it. In short, the requirements of a strong safety means an
entirely different thing during different situations. I'd rather see these
two characters as inseparable brothers sharing a common inseparable goal where
investing stock in the word starter then becomes meaningless. They are
both here to solidify a very dominant defense.
The Viking Ghost
Writer
MyVikingBlood.org
Date: August 18, 2010
Post
Scipt: For all the time invested into sport commentary and coach
speak, etc., how come no-one has ever taken the time to explain visually what it
actually means to run "Good Routes". In other words, in the West
Coast Offense, what are the nuances and variations to running proper
routes. Just about every day we are told this guy runs good routes and
this guy doesn't but exactly how many do you think know exactly what the hell
you are talking about? Even hockey takes the time from time to time to
explain what an offside pass is? Can't this be put onto film?
Trust
me when I say this ... we igits can handle a little bit of
complexities! Dah!
